Louis B. Butler, Jr., of Wisconsin, to be United Stated District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin.A wise choice, and well deserved.
whitehouse.gov.
September 30, 2009
Nominations sent to the Senate
whitehouse.gov.
Whoopi Goldberg is right-right
I wonder, did it ever occur to Whoopi Goldberg that not only is a 13-year-old victim of sexual assault legally incapable of offering consent, but the particular 13-year-old victim of film director Roman Polanski testified to having repeatedly denied consent.
So, yes, in consideration of both of those non-demonstrations of consent it was indeed, as Whoopi Goldberg would say, "rape-rape."
There is no hierarchy of rape and there is no legal dispute over Roman Polanski's self-imposed predicament.* Frankly, it's astonishing that Whoopi Goldberg would even suggest there is a moral one.
* At least, not in the jurisdiction from which he fled prior to sentencing, which is the directly relevant one. Whoopi Goldberg's attempts to raise the broader societal question of age of consent regulations are separate from this case, and immediately fall flat.
So, yes, in consideration of both of those non-demonstrations of consent it was indeed, as Whoopi Goldberg would say, "rape-rape."
There is no hierarchy of rape and there is no legal dispute over Roman Polanski's self-imposed predicament.* Frankly, it's astonishing that Whoopi Goldberg would even suggest there is a moral one.
* At least, not in the jurisdiction from which he fled prior to sentencing, which is the directly relevant one. Whoopi Goldberg's attempts to raise the broader societal question of age of consent regulations are separate from this case, and immediately fall flat.
Those Hollywood liberals
It used to be that professional entertainers who expressed their political views were excoriated by conservative Republicans and scolded, in so many words, to "shut up and sing."
My, how the times have changed.* These days, the likes of Chuck Norris, Pat Boone, Jon Voight, and — most recently — Andy Williams** are celebrated for their profound insight, courage, and heroism.
Depends on who they're criticizing, apparently.
* Directly traceable to November 4, 2008, the date of a lost election.
** He was famous in the 1960s for owning a lot of sweaters.
My, how the times have changed.* These days, the likes of Chuck Norris, Pat Boone, Jon Voight, and — most recently — Andy Williams** are celebrated for their profound insight, courage, and heroism.
Depends on who they're criticizing, apparently.
* Directly traceable to November 4, 2008, the date of a lost election.
** He was famous in the 1960s for owning a lot of sweaters.
"We will act ethically."
Or so promises the Journal Broadcast Group, local radio "personality" Charlie Sykes's corporate minders.
Sykes, by falsely attributing to Chris Liebenthal a statement he never made, has clearly betrayed that promise. Sykes has provided no evidence to the contrary, and the proprietor of the website from which Sykes reproduced the statement has since acknowledged that someone other than Mr. Liebenthal has been "spoofing" his user ID.
The ease of doing so was demonstrated here.
Acting ethically, in accordance with the Journal Broadcast Group's own published statement of "Vision and Values," would demand that its employee Charlie Sykes issue both a complete retraction and a public apology to Mr. Liebenthal.
False attribution is not an acceptable component of political speech. One's reputation might be exposed to public contempt and ridicule for something that they did say, but not for something that they didn't.
Sykes, by falsely attributing to Chris Liebenthal a statement he never made, has clearly betrayed that promise. Sykes has provided no evidence to the contrary, and the proprietor of the website from which Sykes reproduced the statement has since acknowledged that someone other than Mr. Liebenthal has been "spoofing" his user ID.
The ease of doing so was demonstrated here.
Acting ethically, in accordance with the Journal Broadcast Group's own published statement of "Vision and Values," would demand that its employee Charlie Sykes issue both a complete retraction and a public apology to Mr. Liebenthal.
False attribution is not an acceptable component of political speech. One's reputation might be exposed to public contempt and ridicule for something that they did say, but not for something that they didn't.
September 29, 2009
Chas. Sykes: Master of the Blogosphere
"Make sure you follow all the links." — Charlie Sykes
Indeed, make sure you do.
Because Charlie Sykes is publicly attributing to Chris Liebenthal a profane and abusive statement that Mr. Liebenthal in fact never made. You see, anybody can fill in the blanks with someone else's ID and leave a comment at the website in question, like so:
And, ironically, Charlie Sykes urges Mr. Liebenthal to "stay classy."
Need a lawyer, Chris?
Indeed, make sure you do.
Because Charlie Sykes is publicly attributing to Chris Liebenthal a profane and abusive statement that Mr. Liebenthal in fact never made. You see, anybody can fill in the blanks with someone else's ID and leave a comment at the website in question, like so:
And, ironically, Charlie Sykes urges Mr. Liebenthal to "stay classy."
Need a lawyer, Chris?
Not everything is on teh internets
A comments thread at Cory Liebmann's blog, Eye On Wisconsin:
Aaron Rodriguez: [Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Scott] Walker's budget proposals start with a 0% tax levy increase.
Liebmann: His proposed budget in 2003 called for a property tax levy of over $218M. Today he added nearly $40M (over 18%) to that number.
Rodriguez: How about providing a source? Until you can provide a link, your opinion* is just an opinion.
Liebmann: I already provided the sources: Walker's proposed 2003 and 2010 budgets. Those are not online. Do what I did and go to the courthouse and pay for them.
[crickets chirping]
* First time I ever heard numbers called "an opinion." In my personal opinion, Prince Fielder is batting .297 with 43 HRs and 137 RBIs.
Ambiguous baseball trivia: Prince Fielder was born in Ontario.
Aaron Rodriguez: [Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Scott] Walker's budget proposals start with a 0% tax levy increase.
Liebmann: His proposed budget in 2003 called for a property tax levy of over $218M. Today he added nearly $40M (over 18%) to that number.
Rodriguez: How about providing a source? Until you can provide a link, your opinion* is just an opinion.
Liebmann: I already provided the sources: Walker's proposed 2003 and 2010 budgets. Those are not online. Do what I did and go to the courthouse and pay for them.
[crickets chirping]
* First time I ever heard numbers called "an opinion." In my personal opinion, Prince Fielder is batting .297 with 43 HRs and 137 RBIs.
Ambiguous baseball trivia: Prince Fielder was born in Ontario.
September 28, 2009
I believe it's known as 'chain of command'
"It's right north of Pakistan, Mr. President," scoffs the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's senior military affairs analyst, Patrick McIlheran.
"Our president, it turns out," Mr. McIlheran can now reveal (having typically gotten it someplace on the internets from somebody who saw it on the teevee box), "has talked to his top general in Afghanistan once since the guy got to that country where the real war is happening. Whatever that country is called. Af-something."
Ho ho.
That general, Stanley A. McChrystal, reports to General David Petraeus of U.S. Central Command, who in turn reports to the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. But Patrick McIlheran apparently hasn't the slightest idea how often or to what extent the president communicates with either General Petraeus or Secretary Gates.
Furthermore, the interview with 60 Minutes to which McIlheran refers — although broadcast last night — was taped on or about August 24. And McChrystal only assumed his current position on June 15.*
So Patrick "I Possess Skills" McIlheran really doesn't know whether President Obama has talked to General McChrystal "only once" or not.
Yet he just goes ahead and says it anyway.
Concludes McIlheran: "As Dad29 puts it, Obama is voting 'present' on this war." Patrick McIlheran is purported to be a journalist, and "Dad29" is an anonymous suburban wing-nut blogger.**
Mr. McIlheran is also a credentialed expert on the United States Constitution as well as on the atmospheric sciences.
His column is regularly indistinguishable from parody.
* Following a series of procedural delays by Senate Republicans.
** Here, "Dad29" claims former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske asserted that a proposal to collect DNA from State misdemeanor arrestees prior to even a probable cause hearing is "not unconstitutional." Justice Geske most certainly did not say that.
Such is the credibility of Patrick McIlheran's anonymous sources. That the foregoing appears at a respected daily newspaper is pathetic.
"Our president, it turns out," Mr. McIlheran can now reveal (having typically gotten it someplace on the internets from somebody who saw it on the teevee box), "has talked to his top general in Afghanistan once since the guy got to that country where the real war is happening. Whatever that country is called. Af-something."
Ho ho.
That general, Stanley A. McChrystal, reports to General David Petraeus of U.S. Central Command, who in turn reports to the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. But Patrick McIlheran apparently hasn't the slightest idea how often or to what extent the president communicates with either General Petraeus or Secretary Gates.
Furthermore, the interview with 60 Minutes to which McIlheran refers — although broadcast last night — was taped on or about August 24. And McChrystal only assumed his current position on June 15.*
So Patrick "I Possess Skills" McIlheran really doesn't know whether President Obama has talked to General McChrystal "only once" or not.
Yet he just goes ahead and says it anyway.
Concludes McIlheran: "As Dad29 puts it, Obama is voting 'present' on this war." Patrick McIlheran is purported to be a journalist, and "Dad29" is an anonymous suburban wing-nut blogger.**
Mr. McIlheran is also a credentialed expert on the United States Constitution as well as on the atmospheric sciences.
His column is regularly indistinguishable from parody.
* Following a series of procedural delays by Senate Republicans.
** Here, "Dad29" claims former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske asserted that a proposal to collect DNA from State misdemeanor arrestees prior to even a probable cause hearing is "not unconstitutional." Justice Geske most certainly did not say that.
Such is the credibility of Patrick McIlheran's anonymous sources. That the foregoing appears at a respected daily newspaper is pathetic.
September 25, 2009
Speaking of kooks
There's even a Hollywood creationist, Kirk Cameron:
May you soon overcome your growing pains.
* See, e.g., Cārvāka. It's all the rage.
"Atheism has been on the rise for years now,* and the Bible of the atheists is The Origin of Species," Cameron tells PEOPLE.Really. I've never read On The Origin of Species. I don't think it has much to do with biology anymore. Nor has it for several decades. The history of biology, yes. And the Bible of the atheists is, uh, the Bible (give or take an Apocrypha or two and the Nag Hammadi library).
"You can see where [Adolf Hitler, Ph.D., University of Oregon] clearly takes Darwin's ideas to some of their logical conclusions and compares certain races of people to lower evolutionary life forms," the former teen heartthrob explained [sic]. "If you take Darwin's theory and extend it to its logical [sic] end, it can be used to justify all number of very horrendous things."Quoth the devout religionist, with nary a hint of either irony or self awareness. Gott ist mit Ihnen, Mr. Kirk Cameron, child star.
May you soon overcome your growing pains.
* See, e.g., Cārvāka. It's all the rage.
Birthermercial!
Watch the video highlight reel. Get a load of these kooks.* It could very easily be a parody, but apparently this is serious business.
And, looking over the list of Southern teevee markets where this craziness is playing, it occurs to me that perhaps Union General George Brinton McClellan was on to something after all. No wonder he maybe wanted to just let them all secede without a struggle.
* I wouldn't recommend visiting any of their websites — especially Orly Taitz's — without some double-wrap anti-virus prophylactica.
And, looking over the list of Southern teevee markets where this craziness is playing, it occurs to me that perhaps Union General George Brinton McClellan was on to something after all. No wonder he maybe wanted to just let them all secede without a struggle.
* I wouldn't recommend visiting any of their websites — especially Orly Taitz's — without some double-wrap anti-virus prophylactica.
Your librul media
This is the image at the top of nytimes.com this morning:
In reality, Obama is 6'2", whereas Ahmadinejad is 4'11".
In reality, Obama is 6'2", whereas Ahmadinejad is 4'11".
September 23, 2009
Where people go
To get the truth is Bill O'Reilly, sez Michele Bachmann (R-Zany).
She's right, claims Falafel Bill, citing some figures to indicate that people "go" there, but say nothing about what they "get" there.
She's right, claims Falafel Bill, citing some figures to indicate that people "go" there, but say nothing about what they "get" there.
September 22, 2009
Patrick McIlheran, astrophysicist
The Brawler reports on an upcoming "wingnut summit."
Please, please, somebody put that up on the YouTubes.
Please, please, somebody put that up on the YouTubes.
September 21, 2009
Meet your tea ceremonialists
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke made an anti-government presentation to the two million anti-government protesters who gathered in the city's Veteran's Park on Saturday afternoon.
But today he wants the government to seize and archive little pieces of the personal bodies of arrestees, not only prior to their conviction, but prior to their having been formally charged with anything:
I understand it might make intuitive sense, but it makes something of a mockery of the Fourth Amendment, does it not? I mean, not every misdemeanor suspect is just assumed to be a serial rapist.
According to a couple of other elected government officials who are proposing related State legislation, the initiative got dreamed up because the Wisconsin Department of Corrections failed over many years to collect 12,000 DNA samples from convicted felons.
Now they are telling us that the proposed samples will be expunged from the archives if no conviction is obtained against the person whose body parts were seized. Mr. Liebenthal has their press release.
In conclusion: Because you cannot count on the government to adequately administer a DNA sampling regime against convicted felons, therefore you can trust it to competently regulate and administer the seized biological material of innocent persons.
Bloody hell, maybe next time there's a tea bag party, not only will I go traverse the perimeter wondering what the bejeezus Glenn Grothman is muttering to himself, I'll be right up front along with "Apostle" David King shouting down them non-circumcised Philistines.*
Related: Tea protester does the Orwell math.
* Is that the next body part they're going to want to seize?
But today he wants the government to seize and archive little pieces of the personal bodies of arrestees, not only prior to their conviction, but prior to their having been formally charged with anything:
Clarke said he has spoken to several Milwaukee-area legislators about the proposal and hopes they will join him at a news conference to discuss it Monday afternoon.Via JSOnline.com.
I understand it might make intuitive sense, but it makes something of a mockery of the Fourth Amendment, does it not? I mean, not every misdemeanor suspect is just assumed to be a serial rapist.
According to a couple of other elected government officials who are proposing related State legislation, the initiative got dreamed up because the Wisconsin Department of Corrections failed over many years to collect 12,000 DNA samples from convicted felons.
Now they are telling us that the proposed samples will be expunged from the archives if no conviction is obtained against the person whose body parts were seized. Mr. Liebenthal has their press release.
In conclusion: Because you cannot count on the government to adequately administer a DNA sampling regime against convicted felons, therefore you can trust it to competently regulate and administer the seized biological material of innocent persons.
Bloody hell, maybe next time there's a tea bag party, not only will I go traverse the perimeter wondering what the bejeezus Glenn Grothman is muttering to himself, I'll be right up front along with "Apostle" David King shouting down them non-circumcised Philistines.*
Related: Tea protester does the Orwell math.
* Is that the next body part they're going to want to seize?
Speaking of Milwaukee attorneys
It wouldn't exactly break David Ziemer's heart if local legend Alan Eisenberg got his ticket pulled once and for all. I'm aware of Mr. Eisenberg and his reputation, but the circumstances surrounding the 1968 suicide of Judge John Krueger were news to me. Appalling.
Gableman refuses to recuse
As mentioned earlier, a Milwaukee attorney filed two motions with the Wisconsin Supreme Court last April seeking the recusal of one of its members, Michael Gableman, from hearing a criminal appeal.
The first motion was directed to Michael Gableman individually. On Thursday, September 10, Gableman summarily denied that motion (which was to be expected, especially considering the admissions he would have had to have made in order to grant it).
The remaining motion requests the entire court to entertain argument as to whether Gableman "for any reason cannot, or appears that he cannot, act in an impartial manner."*
The factual grounds for the challenge are essentially a rehearsal of Gableman's notorious 2008 political campaign, during which he simultaneously paraded himself as an "ally" in the "war on crime" and disparaged the constitutional role of criminal defense attorneys.
In fact that disparagement so offended a former Wisconsin State prosecutor (since elected a Dodge County circuit court judge) that the latter publicly withdrew his support from Gableman and had published a trenchant letter to the Watertown (WI) Daily Times.
Indeed, the disparagement continued even into last week, when Gableman attempted to defend himself against charges by the Wisconsin Judicial Commission that Gableman intentionally lied about his political opponent in television advertisements.
Now Atty. Stephen J. Meyer of Madison notes the filing of a supplemental motion in the wake of Gableman's pro hac vice** counsel Jim Bopp of Terre Haute, IN's reckless claims before a three-judge panel at an appeals court in Waukesha on Wednesday:
Evidence, that is, which Gableman himself proudly introduced.
* Wis. Stat. § 757.19(2)(g), paraphrased.
** The term has an alternate meaning in Latin.
The first motion was directed to Michael Gableman individually. On Thursday, September 10, Gableman summarily denied that motion (which was to be expected, especially considering the admissions he would have had to have made in order to grant it).
The remaining motion requests the entire court to entertain argument as to whether Gableman "for any reason cannot, or appears that he cannot, act in an impartial manner."*
The factual grounds for the challenge are essentially a rehearsal of Gableman's notorious 2008 political campaign, during which he simultaneously paraded himself as an "ally" in the "war on crime" and disparaged the constitutional role of criminal defense attorneys.
In fact that disparagement so offended a former Wisconsin State prosecutor (since elected a Dodge County circuit court judge) that the latter publicly withdrew his support from Gableman and had published a trenchant letter to the Watertown (WI) Daily Times.
Indeed, the disparagement continued even into last week, when Gableman attempted to defend himself against charges by the Wisconsin Judicial Commission that Gableman intentionally lied about his political opponent in television advertisements.
Now Atty. Stephen J. Meyer of Madison notes the filing of a supplemental motion in the wake of Gableman's pro hac vice** counsel Jim Bopp of Terre Haute, IN's reckless claims before a three-judge panel at an appeals court in Waukesha on Wednesday:
As the [supplemental] motion states: "As such, Justice Gableman's views and defense in his judicial ethics proceeding, as expressed through his attorney, reflect an absolute inability to be impartial in a criminal appeal such as this."Of course Gableman can insist on his impartiality until the ungulates are repatriated, but there is much evidence to the contrary that points directly to at least the "appearance" mentioned in the statute.
Evidence, that is, which Gableman himself proudly introduced.
* Wis. Stat. § 757.19(2)(g), paraphrased.
** The term has an alternate meaning in Latin.
September 20, 2009
"What did he just say?"
Tea ceremony shouter "Apostle" David King of the Milwaukee God Squad harangues the faithful yesterday:
Via teh YouTubes.
"The king will give great wealth to the man who kills [them non-circumcised Philistines]. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."
Yea, but verily, if them non-circumcised Philistines happened to be killed by a woman, then the contemplated marriage would be disallowed by the Wisconsin Office of the Secretary of State.
See also: Crowd size continues to grow exponentially
The grassroots organizizers had a number of registration tables set up at various entrances to the penned-in demonstration area. Why don't they just count those registrations? Can't be too difficult.
They could have ACORN do the count, for maximum effect.
The Brawler has some photos, also (scroll down).
My favorite sign was: "LIBERALS OF THE WORLD, IGNITE!," the last word being illustrated with a colorful depiction of flames.
That one wasn't annotated with a Bible verse.
They told us there's a separation between church and state. And if you read the Constitution, that's not in there. But then they told us there's separation from church and state. And then they had the audacity to show us how stupid we are because during election time, we allowed them non-circumcised Philistines to come in our church and talk politics."Apostle" King is a candidate for, of all things, Secretary of State.
Via teh YouTubes.
"The king will give great wealth to the man who kills [them non-circumcised Philistines]. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."
— 1 Samuel 17:25 (NIV)
Yea, but verily, if them non-circumcised Philistines happened to be killed by a woman, then the contemplated marriage would be disallowed by the Wisconsin Office of the Secretary of State.
See also: Crowd size continues to grow exponentially
The grassroots organizizers had a number of registration tables set up at various entrances to the penned-in demonstration area. Why don't they just count those registrations? Can't be too difficult.
They could have ACORN do the count, for maximum effect.
The Brawler has some photos, also (scroll down).
My favorite sign was: "LIBERALS OF THE WORLD, IGNITE!," the last word being illustrated with a colorful depiction of flames.
That one wasn't annotated with a Bible verse.
September 19, 2009
Man beaten at tea ceremony, says blogger
UPDATE — Milwaukee paper confirms: Man, 50, suffers facial lacerations after fight breaks out at area tea party event."Then Joe the Plumber joined the tussle."
"Online phenom" Michelle Malkin congratulates "angry mob."
Here's some YouTube of the episode, apparently.
"Get him out of here!" they yell, and then applaud and hoot when the cops take him down. So the gummint does come in handy sometimes.
Then one dude shouts the title of a Neil Young song at him.
Hard to say whether former Republican Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher is present. But, he's pretty much everywhere nowadays, isn't he.
I don't know. I cruised by on my daily 15k run and what I saw was a paunchy, sunburned man in a short-sleeved shirt wandering around backstage muttering and grunting to himself. He was wearing a plastic badge that said, "Glenn Grothman for State Senator." Then by the time I'd jogged back up the dirt incline to N. Prospect Ave. and thought about it some more, I realized that was Glenn Grothman.
I recognized him from the teevee.
Seems the Brawler stopped along also.
Me, I estimate the angry mob at around two million.
Subversives gather in Milwaukee
No, not the tea ceremonialists, the Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender, a creation of the people's duly elected representatives in the Wisconsin legislature, which holds its annual criminal defense conference this coming Thursday and Friday.
Featured presenters include such subversives and subversive-enablers as Anne W. Reed of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., a noted expert on juries, and Prof. Daniel D. Blinka of Marquette University, who literally wrote the book on evidence in Wisconsin.
According to Michael Gableman's — who is a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice — own defense attorney, Mr. Jim Bopp of Terre Haute, IN, criminal defense work is indicative of a "willingness to subvert our system of criminal, uh, bringing criminals into account."*
Gableman's legally authorized agent's fascinating observation was presumably in oblique reference to that notorious documentary proclamation of subversion, the United States Constitution.
It may helpfully be recalled that roughly one year ago the freshly installed Gableman told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Gableman also claimed he hoped to "meet with public defenders at their conference in October." The conference was in September, which perhaps explains why he didn't show up to encounter anybody.
I wouldn't expect to see him this week either. Although Gableman has been known to hobnob locally with the tea party crowd.
* sub-vert vb 1 : OVERTHROW, RUIN 2 : CORRUPT
It's not exactly a compliment, nor particularly respectful.
Featured presenters include such subversives and subversive-enablers as Anne W. Reed of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., a noted expert on juries, and Prof. Daniel D. Blinka of Marquette University, who literally wrote the book on evidence in Wisconsin.
According to Michael Gableman's — who is a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice — own defense attorney, Mr. Jim Bopp of Terre Haute, IN, criminal defense work is indicative of a "willingness to subvert our system of criminal, uh, bringing criminals into account."*
Gableman's legally authorized agent's fascinating observation was presumably in oblique reference to that notorious documentary proclamation of subversion, the United States Constitution.
It may helpfully be recalled that roughly one year ago the freshly installed Gableman told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
I'm very much looking forward to my new role, and my new role as I perceive it is going to be to apply the law fairly and consistently and to treat everyone I encounter with respect.To be fair, he did refer to that role 'as he perceives it.'
Gableman also claimed he hoped to "meet with public defenders at their conference in October." The conference was in September, which perhaps explains why he didn't show up to encounter anybody.
I wouldn't expect to see him this week either. Although Gableman has been known to hobnob locally with the tea party crowd.
* sub-vert vb 1 : OVERTHROW, RUIN 2 : CORRUPT
It's not exactly a compliment, nor particularly respectful.
September 18, 2009
McIlheran ponders federalism
Or, more accurately, is oblivious of the concept.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's dependably hilarious "right-wing guy" and in-house constitutional scholar Patrick McIlheran inventories a litany of State government incompetence and concludes:
And for this they laid off Tom Strini?
Elsewhere today, McIlheran the intrepid journalist attempts to get to the source of Wisconsin's current DNA imbroglio. He isn't sure who to blame just yet, but he's already certain it's going to be a Democrat.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's dependably hilarious "right-wing guy" and in-house constitutional scholar Patrick McIlheran inventories a litany of State government incompetence and concludes:
Which explains why the Founders were right to extend only limited trust and power to government in the first place.Right, because the idea of that limited federal power was to refrain it from restricting State government power, which is near limitless.
And for this they laid off Tom Strini?
Elsewhere today, McIlheran the intrepid journalist attempts to get to the source of Wisconsin's current DNA imbroglio. He isn't sure who to blame just yet, but he's already certain it's going to be a Democrat.
Because, that's Y-Not
M. Plaisted, Esq. Be Kickin' It Olde Skool.
(Must be the lyrics to L'Internationale on the music stand.)
(Must be the lyrics to L'Internationale on the music stand.)
What does Gableman think of this lawyer?
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Albert Earl Ellis, who is charged with the serial killing of seven local women, has retained defense counsel.
Mr. Jim Bopp, who represents Michael Gableman in an ongoing judicial ethics investigation in which Gableman stands accused of lying during the course of a political campaign, characterized the activities of defense attorneys as the "willingness to subvert our system of bringing criminals into account."
Where is the subversion exactly, one can't help but wonder.
Does it reside with lawyers performing obligations that are constitutionally guaranteed to criminal defendants, or with a State Supreme Court justice who holds such disparaging views of them?
Or maybe Gableman needs to distance himself from the opinions of his attorney.* After all, he's sitting in judgment of criminal appeals.
In the meantime, it makes even more sense today why a Milwaukee lawyer is seeking Gableman's recusal from his own criminal appeal.
Perhaps his recusal should be sought in every single one of them.
(Amusingly, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen called the motions for recusal "an attack on our system of electing judges." Van Hollen may wish to reconsider who is launching an attack on what.)
* As in, by publicly and unequivocally denouncing them. Although that may be problematic, as Mr. Bopp's views were expressed in service of explaining the message of Judge Gableman's political campaign.
Speaking as the agent of Michael Gableman. In court. On the record.
Attorney Russell J.A. Jones announced Ellis, 49, is not responsible for the deaths.On Wednesday Gableman's own lawyer, Mr. Jim Bopp of Terre Haute, IN, criticized another former defense attorney's "judgment" for being "willing to relieve a criminal from responsibility for his crime."
Mr. Jim Bopp, who represents Michael Gableman in an ongoing judicial ethics investigation in which Gableman stands accused of lying during the course of a political campaign, characterized the activities of defense attorneys as the "willingness to subvert our system of bringing criminals into account."
Where is the subversion exactly, one can't help but wonder.
Does it reside with lawyers performing obligations that are constitutionally guaranteed to criminal defendants, or with a State Supreme Court justice who holds such disparaging views of them?
Or maybe Gableman needs to distance himself from the opinions of his attorney.* After all, he's sitting in judgment of criminal appeals.
In the meantime, it makes even more sense today why a Milwaukee lawyer is seeking Gableman's recusal from his own criminal appeal.
Perhaps his recusal should be sought in every single one of them.
(Amusingly, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen called the motions for recusal "an attack on our system of electing judges." Van Hollen may wish to reconsider who is launching an attack on what.)
* As in, by publicly and unequivocally denouncing them. Although that may be problematic, as Mr. Bopp's views were expressed in service of explaining the message of Judge Gableman's political campaign.
Speaking as the agent of Michael Gableman. In court. On the record.
September 17, 2009
Wauwatosa school board regains sanity
At Monday's School Board meeting, all seven board members and six residents roundly criticized Superintendent Phil Ertl's decision to not show the President of the United States' 20-minute speech that was focused on working hard in school, setting educational goals and taking responsibility for learning. No one present spoke in support of Ertl's decision.Good for them. What on Earth was Mr. Ertl thinking. Imagine, these functionaries demanding copies of Obama's address in advance in order to determine whether it was suitable for schoolchildren.
Welcome to Limbaugh Nation.
Gableman's restatement of the law
An Indiana lawyer, speaking on behalf of a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, reveals his view of the adversarial system of American law:
Is this an accurate reflection of Michael Gableman's own attitude when he's sitting in judgment of an appeal in a criminal case?
I'm not aware that the United States Constitution distinguishes among the "types of person" that are entitled to representation.
And I hardly think that seeking a new trial for a defendant against whom evidence was admitted in contravention of the plain language of a Wisconsin statute has anything to do with a willingness to "relieve" the defendant from responsibility for a particular charge.
Whatever one might derive from or say about Gableman's defense against his ethics charges, it is not an especially admirable one. Indeed, it's offensive, in at least two separate senses of the word.
Yesterday when the WJC's counsel was asked, "Who is really harmed?" by Gableman's celebrated television advertisement, counsel responded that it was primarily "the institution of the courts."
That may well be but I believe a far better argument could be made that the individual who suffered the most harm in this affair is Michael Gableman himself. And he continues to suffer harm by way of this manner of statement made by his attorney.
Of course the correct answer to the reporter's question is: Nothing. It's only there in support of the claim-by-implications that Louis Butler's actions were in some way causally connected with the crime.
But the correct answer would not serve Michael Gableman's past — and apparently current and perhaps even future — purposes.
* In fact, this is false. That court made no such order.
It's more than a little ironic that Mr. Jim Bopp would make such an obviously false statement of the record in a case where he's defending the "literal truth" of each and every of his own assertions.
Clearly, Mitchell's "release" and subsequent offense were meant to be causally connected by Gableman to Butler's having "found a loophole," which is what the Judicial Commission's allegations are all about.
Yet Mr. Bopp claimed yesterday, on the record:
Whosoever does believe it perhaps could be summoned from among Mr. Jim Bopp's speculative collection of speculative persons who would find nothing morally objectionable about raping 11-year-old children with learning disabilities.
Unfortunately yesterday's proceedings dwelt more on the individual veracity of particular "statements" — English sentences removed from context — than the "statement" so obviously conveyed by the advertisement itself in toto, complete with visual and aural effects.
Reporter: Let me ask you first of all, [regarding] the contention from [the Wisconsin Judicial Commission], that it really hinges on that final statement, 'Mitchell went on to rape again.' Without the argument that using the word 'loophole' implies that he was set free because of Justice Butler in some way, what does that final statement have to do with Louis Butler?Can a judge who sits on Wisconsin's Supreme Court possibly agree with this proposition, that exercising the constitutionally guaranteed right to effective counsel in criminal matters is "subversion"?
Jim Bopp: Well, it's the type of person that he was willing to represent, and the type of person that he was willing to find a loophole for. It had everything to do with Justice Butler's, uh, judgment, that he was willing to find a loophole to let such a heinous — or to relieve — such a heinous criminal from responsibility for his crime. Whatever that meant, in terms of finding a loophole.
Justice Butler at the time, as a criminal defense lawyer, was urging that Mitchell get, be released. In fact the Court of Appeals ordered him to be released* based upon this loophole. And so it has to do with [Butler's] judgment and his willingness to subvert our system of criminal, uh, bringing criminals into account. That's what it has to do with.
Is this an accurate reflection of Michael Gableman's own attitude when he's sitting in judgment of an appeal in a criminal case?
I'm not aware that the United States Constitution distinguishes among the "types of person" that are entitled to representation.
And I hardly think that seeking a new trial for a defendant against whom evidence was admitted in contravention of the plain language of a Wisconsin statute has anything to do with a willingness to "relieve" the defendant from responsibility for a particular charge.
Whatever one might derive from or say about Gableman's defense against his ethics charges, it is not an especially admirable one. Indeed, it's offensive, in at least two separate senses of the word.
Yesterday when the WJC's counsel was asked, "Who is really harmed?" by Gableman's celebrated television advertisement, counsel responded that it was primarily "the institution of the courts."
That may well be but I believe a far better argument could be made that the individual who suffered the most harm in this affair is Michael Gableman himself. And he continues to suffer harm by way of this manner of statement made by his attorney.
Of course the correct answer to the reporter's question is: Nothing. It's only there in support of the claim-by-implications that Louis Butler's actions were in some way causally connected with the crime.
But the correct answer would not serve Michael Gableman's past — and apparently current and perhaps even future — purposes.
* In fact, this is false. That court made no such order.
It's more than a little ironic that Mr. Jim Bopp would make such an obviously false statement of the record in a case where he's defending the "literal truth" of each and every of his own assertions.
Clearly, Mitchell's "release" and subsequent offense were meant to be causally connected by Gableman to Butler's having "found a loophole," which is what the Judicial Commission's allegations are all about.
Yet Mr. Bopp claimed yesterday, on the record:
There is no effort to attribute the finding of the loophole to his release and subsequent molestation of a child. There is no claim made that that is the sequence of events or the result of the finding of the loophole.It's extremely difficult to imagine anyone actually believing this.
Whosoever does believe it perhaps could be summoned from among Mr. Jim Bopp's speculative collection of speculative persons who would find nothing morally objectionable about raping 11-year-old children with learning disabilities.
Unfortunately yesterday's proceedings dwelt more on the individual veracity of particular "statements" — English sentences removed from context — than the "statement" so obviously conveyed by the advertisement itself in toto, complete with visual and aural effects.
September 16, 2009
Gableman surrogates still campaigning
[Louis Butler] is willing to find a loophole for a person so evil that he raped an 11-year-old girl with learning disabilities. And that he's so evil, that once he got out of jail, he went on to molest another child.Attorney James Bopp, Jr. of Terre Haute, IN helpfully explains the Honorable Judge Michael Gableman's political strategy, 09/16/09.
So the focus is on Butler's willingness to find loopholes for even people that are as despicable as this person is. And known to be as despicable as he was. Because he raped an 11-year-old girl with a learning disability. . . .
In other words, would you feel safe having somebody on the Supreme Court that is willing to find a loophole for a scumbag like Reuben Lee Mitchell who would rape an 11-year-old girl with learning disabilities and once he got out of jail would rape children again.
He is willing to find a loophole, whatever the result that manifests. It may result in his release, which is of course what Butler was seeking. He was seeking the release of Mitchell, by finding this loophole. And the Court of Appeals granted that.*
If Butler had gotten his way, Mitchell would have been released. . . .
This is not about Mitchell, this is about Butler: What he is [sic] willing to do.
* No, he wasn't, and no, it didn't. Mitchell remained in custody.
Wingnuts can beat up black kids, if need be
Some Midwestern teabaggers ride the D.C. Metro, encounter a threatening cadre of thugs (technically, thugs), and steel themselves for the inevitable RaHoWa:
Perhaps three centuries would be preferable to Mr. McEnroe.
h/t Sadly, No!
* Your mileage may vary.
The reality* was they were still wannabes really, pretty young, not that big, or many. And if the several adults there for 9/12 actually needed to do something about it, the kids wouldn't have lasted very long.How do we know this is all Obama's fault? Because a commenter, whose real name is apparently the decidedly non-ghetto "Richard McEnroe," complains that Obama is "setting back race relations a century" — while using the pseudonym "Chlamydia Shabazz X."
Perhaps three centuries would be preferable to Mr. McEnroe.
h/t Sadly, No!
* Your mileage may vary.
September 15, 2009
Paddy's little starbursts*
Michelle "Korematsu" Malkin brings 2 million to Milwaukee
And, scroll down to John Foust's comment re: Willie Soon, who McIlheran identifies as an "astrophysicist" and who, McIlheran claims, "managed to offend climate alarmists with, of all things, data."
McIlheran only left out two words: "misuse of" before "data."
Earlier: "I possess skills" — McIlheran
* Lowry in Love (with the former Governor of Guam).
You couldn’t join the hundred thousand or more [sic] people on the National Mall ...Actually they marched up Pennsylvania Ave. Was ace journalist Patrick McIlheran duped by the 1997 Promise Keepers photo as well?
And, scroll down to John Foust's comment re: Willie Soon, who McIlheran identifies as an "astrophysicist" and who, McIlheran claims, "managed to offend climate alarmists with, of all things, data."
McIlheran only left out two words: "misuse of" before "data."
Journalists may obtain a .pdf copy of this article by request to Harvey Leifert [of the AmericanNo wonder Patrick McIlheran couldn't obtain a copy!AlarmistsGeophysical Union].
Earlier: "I possess skills" — McIlheran
* Lowry in Love (with the former Governor of Guam).
Who's the nut?
This is actually kind of heartwarming.
That's an ingenious political ad.
It's self-effacing — even self-mocking — it goes out of its way to make Obama look like a champ, and it reminds us that much of politicking is an act, and the actors are often regular people you'd probably have a hell of a time with, if you got to know them.
Having acknowledged that, however, "Teenage Republican Camp" sounds positively triple-whammy-cubed nightmarish.
A Wes Craven screenplay in development, perhaps.
That's an ingenious political ad.
It's self-effacing — even self-mocking — it goes out of its way to make Obama look like a champ, and it reminds us that much of politicking is an act, and the actors are often regular people you'd probably have a hell of a time with, if you got to know them.
Having acknowledged that, however, "Teenage Republican Camp" sounds positively triple-whammy-cubed nightmarish.
A Wes Craven screenplay in development, perhaps.
Two million Malkinoids can't be wrong
An uproarious compendium of teabag mythmaking:
Within the fact-free conservative blogosphere, lots of people still believe the 2 million nonsense, or are at least repeating it. They believe it despite the fact that nobody can point to any evidence to support it.No surprises there.
September 14, 2009
It's false, and it's also true*
Patrick Marley reminds us of Gableman's Wednesday showdown:
And eminently becoming to a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.
* According to Marquette law professor Richard Esenberg.
But Gableman argues the ad was true because it did not explicitly say that Butler's actions caused Mitchell's release. He can't control how viewers might interpret his ads, his lawyers have argued.By the same reasoning, it's perfectly acceptable to imply that your opponent has sex with barnyard animals. You're just not responsible for the implication. Sounds like a real winner of an argument to me.
And eminently becoming to a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.
* According to Marquette law professor Richard Esenberg.
About that Godwinning
A reader of the conservative blog "Power Line" explains:
An estimated 75,000* turned up to complain they'd lost an election.
eta: More Hinderaker brilliance.
* U.S. population to 9/15/09: 307,449,389.
I find it very interesting that the people who are outraged at the (few) signs comparing Obama to Hitler are mad that the protesters used "Nazi" as an INSULT.This wisdom appeared shortly after "Power Line" proprietor John Hinderaker posted a photo of a 1997 Promise Keepers march to demonstrate the attendance at last Saturday's teabagger rally.
Do you see what I mean? It's almost as if they were mad that the Fuehrer's memory was being wronged, or something.
An estimated 75,000* turned up to complain they'd lost an election.
eta: More Hinderaker brilliance.
* U.S. population to 9/15/09: 307,449,389.
District Attorney is "used to it"
Used to local radio buffoon Charlie Sykes making shit up, that is:
h/t Whallah!
* Burn!
Charlie Sykes, like many of his contemporaries in the talk radio business, has again ignored facts to promote his views.Yes, counsel, we are.
During his broadcast Sept. 10, Sykes was discussing the tragic death of UWM student Nathan Potter, allegedly shot and killed by Seandell Jackson. He pointed out that Jackson was arrested in Sheboygan for carrying a concealed weapon and received a three-day jail sentence, which is true.
But he described that concealed weapon as an "illegal handgun" and implied that if Sheboygan knew what it was doing, Jackson would have gotten a longer sentence and might not have been free to commit the homicide.
The "concealed weapon" was a pocket folding knife, not a handgun, and I doubt that Jackson would have even been arrested in Milwaukee County, much less charged, convicted and sentenced to jail.*
I guess the truth doesn't make for good talk show garbage. But we should all be used to that by now.
Joe DeCecco
District Attorney
Sheboygan County
h/t Whallah!
* Burn!
September 13, 2009
Teabagger penis 53 inches long
Analogizes statistician Nate Silver.
It's funny because one of the organizers is named Dick Armey.
Another is named Baby Finster.
There's a set of event photos at Flickr.com.
One smiling teabagger holds a sign that reads: "What's the difference between the Cleveland Zoo and the White House? The zoo has an African lion and the White House has a lyin' African!" Zing!
But, no, please don't call them racists. For that would be uncivil. And what we need is a civil debate. That's why Joe Wilson of the House of Representatives (R-SC) is a national hero and a Super Patriot.
Many anti-government protesters reportedly made their way to the teabag site using federally-funded public transit. That's funny also.
Because the government can't do anything right,* the other 1.925 million protesters must have ended up in Baltimore.
* "Keep the guvmint out of my medicare."
It's funny because one of the organizers is named Dick Armey.
Another is named Baby Finster.
There's a set of event photos at Flickr.com.
One smiling teabagger holds a sign that reads: "What's the difference between the Cleveland Zoo and the White House? The zoo has an African lion and the White House has a lyin' African!" Zing!
But, no, please don't call them racists. For that would be uncivil. And what we need is a civil debate. That's why Joe Wilson of the House of Representatives (R-SC) is a national hero and a Super Patriot.
Many anti-government protesters reportedly made their way to the teabag site using federally-funded public transit. That's funny also.
Because the government can't do anything right,* the other 1.925 million protesters must have ended up in Baltimore.
* "Keep the guvmint out of my medicare."
September 12, 2009
You lie!
Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin said in one post that ABC News had estimated the teabagger attendance at 2 million.And there was a number of other events in D.C. today. But what do you expect from persons who equate "Czars" with the Soviet Union and believe that the president can be both a communist and a Nazi.*
Meanwhile D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services said, unofficially, that the angry mob was somewhere between 60,000 and 75,000 people.
Salon.com.
Fresno State at Wisconsin: Attendance 80,353.
* Don't you dare call them names, though.
First Amendment, meet Second Amendment
The Rev. Rodger DeVore of Owosso's Church of the Nazarene, another place where Pouillon protested, said he doubted Pouillon persuaded many people to his side of the abortion debate."Abortion sign guy" shot dead in American Kulturkampf
"It's strictly my opinion that he was more counterproductive than effective," he said. "If someone yelled, he would yell back louder. That's not in synch with God's word about those who oppress you."
September 11, 2009
Prayer fight
"I'm very distressed," said Florida resident Karen Leach. "I'm distressed when I read the statement, '[Muslims] want to show America how we pray.' ... I feel that any kind of prayer speaks into the heavenly realms. So I feel if they're going to be speaking into the heavenly realm into the forces of darkness, I want to speak into the forces of light."h/t Religion Clause.
September 10, 2009
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