Walker Created The Mess, And He Can Fix It

I draw on my work in media for many of these here blog posts, and also on my time in government - - having worked as chief of staff, deputy or administrative assistant to three elected officials, and in offices in two Wisconsin city halls, state government in Madison and even in lesser positions on Capitol Hill, too.

Seen a lot. Done a bit - - so here's some free advice for Gov. Walker:

Stop acting like you're starring in "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight."

I mean, how many times have you heard your talker buddy Jeff Wagner say on WGOP WTMJ radio, "just because you can do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do?"

People in elected offices, and their staffs, have to be, first and foremost, problem-solvers.

Problems come out of nowhere - - like attack planes flying under the radar towards a solitary cruiser, maybe even one that's dead in the water - - upsetting daily agendas and long-range plans and, sometimes, like right now, bearing devastating consequence.

So the worst role to play is that of problem-creator, which is just what Gov. Walker, his staff, and legislative allies are doing - - from "dropping the bomb" to closing the Capitol to sending out the cops.

It's self-destructive.

It's antithetical to governing.

It poisons the political environment near and far, now and down-the-road.

It takes a leader to turn the ship around. It's been done.

I can remember being in one elected official's office - - and I will disguise this a bit so no actual politicians are injured - - when that person was having a hell of a hard time winning public support on a matter of some genuine importance; the impasse - - the mess - - was also blocking the resolution of other key issues.

Basically, it was a shi*storm.

In walked the elected official, saying simply, without introduction or further ado, "get me out of this," and walked out.

That was all it took: the staff went to work; channels of communications were energized; positions were altered; a logjam was broken and life went on.

Walker needs to take that first step, and be afraid of changing his mind or being called a wimp.

He needs to redo the so-called budget-repair bill and make iron-clad promises that portions of his budget will be excised, or debated separately, after hearings.

If he can't take the first step, he'll stay in a box of his creation and definitely be recalled.

As he should be.