Walker quietly takes a back seat

Milawaukee County Exec and gov wannabe Scott Walker went to St Louis Tuesday, presumably at our expense, for the Base Realignment and Closure hearing, but he really had no role and didn't testify.

So Walker basically flew to St. Louis to do interviews with Milwaukee news media and look like he was doing something to try to keep the 440th Airlift Wing at Mitchell Field.

A month ago, Walker had the perfect opportunity to ask the Commander in Chief about it, when President Bush landed at Mitchell and Walker was there to greet him. It was just a few days after the plan to close the 440th was announced, but Walker didn't speak up. May post.

He didn't get to say anything officially in St. Louis, either, but apparently didn't mind.

The Journal Sentinel reports:

"A minor flap arose Monday when U.S. Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay, who like Walker wants to replace Doyle, wrote Kohl complaining that only Democrats gave oral testimony. Green was not at the hearing.

"Kohl, in response, told a reporter that the party affiliations were a coincidence and praised the bipartisan effort to retain the 440th.

"Walker, a Republican, nodding in agreement as Kohl spoke, said he "completely supported" the lineup of speakers.

Seems like it would have been hard for Green to speak, since he wasn't there. Was he trying to get Walker on the program? Doubtful. Or was he just complaining that Wisconsin's voters have elected a governor and two U.S. Senators who are all Democrats?