Abusing Power, Wisconsin Traditions, Walker Losing Badly In Court Of Public Opinion

Republicans have majorities in both houses of the Wisconsin legislature, and powerful allies on talk radio, right-wing TV and at well-heeled national advocacy organizations, but Scott Walker's bullying tactics are the reason that polling - - even by Fox News conservative Dick Morris - - shows public opinion moving away.

Most people, it seems, don't like this variation of Big Government taking away rights, playing with law-and-order and acting dictatorial at the very moment that far worse dictatorial actions in faraway places are giving arrogance and exclusion a bad name.

Let's begin with Scott Walker's surprise plan - - the term he used in the infamous taped prank call was "dropping the bomb" - - to virtually end collective bargaining for public employees and bust their unions.

And Walker said he wanted the legislature to approve this historic change within six days, along with the rest of a 144-page bill few had time to read, but that filled with radical ideas including cuts to medical care for the disabled to no-bid sales of state assets.

The anti-union, which he laughingly called "modest," was, in fact, so extreme that Fox News anchor Shep Smith called it "union-busting." Because that was a fact.

This was followed by a long list of additional GOP missteps, but all involving abuse of power.

* Dispatching state police - - in some cases more than once, and early in the morning - - to the homes of Democratic legislators who left the state to slow down the process.

*Walker's continuing refusal to meet with unions, which agreed to all his economic demands, thus not accepting their offer and repeating his intent to end their ability to negotiate ever again on matters of working conditions and other non-economic issues. The unions gave him nearly everything, and he said, "No, I want everything."

* Having the State Assembly at one point begin a vote before Democrats had taken their seats, then cut off public testimony, and finally rush the bill through using parliamentary technicalities to close out representatives' voting before all members had actually been able to vote.

* Chatting up the fake David Koch in the taped prank call and bragging about schemes to lure Senate Democrats back to Madison and trick them into creating a quorum in the Senate chambers so majority Republicans could instantly pass his stalled bill.

* Telling the fake David Koch that he had considered sending trouble-makers into the crowds of protesters - - peaceful assemblages that included families with children - - but decided against it for political reasons.

Now Walker is threatening layoffs, after obliquely threatening to replace unionized corrections officers with National Guard members if there was a job action in the corrections system - - something none of those officers had remotely suggested.

The pattern is clear: Walker and his legislative allies are willing to use power to get what they want without justification, explanation, negotiation, discussion - - all hallmarks of mature leadership in a democracy.

Walker's inner circle may tell him he's winning, but the people are saying otherwise. Most people look to government chief executives for leadership and crisis management, not ideology and crisis creation.

But Walker is off to Washington, DC for an hour on Meet the Press - - so don't expect him to come to his senses after that kind of ego overdosing.