Scott Walker Negotiates

Far from being the intransigent dictator portrayed by the left, Scott Walker, has been negotiating with Democrats. He has been willing to consider restoring some of the collecting bargaining privileges that the unions purport to be the reason for the Democrat fleebagging. However, we know that the real issue is union power and money. Even if all collective bargaining was restored, the Democrats and their union paymasters aren't giving in on the following:

The modifications do not address Walker prohibiting unions from collecting dues, often considered a sticking point in negotiations.

This is actually the one issue that I want Walker to remain firm on. I'm glad that he released the emails on negotiations, because he seems to be losing the public relations battle. This is unfathomable because the facts are on his side. Meanwhile I got the following email from DailyKos:

B,

This past weekend, while Scott Walker was threatening to fire a bunch of people, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin was collecting recall petition signatures, threatening to fire Scott Walker's Senators.

The recall has begun in Wisconsin, and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the central organizing hub. As such, we've added the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to Orange to Blue.

Can you contribute $8 to the recall effort, $1 for each of the eight targeted Republican Senators?

We are winning this fight. Polls show Scott Walker's approval rating dropping fast, and a clear majority of Wisconsin siding with the unions and the middle class. We are outnumbering the other side at rallies by margins of 5-1, 10-1, and even 35-1.

With numbers like those, we are in a good position to win the recall elections. The first step is gathering enough signatures to make the elections happen. Over 250 Kossacks in Wisconsin have signed up to help canvass--can you back them up by contributing $8 to the Wisconsin Democratic Party on Orange to Blue?

Man, it sure feels good to be winning. It will feel even better when we win.

In solidarity,
Chris Bowers
Campaign Director, Daily Kos

Solidarity? Whatever. I doubt that the recall would pass if all the facts about these negotiations were widely known. (I stripped the links out of the email.)

I believe that public opinion can be swayed, but Walker needs to make a better effort to explain himself. The Weekly Standard explains it best:

But what collective bargaining has meant in reality is that unions have had the final say in choosing layoffs over benefits reductions. As county executive in Milwaukee, Walker saw this happen in practice. So he wants to give school districts and municipalities flexibility in implementing better alternatives to layoffs, such as requiring employees to pay more for health insurance premiums.

Had some internet problems with RoadRunner tonight, so the blogging is light.