The Governor takes many calls everyday. Throughout this call the Governor maintained his appreciation for and commitment to civil discourse. He continued to say that the budget repair bill is about the budget. The phone call shows that the Governor says the same thing in private as he does in public and the lengths that others will go to disrupt the civil debate Wisconsin is having.Walker opponents would love to make something of this phone call, but all they have are a few over-the-line things the Koch impersonator said like "You gotta crush that union." Walker just ignores that stuff and goes on with his standard points, which is probably the standard strategy that most politicians use when people interact with them.
You could say that it's bad that the prankster got through, but that shows that he's willing to talk to a lot of people and also that David Koch isn't a frequent caller who gets special treatment and is recognized by his caller ID and his voice and manner of speaking.
Doesn't this prank call prove that Scott Walker is not close to Koch? He doesn't recognize his voice! He doesn't drift into a more personal style of speech. He treats him like a generic political supporter.
(Here's Monday's NYT article floating the theory that Walker is too close to the Koch brothers. In my frequent forays to the protest at the Capitol, I've seen many signs depicting Walker as a creation or puppet of the Koch brothers.)
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238 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 238 of 238Not so innocent.
Barry,
Forgive me, but I don't recognize you as one of the reliably left-wing or right-wing commenters around here, so I couldn't tell if that remark was meant to be sarcastic or not.
Are you actually saying those quotes are "not so innocent"? Or are you quoting innocent passages and then making sarcastic remarks about them to highlight how silly folks like garage and Jeremy are being?
Help me out here, buddy.
There is nothing going on here! This makes Walker look good, not bad! This will hurt the left!
Walker is holding another press conference today because this is NOTHING!
Hide ya kids, Hide ya wife
Can't wait to see the signs this weekend. What a gift this jackass is.
Jeremy bleats: Yeah, right. Teabagger bullshit.
Hm-m-m. Lefty erudition.
Maybe Walker has a bat in his office because the D Congressmen was telling the unions that it was time "to get bloody"? It was Walker's opponent who make a fake phone call to smear someone who did not plant anybody at the illegal strike rally. Backfired by proving that Governor did not know Koch.
Hmm J-man is back--great times ahead--
as to the substance of this post? none--its pole vaulting over a mouse turn--
Gov walker is going to stick it up the unions butts at some point in the near future--rather like ms pelosi did to the minority repubicans--we won bitches deal with it.
that said, I, kind readers, have offered to send a case of KY Jelly to the dems--sensitive person that I am. this faux phone call will get no attention except in the fevered minds of the left blogosphere. But do carry on. It is quite charming.
One thing is certain, this phonecall will have alienated the 'people who hate Walker's guts and equate him with Hitler' demographic.
Taking a phone call is such a dastardly deed. Certainly far worse than approving of "G*d d**n America" or consorting with terror bombers or presiding over a 3 day meeting to discuss the assassination of 5 US senators.
He took a phone call! Proves how evil he is.
@Maggot
This guy's got real potential. Democrats must be worried about him.
Bingo!
Soon Sully will be looking up Mrs. Walker's skirt.
Not content with a week of negative imagery and polling, the Soros sockpuppets double down on stupid.
Re: the bat reference.
I didn't listen to the call. Perhaps is was an metaphor. Something that the liberals have a hard time grasping.
I seem to remember another rather famous politican who was greatly admired for this:
"Speak softly and carry a big stick"
also
"No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it."
The garagosphere is outraged.
commentor 1:42 PM - hilariously on a roll.
"Maybe it was a metaphor".
Nope, the man really has a baseball bat in his office and fully intends to beat his opponents with it.
It's the usual media hype. Scumbag politician duped by scumbag media-huckster--though Walker comes off worse.
Joe Klein got it right. Oppose the Teabuggers, and arrogant punks such as Walker. But oppose the centrist bureaucrats (ie, the WI PE unions-- middle class educators, not labor/workers) who think taking a cut on their pensions equals the onset of nazi germany.
"Federal law allows recording of phone calls and other electronic communications with the consent of at least one party to the call. A majority of the states and territories have adopted laws based on the federal standard. But 12 states, including California, require the consent of all parties to the call under most circumstances. These are are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington. For a state-by-state guide to taping laws, including a discussion of federal law and references to caselaw, see the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press guide, www.rcfp.org/taping/."
I'd like to hear a prank call to the Democrat cowards hiding in Illinois. Especially if the caller was President "punch back twice as hard", or any union shill (but I repeat myself).
The impersonation aspect of this could be another interesting legal angle.
What about Walker agreeing to "Koch's" proposal to show him a good time in Cali?
Looks like a mutha-f-ing faux pas. Not that it's likely to bother the Althouse gang--motto "don't get caught."
Re: the bat reference. I didn't listen to the call. Perhaps is was an metaphor.
It isn't a metaphor, just one of several exchanges where "Koch" says something outrageous and Walker gives a noncommittal response before changing the subject.
Can't wait to see the signs this weekend.
Yes, because "signs" will make or break this issue!
UPDATE:
FAKE KOCH: What we were thinking about the crowds was, planting some troublemakers in some blogs. Blogs like that, what's her name, Allhouse? You know, troublemakers like Jeremy.
WALKER: Althouse. Yes sir, Mr. Koch, sir, we thought about that. My only gut reaction to that would be, right now, oh shit! Did you say Jeremy? Would that even be legal? Let me talk to counsel and I'll get back to you, sir.
FAKE KOCH: Now, Walker, boy, what's this I hear about you running into David Axlerod. What happened?
WALKER: Well, sir, I introduced myself.
FAKE KOCH: That son of a bitch.
WALKER: Yeah, no kidding, right? Right, sir? I am right when I say "no kidding," right, sir?
FAKE KOCH: Well, I'll tell ya what, Scotty. Once you crush these bastards, I'll fly ya out to here to Arizona. We'll shoot golf and shoot Democrats and I'll really show you a good time.
WALKER: Alright. That would be outstanding, Mr. Koch sir. Thanks for all the support and helping us move our evil unjust greedy mean-spirited cause forward, sir. Just no Jeremy, sir. Please. Anything but Jeremy.
OK, I listened to the tapes. I won't claim to be an accurate prognosticator of public opinion, left, right or center,but I sure wasn't "moved" by the tape. I can certainly imagine someone deeply opposed to Walker hearing confirmation of his "nefarious plans" but he seemed reasonable in his "discussion" off the record with someone dropping a lot of "fightin' words"
Now today after hearing him in a public venue (his fireside chat) and a private venue (this conversation) I have to say, the guy speaks well (far better than My Governor, Brewer). And I do get a great sense of "patience". That's not good for his protesters.
As for his plan to "talk" with the Dems, get them to open a session then leave, that appears now to be "toast".
So yes, Wisconsin, more fun in Madison. You are now the epicenter of the news world.
Professor, get some new batteries for that camera of your's. And tell Mr. Meade they'll be no skiing this weekend, we've got reportin' to do!!
(PS You can skip reporting on the "Teach-in". I know it will be a "real" and stuff but I had my fill of "rap sessions" in the '70's.)
What about Walker agreeing to "Koch's" proposal to show him a good time in Cali?
I think that every adult American has done the whole "we should get together later"/"that'd be great" dance a couple of hundred times.
But hey, let's suppose Walker considered that a bona fide offer, and let's suppose he was responding with a genuine expectation that he would be flying out to California to chill with the Koch brothers when it was all over.
My response to that would be: and?
Seriously. What's the supposed problem with that? Are we supposed to believe it is some sort of payoff? Get real, kids.
Obviously the promise of California hookers is THE smoking gun.
What's the supposed problem with that? Are we supposed to believe it is some sort of payoff? Get real, kids.
#1 - Wisconsin might have anti-bribery laws
#2 - even if taking such a trip isn't illegal, it's unethical; a Governor has to be ABOVE reproach
What about Walker agreeing to "Koch's" proposal to show him a good time in Cali?
I just won the Superbowl and now I'm going to Disneyland!
Walker just sounds like a guy humoring a blowhard supporter. Have your people get with my people and do lunch, etc. Is he supposed get all huffy with this and Well, I never! and clutch his pearls when "Koch" makes these outrageous suggestions? Politicians deal with idiots like this all the time.
6:23. It's real, whether it offends the usual frat boy conservative or not. Walker sounds like another WASP punk. Stupid as f**k as well--like, Althouse reg stupid
Looks like you have been attacked those right wing commentbots :)
J - racist much?
Oh, Prof. Althouse... I am so sadly disappointed by your take on this (you impressed me in Law School, esp in Fed. Jur.)....
Here's some pretty relevant facts -- 1) The caller claiming to be Koch got thru to Walker and got a 20 min phone conversation! How many people who he a)doesn't know, b) doesn't owe and c) doesn't need, do you suppose are getting nice long phone calls with Gov. Walker these days?
-2)Walker's response to the suggestion to plant troublemakers amongst the protestors is esp. damning -- "we thought about it -- but rejected it because it might actually work to the protestors' advantage by drawing more media attention" (That shows a less developed sense of morality than Nixon displayed when talking about bribing witnesses -- "It would be wrong for sure, but we can the money")
I expect better from you!!!
#1 - Wisconsin might have anti-bribery laws
I'm sure it does, but where's the bribe? Do you expect us to believe that Walker's actions are influenced by the expectation of a vacation in California? Please be serious.
#2 - even if taking such a trip isn't illegal, it's unethical; a Governor has to be ABOVE reproach
Again, what's the problem? Politicians are feted by their supporters all the time. If doing that is cause for reproach then there has never been a governor of Wisconsin -- or any other state -- that was "above reproach".
But this makes all of the problems go away. Right? I mean the budget deficit goes away and everything is fine now. Right? Oh, the problem is still there? So why are we talking about this?
Major fail. What the left wishes the O'Keefe/Giles videos had been like. Maybe Koch should have mentioned underage hookers.
"Walker's response to the suggestion to plant troublemakers amongst the protestors is esp. damning -- "we thought about it -- but rejected it because it might actually work to the protestors' advantage by drawing more media attention"
More likely this is Walker attempting to politely and quietly dissuade a potential supporter from doing something stupid.
1) The caller claiming to be Koch got thru to Walker and got a 20 min phone conversation! How many people who he a)doesn't know, b) doesn't owe and c) doesn't need, do you suppose are getting nice long phone calls with Gov. Walker these days?
So if a powerful potential supporter calls you up, the correct response is to _______?
The USA Today/Gallop poll does not make sense to me. There are 22 Right-To-Work states which already limit collective bargaining rights, not only of public employees, but private employees as well. Is that poll saying that 60% of the people living in these states want to change the law?
Just got a chance to read the transcript. Very interesting.
Murphy: Bring a baseball bat. That’s what I’d do.
Walker: I have one in my office; you’d be happy with that. I got a Slugger with my name on it.
Very pointedly saying that fake Koch is the one who wants a bat, not Walker. Smart. And he just glosses over everything crazy with non committal responses. I like Walker a lot from this transcript.
walker will bring our country back 60 years first it eill be union rights then it will be non union, unions are the reason for a safe place to work and no slave wages,this will effect all workers.
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