Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Wisconsin's Cronyocracy Continues

Governor Scott Walker appointed Stephen Fitzgerald, the 68-year-old father of Wisconsin's top Republican legislators, to head the State Patrol.  Even the Wisconsin State Journal thinks it doesn't pass the smell test. The elder Fitzgerald can now pad his pension and retire on his own schedule.  One would think that Scott Walker would know that insider deals to boost public pensions can come back to bite an executive in the ass. He must be counting on the anger-diffusing power of a Green Bay Packer Superbowl victory.

In other State Patrol news, the security detail assigned to the Governor's family will be increased from four to six.  The reasons cited involved the family's two teen-age sons, who are still living and attending school in Wauwatosa.  Their mother splits time between Madison and 'Tosa, and their grandparents will soon be moving in to help out.

In the meantime, it must be a tremendous relief to the concerned parents that a couple of dedicated State Patrol officers will be keeping an eye on the boys and chauffeuring them around.

11 comments:

Dan said...

I guess he was not qualified to run the State Patrol, after all he was former U.S. Marshal for WI., a County Sheriff and how many years in law enforcement?
A little jealous of Walker's protection detail? The boys would get protection whether they were in Madison or Tosa. I'm pretty sure the boys aren't thirlled with the police protection either.

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

Please, Jill. Where was this over Doyle. Most....corrupt....ever. At least in my lifetime. Doyle, the guy who brought you Talgo at the expense of a Wisconsin company (Supersteel) so he could get a trip to Spain (and probably other stuff. Really. You're better than that.

Tim Morrissey said...

Please, Deekaman...give ol' Scotty a little time. In a few years, you'll be saying he was even more corrupt than Jimmy O'Doyle.

Too bad your name's not Fitzgerald. You could have a nice, cushy job with great pay and bennies. Scotty and the Fitz boys reward their kin.

Ordinary Jill said...

If I had been blogging in the early years of the Doyle administration, I would have pointed out his corruption also. I would have told everyone why I voted for the least of three evils, crazy Ed Thompson, back in the day. By the time I started this blog, in late 2008, Doyle's corrupt ways were no longer news, and complaining about it was akin to bitching about the weather.

Dan said...

Umm, Tim and Jill, was Fitzgerald qualified for the job?

Ordinary Jill said...

Possibly, although he is well past the mandatory retirement age for law enforcement officers. I doubt he was the most qualified candidate for the job, though.

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

Evidence he is not the most qualified, please? Looking at his experience, you would be hard pressed to find someone OBJECTIVELY more qualified.

Ordinary Jill said...

He wasn't even the most qualified applicant for the job of Dodge County Sheriff.

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

Again, Jill...evidence?

Ordinary Jill said...

He was defeated by the voters in the Dodge County Sheriff's race, meaning he isn't all that and a bag of chips when it comes to running a large law enforcement agency. He is well past the mandatory retirement age for law enforcement, meaning he would not have been seriously considered without his family connections. Who wants to hire someone at that level who is likely to retire in a year or two? Law enforcement is one of the few industries in which such age discrimination is allowed. I'll have to dig up some information on who the other applicants were to further demonstrate that Fitzgerald was not obviously the most qualified, but that will take some time. In the meantime, feel free to explain to me why you did not support President Obama's appointment of Louis Butler to the federal court.

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

No problem. Louis Butler is a far Left Liberal and I don't want him on the court.