Breaking News: Scott Walker accidentally says something true (again!)

“I believe if given the facts they’re going to make good decisions. 
Sometimes they’re going to be decisions that side with me, 
sometimes they’re going to be with others, 
but I’m going to respect their decision."
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on the upcoming recall elections, in a rare moment of truth, 
after being publicly shamed by his constituents at the opening of the Wisconsin State Fair
5 August 2011
Dear Scott Walker,

I could not be more thrilled to learn that, for the second time in your career as most hated governor in America, you have said something true!  Congratulations!  And THANK YOU for acknowledging that now that people are informed, they will do the right thing and recall of the Republicans who betrayed their constituents by voting along with your education and job-killing budget and taking away the rights of the people they represent. It must feel so liberating to be honest, after all that lying and pandering and misleading and betrayal and deceit!  I'll never forget the first time you said something true, and now that it's happened again, I feel like anything is possible.

I like your new look. Human. It suits you. Source
I'd also like to congratulate you in staying in character for so long, which must be really hard to do. I was surprised to learn from your second accidental truth that the word "respect" is actually in your lexicon after all, which makes it all the more remarkable to me that you are able to maintain your public persona and walk through your days as if you are not - literally - being followed at every step by the taxpayers with whom you refuse to communicate. How do you ignore us so well? How can you pretend that people are not shouting "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" at you every time you speak beyond closed doors or invite-only events? How do you smile and wave and pretend we do not exist?  I tried pretending you don't exist, too, for a while, but it only lasted one pay period, because when I got my check I couldn't help but remember that, alas, you do exist, as evidenced in your palpable presence in the hole that was once the money I need to survive and support my family.  So I congratulate you, and sincerely, on being able to pull off your act in the face of such resistance. Shy of Cheney and Rumsfeld, I can't think of any greater political instance of public douchebaggery. Your critics (*myself included) can say what they want, but we've got to hand it to you on this one: you are consistent and you pull off your public smuggery better than almost anyone. In fact, this photo is the first I've ever seen of you where you actually look concerned, or worried, or capable of sincere emotional response to external stimuli. I like it! You should act human more often!

Your lack of public displays of humanity aside, though, I like to think that your recent accidental truth is evidence that maybe you are hearing us. And maybe you are waking up to the reality that the recall elections are looking pretty good for those who have been "given the facts" about how seriously your "business model" is failing this state.  Because it sounds to me like you're getting ready to deal with the very likely prospect of not owning the Senate anymore. Who knows? Maybe it's all talk.  Or maybe one day I'll even hear you say you're ready to start a dialogue with your constituents, too. Or maybe the time for that has come and gone. It does seem kind of a waste, what with your own recall so close at hand. Maybe next time, if you ever say anything true again. My guess it that day will be at your farewell ceremony: "It was an honor to serve the people who paid for me to hijack this state and I have no regrets..."   I plan to be there in person. And I promise not to interrupt, so everyone can hear your speech. Look for me! Maybe we can chat after, assuming you'll lift your moratorium on communicating with dissidents once you're no longer an elected official.

In closing, I'd like to quote you - yes you - and your brave words the first time you said something true:

"People are ready to move on."

Yes, we are. We're already moving on. Forward! Toward retrieving democracy from your partisan stronghold and getting the people their voice back. Toward your recall, or your resignation, whichever comes first. Because here's something else that's true about these recalls: they're all about you. They're about your abuse of power, your bullying and your strong-arming of your own party into cheating the people of Wisconsin out of its proud tradition of bipartisan collaboration and its ability to maintain essential social programs and excellent schools while balancing its budget and ensuring workers' rights. You can't just hijack that history and try to make it your own. Like soon-to-be-ex Senator Alberta Darling prophetically said this week, "elections have consequences."  I hope you'll enjoy them. I know I will, once we clean up the mess you've made of our state.


Thanks again for the refreshing departure from your usual lies!

Yours sincerely,

Heather DuBois Bourenane
Wisconsin taxpayer, parent, and impatient demander of your resignation


Scenes from the opening of the Wisconsin State Fair, in which Walker is shouted down in protest of his refusal to communicate with his constituents. Video by Shit Scott Walker Is Doing To My State.

Stop Scott Walker. Save Wisconsin. Save America.


4 comments:

  1. ...and the dutifully noted autoreply:
    ======================================
    Thank you for your e-mail message. I welcome you expressing your views and concerns to me, and I commend you for participating in your state government. I take into account the views of all of the citizens of Wisconsin, and I will keep your specific comments in mind during my service as your Governor.

    If you would like more information about my positions on issues, or would like to read my public statements on issues, I encourage you to explore my website: www.walker.wi.gov. I like to respond individually to every letter and telephone call I receive; however, I cannot respond to each e-mail individually due to the volume. If your request is time sensitive, please call my office at (608) 266-1212. You may also write to me via conventional mail at Governor Scott Walker: PO Box 7863, Madison, WI 53707.

    As noted on our website, please know that any communications may be subject to release under Wisconsin's public records law and that our policy is generally to release communications sent to this email address.

    Once again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me again if I can ever be of assistance to you.

    Sincerely,

    Scott Walker
    Governor

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think for the first time since his role of Governor you're beginning to see the type of leader Scott Walker is. You don't get elected to Governor by not working well with others for the good of Wisconsin.

    By stating this, Walker is saying he's willing to respect and work with anyone who wants to better Wisconsin. An ideal he's maintained since his first days as state rep.

    Walker could have been like any other Governor before him to avoid this issue of the budget. But he knows why he was elected, to serve his constituents. Scott Walker has a conscience.

    His constituents knew we were billions in the hole and we knew that we needed to get out. We also knew that public employee benefits were a huge contributor to this.

    At his constituents urging, Walker made the tough decision that Governors have been putting off for decades. He decided to balance the budget.

    Now everyone knows that when you raise taxes in a recession it becomes a depression. Therefore Walker made the tough cuts necessary to balance our budget.

    Unfortunately public employees benefits were one of the cuts he had to make.

    So, do you think Walker wanted to be in this position? Do you think Walker wanted this crap? Obviously not. Who would? Everywhere he goes people scream "shame"

    But he did what was morally the correct decision. He served his constituents.

    And you wonder why us teapublicans love this guy? It's because we can see behind the non-sense and understand that Walker will fight for Wisconsin harder than any Governor before him.

    Scott Walker for President.

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  3. Um...Wisconsin wasn't "billions in the hole", not that is until your best friend Walker promised those "billions" to his friends via a tax break. Only then did the budget need "fixing". And I disagree with Heather...I don't think he "respects" his constituents any more today than he did when he took office. Not the working class ones anyway. My take on his comments of "truth"? he trusts that his cronies will take care of the recall elections, in the same way they took care of Prosser. He is only saying what he has been told to say by his handlers. He is truly a disgrace to this country...I have no hope for him.

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  4. Clarification: I hope it is sufficiently clear that my acknowledgement above of Walker's newfound "respect" for his constituents is satirical. I am mocking his fear of losing in the recall elections and his transparent attempt to prepare for this reality by pretending he suddenly gives a damn about what we think.

    I also invite readers like WisConserve to learn a little bit about how the world works before making assessments of things, especially those who claim to hold so dear a Constitution about which they know nothing. ALL Wisconsin governors ALWAYS balance the budget, as is required by the state Constitution. Doing so on the backs of the poor, the young and the working class was a political choice Scott Walker made, and one that does not economically benefit our state. It was a move guided by bad economics, not good morals, and it is bad for business and bad for Wisconsin. Unemployment is up, more jobs are lost, and people have less money to contribute to economic growth. The only good news for you is that once Walker is recalled next year, you and he will have lots more time to work on your Walker for President campaign strategy. Good luck with that!

    ReplyDelete