Free So Free

Last year, the Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee RightWing Radio, and the Republican Party made much hoo-rah and political grandstanding points over the prosecution and conviction of Georgia Thompson, of the Governor's travel office. The case was prosecuted by Steven Biskupic, the US Attorney for the area.

US Attorney, you say? Have I heard something untoward involving US Attorneys recently?

Right you are, grasshopper. Al Gonzales and the Bush Administration had summarily dismissed several US Attorneys - within their rights, normally - but it is unusual for a dismissal to happen midterm, and there is evidence that the reason for these dismissals was not incompetence, as claimed, but rather a lack of performance in pursuing high profile Democratic Cases and High Profile Voter Fraud in Democratic voting vicinities.

But, you say, if these Attorneys were fired for NOT doing those things, what were the ones who did not get fired doing to avoid dismissal?

Paul Krugman wondered the same thing, grasshopper. You approach wisdom.

In fact, Biskupic also pursued a much publicized voter fraud case in the Milwaukee area (a heavily Democratic area) wich was also trumpeted over the JS- headlines, repeatedly. Heard much about that lately? No. Because the case fizzled, came to naught, three or four minor infractions but no organized attempt to defraud the system and NO evidence that any election, anywhere, was altered.

Hey, I know I'm just free-balling here. It's just coincidental, I suppose, that Biskupic's highly publicized pursuits just HAPPENED to exactly coincide with the desires emanating from Karl Rove's foul pit, and being transmitted, apparently, directly down the line from the Attorney General.

But the Republicans say there's no real issue underlying the firings, and it will hurt the Democrats to pursue it, you say.

well, of course they do. Brer Rabbit begged not to be thrown in the briar patch too. But when one political party is apparently well on its way to turning the US Justice department into an enforcement wing and election support operation for the RNC, it's a total perversion of the justice in general and makes the whole system suspect.

As evidenced by yesterday's decision by the US seventh Circuit court in Chicago to reverse Georgia Thompson's conviction and free her immediately.

The Court sharply criticized Biskupic for bringing a case with so little evidence. One of my favorite bits:

They seemed swayed by arguments that Thompson, although she may have been aware that Adelman Travel Group was a Wisconsin company with ties to Governor Doyle, had nothing to gain by her participation in the decision on the state travel contract, was at the "highest level of civil service," and therefore could not expect a promotion and had no pecuniary interest in the contract.
Judge Wood noted that the owners of Adelman travel met with Governor Doyle, who agreed to speak at the company's 20th anniversary. "Governors are political people; they are not judges, they make speeches." She added that the owners made political contributions to Doyle within the level permitted by law.
"At least in comparison with other cases we have seen, this is a pretty thin set of facts to show a relationship."
Judge Wood went on, "Is there anything else? Am I missing something?"
"No, your honor," the U.S. Attorney said, "That's it."

Within The Law. A concept that seems lost on the current crop of Republicans.

Another comment,, from FireDogLake:

I have to say, I have rarely seen a decision of reversal of conviction from the bench — that this came from a three judge panel is even more astonishing. That is a huge smack at the USAtty's office, and a public rebuke at that, which makes me wonder what the opinion is going to look like when it comes out.

Christy Hardin Smith, the author of that comment, is a prosecutor, so speaks from some experience.

So, let's review: The Republicans aimed to politicize the US Attorney system, directing the attorneys to pursue High profile cases to smear Democrats and imply that heavily Democratic areas were subject to systemic voter fraud. At JUST THAT TIME, the US Attorney for Wisconsin brought cases that did just that, aided by heavy publicizing by the ever-rightward tilting Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

So, what other claims are being brought against Doyle that are meaningless and have no substance? Hmmmm. Worth thinking about, the next time the J-S is splashing an anti-Doyle headline across SE Wisconsin.


well, Here's another 'Free' item of note.

Free Hot Lunch, that is.

The fourth leg of the Reunion Trilogy Experience Musical Endeavour (with Tequila!) has finally been begun! (Beginned. started. whatever. I'm a bit giddy)

They have announced TWO and only TWO shows for Wisconsin, June 14th and 16th. And wisconsin is the Only stop on the World Tour. The 14th is the warmup gig at Shank Hall in Milwaukee, and the Main Careen is on the 16th in Madison. I have already started amassing tickets, and scheduling the Gang for the shows. Yes, we're planning on hitting both. If they are gonna go two years between, we're gonna stock up.


So it's a Wa-Ha Friday Random Musical Snooters, with an extra helping of Wa for Georgia Thompson.
27733 items, 107 gigs of noise. 75 days non-stop.

1. Glad to Be Alive from the album "Voodoo Shoppe" by Cowboy Mouth Absolutely fun live band. Usually plays Summerfest.
2. Little By Little from the album "Signing Off" by UB40 Old, old heavy dub style reggae from waaaaaay before they became Boomer middle agey music.
3.Cloud Of Black from the album "Twenty Seven Points (Disc 2)" by The Fall
4. Stairway To The Stars from the album "The Best Of Sweet" by Sweet
5. Triangle Of New Flight from the album "Progday 2001 Sampler" by The Hands
6. Larry from the album "Let Me Come Over" by Buffalo Tom
7. What Do You Want from Me from the album "The Division Bell" by Pink Floyd
8. See You Around from the album "About To Choke" by Vic Chesnutt A long- neglected treasure of a musician.
9. Kiss and Say Goodbye from the album "Who You Fighting For?" by UB40 More UBies. For contrast, from the later stuff.
10. There She Goes Again from the album "The Velvet Underground & Nico" by The Velvet Underground


Do we want bonus? I do, so you guys just sit back and take it and say thank you!

11. Nothin' To Win from the album "Night Attack" by The Angels Used to be called Angel City back in the day. One of the few bands my younger brother turned me onto.
12. Lady Liberty from the album "Life Won't Wait" by Rancid you can cal 'em Re-punks or Clash ripoffs, Rancid rocks.
13. Backwater from the album "Too High To Die" by Meat Puppets A personal fave. The guitar solo intro was unbelievable live.
14. Have You Seen My Baby from the album "CD 1: The Studio recordings" by Randy Newman
15. Kiss The Dirt (Falling Down The Mountain) from the album "Listen Like Thieves" by INXS That one's for Zelmo.




Note for Zelmo, who is an ever-stalwart defender of the Old Ways when it comes to music; he hung on to albums over cds for a long time, he is mourning the loss of the CD to digital music, and he is a devotee of Radio, in its last gasp form: Satellitel Radio.

One of the additional bennies of the iPod is that when it's on random, you can skip over a song you don't want to hear at the time. As Blue Girl once put it (and this is what made me a fan of hers): You gotta love the song that's on or life's just not worth living.