But — once again — not by the police.
We will not speak ill of the dead. Neither will we tell fairy tales. Nicholas T. Cooke, we are told, “had a loving and large family” and “was very driven.”
But Nicholas Cooke is also very dead at age 20, shot to death 09-06-21 on the east side of Madison WI in yet another targeted shooting.
The Wisconsin State Journal, our favorite morning newspaper here in town, is making progress. It is now including the criminal past of Madison’s targeted victims, which it did not do when first reporting Jovan Freeny’s targeted whacking on August 14. Cooke was facing three active felony cases for possessing (with presumed intent to deliver) cocaine, the same with and THC, and bail jumping. Throw in a misdemeanor concealed weapon.
Talking to the State Journal, the lad’s uncle sounds like a university grievance studies prof, so expertly does he weave victimhood, race shaming, and cop hate. “Leroy Cooke said his nephew’s past criminal charges might have stemmed from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” [Blaska: Like in the place where police caught him.] Uncle Leroy:
“Growing up as a teenager, as a black male in Madison, Wisconsin, you’re going to automatically get looked at, you’re automatically going to be targeted if you’re out in the streets with your friends, hanging out with your friends,” he said. “Situations always come up from the people you hang around with or you associate with or you just being in that circle around in that area. Things happen.”
Which jibes with the setiments of an especially Woke neighbor on NextDoor who pooh-poohed concerns over the increase in shootings, car thefts, and home invasions here in Madison. We just “don’t know all the context,” our neighbor cautioned. As if any context could excuse young people shooting each other.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Suggest, if you must, the context in which young Cooke was “being looked at” by police was his cocaine dealing and not his race. Risk being called a cop-loving racist if you do. But he’d be alive today if he wasn’t free on signature bail.
Blaska Policy Werkes 
40 responses to “‘Things happen’ and another black kid gets whacked.”
The context is once again, no sign of a father.
And another black male that might’ve been saved by Madison Prep.
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One could make the argument that the boy’s uncle was an enabler, given the attitude of irresponsibility he expressed to the newspaper.
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David wrote, “…he’d be alive today if he wasn’t free on signature bail.”
A couple of extrapolated thoughts on that statement;
1. If the family of Nicholas Cooke really thinks about that one for a couple of minutes it should send a cold chill of death down their spine.
2. It’s clear that the person that approved Nicholas Cooke’s signature bail enabled Cooke’s death, will that person be canceled.
3. It’s clear that the person that advocated for Nicholas Cooke’s signature bail was an accomplice in Cooke’s death.
There; that should stir the pot as they say.
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Agree with everything you just said, Steve.
Leftist policies are responsible for this. We all need to help get honest conservatives elected to office.
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How tragic. Such a young life. It didn’t have to be like this.
Things happen? Tell that to the parents of the black children who are being gunned down on streets across our country every week.
Race hustling, wokeness, victimology, and rejection of personal accountability are not only destroying the country, but claiming lives too. This pattern will continue until people reject this.
Someone might want to tell Mr. Cooke after he’s done with the grieving process that Rob Smith, Candace Owens, Herschel Walker, Larry Elder, Kim Klacik, Leo Terrell, and a long list of black Americans don’t seem to have these problems.
Hustlers, opportunists, and phonies will continue to be what they are. Yet I hold out hope that someday the majority of people of good faith will come to understand that it’s not the color of their skin that’s holding them back, but their own attitudes and behavior.
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Unfortunately, it’s the “hustlers, opportunists, and phonies” along with virtue-signaling elitist progressives that create an atmosphere in which kids grow up without the slightest sense of personal responsibility or the realization that bad actions have bad consequences. They may not have learned much thanks to Madison’s educational system, but one lesson they’ve learned thoroughly is that in Madison, someone will always rush forward with a raft of excuses for their bad behavior, wringing their hands and promising more “programs” for poor innocent “marginalized” souls like Nicholas. Uncle Leroy parrots word for word and catchphrase for catchphrase the progressive ideology that ushered his nephew through death’s door at age 20.
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It is now time for all privileged “white bodies” to accept their own complicity in this. So pour some cognac on the ground, release a balloon, and ponder how “shifting the power structure dynamics” could once again make the streets safe for drug dealers.
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They won’t accept ANY responsibility for this.
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Why no mention of a grieving teenaged pregnant girlfriend?
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Nicholas Cooke was photogenic, (check his clothing line @ https://www.facebook.com/cash4evaa/?ref=py_c), as was Shay Watson, the Verona HS student killed whilst dealing drugs, and Khari Sanford, who even posed with Mayor Satya. All were lookin’ swell fer the future w/ many good opportunities… However their dark sides reveal the true traits. All wanted to get major dough w/out contributing any real work. Hence some dangerous situations & some dangerous acquaintances. No victims here, context or not -All were just baby wannabe thugs. No sympathy S/B forthcoming either…
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Bring out your dead, bring out your dead.
Sad, so sad. There are no positive role models for these young men and our society reaps the
benefits of the lack thereof. A bit ago, I worked the Cross Fit games. There were all different people of all different races, creeds and colors. The one thing they all had in common is that they were all very polite and nary a one of them would even consider committing a crime.
I see the same thing with the professionals I help support at my place of employment. I work with some truly well educated people of all races who have dedicated their lives to helping others. (BTW- All of them make way more money than I do and I’m damn glad they do!)
As I have said it before, and I’ll say it again and again. It is not the color it is the CULTURE! How you were raised and with what values you were raised with makes all the difference in the world.
As to the sentencing or extreme lack thereof, it is time to start naming names. The last court official was Jason Hanson.
https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2021CF001894&countyNo=13&index=0&mode=details
The time before that it was also Jason Hanson. https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2021CF001894&countyNo=13&index=0&mode=details
The time before that it was Julie Genovese. https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2021CF000353&countyNo=13&index=0&mode=details
In those three court hearings, but there were others, all the charges against this young man were rather substantial ones. To include the following: Carry Concealed Weapon, Bail Jumping-Felony, Possess w/Intent-Cocaine, Possess w/ Intent-THC(>200-1000g and Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, just to name a few.
Most of these charges were dismissed “Before the initial appearance”. My question would be why?
Why do we send our men and women in blue out to risk their lives in order to catch some of these scumballs when the most our court commissioners do is slap them on the wrist and send them on their way, off to commit more and more crimes?
Dumb.
Very dumb on our part to allow this behavior on the part of our court commissioners.
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Crossfit and similar organizations have filled the void left by people leaving traditional religions. It’s no surprise you saw the people and attitudes that you did. You can’t exist in the crossfit or Ironman worlds without a huge commitment to long term personal responsibility.
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Absolutely Kee-reckit ! Thanks for naming a few names, Bill. Whenever I check Dane County Court records, Yepper: slaps onna wrist. Culture needs to be changed at home, in the courts -and in the schools…..
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Solutions suggested seem to be:
A. More arrests / longer incarceration /more strict release
B. Cultural improvement (fathers, family, culture, role models, personal responsibility)
C. Less liberalism in general (they make it ok to be violent or other variations on the theme that this is liberal ideology’s fault).
A.
I don’t think we’ll arrest our way out of this. We already lock up more people than anywhere else in the world and crime is still rampant. I wonder what on earth happens in prison? Why can’t we figure out how to set people straight when we have total control of them for years? I’d like to look to the “Corrections” system and hold them partially accountable for these results. Why haven’t they done much correcting? Do other places do better at this?
B.
Getting into “root cause” territory here. Let’s not forget that this culture that is being pointed at is all of us – we’re the UNITED States of America. It’s not useful to just point to Black people and say this is your problem. And just pointing at things doesn’t improve them. I don’t know the answer, but somewhere in the answer is unity and probably not division.
C.
I get really irritated with liberals, but I get really irritated with conservatives too. Neither side has all the answers and neither side is the root of all the problems. I’m sure it’s fun to own the libs and dunk on conservatives, but that gets us nowhere and really holds us back (remember the U in USA). But keep in mind that there are countries way more liberal than us that have way less violent crime. Hard to say it’s liberalism in that light.
That analysis puts cause B: Culture (perhaps the most challenging one) up to the top (unless there’s some other reason not yet discussed?) I’ll just end by asking for everyone to be careful differentiating US White and US Black cultures, that’s an easy slide into white supremacy (which even that is an opinion that people are entitled to have regardless of if I disagree – I’m anti-hate and pro-unity so I’m not allowed to hate haters 😉
We’re United. US Black and US White cultures have developed in complex intertwined ways since our founding. We can’t blame the whites and we can’t blame the blacks, we’re all to blame (we meaning all us us and those that came before us). We need the liberals to stop blaming the whites and the conservatives to stop blaming the blacks and take ideas from BOTH sides.
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“I don’t think we’ll arrest our way out of this. We already lock up more people than anywhere else in the world and crime is still rampant. I wonder what on earth happens in prison?”
We have “no cash bail” laws, prosecutors, and judges who are seeing to it that felons are released without consequences. Cops have been handcuffed, police departments defunded. Criminals have no fear.
THESE factors are a big part of the problem.
We already have social programs. We’ve had them for decades. They’re only helpful if people take advantage of them. Most important is the nuclear family. Want to reduce crime? Promote the nuclear family.
“and the conservatives to stop blaming the blacks and take ideas from BOTH sides.”
This has absolutely nothing to do with race. We blame progressive, socialist policies that enable bad behavior. A growing number of black Americans led by those like Larry Elder, Candace Owen, Kim Klacik, and Leo Terrell understand this concept.
I have more respect and more in common with these people than I do with white progressives and limousine liberals.
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But even you are segregating by race. See how that works?
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Mark, is your comment directed at me or Rollie?
It’s not my intention to separate by race. We’re all Americans and I judge people by their character.
I was merely responding to Rollie’s comment about how “conservatives should stop blaming the blacks.” Was trying to make the point that if we conservatives were making this about race and blaming the “Blacks” we wouldn’t hold black Americans like Sowell, Elder, etc, in high regard.
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What additional consequences are you looking for, more time in jail? “I was going to murder you, but it’s 25 years now instead of 10 and they passed that bail law. I guess I’ll let you live.”
The title of the blog post itself mentions race. Are we not allowed to mention race anymore? It is fake and all, but it’s been a pretty fundamental part of society for a while now. Might take a minute to erase that idea. We can be United yet still have different subcultures.
And again “progressive socialist polices” are blamed. There are actual progressive socialist places in the world and they don’t have this problem!
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What’s stopping someone who’s criminally predisposed from committing crimes if they know there will be no consequences?
Which “progressive socialist places” would you be referring to? Please don’t mention the Scandinavian countries. They are NOT socialized.
You mention root causes above. Here’s one that’s linked to poor outcomes in life: Absent parenting & unstable homes. Until the nuclear family is promoted and people stop blaming everything under the sun for their own poor outcomes, we can spend all the money in the world on social programs and still get the same results.
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So with the US is the most liberal place on earth or whatever more liberal places exist have more crime?
Decide on some sort of liberalism measure. Then decide on a crime measure. Find the rankings then see what you get. I doubt you’ll see any correlation, if you do you have a sociology PHD project with your name on it 🙂
I can get with trying to improve parenting and stable home lives. How?
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Where is the compassion for a human being? What does him being out on signature bond have to do with him being killed? What is wrong with you people? This is someone’s child- he is gone. Have some respect. As Bryan Stevenson eloquently says “each of us is more than our worse action.” This young man’s “alleged crimes” and past even present have nothing to do with his death at the hand of someone else. It is apparent you all want to deduce this young man to unworthy of sympathy- so you can continue your racist rhetoric. His mom, family deserve better words & care!
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If he had not been on signature bond he would be alive today, is what being out on signature bond has to do with it. If Madison had been a little less forgiving and a little more demanding, he would be alive today. This young man’s alleged crimes had everything to do with it. Ignore these life lessons, Ms. Vincent, and you condemn more young people to violent death.
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Amy Vincent says: “so you can continue your racist rhetoric. His mom, family deserve better words & care!”
These days people just love to accuse others of racism or racist language but when asked to actually explain the basis of the accusation the usual response is hummina, hummina, hummina, and frequently the accuser doubles down and blathers on about how just asking the question is racist. It’s called a deflection, meant to avoid having to support a misplaced attack on someone’s character.
Nowadays just discussing anything related to a black person that isn’t super, wonderful, and glowing, is grounds for the racist epithet.
So Amy, here is your chance to explain your “racist rhetoric” scold.
You made it, let’s see if you can back it up and while you’re here how about providing us with your definition of racism.
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From my buddy The Gotch. Can we say his name out loud anymore?
Subject: Chicago issues
Systemic Racism in Chicago?
1. 2,240 Shootings, 440 Homicides from January thru July 2020.
Almost every shooter and homicide were BLACK democrats – 97.7%, but BLM and
Chicago‘s Democratic Politicians blame “police and systemic racism.”
2. The Chicago mayor is a black democrat.
3. The Superintendent of Police is a black democrat.
4. The Cook County States’ Attorney is a black democrat
5. The Chief Judge of Cook County Circuit Courts is a black democrat
6 The Illinois Attorney General is a black democrat.
7. The Chicago Fire Department Commissioner is a black democrat
8. The Cook County Board President is a black democrat.
9. The State Senate Majority Leader is a black democrat.
10. The Illinois Lieutenant Governor is a black democrat.
11. The Illinois Secretary of State is a black democrat.
12. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is a black democrat.
13. The Cook County Clerk is a black democrat.
14. The Chicago Treasurer is a black democrat.
15. The Chicago Police Board President is a black democrat.
16. The Chicago Transit Authority President is a black democrat.
17. The CEO of Chicago Public Schools is a black democrat.
18. The Commissioner of the Department of Water Management is a black democrat.
19. 40% of the City Council belong to the Black democrat Caucus.
Their average pay is $122,304 annually each, PLUS $122,000 per year in
expenses. Their pension for life is 80% of last pay.
Republican head count in the City Council is ZERO.
William Hale Thompson was the last Republican Mayor of Chicago in
1931.
For 89 years Democrats have controlled the Chicago Mayor’s Office.
At the end of fiscal 2019 the Chicago deficit was $838,200,000!
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Batman you just said it all. Couldn’t have said it any better myself. Thank you for pointing out the rather obvious to those who’s heads are stuck so far up their posteriors that they can no longer see the light of day.
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So the problem is blacks, democrats, and especially black democrats?
It is so easy to make these sorts of lists, I’m sure there’s a leftist blog with the same type of list for white republicans. All it does is make our world worse, provides no constructive input. For a site that calls itself a “policy werks” there sure isn’t much thoughtful policy debate.
I think I probably walked into the wrong bar, I’ll leave you all alone…
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Rollie,
No, he’s trying to point out that race hustlers blame “white privilege” and “racism” and “root causes” for just about everything, yet most of the problems are occurring under DEMOCRATIC watch.
So yes, the common denominator and the problem here IS Progressivism.
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Rollie says:
“It is so easy to make these sorts of lists, I’m sure there’s a leftist blog with the same type of list for white republicans.”
Oh really, so easy you say.
I dare ya; I double-dog dare ya, to find a city with a comparable list of republicans including crime stats and indebtedness. Take your time.
Btw; you managed once again to miss, overlook, or ignore, the primary message or point, of my comment.
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AMF, Rollie.
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David Blaska. No one could have said it better. Being taught to take responsibility for your actions might be a good insert here
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Our entire country has problems with taking responsibility. It’s not just the blacks 🙂 one of the main reasons to incorporate a business is to shift the liability (responsibility) away from one’s self
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“One of the main reasons to incorporate a business is to shift the liability (responsibility) away from one’s self.”
No, one of the main reasons to incorporate a business is to protect one’s personal assets. If you own a business, you’re still responsible for it.
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Call me when someone takes personal responsibility for the PFAS contamination in the homeowner’s wells in La Crosse.
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Batman’s right. You tend to miss the point and it gets frustrating to try to have a conversation with you.
I was referencing one of the reasons why a business may want to incorporate. What does that have to do with some business in LaCrosse?
There are good businesses and bad businesses. I’m concerned about the merger of business & government to consolidate power.
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The point was personal responsibility. It’s a fact that one of the benefits for incorporating a business is that one can shift liability/responsibility to the corporation/company rather than one’s self. And like you said, there are other benefits as well (I don’t say the “only” benefit). You acted like a human being is always held responsible when a business does a wrong thing by saying that “you’re still responsible”. I used an example to illustrate a counter-example to your point, thus rendering your point point-less. I hear you about logic being frustrating 😉 I should stick around here, shouldn’t I 🙂 ? It’s good to hear diverse viewpoints cause you’re totally right about the consolidation point. Left right and center could really unite on that if we worked at it.
I basically just didn’t want to blog to act like it’s only black youth that don’t take responsibility. Lots of rich people don’t either!
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Rollie, still waiting for that list you claim is so easy to conjure.
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I thought you left.
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It seems black lives only matter when taken by white cops
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No worries your people are sick . This is a sick cancerous ideology you guys are spilling. Can all of you read John 3:16 please and thank you.
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Jay,
According to you, we here “are sick” (nowdon’tjudge) because of a blog *analysis* of serious ongoing violent crime committed disproportionately by black people, mostly against other black people.
Do some research to ascertain just how out of control the problem is.
Hint; it’s really really bad.
The 22 trillion dollar war on poverty has done virtually nothing to improve the situation but has contributed mightily to the disintegration of the black nuclear family and now the radical Left regressive policies are exacerbating the problem and creating dangerous division among the races.
Btw; you are confusing analysis with ideology, but I forgive you.
https://www.prageru.com/video/black-fathers-matter
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