Nixon Wannabe

Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) is like Richard Nixon without the professionalism. He was prank called on Wednesday by someone claiming to be a Koch brother and stayed on the line revealing his planned deceptions and general toadying up to oil wealth for twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes. Think about that. Twenty minutes without the prank caller from The Beast making him suspicious, even when he said:

Koch: We’ll back you any way we can. What we were thinking about the crowd was, uh, was planting some troublemakers.

Walker: You know, well, the only problem with that —because we thought about that. The problem—the, my only gut reaction to that is right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them, the public is not really fond of this…[explains that planting troublemakers may not work.] My only fear would be if there’s a ruckus caused is that maybe the governor has to settle to solve all these problems…[something about '60s liberals.]…Let ‘em protest all they want…Sooner or later the media stops finding it interesting.

That means that this is the way the Koch brothers talk to the politicians they've purchased and furnished with ideological claptrap designed to take America back -- to the Robber Baron Era. It's exactly as bad as the worst you think. Because if they're considering planting agitators, you know that they've done it before.

Liar Walker's denial is hilarious: "I take phone calls all the time." What the hell does that even mean? I take phone calls from my corporate overlords all the time?

I'm just wondering which Koch brother has made his feelings known to toady Walker about this boneheaded screw up.

Like mobsters, they may have to stop talking on the phone. Do something with burners and codes, a la The Wire. After all, is this prosecutable, arguably taking an implied bribe:

Murphy: [Laughs] Well, I tell you what, Scott: Once you crush these bastards I’ll fly you out to Cali (California) and really show you a good time.

Walker: All right, that would be outstanding. Thanks for all the support in helping us move the cause forward, and we appreciate it, and we’re doing it the just and right thing for the right reasons and it’s all about getting our freedoms back.

He's revealed his strategy for all to see. He didn't campaign on ending collective bargaining, he's deliberately taking eyes off the banks that got the states into debt, and if his governorship doesn't crumble to the point of legislative failure (i.e. pressure on Republican legislators who don't want to be recalled or voted out next time) it will be a huge victory for him, the GOP crony con (including their conning of their easiest dupes, the tea partiers) and the Koch brothers.

It's rfall at Daily Kos who provides the most apt analysis of the call, and the most chilling:

What I haven't heard a lot about it the one thing which leapt out at me when listening to the tape after my years in corporate life.

Walker sounds exactly like someone who is in a one-on-one meeting with his boss.

He provides status on what he's doing and plans to do.

He provides rationalizations for his actions which he thinks his boss might not like.

He makes promises as to what he plans to do, things the boss wants done.

He expresses false bravado, trying to be a "good enforcer" to his boss.

In summary, he sounds like he's not talking to a Wisconsin citizen, or even a campaign contributor, but someone to whom he's clearly beholden for his job.

As I've heard it said about success in the corporate world: It's all about the reporting. Well, in some ways it's now like a bestselling political thriller.

True motives and relationships have been revealed.