The campaign as ego-trip; Walker compares self to Lincoln

One of the weirdest tics in Scott Walker's uncontrollable ego and puffed-up persona is a willingness to say out loud the kind of flattering things a person might think about themselves, or that others might say to praise you, but that a normal person with a shred of humility or self-awareness would not say in public because the effect is so cringe-worthy and grating. 

Latest case in point: Walker dropped into Milwaukee County - - where he barely shows his face these - - to open the Wisconsin State Fair this morning.

And while he didn't stop for media questions - - imagine how embarrassing those might have been in the wake of John Doe disclosures that undermined years of his denials - -  he obviously had rehearsed to tell audience, and I heard it on the radio, that there was self-serving historical significance to his presence at this annual event which is a routine for Wisconsin's chief executive:

"It wasn't lost on me that Abe Lincoln was here in 1859, the year before he was elected president"

Oh, please.

This from a Governor who rules through spite and payback, and has been the ultimate divide-and-conquer politician, unlike Lincoln, who worked tirelessly to restore our house-divided nation, with malice towards none/

A Governor who pitched and signed one of the most-restrictive Voter ID laws in the country to make it harder for minorities to vote.

And who has frozen the minimum-wage at its lowest level, raised taxes on low-income citizens, cut transit and access to jobs and housing and has amped up dog whistles appealing to ultra-conservatives who would have voted against Lincoln had they had the chance.

Walker has displayed this tone-deaf and outlandishly inflated self-importance before - - gratuitously comparing himself to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, endlessly draping himself in Ronald Reagan's reputation - - while defining his own imperious stubbornness as "courage."

If other people want to laud Walker, fine.

But it's downright creepy to see how easily he speaks so highly and inaccurately about himself.