I AM THE FORCE

The pictures in today's newspapers almost had me feeling sorry for Chuck Chvala. But then I thought about what he was like to deal with as majority leader, and I didn't feel quite so bad. Remember him standing outside GOP fundraisers, taking notes on lobbyists in attendance? Do you recall the time he intentionally tripped Tommy Thompson before their gubernatorial debate? Or we could flash back to his arrogant brinksmanship that made so many state budgets a dysfunctional disaster. Most of us can also remember what a jerk he was to everyone from the lowest staffer to the chief executive in the capitol corridors. Something must have happened to Chuck to send him off the deep-end and into an angry dark place. Every one of his policy decisions was informed by campaign finance reports. He blocked all WMC initiatives for years after they pissed him off. He aimed to hurt perceived opponents at every opportunity. Despite the claims of his supporters, he was driven by the partisan warfare rather than the policy objectives. It's a very good thing that he's gone. He went way too far and deserved to take a fall. But I still can't feel any schadenfreude over his booking photos or wish him further humiliation. Hopefully, he'll live happily ever after as an Upper Peninsula Culvers' franchisee. The power-hungry politician that made our lives hell is long gone.