Scott Walker 'Reformed' Politics Back To Tricky Dick

The revelations about Scott Walker's misuse of taxpayer-financed Milwaukee County government remind me of those stories about 'Good Samaritans' who stop alongside stranded motorists just to steal their wallets.

Or financial advisers who siphon off Grandma's long-term care investments to jet off to Vegas

In fact, Scott Walker is just a higher-level version of protege Tim Russell - - the long-time Walker go-fer and repeat job holder - - to whom Walker entrusted a Veteran's fund which Russell feloniously looted.

Remember that Walker was elected after incumbent Milwaukee County Executive Tom Ament was run out of office for overseeing changes in the County pension system that let people walk away with unconscionable gobs of public money.

What Milwaukee County taxpayers got instead was just another kind of stealing - - not as brazen as Russell's, or with old-fashioned fountain pens or stick-up guns - - with white-collar patina.

What took place on Walker's watch was the integration of the public assets of the office he held in trust for the taxpayers to serve partisan, personal political advancement.

And also for other GOP candidates and their operatives who were plugged into the operation through a secret electronic Internet gateway used routinely and repeatedly for GOP fund-raising, strategizing, event planning, and media manipulating.

All humming along just a few feet down the hall from Walker's office, operated and accessed by people on Walker's public staff and the County payroll - - even in offices running public housing programs or general government administration.

It all added up a public subsidy kept secret for Walker and other GOP campaigns - - arranged by Team Walker itself.

Like a boxer putting weights inside his gloves, the hidden apparatus gave the Walkerites unfair advantages because more campaign focus, time and privately-raised resources could be used to beat up select GOP primary challengers and Democratic opponent Tom Barrett.

Remember, when the pension scandal was breaking, Ament appeared clueless.

Now that the post-Ament Walker scandal resurfaced through the email dump, Walker wants you to believe that he was clueless, too.

You can believe that if you want - - though isn't it odd that Walker now chooses to emulate the leader he said had to go - - but the context for assessing Walker is still the reformer's mantle that he claimed.

Truth is, Walker is as old school as it gets, an ambition-driven, second-tier throwback to Tricky Dick Nixon.

One difference: we have secret emails this time, not secret tapes.

Granted, Walker didn't send his operatives breaking into private offices to install electronic devices and tap phones.

He simply invited them into government jobs and public offices where they brought their own electronic devices on which they ran their dirty tricks.

I'll Tell You What's Old News

Walker's evasions.

Remember the transparency claim. He "lived it."

Ugly Team Walker Mindset Predated Emails Release

Journal Sentinel columnist James E. Causey put the right interpretation on the racist and otherwise ugly comments and 'jokes'  found in the court-ordered release of emails that had been received by, and in some cases circulated among various Scott Walker appointees or friends of the staff.

Wrote Causey:

People will look at these emails and draw their own conclusions of how much Walker did or did not know. One thing we can determine is that there was a culture in place where people felt free enough to share jokes about race, religion, the poor and disabled. 

And the cultural mindset starts at the top.

But the Walker staffers on these emails were not the first such aides to be linked to messages with crude, negative stereotypes.

Remember that there was the Walker campaign fundraiser fired in December who posted these tweets, according to the Wisconsin State Journal:

“I will choke that illegal mex cleaning in the library. Stop banging (expletive) chairs around and turn off your Walkman,” she wrote in a tweet from March 9, 2011, the Journal Sentinel reported. 

And in January of that year, she complained about her bus trip from California to Las Vegas after watching the University of Wisconsin play in the Rose Bowl. 

“This bus is my worst (expletive) nightmare Nobody speaks English & these ppl dont know how 2 control their kids #only3morehours #illegalaliens,” she tweeted.

And the number three official in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation was fired in August after posting a Facebook rant about his seeing Satan in illegal immigrants:

[Stephen] Krieser’s remarks were part of a Facebook discussion Thursday about a bumper sticker on sale at a Germantown gas station that read “Illegal Immigrant Hunting Permit … No Bag Limit – Tagging Not Required.” 

Responding to a comment that Jesus would be considered a non-English-speaking foreigner if he appeared in the United States, Krieser commented that the sticker “is probably over the top.” 

But he went on to call immigrants who have entered the country without permission criminals, saying they’ve crushed southern states’ social safety nets and education systems and skewed the service and agricultural sectors against natural-born Americans.

In fact, The Progressive found an email disclosing yet another anti-immigrant rant to which Walker said to the originator on his staff:

"Don't hold back."

So the questions for Walker - - though he won't entertain questions about the emails - - are:

Why are such people drawn to and hired by his administration and how in this day-and-age of viral communications and an Internet that does forget are they so unafraid of emailing, tweeting, Facebooking and circulating these sentiments.

A Civil Question About The Email Dump

Just asking:

Couldn't the cost of all the Milwaukee County public employees' time (salaries, benefits, etc.) spent on partisan campaign work during Scott Walker's 2010 campaign for Governor be reasonably computed through the email accounts of all those involved and recovered for the Milwaukee County treasury through a taxpayers' lawsuit against Walker's campaign committee?

Going On Fox News Didn't Cut It For Walker

Fox News host doesn't like the stonewall.

Notes The Journal Sentinel:

Scott Walker on Fox News dodges question on secret emails

The Walker Emails' Bottom Line: He Cheated

The emails show that Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker's taxpayer-paid staffers worked stealthily as partisan operatives with his direction and approval, but were not on the campaign payroll.

That subsidized his campaign, Brett Davis' unsuccessful run for Lt. Governor and related GOP efforts.

Who got cheated?

Taxpayers.

Who got disadvantaged?

The Barrett Campaign.

Who got cheated and disadvantaged?

People expecting public services from Milwaukee County staffers like then-Housing director Tim Russell, then-Administration director Cynthia Archer and the many Walker staff aides and County appointees who were doing campaign work on public time.

Who got cheated, disadvantaged and hoodwinked.

Everyone.

Including editorial writers:

We have watched Walker and his opponent, Tom Barrett, for years. Both are decent, honest, principled public servants. If a ledger existed, it would no doubt show that we've agreed with Barrett more often than with Walker. 

But in a time of economic peril and at a time when government must be reformed, it's time to throw away the playbook.

Ryan Braun And Scott Walker Were In The News Last Week

One of them said he wasn't going to discuss his scandal anymore.

And so did Scott Walker.

Walker, Again Nixonian

Walker, like Nixon, was pulling the strings and directing public employees to stealthily serve his political needs.

Dan Bice shows Walker directing staff to post glowing comments about the boss:

In one instance in May 2010, for example, a close ally posted online a portion of a Walker email almost verbatim on a Journal Sentinel story just minutes after receiving the directive. Walker had sent the note to an inner circle that included county administrators as well as campaign operatives.

That's what got low-level Walker County staffer Darlene Wink fired. And a misdemeanor conviction. Talk about scapegoating. And double-standards.

It's all classic Walker behavior: Defaulting to secrecy and stealth after proclaiming that when County Executive he "lived" transparency. What Bunk.

Another example from Bice's story:

On Aug. 21, 2010 — a Saturday — someone posted a lengthy comment to the Journal Sentinel site under the moniker "capt1." In one of the recently released emails, [Cynthia] Archer — the county's administration head at the time — let Walker and other associates know that she was behind the post. 

"I know you have all told me to stay off the blogs. Below is my post to the MJS story on federal $ for teachers. Perhaps this is something SKW should talk about," Archer wrote to her colleagues, using Walker's initials. 

"Capt1" was a regular on the Journal Sentinel website in 2010 and early 2011, a period in which Archer also served as deputy administration secretary under Walker's state administration. "Capt1" posted 114 comments, most of them on weekends or before or after work hours on weekdays. 

Seven were posted on a weekday between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon or 1 and 4 p.m., a review of the profile shows.

Wisconsin Gazette Carries Earth Day/Iron Mine Commentary

Thanks for the space, Wisconsin Gazette:

You might think it’s a little early to be talking about Earth Day 2014, since the annual event is held on April 22.

But I noticed that the Nelson Center on the UW-Madison campus already is sending out publicity for its Earth Day programming, so I thought I’d get out early and begin a discussion now about what would be the best, most comprehensive focus for Earth Day this year in Wisconsin.

There are many possibilities, from the impact of climate change on Great Lakes water levels to a Republican-engineered shift of public water control to private interests. But there is no more compelling environmental issue in the state than the proposed open-pit iron ore mine that would spread across Iron and Ashland counties in northwest Wisconsin’s Bad River watershed.

The largest proposed open-pit iron ore mine in the country — 4.5 miles long, up to a half-mile wide and 700 feet deep in its first stage — would wreak environmental damage on a massive scale. The surrounding Penokee Hills would be scraped clean, dynamited, trucked and milled for ore, with millions of tons of waste rock and crushed vegetation dumped on thousands of acres of land, including public space. This would jeopardize air quality and risk causing acid mine drainage into the Bad River and the many nearby lakes and streams.

The proposed mining site is just upriver from the Bad River Reservation, where the Ojibwe band has been sustained for centuries by wild rice beds that depend on constant clean water.

The mine should be the focus of Earth Day attention and activism because the measure authorizing this offense against the land was written behind closed doors with the participation of GTac, the iron-mining company that intends to open the mine. Preliminary drilling and rock sampling are already underway.

The bill authorizing the mine has so many sweetheart provisions, such as fast-tracked permit reviews, that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has said it cannot participate in a joint state/federal permit process. Citizens without the clout of corporate lobbyists and big treasuries cannot legally intervene until after a permit decision by the DNR already has been made.

The damage from the mine would fall most directly and harmfully on the Bad River tribe, a relatively small and economically stressed band that thought it had won permanent protections for its water rights by ceding most of its land to the U.S. government under 19th century treaties.

That deal helped achieve Wisconsin’s admission to the Union and created the state’s forest-based economy. Now it has been essentially put up for sale by a Legislature and a governor in thrall to special interests and donors who would literally bury the band’s treaty rights, streams and lakes — and bury Article IX of the Wisconsin State Constitution, which guarantees free access to water in the state for everyone.

Stopping the mine is more than an environmental issue. It’s a matter of standing up for open government, fair legislating, public resource protection and justice for the Bad River Ojibwe.

The mine is the single most-encompassing environmental justice matter facing Wisconsin, and it is the natural focal point for Earth Day 2014 activities.

Jim Rowen is a veteran reporter and political consultant.

You can follow his blog The Political Environment at:

thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com.

Walker Reviving Nixon-Era 'I've Got A Secret' Behavior

Did Walker know about the router? 

C'mon on, man - - we're talking no-doubter. 

And the paper said Walker, 'come clean/stand tall.' 

But Walker is fixin' 

To be the new Nixon. 

And dusts off that old-timey stone wall.

We began this slam Friday. A sample:

Secret email can't fail, thought Nardelli and Kelly.  

But Wink, in a blink, sunk Tim Russell's hustle.  

 And Kelly's been sentenced to jail. 

For the kids, an "I've Got a Secret" link.

The Walker Emails Are Pure Political Poetry

Tom Nardelli, Cindy Archer and Kelly Rindfleisch received, wrote or forwarded these email lines for rhymes, hence this short 'sonnet' entitled:

"Ugh, I just hate Becky"

My boyfriend approaches and says to me
Consider yourself now in the 'inner circle.' 
We've raised $2,080 for the Green Bay event
Arrrgh!, God, it hurts when I pee.

During Walker's Milwaukee County Executive tenure, Nardelli was Chief of Staff, Archer was Secretary of the Department of Administration and Rindfleisch was Deputy Chief of Staff. 
Or:
                                   Cold Facts, Hot Mail

Secret email can't fail, thought Nardelli and Kelly. But Wink, in a blink, sunk Tim Russell's hustle, And Kelly's been sentenced to jail. 

Office staffer Darlene Wink's use of email on County time to post anonymous comments on news stories brought the whole scheme down, catching up long-time Walker aide Tim Russell. He had been instrumental in establishing the secret email system, was caught up in the records search and jailed for stealing from a Veteran's Fund Walker gave him to manage. 

Walker Should Have Taken My Free, 2007 Nardelli Advice

FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2007

Nardelli Appointment a Step Backward

Naming former city alderman Tom Nardelli his chief of staff was a step backward for county exec Scott Walker and the region, too.

Walker is already cut off from many supervisors, it's hard to see how the sharp-tounged and elbowed Nardelli can win Walker more support on the board, and in county departments already feeling besieged by budget cuts and soaring service demands.

Not Whom You Think

State prosecutors appeal Jensen's overturned conviction

Not that Jensen.

This one.

Walker Evades Answering To Media About Secret Email System

This is what ABC News is reporting, and note he uses the present tense, not the past:

While he refused to directly answer whether he ever knowingly utilized a secret wireless Internet router installed in the office with the apparent intent to hide communications from public access, the rising GOP star insisted that he does not mix political work with official business.

Those Cut-ups! More Staff Fun In the Email Dump

Why No Sanctions For Brett Davis, Now Walker's Medicaid Chief?

Former Walker aide Kelly Rindfleisch got a felony conviction for helping raise money on Milwaukee County time for then-GOP Assemblyman Brett Davis - - Walker's choice at the time for Lt. Gov. - - but nothing happened to Davis except a plum state job from Walker after Davis lost the nomination to Rebecca Kleefisch.

Though Davis was communicating with Rindfleisch during normal working hours via private email accounts about at least two fundraisers she was helping him with, the email record shows:

From: Brett.Davis@charter.net

To: Subject: Date:

Kelly Rindfleisch

Re: GB Monday, April 12, 2010 1:58:05 PM

About 12 people total. Good grass roots folks. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

From: "Kelly Rindfleisch" <kmrindfleisch@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:37:28 -0500 To: 'Brett Davis'<brett.davis@charter.net> Subject: GB

How did the event go?

128571From: Kelly Rindfleisch To: Brett.Davis@charter.net Subject: RE: GB Date: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:00:38 PM

Lunch events are really hard. Not many people actually attend.

From: Brett.Davis@charter.net [mailto:Brett.Davis@charter.net] Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 1:58 PM To: Kelly Rindfleisch Subject: Re: GB

About 12 people total. Good grass roots folks. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

From: "Kelly Rindfleisch" <kmrindfleisch@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:37:28 -0500 To: 'Brett Davis'<brett.davis@charter.net> Subject: GB

How did the event go?

128572

From: Brett.Davis@charter.net

To: Subject: Date:

Kelly Rindfleisch

Re: GB Monday, April 12, 2010 2:06:11 PM

Still have to check the PO Box but we've raised $2,080 for the green bay event so far. Collecting for hosts needed too.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

From: "Kelly Rindfleisch" <kmrindfleisch@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:37:28 -0500 To: 'Brett Davis'<brett.davis@charter.net> Subject: GB

How did the event go?

128573

From: Kelly Rindfleisch To: Brett.Davis@charter.net Subject: RE: GB Date: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:13:08 PM

Were you able to make any calls for the La Crosse event? I’m wondering if we should push it back maybe a week.

From: Brett.Davis@charter.net [mailto:Brett.Davis@charter.net] Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:06 PM To: Kelly Rindfleisch Subject: Re: GB

Still have to check the PO Box but we've raised $2,080 for the green bay event so far. Collecting for hosts needed too.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

From: "Kelly Rindfleisch" <kmrindfleisch@gmail.com> Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:37:28 -0500 To: 'Brett Davis'<brett.davis@charter.net> Subject: GB

How did the event go?

Walker, Aides Flunked Walker's Published Ethics 'Plan'

Scott Walker's perch atop a public office where laws were broken, secret campaigning was enabled and thuggish email traffic provided racist entertainmentt makes you wonder what happened to the glitzy ethics-in-government plan the same County Executive rolled out during his first run for governor.

He apparently envisioned ethical prescriptions to "restore integrity" in state government before he insisted on similar behaviors of his own and by his own county and campaign staffs.

I copied out the 'plan' from his now-blocked or deleted website, posted it in November and reprint it below - -  and shake my head at quotes bearing Walker's name that drip with irony:

"The culture of government has destroyed the integrity and the idea of public service," said Walker. "My plan seeks to restore the public trust, and instill the confidence that our elected leaders are working for the people," Walker added. Ethics Reform Plan Walker: Proposes Wisconsin Ethics System Overhaul   Citing government ethics as one of the greatest challenges to Wisconsin's democracy, Milwaukee County Executive and Candidate for Governor Scott Walker today released his comprehensive ethics reform plan. Walker's plan calls for a major overhaul of Wisconsin's failing system to restore integrity to our state's government. "During my 100-Day agenda tour I outlined ethical reforms that could be implemented without legislation," said Walker.  "Today's plan is far more comprehensive and will not only require the assistance of the legislature, but also the people of Wisconsin to step forward to make it happen." Key highlights of the Walker ethics reform plan include: Prohibit political campaign contributions until the state budget is signed into law  Five year ban on paid lobbying of the agency an individual worked in for all members of the administration, Legislature and legislative staff  Term limits on all state offices of no more than 12 years 3 terms for Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Attorney General  3 terms for State Senate  6 terms for State Assembly   Return to a part-time legislature "The culture of government has destroyed the integrity and the idea of public service," said Walker. "My plan seeks to restore the public trust, and instill the confidence that our elected leaders are working for the people," Walker added. Walker cited the revolving door of professional politician to professional lobbyist and the undue influence of campaign cash as one of the most glaring problems in government today. While campaigning around Wisconsin, Scott makes it a point to listen to people's thoughts on the future direction of our great state. Wisconsin is one of 11 states that is considered to have a truly "full-time" legislature, and one of only 6 states that is always "in session" for the full two-year cycle. Most states have a defined time period for the regular legislative session, and these sessions are always shorter than two years. Walker conceded that many of these proposals may not be received warmly in Madison. However, he invites everyone to listen to the people and offer their own proposals to restore the integrity of Wisconsin's government. "Re-instilling the people's trust in our public institutions will be a top priority for my administration," said Walker. "I believe this plan begins this process and I look forward to discussing my proposals in the coming months of this campaign." REFORM PLAN All appointed employees will be prohibited from contributing to Scott Walker's campaign committee. (100 Day Agenda and Walker's current policy in county government)  All appointed employees will be prohibited from organizing or participating in fundraising for Scott Walker's campaign committee. (100 Day Agenda and Walker's current policy in county government)  Scott Walker will not accept any campaign contributions (from any source) from the time he takes office (January 3, 2007) until the state budget is signed into law.  (100 Day Agenda)  Scott Walker will call on Legislative leaders to enact a similar policy for all elected state officials. (100 Day Agenda)  Scott Walker will push legislation that prohibits contributions to his campaign from firms that are seeking to do business with the state while the contracts are being bid and awarded. (Walker's current policy in county government)  Scott Walker will require every member of his administration to attend ethics training every two years to ensure that all executive staff members are aware of ethics standards and laws  Scott Walker proposes a five year ban on paid lobbying of the agency they worked in for all members of the administration, Legislature and legislative staff.    Scott Walker will push legislation to combine the State Elections Board and the State Ethics Board  Scott Walker will call for legislation to prohibit state candidates from accepting political contributions from the owners, operators or managers of casinos and racetracks. (Walker proposed similar legislation in 1997 and 1999)  Scott Walker will propose legislation to prohibit closed caucus meetings and to require that all votes in Legislative committees take place in public.  Scott Walker will push for term limits on all state offices of no more than 12 years (3 terms for Governor, other constitutional officers and State Senate and 6 for State Assembly).  Scott Walker will push for a return to a part-time Legislature.   Scott Walker will propose legislation to prohibit the transfer of funds from federal campaign accounts to state campaign accounts. Privacy Polic

Neb. Ruling Against Keystone XL Pipeline Sign Of Litigation To Come

I can't see it ever being built.

Nebraska court decision against Canadian tar sand crude oil pipeline across US ranch land, watershed is just the beginning.

Let Canada pipe its oil to Asia over its own land.

Spinmeister Walker Schemed To "Nip [PR Problem] In The Butt"

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, having devoted considerable time, expense and space to the needs of patients at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, goes into detail reporting on emails showing Scott Walker and his appointees' focus on the politics involved:

As crises at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex unfolded, Scott Walker managed the response from the background, while his staff focused on political damage caused by the botched care of what one key staffer called "crazy people." 

Walker was in his final year as county executive and running for governor as issues at the complex demanded much of his attention, a review of thousands of emails gathered as part of a criminal probe shows. 

Walker's county and campaign staffs collaborated in determining how to respond to one issue after another — sexual assaults of patients at the complex, security lapses, controversial remarks by Milwaukee County's mental health administrator. At one point, Walker's campaign manager complained that a county lawyer needed to "think political for a change."

It's not a pretty picture, and neither is the Walker malapropism at the heart of one his PR strategies, as the paper reports:

And Walker suggested reaching out to Journal Sentinel editorial writers, noting: "The next problem will be editorials and this can nip it in the butt."

National Business News Site Sees Walker On Shaky Ground

Call it a downgrade:

The Fiscal Times has this to say about Scott Walker and those emails:

When it comes to political corruption, New Jersey and Wisconsin are rarely mentioned in the same sentence. But a raft of emails released by a state appeals court judge Wednesday have Badger State governor Scott Walker facing some of the same questions as his embattled Garden State counterpart, Chris Christie. 

Even if Walker is not eventually implicated of any wrongdoing, the documents released Wednesday, as well as other information arising from a pair of criminal cases related to his rise from Milwaukee County Executive to Governor of Wisconsin raise some troubling questions about his choice of personnel and his awareness  -- or lack thereof -- of what was going on in his own office.

The Fiscal Times story is also circulating on Yahoo News.