When the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed down its momentous decision requiring new state legislative maps last week, there were a lot of statements from Republicans along the lines of “you haven’t heard the last of us!”
Republican party trying its best to RF democracy in the 21st century. Good God, why can’t they just come up with better ideas to get votes? Nothing like showing exactly who they are on the cusp of one of the most consequential elections in 250 years. The commercials seem to write themselves for the Democrats.
The WI Repub party is using the Trump Playbook, i.e. abuse their power, victimize the system and the voters, and when they are called out for their corruption, they play the victim and claim they are being singled out. It is really pathetic.
I thought this one was under the state constitution, where the Gang ostensibly has no say (unless they’re going to decide, say, that fair representation by party violates the US constitution, which I would not put beyond them).
Justice Janet was elected in the spring, but did not take the bench until August.
This time the focus isn’t on Dem or GQP, White or Minority, it is on “contiguous”. And Vos and his henchmen are trying to figure out how to get around that.
And voting for her was my last effort to try and help Wisconsin come back to life. For me, now, they are on their own to bring themselves the rest of the way.
Laziness, stupidity, staggering entitlement, privilege, a fundamental loathing of the institutions they claim to represent, a disgust of the populace.
And the support of the people who vote for the programs and ideas, because they agree with them.
I thought the SCOWI decision only covered state legislative districts, leaving the US congressional map unchanged. Why would SCOTUS have a say in how Wisconsin apportions those?
Correct that it is under the WI constitution, specifically, Article IV secs. 4 (pertaining to election of members of the Assembly and in particular requiring that the districts consist of contiguous territory and be in as compact form as practicable".) and 5 (pertaining to the election of senators and particularly, that they be elected by single districts of convenient contiguous territory)(my emphasis).
The court’s opinions are here: Frontsheet (wicourts.gov) Taking a page from Mr. Conway, I confess I have only skimmed the majority’s, opting instead to read the dissents first, starting with Hagedorn, and then C.J. Ziegler and saving the best - R. G. Bradley - for last. But there was a 1992 U.S. District Court decision brought by a Mr. Prosser, essentially allowing little “municipal islands” encircled by separate districts, to be dealt with. So, as @Scoutmom points out, the issue of whether to respect that, and more recent WI precedent recognizing it, is much of the decision.
The majority opinion hews to interpretation of the Wisconsin Constitution and (apart from Prosser) past SCOWI precedent, and I’m not sure the case is currently in a posture for a writ of cert.
ETA (off topic) my condolences on Sen. Herb Kohl’s passing. He had a quote I quite liked, to the effect that his Senate seat did not “belong” to him, but to the people of Wisconsin.
“…these are amongst our weapons…amongst our weaponry…I’ll come in again–”
“Everybody expects the GOPer Uninquisition!”
Save them from what, THEMSELVES?
Let’s face facts, the Rethugs are the most dangerous gang around.
What ideas? Reinstituting the Gold Standard? No taxes for incomes above $1M? Dismantling Social Security? Privatizing everything?
If it hurts the undesirables, it’s all good by the minions.
Don’t forget:
“An almost fanatical devotion to the Dotard”
I’m not sure Donnie would be satisfied with that ‘almost.’
Remember, he’s looking for folks who’ll throw away chunks of their lives for him (ala 1/6 defendants) while he stands back from the curb and makes disapproving noises as the steam roller passes over them.
Oh, bummer. Herb was a good guy, from an even better family. My first Hubby (Dr. Hatmama) was a bag boy as a kid, in one of the Kohl family’s first grocery store in one of the closest northern suburbs of Milwaukee. Herb’s mother (Mary Kohl) came there every day to shop, and do “quality control.” She was a kind, but meticulous person, and always talked to the workers to make sure they did everything right, gave them a little tip.
I met Herb at many functions in Milwaukee – Bucks games, Hospital events, Democratic Party fund raisers, etc. He was a funny guy, and pretty low key – a good Jewish Boy, his mother called him…
He lived a long, productive and good life, and he cared about his constituents and Democracy. At one point he was the richest man living in Milwaukee. And, the richest Jewish man living in Wisconsin. That was a big deal.
His exit from politics suited him, a self-effacing guy:
On May 13, 2011, Kohl announced he would not run for re-election in 2012, saying, “The office doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the people of Wisconsin, and there is something to be said for not staying in office too long.” That was from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal (which we all called the “Milwaukee Urinal” because we all missed the Journal from the late 40s-60s.)
May peace be upon him. Baruch dayan emet.
SCOWIS planned well with setting up the referees to review the maps.
