The David Chokehold Prosser Law Library Gets Major Upgrade

Another great injustice has been corrected by the new and improved Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Wisconsin state law library is not named after the state's first woman attorney, Lavinia Goodell. From 2016 until now, the law library was inappropriately named after the infamous former Justice, David Prosser. Predictably, the name change caused faux outrage among the current and past fascist members of the court:

There was no apparent opposition within the court to honoring Goodell, but there was not unanimous support for removing Prosser's name from the law library. "There are many ways to honor Lavinia Goodell, which is entirely appropriate, without dishonoring a lifelong public servant like Justice David Prosser," Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Wednesday.

As for Prosser himself, he was less outwardly outraged, but did prove that he was the same old liar he has always been:

"I was a person, for 18 years, who probably used the library … as much as anyone, and more than a lot of people," Prosser said, adding that he has continued to support the library financially since his retirement. When the library was named for Prosser, then-Chief Justice Patience Roggensack said, "no justice has been more dedicated to the research that happens in the law library than Justice Prosser."

Those claims of being a patron of the library sure as hell weren't true in 2011, when Prosser issued a legal ruling regarding Act 10 and open meeting laws, without "apparent deliberation or research of the laws. Prosser must be really seething that "his" law library was named after a woman, given his long history of misogyny. In 2010, Prosser got in trouble for threatening then Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson:

The Feb. 10, 2010, incident occurred as the court privately discussed a request to remove Justice Michael Gableman from a criminal case. "In a fit of temper, you were screaming at the chief; calling her a 'bitch,' threatening her with '. . . I will destroy you'; and describing the means of destruction as a war against her 'and it won't be a ground war,' " [Justice Ann Walsh} Bradley wrote in a Feb. 18, 2010, e-mail to Prosser and others.

But there's more. There's always more. I would be grossly remiss if I did not include the incident in which Prosser assaulted Justice Ann Walsh Bradley and put her in a chokehold:

It all started when the story was finally brought out that Justice Ann Walsh Bradley accused her fellow Justice David Prosser of choking her. What earned her his wrath and alleged attempt of dispensing corporeal-bordering-on-capital punishment was telling him to leave her chambers.

For any of these examples, Prosser should not have even been allowed to stay on the Court, much less be honored by naming a building after him. The significance of what the liberal justices were doing was not lost on them either:

"Lavinia Goodell was a pioneer for Wisconsin women and the legal profession," said Justice Jill Karofsky in a statement. "She never backed down from this critical fight, which paved the way for so many women in our state who have proudly served as lawyers, judges, and justices." When people enter the library, Protasiewicz said in a statement, "they need to know they are somewhere named after a leader who inspired others to do good and do what is right."

Every time that SCOWIS corrects another wrong, it's like another breath of fresh air blowing across the state.

Right Wisconsin's Foggy Eyes

By Jeff Simpson

Right Wisconsin has a post up today about the Supreme Court Race.    It is written by George Mitchell, but might as well be written by a third grader from Mississippi as they both seem to have the same understanding of the WI Supreme Court!

Lets take a look at some of the highlights!

The campaign is likely to be unpleasant. Two announced candidates question the judicial independence and integrity of the Court’s five-member conservative majority. 

Hey George that puts the two announced candidates strictly on the side of pretty much any legal or political observer in the country not on the Bradly payroll.   

But wait there is more!

Whichever candidate reaches the April ballot will be backed by those who helped orchestrate and exploit smear campaigns against former Justice David Presser and Justice Rebecca Bradley. The sole conservative candidate needs to get ready.

I am going to overlook the fact that in a post complaining about politics in the Court, he keeps touting the one Republican Justice running as the only legit candidate.  He even has him penciled in cruising through the primary election and onto the general.  Who needs elections anymore?

What  trumps that is the fact the he claims that David "Ike Turner" Prosser and Rebecca "Homophobic Adulterer" Bradley were both smeared.    I do enjoy the inside joke that they have with Prosser, by calling him David PRESSER!  I assume it is because he has a habit of pressing his hands around women's throats!   

They want a Court that will undo legislative defeats they have experienced since 2010. As the saying goes, they want an “activist” Court.

Sorry George, I know you are not aware very much of what is happening in Wisconsin, but we have an activist court already and they are not only disgraceful, but a running joke amongst pretty much everyone who pays attention.  

This is the latest drama in a decade long saga that, largely through money-fuelled and often nasty judicial elections, has intensified the turn of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from a congenial, moderately liberal institution into a severely divided conservative stronghold. More to the point, the elections have reduced it from one of the nation’s most respected state tribunals into a disgraceful mess.

Congratulations Right Wisconsin, you can always be counted on for a morning chuckle.   Congratulations also to Jamie Wigderson, you actually found people writing for you that are more ridiculous than you!

Scott Jensen - Trump Crazy Before It Was Cool

By Jeff Simpson 

In the final Trump V Clinton debate, Donald Trump finished the debate, the way he began - pure craziness.

Cue the outrage, which started almost immediately.

Threatening to upend a fundamental pillar of American democracy, Donald Trump refused to say Wednesday night that he will accept the results of next month's election if he loses to Hillary Clinton. The Democratic nominee declared Trump's resistance "horrifying."
Trump had spent the days leading up to the third and final presidential debate warning voters that the election would be "rigged." Asked whether he would accept the outcome if Clinton emerges victorious, he said, "I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense."
Trump's assertions raise the prospect that millions of his supporters may not accept the results on Nov. 8 if he loses, thrusting the nation into uncharted territory. Free and fair elections, with the vanquished peacefully stepping aside for the victor, have been the underpinning of America's democratic tradition since the country's founding 240 years ago.
The Republican National Committee immediately disavowed Trump's statement. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and election officials across the country have denied and denounced Trump's charges.

Apparently the national press corp, Hillary Clinton and members of the RNC have never been to Wisconsin.   Once again, we were Trump Crazy before it was cool.   Although instead of Scott Fitzgerald, this time it is his boss, formerly convicted felon Scott Jensen.

 * Republican insiders discussed ginning up concerns over voter fraud in the days after then-Supreme Court Justice David Prosser narrowly defeated challengerJoAnne Kloppenburg in April 2011."Do we need to start messaging 'widespread reports of election fraud' so we are positively set up for the recount regardless of the final number? I obviously think we should," wrote Steve Baas, a senior vice president with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, to a group of conservative operatives on April 6, 2011, a day after the Prosser-Kloppenburg contest."Yes. Anything fishy should be highlighted," wrote former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, a Republican. "Stories should be solicited by talk show hosts."

We know with the benefit of hindsight, that when Scott Jensen said "jump", Vicki Mckenna said "how high".   While she knows what side her bread is buttered on, and needs to keep her bosses happy to keep her show on the air, the end result is the same.   They wanted to make sure that if by chance Judge Kloppenburg actually won the election after the recount that no one would accept her as legit.  

How is that different exactly?  

Righty's Get Your Guns

By Jeff Simpson

There seems to be a common theme lately running through the Republican Party and it all starts at the top.   The Republican nominee reality star has crossed the line numerous times and has done it once again.

First off The Donald once again hints at taking your guns and going after Hillary.

 Donald Trump on Friday wondered aloud what would happen to Hillary Clinton should her Secret Service detail disarm."I think her bodyguards should drop all weapons. Disarm immediately," Trump said. "Take their guns away, let's see what happens to her."
"Take their guns away, OK? It'll be very dangerous," he added.

The latest round of #WALKERDOCS show us that Head of the Wisconsin GOP and formerly convicted felon Scott Jensen sent an email the night of the Prosser/Kloppenburg race when they were worried that their personal Supreme Court Justice was going to actually not be elected:

The head of American Federation of Children advises his employees to lie like crazy, get as much misinformation as they can get on the airwaves and send "lawyers, guns and money."    Excellent example for children he continually sets.   Not sure who he wanted to send the guns for, but I am guessing some people are very lucky they were able to fix the recount in their favor.  

Finally, as we pointed out recently, the "education reporter" for the right wing Bradley funded blog, Watchdog.org  did not like that Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers criticized ACT 10.  Which Mr. Wigderson answered by writing a blog post and putting Superintendent Evers picture up with the caption - "Get Your Guns".  

Nothing like giving the crazies who follow you and the angry racists who support you, permission to go shoot your enemies.    As soon as one of their followers take them up on their offer, then we will really see how "The Shit Has Hit the fan."

Bias On The Bench

By Jeff Simpson

Bruce Thompson had a very interesting piece in UrbanMilwaukee about our radical Supreme Court.

In each of these cases, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ended up ignoring the constitution—federal, state, or both. Its Imani decision accomplished the remarkable feat of violating both constitutions. Its residency requirement decision guts the Wisconsin Constitution’s home rule amendment. Its Doe II decision substituted its judgment for that of the US Supreme Court by saying that regulating coordination between candidates violated the US Constitution. This has become a very odd court indeed.

I think that Mr. Thompson has given them too much credit.  To say that our Wisconsin Supreme Court is radical, is to imply that they truly have a set of standards and beliefs and a moral compas that aligns with the right wing in our state.  I think we know from their actions that just is not true.

I believe a better term would be incompetent or even hyper partisan or bought and paid for.  After Wisconsin elected Mike Gableman, I thought it was safe to say that he was the most incompetent person ever elected to the Supreme Court in our state or probably any state.  

Then like so many other times in the Republic of Fitzwalkerstan, I was yet again surprised by the depths we could go when Wisconsin elected known bigot Jessica Bradley.

I hesitate to even say this is as low as we can get, I am scared to see what they can do next that will surprise me.  

As crazy and incompetent as they are, they know where their bread is buttered.  Justice David "Ike Turner" Prosser will be retiring soon and in typical right wing politician fashion, he has still not paid his bills that he accumulated trying to stop a recount of his last election.  

The GOP is stepping in to help him retire his years old debt.  However it is not just the WISGOP doing it, in a huge bit of irony, it is Danny Morse, a fundraiser from the "Friends of Scott Walker" organization(membership is extremely limited).  

Of course Mr. Walker has his own fair share of debt that he ran up on the backs of Wisconsin taxpayers and is in absolutely no hurry to pay off.  

To be fair though, anyone who has paid attention the last six years, knows that there is no bigger "friend of Scott Walker" than Dave Prosser.   Without his cover and rubber stamp, Walker would have had to actually govern.  

Sorry for putting that thought into your head!

Walker, GOP To Strengthen Chokehold On State Supreme Court

After seeing his colleague, Patrick Crooks, die in office and after the death of Antonio Scalia, Wisconsin Supreme Court Injustice David "Choke Hold" Prosser has announced his retirement before he becomes number three:

The gentle reader would be smart to wonder if this move was just a retirement and not a political move by the Wisconsin GOP. Since Scott Walker's appointee Rebecca Bradley and her corporate sponsors successfully bought her election in the spring, the state supreme court would be able to avoid the deadlock we see at the United States Supreme Court. Furthermore, whomever Walker anoints, er, appoints as Prosser's successor would be safe until at least 2020, when the next election would be for that seat on the bench.

All of this naturally leads to speculation on whom Walker will anoint, er, appoint at his masters' bidding.

While no names have been floated out there yet, rest assured that this person already as a predated application sitting on Walker's desk.

A couple of names that immediately comes to mind would include Jim Troupis, whom Walker appointed to circuit court last year. Troupis' "qualifications" include working on the GOP's gerrymandering scheme as well as successfully defending Walker's Act 10, the right to work law for public sector employees.

Another name worth watching would be Brian Hagedorn, Walker's former state solicitor, whom Walker appointed to the appellate court last year, despite his only qualification being keeping Walker from having to face accountability in the John Doe investigations.

Whomever Walker appoints to the seat, rest assured that they will have taken a vow to protect and serve their corporate sponsors, the GOP agenda and will never, ever let that silly old constitution get in the way of their mission.

The Immoral Sheriff Clarke

By Jeff Simpson

I think I want to run for office in Wisconsin.  It seems like the perfect way to get numerous taxpayer funded  vacations to see the world.  The latest is Milwaukee's own Sheriff David Clarke.  Sheriff Clarke was inexplicably in New York and found his way once again onto the Fox and Friends show.

The good people of Milwaukee had to fly the "Democratic" Sheriff out to New York for some very urgent pressing business.  To call Hillary Clinton a racist because she likes hot sauce.

You absolutely can not make this stuff up.  

 And although many news outlets have noted that Clinton has had a long-documented obsession with hot sauce, conservative media seized on the comments as evidence that she was pandering.On Thursday, the hosts of Fox & Friends asked Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, who is black, to weigh in.
“I’m surprised she didn’t say watermelon,” Clarke opined, referring to a racist stereotype. “Just go all the way.”
“You know, this stuff is dehumanizing,” he argued. “It’s embarrassing, it’s disgusting.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department Code of Conduct is very clear. 

Personal-Professional Capabilities

Police officers will be responsible for their own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve their level of knowledge and competence.  Through study and experience, a police officer can acquire the high level of knowledge and competence that is essential for the efficient and effective performance of duty. The acquisition of knowledge is a never ending process of personal and professional development that should be pursued constantly.

Private Life

Police officers will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to their agencies or themselves. A police officer's character and conduct while off duty must always be exemplary, thus maintaining a position of respect in the community in which he or she lives and serves. The officer's personal behavior must be beyond reproach.

It is kind of hard to enforce the Code of Conduct when the Boss breaks it on a daily basis.

But wait....There is more!  

Speaking of Dehumanizing, embarrassing and disgusting.... SHEriff Clarke is about to cost the taxpayers of Milwaukee a whole lot of money....

See under Sheriff Clarke's rule, the Standard Operating Procedure for women giving birth in jail(there have been 36 of them) has been to make the women give birth while their hands and feet were shackled.   Sheriff Clarke treated his female inmates so poorly that right wing extremist Federal Judge Randa, allowed a class action(with up to 300 women) proceed.  

There is a chance that Sheriff Clarke had no idea what was going on in the prison he runs, because he is constantly on right wing radio or TV.  He could have been too busy talking to Charlie Sykes to actually do his job.  

However know or not, the responsibility lies with him.   

A federal judge is allowing a former Milwaukee County jail inmate who is alleging in a lawsuit she was shackled during childbirth to make class action allegations on behalf of pregnant women or new mothers who also were shackled by county jailers.
The county acknowledged in a court filing that the woman was restrained by handcuffs and a leg restraint while she was in labor and by a handcuff while she was delivering.
There could be as many as 300 women in the class -- which the suit defines as women hospitalized for labor, delivery, or post-partum medical care since February 2010 --  if the lawsuit is allowed to proceed as a class action, the woman's lawyers said in a court filing. Thirty-six jail inmates gave birth between Jan. 1, 2010, and Feb. 19, 2016, according to federal court documents.
The jail is under the jurisdiction of Sheriff David Clarke.
Shackling women in the weeks surrounding giving birth is opposed by the American Correctional Association, the American Bar Association, the American Public Health Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Nurse Midwives, and the World Health Organization, the suit said. The US Marshals Services and the Federal Bureau of Prisons has sharply restricted the use of restraints on pregnant women, the suit said.

It takes a real strong man to shackle a woman who is giving birth.  No wonder he wears such a big fake cowboy hat.  He is all hat and no cattle as the saying goes.   I guess if they can push the woman choking David Prosser to the Supreme Court, the WOW counties truly have no standards when it comes to their elected officials.  

It is time for Sheriff Clarke to resign/  

 

Jeb Bush Pulls a Prosser

By Jeff Simpson

Jeb Bush never got the secret memo from the Republican party, written in their fear of the Donald being their eventual nominee and what that means to everyone but white rich males.

Addressing Trump’s controversial past statements about women, Baker writes, “Houston, we have a problem.”
“Candidates shouldn’t go near this ground other than to say that your wife or daughter is offended by what Trump said,” Baker adds. “We do not want to re-engage the ‘war on women’ fight.”

Now Jeb Bush throws red meat to the base by saying he is going to "whup" Hillary(who is not even the Dem nominee yet).

whup

verb \ˈhwu̇p, ˈwu̇p\

: to beat (someone or something) as a punishment

No Jeb Bush is not in the NFL.   He is a Republican candidate to represent their party in the 2016 race for President of the United States.   

On the plus side, David Prosser immediately endorsed Jeb Bush for President!   

For the rest of America that is not part of the hard core Republican base and realize that abusing women is wrong, here is a link to Domestic Abuse Intervention Services for those who need it!   

(No) Justice Troupis

By Jeff Simpson

If you want to know just how far the State of Wisconsin has fallen since Scott Walker has taken over, it can be summed up in two words - Justice Troupis.  

Jim Troupis was the Republican lawyer, and taxpayer leech in Wisconsin for the first five years of Scott Walker's reign of errors.   Troupis was not only Justice David Prosser's lawyer(which he did much of pro bono), but also the lawyer for the Republicans during the redistricting, where every elected Republican in office signed a secrecy agreement while gerrymandering the state.  

A Troupis appointment would be the dictionary definition of political cronyism and show how little respect that Scott Walker has for the law or the state of Wisconsin.   

In true Crony fashion, Troupis, who was recently appointed to a judgeship, refuses to talk to anyone about his application to fulfill Justice Crooks open seat.  

Troupis was a longtime go-to attorney for Republicans and served as a lead attorney for Justice David Prosser's campaign in 2011 when there was a recount. Walker this May appointed Troupis to the Dane County bench, and Troupis said then he would not run for a full term on that court.
In an interview last week, Troupis declined to say whether he was considering running for the state Supreme Court next year. He did not return a call Monday.

Jim Troupis has went on a "freedom tour" of local bars, to discuss how Republicans love Freedom and Democrats hate freedom, and on these tours he has partnered with well known legal scholar and dog whistle expert, Vicky Pyzinski.    

THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF FREEDOM WITH VICKI MCKENNA AND JIM TROUPIS
Have you ever wondered WHY liberals seemingly reject the fundamental concepts of liberty while purporting to stand for freedom?
Radio talk show host Vicki McKenna and constitutional attorney Jim Troupis will answer that and many other questions at "The History and Future of Freedom", an event hosted by We the People of the Republic on Thursday, October 10, 2013.
Tracing the history and development of freedom that gave way to our Founder's visions, McKenna and Troupis will explain America's unique brand of liberty. From the Greeks to the recall elections, two opposite and competing ideas of liberty have been and remain at war for the heart and soul of western civilization. Which will emerge victorious? It depends on YOU!This event will take place at Rex's Innkeeper (301 North Century Avenue, Waunakee, WI 53597). Doors will open at 6:30 PM, with the presentation starting at 7:00 PM and lasting until 8:30 PM.
All are invited to attend this event. With FREE ADMISSION, there is no reason NOT to come! Bring your family and friends for a fun and educational night out!

Vicki Mckenna ‏@VickiMcKenna  Sep 23

BEST replacement for late Justice Crooks would be JUDGE JIM TROUPIS. his knowledge of & passion for the Constitution has NO EQUAL. #wiright

If that does not inspire certainty that Troupis will be impartial in the law and just "call balls and strikes", nothing will.   Apparently nothing says freedom like making elected reps sign secrecy agreements, or not letting the minority party in on how you are gerrymandering the state.  

While I am sure Troupis and his hate talk am radio echo chamber will be upset that anyone would dare question his qualifications, remember when Judge Sumi was considering a run for Supreme Court herself and Troupis felt the need to weigh in:

Troupis was disappointed Judge Sumi is considering a run. "It's obvious she was talked into it because of Act 10," Troupis said. "It should be about competence and qualifications, and clearly the only purpose of her running is to open that pro-union stuff."

Dismissing a highly competent and qualified woman because she does not do exactly as told, that has to please Scott Walker.  But wait, there's more:

It was Troupis, who gave Scott Fitzgerald the laughable advice of being able to legally arrest the 14 Senators who went to Illinois in 2011.  

First by filing a frivolous lawsuit in Oconoto County, saying that Senator Halperin's absence from the Senate chambers was hurting tourism.

Then following that up with the threat to carry 7 month pregnant at the time democratically elected Senator Julie Lassa "feet first" into the Capitol building to vote on ACT 10.  

Apparently arresting Democrats and assaulting women were the ideas that sparked Troupis "Freedom" conference.   I am certain the Founding Fathers would be right there wanting to arrest fellow legislators who left to make sure that a bill that was never campaigned on was passed with no discussion.   #freedom.

I miss the days when the Democrats were just incompetent and not out and out corrupt like the current batch of Republicans!  

It is really sad that they have such little respect for the people of Wisconsin and the Institutions that they have been charged with Governing.  

Here is Mr. Troupis' extreme partisan resume.    

The Scott Walker Degree

BY Jeff Simpson 

Scott Walker, who likes to campaign Al Dente, has changed his line about not having a college degree once again.   

What about not having a college degree?"I say I’m like the majority of people in America. I’m someone who went to college, had the opportunity in my senior year to go and take a job full-time, which was not the only reason I went to college, but one of the biggest reasons was to get a job. And the American Red Cross offered me a job my senior year, and I took it, thinking someday, maybe, I’d go back. But a few years later, I met my wonderful wife, Tonette, a year after that, we had Matthew, the year after that, we had Alex. And now like a lot of folks in America, you know, your family and your job take the time away from you from finishing it up. But I don’t think anybody -- and I’ve got a master’s degree in taking on the big-government special interests, and I think that is worth more than anything else that anybody can point to."

Once you get past the fact that he changes his life story more than Robert Van Winkle ever did, one interesting line stands out.  

and I’ve got a master’s degree in taking on the big-government special interests - Scott Walker

Well we at CogDis did some digging and we found a partial course listing of classes that Mr. Walker Had to take to earn his imaginary Master's degree.  

 How to please your boss, yet look independent 202:  This course we will teach you how to say one thing to the general public while spilling your true strategy to people who pay for that privilege. By the end of this class, you will learn how to soak millions out of rich widows.  

Kiss the right rings(there is lots of money in Las Vegas) 300:  This course will show you, how to fund raise nationally while traveling secretly.  The more advanced learners in this class, will learn how you can phone reporters in your home state, while traveling, to complain about "out of state special interests".



You have access to unlimited money, use it 220:   This class will show you how to do whatever you want in office because you have unlimited access to taxpayer money to hire lawyers.  If time allows, the student will also learn how to hire consultants to keep from having to make a decision on your own.



Meet the right people - 100:  This is a refresher course to help the student understand that the person you are nice to today, could grow up to become a Supreme Court Justice, who will not only suspend ethics rules to do your bidding but be willing to choke anyone who gets in the way!



You are always, always, always on - no one is bigger than your ambition 400 :  This is an upper level graduate course for those who are willing to do anything to become President of the United States.   This course will teach you to hire felons, snakes, and loons.  You will also learn the importance of hiring your donors to major positions within the Government and the equal importance of throwing them to the wolves the second you need a scapegoat.  Students will also learn that the more taxpayer money you can give to your friends, the more money they will give you.  



You can see with five classes last semester, Mr. Walker had a full course load but it allowed him to attain his imaginary masters degree.

Congrats to you Scott Walker,

Let's hope the walk you take to get this degree involves handcuffs and disgrace!

John Doe's Newest Opponents

The Wisconsin Supreme Court.

They can't hear the John Doe Case, can they? With their record of collaboration?

It Should Never Be Ok

The signs were always there if you looked.  No one wanted to believe it though. He was a public figure. He was an integral part of the team and they really wanted to win. 

Then it happened.

He exploded and put his hands on her.  The sides were drawn.  Some were horrified but he still had many supporters.  He even had a prominent media person come out in support of him.  It was not his fault he said, he was attacked. She charged him! What was he supposed to do?  

 An investigation followed and led to no charges.  Which meant in his supporters minds, he did nothing wrong.  Complete Vindication his teammates said.   A person of privilege got away with yet another crime said others.  While we were arguing the severity and consequences of his actions, his coworker was scared to be at work alone with him so they had to come up with an alternative safety plan   She goes to work in fear, while we move on to the next news story in our 24/7 news cycle.   

 No it is not a story about the Ray Rice and the NFL’s poor handling of the situation.  It is much closer to home.   For those who need a refresher course, it is a story of Wisconsin’s very own Supreme Court Justice David Prosser.   The story had so many of the same qualities, it was hard to distinguish between the two.  

 There were definite differences, race, standing, quantity of teams, etc… but the similarities were overwhelming. .. Then something happened.  We had it on video.  Actual video of the actual assault.  She charged him, he retaliated.  The day before the video came out, I knew that Ray Rice was suspended because he knocked his then fiancé out when they were in an elevator.  I did not need to see the video to know what happened.  I had a pretty good idea and we all knew the end result anyway.  However the video did come out and national outrage ensued. It was even so strong, that the NFL was forced via public pressure, to make his suspension for a minimum of the year. 

All because we had a video!  

However, the same person who rushed to the defense of Justice Prosser, by writing an article using suspicious sources, now  wrote an article saying that there is no excuse for violence against women and we do not need a video to know that.

 Overlooking the blatant hypocrisy, I see a much larger problem.   We hold our professional athletes to a higher standard than we do our politicians.   When an athlete gets suspended for a year(since reduced) for smoking pot, while a congressman can get away with cocaine posession.   

We even have a Governor who has the one of the most politifact  false and pants on fire ratings, publicly state that he is disappointed that the Milwaukee Brewers star outfielder was not completely honest with the public on the performance enhancing drugs he took.  

Let that one sink in for a moment.  

Some will look at the disparities and see race.  I think race is a part of it but a larger problem is we have a win at all costs attitude.   I am willing to overlook the cracks in my windows but will gladly throw stones at your glass house the minute you do something wrong.    

 The first step in ending our divisiveness and start fixing our country, is to hold our own team accountable.  

We need to be able to say, I do not care if we agree on everything, violence against women,  blatant lies, cheating people, etc… is not ok.  

Before the silly season of a major election, truly kicks in, let’s take a long look in the mirror.  

Before we start throwing shots across the aisle, let's make sure our own house is in order.  

Cross posted from Purple Wisconsin!

Wild Bill's Wild Bills

As the gentle reader would recall, Waukesha County and Teapublican poster boy, Bill Kramer, finally had his wild ways catch up to him when he was charged with sexually harassing and groping a woman.

There was so much backlash about this that the Teapublicans tried to shove him back under the rock that he had crawled out from.  He was laying so low that my Brother in Blogging, Jeff Simpson, was  looking high and low for him.

Well, Kramer has finally been found!  He was busy cutting checks.  No, not to his fellow Teapublicans, but to his defense attorney.

One problem though...he was paying his attorney with his campaign fund:

The campaign of embattled state Rep. Bill Kramer has paid $10,000 to defend him against sexual assault charges, raising questions about whether the payments violate state campaign law.

[...]


State law allows politicians to use campaign funds for their legal defense, but only against allegations that they had broken election or campaign finance laws.

Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, said that sexual assault charges have nothing to do with election law violations.

"How can Kramer use his campaign account to pay legal bills related to the sexual assault charges against him?" Ross asked.

Reid Magney, a spokesman for the state Government Accountability Board, declined comment on the spending by Kramer's campaign. The board enforces state campaign finance laws and never comments on potential violations.

It sure seems that Teapublicans have a problem understanding the rules around legal defense funds.

Wisconsin Supreme Court (In)Justice David "Chokehold" Prosser also thought he could set up an illegal legal defense fund for his assault on Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.

I blame the whole thing on Scott Walker, who blurred the lines by calling his legal defense fund a legal cooperation fund.  He should know that his fellow Teapublicans get easily confused.

Scott Walker Calls For Prosser's Resignation

By Jeff Simpson 

Scott Walker steps up his call for Clean Government in Madison:

“Regardless of party, people should speak out against those (inappropriate actions),” Walker said. “Whether it’s David Prosser or anyone else, if there are situations that make anybody feel at risk or threatened, there is just no place for that.”

I agree with Governor Walker, when a female public official needs police escort to leave the building because she is scared of her coworker, there should be no place for that!

Troupis' Trip

By Jeff Simpson

In the interest of transparency, and to give you all a reprieve from the never ending winter storms, I thought I would give you a peak into your taxpayer dollars at work!

Right wing Attorney Jim Troupis has done VERY well for himself since Scott Walker was elected. When you bill the Wisconsin taxpayers $395/hr and $50,000 a month, you can save quite a bit for a rainy day fund!

 Since the beginning of the year, the Legislature has paid $50,000 a month - $25,000 each from the Senate and Assembly - to Michael Best and the Troupis firm, with a top rate of $395 an hour. That monthly payment was made last week, even though the new maps have been signed into law by Walker.

Then when your good friend, the Supreme Court  Justice David "Ike Turner" Prosser pays you $75000 right before you are to try a case in front of him, that sure helps the vacation fund!  

More than $75,000 went to the Troupis Law Office, which is headed by Jim Troupis and has a major First Amendment case before the court Prosser sits on.
Three legal experts said judges and justices cannot hear cases argued by attorneys who have recently done work for them. Prosser plans to remain on the case regardless.
In addition to Troupis, other attorneys billed Prosser's campaign nearly $260,000 for the recount. Prosser's recount fund continues to raise money to pay off that debt.

Now Mr. Troupis would like to thank the taxpayers of Wisconsin, he has such gratitude towards the people of Wisconsin for padding his bank account that he has decided to

Take a trip around the world!

 41 days, 6 major destinations, 24,901 miles--more or less. Packing as the great test of one's manhood and womanhood. And tonight, at least, we may appear to succeed. But there remain 36 hours to foul this up by deciding we really need those solar lights, the desktop computer and the kitchen sink.

For those of you who have not scheduled your vacation yet this year, or maybe are more worried about buying groceries and keeping your house, Mr. Troupis was kind enough to start his own blog detailing his around the world in 41 days trip!

Check it out here! 



Do not worry though, Mr. Troupis will be back soon, to continue to bill Wisconsin taxpayers $395/hr to give Scott Walker legal cover in cutting your wages!

(Edit note: I wonder how much Mr. Troupis cut his hourly rate, when we all had to share our sacrifice?  I also wonder if Scott Walker put out sealed bids to decide on hiring Mr. Troupis?)

So to help during the long slog of winter, we know Mr. Troupis is enjoying his extended vacation that you paid for, share with us in the comments where you were able to take vacation this year thanks to the booming Wisconsin economy!


Extra Credit:  For your viewing pleasure:  sign up in advance as seats go quickly.  Vicki Mckenna and Jim Troupis explain that the problem with our world is liberals: