His lips are sealed
I've been waiting for a response from Scott Walker since a
statewide John Doe Probe was revealed yesterday. Good thing I wasn't holding my breath in anticipation because I'd be bluer than blue today.
His office and campaign had nothing to say yesterday, but the press caught up with him at a personal appearance today and they got rebuffed. Hmmmm...normally this is the time Walker proclaims loudly that he's the son of a preacherman, former Eagle Scout, and that innocent him is not involved in any way and/or is "fully cooperating". Nope, none of that.
Gov. Scott Walker won't say whether he, his attorneys or any staff members have been contacted in a growing, secret criminal investigation into a variety of state issues.
Pressed three times on the matter, Walker said Monday that he wouldn't be distracted by questions on the John Doe investigation, which he called a "sidebar issue."
"In terms of a lot of the questions regarding that issue, I really don't have a lot to say," Walker said during a visit to Beechwood Sales and Service in New Berlin. "I'm going to stay focused, as I am today, on helping the people of this state create more jobs, create more opportunity and balance the budget, as we have."
Walker added that he didn't want to get "pulled into" a discussion of the John Doe because of its dicey secrecy rules. A John Doe probe is much like a federal grand jury, allowing prosecutors to gather evidence and compel testimony in secret.
That's right, I'm not the droid you're looking for and, hey, look over there - shiny object! Squirrel!
He did, however, throw in this rancid croaker for old times sake:
"From our standpoint, we assume with there now officially being a candidate for governor on the Democrat side, there are going to be stories like this coming out -- in some ways, I think, distracting from our good work on improving the economy and providing $100 million worth of tax relief," the first-term GOP governor said.
Yeah, that's right. It's all to distract from all your marvelous (gag me) accomplishments that have pushed this state from #11 in job creation to #45. And, yeah, that "tax relief" you just rushed through and signed immediately works out to about 11 bucks a year on property tax of the typical home. Naturally, your billionaire pals get more. A lot more. As usual.
There's more, too:
Also refusing to answer questions about the secret investigation was Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald, who typically handles reporters’ questions head-on, declined several times on Monday to say whether he knew anything about a John Doe investigation or had appeared before it.
“I can’t comment on it,” said the Juneau Republican.
Wow. Fitz could talk a dog off a meat wagon, but now he is a fellow victim of Tight Lip Syndrome.
For his part, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Monday he didn’t know anything about the John Doe investigation beyond a recent rumor he had heard from a Capitol aide. The Rochester Republican said that he wasn’t aware that he or any Assembly colleague was under scrutiny by prosecutors.
OK, so he claims to know nothing, too. Interesting.
Of course, since this puts Republican leaders in a bad light, it's not in the printed newspaper, but in their online blog where few folks tread. We wouldn't want actual citizens to be informed on this issue now, would we? Naturally, RW trollery rolled right in to the comments section to prop up their Wisconsin Idol and point blaming and shaming fingers at Democrats, union bosses, and evil liberals in general.
Side Note
Our poorest state tribe, the Menominee, are desperately trying to get approval from Scott Walker to open a non-reservation casino in Kenosha (southeastern part of the state), but are being fought tooth and nail by 2 other tribes with highly profitable casinos of their own. They seem to know that the way to Scott Walkers heart is $$$$$ so they've made sure to feed the Republican kitty in addition to previous donations. He rewards his donors.
The Forest County Potawatomi -- the tribe leading the fight against a casino in Kenosha -- dropped another $35,000 into the Republican State Leadership Committee last month, according to a new report by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
The contributions are in addition to the $42,500 the GOP group received earlier from the Potawatomi and the Ho-Chunk tribes -- the two casino-rich tribes that oppose the Menominee bid to open a Kenosha casino.
Since July 2011 the Potawatomi have also contributed $150,900 to the Republican Governors Association, including a $50,000 gift in February.
Just in time, too, because the Menominee are making their final pitch for their off reservation casino to Scott Walker tomorrow.
Scott Walkers "divide and conquer" is still working. Donations from Native American tribes to oppose the poorest tribe in the state from getting itself out of desperate poverty. Donations to a party that pushed through a mining bill that will environmentally damage the tribal lands and water of the Bad River Reservation.
Not a good thing.
Divide and conquer didn't work on unions. Private sector unions stood proudly and protested with public sector unions. They realized the importance of solidarity. Old conflicts were set aside because there was recognition that the threat was to everyone. Tribes should do the same. Republicans aren't their friends.
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