Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi blocked Wisconsin's union-busting law for a second time yesterday, saying that it's not in effect and threatening sanctions against anyone who tries to enforce it. The The Republican Party of Dane County immediately issued a press release (pdf) accusing Judge Sumi of judicial activism, etc., etc.
The Republican Party of Dane County adds this to the civic debate.
Today, they're back with this amazing amazingness, which they label an apology. (H/T @susanlbrannigan and the Wheeler Report.) I'll reprint it in full:
RPDC Apologizes To Judge Sumi
The Republican Party of Dane County sent out a press release on March 29th criticizing Judge Maryann Sumi for holding up the publication of Governor Scott Walker's collective bargaining reform bill. Upon further reflection we'd like to apologize for not understanding her point of view.
Sure, Governor Walker's bill is unquestionably constitutional, increases worker's rights and helps local government balance budgets without having to fire public workers. The Wisconsin state legislature consulted with their non-partisan parliamentarian to make sure that the passage of the bill followed the rules of the Senate and Assembly. But this isn't about the law, is it?
The Republican Party of Dane County recognizes that Judge Sumi is a leftist living in Dane County. Her friends are leftists living in Dane County. Her son is a left wing activist in Dane County. She goes to cocktail parties held by leftists in Dane County. She shops at organic gourmet food shops run by leftists living in Dane County. If she were to enforce the law of Wisconsin and do what was in the best interest of the people of Wisconsin, she'd be exiled from her lifestyle. She'd lose her friends!
The leadership of the Republican Party of Dane County have all made the choice to stand against the Dane County elite. We accept that Left feels righteous vandalizing our homes and keying our cars. It's only fair. We disagree based upon logic and principle. That is intolerable! We prioritize the Constitution and the well being of the people of Wisconsin over foie gras at cocktail parties. That's the choice we made. We respect Judge Sumi's decision to live her life with the rich diversity that liberals cherish.
Leave a Comment:
So now limiting the Republicans autocratic behavior is a symptom of "judicial activism?" I guess the Republicans aren't doing the Limited Government thing in Wisconsin these days.
The more twisted logic I read from Republicans, the more I recognize just how much the word "Rovian" does indeed need to be added to the dictionary. All this accusing one's opponent of exactly the indiscretion of which you are guilty; the non-apology apology; the inside-out logic; lies repeated until they become truth -- all of that was invented by Karl Rove to elect W. It's all in his play-book which I am sure is on a DVD somewhere that the GOP/TP slips from hand to hand at CPAC and other gatherings.
What I really wonder is this: which side of the Authoritarian v. Libertarian divide is he on?
"All this accusing one's opponent of exactly the indiscretion of which you are guilty" is psychological projection and is a game played to the tee by Republicans. You can take their statements, reverse them, and come out with the truth. For example "We prioritize the Constitution and the well being of the people of Wisconsin over foie gras at cocktail parties". WHO eats foie gras at cocktail parties? Working class people? What a joke! And I suppose Republicans eat American hot dogs at barbeques.
Only at $1000 a plate barbeques.
Covah and BeckyB: now you're catching on! Very good!
Republicans are doing exactly the same things that were done in the Soviet Union, China, and Nazi Germany to establish dictatorship.
This would be sooo funny if it wasn't actually happening.
HOLY CRAP, but that is some amazing amazingness in prose. That is the only way to characterize the paragraph (directed to a SITTING JUDGE, no less) that goes like this:
I can hardly speak to the bizzaro-world painted above. "Leftist" is used in the overt McCarthyist sense, as an epithet that should (in this crazed world view) send one cowering in one's closet at even the whisper of the accusation: "dirty leftist!"
[sarcasm]
Ooh ooh, I'm scared! Those GOP peoples called us a bad name! We'll be rounded up for their camps next! (in their dreams?!)
And I'm just wetting my pants, I fear bullies so much, my principles and ideals crumble in the face of not fitting in with my leftist friends! Cuz I don't really believe any of these things nor do I have any of the courage of my convictions. Nor is there any intellectual basis or research or proof behind any positions I advance. I just made them up out of whole cloth! Wah wah wah! What shall I do?
I walk through the days of my life crossing every street to avoid bullies, and I am so scared of anybody looking at me sideways, I'd never support a protest movement unless I already had a majority (and a big bankroll) behind me, so that the fix was already in.
And cocktail parties! Ooh, I just LIVE for those! Me and my leftist friends get all smarmy and hatch grand plots to oppress rich people, because we are so elite and they are not. Sure, they have a gazillion times more money and resources than any of us will ever see in our lifetimes, but we are SUPERIOR because we are BULLIES sitting all righteous in our Ivory Towers, getting our budgets cut repeatedly by right wingers.
They hate us for our organic grocery stores (that all seem to be sited in close proximity to their rich gated communities, ironically). Our bulk bulgar and quinoa! We act like we have a right not to eat their chemicals. To subsist without consuming their government-subsidized corn-everything with a Monsanto patent!
[/sarcasm]
They hate us for daring to stand against their monolithic bid for control.
Ironically, they accuse the Left of embodying the tactics and attitudes (and intellectually-unsupported principles of convenience) that most accurately MIRROR what they are actually doing IN PRACTICE.
It would leave us gasping at the impossibility of such a reality-challenged view, if the words were not right here in front of us.
People of principle are not particularly concerned about losing their friends. They've worked out the logic, the ideals, the ethics and meta-ethics. They know where they stand and can hold the position as a solo outlier if need be (exemplars: Fmr. Sen. Russ Feingold, Fighting Bob La Follette).
Oddly enough, those who depend most on bullying as a political tactic need their "friends" (such that they are, of convenience, patronage, suck-up, or sugar daddy) to feel strong and powerful, to feel validated and strident, to give them their swagger and allow them to wag certain body parts.
And what is life worth, really, if you can't walk around wagging certain body parts?!
NUTS!
I once had a student - a cute little 7th grader - not the sharpest knife. He’d do anything to get laughs from his peers. On a bet, he came to my desk and yelled, “I hate you! You’re a stupid, mean, ugly-A*s Bi*ch!” I sent him to the principal. He came back and handed me a written apology: “I’m sorry I said I hate you! You are a stupid, mean, ugly-A*s Bi*ch!” L’d MBO I always wondered what happened to that kid. Now I know. He obviously writes apology letters for the Dane County Republican Party.
Simply amazing . I hope an update to this story reads : "Earlier today, all the Republican legislators were thrown into Madison Jail for contempt of court"
One can dream .
I got a bit off topic in my comment above. This is so outrageous and reminds us all that We Are One. Rally on April 4, folks! Support all the workers in Wisconsin and all the other states where their rights are under attack by these cookie-cutter strategies.
Hats off to you Carolinalady. Well said.
(blushes and peeps out from behind fan) Why thank you, newsblog!
Thrown in jail for contempt of court, contempt of America's political process, contempt of workers' rights, contempt of genuine apologies, contempt for America...
Simply amazing . I hope to read an update to this story that reads : "Later that day, most of the Republican legislators were thrown into jail for contempt of court"
One can dream .
It is only a dream.
Republican legislators have not violated a court order (thus no contempt of court) nor did they violate the Open Meetings law. Want proof?
Here is the wording from the original restraining order:
Please state the part that was violated. Judge Sumi issued no contempt charge or sanctions because she knew her original order was very narrow and thus did not cover the body that eventually published the bill on La Follette original publishing date.
And, Judge Sumi stated in court the following:
(Interesting, below is what use to be in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article and what is now in the article. I can see where it could have been bad writing that created the wrong impression...still, I'd like to see a transcript)
So much for my second argument until I find out exactly what she said.
@RobDon: That depends if the judge holds that indirect contempt can also (like direct contempt) occur by simple disrespect or mockery.
In most of the world, the answer is yes. Its probably much blurrier in the US (I dont know for sure, I'm not american) due to the 1st ammendment.
But in most countries, accusing a judge of incompetence for malicious purposes to undermine the judiciary can get yourself on the ass end of a judicial beating for contempt.
Klassy with a capital K! Really.. that's all they have?
Let me guess.. that will not stay up for long.
Here is what I find troubling. Decorum isn't even pretended by certain extreme contingencies any more. It is so much deeper than mere classlessness. It's downright disrespect. The root of civilization is "civil". This diatribe is willful, ignorant, and barbaric. Is this the America these individuals want to live in and promote? I cannot believe all Republicans support this behavior, and I sincerely hope someone in a position of Republican leadership steps forward to renounce this atrocious and disgraceful display.
I haven't been able to get on their website this morning - big fat error messages on every link. So I'm wondering if they're doing some revising. But yes, Michele, one of the most disturbing things about recent politics is the disappearance of civility. Every Representative is... a representative of thousands of people in their state. So when they are disrespected and dismissed, so are the voters who elected them. We should not be so forgiving of these deliberate slights. (It would be great to actually be represented by my Representatives, but that's not going to happen nowadays. Sad.)
"Sure, Governor Walker's bill is unquestionably constitutional, increases worker's rights"
Oh....sure...and if you believe that they will also try to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.
Exactly, what do these Republicans think "worker's rights" even mean? The right to shut up? The right to not get health care? The right to not get overtime? The right not to get pensions? The right to have dangerous working conditions? The right to be forced to work as a child? The right to have to work 7 days a week? The right to make less money?
How great has the gulf between reality and Republican delusion grown, when the only "rights" Republicans can promise people are actually terrible wrongs?
The right to "assume the position." sarc.
Did this "apology" come via The Onion? It cannot be for real. They cannot have slipped so far down into the ideology vortex that this puerile and unprofessional taunting is their considered response. Can it? Can it?
seriously. a little early for april fool's.
The press release is beyond puerile. It is proof that they are not smarter than a 5th grader. The Republicans should be embarrassed by this diatribe.
But Mike, they are never embarrassed.
No this is not the ONION, this is acctually posted on the The Republican Party of Dane County web site.
http://www.danegop.org/latestnews.aspx?ID=234
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought this was wasn't for realsies.
Seriously, this press release must have been written by the love child of Karl Rove and Frank Luntz, taught to speak only in some sort of Orwellian doublethink from day one - capable of creating only painful cognitive dissonance in rational minds but a pleasurable and addictive numbing warmth in the dangerously overdeveloped primitive reptillian brains of the average Fox News viewer...
I immediately thought of the Onion as well. Perhaps the author will receive a job offer from them as a result of this little work sample. That it isn't a joke is strange to me. This level of hyperbole is heavy handed to the point of ineffectiveness outside the realm of satire.
Are these people crazy or just insane? I mean, there really is no other explanation for these childish temper-tantrums.
All this is the definition of hubris, acted out on video and printed with examples so everyone learns every nuance of what it means.
They have such huge cojones, I don't know how they manage to put their pants on!
I wish you were right. Unfortunately, there is a critical election for the WI supreme court next Tuesday. The conservative candidate, Justice Prosser, is feeling pressure because of a strong backlash against the republican governor's radical agenda. Justice Sumi was appointed to the bench by Tommy Thompson, a former Republican governor. Her approach to the law is very similar to Prosser's opponent, JoAnne Kloppenburg. The republicans are doing anything they can to create a wedge between "Madison" and the rest of WI to discredit Kloppenburg, who lives in Madison. They are hoping to use this attack on Sumi to either mobilize their tea party voters or discourage some independents from voting.
Important information, Marty. I hope there is a big turnout to support Kloppenburg. I wish I did not feel quite so cynical about the likelihood of that. What does it take to make people show up?
This is a joke, right? I mean, really? It's not possible that actual, serious human beings could write and publish this! I am so embarrassed for my state.
Kind of stuck on themselves and their greatness, are they? No existing law or any judicial precedent will stand in their way?
No matter their bravado here, ridiculing the judicial process seems to indicate they may have a few doubts about that greatness after all.
So let's just make fun of the entire system? That leaves them with no arguments just demands and on very shaky ground in an appeal to a higher court.
And nothing good is going to come from this for those who are on the recall block in the next few months and Walker in January. This Teabagger mentality is not doing anything good for the GOP long term. But they are riding high in the saddle for a few more months?
I hope people now realize what the republican party is about. They were crying, where's the jobs, during the campaign but all they've been doing is going after the workers/middle class/unions with a vengeance, abortion and other social issues, governing like dictators and taking away rights. People are actually saying the republicans are going to take over the Senate next year? Are you kidding? They're taking the country back all right, back to the 50s.
. . .the 1850s!!
1850's is right. Back in the 1950's, America was enjoying the greatest period of economic expansion in history because of massive growth the of the unionized manufacturing sector...back when wealth was created by actually making things. Everything that the Reagan Administration and fiscal conservatives have waged war on since.
At what point do they stop labeling, and at what point did the republic right decide that "idiocy" was the new "smart"?
Rachel,
You have to learn how to pronounce LaFollette. This is not just a Wisconsin name. It is a nationally known name of progressive Robert LaFollette for the past 100 years. He was one of the most important progressives in the history of our country.
One might mistake this for an excerpt from an episode of Family Guy; they have officially become caricatures of themselves.Â
You WILL pass the laws we tell you to pass and you will NOT question those laws!
It's fascism in action. Rubber-stamp legislature and passive judiciary. They say so straight out.
Well said. Critical analysis from a legislator? Pshaw! Good judgment from a judge? Unpatriotic!
"We're following the leader, wherever he may go!" -- from a children's song
This is all scary stuff, especially when I remember that
One of the first things Hitler did when he seized power in 1933, was to pass the Enabling Law, which established a legislative base from which he could write and pass any law with interference; then he outlawed all trade unions and political parties. In 1939, Hitler gave a speech in which he said "When I talke a look at the intellectual classes we have - unfortunately I suppose they are necessary, otherwishe one could one day, I don't know, exterminate them or something - but unfortunately they are necessary." Oh wait, he got rid of them too.
I'm just saying.....
ooooh...she shops at "organic gourmet food shops run by leftists"!! Those liberals and their organics will be the demise of this fine country! Take away my pesticide-ridden produce and you take away my FREEDOM!!!
As a Wisconsinite, I am now officially living my life inside an issue of The Onion.
Probably the deepest offense this judge has committed has been to dare to be a woman and to exercise power over men who presume themselves to be the most powerful beings in the state.
How dare she?!
http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/wisconsin-gop-smears-judge-sumi-is-gender-a-factor/
BTW, Elizabeth, it is TRUE, however, that The Onion was started by some guys in Wisconsin.
We used to do a parody issue of our student newspaper up at UWEC back in the day, turning the "Spectator" into the "Spectato"-- I always thought it was hilarious.
But there were also at the time some serious jokers down Madison-way that did REALLY cool things, like an ice sculpture of the Statue of Liberty if it were in Lake Mendota (http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Hoaxipedia/Lady_Liberty_on_Lake_Mendota/), or all the pink flamingos on the front lawn of the university there.
That sort of thing always makes you feel like an amateur, and then you don't take your brilliant idea and turn it into something like The Onion, and someone else does it instead.
Why those ideas were coming out of Wisconsin at all around that time is I guess like asking why Toronto spawned the amazing comedians on SCTV.
I personally blame the aroma of skunk and cow manure (family farm, pre-massive stockyards), but just for the Wisconsin variation. Probably warps your mind a bit.
Sort of like, what do YOU think about when riding a tractor in front of a manure spreader?!
@Chris - Awesome post. I did not know that!
Now we can see the brilliant rhetorical skills behind all of Scott Fitzgerald's statements and press releases. Have you EVER seen something so snide, crass and arrogant trying to pass as an "apology" from the Republican party?
Sadly, yes:
There is another press release they did, "apologizing" for their opposition to Health Care Reform.
"Lost their cool" is putting it so mildly. Boy, do we live in iiiiiinnnnnnteresting times. I wake up every morning here in Madison wondering what astonishing, brutal, outrageous feat of arrogance and contempt for the law and the people of Wisconsin the czars of Fitzwalkerstan will present to us this day.
There are so many things to say, but one is: isn't it interesting how one fact we don't see them pointing out is that Judge Sumi was appointed by the very conservative Governor Tommy Thompson? That Thompson passed over other candidates that liberals preferred, choosing Sumi as more independent and moderate?
Anyway, Judge Sumi was very careful to be perfectly clear about her intent in yesterday's order and the consequences of disobeying. I so fervently hope that the follow-up includes Repubs starring in perp walks to the Dane County jail. That may be too much to hope for, but it sounded to me like the judge intended to remove all doubt about her willingness to impose sanctions on violaters. This may be another iiiinnnnnnteresting day in Madison.
Maybe it's the Republicans' turn to head on out to Illinois, or perhaps they'd find Michigan a little more to their liking.
perhaps they'd find Michigan a little more to their liking.
Lake Michigan, perhaps. About thirty feet out.
Any judicial decision that DIFFERS from the Republican/Tea Part point of view is "judicial activism", leftist, socialist, communist. But has anyone noticed the intrusive governmental policies politically socially and economical, how "fascist" they seem to be? Anyone who has studied pre-WWII history (Germany, Spain) can see striking simularities between then and today's Right-wing demands and policies. Much of what is being pushed will be struck down as Unconstitutional if taken to court.
Yes, the similarities are frightening!
Just pass the bill again or make the democrats run for the hills. The judge has no power over that at all. I think it would be funny to see them flee again.
The Wisconsin 14 senators aren't going to leave again. In fact, I've heard more than one of them, and some other Democratic officials, agree with Judge Sumi that the Republicans should just go ahead and re-do the vote, and do it right this time, in a manner that follows all the rules. Simple. Right?
Unless they don't have the votes any more . . .
Hi Harriet!
They may have done it right the first time. That hasn't been determined yet but it is by no means certain the law will get tossed. But I do suspect they can get the votes now and I also suspect if they do the democrats will run away again. But we'll see what happens. All they have to do is reintroduce the original budget repair bill in the senate as the assembly had already passed it. At least that is the way it would work in NY, but maybe WI is a little different.
Have a great day!
Actually, if they keep it a split bill as they did to pass it in the first place, then the Wisconsin 14 won't, as there would be no point. The whole reason the Republicans were able to pass it in the first place was because they split the "non-fiscal" items off from the fiscal items, and non-fiscal issues do not require a quorum here. So, if they present the non-fiscal items again, they would have to run it through both houses.
Soo...they're pro-business, except for those businesses run by leftists? How in the hell do these people expect to win elections by attacking the businesses and constituents in their own county?
I've been wondering if their strategy is to be so antagonistic that "leftists" lose their cool and the GOP can then label them extremists.
They're only pro-business that has chunks out-sourced to slave labor overseas, or migrant worker labor here in pesticide-saturated fields, or government subsidized commodities (which also happen to be genetically-modified and patented by multi-national agri-business monoliths).
If your business doesn't fall into any of those categories (and a lot big-ag products at Whole Foods, for instance, fit nicely with those interests), they hate you because you're little, not a monopoly, and don't have shareholders, or don't have workers you can screw over or layoff to increase shareholder value (and CEO/upper management pay).
as usual, the "elite" accusing "The People" of being the "elite".
Is that letter for real?
Wow, the republicans have got some nerve.
Hey Maddow. When are you going to post a blog on President Obama's war crimes as Commander in Chief of the "kill team" photos. You and the left were practically salivating over the Abu Ghraib pictures as proof of President Bush being a war criminal. Where is the left now? No where. Because in the words of your buddy Chris Matthews, the left believes they have a responsibility to help Obama be successful. Where was this responsibility with President Bush? No where. You and the left as so hypocritical.
Obama's biggest war crime was preventing Bush and his cronies and the whole of Blackwater/Xe and Halliburton from being prosecuted for war crimes as well as high crimes and misdemeanors.
The difference is Abu Ghraib showed torture and death at a U.S. controlled facility where prisoners of war are held that some say was directly linked to the Bush's administration push for enhanced torture.
While, this kill team used a 'drop weapon' technique to try and cover their tracks thereby showing intent to mislead which wouldn't be a feature of something directly linked to Obama's administration.
Fair enough?
A link to the Rolling Stone "Kill Team" story was in the Morning Maddow daily news post Monday.
Thanks, Michele, I was just ferreting out the blog thread from earlier this week when I saw you already responded to RW.