Hypocrisy in the service of partisanship

The Werkes was about to send The Capital Times a link to last night’s blogge, which detailed the walking public obscenity that is a man named (One) Scot Ross. We never hit Send but today (05-06-2020) the CT published a feeble fig leaf for the F-bombing, partisan hate monger. (Read & Weep.)

Ross is the former principal at One Wisconsin Now, the dark-money, special ops wing of the WI Democrat(ic) Party. Senate Democrat(ic) leader Jennifer Shilling appointed Ross to the WI Ethics Commission as (we suspect) a final middle finger to the opposite party before the senator leaves the Capitol. Or perhaps (One) Scot has a file on Shilling that the senator preferred remain sealed. She needs to explain this travesty, not that The Capital Times will ever ask.

Ross’ verbal diarrhea is no recent development.

The man has been spewing hate since the invention of social media and continues profaning the public square even as he sits in judgment of Wisconsin’s political ethics. It’s like appointing the Rev. Jim Jones to the refreshments committee at the PTO.

Instead of fact or argument, Ross spews vitriol, because — intellectually – the man is running on empty

Defending the indefensible

One might think that saner heads would worry that Ross’s appointment to the high-minded State of Wisconsin Ethics Commission (and not, say, as intake manager at the county’s manure bio-digester) might reflect poorly on the Democrat(ic) brand. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, National Review magazine, and the WI State Journal certainly think so. (“Jennifer Shilling soils her Senate exit with bad pick for ethics panel.”)

But The Capital Times is well practiced in the dirty work of defending the indefensible. But how does one defend political sewage? John Nichols and Dave Zweifel (it took two to tango!) rose to the challenge. Their ploy: ye olde journalistic bait & switch. 

“We should worry more about Donald Trump than Scot Ross,” they write. That’s it! Not a word of approbation at Ross’ demand that someone “knock [U.S. Rep.] Doug Collins’ cracker teeth down his yokel throat.” Or labeling a conservative commentator a “blathering racist anus.” Not even a sibilant Tsk tsk or a percussive Cluck, cluck.

Most damnable of all, Ross’ crudities aren’t even clever. They’re stupid!

The Capital Times employed a version of Godwin’s Law. A variant on the What-About fallacy. Instead of “Hitler was worse,” substitute “What about Donald Trump?” 

Whom, Nichols and Zweifel harrumpf, is the WI State Journal to scold Ross — and Senate Democrat leader Jennifer Shilling for appointing Ross  — when the morning newspaper declined to call for the conviction and banishment of Donald J. Trump?! (As readers know, Blaska’s Werkes and the WI State Journal have criticized the President hard and often.)

Oddly, still haven’t posted this travesty on line

John Nichols and Dave Zweifel

Three peas in a pod: Ross, Nichols, Zweifel

Not one word of disapproval!

Nichols and Zweifel make the customary half-hearted (and unconvincing) feint at high-mindedness:

We hope Ross will serve as a fair and thoughtful Ethics Board member and that he can inspire others on the board to do the same.

And the Werkes hopes that Rudy Giuliani will guest-host for Rachel Maddow tonight. Photoshopping giant dildos into the hands of political adversaries — “fair and thoughtful”? (Discussed here.) Ross’ vile name calling is the definition of unfair and unthinking. School yard taunting,  wet-towel fights in the boys’ locker room.

“Ron Johnson please … F-* * * yourself.”

How thought-provoking!

Nichols and Zweifel don’t bother to apologize for Ross. They just change the subject. Then again, they never had a good word to say about Tommy Thompson, either — a homegrown public servant of humble origins who loved this state as he loves his grandchildren. Not once. Never. Because Tommy Thompson is a Republican and (One) Scot Ross is a Democrat. Ross may be a bastard but he’s THEIR bastard.

Blaska’s Bottom Line: The hyper-partisan Capital Times would defend a skin rash if it voted Democrat. Perhaps they just did.

When do YOU think Zweifel and Nichols will mention Tara Reade?

Never or when hell freezes?