All you need to do is read the last two paragraphs of the news release (from the Republican Party of Dane County) to know why politics hasn't worked for the past decade or so. You won't hear about or read the news release below on any news media. (Remember, Miss Vicky's radio show and Blaska's Blog are NOT "news media.")
Republicans, Democrats, and independents of every stripe...Tea Partiers and all...should reject the kind of class-division hatred the diatribe below represents.
For Immediate Release: Contact: Blake Gober- blake@danegop.org
March 30, 2011 Jeff Waksman- jeff@danegop.org
Republican Party of Dane County Apologizes To Judge Sumi
The Republican Party of Dane County sent out a press release on March 29th criticizing Judge Maryann Sumi for holding up the publication of Governor Scott Walker’s collective bargaining reform bill. Upon further reflection we’d like to apologize for not understanding her point of view.
Sure, Governor Walker’s bill is unquestionably constitutional, increases worker’s rights and helps local government balance budgets without having to fire public workers. The Wisconsin state legislature consulted with their non-partisan parliamentarian to make sure that the passage of the bill followed the rules of the Senate and Assembly. But this isn’t about the law, is it?
The Republican Party of Dane County recognizes that Judge Sumi is a leftist living in Dane County. Her friends are leftists living in Dane County. Her son is a left wing activist in Dane County. She goes to cocktail parties held by leftists in Dane County. She shops at organic gourmet food shops run by leftists living in Dane County. If she were to enforce the law of Wisconsin and do what was in the best interest of the people of Wisconsin, she’d be exiled from her lifestyle. She’d lose her friends!
The leadership of the Republican Party of Dane County have all made the choice to stand against the Dane County elite. We accept that Left feels righteous vandalizing our homes and keying our cars. It's only fair. We disagree based upon logic and principle. That is intolerable! We prioritize the Constitution and the well being of the people of Wisconsin over foie gras at cocktail parties. That’s the choice we made. We respect Judge Sumi’s decision to live her life with the rich diversity that liberals cherish.
You're right.
ReplyDeleteThe DCRP should retreat in abject sorrow for its blunt assessment of the county judge's mad skilllzzz.
The point is not that the DCRP shouldn't criticize the judge. We'd expect them to do that. It's a normal function. The point is the inappropriate tone, which does not befit people who purport to be leaders. It also ain't appropriate when liberals do it, but the fact that liberals do it too isn't enough to make it right.
ReplyDeletejust so you know, there are articles and video interviews on Cap Times, WKOW, 620am wtmj, and more
ReplyDeleteThanks, Blake. The Tony Galli piece I saw on Channel 27 last night (WKOW-TV) did surprise me. But, if you watched the piece, the tone of Tony's interview was more "what possessed you to write something like this" rather than indicating that the news release had any real "news" value. Same with the TMJ item.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the way the Dane County GOP wants to make its mark, by releasing hateful crap like this, so be it. And, as JB points out, the stuff the Dems do isn't much better, although in fairness most of the hateful stuff the Dems do is either on blogposts (Pocan's blog, as one example) or via social media, and individual Dems have been known to put out stuff similar to this. Either way, and from either party, it's juvenile and tasteless.
/tjm
First, a brief lecture on the genius of the American system of jurisprudence:
ReplyDeleteLawyers tend to define justice as what happens in a courtroom, whether you like the outcome or not. Any legal issue important enough to be pursued may be tried by an amazingly effective sifting and winnowing process that allows generous options for agreement or appeal.
The court of first resort is seldom the final word. A judge who bases decisions on a political agenda instead of the law is likely to be overruled on appeal. As a result, the legal machinery that is our justice system is, on the whole, remarkably fair.
Angrily and publicly denigrating not just a judge but a wide swath of society for a disagreeable decision is about as contemptible and unpatriotic and un-American an act as a supposedly mainstream political organization can perpetrate.
The world is a confusing place to political extremists. It makes no sense to them unless everyone and everything they think they do not like (which in this case appears to be a very long list) has a pejorative label that satisfactorily fixes the subject's place on a loathed band of the political spectrum. These wretches feel validated only when their rhetoric confirms their prejudices.
Extremists of any stripe are, ultimately, not rational. They typically imagine themselves constantly under siege. Their bunker mentality brooks no nuance and they regard compromise as weakness.
If even the slightest variation of perspective is anathema, how meager is what remains for them to esteem?
That wrongheaded combative attitude marginalizes extremists and diminishes their cause, but they'll never see the irony.
That's not all bad.
We who regard this behavior as obnoxious can only hope the leadership of the Republican Party of Dane County retains its shameful facility for spraying vitriol, and keeps on doing what it's doing.
Mindlessly vicious attacks such as this carry the seeds of the attacker's own destruction.
Totally agree with jb & "Knick", its fine if you disagree. But all these generalizations, people avoiding trying to talk about the issues, and spewing just plain hate is unproductive and must stop. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind, remember? I (truthfully) don't want anyone to feel like their voice is minimized, but if all people want to do is scream about how someone, in their opinion, is lame...without focusing on the issues, how does that clarify things?
ReplyDeleteThe first time I read this...'leftist elite' in Dane county? Can someone even attempt to define what this means in their context and how its relevant? Or how the DCRP is not in some form part of the 'elite' in Dane County on their own. The more I think about it the funnier it becomes.
Generally speaking the whole case, as I understand it, is basically around proper implementation of the open records law. Which seems more fundamental to how we in WI operate. Given the scope of the bill, and the majorities the Republicans have I never understood the rationale behind some of the steps to get it passed. If its truly 'the will of the people' as continuously claimed why do it in that way?
Mentioned to me in recent days, 'The point of politics seems to be to miss the point.' So much of the time these days our state/national political system seems doomed to struggle given that regardless of the merit of an idea, the simple fact that it is presented by one party, means the other party will try to discredit the chance for a win. In the end we all lose.