There is joy in Mad Town.
For most of us, the most despised Wisconsin politician in recent memory has come tumbling down and with such speed and force that it takes your breath away. Scott Walker, who looked so promising to national pundits only weeks ago, abandoned his presidential campaign just 70 days into the effort.
Some of the same political observers who saw Walker as a strong contender now observe that his fall is among the quickest in the history of presidential politics. They attribute his decline to three things.
He wasn’t ready for prime time, literally. Walker’s nationally televised debate performances were awful. He just didn’t show up, probably thinking that he simply needed to avoid saying anything dumb, like Rick Perry’s famous meltdown in 2012. The problem is that he made up for it by saying things that were stupid in other forums, like suggesting that a border wall with Canada was worth considering or changing his position on birthright citizenship three times in about as many days.
He wasn’t anti-establishment enough. Walker couldn’t run from his lifelong career in government. Being a governor and before that a county executive and before that a state legislator just wasn’t appealing to angry Republican voters who were drawn to the three candidates in the field who have no governing experience whatsoever. Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson made Walker look like an establishment insider despite his protestations to the contrary.
He also didn’t look or sound like a leader. Walker has always been a chameleon. It’s not what Walker believes that’s the problem; it’s that he doesn’t believe in anything. He was reasonable on immigration until that didn’t serve him well in Iowa, so he became the most xenophobic candidate in the field. He was against subsidies for ethanol until he wasn’t. Walker’s demise should be a cautionary tale to all politicians on the limits of pandering. Voters actually do want you to believe in something even if it might conflict with their own ideas.
But while it might be fun to dance on Walker’s political grave, here is the sobering reality: Now he can come back and focus on Wisconsin.
No one has done more damage to our state than Scott Walker. We rank at the bottom of the Midwest in job creation and 35th nationally, and our average income is far outpaced by progressive states like Minnesota. Worst of all, Walker has branded Wisconsin as a backwoods wilderness out of step with the modern world. Still in our constitution is a shameful ban on same-sex marriages. Though made moot by the U.S. Supreme Court, it sits there with no serious attempt to repeal it. Walker has also put the state’s heritage up for sale. According to recent press reports, the price for preferential treatment in state real estate sales is a $3 million contribution to Walker’s campaigns. You know I could go on, but the point is made. It will take a generation to dig out of the pit Walker has dug for us.
Walker’s stunning fall from grace most likely spells the end of his political career. He embarrassed himself nationally, which will hurt his fundraising if he decides to run again. Even really good glasses couldn’t save Rick Perry after his 2012 debacle. And Walker burned his bridges with legislative Republicans by throwing them under the bus at every opportunity in his last budget and during his brief presidential bid.
It’s a fair guess that Walker will not be around much longer. He’ll either resign early to make some money somehow or he won’t run again. But the nightmare doesn’t end with the end of Walker. Legislative Republicans have what amounts to a permanent majority in the Assembly and they maintain a strong hold on the Senate, while the state Supreme Court is not likely to become less conservative any time soon. The unfortunate and untimely death of Justice Patrick Crooks gives Walker a chance to appoint another conservative who will have a leg up for election to a full 10-year term next spring.
Meanwhile, the state Democratic Party is in disarray. Democratic leaders’ quick capitulation to the Wall Street billionaire hedge fund operators who own the Milwaukee Bucks on their sweetheart arena deal is the clearest example of how misguided the current Democratic establishment is. Moreover, there are no obvious exciting or interesting candidates on the horizon for governor on the Democratic side.
Walker’s rapid fall and likely end of reign as governor is certainly good news for Wisconsin, but we are a long way from regaining our innovative economy, the quality of our educational system or environmental protections.
Still, we need to start somewhere. Maybe in Walker’s decline we are witnessing the moment when the worst days of Wisconsin politics drew to a close. We can only hope.
Dave Cieslewicz is the former mayor of Madison. He blogs as Citizen Dave at Isthmus.com.