The Job Interview

This is a job interview based on somewhat condensed questions, but with very real responses from the hypothetical job candidate. Even without any hint of sexual assault allegations, is this a guy you'd hire?

Interviewer (I): Good afternoon, Mr. O'Kavanaugh (O'K). We're here to see if you'd be a good fit for our organization. We're looking for a person of even temperament, a person of outstanding moral character.

I: First question, did you drink beer in high school?

Hypothetical job applicant during his interview

O'K: Yes, we drank beer.My friends and I, the boys and girls. Yes, we drank beer. I liked beer. Still like beer. We drank beer. The drinking age was 18, so the seniors were legal, senior year in high school, people were legal to drink, and we — yeah, we drank beer, and I said sometimes — sometimes probably had too many beers, and sometimes other people had too many beers…. We drank beer. We liked beer.

I: Um, okay. In your high school yearbook, it mentions "ralphing." Does that pertain to alcohol?

O'K: I was at the top of my class academically, busted my butt in school. Captain of the varsity basketball team. Got in Yale College. When I got into Yale College, got into Yale Law School. Worked my tail off.

I: Maybe you didn't understand the question, Mr. O'Kavanaugh. Does "the ralphing" reference pertain to alcohol?

O'K: I like beer.  I like beer. I don’t know if you do…. Do you like beer, (interviewer), or not? What do you like to drink? (Interviewer), what do you like to drink?

I: Um, let's kind of keep on this topic just a bit longer since you've mentioned, at times, that you had too many beers. Have you ever drunk so much that you've not remembered what happened?

O'K: No, I remember what happened. I think you've probably had beers, (interviewer). You're asking about blackouts,...have you? 

I: Um, what?

O'K: I'm curious if you have.

I: Let's move on. Is there anything else you'd like to say?

O'K: This whole (interview process) has been a calculated and orchestrated hit fueled with apparent pent-up anger about (the current organization CEO)  and (his ascension to the position), fear that has been unfairly stoked about my (job performance record), revenge on behalf of the (guy who ran this organization 17 years ago and his wife) and millions of dollars in money from (competing organizations)!

I: Thanks for coming in. We'll let you know.

The Cry of the Desperate

The title sounds as though this is about Trump and his minions, throwing one conspiracy theory after another to detract from corruption found within Trump's administration.

But it's not.

Today, I'm going back to my roots to talk about the man who made this whole blog possible all those years ago: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

Walker is desperate. I can tell because he's lashing out.

Similar to Trump's team (to which Walker has sidled up), Walker's squad has taken to slinging mud. He continues to repeat debunked and salacious claims that his Dem opponent, State Superintendent Tony Evers, let accused teachers keep their teaching licenses (despite investigations and numerous fact checks showing Evers simply could not have legally revoked them). Walker even had his team scrape up yet another possible case to promote against Evers (which, of course, again, was debunked). Even Walker's Lt. Gov. Kleefish pulled out the racism dog whistle to claim (she heard) her Dem opponent took a knee for the national anthem at a public event (which was attended--and the inflammatory accusation easily debunked--by numerous other government officials in attendance that day).

If that's not desperate, I'm not sure what is.

Before Trump's Tweets and the nationwide GOP meltdown, I never thought Scott Walker might lose his reelection campaign. He's upheld some promises (i.e, to endanger the environment to cater to corporations),and has taken credit for state unemployment numbers in a recovering economy (although his "floor" to create 250,000 jobs in his first term fell woefully short). Walker has even taken on some humanitarian/compassionate ideas from Dems (which he will undoubtedly abandon if re-elected).

And, still, Dem challenger Tony Evers maintains a lead in the polls.

Maybe it's because of Walker's disdain for urban areas, or public schools, or university professors fostering free thought, or his incredible dropping-the-ball in regards to our state's crumbling infrastructure. Or maybe it's because Walker and his folks have provided massive funding to foreign corporations to build here (of which conditions of the agreement have already been altered by the corporation). Possibly, Wisconsin is fed up with Walker's promises to make better the juvenile detention facilities, instead opening them to massive abuse and neglect of their charges. Maybe people facing losing their health care are nervous. Or maybe Evers's lead is due to Walker's claims of massive education funding, which don't yet match the massive cuts he made (not to mention the funding siphoned from public to private schools).

Who knows?

I originally didn't think Evers could win because of his ties to public education (which Walker and company have spent years marginalizing and even demonizing). But now that I see it in a new light--that of Walker's "accomplishments" and the substance of that which he highlights in his campaign and commercials--I'm thinking Evers can win and be an effective and unifying leader.

But let's just sit back and see what other kind of mud our desperate Governor starts slinging.

I have a feeling it might make even Donald Trump proud.