An Interesting Twist in Wisconsin

There is so much election news this weekend, that many items can get lost in the mist.  One that I think extremely important comes from Wisconsin.  The big race in that state is the one for governor in which Scott Walker seeks re-election.  His opponent, Democrat Mary Burke, has based much of her claim to executive competence on her days as an officer of Trek, the bicycle manufacturer.  It is true that during her time at Trek, Burke's family controlled the company, so her stint there has always been a questionable basis for a claim of competence.  After all, her position may have been more a testament to nepotism than to any executive ability.  Now, however, something new has happened which ought to sink Burke's campaign completely.  That something new is the disclosure that Burke was in fact fired from her job at Trek for lack of competence.  Think about that for a moment.  Burke was fired by her own family company for incompetence.  If your family is not willing to keep you on as an executive, how incompetent must you be?  This news ought to send undecided and even some Burke voters to Walker.  At a minimum, it ought to depress the number of voters for Burke.

It is interesting also to see Burke's response to the news.  She is now pushing the position that the news is somehow Walker's fault and that it shows just how evil he is.  The response is deranged.  The story that Burke was fired has been confirmed by the main executives of Trek from the time of the dismissal.  Blaming Walker for the truth coming out, particularly after Burke lied about the details for many months during the campaign (she claimed she left of her own accord after being "burned out") is nothing more than political flailing.  The most likely result has been to guarantee a Walker re-election.  It certainly ought to be the result.