Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Life of the Wretched and Infamous

Lisa Kaiser of the Shepherd Express, one of the last true reporters in Wisconsin, much less Milwaukee, did some shifting through Scott Walker's campaign finance report.  Her findings are amazing.

As the gentle reader already knows, Walker has been spending most of his time traveling across the nation from one fundraiser to another in his not so secret presidential campaign.  As a tribute to his fundraising skill, he raised $3.5 million in the past six months, albeit the far majority of it comes from out of state.  Those of us living here aren't willing to throw good money after bad.  And we know he's as bad as it gets.

But even though he raised quite a lot of money, he has also been spending it like mad, too.  Walker blew through $2 million in the past six months.  A lot of the money went for private charter jets, posh hotels, fancy restaurants, "administrative expenses" at Macy's and a trip to Hooter's (maybe to visit his former campaign spokeswoman, Ciara Matthews?).

One of the biggest expenses caught my attention, not just because of the amount of money spent, but what it was spent on:
Legal Fees: Although some of his former hires are doing jail time, Walker wasn’t charged in the long-running John Doe investigation into his county executive office and political aides. But the price of freedom didn’t come cheap. The governor transferred $247,602 to the Scott Walker Trust, his criminal defense fund, bringing the total up to about $450,000. State law requires him to get the OK of donors whose money is used for this fund, but Walker doesn’t have to get that consent in writing or provide any documentation to the state Government Accountability Board. He only has to declare on this campaign finance form that he made a lump-sum transfer to his criminal defense account.

Walker also paid fees for “compliance-administration” to Stephen Biskupic ($10,000), Foley and Lardner ($11,446) and Michael Best & Friedrich ($9,298).
I point this out because in the days and weeks ahead, even though Jeff tried to steal my thunder, there is more. There is always more.

12 comments:

  1. These aren't blogs. They're link dumps. Ride those coat tails!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aggregate sources and synthesize logical arguments...all part of a devious plan to employ deductive reasoning.

      I am willing to bet you allow the AM squalkers and Fox News to macerate your dinner for you as well as your facts.

      Delete
  2. This is one corrupt governor. Has Wisconsin ever had a governor this corrupt?

    Lisa Kaiser’s report is really damning. Walker spent a lot of money pulling in big bucks from out of state. I hope an investigator now researches Walker’s quid pro quos for that money. We know Chris Cline and his associates involved in Gogebic Taconite got their money’s worth buying Walker and his Republican cronies. The WEDC corruption is deep. How else did Walker payoff his other big bucks donors?

    Republicans who believe in clean government should wash their hands of the corrupt Walker Administration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Democrats who believe in clean government should wash their hands of the corrupt Obama Administration.

      Delete
    2. How is the Obama Administration corrupt? Please be specific.

      I double dog dare you that you can't.

      Delete
  3. No stealing of thunder intended, I just could not get over how corrupt and cold and unethical someone would have to be to have their first thought in this tragedy be ...how can I make sure this does not effect ME!

    Lots and lots of more gold in those emails.

    However I am still haunted by something. I (dont get but I) get that Walker would think that...he has unbelievable ambition that would not let something like a 15 year olds death get in the way of....but WHY and HOW would he be able to assemble a team that would also feel the same way.

    How horrible a person is Keith Gilkes? Tim Russell? Cyindi Archer? when in the end there is nothing in it for them?

    All i can come up with is that they understand that they are that unemployable that if they dont kiss someone like Scott Walkers ass that it would be a rough life on the job market for them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keith Gilkes definitely got something out of it, Jeff. He was hired as Walker's Chief of Staff, but later left to get back into campaigning. It may or may not have been related to Gilkes being the guy who said "Governor Walker, it's David Koch on Line 1!"

      Archer also had a sweet state gig before bailing once the John Doe got hot and heavy. In fact, she was a main point person on Act 10.

      It's a major back-scratching club at WisGOP

      Delete
    2. yes Jake i get it. Once I put my disgust for these people as human beings aside you can see that.

      BUT i thought last I heard cyndi archer was still on the state payroll but doing nothing

      Delete
  4. Re: the parking garage fiasco. I get that the low bidder was selected. That happens all the time. But -- one of your posts said that only two of the specified four connection points for the slab were utilized. Didn't a county building inspector sign off on this? Is this another iffy cover-up from Walker's reign as county exec?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Didn't a union contractor decide to cut corners?

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    2. A. Do you know the contractor was union, and was the contractor the one who cut corners? Show your cards or admit you're talking our your a$$.

      B. and even if it was a union contractor cutting corners, it's County management's job to sign off on the project being completed, and they should be inspecting the structures. That's ALL on the County Exec's office, and your boy Scotty.

      You righties hate that responsibility and accountability thing, don't you?

      Delete
    3. O'Donnell Park was built before Walker's time. Any issues with construction can't be put on him. The deferred maintenance on the other hand...

      Delete