Saturday, March 11, 2006
His place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat
What a body blow. Despite having very little hope that Jensen would receive a fair shake from this judge and jury, it was beyond depressing to hear today's Jensen verdict reported on the car radio. I wonder how it makes Ben Brancel, Tom Loftus, Mary Panzer, Wally Kunicki, Betty Jo Nelson, and Shirley Krug feel?
Makes me feel like crap, but apparently makes Joe Wineke and Jim Doyle very happy. If Doyle actually had any class, he would have issued a Jensen pardon today rather than a despicably hypocritical and unkind press release. Talk about kicking someone when they're down. These guys did the same things, yet are arrogant enough to continue throwing stones. Jim and Joe, mark me down as your permanent enemy.
We've already gone over and over the reasons this prosecution should never have happened, so I won't reiterate it here. My heart goes out to Jensen and his family during this difficult time. I hope that the strength and intelligence that made him such a successful politician will allow him to survive this ordeal. Scott Jensen is not dishonorable, and this kangaroo court verdict will never change that impression with the people that know him best.
I'm not entirely sure what to say to those of you who are happy this evening that Scott Jensen is going to prison. Politics is a rough business, but I never thought I'd experience this kind of a selective political prosecution in modern-day Wisconsin. For the record, I don't think any of the other former surviving leaders should be going to jail either. Hopefully, the prosecutors won't come for any of you next. Because if they did, this trial confirms, they could convict virtually every one who's done time in politics.
Scott Jensen will survive to do great things. Brian Blanchard will survive and continue to do bad things. This trial was indeed about the abuse of power, but Brian Blanchard proved himself the most guilty of that crime. In a fair world, what Scott Jensen did and didn't do should never have put him in this position. And courageous citizens would hot have allowed Blanchard to get away with it.
My best to Jensen and his family. If you'd like to add your kicks to the down man, please do it on a different blog. I really don't want to hear it.
Comments:
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In my opinion:
Anyone and everyone involved should have their good name dragged through the mud and then hung out to dry by the media. However, no one should be going to jail for any of this, because it was so pervasive.
I'm most shocked about the reaction from the right. If the roles were reversed, Dem Asm and Senate with a GOP Gov... not only would the GOP be dragging the prosecuted former Assembly Dem Speaker through the mud and championing everything, you Ragnar of all people would have the nastiest and most personally intrusive lit out there this fall. That's what I call hypocrisy.
Anyone and everyone involved should have their good name dragged through the mud and then hung out to dry by the media. However, no one should be going to jail for any of this, because it was so pervasive.
I'm most shocked about the reaction from the right. If the roles were reversed, Dem Asm and Senate with a GOP Gov... not only would the GOP be dragging the prosecuted former Assembly Dem Speaker through the mud and championing everything, you Ragnar of all people would have the nastiest and most personally intrusive lit out there this fall. That's what I call hypocrisy.
Putting "Class" and "Jim Doyle" in the same sentence might make you eligible for a lengthy psychiatric examination.
Yes, Jensen was screwed. But as we are all reminded on a regular basis, Life Is Not Fair.
Yes, Jensen was screwed. But as we are all reminded on a regular basis, Life Is Not Fair.
And Scott Jensen did his best to make sure that it stayed unfair, both for Dems who dared to run and against Reps who wouldn't play along.
Please stop defending those who coarsen and cheapen our political system. Party loyalty is anathema to public service. We need more sttesmen and fewer hacks who think that being elected is part of the job they were elected to do.
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Please stop defending those who coarsen and cheapen our political system. Party loyalty is anathema to public service. We need more sttesmen and fewer hacks who think that being elected is part of the job they were elected to do.
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