First the Good News for Dems.
It appears most of the people of Wisconsin don't want to give a 'vote of confidence' to Governor Scott Walker,
-- at least among who have heard about the "John Doe" investigation, directed at Walker's former executive staff:
Scott Walker Recall: Dem's Internal Poll Shows Dead Heat, Growing Awareness Of 'John Doe' Probe
by Amanda Terkel, huffingtonpost -- 05/25/2012
[...]
In a survey of 935 likely recall voters, conducted by the Garin Hart Yang Research Group from May 22 to 24, Walker led Barrett by 49.89 to 48.62 percent. With the poll's margin of error at plus or minus 3.3 percent, that means the race is essentially tied.
Wisconsin Democrats have been hammering Walker in recent days over the "John Doe" investigation of his time as Milwaukee county executive, which has already ensnared several former staffers. The probe by the Milwaukee County district attorney's office is reportedly focusing on whether staffers who worked for Walker did political work on the taxpayers' dime. In March, Walker set up a legal defense fund.
[...]
Voters who had heard about the John Doe probe preferred Barrett by 52 to 46 percent. Public awareness of the criminal investigation is also increasing: 25 percent of respondents on Wednesday night said they had heard "a lot" about it, while 37 percent said the same on Thursday night.
[...]
Would you want someone who misuses public funds, to continue to have the opportunity to misuse the Public's funds?
The people have the right to know, just how the GOP's rock star, Scott Walker operates ...
Democratic challenger Tom Barrett thinks the people of Wisconsin have a right to know too. Barrett is challenging Scott to answer two simple questions about that legal probe, that presumably has the Governor in its sights -- Why else spend 100K on the high-powered legal defense fund, Scott?
Barrett and Walker trade barbs over John Doe probe
by Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel -- May 21, 2012
Madison -- Tom Barrett called on Gov. Scott Walker Monday to release emails associated with a secret Internet system uncovered by prosecutors.
The Milwaukee mayor questioned whether Walker is a target of the ongoing John Doe probe in Milwaukee County that is looking at Walker’s former aides while he was county executive. Some of those aides who used the system stand accused of campaigning while being paid by taxpayers.
“Walker is obviously trying to run out the clock and avoid accountability, but voters deserve the full truth before they go to the polls. The governor can finally put the doubts to rest by simply disclosing for the public the emails that have been turned over to prosecutors,” Barrett said in a statement.
[...]
Shouldn't Walker's public record speak for itself? Shouldn't Walker's public record be an 'open book'?
In the "citizens united" subsidiary of Wisconsin, apparently not.
Why do you think they installed a "separate, secret network" for in the first place -- those things aren't cheap! ... Hmmm? I wonder who paid for that?
WisPolitics: Barrett challenges Walker on jobs, John Doe as guv dismisses 'desperate' attacks
WisPolitics.com -- 5/26/2012
[...]
Barrett also continued to press Walker to be more forthcoming on the John Doe probe that has so far ensnared former aides from his days as Milwaukee County exec. He said Walker's key aides were working on political work just 25 feet from his office door on a secret computer system and demanded that Walker release emails from that network and detail for voters who's paying for his attorneys fees through a legal defense fund.
"When he found out about it, did he order an investigation?" Barrett said. "No. He sent one email and he said we can't afford to have any more stories. His concerns were about public relations, not about criminal investigations."
Walker insisted he has been a person of integrity since his days as an Eagle Scout and has had a strict policy against using taxpayer resources for political work. He said the John Doe investigation began nearly two years ago because his administration went to prosecutors with concerns and that he continues to cooperate with them.
[...]
In the Friday night's Debate, Eagle Scout Walker claimed that
he requested the investigation -- while the email trail shows that was NOT his initial reaction ... Mr Honesty's first reaction instead
was to cover-up the story.
To bury it. To feign deniability.
Two ex-Walker aides accused of illegally doing campaign work
by Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel -- Jan 26, 2012
[...]
According to the Rindfleisch complaint, Walker sent a private email to a top staffer in the wake of that controversy.
"We cannot afford another story like this one," Walker wrote to Timothy Russell, his longtime aide and adviser. "No one can give them any reason to do another story. That means no laptops, no websites, no time away during the work day, etc."
[...]
The complaint says that Rindfleisch [deputy chief of staff to Walker] told a friend in an Internet chat shortly after taking the job with Walker that "half of what I'm doing is policy for the campaign."
[...]
In addition, Milwaukee County prosecutors expose what they say was a private email network created by top Walker aides to allow them to communicate with one another about campaign and county work without the public or co-workers' knowledge.
"It should be (illegal) because it defeats the public’s right to know," said Bob Dreps, an attorney who handles open records cases for clients such as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "If it’s official business, it belongs in the official system."
[...]
This is how Walker is "creating jobs" for Wisconsin, by making sure his public staff is spending "half their time," working to
get himself elected.
And he has the nerve to now say he started the investigation. When there is an email of Walker trying to put a lid on the entire "on the clock" political operation.
On the Public Clock. On the Tax-payer's dime.
That is the Scott Walker that citizens of Wisconsin have worked so hard to Recall. A guy who puts himself above election law.
The ends justify the means, right Walker? If not, then release the PUBLIC Emails (... release those off-network emails too, while you're at it.)
The public citizens of Wisconsin have a right to know what you -- and your staff -- are doing on their dime. It's called accountability, Scout. You know, truth, honesty, and the American way.
You can learn more about the John Doe investigation which is swirling around Eagle Scout Scott, here:
Important Reminders About the Walker John Doe Probe (Walker cancels appearance today) Update 2+
by Puddytat -- Jan 26, 2012
and here:
What did Walker know? And When did he know it?
by jamess -- May 25, 2012
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You can watch the bruising debate that Barrett sent 'I-know-Nothing' Walker's way, here:
Wisconsin Governor's Recall Election Debate
Then click the link under Video Playlist panel.
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And you can join the People's fight here:
Help Tom Barrett defeat Scott Walker -- Contribute to Tom Barrett's campaign.
Thanks for reading.
And thanks for helping to take OUR Democracy back from the seemingly endless tsunami of "Citizens United" money.
Corporations are NOT people -- People are people!