re: #69 Amory Blaine

Mike Gousha from WISN will be pitching softballs to Gov. Walker this morning on his show. No doubt to provide cover so Walker can get in front of the WSJ thing before Monday.

The Journal is irritated that Walker isn’t going to fight things out after the favorable court decision earlier this month. It’s editorial board wants Walker to gain a full vindication for Americans For Prosperity (AFP).

Gov. Walker, for his part, sees (correctly in my eyes) the continuing discussion of the John Doe investigation as a distraction / minor scandal that can only hurt him as his reelection campaign goes forward. Thus he wants to settle the case, pay a fine if he has to and move on. He sees the court decision as giving his legal team crucial leverage with which to cut a deal, which it likely is. Prosecutors, like most trial lawyers, tend to prefer a settlement to a gallant defeat.

Most likely, the John Doe investigation will involve the Walker campaign and AFP paying moderate fines and agreeing to some disclosure and/or non-coordination rules going forward. Partisans on both sides will not like this, but it is important to remember that settlement is the normal result for legal proceedings in this country. Hollywood aside, neither side usually wants to fight things through to their conclusion.