Walker's Failed Governorship Entirely His Own Doing

I've been arguing that Scott Walker's recall is justifiable for major actions he has taken and the bald-faced spin he has put on these and other initiatives and policy outcomes to mislead, deflect responsibility, and benefit politically.

Wisconsin can do better than a Governor with PolitiFact ratings of "Mostly False" or worse 24 or 36 times, records show, and no rating of "Mostly True" or better since May 8th.

It's one thing to say you're an Eagle Scout, but behaving like one has been the continuing problem.

Here are some perfect examples courtesy of PolitiFact that bracket his first year in office:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says his budget-repair bill would leave collective bargaining “fully intact”

If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker isn’t trying to strip most collective bargaining rights from public employees, then why do workers keep pouring into Madison by the thousands to demonstrate against him?

...To now say now say collective bargaining would remain "fully intact" is not just false, it’s ridiculously false.

And that means it is Pants on Fire.

Also from PolitiFact - - Walker raised funds, just weeks ago based, on an obvious falsehood now twice uttered and vetted:
 

Gov. Scott Walker says Wisconsin is broke and $3 billion in debt 

During the summer of 2011, the Republican-controlled state Legislature gave swift approval to the $66 billion 2011-'13, which was signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker.

That’s why we were puzzled by a two-page fund-raising appeal that his campaign mailed to supporters Sept. 2, 2011.

"Wisconsin state government is $3 billion in debt, spending is too high, our business climate isn’t what it should be and Badger State voters gave me a mandate to turn our great state around," Walker said in the two-page letter.

"A fiscal tornado is barreling down on us at top speed. And we simply cannot continue spending, taxing, borrowing the way we have been," Walker added, declaring: "Wisconsin is broke! This is our moment of reckoning. By dealing with our problems head-on and solving them, we’ll win a victory for Wisconsin’s future."

Wait a minute...

In the midst of [an earlier] debate, PolitiFact Wisconsin rated the "we’re broke" statement False, noting that numerous experts said the state wasn’t teetering on the brink of bankruptcy or insolvency, and had numerous tools available to deal with any shortfall -- even if some of the options, such as tax increases, were declared off limits by the GOP...

The statements are false and ridiculous. Pants on Fire

Walker hid his core policy intention during the 2010 campaign - - to demolish public employee collective bargaining - - as the Journal Sentinel, the state's largest newspaper and which had given Walker its endorsement has subsequently acknowledged:

Walker never campaigned on disenfranchising public-employee unions. If he had, he would not have been elected. He got a spare 52% of the vote - hardly a mandate for what he is trying to do.

You don't read that sort of condemnation every day from an institution that had supported you.

Little wonder that there is widespread election remorse and anger across the state.

My conclusion:

We can do better than a Governor who finally tells the truth when forced to do so - - under oath, before Congress.

The election was based on a fundamental, false premise that has embedded an administration drunk on power and devoted to self-preservation - - regardless of tactics that have included fake candidates run in senate recall elections, amd new laws that puts obstacles in the way of registering, voting,and level-field fund-raising.

Walker's ascendancy - - based on deceit and furthered by  shady practices - - is devaluing the state, and should be voided by a recall.

Damage has been done, but now is the time to start over.