John Nichols: Scott Walker's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad February

[Scuba]

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/john_nichols/john-nichols-scott-walker-s-terrible-horrible-no-good-very/article_84788272-dcbc-59c1-830c-a9750309691e.html

Scott Walker’s had a lousy February. Tens of thousands of emails detailing the ethical and legal lapses, political misdeeds, insensitivity, sexism, racism and homophobia of his "inner circle" of closest aides were released.

The governor tried to spin it all away, only to be criticized by Fox News for not answering basic questions. Then Walker started stonewalling in a manner that made New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie look like a model citizen. Then a new Citizen Action of Wisconsin report identified patterns of partisanship in the practices of the Walker administration’s primary job-creation agency, the steadily troubled Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. The best a defensive Walker could muster in response was a claim that “business leaders more often than not happen to be Republicans.”

...

Third, Walker’s email trail, and that of his aides, has provided fodder for discussions that do not reflect well on the governor. The governor did not write the most crudely racist and irresponsible of the emails. But he hired the people who did, put them in positions of authority and continued to find them work even when their wrongdoing began to be exposed. And there are plenty of emails that suggest Walker went along with his aides when — neglecting their duty to the taxpayers — they placed political calculations ahead of the public interest.

...

Walker has experienced a series of bad breaks in February. The question is whether Burke can take advantage of the opening she has been handed to present herself as a credible alternative to the governor — by focusing primarily on economics but also by speaking in smart ways about restoring responsible and ethical governance.

Burke will have to capitalize on the ethics questions if she's going to win, as her policy positions and track record don't inspire many.

[russspeakeasy]

1. Walker is a horrible governor, but Burke is a weak candidate.

As bad as he is, Wisconsin is probably doomed with his re-election, 51-49.
Too bad, this once great state has a plethora of intelligent and capable individuals who choose not to get involved because 90% of their time would be spent on fund raising, not campaigning or governing.

[AleksS]

2. I know. It's too bad

It's too bad the dems don't have a strong campaign machine in WI. Barrett looked good on paper--heck he fistfought a guy robbing a woman with a crowbar. But what a drag on the campaign trail. And we always let Walker get away with whatever lies he wants, thanks to what must be the most complicit media in the country--I'm looking at you Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel!

Grrrr. Very frustrating. Yes, I'll support Burke (Mary, not the libertarian candidate of the same name) but could she be less inspiring? Beyond giving off a vibe of Chris Abele-like regressive-DINO-ism, I just can't seem to get excited about her campaign, not that I've heard much from it even.

[hue]

3. Whelp, John, IMHO February wasn't bad enough for Wanker! Drop a few indictments!!