I AM THE FORCE

Very courageous and admirable move by David Prosser. He had no selfish incentive to put his reputation at risk and tell the truth about the caucus history of campaigning with state resources. He could have hidden behind his robes, and never said anything about the gross injustice facing Scott Jensen. Hats off to Joe Strohl as well, but Prosser is in the more difficult position. A Supreme Court Justice, admitting that he engaged in the same kind of behavior that is currently being considered a felony. Prosser is an indescribably honorable man. Snakes like Mark Pocan claim they don't remember anything, and slink away from any responsibility or accountability. Prosser, on the other hand, steps up and risks his reputation and career in order to set the record straight. Republicans were lucky to have him as Speaker, and his intelligence and integrity are sorely missed in the capitol of today.

Judge Ebert apparently announced today that prosecutors can charge or not charge anyone they see fit. The evidence apparently has very little to do with charging decisions from Brian Blanchard. And as long as you're one of those people let off the hook, that kind of discretion is okay. But it has to feel brutally unfair to Scott Jensen. It seems nauseatingly unjust to me, regardless of whether this was happening to Scott Jensen or Shirley Krug. The Judge has made it clear that he's completely untroubled by the inequities of this case, and I have to conclude that Jensen will be crucified at trial. The pins have been knocked out from under him, and it seems like there will be little to argue about at trial. He directed campaigning on state time, so he will be found guilty.

I used to believe that the criminal justice system was fair, and that things would always work out appropriately. But when you find yourself before a judge with the full might of the district attorney coming down on you, the realities don't have a lot to do with those ideas of justice. A judge can make decisions based on his or her personal prejudices, and is granted virtually unchecked authority over the poor wretches hauled before them. Even on the rare occasion that a circuit court decision is overturned at a higher level, judges face no consequences for bad decisions. And they're left doing whatever they want to whomever they want. Judge Ebert seems to have made his mind up about Scott Jensen, and will not be cutting him any breaks.

Perhaps all of the people that performed campaign activity on the state payroll ought to hold a giant rally on the capitol square to turn themselves in for prosecution. Take me away, I confess. As a matter of fact, Brian Blanchard already has all of the evidence he needs to arrest at least half of my readers. But maybe it's better to have only one person die for our sins. After all, Jensen was better at it than anyone else. But as David Prosser has so eloquently demonstrated, Jensen's martyrdom doesn't feel quite right. And good people shouldn't have allowed it to happen.