Quote of the Day 08-18-2010

Today’s edition comes from James Wigderson,

Of course, I’m just shocked, shocked, at the possibility that ridership numbers might be inflated.

Yeah, me, too.

Scott Walker, college dropouts, and media coverage

Two friends (at least online friends) posted recently on remarks Scott Walker made to reporters after the debate in Oconomowoc. They based their posts on this article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel which “quoted” Scott Walker as saying,

Walker said he didn’t graduate because he got a job and he suggested that in the current economy college students close to graduating might consider doing the same.

Pretty plain and they drew their conclusions.

Might not be as simple.

At least when you look at the report on WITI channel 6  locally, which seems to have the entire quote. Here’s what Walker said,

“Bottom line is, I was offered a job. Like any person going into their senior year, right now particularly in this economy, if they were offered a job their senior year of college, I think most people these days would take it. That’s what I did at the American Red Cross.”

Kinda different to me. And I don’t necessarily blame the Journal Sentinel reporter although I would encourage him to work on that. But the quote in the Journal Sentinel, if read alone, is misleading.

Therefore my conclusions would be different from Chris and Cindy (although I don’t presume to think I’m changing anyone’s mind here).

Here’s my paraphrase of what Walker said:

In this economy, any senior who got a good job offer like I did at the Red Cross, might consider leaving school, since their prospects are dim even if they stay in school.

It goes without saying that it’s up to interpretation.

The Left’s other concern is voiced by Xoff,

Scott Walker, the degree-less candidate for governor, continues to describe his college career in ways that are terribly misleading if not outright fibs.

Xoff, in a magnanimous moment, says something I’ve been thinking about since this issue came up,

I don’t care whether he has a degree or not. Many dropouts, from Bill Gates to Lady Gaga to your truly (who falls somewhere in between those two) have had some success.

I don’t look at a candidate’s educational qualifications that much when deciding on a candidate. Certainly Mark Neumann and Tom Barrett are very well educated. Scott Walker does have experience running a government with a legislative body of the opposite persuasion. He’s won elections in a county that usually votes overwhelmingly Democratic.

I haven’t decided between the two yet, but I certainly wouldn’t rule out Walker because he didn’t finish college.

Russ Feingold – 2nd amendment advocate?

That’s right. Look at how this Craig Gilbert article in Sunday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel starts:

You won’t find too many Democrats these days attacking their conservative opponents for being soft on gun rights.

But that’s exactly what Sen. Russ Feingold did last week in a radio ad, trading fire with GOP challenger Ron Johnson over who’s a better friend of the Second Amendment.

“I have been one of the true leaders in fighting for a greater right to bear arms,” Feingold said in an interview last week.

My conservative friends are guffawing about now, and although Feingold doesn’t get good marks from the NRA, neither does he seem to get good marks from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

It seems mixed enough. he even seems to support concealed carry.

Not good enough for either side.

A maverick?

At least on guns.

Look, I’ll never vote for Feingold.

But he does seem to be a moderate on gun control.

A moderate? A DINO?

Nahhh.

Unfortunately for Ms. Rice, followers of God are not allowed to pick and choose

“In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life.”

via LA Times.

Ms. Rice comes at Christianity from her Catholic persuasion and I agree with some of her criticisms.

And some also depends on what she means by “anti”.

For example, I believe Democrats are wrong most of the time on most issues. Does that make me “anti?” If so, oh well. In fact the terminology confuses me.

Which makes me think she’s confused.

“Republicans draw few contrasts in governor debate”

Republican candidates for governor Scott Walker and Mark Neumann drew few contrasts on Friday in the first of three debates before the Sept. 14 primary.

via Madison.com.

There’s a reason for that–they’re both conservative!

The rest of the crap that’s happened in this campaign is because there is basically no ideological difference between Walker and Neumann.

So it’s degenerated, for the most part into “You do this.” No, I don’t.” kind of campaign.

Distasteful to many (mostly in SE Wisconsin) who would simply like to anoint Scott Walker as the Republican nominee, I’m sure, it will be invaluable should Walker (yes, he still has to win the primary) win the nomination.

The only question is if such bitter campaigning leaves the winner without the support of the loser.

Barrett, Neumann, Walker agree!

The three major candidates for governor in Wisconsin are united in their opposition to toll roads for all drivers.

via Today’s TMJ4.

Refreshing, isn’t it?