John Nichols: Why Did Gov. Walker Participate in Discussions About Disrupting Peaceful Rallies?

[marmar]

from the Nation:




Why Did Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Participate in Discussions About Disrupting Peaceful Rallies?

John Nichols
February 25, 2011


Embattled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has now acknowledged in a press conference and in a nationally television interview—with Fox News host Greta Van Susteren—that he engaged in discussions with political allies about hiring “troublemakers” to disrupt peaceful demonstrations against his budget repair bill.

“You said you thought about it?” asked Van Susteren.

“We did,” replied Walker. “We had people contacting (us). I even had lawmakers and others suggesting riling things up.”

Lester Pines, one of the most prominent lawyers in Madison, the Wisconsin capital city where the largest demonstrations have taken place, referred to that comment as “a scandal.” .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blog/158871/why-did-wisconsin-governor-scott-walker-participate-discussions-about-disrupting-peacefu

[RoccoR5955]

1. They should be able to rake his butt over the coals for that one

He's saying that he was undermining peaceful and legal demonstrations by citizens of his state.
There needs to be an investigation on this, to see just what lawmakers, and others suggested this. We could have a case of conspiracy there.

[deacon]

6. Right, the lawmakers he was talking about need to be known. n/t

[senseandsensibility]

2. John Nichols has certainly changed his tune

Last week on the Ed show he said fhe knew Walker personally and he was a good man. He implied that Walker did not want to be in this situation and was looking for a way out. Wrong.

[snappyturtle]

3. Was this before the prank phone call? I heard J.N. after the prank call

and he found all kinds of ethic, moral, and legal problems with the Governor....in that interview, also with Ed as I remember, he didn't say that Walker was a good man.

edit: Isn't Nichols Republican?

[senseandsensibility]

5. Yes it was before the prank call

John Nichols is a well known progressive writer for the Nation, a progressive magazine. Yet a few days ago on Ed's show he said he knew Walker and Walker would not be happy to be in this situation, or words to that effect. He was generally positive about Walker, giving the impression, to me a least, that he was an unwitting dupe or somehow in over his head. I don't know if he was trying to appeal to Walker's better nature, but if he was, he failed. After the tapes, he changed his attitude completely.

[barbtries]

4. it should be a scandal.

it should spell the end of his career. gawd that man is a tool.

[Scruffy1]

7. Imagine if he were a Muslim.

The FBI would have surrounded his house, taken him down and frog marched his ass to jail. This is criminal conspiracy in my legal mind. As a matter of public record one of the RNC 8 was convicted for thinking of putting up a road block.
In conspiracy the actual crime does not have to be committed, only the planning of such.