Joel Winnig For Wisconsin State Supreme Court, Respects Judicial Process

I need to make one thing perfectly clear before I start to write about why I will enthusiastically vote Joel Winnig for Wisconsin State Supreme Court.   

I admit this is not how endorsements usually start.  So please bear with me.

I do not think voters should make choices via the ballot box for the Supreme Court.

I favor merit selection of court justices, as do many in this state and across the nation.  Even former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor views merit selection of state judges as a way to eliminate the undermining of the independence of the judiciary that is now taking place.

The major reason many frown on electing judges is the amount of money raised and used by special interests from both ends of the political spectrum for candidates.  At the end of the electoral process citizens have less reason to think justice is fair or balanced, or the legal decisions that govern them have not been bought and paid for by powerful interest groups.

I would like to know how all the candidates running for the high court this spring view the idea of merit selection.   That is just one of many topics that voters have a right to know.  A better informed electorate makes wiser choices on election day.

Which leads me to Joel Winnig.

Only Joel Winnig has stepped forward and proposed that instead of cash heavy ad buys on television Supreme Court candidates should engage the electorate with a debate or two.  That there has not been a positive response from the other candidates to get such a debate lined up means that ‘we the people’  end up the losers.

That is not how it should be.

Long before this race started I have paid attention to Joel Winnig.  Be it his common sense approach to topics of the day, or his personable style, Winnig seems smart and well-reasoned. 

Once Winnig announced his candidacy for the Supreme Court I started to watch closely how he walked his talk. 

That is, after all, what separates mere candidates from serious-minded individuals who seek to make a real difference if elected.

That Joel Winnig is taking public financing and operates around the idea that the court belongs to the people and not special interests made him my candidate for office.  At once!

That Winnig is not a wealthy lawyer, but a well-intentioned one who works for folks like me was another selling point for his election.  

Winnig understands the judicial process must be open and grounded in principles.  He does not abide tactics that undermines the faith citizens need to have in their justice system.  For most of us that should be a  “well, yeah”  statement.  To believe such things about the justice system should not have to be stated.  

But after the excessively expensive court races over the past few years, and the less than stellar people elected as a result of negative ads, we need a Joel Winnig  to be on the court.   We need someone to speak candidly about the flaws in the system, as we have drifted far from where the judiciary should be.  This needs to concern all of Wisconsin.

Which bring me back to the start of this blog post.

In a merit selection process a panel or board would find men and women like Joel Winnig and narrow them down to a small list to be presented to the Governor.  (Again, I have no idea how Winng feels about merit selection.)  The panel making the list would be a highly informed cross-section of the legal community in the state.    The rancor, money, and special interest components for what now passes as court campaigns would be ended. 

There are many fine legal minds like Joel Winnig in Wisconsin, but they often do not wish to enter the political arena.  Since we do not have merit selection process in this state, and probably will not for a long time, we are left to the current electoral process. 

Therefore we must look for the best person of those announced that will honor the judicial process and fairly read the law and interpret the Constitution.  I have faith that person is Joel Winnig.  I am most confident that he cares about the judical process and will honor it if elected this spring.

I ask my readers to cast a ballot for Joel Winnig on February 15, 2011.

Volkswagen Magic With “The Force”

Pound for pound, dollar for dollar…….

…nothing is better than a Volkswagen.

Two recent commercials for Volkswagen products are among the best of those now advertising cars on television.

This first one is a hilarious advertisement.

The next one makes one wonder what is in store for consumers…….

Getting To Know Dekerivers Behind Caffeinated Politics

Dane 101 has again asked bloggers in the area to answer a few questions so the community can get to know the person behind the words.    This week Jesse Russell posted my answers to some questions.  Dane 1o1 is one of the first three sites I read every morning in an effort to get a handle on the day.

Below I offer two of my responses and let readers see the rest at Dane 101.

4. Describe the space you do your writing in.

I blog out of my isthmus home in an office space with a large Victorian window to my right. A catalpa tree offers me grand blooms in spring, and a place for squirrels to play every day. I have one of those old globes on my desk that still shows the Soviet Union and Southern Rhodesia. On my desk shelves are many reference works including, “The Encyclopedia of Espionage.” I like to think I have all my bases covered when it comes to looking up information. I am surrounded by book shelves, and there is a relaxing quality to the over-stuffed space. My mom’s photo looks over my shoulder as I type. Best yet, my partner James has his desk and computer in the same room and so we share lots of smiles and back-and-forth.

9. Finally, name one person you wish kept a blog and what you think they would title it (can be living or dead).

Bishop Morlino “Under The Robes”. I think he is one of the most controversial, and also most newsworthy members of the clergy who can create a dust-up better than most. I do not agree with him but he does make for good copy.