Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is a top-tier candidate for the Republican presidential nomination next year.
Not because he's been a great success as governor, not because he's reliably wingnut on social issues, not because he's a pollution-loving favorite of his major patrons, the world-class polluting Koch brothers.
No, at least according to the email below. Scott Walker thinks he should be our next President because he knows how to crush unions, and the millions of middle-class people who belong to them.
That's been his major pitch at the various presidential forums so far, and the essence of the first fundraising email I've received from him.
That email in toto, below.
Here it is, sent under the absurd email headline "Should I run?"
Let's get right to the point ...
I am nearing a decision on whether to seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States and the strong support I receive in the coming days will help me decide.
That is why I am reaching out to key conservatives like you, Edmund. Please let me know you support a run with a contribution of $10, $35, $50, $100, $250, or even $500 right now.
We will need the strong support of like-minded conservatives from all across the country if we decide to run. If you think I should run -- and will support a run -- please let me know right now with a generous contribution today.
Some early supporters have asked what the maximum contribution is and the answer is $2,700. If you can afford to give that much and believe strongly in our conservative vision, please visit here to solidify your status as one of my top supporters.
No matter what amount you can spare, know I will be grateful for your support, as I will need all the help I can get as we face attack after attack from everyone from President Obama to the Big Government Labor Bosses who still wish to get revenge after we defeated them three times in four years.
They will stop at nothing to silence my conservative voice and stop our conservative campaign before it even starts. Support me with a contribution of $10 or $100 or $1,000 or whatever amount is right for you today.
It took guts to take on the Big Government Labor Bosses who were used to running the show in Wisconsin -- at the expense of our state's workers. Our historic collective bargaining and Freedom to Work reforms took power from the unions and put it back where it belonged: in the hands of hard-working taxpayers.
What prompted us to take such big, bold action? Simply put, there was too much at stake for us not to take swift, decisive, game-changing action. It was time.
Now it's time to see if our conservative vision should be taken beyond Wisconsin's borders, but I can't make that important decision without you by my side.
There is a lot at stake for our country -- from a still sluggish economy at home to a weakened American standing in the world -- and our nation needs strong, proven leadership now more than ever.
If you agree, please visit here to help me make my decision.
In Wisconsin, we instituted a big, bold, change agenda that turned the state around. We have lowered the tax burden, created jobs, and streamlined government. New businesses are opening their doors and people have more money in their wallets. Our Wisconsin success story is proof positive that courageous, conservative leadership works.
What do you think? Should we take our conservative reform-minded agenda from Wisconsin to Washington?
The next few days are critical and I need to know right here, right now ...
Are you with me?
Scott Walker
There are six hotlinks in there so I can contribute to Walker's campaign. I'm just one of several millions to get this; my not contributing won't matter much. But most who received this email will agree with everything in it, and some thousands will certainly get out their credit cards.
What stands out for me is his repeated use of "Big Government Labor Bosses" -- as the alleged economy-killing boogeyman that he's attacked and won elections against.
At the behest of his billionaire patrons, who hate unions for personal and political reasons.
puddytat and others, some even in the corporate media, have pointed out that crushing (some) public employee unions has not improved Wisconsin's economy. Wisconsin under Walker is well below national and regional averages for jobs and economic growth.
But that reality does not matter to an accomplished serial liar like Walker. He will claim, against all evidence, that his "big, bold, change agenda (has) turned the state around."
And the Republican base, even those in or comfortably retired from union jobs, will believe his lying BS.
Republican demonization of unions is a decades-long project that used to get political traction only in slave states, for obvious historical reasons. But with enough money backing the right candidates, it has begun to succeed in states like Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.
Why anyone who now or used to work for a living buys into politicians in hock to billionaire bosses who profit from screwing workers 24/7/52 is just beyond me.
But there is clearly a market for bashing unions and union workers, and that is Scott Walker's ticket to the top tier now, and maybe to the nomination.