I AM THE FORCE

It was refreshing, but odd, to read Bonnie Ladwig's expression of humble remorse for her part in the caucus scandal. It was rather odd, since I can't remember a single time that Queen Bonnie ever admitted a mistake in the past. People who didn't know her can be forgiven for seeing her as a grandmotherly figure, she even promoted herself in pre-indictment articles as the fount of senior wisdom for Assembly Republicans. In office, Ladwig was a very brusque and extreme individual known for her difficult relationships with her own staff and other legislators. If she didn't like someone, you could count on her to eventually hurt them. She made her more obscure husband and Assembly predecessor, Jim Ladwig, seem like a kind and fatherly figure. She always had a strong opinion, and wasn't afraid to threaten a lobbyist or legislator with retribution. To be fair, she was competent and no dummy. But her righteous personality certainly played a role in last week's plea-deal denouement. Had she truly been the sage grandma of her imaginings, she probably wouldn't have been such a zealous practicioner of business-as-usual. So goodbye Bonnie and good luck. And please don't be bitter. Everyone who campaigns with state employees can't end up as Ambassador to Norway or a Vice President of We Energies.