This video, in which David Walker is interviewed on MSNBC, discusses Americans Elect at length. In the course of the interview, David Walker also mentions the Libertarian Party and Gary Johnson. David Walker is the choice of a number of Americans Elect delegates who are trying to draft him to run for President.
In the interview, Walker seems to imply that he would be willing to accept a drafting, but will not run on his own.
David Walker is a former Comptroller General of the United States who has made the national debt his signature issue in recent years, appearing in a number of videos and movies about that subject, as well as writing extensively on the issue.
$3 billion will get you a lot.
Robert–no, that’s not what I’m saying. But if Huntsman goes for it and his biggest opposition is Buddy Roemer…yeah, he’ll win it easily.
Read the newest story I posted on Hunstman.
33 th, yes, I vaguely recall your post, hence my cite of Bayh. But you’re saying you are SURE Huntsman gets it, as if the fix is in. IOW, even if Huntsman has wanted it for some months, are you telling us that what Huntsman wants, Huntsman gets, regardless of the desires of those participating in AE? That’s QUITE an assertion, if so.
And, if so, then what are we to make of this Walker stuff?
Robert–I don’t report something at IPR without a good source. A few months ago IPR reported that Huntsman/Bayh was something that was being VERY seriously discussed and that Huntsman was the one doing the pushing.
31 th, sure? How so?
Is this Walker boomlet a sideshow, then? It appears that Pete Peterson is still kicking and, for those who pay attention to such things, was CFR Chairman for quite a stretch. I’d think Walker is not off rez here…
Huntsman is the top of the ticket, I’m sure of that.
Bayh apparently needed convincing. Im not sure who will be the VP.
With someone like Walker moving the debate toward fiscal sanity and balanced budgets, it means the LP needs to rethink it’s current love affair with Gary Johnson.
Having Johnson sell out the LP on principle in search of votes will be countered by Walker.
Instead we need to present the clear, principled case for a much smaller government, balanced budget and repeal of all taxes except a consumption tax capped at 10% …
… With NO new welfare prebate!
Wake up LP!
Gary Johnson with his current tax and spending plan is a terrible idea. He will gain no traction because his proposal is ho-hum and not edgy. And he will destroy any recognizable principles the LP is supposed to represent regarding taxation and spending.
Johnson dumps the Fair Tax or We dump Johnson!
There is no reason to do otherwise.
Datapoints: Walker is apparently registered R, although he was D until 1976. Clinton appointed him Comptroller.
As I understand AE, he and Huntsman could not be on the same ticket.
Bayh?
Walker sounds serious and couches his words in a manner that says he wants to run. He’s just giving himself an out if he doesn’t generate enough support to take the nomination versus any other candidates who may yet appear.
If enough big money people fund AE along with super pack donations and perhaps a wealthy VP candidate Walker could be in the race, despite the stupid AE name. He can just stress being an Independent.
Walker actually sounds grown up, professional and serious. He has a background that says he knows what he’s talking about and little baggage that we know of to use against him. This could put him in good standing against the relatively childish demeanor of both Romney and Obama and their supporters, their considerable baggage and questionable public records.
Not being rich will help Walker. Romney’s wealth will hurt him and being less wealthy will look better.
This is better than Bloomberg would be. He has baggage and too much money to come off clean in the public eye. His time was before 2012 and he missed it.
A combined half a billion dollars in either direct campaign donations or super pack donations, plus the media frenzy that would follow would make Walker a serious contender.
Imagine a Ross Perot with a better resume, more experience, and not crazy in a year where the Ds and Rs have such unqualified undesireable candidates – much less attractive than those Perot faced.
Most people would prefer not to vote for either Romney or Obama if they only had a better choice.
Yes, this guy could be in it. Even win. It only depends on the funding.
Interesting… Note that Huntsman uses the word “duopoly.”
How’s THIS for a conspiracy theory…Huntsman runs AE to immunize Romney from the charge of Mormon cultist? Out there, I know, but if the Mormon church is a cult and Romney and Huntsman are members of the cult, then the cult leaders would not allow Huntsman to challenge Romney. Therefore, Romney is not a puppet of the cult.
Prolly not…
Huntsman is bolting, as reported here on IPR weeks ago.
Huntsman is sounding an awful lot like an AE candidate today: http://news.yahoo.com/why-jon-huntsman-is-leaving-the-gop–not-because-they%E2%80%99re-communists-.html
Walker’s a former Comptroller General who quit in Bush-Cheney days, five years before his appointed fifteen-year term was up, to go lecturing about the impending US economic crisis which is now unfolding. Walker’s a bigshot.
A few thoughts…
1. I got the sense that Walker indeed wants the AE nod.
2. Were I a big-money AEer, I would have first wanted it as an alternative to Santorum or other pronouncedly loopy R had he gotten the R nod. Now that that seems off the table, and the relatively sane and stable Romney is the presumptive nominee, AE could serve another purpose, and Walker might actually be the perfect vehicle for that purpose. AE becomes a SuperPac of sorts, with the articulate accountant braying about fiscal disaster looming. This message hurts Obama, as the incumbent. The set-up for Apocalypse is happening under Obama. Walker makes the “change in direction” case.
This message scares the swing voters, independents and non-base Obama voters enough to vote Romney or at least Walker.
3. Getting 5% would be gravy. The non-knuckle-dragging Rs must know that the GOP is on a long-term decline IF they allow the Know Nothings to call the shots. Should this trend continue, they need a vehicle to protect their interests. By making AE look “balanced,” they could reconstitute the GOP under another name as a national party, as it is increasingly becoming a regional one.
4. Citing GJ and saying the LP has 25 (iirc) states was a tell on the part of Walker. That was an exceedingly disingenuous statement, since the LP usu./always gets ballot status in the 40s. It tells me they are paying attention AND spinning “facts” to set up their narrative.
Worth what you paid for it…
He can’t do that as AE? Or, by having not dropped formally his Republican bid?
@2 – Roemer is running for the Reform Party nomination to secure federal matching funds for his campaign, which he has qualified for.
You may be right, but it will all depend on the candidates, their own resources and/or how much the money people behind AE want to funnel at them (not through AE, I know). Perot 1992 or better is still completely possible. I know it’s counterintuitive right now, though.
As long as they clear 5% they will keep it viable for the future.
Above that, they will have to spend major money to get to debate levels – but several potential candidates have it, e.g., Bloomberg, Huntsman through his father, Whitman, Trump; others would just need a superpac transfusion.
AE will poll well, but not competitively. That’s my prediction. John Anderson, not early-1992 Ross Perot.
That very much remains to be seen. They may do much better than you think possible right now. However it is also possible that they were a contigency plan for something (say Santorum winning the Republican nomination or Ron Paul running as a Libertarian), and once it is clear that Romney has a clear path to the nomination and that there won’t be another serious alt party run such as Ron Paul challenging the status quo they may fall back to a less prominent campaign – say Roemer or Walker rather than Bloomberg. I think even in that event they will still want to make sure they get at least 5% as that will allow them to run for other offices in 2014, get tax subsidies etc.
Paulie,
Even so, I doubt they’d be a serious factor. They’ll do well by third party standards, but nowhere near what they were hoping for.
I’m still thinking Bloomberg is likely to end up on the ticket. If not P then VP.
Jed,
Don’t forget that AE may have lots of money and media even if Walker is the candidate. He may be an unknown now but he won’t stay that way once they roll him out. Or whoever.
There have been a bunch more since then. AE is way ahead now.
They’ll attract someone serious–if nothing else, Meg Whitman is a backer. she’s got better name recognition and vote-getting ability than Roemer.
AE will be on the ballot in every state in November. And if this unknown is their candidate, they’ll fail MISERABLY.
…will have in November
.imo.
I think Roemer’s interest in the Reform nomination show’s how serious he is abt being on the ballot in November.
This Walker fellow is a bit un-nerving. Sounding off about Americans Elect and yet either doesn’t know what he is talking abt, or in my opinion more likely, he is expressing an AE leaderships opinion abt the current slate of declared candidates. Very disrespectful toward Governor Roemer, and the whole pretense of anopen nomination system. Why put on the show if they are just going to push their own candidate?
And if Walker is the best name the AE leaders can get to run, there not in a good situation.
Via BAN April 2012, how ever you tabulate it (include “finished” state ballot petitions or not as actual achieved ballot lines), AE already has as many or more state ballot lines than the GPUSA will have in November.
Unless you have the May 1st edition of Ballot Access News (which is not out yet) you’re reading it wrong. Hawaii was included in the totals for the GP in the April 1st edition in any event.
My latest Ballot Access News paper subscription received via mail has the Green Party at 21 states. After that mailing, the Green Party of Hawaii was confirmed on the ballot yesterday.
Here’s video of Dr. Jill Stein last Tuesday morning saying the Green Party is on the ballot in 21 states as of last week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7qNwOl-yYQ
After that mailing, the Green Party of Hawaii was confirmed on the ballot yesterday.
http://www.votejoinrun.us/news.html
The Greens are a Party, at true American political party grown from the grassroots with candidates running now, and every year at the local, state, and or federal level.
“The Green Party has more ballot lines than these latest corporate hacks.”
Not according to Ballot Access News. As of April 1st Americans Elect was certified on the ballot in 21 states while the Greens are certified on 19 states and DC.
The Green Party has more ballot lines than these latest corporate hacks.
The Green Party’s Dr. Jill Stein is a serious, intelligent, collaborative candidate for the Greens nomination to President. Dr. Stein’s “fiscal hawk” positive solutions make a great deal more sense.
Dr. Stein, Rosanne Barr, Dr. Kent Mesplay – the Greens vying for the nomination, are much more serious citizen voices than the corporate mouth pieces.
America has one corporate party claiming to be two. We don’t need another corporate flunky.
We need a strong political unified Green voice – that Dr. Stein is building with the help of thousands of Greens, and the clever celebrity of Rosanne Barr across America.
The Green Party is the serious political alternative on the ballot, not only for President. The Greens are fielding more candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Governor, state legislature, and local office every day.
Like Green Party’s Melissa Schlag.
Melissa Schlag Green Party Running for CT State Senate Seat
http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2012/04/23/melissa-schlag-running-for-ct-state-senate-seat/
Or, Steve Schlecter
Steve Schechter Green Party candidate for commissioner
Steve Schechter joins commissioner race
Running on Green Party ticket
http://www.votejoinrun.us/news.html
Jed Siple–he’s pretty well known in the media, for whatever reason, but i have found his name recognition is really low.
David Walker is the former Comptroller of the United States. For the past several years he has traveled the country talking about the national debt and unfunded liabilities. About 5 years ago, I had the opportunity to attend one of his conferences with the Concord Coalition.
Who the Hell is David Walker?
Root Sucks–he’s also running for the Reform Party nomination. I have NO idea why.
What is he talking about with the Reform Party and Buddy Roemer? Buddy Roemer has been running at the AE nomination pretty hardcore. Walker, as a prospective candidate should know this. Furthermore, as someone who is nominally representing the alternative/third-party movement on a major cable network he should know about the sad state of the current Reform Party, which has but a handful of members and activists.