As much as I would love to believe Walker's hands are undeniably dirty in this illegal campaign donation scandal (in which William Gardner, president and CEO of Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co., funneled tens of thousands of dollars in donations to Walker through W & S employees last year), (1,2) it seems a pretty hard sell on several fronts.
First off, once the donations were realized to have been illegal, it appears Walker's campaign returned the funds to Gardner and his employees. (1,2,3)
Secondly, both Gardner and Walker alerted the Government Accountability Board (regarding campaign financing) when the situation was revealed. (3)
Lastly, most telling and seemingly so VERY unlike the current state administration, Gardner's company was supposedly not in a position to benefit from his donation--instead, his railroad would have benefitted greatly from the new tracks laid for the Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail, which Walker killed even before his first day in office (3,4) (although according to Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV4, Gardner's company is in line for plenty of money in Walker's current budget). (5)
But I don't think this is what a lot of us thought it would be. For those looking for the scandal, deception, or ethical violation that will bring down Scott Walker, this won't be it. Instead, for you, I just have one word:
Patience.
ADDENDUM: It's starting to stink a bit more: Gardner, who claims he didn't know it was improper (1) was strongly fined for doing essentially the same thing ($5000 through his daughter) in 2005, TO WALKER'S CAMPAIGN. Take a look at the criminal complaint yourself (here, through JS Online article) (1,6) and see what you think (it also contains some communications between Walker and Gardner, including Gardner asking for some government preferential treatment). According to GAB officials, this is all something that wouldn't have been discovered without a tip from Gardner's "friend." (7)
Hmmmm...let's just see how this all plays out, after all...
Thanks to The Political Environment for scrutinizing the Criminal Complaint (click here for post)
(1) Railroad executive charged...,WI State Journal, 4/11/11, http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/blog/article_d2f5df16-644b-11e0-8834-001cc4c03286.html
(2) Railroad exec charged..., JS Online, 4/11/11, http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119595644.html
(3) Walker donor broke...rules, JS Online, 5/19/2010, http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/94344739.html
(4) Statement from the US Dept. of Transportation, 12/9/10, http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot20810.html
(5) Railroad Executive Pleads Guilty..., Today's TMJ4 News Live at Six, 4/11/11, http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/119596904.html?video=pop&t=a&bctid=CLIP_ID_1447930
(6) Criminal Complaint against William E. Gardner, 4/11/11, http://media.jsonline.com/documents/railroad-exec-041111.PDF
(7) WISN News at Ten, video from 2 PM GAB/Milw DA News conference 4/11/11
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
WHO won't steal the election?
In an interview with Newsmax.com, Governor Walker vows that union leaders won't steal the election from David Prosser. (1)
Huh? Which candidate has more reason to question voting irregularities?
Governor, how about "We know there were some questions with the clerk's handling of votes in Waukesha County, so we'll make sure everything is above board?"
Nope. My governor, yet again, jumps right over conciliatory to combative.
And Walker maintains in the interview that "it is clear" that Republicans did not violate the open meetings law to pass budget repair which, of course, he is confident the Supreme Court will uphold (which includes Prosser who just happens to be the candidate Walker's administration said would be essential to further their agenda). (2)
I'm guessing, then, they haven't been even entertaining other possibilites. For what it's worth, my senator, Grothman, e-mailed me April 5, regarding my question as to whether they'd be re-passing budget repair that "discussions were underway." (3)
But now Walker and his colleagues won't have to worry about that. They'll just have to worry about keeping the possibility of "union thugs" in the headlines, to divert attention from their own "irregularities."
ADDENDUM: The Newsmax interview also intimates that Kloppenburg received an inordinate amount of outside campaign money. Politifact estimated that Prosser spent 38% more such money than did she. (4)
(1) Governor Walker Vows..., Newsmax.com, http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/scott-walker-prosser-election/2011/04/10/id/392402
(2) Walker agenda could be stopped, if Prosser is defeated, JS Online, 4/5/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119285829.html
(3) Personal e-mail correspondence from Sen. Glenn Grothman, 4/5/11
(4) Politifact, JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/apr/10/charlie-sykes/charlie-sykes-says-joanne-kloppenburg-had-3-1-adva/
Huh? Which candidate has more reason to question voting irregularities?
Governor, how about "We know there were some questions with the clerk's handling of votes in Waukesha County, so we'll make sure everything is above board?"
Nope. My governor, yet again, jumps right over conciliatory to combative.
And Walker maintains in the interview that "it is clear" that Republicans did not violate the open meetings law to pass budget repair which, of course, he is confident the Supreme Court will uphold (which includes Prosser who just happens to be the candidate Walker's administration said would be essential to further their agenda). (2)
I'm guessing, then, they haven't been even entertaining other possibilites. For what it's worth, my senator, Grothman, e-mailed me April 5, regarding my question as to whether they'd be re-passing budget repair that "discussions were underway." (3)
But now Walker and his colleagues won't have to worry about that. They'll just have to worry about keeping the possibility of "union thugs" in the headlines, to divert attention from their own "irregularities."
ADDENDUM: The Newsmax interview also intimates that Kloppenburg received an inordinate amount of outside campaign money. Politifact estimated that Prosser spent 38% more such money than did she. (4)
(1) Governor Walker Vows..., Newsmax.com, http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/scott-walker-prosser-election/2011/04/10/id/392402
(2) Walker agenda could be stopped, if Prosser is defeated, JS Online, 4/5/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119285829.html
(3) Personal e-mail correspondence from Sen. Glenn Grothman, 4/5/11
(4) Politifact, JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/apr/10/charlie-sykes/charlie-sykes-says-joanne-kloppenburg-had-3-1-adva/
Saturday, April 9, 2011
What, me worry?
Sure, changes in my working conditions and pay as a public employee will be further determined by a State Supreme Court decision. But, no problem, because the Court follows the state Constitution, right?
And it just so happens that it looks as though the candidate the Walker administration said would best further its agenda (1) happened to spring ahead in the election after all the results had already been announced.
And, just by coincidence, the clerk who found the votes in a pro-Walker county happened to work a few years back in a GOP caucus for Republican Assemblyman David Prosser just before the caucus was dissolved for illegal actions (a clerk, by the way, whose secretive and inaccurate vote-reporting methods have been criticized before). (2,3)
But I can rest easy regarding any improprieties because the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (who just happened to endorse David Prosser) has declared that the missing votes made sense. (4)
The Capital Times editorialized that if this had happened in Illinois, for example, and that the Dems there just happened to find 7500 more votes for their candidate (coincidentally, about the number needed to stop a recount), you bet people would scrutinize it. (5)
But, thank goodness, this is Wisconsin.
What, me worry?
Great link about civility in recall campaign: April 9 entry of Mark Peterson's Glenn Grothmann Watch
Thanks to The Political Environment for the Cap Times editorial tip.
(1) Walker agenda could be stopped, if Prosser is defeated, JS Online, 4/5/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119285829.html
(2) Election officials scrutinize Waukesha County results, JS Online, 4/8/11, http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119486574.html
(3) Waukesha County clerk has drawn criticisms in the past, WI State Journal, 4/9/11, http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_7e777016-62b2-11e0-9b74-001cc4c002e0.html
(4) The Waukesha Surprise..., JS Online, 4/8/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119476004.html
(5) Scandal in Fitzwalkerstan...,Cap Times, 4/8/11, http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_be206ecd-4b8d-571a-9fa2-cb4e5bf8e668.html
And it just so happens that it looks as though the candidate the Walker administration said would best further its agenda (1) happened to spring ahead in the election after all the results had already been announced.
And, just by coincidence, the clerk who found the votes in a pro-Walker county happened to work a few years back in a GOP caucus for Republican Assemblyman David Prosser just before the caucus was dissolved for illegal actions (a clerk, by the way, whose secretive and inaccurate vote-reporting methods have been criticized before). (2,3)
But I can rest easy regarding any improprieties because the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (who just happened to endorse David Prosser) has declared that the missing votes made sense. (4)
The Capital Times editorialized that if this had happened in Illinois, for example, and that the Dems there just happened to find 7500 more votes for their candidate (coincidentally, about the number needed to stop a recount), you bet people would scrutinize it. (5)
But, thank goodness, this is Wisconsin.
What, me worry?
Great link about civility in recall campaign: April 9 entry of Mark Peterson's Glenn Grothmann Watch
Thanks to The Political Environment for the Cap Times editorial tip.
(1) Walker agenda could be stopped, if Prosser is defeated, JS Online, 4/5/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119285829.html
(2) Election officials scrutinize Waukesha County results, JS Online, 4/8/11, http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119486574.html
(3) Waukesha County clerk has drawn criticisms in the past, WI State Journal, 4/9/11, http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_7e777016-62b2-11e0-9b74-001cc4c002e0.html
(4) The Waukesha Surprise..., JS Online, 4/8/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119476004.html
(5) Scandal in Fitzwalkerstan...,Cap Times, 4/8/11, http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_be206ecd-4b8d-571a-9fa2-cb4e5bf8e668.html
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
So, it's not a referendum...?
As Scott Walker once more declares that the Wisconsin Supreme Court vote is not a referendum on his administration's policies (1) , his Republican colleague Jeff Stone is at home dumbfounded as to why he's not celebrating a victory in Walker's vacated Milwaukee County Executive postition. Instead, Stone got absolutely trounced (61%-39%) by an inexperienced political unknown, Chris Abele. And JoAnne Kloppenburg, a non-factor in the Supreme Court primary in February (25% of the vote, compared to Prosser's 55%), is the leader in the clubhouse for the justice post.
Not a referendum, huh?
When Walker won the gubernatorial election in 2010 by a not-landslide-like 52%-47% margin, he was all about how his subsequent policies were what the people of Wisconsin wanted. He and his Republican colleagues in the Legislature certainly acted as though they felt that was a referendum on his policies (or, at times, perhaps a divine command?) (2)
Unlike that election, though, voters here knew the real costs. They didn't have their candidates lie about collective bargaining, (3) or consolidate political power to appease corporate investors (4) , or say things to purposely mislead the people of Wisconsin (see previous posts).
Kloppenburg's possible election may be nothing more than something akin to a mosquito bite on the neck of Walker's administration, but a slew of them may just have him and his friends running for cover.
On, Wisconsin.
(1) Supreme Court vote doesn't shake Walker's resolve, WI State Journal, http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3e2fac38-60b6-11e0-ae09-001cc4c002e0.html
(2) Scott Walker Believes He's Follwoing Orders From the Lord, The Progressive, 3/7/11 http://www.progressive.org/wx030711.html
(3) Politifact, JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/feb/22/scott-walker/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-says-he-campaigned-his-/
(4) Yes, a power grab, JS Online, 12/27/10, http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/112522499.html
Not a referendum, huh?
When Walker won the gubernatorial election in 2010 by a not-landslide-like 52%-47% margin, he was all about how his subsequent policies were what the people of Wisconsin wanted. He and his Republican colleagues in the Legislature certainly acted as though they felt that was a referendum on his policies (or, at times, perhaps a divine command?) (2)
Unlike that election, though, voters here knew the real costs. They didn't have their candidates lie about collective bargaining, (3) or consolidate political power to appease corporate investors (4) , or say things to purposely mislead the people of Wisconsin (see previous posts).
Kloppenburg's possible election may be nothing more than something akin to a mosquito bite on the neck of Walker's administration, but a slew of them may just have him and his friends running for cover.
On, Wisconsin.
(1) Supreme Court vote doesn't shake Walker's resolve, WI State Journal, http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3e2fac38-60b6-11e0-ae09-001cc4c002e0.html
(2) Scott Walker Believes He's Follwoing Orders From the Lord, The Progressive, 3/7/11 http://www.progressive.org/wx030711.html
(3) Politifact, JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/feb/22/scott-walker/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-says-he-campaigned-his-/
(4) Yes, a power grab, JS Online, 12/27/10, http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/112522499.html
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Out of both sides of his mouth (again...)
Very short post today about honesty and non-partisanship:
(From JS Online, 4/3/11) "Walker himself dismissed the idea that the race would be a referendum on the bargaining law or his agenda." (1)
(From JS Online, 4/5/11) "Walker's chief counsel, Brian Hagedorn sent an e-mail on the eve of the election urging people to vote for Prosser, saying keeping him on the court is essential to advancing Walker's agenda." (2)
(1) Bit players dominate state Supreme Court race, JS Online, 4/3/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119128299.html
(2) Walker agenda could be stopped, if Prosser is defeated, JS Online, 4/5/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119285829.html
(From JS Online, 4/3/11) "Walker himself dismissed the idea that the race would be a referendum on the bargaining law or his agenda." (1)
(From JS Online, 4/5/11) "Walker's chief counsel, Brian Hagedorn sent an e-mail on the eve of the election urging people to vote for Prosser, saying keeping him on the court is essential to advancing Walker's agenda." (2)
(1) Bit players dominate state Supreme Court race, JS Online, 4/3/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119128299.html
(2) Walker agenda could be stopped, if Prosser is defeated, JS Online, 4/5/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119285829.html
Monday, April 4, 2011
Brother, can you spare a job?
Thanks to Daniel Bice's piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today, Wisconsinites are aghast at the $81,500 job given to Brian Deschane, son of the leader of one of Walker's biggest PAC contributors, Wisconsin Builders Association. (1)
It's not just the favoritism causing the buzz, either. At least when the father of Walker's pals, the Fabulous Fitzgerald Boys, got the top post at the State Patrol, he had credentials. (2)
Walker's latest controversy, however, has a less-than-stellar resume for managing a department overseeing environmental and regulatory matters: little management experience, no college degree, and two drunk driving convictions (the most recent in 2008). (1) You can see what is reported to be Deschane's actual LinkedIn resume here (thanks to sally305 for the tip). NOTE: This link no longer works (4/8/11). Hopefully our Deschane friend, now resigned from all government posts, will still be able to secure employment without it...
And the fun won't stop with Deschane. Walker's budget repair, according to the Journal Sentinel "would make existing civil-service positions into 37 new political appointments...That would allow Walker and agency secretaries to hire and fire employees in those positions at will." (3)
So to appease Walker's big-money donors, he can offer positions such as Deschane's and at least 37 more?
That won't be nearly enough.
ADDENDUM: The very next day, Walker "took action" after getting caught with his pants down regarding cronyism--he "demoted" Deschane to a $62,000/year job. Walker demotes son of campaign contributor, JS Online, 4/5/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119283094.html
(1) No degree, little experience pay off big, JS Online, 4/3/11, http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/119159584.html
(2) Top lawmakers' father Stephen Fitzgerald to lead State Patrol, WI State Journal, 2/8/11 http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_5dbcb93c-3394-11e0-8091-001cc4c03286.html
(3) Walker gives himself more power..., JS Online,3/17/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118217614.html
It's not just the favoritism causing the buzz, either. At least when the father of Walker's pals, the Fabulous Fitzgerald Boys, got the top post at the State Patrol, he had credentials. (2)
Walker's latest controversy, however, has a less-than-stellar resume for managing a department overseeing environmental and regulatory matters: little management experience, no college degree, and two drunk driving convictions (the most recent in 2008). (1) You can see what is reported to be Deschane's actual LinkedIn resume here (thanks to sally305 for the tip). NOTE: This link no longer works (4/8/11). Hopefully our Deschane friend, now resigned from all government posts, will still be able to secure employment without it...
And the fun won't stop with Deschane. Walker's budget repair, according to the Journal Sentinel "would make existing civil-service positions into 37 new political appointments...That would allow Walker and agency secretaries to hire and fire employees in those positions at will." (3)
So to appease Walker's big-money donors, he can offer positions such as Deschane's and at least 37 more?
That won't be nearly enough.
ADDENDUM: The very next day, Walker "took action" after getting caught with his pants down regarding cronyism--he "demoted" Deschane to a $62,000/year job. Walker demotes son of campaign contributor, JS Online, 4/5/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119283094.html
(1) No degree, little experience pay off big, JS Online, 4/3/11, http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/119159584.html
(2) Top lawmakers' father Stephen Fitzgerald to lead State Patrol, WI State Journal, 2/8/11 http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_5dbcb93c-3394-11e0-8091-001cc4c03286.html
(3) Walker gives himself more power..., JS Online,3/17/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118217614.html
Sunday, April 3, 2011
So, um, Prosser never was a judge before, either...?
Amazing.
The adroit handling of the budget bills by Scott Walker and his pals has turned what should have been a cakewalk for the reelection of State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser into a real dogfight (pardon the mixed metaphors...). In the Feb. primary, in what was a relatively obscure race, Prosser garnered a commanding 55% of the vote, with Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg receiving but a scant 25%. (1)
Because of the well-warranted attention now given to the importance of this race's outcome and the future course of this state's law interpretation, we Wisconsinites have been subjected to obscene amounts of special interest money pouring into our state and airwaves, (2) literally spouting lies and misinformation from both sides (i.e., Kloppenburg put an 80 year old farmer in jail, Prosser knew about/did nothing about a pedophile priest). (3,4)
So that's given us a chance to focus on other things, such as Prosser's claim he was "deliberately goad(ed)" into calling the Wisconsin Chief Justice "a total bitch"(5) and the fact that Prosser's biggest personal selling point seems to be that Kloppenburg has never been a judge.
Guess what? Before his Supreme Court appointment by Tommy Thompson, NEITHER WAS PROSSER! (6, 7)
(From JS Online) "Walker himself dismissed the idea that the race would be a referendum on the bargaining law or his agenda." (8)
Guess what, Governor? You've made it just that.
And YOU gave Kloppenburg a shot.
Thanks.
ADDENDUM: The commercial pounding the airwaves right now is that Kloppenburg is weak on crime. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Supreme Court deal with constitutional issues, not criminals...?
(1) Prosser, Kloppenburg to Face Off in...Election, WI Law Journal, 2/16/11 http://wislawjournal.com/blog/2011/02/16/prosser-kloppenburg-to-face-off-in-supreme-court-general-election/
(2) Report: Outside Interest...ads, WI State Journal, 4/2/11 http://wislawjournal.com/blog/2011/02/16/prosser-kloppenburg-to-face-off-in-supreme-court-general-election/
(3) Politifaxt JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/apr/01/citizens-strong-america/ad-says-joanne-kloppenburg-jailed-80-year-old-farm/
(4) Politifact, JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/mar/29/greater-wisconsin-committee/greater-wisconsin-committee-says-supreme-court-jus/
(5) Supreme Court tensions boil over, JS Online, 3/19/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118310479.html
(6) Capital Times, 4/3/11 http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/article_9f560a25-5a32-5c2f-834c-cbe3d2b5da30.html
(7) Justice Prosser website http://www.justiceprosser.com/index.php/about-justice-prosser
(8) Bit players dominate state Supreme Court race, JS Online, 4/3/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119128299.html
The adroit handling of the budget bills by Scott Walker and his pals has turned what should have been a cakewalk for the reelection of State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser into a real dogfight (pardon the mixed metaphors...). In the Feb. primary, in what was a relatively obscure race, Prosser garnered a commanding 55% of the vote, with Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg receiving but a scant 25%. (1)
Because of the well-warranted attention now given to the importance of this race's outcome and the future course of this state's law interpretation, we Wisconsinites have been subjected to obscene amounts of special interest money pouring into our state and airwaves, (2) literally spouting lies and misinformation from both sides (i.e., Kloppenburg put an 80 year old farmer in jail, Prosser knew about/did nothing about a pedophile priest). (3,4)
So that's given us a chance to focus on other things, such as Prosser's claim he was "deliberately goad(ed)" into calling the Wisconsin Chief Justice "a total bitch"(5) and the fact that Prosser's biggest personal selling point seems to be that Kloppenburg has never been a judge.
Guess what? Before his Supreme Court appointment by Tommy Thompson, NEITHER WAS PROSSER! (6, 7)
(From JS Online) "Walker himself dismissed the idea that the race would be a referendum on the bargaining law or his agenda." (8)
Guess what, Governor? You've made it just that.
And YOU gave Kloppenburg a shot.
Thanks.
ADDENDUM: The commercial pounding the airwaves right now is that Kloppenburg is weak on crime. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Supreme Court deal with constitutional issues, not criminals...?
(1) Prosser, Kloppenburg to Face Off in...Election, WI Law Journal, 2/16/11 http://wislawjournal.com/blog/2011/02/16/prosser-kloppenburg-to-face-off-in-supreme-court-general-election/
(2) Report: Outside Interest...ads, WI State Journal, 4/2/11 http://wislawjournal.com/blog/2011/02/16/prosser-kloppenburg-to-face-off-in-supreme-court-general-election/
(3) Politifaxt JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/apr/01/citizens-strong-america/ad-says-joanne-kloppenburg-jailed-80-year-old-farm/
(4) Politifact, JS Online, http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/mar/29/greater-wisconsin-committee/greater-wisconsin-committee-says-supreme-court-jus/
(5) Supreme Court tensions boil over, JS Online, 3/19/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/118310479.html
(6) Capital Times, 4/3/11 http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/article_9f560a25-5a32-5c2f-834c-cbe3d2b5da30.html
(7) Justice Prosser website http://www.justiceprosser.com/index.php/about-justice-prosser
(8) Bit players dominate state Supreme Court race, JS Online, 4/3/11 http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119128299.html
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