Here's That Jim Sensenbrenner House Fire Story

From the newspaper's 1984 archives.

Page 1, May 3, 1984.

Gableman Takes An Even Harder Turn To The Right

Mike Gableman, conservative Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice and repeat lightning rod must love media attention, as this is how he is responding to new ethics claims:

Gableman has not responded to interview requests from the Journal Sentinel. He has retained Washington, D.C., attorney Viet Dinh, according to Michael Best. Dinh also has not responded to calls an email from the paper.

Dinh is a professor at Georgetown University Law Center who worked as the assistant attorney general for legal policy in President George W. Bush's administration. In that post, he helped develop the USA Patriot Act and worked on the selection and confirmation of judges.

Dinh sits on the board of News Corp. and has been assisting with that firm's investigation of a phone-hacking scandal at its British tabloids.

Very few people on the planet could get themselves mentioned in three paragraphs that include the names Viet Dinh, George W. Bush and News Corp (that would be Rupert Murdoch's company). 

Canadian Government Withheld Report On Oil Sands Mining Contamination

The Canadian government has not until now been open about the impact of the oil sands mining process:

Contamination of a major western Canadian river basin from oilsands operations is a "high-profile concern" for downstream communities and wildlife, says a newly-released "secret" presentation prepared last spring by Environment Canada that highlighted numerous warnings about the industry's growing footprint on land, air, water and the climate.

The warnings from the department contrast with recent claims made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Environment Minister Peter Kent that the industry is being unfairly targeted by environmentalists who exaggerate its impacts on nature and people.

Business Writes Walker-Legislature Valentine; Also Recall Primer

Thank the good folks over at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, (MMAC), for this Walker-Kleefisch-Fitzgerald [Scott] recall primer:

mmac advocate Lobbying for public policy that improves the metro Milwaukee business climate and your bottom line.

A Historic Year In Review As 2011 draws to a close, I want to wish you all happy holidays. I also want to thank you for your participation in MMAC’s advocacy efforts. 2011 has been an historic year in Wisconsin. It is not hyperbole to state that there has not been a year in recent memory that has seen the MMAC agenda advance as far in both volume and scope as it has this year.  That progress is the result of hard – and sometimes courageous – work of elected leaders in Madison. It has also been the result of your willingness to engage in both the lawmaking and the electoral process to make the views of MMAC known, to inform lawmakers of the impact state policies have on your businesses, and to help elect and keep pro-business lawmakers in office. Please take a moment to review the list of major public policy accomplishments from the last year.  As you do, I hope it makes you proud of what MMAC has been able to do with your help this year, and I hope it motivates you to even greater levels of engagement in the process in what promises to be an extremely exciting new year. Wishing you a prosperous 2012! Steve Baas MMAC Governmental Affairs

MMAC Online | Fuel Milwaukee | Choose Milwaukee Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce 756 N. Milwaukee St., Ste 400 | Milwaukee, WI 53202 p: 414.287.4100 | f: 414.271.7753

Arrogance Catches Up To Jim Sensenbrenner

The dean of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation shows his true colors at a church Christmas bazaar, no less:

While chatting with five St. Aidan's parishioners on Dec. 10, Sensenbrenner took several swipes at the first lady, [Ann] Marsh-Meigs said. In one, she said, the congressman claimed Michelle Obama left a recent charitable event when the media did, though Sensenbrenner's handicapped wife continued to work it.

"He then talked about how different first ladies have had different projects - Laura Bush and literacy - and he named two or three others," Marsh-Meigs said in an interview last week. "And then he said, 'And Michelle Obama, her project is obesity. Hey, there's the holiday spirit!~And look at her big butt.

 Hey, there's the Christmas spirit!

Yeah: from this guy:



We've seen his arrogant behavior before, but this time he's insulted the First Lady in a crude and sexist manner.

Yet has no fear of being heard publicly, or filter for what is running from his brain to his mouth.

Like the Congressman who shouted "you lie" at Pres. Obama during a State of the Union speech, Sensenbrenner shows he has zero respect for the First Family.

Imagine what Sensenbrenner and his ilk say when they are in truly private conversation.

Wisconsin Leading Nation In Job Loss, Again

To:  Gov. Scott Walker
From: The Political Environment
Subject: Escalating Job Losses In Wisconsin; The Trend Is Bad

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says Wisconsin is not open for business: The bold-facing in the text is mine:

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment

For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, December 20, 2011                       USDL-11-1777

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

The national jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage point between October and November to 8.6 percent, down from 9.8 percent in November 2010....

The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Wisconsin (-14,600)...

Why Gableman May Not Recuse Himself

Recuse himself?

One local lawyer says it's not so cut-and-dried:

Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative public interest law firm, said that determining whether a judge must recuse after receiving legal service depends on several factors, including whether he had recused himself from some past cases, how long ago the law firm had represented him and what the work involved.

"That's a judgment call," Esenberg said.

The conservative, Milwaukee-based Bradley Foundation is a funder of Esenberg's new law firm - - WILL - - and the firm is involved in several high profile issues, including aspects of Walker's collective bargaining restrictions and the Milwaukee streetcar implementation.

I used to sit with Rick on Eric Von's media roundtable radio show "Backstory" on 1290-AM when Eric had an afternoon drive-time program.

Rick was the principal conservative voice and I was the more persuasive and effective liberal alternative.

Regardless, he's an effective advocate for his point of view and the go-to legal consultant for some Wisconsin media.

Anyhow, I'll be interested to see see what happens. I'm not a lawyer, but I think Gableman needs to recuse himself.

More Evidence That It's Not Working For Walker

And for the state.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff Is A Busy Bee

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke took on County Executive Chris Abele.

Went toe-to-toe with County Supervisors, and later proposed cutting the size of the County Board.

Wrote an op-ed.

Goes multi-media all over radio and TV.

He'll even pull you over if you flip him off - - something I don't suggest doing to any driver in these days of road rage and expanding concealed weapons' carrying - - though that behavior has been judged a matter of protected free speech.

Anyway, you have to wonder, given Clarke's penchant for publicity:

Is he running for something else?

Doubt it, though if he does, talk radio will have the story first.

Fighting Through DNR Words That Obscure

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is out with a news release today about wolves, but you have to read past it and deep into the links it provides to find out just what the heck "management" and "depredation controls" and "euthanizing" and "take" can actually mean - - in re: "dispatch depradating wolves."

Et al.

Let's just say that dispatching wolves isn't the same as dispatching those Fed Ex boxes.

1. Zone 4 - Only USDA-WS agents, with WDNR approval, will be allowed to trap and destroy wolves causing problems. After wolves have been state delisted, proactive trapping may take place, local law enforcement officers may be allowed to dispatch wolves, and private land owners or their agents may be given permits to dispatch depredating wolves.

Though there is some all-important clarity in the release from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp when she is quoted saying:

We appreciate Gov. Walker's attention to this issue.

And that's the second use of his name before the end of paragraph two.  Well played, agency spokesman!

Also in the linked DNR postings there is language free of obfuscation:

Reality of Wolf Attacks in North America

It is important to keep wolf attacks in perspective. There has been only one case of a healthy, wild wolf killing a person in North America in the last 100 years. Most wolves are not dangerous to humans and there is a greater chance of being killed by lightning, bee sting or car collision with a deer than being injured by a wolf.

The injuries that have occurred were caused by a few wolves that became fearless of humans due to habituation. Nonetheless, like bears and cougars, wolves are instinctive predators that should be kept wild and respected.

Though They Create Jobs And Clean Air, Walker Wants No Others

State's new, biggest wind farm may be one of a rare breed.

Even though the machinery is made in Milwaukee and Manitowoc, and Illinois is available.

Wisconsin Gazette Offers In-Depth Look At Wind Power Issue

Louis Weisberg does a comprehensive job with the politics and potential of wind power - - in contrast to our Governor.

Second Ethics Complaint Filed Against Gableman

The Moocher is going to need even more legal representation.

Dems Win Another Round In Key Federal Redistricting Case

You've got a shot at a fair hearing (read: Justice) in a courtroom where the other side doesn't already have its ducks in a row.

Since Gableman Is Back In The News, Let's Replay His Awesome Standup

My favorite line from Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Mike Gableman's talk on behalf of best colleague David Prosser is about the Illinois license plates he said were on cars seen when Jesse Jackson came to the north side of Milwaukee, but there are others.

The video is here.

And as they mocked Loophole Louis, can we now agree on "Moocher Mike?"

Gableman About To Get Deserved Scrutiny

Mike Gableman - - the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce's favorite Supreme Court Justice, and with first-hand experience in ethics complaints - - is headed in that direction again.

This time for taking free legal representation from a firm arguing cases in which he voted, reports the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign:

WDC files formal request for ethics investigation of Supreme Court justice
 

This morning the Democracy Campaign filed a formal request with the state Judicial Commission to investigate apparent judicial misconduct by state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman.

Along with the announcement of today's action, a podcast was posted moments ago with more remarks about the alleged misconduct and WDC's request for an ethics probe.

The Democracy Campaign is evaluating the possibility of filing a complaint with the state Government Accountability Board, which is responsible for enforcing the state ethics code that public officials in Wisconsin must follow. The Judicial Commission is responsible for enforcement of the judicial ethics code that applies specifically to the state's judges.

The WMC has prepared a web list of its work to help win a more favorable court. You'll see they were busy in Gableman's campaign.

As for Gableman, I still believe he'll apply his Cher defense, from the film Mask:

"You must be confusing me with someone who gives a shit."

Somebody Must Be Facing A Statewide Recall Election

Walker won't delete funding for rape victims' services.

Season's Greetings From Madison

Holiday Perfection. Photo credit: Jenna Pope

Gableman Writes The Brief For His Recall

The Court already gave this plutocrat a pass when it should have severely disciplined him, so now it's up to the voters to remove him.

Meet The Plutocrats

Thanks to Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel, we now know that a band of special interest insiders and their public-sector water-carriers teamed up and kept their mouth shut...for months...when writing a bill principally on behalf of a single mining company, but at the expense of the environment, public waterways and local communities' budgets.

Not to be overlooked: thousands of dollars in campaign contributions involving some of the very same people.

Coincidence?

Seen the tooth fairy lately?

And if you think this kind of overlapping relationship and insider back-scratching takes place only among legislators, lobbyists, trade associations and executive branch officials, look across the State Capitol, and wince.

That's because we now find a State Supreme Court Justice casting votes in favor of clients represented before the Court by a major law firm that gave the Justice himself free legal representation - - in an ethics case, no less.

Does your average bear or Bucky Badger get this kind of consideration from law firms, senior judges, major businesses, key legislators and high-ranking state officials?

Remember way back in January, within days of his inauguration, when Walker prompted the legislature to pass a special bill to allow a Green Bay-area businessman and contributor to fill a wetlands near Lambeau Field to build a sporting goods store?

That was your first clue: the mining bill is the dagger.

People at that level of impenetrable, clubby influence apparently can meet, collaborate, legislate and/or adjudicate with their own agendas and needs foremost in mind, but if four of the rest of us decide to go to the State Capitol and hold up a sign protesting what feels like a coup d'etat, we might find ourselves jailed for violating our rulers' new rules.