Nice Prank

17 Comments

1. 

   TarheelDem on February 23, 2011 at 11:16 am

   Lest someone complain that this is a Breitbart stunt (cough, cough, Jon Stewart), so far there is no evidence that the call was edited.

   The criticism of Breitbart’s operation is that he edits audio and video so that the opinions of the subjects are construed to be opposite what they are.  And there substantial evidence that this is in fact, true.  It is the dishonest editing that Breitbart should be accountable.

   There is no evidence that Walker’s opinions are different than what is expressed in this call.

   The real point is meta.  Scott Walker will pick up a call from someone purporting to be a Koch brother before he will talk to a Wisconsin citizen.

   This problem is epidemic among the politicians of both parties these days.

   • 

     Errol on February 23, 2011 at 11:19 am

     take a call and talk on and on upfront about what he is doing – unbelievable

     • 

       wilderness wench on February 23, 2011 at 12:04 pm

       Well, really, it’s all upfront now, no?

2. 

   TarheelDem on February 23, 2011 at 12:06 pm

   Just a strange thought.  How exactly do we know that is indeed Walker?  Is it the provenance of the YouTube?

   Being double-pwned would be a disaster.

   • 

     seabe on February 23, 2011 at 12:10 pm

     1.) Buffalo Beast has done this before.
     2.) It sounds exactly like him in both tone and voice; especially his “politician” talk. His self-importance couldn’t be acted to that degree.
     3.) Buffalo Beast wouldn’t put their reputation up without it being real.

     • 

       jcbhan on February 23, 2011 at 12:20 pm

       So it is still an open question whether it was him or not?  

       Seems like if I’m a reporter I would just call the governor’s office and see if they are giving a no comment or a denial.  And then you can ask a voice analyst to give their opinion.  And then you can get Beast to confirm whether he edited it or doctored it in any way.  And then investigate Beast to see if he’s ever done anything shady in the past that would cause us to question his integrity.  From there, it should be easy to ascertain whether to believe this or not.  

       WHy is this so hard?  

       • 

         seabe on February 23, 2011 at 12:22 pm

         It’s not:

         http://twitter.com/news3jessica/status/40444174641795072#

         • 

           jcbhan on February 23, 2011 at 12:30 pm

           thanks.  

     • 

       TarheelDem on February 23, 2011 at 12:49 pm

       In other words, the provenance.  Thanks.

       I saw the report of the governor’s office admitting it after I posted this.  Thanks for the link.

3. 

   jcbhan on February 23, 2011 at 12:07 pm

   Is this real?  If it is I have no idea why this isn’t THE biggest news item of the day.  I just haven’t seen anyone other than bloggers talk about it yet.  

4. 

   Richard Bachman on February 23, 2011 at 12:19 pm

   Greg Sargent at the WP says an e-mail from Walker’s spokesman confirms the call.

   The Governor takes many calls everyday. Throughout this call the Governor maintained his appreciation for and commitment to civil discourse. He continued to say that the budget repair bill is about the budget. The phone call shows that the Governor says the same thing in private as he does in public and the lengths that others will go to disrupt the civil debate Wisconsin is having.

   But I’m sure the determination will be that IOKIYAR.

   • 

     TarheelDem on February 23, 2011 at 12:54 pm

     IOKIYAR.  Yep.

     It’s OK to complain about outsiders (are they really) at the capitol when you are talking to a billionaire from Wichita, Kansas.

     George Corley Walker has his “outside agitators” allegation down pat.

     The guy made it clear that he can’t be trusted.  He needs to be forced to resign.

     But it’s going to take hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites demonstrating in every part of the state, with big crowds in Milwaukee and its suburban ring to do that.  The People’s Republic of Madison is too easily dismissed.

     • 

       Jan on February 23, 2011 at 1:12 pm

       I’m just afraid they will eventually back down and Walker will win. The 14 can’t stay away forever and the protesters can’t do this forever either. Eventually and unfortunately this cannot go on forever and it looks like Walker isn’t going to back down no matter how far down is approval ratings fall, how many times he is called out for his lies or how many times he is punked. If we lose this fight, unions fall nationwide and it could be the end of the labor movement in this country.

       Depressing. And oh btw where is our president? All I’ve heard is we need to make sacrifices—unless you are rich of course. I bet some dem presidents I know of would have gone to Wisconsin to stand up for the workers………

       • 

         TarheelDem on February 23, 2011 at 2:26 pm

         That’s what Walker is counting on.

         But the clip above might undo his career.  He implicitly accepts a “treat in Cali” at the end of the call that could be construed as a quid pro quo with the right prosecutor.

5. 

   Catzmaw on February 23, 2011 at 2:23 pm

   Someone’s posted a transcript of much of the conversation at DKos.  Nasty stuff.  Sounds like he’s crawling right into David Koch’s lap for a slap and cuddle.  

   • 

     Salunga on February 23, 2011 at 6:25 pm

        He was honored to be called and was seeing dollar signs. Why side with a public sector worker? No money in that. Where are the Koch brothers from anyway? Arkansas? I know its not Wisconsin.

      

6. 

   Delonjo on February 24, 2011 at 2:48 pm

   I deplore all of this incivility.