Newly re-elected Gov. Scott Walker tells the Wall Street Journal’s hotshot editorial writer Joseph Rago that he’s confident he fits into the progressive tradition of Wisconsin’s Robert M. “Fighting Bob” La Follette.
I kid you not.
It was right there on the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper’s opinion page in a piece authored by Rago headlined “How Scott Walker keeps winning.”
The very idea that ultra-conservative Tea Party favorite thinks he fits into the progressive tradition of “Fighting Bob” La Follette shows a stunning lack of understanding about what kind of progressive “Fighting Bob” was. After all, Bob La Follette fought to implement a workers’ compensation system, for railroad rate reform, municipal home rule, the minimum wage, against big corporations, and for a system of progressive taxation. Perhaps most importantly La Follette fought for clean, honest government that was accountable to the citizens of Wisconsin. The things that Bob La Follette fought for – which are the very things that made him a progressive – are many of the same things Scott Walker has made a point of fighting against during his long career at the public trough.
I’m sure Scott Walker is not reading this blog post, but, Governor, you’re no Fighting Bob La Follete.
Well I wouldn’t call him a progressive either but the Act 10 fight against the corrupt government union sector definitely represents progress. So I guess it boils down to how one defines progressive.
I hear Scooter’s next move is to root out the prior corrupt campaign finance coordination between “issue advocacy,” groups and his very own campaign. Apparently proving criminality is not the threshold to overcome before initiating action anymore. Implying or charging union corruption without bringing those charges in court is the new standard that right-wingers will be holding groups to now? That’s very progressive of them.
Denis,
Which of the oligarchs belong to a union?
Thanks in advance.
Denis,
Which of the “corrupt public unions” run Wall Street?
Bank Of America Dumps $75 Trillion In Derivatives On U.S. Taxpayers With Federal Approval
http://seekingalpha.com/article/301260-bank-of-america-dumps-75-trillion-in-derivatives-on-u-s-taxpayers-with-federal-approval
To put $75 trillion in perspective, US GDP in 2012 was around $16.5 trillion. We blew a lot more than the $6 trillion they’re claiming in Iraq and Afghanistan. Social Security’s Trust Fund is around $2.3 trillion. Bank of America is just one Wall Street bank. They all have derivative exposure. I’ve seen estimates of $700 trillion, but I don’t think anyone knows.
Denis, cite me specific examples of government union corruption.
Zach, I have nothing specific to offer with the possible exception of the union insurance scam run by WEAC. And I should not have limited my corruption claim to the government unions. Rather, it was the symbiotic relationship enjoyed by the unions and Democrats wherein the Democrats ensured the unions pay and benefits well above market value and the unions ensured Democrats the votes. Over time this arrangement has caused the deterioration of our schools and an absolute guarantee that the Dems would fight any effort to reform the schools in any meaningful way, ie vouchers, or more generally, competition. Is this corruption of the illegal variety? No I don’t think so but that fact does not in any way mitigate the harmful effects of the Dem/union union has caused our state.
Charges of corruption are pretty serious when one has no evidence of any corruption having occurred. Then again, I’m not surprised you’d level those kinds of charges, because if a union is corrupt, it’s easier to rationalize taking away collective bargaining rights and sticking it to public employees.
As for WEA Trust, if that health insurer was so corrupt, why was it added as an HMO option for state employees a few years ago (under Scott Walker)?
Yes it is a serious charge and I did offer evidence, that being the lockstep cooperation between the Dems and the unions. This has been going on for years as they socked it to the taxpayers. Evidence you want? How about the Dems fleeing the state, avoiding their jobs in a desperate attempt to stop Act 10. None of this rises to the level of illegal corruption, but I submit that not all corruption is illegal, especially so when the corrupt are creating the laws. Fighting Republican corruption is what you do. Is it all of the illegal variety? Is it not possible that some of the worst abuses in government are not illegal? If a Republican president, frustrated with Congress, decided to issue an executive order that promised the 1% that they wouldn’t be audited, would that be corruption? It would be both corrupt and a violation of the Constitution, but I guess we won’t be talking about presidents who abuse the Constitution, unless it is a Republican.
Denis, you didn’t offer evidence of corruption; you offered your opinion that Democrats and public employee unions were in cahoots. If you’re so concerned about pay-to-play, why haven’t I seen more from you criticizing all the examples of pay-to-play within the Walker administration and state government under Republicans?
You’re bordering on hypocrisy here.
Well, busting the public unions has sure helped improve the state’s economy, hasn’t it. Still NO mention of actual corruption between unions and the Democratic Party, as Zach asked. Partisan, racist innuendo deluxe but not one fact, presented.
In the example offered, we’re asked to completely disregard any factors or other reasons for the, “supposed,” or actual degradation of public school educational outcome quality, especially those in racially, economically and purposely segregated, apartheid-like suppressed and distressed neighborhoods. No, only possible reason ascertained from behind the white hood, lit by his flaming cross is that greedy unions and teachers were and are the true demons to be exorcised. Haven’t we waded through enough of this moronic muck before?
Oh, and if you’re so concerned about corruption, why haven’t I seen you write anything about the corruption that seems to have been so rampant among close aides and donors to Scott Walker? Isn’t that more than a little disconcerting to you, give Walker’s close ties to so many now-convicted felons?
To be honest, I haven’t paid much attention to the aides of Scott Walker. The subject seems to have been beaten to death and no doubt exaggerated here at BB. That said, I am no fan of corruption among Republicans or Democrats. I do believe that some corruption (of the legal variety) is virtually impossible to avoid in elected positions, especially the higher the office. An anecdote – I have a friend who is considering a run for local office who is it seems very troubled by the problem of needing to raise money and at the same time communicating clearly that donors will not receive any special treatment. I think I will donate to the campaign if the decision is to run for the office.
Denis wrote: “To be honest, I haven’t paid much attention”
Should have stopped right there.
Denis wrote: “to the aides of Scott Walker.”
“Former Walker aide Tim Russell gets prison for stealing from veterans group”
http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/former-walker-aide-tim-russell-gets-prison-for-stealing-from/article_fbe19ae6-64b7-11e2-a1ae-0019bb2963f4.html
Denis wrote: “The subject seems to have been beaten to death and no doubt exaggerated here at BB.”
Were you lying when you wrote you hadn’t been paying “attention,” or were you lying when you wrote, “The subject seems to have been beaten to death and no doubt exaggerated here at BB.”
Denis wrote: “That said, I am no fan of corruption among Republicans or Democrats.”
Please, provide a link to one BB thread in which you have called out a Republican for corruption.
Denis wrote: “I do believe that some corruption (of the legal variety) is virtually impossible to avoid in elected positions, especially the higher the office.”
Is this why no Wall Street CEO’s have been indicted?
Denis wrote: “An anecdote – I have a friend who is considering a run for local office who is it seems very troubled by the problem of needing to raise money and at the same time communicating clearly that donors will not receive any special treatment.”
What’s your friend’s name?
For what office are they running?
He’s learned that if you repeat anything long enough the uninformed public will believe it. They’re too lazy to research anything on their own, so they just get spoon fed all the information and regurgitate it later. We are sooo f**ked!
As long as we are changing the subject, can we talk about leakages again? Can we please?
Denis,
No.
“If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime.”
Depends . . .
Crap they may be, but Walker’s remarks aren’t meant for us. Wisconsinites are just his lab rats. This is all part of the plan to sell him to the national, corporatized MSM. And I think it will work.
EmmaR…………..Right you are …we are all just peons in the great conservative experiment that Walker and Vos have foisted upon the people of Wisconsin. Those OF US WHO VOTED AGAINST HIM AND THOSE THAT VOTED FOR HIM are now subject to his implementing legislation that promotes his presidential goals …NOT “MOVING WISCONSIN FORWARD” as he campaigned. Two weeks after the election his true colors have come forward that his agenda is to be president not to serve the State of Wisconsin for the next 4 years. He is now approaching his 2nd term and he has already dropped his 2nd BOMB! Don’t blink because you’re about to see the fastest dumping of state assets to cronies and legislation rammed through at lightening speed that establishes him as the nation’s fiscal hero while we wallow in the human destruction he leaves in his wake!
Bob La Follett would consider Walker the disease he tried to cure during his career.
Exactly Dice- Walker and his puppetmasters are the definition of the “money power” that La Follette battled his entire career. And that’s the true battle this country is in for this Gilded Age of the 2010s.
The Orwellian nature of Walker’s blabbing should make anyone with an ounce of decency realize this guy is bad news.
Back from the resident troll’s 2nd derailing of the topic.
Scooter’s Delusions of Grandeur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandiose_delusions
Take a look at the link and find any part of the definition that doesn’t fit.
Perhaps that attack by the kitchen cabinet did more than cause hair loss.