Scott Walker follows trend of political division

Scott Walker follows trend of political division

If dividing the U.S. in half is the modern standard for American Presidents, Scott Walker’s political background fits the bill.

In the wake of widespread legislative victories for the Republican Party in 2014, the 2016 Presidential race is beginning to take shape. As Republican strategists search for candidates to win another branch of government, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is drawing substantial interest, after delivering a well-received speech to his party base in Iowa over the weekend.

Walker is widely known for his 2011 battle with public-sector unions, after proposing a bill to significantly change pensions and bargaining rights of public employees. This bill, known as the “Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill” or “2011 Wisconsin Act 10“ divided Wisconsin dramatically.

As labor unions historically align with the Democrats, and Republicans historically criticize the biased political relationships of unions, the bill drew large protests, and captured the national attention of political pundits looking to project their platforms onto the public.

Scott Walker’s approval ratings in Wisconsin, and his potential bid for the U.S. Presidency, highlight the vicious cycle of divisive politics in America.

In the 2014 Wisconsin election, Governor Walker won 52 percent of the vote, and most recently carries a 47 percent approval rating. This number seems low, but Gallup polls show President Obama’s approval rating averages 47 percent and President George W. Bush carried an average approval of 49 percent.

If dividing the U.S. in half is the modern standard for American Presidents, Scott Walker’s political background fits the bill.

Republican donors Charles and David Koch attended Walker’s speech, and are seen by many as field generals in battle to divide America. According to sources, the Koch’s plan on spending $900 million to support Republican candidates in 2016. To match the Koch political influence, 900,000 Americans would have to donate $1,000 to a political campaign. It is important to note the two men only account for two votes.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton appears to be the early front-runner, with equally unimpressive support in polls after losing the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary. Whomever the Democrats choose as their candidate, can expect Koch-like funding from billionaire George Soros among others.

Other names beginning to surface for the 2016 Presidential race include billionaire Mitt Romney, who has lost two Presidential bids, Jeb Bush, who like Clinton, hopes to use name recognition to become the most powerful person in the world, and Chris Christie who also polls around 49 percent in approval.

Clinton and Bush are names loved and loathed behind party lines. Christie and Walker have their share of scrutiny.

While Joe Biden seems to be the natural party selection for Democrats, he is also polling around “less than half-favorable” numbers.

Before money starts funneling into races, both parties should take a long look at the pool of candidates, and their poles. The War in Iraq, Obamacare, economic instability, and countless scandals spread throughout the past two Presidencies have torn the country in two.

As Scott Walker launched his political committee Our American Revival over the weekend, people are wondering if there will be a revival in 2016, or the same revolving door of personalities who pander to party politics and squeak into office, putting the rest of the country at risk to remain a nation divided.

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