You gotta love the complete and total abdication by the US Supreme Court when it comes to gerrymandering. That ruling has emboldened these anti-democratic loons in WI. Out and out theft of the levers of power by the WI GOP. First they tried to kneecap Evers before he ever got into office and now this. And honestly, as a laboratory of democracy, WI is proving to be invaluable in teaching the rest of the GOP how to repeatedly overrule the will of the voters. And the stunning hypocrisy by the conservative members of the WI Supreme Court is the cherry on this shit sundae.
Anybody wishing, hoping for, or expecting a GOP plan of action in Wisconsin that is not grounded in hyperpartisan divide-and-conquer and vanquishing the enemy at any cost is living in a fantasy world. We Cheeseheads have had over a decade to figure this out -- from the ham-handed Act 10 anti-public sector legislation through hyperpartisan redistricting to sham investigations, at taxpayer expense, seeking to overturn free and fair election results, and so much more. Scott Walker. Robin Vos. Ron Johnson, at the federal level. Connect the dots. Upshot: asking the GOP here to play nice, share the road, and engage in give-and-take democracy is akin to asking the sun to rise in the west and set in the east. Ultimate, unlimited power is the hill that they have chosen to die on, or kill for, and our job is to meet that challenge here and provide the rest of you with a road map for how to do it elsewhere too.
Wish us luck. We will need it. It already has been a very long and painful battle, one that we did not seek and do not wish to engage in. We saw this result coming so long ago and tried to sound the alarm, too often in vain. So we continue to fight back, as long as the stakes remain as high as they are for everyone who values democracy and the will of the people over that of legislators seeking to maximize their own self-interests. On Wisconsin. Forward.
Wisconsin is giving North Carolina a run for its money in the partisan f*ckery category. In both cases, we see a party whose share of the electorate is shrinking and who refuses to try to broaden its electoral appeal via policy. They use authoritarian, autocratic means to retain power and minority rule.
Elon isn't supporting antisemitism. He's just letting people "ask questions" and have "free speech". And if you believe that please email me your bank account information, I have $10 million I need to give you that came from a Nigerian prince.
What do Republicans in Wisconsin and Elon Musk have in common? No respect for law, decency, and sanity. Welcome to the new amusement park ride at Elonworld. I'm scared as a Jew for the hateful destruction of norms that we are witnessing.
Apropos of nothing, or maybe something. I'm neither a fan nor a detractor of Jimmy Buffett and his work. Nobody ever called me a Parrothead. Nevertheless his passing this weekend got me to thinking about how much he loved life, valued his good fortune, and enjoyed the company of those who liked and admired him, as he sought to return the affection in a sincere manner. Usually my mind also goes to the polar opposite in such scenarios as well, and as such I could not help but think of Donald John Trump as the anti-Buffett, in so many ways.
Have you ever seen a recent photo of Buffett in which he is not smiling? Conversely, have you seen any such pictures of Inmate No. P01135809? So sad to lose someone who taught us how to enjoy a life well-lived, and no less sad to have to endure someone so hell-bent on not being happy and bringing misery to any and all who do not indulge all of his urges and desires.
Several months ago, charlie devoted his time and editorial space to an interview with Paul Ryan, which I declined the honor of reading on the grounds that Ryan had his chance.
And I now search in vain for any sign that Ryan is concerned what his home state party has become.
The WI legislature is well known for its petty vindictiveness. Remember that it along with intellectual light weight Scott Walker stripped the incoming Democratic Governor Tony Evers of every power they possibly could. The desperation you are seeing in the republican party in WI and other states is the knowledge that no one wants what they are selling, the people of WI are sick to death of the strong arm tactics. I am pretty sure the suit that will be brought before the court would result in the drawing of actual fair maps which means for the first time in a decade the people of WI could actually have representation. If the republicans do go the nuclear option it will be in the belief if they can hold in 2024 authoritarianism will take over the country and they will hold power for life.
I think that WI is a bellwether and this kind of crazy will spread. We're seeing it in NC. Desperate, entitled people with power and a survival instinct that prioritizes holding on to that power over everything else will spread as it becomes more evident they are on the losing team. There is no self reflection - there is only increased intolerance and demonization of the "other" - whomever that might be - Democrats, women, people of color, gays, Jews, etc. 2 things stand out - Mary Trump says that fear is at the heart of this - but fear doesn't feel good, so by finding a group to blame, fear becomes anger. And anger feels WAY better than fear. (explains much). And then - reading - but more importantly LISTENING to Will Saletan's Lindsey Graham podcast (with amazing editing to hear Lindsey's own words and voice) helps you understand the fundamental change that happens to be person so wrapped up in this. They ultimately become unrecognizable from their former self, but they make peace with the change because if they didn't - who they are would sicken them.
I just don't know how this ends - when these folks clinging to power die off? so many of them just won't ever get voted out because of the deck stacking they implemented. What's the tipping point? because I don't ever see their old selves coming back and I fear what they will stoke to preserve not only their power, but what they see as their God given birthright.
It is obvious that the Republicans’ only goal is to retain power. People are correct that the Supreme Court has left open many doors for them to do that. Making illegal things legal is easier than actually orchestrating a successful coup. The Trump/McConnell judges and Justices have shown the state courts and legislators how to carve up the state with fancy computers, in ways that were too much “gobbilty-gook” for Justice Roberts to understand.
But the worst thing is what they want to do with their power. They want to inflict racism, anti-semitism, misogyny, and corruption on the majority of the population who have voted against them. The new GQP: Greed and Cruelty.( with a heavy dose of stupidity).
Surely the 10-point majority of Wisconsin voters who voted for Judge Janet will be even more outraged and activated by this cynical undermining of democracy. This seems to me to be the GOP pulling the pin on a hand grenade and sticking it in their pocket.
The permanent limbo thing is a wrinkle I didn't see. Fast forward. She resigns. Evers reinstates her, house puts her in limbo. She resigns, Evers reinstates. Getting the House in to vote every day on this might be more tedious for the House. The resigning/reinstating can be done without much effort.
The last I had heard of this, Charlie said it wasn’t a big deal because if they impeached her, Evers could just appoint another liberal (still not sure about when/why certain justices can be appointed vs elected and on what grounds they can refuse to bring charges).
But the blatant shamelessness of it all is jaw dropping! At least in the past they tried to “pretend” they had some legitimate reasons for taking an action - now it’s just a naked attempt to hold on to power!
And holy crap the hypocrisy!!! Justices don’t have to recuse themselves in cases involving campaign donors (WTAF?) but Judge Janet has to recuse herself on matters involving gerrymandered maps which, according to many sources, are widely considered among the worst in the country:
“Wisconsin is widely considered the most gerrymandered state in the country. In 2022, Wisconsin voters elected a Democratic governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in state-level elections unaffected by gerrymandering (because they use the total statewide vote instead of separating it by district). On a district level, by comparison, the state's infamous gerrymandering enabled Republicans to retain a 64-35 advantage in the state Assembly and a 22-11 majority in the state Senate.”
The WI GOP’s Doomsday Plan for 2024
You gotta love the complete and total abdication by the US Supreme Court when it comes to gerrymandering. That ruling has emboldened these anti-democratic loons in WI. Out and out theft of the levers of power by the WI GOP. First they tried to kneecap Evers before he ever got into office and now this. And honestly, as a laboratory of democracy, WI is proving to be invaluable in teaching the rest of the GOP how to repeatedly overrule the will of the voters. And the stunning hypocrisy by the conservative members of the WI Supreme Court is the cherry on this shit sundae.
Anybody wishing, hoping for, or expecting a GOP plan of action in Wisconsin that is not grounded in hyperpartisan divide-and-conquer and vanquishing the enemy at any cost is living in a fantasy world. We Cheeseheads have had over a decade to figure this out -- from the ham-handed Act 10 anti-public sector legislation through hyperpartisan redistricting to sham investigations, at taxpayer expense, seeking to overturn free and fair election results, and so much more. Scott Walker. Robin Vos. Ron Johnson, at the federal level. Connect the dots. Upshot: asking the GOP here to play nice, share the road, and engage in give-and-take democracy is akin to asking the sun to rise in the west and set in the east. Ultimate, unlimited power is the hill that they have chosen to die on, or kill for, and our job is to meet that challenge here and provide the rest of you with a road map for how to do it elsewhere too.
Wish us luck. We will need it. It already has been a very long and painful battle, one that we did not seek and do not wish to engage in. We saw this result coming so long ago and tried to sound the alarm, too often in vain. So we continue to fight back, as long as the stakes remain as high as they are for everyone who values democracy and the will of the people over that of legislators seeking to maximize their own self-interests. On Wisconsin. Forward.
According to the WI GOP, a judge who stated that murder is bad must recuse before a murder trial. Sounds legit.
Wisconsin is giving North Carolina a run for its money in the partisan f*ckery category. In both cases, we see a party whose share of the electorate is shrinking and who refuses to try to broaden its electoral appeal via policy. They use authoritarian, autocratic means to retain power and minority rule.
Elon isn't supporting antisemitism. He's just letting people "ask questions" and have "free speech". And if you believe that please email me your bank account information, I have $10 million I need to give you that came from a Nigerian prince.
What do Republicans in Wisconsin and Elon Musk have in common? No respect for law, decency, and sanity. Welcome to the new amusement park ride at Elonworld. I'm scared as a Jew for the hateful destruction of norms that we are witnessing.
Apropos of nothing, or maybe something. I'm neither a fan nor a detractor of Jimmy Buffett and his work. Nobody ever called me a Parrothead. Nevertheless his passing this weekend got me to thinking about how much he loved life, valued his good fortune, and enjoyed the company of those who liked and admired him, as he sought to return the affection in a sincere manner. Usually my mind also goes to the polar opposite in such scenarios as well, and as such I could not help but think of Donald John Trump as the anti-Buffett, in so many ways.
Have you ever seen a recent photo of Buffett in which he is not smiling? Conversely, have you seen any such pictures of Inmate No. P01135809? So sad to lose someone who taught us how to enjoy a life well-lived, and no less sad to have to endure someone so hell-bent on not being happy and bringing misery to any and all who do not indulge all of his urges and desires.
Several months ago, charlie devoted his time and editorial space to an interview with Paul Ryan, which I declined the honor of reading on the grounds that Ryan had his chance.
And I now search in vain for any sign that Ryan is concerned what his home state party has become.
I'm not surprised.
The WI legislature is well known for its petty vindictiveness. Remember that it along with intellectual light weight Scott Walker stripped the incoming Democratic Governor Tony Evers of every power they possibly could. The desperation you are seeing in the republican party in WI and other states is the knowledge that no one wants what they are selling, the people of WI are sick to death of the strong arm tactics. I am pretty sure the suit that will be brought before the court would result in the drawing of actual fair maps which means for the first time in a decade the people of WI could actually have representation. If the republicans do go the nuclear option it will be in the belief if they can hold in 2024 authoritarianism will take over the country and they will hold power for life.
I think that WI is a bellwether and this kind of crazy will spread. We're seeing it in NC. Desperate, entitled people with power and a survival instinct that prioritizes holding on to that power over everything else will spread as it becomes more evident they are on the losing team. There is no self reflection - there is only increased intolerance and demonization of the "other" - whomever that might be - Democrats, women, people of color, gays, Jews, etc. 2 things stand out - Mary Trump says that fear is at the heart of this - but fear doesn't feel good, so by finding a group to blame, fear becomes anger. And anger feels WAY better than fear. (explains much). And then - reading - but more importantly LISTENING to Will Saletan's Lindsey Graham podcast (with amazing editing to hear Lindsey's own words and voice) helps you understand the fundamental change that happens to be person so wrapped up in this. They ultimately become unrecognizable from their former self, but they make peace with the change because if they didn't - who they are would sicken them.
I just don't know how this ends - when these folks clinging to power die off? so many of them just won't ever get voted out because of the deck stacking they implemented. What's the tipping point? because I don't ever see their old selves coming back and I fear what they will stoke to preserve not only their power, but what they see as their God given birthright.
Happy Tuesday, y'all! We're doomed.
I would urge all of Bulwark contributors to get off of X. Its a pretty nasty neighborhood.
It is obvious that the Republicans’ only goal is to retain power. People are correct that the Supreme Court has left open many doors for them to do that. Making illegal things legal is easier than actually orchestrating a successful coup. The Trump/McConnell judges and Justices have shown the state courts and legislators how to carve up the state with fancy computers, in ways that were too much “gobbilty-gook” for Justice Roberts to understand.
But the worst thing is what they want to do with their power. They want to inflict racism, anti-semitism, misogyny, and corruption on the majority of the population who have voted against them. The new GQP: Greed and Cruelty.( with a heavy dose of stupidity).
Surely the 10-point majority of Wisconsin voters who voted for Judge Janet will be even more outraged and activated by this cynical undermining of democracy. This seems to me to be the GOP pulling the pin on a hand grenade and sticking it in their pocket.
The permanent limbo thing is a wrinkle I didn't see. Fast forward. She resigns. Evers reinstates her, house puts her in limbo. She resigns, Evers reinstates. Getting the House in to vote every day on this might be more tedious for the House. The resigning/reinstating can be done without much effort.
The last I had heard of this, Charlie said it wasn’t a big deal because if they impeached her, Evers could just appoint another liberal (still not sure about when/why certain justices can be appointed vs elected and on what grounds they can refuse to bring charges).
But the blatant shamelessness of it all is jaw dropping! At least in the past they tried to “pretend” they had some legitimate reasons for taking an action - now it’s just a naked attempt to hold on to power!
And holy crap the hypocrisy!!! Justices don’t have to recuse themselves in cases involving campaign donors (WTAF?) but Judge Janet has to recuse herself on matters involving gerrymandered maps which, according to many sources, are widely considered among the worst in the country:
“Wisconsin is widely considered the most gerrymandered state in the country. In 2022, Wisconsin voters elected a Democratic governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in state-level elections unaffected by gerrymandering (because they use the total statewide vote instead of separating it by district). On a district level, by comparison, the state's infamous gerrymandering enabled Republicans to retain a 64-35 advantage in the state Assembly and a 22-11 majority in the state Senate.”
Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/most-gerrymandered-states
Democracy slowly dies in broad daylight!