re: Any painting/staining experts here?

This is your answer. That cloudy look is produced from over exposure to moisture and humidity.

If you have a humidifier and a closed off room you could achieve this look fairly rapidly. It's take forever to dry and set though. Once you get the milky look don't rub it out, but instead through another coat on top of it to seal it in. Not sure why you'd want that look, but post a pic when you're finished. I'd like to see how it turns out.