Sunday, July 19, 2015

Walker adds to his 'I don't know' list

[Updated] More holes in Walker's education and memory. This is worrisome, seeing a prospective standard-bearer of The Party of No morph it to the Party of I Don't Know.

No (no pun intended) wonder his pants caught fire over the Wisconsin Idea drafting error, and who knows if he knows if he is Governor of Wisconsin or Iowa right now?

There was that I don't know answer when asked if President Obama was Christian:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a prospective Republican presidential contender, said Saturday he does not know whether President Obama is a Christian. 
“I don’t know,” Walker said in an interview at the JW Marriott hotel in Washington, where he was attending the winter meeting of the National Governors Association.
Now it's whether people choose to be gay or are born that way:
WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told CNN’s “State of the Union” that he “doesn’t know” whether being gay is a choice or if people are born gay.
Let's put it this way; the more you know about Walker, the more you know that he doesn't know - - or will not give you a straight story: why else would his extensive PolitiFact file contain three times the fully "False" and "Pants on Fire" ratings than fully "True?"

Here's a comprehensive and documented list of Walker facts people outside of Wisconsin may not yet have heard about.

Also - - here are a few other 'forgotten' or not absorbed gaps in Walker's head:
So what about the conversation he had just a year ago with a billionaire from Beloit about dividing and conquering the labor movement in Wisconsin and setting the stage for 'right-to-work' legislation? 
"Don't remember the particulars," he said.
And what do you know? I found more:

At the end of the infamous prank, taped call between the fake David Koch and Walker that Ian Murphy, the fake David Koch said he'd fly Walker "out to Cali" for "a really good time" after Walker "crushed those union bastards."

And Walker said, "All right, that would be outstanding." (transcript here).

Not long thereafter, Walker found himself in front of a House sub-committee on Capitol Hill, where he denied, under oath, that 'fly me out to Cali' was the offer of something of value because:
"I don't even know where Cali is," he said (video). 
*  A few months ago, Scott Walker told the AP he didn't have a clue about the John Doe probe. Here's how the Eau Claire paper framed the story when running it: 
Walker says he knows nothing of investigation
"We don't know what exactly is involved," Walker said Friday when asked about the raid after a public event at Milwaukee's General Mitchell Airport.
"As far as what I know is what I've been reading in the press. I don't have any more information beyond that." 
*  Then a few weeks ago, Scott Walker drew another blank when the Journal Sentinel asked about where he thought the John Doe was headed, and he commented in this story:

Walker says he has met man jailed in investigation

In response to a question about those around him, Walker went on to say that he believed his aides - some of whom have come under scrutiny from authorities - had acted correctly as well.

"I'm not aware of anything, particularly for people working for me right now. There's nothing brought to my attention that would be a problem," Walker said.
Now this was beginning to ring a bell. Where have we seen this blank, 'I dunno,' slate before?

*  Here's one example, after a patient starved to death at the Mental Health Complex, the gubernatorial campaign was underway and a report about it could have surfaced: 

Walker defends withholding Mental Health Complex report

"I don't know what's in it, so it's hard for me to say" if it should be released, Walker said. His administration had nothing to do with the report being withheld, Walker said.
But isn't there something earlier?

*  Ah, The Marquette Tribune had it in 2010, and used its files clear back to 1988, when Walker's campaign for student body president imploded over ethics and rule violations, and it was time to take responsibility:

Walker’s campaign record murky

In the run-up to election day, the Tribune’s editorial board endorsed Walker’s opponent John Quigley, but said either candidate had the potential to serve effectively.

However, the Tribune revised its editorial the following day, calling Walker “unfit for presidency...”
The revision also expressed disappointment in Walker’s campaign workers reportedly throwing away issues of the Tribune after the endorsement was initially made.

Walker dismissed this, saying he had no knowledge of what his supporters did, according to a Tribune article from February 25, 1988.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Walker's video on approving of amnesty, before he was against it!

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/opinion/2015/02/17/scott-walker-immigration-path-citizenship-wausau-interview-amnesty-border/23558209/

mad as hell said...

The national media is beginning to see walker's dance around the issues pattern. This is what's going to be his downfall. His refusal to give a straight answer to a question. He's afraid to when he is not surrounded by his faithful followers.

You are under a large microscope now, scotty! You unfortunately do not know how to think on your feet. Which is starting to show.

Well if it's any consolation you'll at least be a footnote in the American history books.

Anonymous said...

& now we have the pic of Walker demonstrating to an Iowan how to incorrectly fold our U.S. Flag! Just adding this to Walker's "I don't know" list.

lufthase said...

Perhaps an even more jaw-dropping Walker quote from the same article:
"I’m going to stand up and work hard for every American regardless of who they are, no matter where they come from, no matter what their background. I’m going to fight for people whether they vote for me or not."

From the man with a million-strong enemies blacklist, on tape saying his strategy is to divide and conquer, again on tape saying he "thought about" putting agents provocateurs into the Act 10 protest crowds, and who has repeatedly enacted policies that specifically target and disenfranchise the people of Milwaukee and Dane Counties who (I guess just coincidentally?) haven't voted for him.

Betsy said...

Thank you Mr. Rowen for being so tenacious in getting the word out about SW! You are providing an invaluable service!

James Rowen said...

You are Welcome, Betsy. We are all in this together, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

my5cents said...

Wonderful World (Don't Know Much)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNO72aCnVr0
This explains Walker except the the last part of the song.

It is funny how fast he changed the subject rather than answer the question.

"Bash: Do you think that being gay is a choice?

Walker: Oh, I mean I think -- that’s not even an issue for me to be involved in. The bottom line is, I’m going to stand up and work hard for every American regardless of who they are, no matter where they come from, no matter what their background. I’m going to fight for people whether they vote for me or not."

Anonymous said...

I ask Walker to clarify the statement "I'm going to fight for people whether they vote for me or not". Really? Then how come ticket holders who waited in line to see Walker kick off his Presidential election in Waukesha WI were DENIED entrance and KICKED OUT for having signed the recall? Walker is a shameful liar. He will NOT fight for anyone other than those who back him. Lots of examples of this & Walker's pay for play politics.

Anonymous said...

I have to caution people to not make too big a deal about the national media catching on to Walker. Remember, it is the overall narrative they create and not the spotty reports here-and-there that count. There is actually no sign that the national media is consistently and meaningfully giving Walker the scrutiny he deserves, but it is early yet and I do admit, there are some hopeful signs that it could happen.

But there are also signs that the national media is going to play up Walker's talking points. All around the nation last week, the media trumped propaganda that Scott Walker was still a small-town Delavan kind of guy. Of course, our jet-settin' koch funded governor, who rubs elbows and illegally coordinates with the most wealthy right-wing funders in America is certainly NOT still a small-town Delaven kind of guy -- yet even NPR was catapulting that pro-Walker propaganda.

The media in-state still gives Walker a free-pass and publishes his talking points as news. The national media, overall, is taking its cue from the in-state media. Please, people, be careful before proclaiming that the media at any level is going to tell the entire truth about Scott Walker. It is not doing so to date, even if we see scattered and disjointed reports that tell the truth.

Underestimating Scott Walker and he media allies is foolish, especially since he will have unlimited funds. He is still the koch brothers' guy and they will spend almost 1 billion dollars in the general. Scotty can be at the top of that ticket, the mainstream media is doing nothing to discourage that, and they can catapult him into the White House by hook or crook.

Anonymous said...

MJS Propaganda Alert

Here's an entirely bogus story that could have (am maybe was!(written by Walker's campaign, yet published as "news":

Scott Walker learned early lessons at father's Iowa church

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-learned-early-lessons-at-fathers-iowa-church-b99435429z1-290442461.html

I post here because it is far too common for people to proclaim that in-state and now national media will start reporting truthful and meaningful stories about Scott Walker. For any story that could be viewed as embarrassing for Scott Walker, MJS will publish 4 or more that could actually be press releases from his campaign, like the link above.

My suggestion is people should note who is credited with writing the garbage pro-Walker propaganda at MJS. Anyone that would write and stand behind the story above really isn't a legitimate source for real news, just more pro-Walker/republican puffery.

Sue said...

There might be better national coverage if the rumors I've heard are true about state reporters being frustrated at never getting a straight answer from Walker, or any real access. Nationally there are bigger egos involved and national reporters will be sycophants only as long as they get something in return. Walker is used to a press that doesn't question or can't question and knows not to expect anything.
He shouldn't assume all his new pals on Meet The Press will remain friendly. He answers to his buyers only and doesn't know how to play the game.

Anonymous said...

My husband says that the proper handling and folding of the United States flag is a big deal to the Boy Scouts. At camp, there is a short ceremony each evening as the flag is lowered and folded, and then the next day when the flag is unfolded and raised. In short, any Boy Scout worth his merit badges would know how to properly fold a flag. Is it possible that Scott Walker cheated his way through scouting too?

Anonymous said...

Sue, you don't seem to remember all the glowing press coverage that propped up George WALKER Bush. Scott Walker has been mentored by Karl Rove. In fact, it was Dick Cheney that counseled Walker out of his 2006 run for governor, back then, as a reforming republican that wanted big money out of politics. The mistake many make is they assume the media exists to inform us; when in reality, it exists to shape opinion, hijack the public debate, and catapult chosen candidates into office. Press the Meat will remain more than friendly. Chuck Todd is a highly partisan hack and knows who he's suppose to actively support.

Sue said...

Oh, I wish I could give a good counter-argument to that, Anon@8:05, and I do remember what good little soldiers the insider press were and how they continue to shape the narrative. GWB was certainly propped up and insider reporters helped get us into that war. But GWB did show how a skilled politician can navigate embarrassments. Scooter has been able to navigate embarrassments in Wisconsin because he's getting no coverage, is allowed to hide from everyone and hasn't had to open his mouth. Now that he has to be in the public eye, he's made about a gaffe a day since he formally entered the race, and I'm hoping the debates will expose him further.
That is the hope I'm clinging to.