My take on the Walker/"Koch" tape

[FourScore]

My take on the Walker/"Koch" tape
Wed Feb 23, 2011 at 10:19 PM EST
by rfall

I've paid attention today to the new media's take on the tape made by the prankster pretending to be David Koch. I've also read many of the diaries here.

All the media outlets, and diarists here on DKos, have provided insightful analysis of the various items Walker talked about.

What I haven't heard a lot about it the one thing which leapt out at me when listening to the tape after my years in corporate life.

Walker sounds exactly like someone who is in a one-on-one meeting with his boss.

He provides status on what he's doing and plans to do.

He provides rationalizations for his actions which he thinks his boss might not like.

He makes promises as to what he plans to do, things the boss wants done.

He expresses false bravado, trying to be a "good enforcer" to his boss.

In summary, he sounds like he's not talking to a Wisconsin citizen, or even a campaign contributor, but someone to whom he's clearly beholden for his job.

I hope the realization of Walker's absolute perfidy to the voters of Wisconsin is what really sinks in here.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/23/949043/-My-take-on-the-Walker-Koch-tape

[ClassWarrior]

1. You're not the first to make that observation here.

NGU.

[Control-Z]

15. Not for the first time,

I'm trying to figure out what NGU means.

[calimary]

16. Never Give Up!

And yeah, that assessment of scott walker's conversation with the faux david koch sounds very much indeed like an employee in a one-on-one meeting with his boss. Which is basically what that conversation was. Or so walker thought. Caught! EXPOSED.

[Poboy]

2. He is servile and nervously submissive in his chatter. Recommend.

[Liberal_in_LA]

64. yep

[cliffordu]

3. K&R. He sounds like every ass kissing mid level twerp I ever had

to stop myself from strangling.

[mylabotomymychoice]

5. and his Berlin Wall piece

Staggering.

[YDogg]

50. welcome to DU

[2banon]

71. My sentiments exactly...n/t

:rofl:

[WCGreen]

4. Telling the boss he is getting his money's worth...

Toddie...

K&R

[Kurovski]

48. Do you mean "toadie"?

Because that works too.

[Lyric]

6. Even if Wisconsin can't recall him--they can impeach his ass.

And considering that Walker has basically destroyed his own career, I highly doubt if the Republicans in the Wisconsin state house are going to hitch their carts to the dead horse Walker has become. If the people scream loudly enough to impeach him, they'll bite their cheeks and do it--because THEIR jobs are worth more to them than Walker's failed "career".

[ClassWarrior]

7. Yup. But the pressure level will have to rise pretty high to sway the GOP Assembly.

NGU.

[gateley]

12. He's getting support nationally though, isn't he? I thought I heard/read that

Boehner and those other whacks are supporting his efforts "to cut the budget and curb spending" or whatever their fucking mantra is. Is that right -- or did I just assume it?

[aquart]

14. Let's see how supportive they are in the morning.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. And with what legislature? You think the REPUBLICAN House

will even hint at it?

[K8-EEE]

8. Wow exactly my comment to my husband, he' got called by the big boss

and is brown nosing him....that's exactly what that call was like!

[Lifelong Protester]

9. Excellent analysis. I would agree.

[gateley]

10. I thought about that, sir, but we decided

it might hurt us in the long run. Yes, sir, we're going to accomplish our goals. Yes, sir, we will persevere and not give in, and victory will be ours.

Your observation (or the Kos writer?) is absolutely right on. Recommend!! :hi:

[The Wielding Truth]

11. I think you are spot on.

[defendandprotect]

13. Today Schultz described this -- Walker not making the decisions -- Koch Bros are ....

Actually, he had on Joe .... P -- antonio???

Can't think of his name at moment --

And he was outlining all of this!

Just as we've long suspected -- fascism is here!

But, Walker seems a true nut --

[Poboy]

17. Papentonio -from The Ring of Fire?

[defendandprotect]

33. Thanks -- Papentonio --

[Ghost in the Machine]

57. That would be Mike Papantonio from Ring of Fire...

He's also a DUer

:hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

52. Papantonio is brilliant! Definitely deserves a prime tiem TV spot!!

Been a big fan of his since he worked with RFK Jr on their gone, but not forgotten radio show...on Air America...

Papantonio on Walker and Koch
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x557348

[Ghost in the Machine]

56. Different Papantonio if his name was Joe

The one who worked with RFK Jr is Mike Papantonio.. who is also a DUer, though I wont reveal his username here...

[BrklynLiberal]

73. Mike is the one I was referring to...sorry.

[PA Democrat]

18. I agree. Walker's posture was one of subservience,

with the underling updating his boss on a work assignment.

[Brickbat]

19. A friend of mine made the observation that it sounded like Walker was a kid trying to figure out if

dad were angry about something or not.

[somone]

20. Employee giving a field report to the big boss

is exactly what it sounds like

[reformist2]

21. If only Wisconsin voters had access to the governor like that!

Every Wisconsin voter should be asking, WTF is our governor doing talking to billionaires from New York?

[boomerbust]

22. The thing that stood out to me

Was the fact that he was considering using hired goons to incite violence against the citizens of Wisconsin. I predict that comment right there will bring many more Wisconsin residents to Mr. Walkers place of employment.

[PassingFair]

23. Except if Koch is his BOSS, why didn't he realize it wasn't Koch?

Waaaayyyy too much like the James O'Keefe stuff
for my liking.

YMMV.

[shraby]

25. He may have layed any difference in voice to the phone

connection and disregarded it. "Koch" didn't talk all that much at all anyway. Walker did all the toadying.

[FourScore]

26. The gotcha quality is the same, but

the difference is that O'Keefe edited his video to fit his agenda. This particular audio runs from beginning to end unedited.

I do have to agree that the methods of posing as someone you are not in order to gain political fodder is unethical. I, too, have issues with the method.

On the other hand, times are desperate. I am so worried about what the republicans are doing to this country. As long as billionaires like the Koch Bros continue to pour huge dollar amounts into the ultra-conservative agenda for their own personal gain, the liberals don't stand a chance. If this method exposes their antics to the broader audience, then so be it. Something's gotta give.

But I do understand and share your feelings. Ugh...

[PassingFair]

27. If the broader audience hasn't already caught on the their "antics"....

WFT does the broader audience NEED?

Many of them are actively suffering from the
effects of lost jobs and lost savings and
lost home values.

Sometimes I think that EVERYONE will have
to lose their health insurance before this
country will decide that health care is a
basic right.

:hug:

:hi:

[FourScore]

28. As my 13 year old would say..."I know, right?"

For the life of me, I can't understand how people can be against health care for all. It boggles the mind.

:hug:

[obxhead]

60. Not everyone.

Just the people at the top. Once the status quo changes at the top the everyone else will finally get some change.

[Kweli4Real]

34. Would you know the voice of your CEO over the telephone?

I suspect that unless you work closely with your upper-management, very few people would recognize their voice over the telephone.

And even if you did, the mind is a very funny thing; it makes us discount things that we may know in favor of what we are told. In this case, even if walker knew koch's voice, the fact that he (walker) was expecting (and eagerly awaiting) a call from koch, his mind would have him ignore any differences.

[PassingFair]

35. I would if I was his "puppet".

If I was put in there to do his bidding I think I would.....

I don't like Walker, in fact, I detest all republican thinking,
but I don't think this is a smoking gun.

[Moosepoop]

37. I'm not sure what it is that you're saying...

Correct me if I misunderstand so far -- you think this is too much like the "James O'Keefe stuff," you question whether Walker really didn't know whom he was speaking to, and therefore you don't think this is a smoking gun.

So...

You don't think the "Koch call" should have been made?

Do you believe that Walker knew it was a prank, and just ran with it? For what purpose?

Why are Walker's own comments, no matter whom he thought he was speaking to, not useful?

[PassingFair]

38. His comments sounded pretty guarded to me.

I think too much of a big deal is being made of this.

[Moosepoop]

41. If those were guarded comments, I'd love to hear some unguarded ones!

I disagree -- I don't think enough of a big deal is being made of this (at least, in the MSM).

[PassingFair]

42. I've got some Blagojevich tapes I'd like you to hear!

Oh wait, we're not allowed to!

This is a cheap political trick, even if it was played by our side and
I don't think it warrants that much attention.

[Moosepoop]

45. A "cheap political trick"?

I'll bet Walker thinks so too. I don't think he's liking the attention from it.

[drm604]

61. Not allowed to what?

You can criticize Blagojevich on DU if you want. Lots of people have. He's a big joke around here.

[PassingFair]

72. Hear the bulk of the tapes. They are under seal. n/t

[drm604]

62. I really don't get your point.

You think he sounded guarded therefore... what? :shrug:

The tape is fake?

Walker was making a joke?

What is your point? A number of us are having difficulty understanding what you're trying to say.

[Kweli4Real]

46. Nor do I ...

[Capitalocracy]

59. Very much not like O'Keefe.

O'Keefe would've edited the recording and inserted different questions to make it sound worse than it was. You may disagree with posing as someone you're not, but the info here is legitimate. O'Keefe doesn't trick his political enemies into revealing their true nature, he alters whatever result he gets to fit his own narrative. These guys just called him up, let him talk, and put his own words out there for everyone to see.

[bobhuntsman]

63. and from what I've seen. . .

O'Keefe/Breitbart, or whoever does their "exposés" is a really shitty editor!!

My niece (who is in 6th grade) could crash footage together better than those bozos!!

[myrna minx]

24. K&R n/t

[siligut]

29. MSNBC just called Ian Murphy a blogger

And the blame is being put on staffers for not screening the call. Walker is beholden to Koch and that is being downplayed as normal. Everybody is in the pocket, that is the meme, like "What are you? Stupid?" Of course we are corrupt, get with the program.

[Faryn Balyncd]

30. K and R

[Poboy]

31. I'd also like to point out that it was 'Koch' who wanted to end the conversation!

I'd also like to point out that it was 'Koch' who wanted to end the conversation!
Several times, SEVERAL!- 'Koch' was trying to wrap it up (after 10-15 min!) with Scotty Mubarak but Scotty kept on making his case and thanking 'Koch'. He wouldn't let him go.
Seems he has endless amounts of time for the out of state billionaire.

[opihimoimoi]

32. #84 sinking in

[Enthusiast]

36. I had the same impression.

This is where we're at as a nation. And Walker is FAR from the only one.

[Uncle Joe]

39. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, FourScore.

[highplainsdem]

40. K&R

[klook]

43. On the same page with you

I noticed the same thing -- the gov's whole tone, as well as the content in this damning 20-minute conversation, is exactly like that of a mid-level mgr. reporting to his supervisor.

And, of course, that's precisely what it is.

Just imagine all the slimy conversations like this that will never see the light of day. How many other bought-and-paid-for Republican politicans are there around the country, doing evil for profit day after day?

[RufusTFirefly]

47. Really makes you wonder: How many similar conversations occur regularly...

... but aren't recorded?

I don't think Walker is all that unusual. Nor do I think sucking up to corporate masters is something only Republicans do.



There's not enough suggestion that the way Walker reacted to the supposed Koch brother is commonplace.

Assuming Walker goes down, he'll be dismissed as an anomaly, not as a clear indication that the system is rotten to the core.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

49. My husband's first thought too!

You have analyzed it very well!

[livingonearth]

51. You are absolutely right.

I thought the same thing when I heard it. Walker knows exactly who to kiss up to, and it's not his constituents.

[Paka]

53. Spot on observation.

It's a shame these creeps don't have any comprehension of humiliation. He won't resign, Too soon for a recall, but he should be impeached. :freak:

[nolabear]

54. Excellent, excellent point. And right on target.

[Homer12]

55. Good catch.

n/t

[Capitalocracy]

58. He clearly acts like it's a debriefing

It's like Koch is calling him up for a status report.

[drm604]

65. K&R

:kick:

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TxVietVet]

67. Wanker is a suckass. That's how he's acting.

Sucking up to his boss, David Koch.

Wanker is a kochsucker.

[Blacksheep214]

68. This is what comes to mind!

[patrice]

69. Nailed it!

[femrap]

70. I didn't think of that....

but you are entirely correct. I was such a bad corporate c*cksucker that it didn't enter my mind that he is just what the Corporations want....a very good corporate c*cksucker.

I am just sooooooooooooo tickled that the Impersonator of Koch did such a good job. Now that is something I would do. It was so good!

BTW, a corporate c*cksucker is never very smart....no initiative, no creativity, no problem-solving abilities...they just BULLY. Walker even looks stupid.

I guess I should say Kochsucker. Sorry.