So, the Wisconsin GOP state senators, minus Schultz, pulled it off. They've removed public sector collective bargaining from the first state to ever adopt it. People are asking, "Has Walker gone off the rails?" and seem to think that he's "toast."
He might be toast in Wisconsin for this unprecedented display of gubernatorial nihilism, but he's not nationwide toast. Follow over the fold for a Wisconsin GOP aide's assessment of that situation.
The Wisconsin blog Blue Cheddar harvested a comment from former GOP State Senate aide Bob Swoch about what Walker really wants, entitled “You can beat Walker."
As a former Republican aide in the Wisconsin State Senate, part of my job was to help read the governor, and advise my senator accordingly. If I were still advising a Republican state senator, this is what I’d say right now.
DO SOMETHING.
This governor is not hard to read. He’s a giant fiery ball of ambition. When he sneezes he compares it to how Reagan sneezed. His first major act, after netting a modest 52 percent in a GOP wave election, was to pick the most dangerous and inflammatory political fight he could think of. His next major act was to propose a budget that might get him re-elected in Texas, but not Wisconsin. Why?
Could it be . . . SATAN?
I didn't think so either. Scott Walker is just in love with Scott Walker, and he's definitely in love with the Koch brothers. They'll get him places.
Saunter into a bar near the Capitol, find people in suits and eavesdrop for five minutes. It requires only a two-year sense of history to identify the last photogenic gubernatorial novice who turned into a conservative folk hero when a presidential candidate needed some far-right street cred.
A couple weeks ago I was in Brocach's Irish pub on the Capitol square, I saw a lot of suits, and picked up on some of that buzz, yes. I believe Bob Schwoch is onto something.
Excepting for the "photogenic" part.
He has some sage words for the GOP bunch in the State Senate:
So attention Alberta Darling. Attention Dan Kapanke. Attention Dale Schultz (well, Dale, you already get it, apparently, but you need some support). Attention all you Republican senators who need a few union votes to hold your districts. I served alongside you and I respect you. So pretend I’m your staffer.
You’re toast if you stay on this bus. Here’s your way off it.
Read on in Blue Cheddar. Obviously the Alberta Darling, et al., did not pay attention. Except for Schultz.
I'd be enjoying the schadenfreude at their imminent political demise if it didn't all hurt so much right now. Schwoch has another point:
DO SOMETHING