C’mon conservatives….defend this.
The campaign treasurer for Gov. Scott Walker got detailed financial information from a top Walker aide about a real-estate deal he was bidding on, according to correspondence included in thousands of emails released Tuesday related to the closed John Doe investigation.
The probe, which began when Walker was serving as the Milwaukee County executive, showed real-estate broker John Hiller lobbied for the county to sell its City Campus building then got detailed information from a top Walker aide around the time bids were being evaluated to provide office space for workers to be displaced by the sale.
The emails show that Walker personally helped orchestrate the deal to benefit Hiller, who was representing a real-estate trust that owns the Reuss Federal Building in Milwaukee. That company sought to increase the amount of space rented in the building by Milwaukee County.
The emails show that Hiller, Walker’s campaign treasurer, was given information by Cindy Archer, director of the Department of Administration and that Hiller repeatedly lobbied Walker to adopt his offer.
“Sorry to be a pain on this one,” Hiller wrote to Walker in an Aug. 18, 2010, email. “I really think that our proposal saves the county about $3 million over 5 years. If I didn’t think it wasn’t good for the county, I would (sic) push it.”
Hiller told Walker he had talked to Archer and “she was getting some info for me and she and I may meet.”
As if the multiple criminal convictions of close Walker aides wasn’t proof enough, this latest revelation shows just how corrupt Scott Walker is.
While many believe government is supposed to serve the people, Scott Walker apparently believes government is supposed to serve as a piggy bank to his friends and supporters.
Zach, thanks.
Wonder how Judge Randa will enjoy reading these emails?
He’ll probably issue a ruling in favor of Hiller. That way he won’t have to wait for a case to come before him.
Can we add up the BILLIONS that Obama has given out in money to his friends… Oh wait thats right only republicans help out their buddies… Meanwhile nothing ever came of this “deal” so I don’t get your outrage…
chris,
It was trillions.
“Bank of America dumps $75 trillion in derivatives on US 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.
chris, why aren’t any of the Republicans in Washington talking about this?
#Benghazi…Benghazi….Benghazi….
Is Obama on the ballot in Wisconsin?
Obama is on the ballot in every election across the country. If the newly minted govenor is going to reach her hand out for more federal aid to prop up a broken health care system then yes Obama is. However the overwhellming point of the original post is that certain Liberals turn a complete blind eye to all of their friends indescretions. Walker is the anti-christ But Pres Obama and other politician of the Liberal persuasion continue to rob and steal from you and I alike with impunity.
chris,
You wrote: “If the newly minted govenor is going to reach her hand out for more federal aid to prop up a broken health care system then yes Obama is.”
That’s how we know you’re not a conservative.
If you were a conservative, you’d know that we’re off the gold standard and that means “(Federal) Taxes For Revenue Are Obsolete.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/warren-mosler/taxes-for-revenue-are-obs_b_542134.html
We don’t “borrow dollars from China, or from our children and grand children.”
From Zach’s link, “…In another series of email exchanges, Walker asked Hiller in June 2010 to have the broker for the Reuss building reject Milwaukee County’s request for a six-month lease extension on the building, setting up the need for the later deal that Reuss bid on….”
Why would Gov. Walker, as County Executive, ask Mr. Hiller to persuade a broker to reject MKE County’s request for a six-month lease extension?
Thanks in advance.
OT, do you have any links to liberals who called Gov. Walker the “anti-christ.”
There are those who would disagree with your assessment of Obama as liberal, Chris. A Reagan advisor, for one.
http://www.salon.com/2014/10/21/reagan_adviser_bruce_bartlett_face_it_obama_is_a_conservative/
Obviously you’ve missed or ignored the many comments and the posts here that criticized both political parties in bed with big business and that several recent surveys have Obomba falling in the polls for a number of reasons from TBTF Banks, war costs, NSA out of control and environmental destruction with dilbit, fracking, and any number of issues, especially one where he wants to ship more US jobs overseas under his secret TPP negotiations, in your sweeping indictment of all, “liberals” as being unconcerned about their favored politicians.
Next you wouldn’t know a liberal if you saw one or wouldn’t know how to define one to save yourself other than you think they don’t hold the same “beliefs,” as you. The point of the original “post” was Walker corruption as county executive. You shift the focus from Walker to Obomba in an attempt to minimize Walker’s deeds and that is obvious, but that is still not a defense of Walker for what Walker was clearly involved with prior to becoming Governor.
Your argument that with politicians, “everybody is corrupt,” is just as much a condemnation of Walker then, as it is of Obama, who, by the way, was not mentioned anywhere in the newspaper piece nor Zach’s piece, here.
If you cannot defend Walker on Walker’s email record or other facts related to those incidents mentioned about the real estate deal, cut the crap and cut your chatter, because that’s all it is and it is worthless for dismissing Walker’s, from the State Journal story, likely involvement in this particular piece of corruption.
My 5:06 am was a response to chris @3:40 am. and here is a continuation. Shorter chris, nice pile of inflammatory rhetoric, but an utter and total failure both in defending Walker and in condemning “Liberals.” Just out of curiousity on another big political issue in WI, are you public or private schooled?
Nonquixote:
Public yo!
You see I moved myself and family to an area that had achieving schools. Fortunately I was in a position to do so. Probably because of the free health care and fat pension I have been acruing working for the state of wisconsin.
I certainly don’t begrudge parents that would like to see expanded school choice so as to allow their children to escape the MPS and Madison school districts. *obviously every district has one or two schools that excel.
Are you satisfied with Mary Burke as a candidate or just voting for the “not Walker ticket” I for one am amused that she is the best they could trot out. Clearly a 1%er that spent more time holidaying rather than working is not the best candidate to carry the Liberal flag…
Thanks for answering the off-topic question about your schooling and your voluntary expansion on it.
Your having responded to nothing I wrote about your, “all politicians are crooks,” claims and innuendo, I take it that you have no challenge to what I said about that. As I said, you’ve failed to defend Walker’s behavior on the post topic or anywhere else for that matter.
As I can only wish that Mary Burke would extoll what I imagine you define as liberal ideas, certainly she fails the progressive tests I have in my definitions and falls absolutely nowhere near the socially democratic held ideals that are off almost all candidate’s radar, I guess that NOT being the subject of ongoing criminal investigations, NOT willfully allowing our natural resources to be polluted, NOT willfully sacrificing between 400 and 700 WI citizens a year to unnecessary death in refusing Federal medicaid money, while NOT saving WI $1M a day in the same refusal of funds, and NOT willfully pushing legislation to disenfranchise voters and NOT having spent $1.2M on a criminal defense fund, will have some bearing about whom I do eventually vote for.
Back to the topic, more revelations about Gov connections to corruption will also be an influence in my decision.
I’m also NOT surprised one bit that you admit to take delight in abusive and demeaning personal characterizations of other people. There are helpful community programs that you might want to look into for you family’s sake.
I apologize if I have not answered your questions to your satisfaction. I think it is clear as the prosecutors in John Doe proceedings have made it clear that Gov. Scott Walker has and is not a target of the investigations. I would assume that if he had done something illegal surely by now they would have been able to bring some charges against him but alas they have not. If there is easily gallery or corruption that is happening with people with in his staff by all means they should be prosecuted to the full list extent of the law again with the second John Doe proceeding there seems to be no charges brought against anyone. So to answer your question I do not see how the current batches of emails that discuss a strategy to respond to the initial allegations amongst some of walkers aids have anything to do with Walker himself. Obviously you can jump to any conclusion you want you can claim that obviously Walker new and maybe he did however no charges have been brought against the governor the prosecutors attorney in the John Doe proceedings has publicly stated that Walker is not under investigation nor has he ever been.
chris/Chris
Above, you wrote, “…Probably because of the free health care and fat pension I have been acruing working for the state of wisconsin. …”
Was your 8:13 a.m. comment made on the state taxpayer’s dime while working for the State of Wisconsin?
Not surprising that you don’t understand the legal terms, “target,” and “subject,” and the differences in how they are applied in any John Doe. The statements from Doe prosecutors that, “Walker is at the CENTER of the investigation into criminal activities relating to campaign finance law violations,” doesn’t exactly point to expected innocence when a corrupt partisan, Judge R Randa, has halted the investigation from proceeding, twice now, nor does it point to anyone jumping to conclusions in anticipating Walker’s eventually proven culpability.
The emails show that Walker was in the communication loop regarding potentially illegal bid-rigging, therefore he could have halted it or engaged in it. That is how it applies to him. Instigator or accessory to the fact.
John: No I wasn’t on the clock. Thanks for your question. Clearly if I was I would be doing something g that many liberal teachers and public employees do without nary a peep.
Once again I would say if there was evidence of wrongdoing g by walker. Charges would have been brought against him… Crickets is all I hear… What no charges? Odd
Chris, you’re welcome.
I had no idea Mark Neumann was a liberal.
“Neumann accuses Walker of working part time so he can campaign”
“Madison — Former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann accused Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker on Monday of working part-time hours so he can campaign for governor, the latest sign the race for the Republican nomination is growing rougher.
Walker’s campaign manager said Walker is fulfilling his official duties and Neumann was misreading Walker’s official schedule, which the campaign said identifies some county work as “personal time.”
Neumann’s comments are a sign he is willing to go on the attack in the Republican primary after earlier sidestepping making comments about other candidates. Neumann made his allegations as Walker switched his stance on illegal immigration and both candidates launched new TV ads.
Citing records obtained under the state’s open records law, Neumann said Walker has taken 17 hours of personal leave a week on average over the past 60 weeks. …”
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/93965284.html
Chris,
IIRC Judge Randa’s point has been that he’s protecting the 1st Amendment Rights of Gov. Walker’s supporters.
Again, the quote below is from Zach’s link:
“…In another email to Archer on Aug. 20, 2010, Hiller said he thought officials involved with the request for proposals were unaware of his involvement. “I am very sensitive to the situation and I work pretty hard not to leave finger prints,” Hiller wrote.”
Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/scott-walker-responds-to-revelation-campaign-treasurer-got-inside-info/article_153cde62-2b1c-5453-aaef-62096dc79acd.html#ixzz3Gy4882Ni
Mr. Hiller doesn’t appear to consider this a First Amendment issue.
How do you think Judge Randa will interpret Mr. Hiller’s statement?
Honestly John, I have no idea how Judge Randa will interpret Mr. Hiller’s statement. Let me pose a question to you. When Scott Walker wins his third election in 4 years what will your excuse be. How quickly will you and your buddies turn on Burke and point out her obvious shortcomings? Clearly You seem halfway intelligent, how can you possibly look at Burke as a viable candidate. If republicans put a candidate like that up for a major race you would be laughing your ass off.
Chris,
Here’s a pro-tip. When you write, “Let me pose a question to you.” Make sure to put a QUESTION MARK after your question.
Here you do it again, “how can you possibly look at Burke as a viable candidate.”
Ms. Burke’s on the ballot. That alone makes here “viable.” IMHO, we really won’t know her positions until after she signs her first budget. As you know, the Governor in Wisconsin has the line-item-veto. It puts too much power in the Executive branch, but unfortunately, that’s the law in Wisconsin.
Love how you forgot to capitalize “republicans.” “If republicans put a candidate like that up for a major race you would be laughing your ass off.”
IMHO the oligarchs did put Ms. Burke up. O’Keefe, the Koch brothers, and the Bradley Foundation all trust her. If they didn’t they wouldn’t have handed her the election by blasting Walker and Chisholm in FEDERAL court. It’s the publicity surrounding their FEDERAL law suits in the Wisconsin media and the Wall Street Journal (thank you Paul Gigot) that have crashed Walker’s poll numbers. A ham sandwich could get 45% of the vote against Scott Walker in November. Every “John Doe” headline, regardless of what it says, hurts Gov. Walker. In some ways he’s fortunate, it’s kept low information voters from seeing what a disaster his WEDC is. The oligarchs clearly trust Ms. Burke not to roll back the gains they made against worker rights/collective bargaining. That’s their single largest concern.
On two key issues, abortion rights and gay marriage, Burke is more conservative than Walker. She doesn’t believe the government can force birth. She doesn’t believe government can tell non-related adults, who they cannot marry. I look at the Governor’s race as a GOP primary. Ms. Burke’s the pro-choice, pro-LGBT, anti-union candidate. Gov. Walker’s the anti-choice, anti LGBT, anti-union candidate.
My hope is that Ms. Burke will evolve into a champion for capitalism. That means fighting oligopolies and income inequality. The real “job creators” are consumers with money to spend. Will she become a champion of unions? I hope so, but given her record, I doubt it.
I doubt both Obama and Bill Clinton would be coming to Wisconsin if they thought Burke was going to lose, but I’ve been wrong before. I’m perfectly ready to accept a Walker victory. My guess is that the national Dems (Hillary) would actually prefer that. IMHO, they think it’s easier to win Wisconsin’s ten electoral votes in the 2016 Presidential election with a weak Scott Walker in charge. If Gov. Walker wins, I think that’s likely. IMHO as more John Doe emails are released, Walker’s political career will be over. He may remain in office, but imho control of the state party apparatus will effectively transfer to Robin Vos.
IMHO, the folks who really run the state (for the oligarchs) are the big law firms, and accounting agencies. They award the big state contracts (Hewlett Packard makes a killing administering Wisconsin Medicaid) and are expert in the details of who gets what. IMHO, the oligarchs trust that Ms. Burke won’t upset their gravy train.
I pray that the Republican party will return to Eisenhower. Invest in prosperity for the 99%. In 2014, that means more FEDERAL investment in health care, education, and infrastructure. The problem for both parties, but especially Republicans, is that they are driving the socialist/communist agenda. Lots of folks are caring for their parents at the same time their kids can’t get decent paying jobs that put them on the path to home ownership. Republicans better wake the unprintable up. We need the GOP to bring back the holiday on both sides of the FEDERAL payroll tax (FICA). They can cut welfare to Wall Street all they want.
“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.
Main street, however, needs a lot more investment: infrastructure, education, and health care. Failure to deliver results simply reinforces communists and socialists. That hurts Democrats too, but imho, it hurts the GOP more.
“Demand Leakages: The 800lb Economist in the Room”
“…Demand leakages are unspent income. For a given currency, if any agent doesn’t spend his income, some other agent has to spend more than his income, or that much output doesn’t get sold. So if the non government sectors collectively don’t spend all of their income, it’s up to government to make sure its income is less than its spending, or that much output doesn’t get sold. This translates into what’s commonly called the ‘output gap,’ which is largely a sanitized way of saying unemployment.
And with the private sector necessarily pro cyclical, the (whopping) private sector spending gap in this economy can only be filled with by government via either a (whopping) tax cut and/or spending increase (depending on one’s politics). …”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/warren-mosler/demand-leakages-the-800lb_b_1646916.html
http://lostoutputclock.com/ is the lost output clock.
No excuse for Republicans not leading on a FEDERAL job guarantee.
“…The government could serve as the “employer of last resort” under a job guarantee program modeled on the WPA (the Works Progress Administration, in existence from 1935 to 1943 after being renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939) and the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942). The program would offer a job to any American who was ready and willing to work at the federal minimum wage, plus legislated benefits. No time limits. No means testing. No minimum education or skill requirements. …”
http://ineteconomics.org/blog/institute/plan-all-detroits-out-there
Imagine how much more fun it would be to run as a Republican, if you didn’t have to worry about reporters asking questions about unemployment in your district?