(H/T: AoSHQ) Mike Rowe comes across as not wanting to get involved in politics unless he absolutely has to be – a sensible notion – so I don’t mean anything scolding when I note that there’s a flaw in these last two paragraphs:
However – when Howard Dean called [Governor Scott Walker] “unknowledgeable,” he rolled out more than a stereotype. He rolled a pencil across the desk, and gave Scott Walker eight minutes to knock it out of the park.
It’ll be fun to see if he does.
…which is to say: Scott Walker already did that. That’s why the former head of the DNC* is so assiduously attacking the three-time winner Governor of Wisconsin; Scott Walker already had that interview, and he had it despite the best efforts of the Democratic party. Which is not to say that Walker, or anybody else, is a lock for either the nomination or the Presidency. Merely that the major reason why Dean is out there is because he’s realized that the situation already requires a little damage control on the part of Democrats.
Expect this kind of treatment towards any other Republicans doing well in the public eye. Especially if Hillary Clinton turns out not to run, after all. It’ll be quite amusingly panic-stricken…
Moe Lane
*Howard Dean was also the governor of a sleepy little state – seriously, Vermont has a population about as large as Monmouth County in NJ – and, not coincidentally, ran for President in 2004. It looks at the moment that Scott Walker will go farther on that score than Howard Dean ever did; and yet, Howard has a medical degree while Scott simply has a high school one. But I bet that those grapes are probably sour anyway, right, Doctor Dean?
I’m an unashamed Mike Rowe fanboi. That kind of stuff shows up all the time on his Facebook page. He’s articulate, well spoken, intelligent and extremely funny.
I think his full response, which was quite lengthy, was absolutely outstanding.
I get your quibble with the end, but again, Rowe isn’t a political guy. Plus, Walker will have to knock it out of the park again now that he’s going to run for President.
That’s probably one of the most enjoyable reads I’ve had in a long time. Had no idea who Mike Rowe was though I’ve heard his name in the context of media.
The comments were good too, especially this one:
Christopher McCarthy What I want to know is, “WHERE CAN I GET A DAMN PENCIL??” Because never in my life have I wanted one so much.
Lesson for Howard Dean, et al, college books might provide “academic” knowledge, but it compares little to the real learning that takes place when actually ‘living’.
I’ve been a Mike Rowe fan since his “Dirty Jobs” show hit my radar. Work fascinates me, I could watch it for hours, and .. Dirty Jobs delivered.
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Then .. an interesting thing happened .. Rowe noticed that a common complaint, from the jobs he was visiting, was “we can’t find anyone to hire”. Good paying jobs going empty, because kids aren’t learning the skills because they’ve been told to go to college.
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Rowe went on to set up a scholarship fund to help get broke kids connected with trade schools that could get them the skills needed to get these jobs.. and it’s been a huge success.
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If you follow Rowe on Facebook, there’s a “Draft Mike Rowe” meme that crops up from time to time and .. while I’m not jumping on that bandwagon, we could do a *lot* worse. (glares at Howard Dean)
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So .. yeah. Got my pencil … do you?
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Mew
” It’ll be quite amusingly panic-stricken…”
What would be the real panic-stricken would be if the Republicans take the White House and hold the House and Senate. The vast amount of e-mails and paperwork generated by the bureaucracy would, in my opinion, be impossible to sanitize before that takeover, a takeover that could result in all of that stonewalled information getting to Congress.*
*Yes, yes, I know that no one in the bureaucracy will help a Republican. The problem with that theory is that there are plenty of people in the bureaucracy who do not like their cozy home getting all of that political attention and would like to see those that drew the Eye upon them** get what’s coming to them.
*Classical reference.
He rolled a pencil across the desk, and gave Scott Walker eight minutes to knock it out of the park.
Heh…a variant of the ole rolling pen close. When a buyer hesitates to pick up the pen and sign a satisfactory, negotiated contract on the table, you accidentally drop your pen so that it rolls across the table in front of the customer headed for the floor. Most catch/pick up the pen and once the pen is in hand will sign…classic Dale Carnegie.
Yep. Doesn’t work on me, though .. sure, I’ll catch the pen … and then set it back on the table.
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If I’m feeling snarky, I’ll say something like “Nice try”.
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Mew
Hate to say this, Moe, but .. I think you have made one of the classic errors** here.
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No, not going in against a Sicilian when death is on the line .. rather, your argument (that Walker has already done this..) is based on an “insider” viewpoint.
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Walker will need to do it again. And again. And again. Every time there’s a new audience, he’ll need to perform. What I take from the history in Wisconsin is that he’s up to the challenge, despite being – as one Lib put it within earshot – “an odd looking homunculus of a man”.
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Mew
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p.s. said Lib was wishing Minnesota governor Dayton would jump in the race .. I agreed that Dayton should certainly jump in!
Fair enough, fair enough. Mind you, the WI GOP announced today that Right-to-Work is their very next project, so I guess that we’ll just see, huh?