There has been a lot of noise in the mainstream media over the past several weeks about the "inevitable" June 5th clash between Scott Walker and the winner of the Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin. What this narrative belies is the reality that our trusty, little, tunnel-running authoritarian "C.E.O." actually has a challenger on the Republican ticket in the May 8th primary. That thorn in Walker's side is 23 year old, Lincoln-La Follette Republican, Arthur Kohl-Riggs. Kohl-Riggs has made his presence felt in and around the Capitol building in Madison as a citizen journalist and activist since Scott Walker "dropped the bomb" on the citizens of Wisconsin in February of last year. In the process, he has compiled a cache of over 150 short video clips for his Facebook page,"Shit Scott Walker Is Doing To My State," because quite frankly, Scott Walker, his corporate puppet-masters and legislative cronies have done a lot of bad shit to our state!
As the Recall election of Scott Walker was triggered in late March, Honest Art realized that the focus of the election had seemingly shifted away from Walker and towards determining which of the Democratic candidates would be best suited to unseat the Governer. In order to put the focus back on Walker's lies, failed policies and draconian tactics, Kohl-Riggs decided to take the fight directly to Walker and submitted over 2,300 signatures to gain access to the ballot as a Republican, forcing a primary against the far right-wing's golden Gov. Since the beginning of his campaign, Kohl-Riggs has promoted himself as a Progressive Lincoln-Republican, with the beard, top hat and tuxedo to prove his mettle and evoke images of our nation's sixteenth president.
By running in the party formed as a pro-labor, abolitionist party right here in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1854, Honest Arthur Kohl-Riggs intended to highlight how radical and extreme of a candidate Scott Walker has been, even by traditional Republican standards. In order to do so, Kohl-Riggs has taken to candidate forums, radio and television airwaves, as well as print media, in an attempt to challenge Scotty to a public debate....but Walker has not responded. Unfortunately, it has become painfully obvious over the past year and a half that merely catching a glimpse of the Miniature Wisconsin Balding Weasel anywhere in public is quite the difficult task. This nearly extinct breed of rodent has been known to hide indoors and burrow in tunnels running underneath public buildings in Wisconsin; the cowardly pest only pops his little, balding dome outside when lured by the prospect of gathering the out-of-state crooked,conservative, corporate, campaign cash so necessary to his political survival. Needless to say, Walker's bizarre behavior, ignorance of Arthur's challenges and outright dismissal of Honest Art's and his campaign as a "sideshow" has made the attainment of a debate virtually impossible. According to Walker:
“My opponents are not the people on my ballot. My opponents are the out-of-state union bosses."
Interesting...I feel that Kohl-Riggs might opt to disagree with Scotty on that one. Besides, the Lincoln-lookin' lad has not solicited any out-of-state money, limited campaign contributions to $100 per individual and pledged to make a charitable donation for the portion of any contributions received in excess of $100.
Seeing as I don't seem to have any of that crooked, out-of-state loot readily at my disposal to lure Scott Walker out of hiding, I feel that asking you, Stephen Colbert, to publicly call your buddy out and moderate this debate is our best hope. Our state deserves the chance to see Walker face his Republican primary challenger in a real back and forth exchange over the issues that have affected us so deeply over the past year and a half in Wisconsin. Your blend of humor and staunch Conservatism, coupled with your renown as a "take-no-shit" interviewer would provide the necessary levity in an attempt to keep both candidates honest in their responses to the tough questions (An assuredly failed attempt in Walker's case as the lies spill out of his mouth as soon as his lips start moving.) Hell, Colbert, you run your own Super PAC, which likely would lend more than enough credibility to your request in Walker's corrupted mind. I mean, seriously, this is the hero of your radical right being challenged by a 23 year-old Progressive political neophyte. Can you think of a better opportunity for yourself and Walker to espouse your twisted Republican belief system than by taking on Honest Art?! I expect that you would love to trot the faithful Governer out in front of the cameras and show us what autocracy looks like.
The people of Wisconsin deserve the opportunity to see Scott Walker have to publicly defend and own up to his policies and actions. In a debate, he could actually be held accountable when he simply resorted to his favorite talking point crutches he so heavily leans on while facing the softballs lobbed by the ass-kissers on Fox "News" and CNBC. Arthur Kohl-Riggs has repeatedly stated that he wants a public debate with Scott Walker before their May 8th Republican gubernatorial primary election. With your help in promoting this on the Colbert Report, and hopefully moderating the debate for Kohl-Riggs and Walker, we can make this event a reality. It's time to give the young, proud American Republican upstart a chance. As an uber-patriot, you know what you need to do, Stephen Colbert. America is calling you in from the bullpen to fulfill your civic duty in Wisconsin..will you answer?
Please take the time to check out Arthur's website @ www.iartwi.com and his Facebook page "Art for Gov," which includes his "living platform."
Also, please head on over to The Colbert Report Facebook page and post your comments on my link to this diary, as well as comments directly on the show's Timeline, itself. Let the individuals running Colbert's Facebook page know the reasons why you think that Walker should agree to a debate with Art!!
