Or too many snow flakes?
We should know better than to wade into the He said/She said controversy over northside Madison Ald. Charles Myadze. But we don’t know better. Myadze is accused by multiple women, including Ald. Juliana Bennett, of what amounts to sexual harassment.
Except that the resolution of censure, brought by 14 progressive alders (a majority of the council) and by Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway, calls it “conduct unbecoming of an alder.” Maybe because an independent investigator retained by the City concludes that the alleged conduct “did not meet the legal threshold for a hostile work environment. … or sexual harassment.”
The case is Madison’s Rashomon. It’s a political litmus test. Myadze is one of the few moderates in city government. He’s just the latest to be subjected to the progressive majority’s version of lawfare. Myadze’s attorney suggested that the sudden emergence of complaints was not coincidental but part of a broader, coordinated effort to tarnish Myadze’s reputation. Wouldn’t be the first time. (Read & Weep)
Myadze votes wrong
Which may be why Ald. Harrington McKinney is speaking out in support of her fellow public safety advocate. Both have fought a losing battle against the do-nothing Independent Police Monitor. Both support body-worn police cameras against the resistance of Madison’s progressive majority.
I cannot and will not join in the sanction crafted by some Alders on the Madison City Council. I feel that the sanction is a politically motivated destruction of Alder Myadze. — Ald. McKinney
In fact, one of the complainants subsequently asked to ride with Myadze to a professional conference “despite her claims of intimidation,” according to the investigating law firm. Confounding easy judgment, the Myadze case is one hundred shades of indistinct gray. The Milwaukee law firm reports:
Some of [his] comments were sexual in nature and distasteful … her account of Myadze touching her earring and making her touch his biceps is bizarre, unwelcome, and uncomfortable. …. Myadze’s threatening conduct thereafter has no place in a healthy work environment. … Nonetheless, these unsavory comments and jests were made over a two-day period in March 2022. as such, it would be a stretch to characterize them as “repeated unsolicited inappropriate comments.” — OVB Law & Consulting
Woman as uber victim
The case is an echo of the Me-Too movement that felled outright rapists Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein but caught up in its tumbrel the likes of Al Franken, Garrison Keillor, and Charlie Rose. Rose was a paragon of the tote bag set until he was fired in 2017 for inappropriate touching, sexual remarks, and advances. The “touching” apparently involved only extremities; no pussy did he grab. The case was recently settled out of court, the complainants acknowledging:
On reflection, and after having the benefit of discovery, we realize that different people could interpret the conduct in different ways, and therefore we have resolved the claims. We do not assign any bad motive or ill intent to Charlie Rose.
NOW she’s a victim?
After the independent Myadze investigation, Gloria Reyes emerged wearing the mantle of victimhood. She is an ex-cop and assistant mayor, empowered enough to chair the Madison Board of Education and to run a credible campaign for mayor in her own right. We do not pretend to understand how the lady concludes only now that she was a victim. We know only the Wokeness was late with this one.
Alders sat on their hands when Ald. Max Prestigiacomo encouraged antifa types to “Do Whatever You Want” and “F-bomb S*** Up!” four years ago after the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha. Max P never apologized. “I fully intend to continue my work and the disruption politics.” THAT, apparently, is conduct that does become an alder!
Blaska’s Bottom Line: We’re willing to conclude that Charles Myadze acted at times like a jerk. At the same time, there is no evidence that any of his “victims” ever told the guy to Fkkk Off. Our snow flakes need to tap into a little Joan Crawford. It’s all in the biceps.
29 responses to “Is case against Ald. Myadze progressive lawfare?”
If Madison Ald. Charles Myadze is a moderate on the city council, that is indeed a rare species and he should be deserving of the protection of being a member of an under representated (but not respected) minority class. We must believe HIM not THEM.
Reminds me of when they drove Skidmore out over an alleged comment. Just didn’t fit the progressive agenda. Although burning down State Street seemed to fit their needs at the time.
The Skidmore false smears are what Blaska linked to with his Read & Weep link in the text.
It is also my belief that the cabal of progressives trying to defame Skidmore with their intentional lies also withheld the investigation findings from the public that Skidmore’s mic wasn’t even turned on when the slur was uttered until after the damage to Skidmore’s character had already taken hold and he lost the election. To this day, Skidmore has never received any kind of apology from the individuals that falsely smeared him.
It’s completely clear to me that the ends justifies the means is a core principle for progressives, they are morally bankrupt.
“Although burning down State Street seemed to fit their needs at the time.”
How despicably clueless is Lefty? During that time, some idiot Lefty (but The Gotch repeats himself) on neighborsnextdoor (THEY Report/YOU Decide!) posted that one good thing which came from the municipally enabled riots was some real REAL cool art…on the plywood boarding up ravaged stores.
Certainly comforting, (in this imbecile’s twisted perception, leastways) to State Street small business owners (many minorities themselves) who lost everything and had their lives turned upside down.
The Gotch
Yes, lots of cool “art” came out of those times. Like murals depicting cops as pigs, white teachers as racist life-suckers, and Tony Robinson’s buddy “reimagining” the police memorial with a sledgehammer.
A more accurate mural would one depicting Chrome Dome Paulie Fanlund as Vladimir Lenin.
https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=did+he+take+it+out+seinfeld&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9903f72d,vid:XTSnuNCWG-8,st:144
Progressive ends justify any means necessary.
Ald. Harrington McKinney is a local treasure, and the consummate voice-of-reason on a CommonSENSE LESS Council which lays claim to precious little.
The Foot Ball header up top says it all!
The Gotch
If these women are adamant that their accusations against Myadze are true, let them file police reports that will trigger real investigations. Stop this kangaroo court monkey sh!t and baseless censures over unfounded allegations. If the police find nothing, then leave him alone. McKinney is as close to a voice of reason as you’re going to find in this clown show and even she’s saying that.
This looks more and more like Myadze is getting Skidmored. For a group that preaches tolerance, progressives sure can’t handle divergent beliefs in their power structures.
Believe all women who got dumped.
In reading Blaska’s blog and the comments on this makes me wonder if any of you commenting are women. I think not. Blaska putting quotes around the word “victims” to suggest skepticism and his solution to tell the guy to eff off and the problem will be solved. If it were as easy as that. And One Eye, who seems to suggest all the women were dumped by the alder so that is their reason to complain. I am a female, a baby boomer, who mostly lurks on this site. I’ve never been physically abused or felt threatened, but I’ve had men I worked with make sexual comments to me in front of others. Women of my era often dealt with it by just letting it slide and have the rational that the guy & too old to change or understand it’s wrong. That was my usual response to their creepy remarks. That was the old regime. The new regime is to report everything – typically younger women don’t tolerate that crap anymore or chalk it up to “just kidding.” I’m not saying he deserves to be censured. But he does sound like he has a pattern. Just my two cents.
You ever been dumped?
Why is that important to know if I’ve ever been dumped?
Hey you’re the one who volunteered your mini-biography; just asking for more of it.
Look, men and women fight differently. Men engage in direct confrontation and women engage in reputational damage. This sure seems like the latter.
And of course I don’t know for sure but I’d bet on that vs a political hit job. It’s not business Sonny, it’s strictly personal.
Not the first time alders have behaved badly. Anyone remember Brian Solomon?
You’re right about boomers vs younger generation though. I believe the authors of “The coddling of the American mind” addressed it – young people can’t work out problems themselves rather they run to the authorities. It’s weak.
I understand men & women communicate, fight, etc., differently. One way isn’t necessarily better than the other; they’re just different. But stating that men fight one way and women fight another way is an over-generalization. I have never engaged in reputational damage as you suggest women do. I dismissed their lewd remarks as men who have two heads but only enough blood to run one at a time. And I’m not disagreeing as to the motive of making it a political hit job to alder Myadze. But, you have to admit, it sounds like he has a pattern of behavior that has been suspect, to say the least. A mini-biography? Meh. Just offering a little background info for my opinion, is all. Guess it was an over-share for you.
Hey One Nut. I grew up in Chicago and women do fight differently. The ones I knew would stick a knife in your eye and twist it just for fun. Then you would be “no eye”.
Special K: Your words reveal a profound nature and the ability to exercise admirable restraint when faced with the illogical and the inane.
I wouldn’t hang around here long if I were you.
“In reading Blaska’s blog and the comments on this makes me wonder if any of you commenting are women. I think not.”
Why does that matter? Can’t men comment and have opinions about stories like this?
“The new regime is to report everything.”
Which these women should have done to the authorities immediately after it happened (if it did happen). The fact that they didn’t, don’t seem willing to now, and instead are content to make political theater out of it doesn’t bode well for taking them seriously.
“But he does sound like he has a pattern.”
It would be a pattern if there was credible corroboration or physical evidence of their claims, which I’ve yet to see. Until someone produces that, this is “he said, she said”.
“It would be a pattern if there was credible corroboration or physical evidence of their claims, which I’ve yet to see.”
That mean you’re not buying the hysterically dubious somebody did something, somewhere, somehow, some way, sometime Christine Blasey-Ford/despicable Lefty burden of proof?
The Gotch
Mordecai – I never said men couldn’t comment on this – those are your words, not mine. I only observed that most of the comments so far seemed to be from men which was accurate. And, it’s hard to have physical evidence of the words or actions that the women claimed happened. Words, unless they’re recorded or heard by someone else, can’t be proven to be said. And a hand on one’s ass or arm rarely leaves a mark. Just because it didn’t meet the legal threshold doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Again, I’m not saying the alder is guilty or should be censured. However, to me, it does sound like he could have made better choices.
“And, it’s hard to have physical evidence of the words or actions that the women claimed happened.”
Please see: Blasey-Ford, Christine and #MeToo and “Believe All Wymyn.”
“Words, unless they’re recorded or heard by someone else, can’t be proven to be said.”
While the pendulum appears to be swinging back toward sanity and a fact-based Reality, and away from Hopeless Changey’s Dear Colleague letter, that’s meant nothing to the #MeToo & “Believe All Wymyn” proponents, who presume guilt rather than innocence.
The Gotch
Special K: Gotch’s nasty response to my defense of your words demonstrates why I opined against hanging around this comment section too long. But you don’t need my two cents worth. Obviously you can handle yourself. Have fun. The more the merrier.
If Gotch is any indication, some men are studied in the practice of vicious and/or snide remarks.
“I never said men couldn’t comment on this – those are your words, not mine. I only observed that most of the comments so far seemed to be from men which was accurate.”
Why even make that comment then? That is typically a snide way of telling men to shut up or devaluing their opinions. Perhaps not your intent, but it more often than not has been from others who make similar comments.
“And, it’s hard to have physical evidence of the words or actions that the women claimed happened. Words, unless they’re recorded or heard by someone else, can’t be proven to be said.”
That is not the problem of the accused, nor should it be. Presumption of innocence and due process are what needs to rule the day here, whether in court or not. It’s horrific that some will so readily throw these ideals out when it comes to someone they disagree with politically or otherwise don’t like.
“Again, I’m not saying the alder is guilty or should be censured. However, to me, it does sound like he could have made better choices.”
In the first sentence you say that you say that you’re not sure he’s guilty. But in the very next one you say that he could have made better choices, which implies some level of guilt. Which is it? You can’t have it both ways.
Mordecai: Special K said, “I never said men couldn’t comment on this.” She only meant that, in fairness, women should also be given the opportunity to comment on this blog. She’s not trying to shut the men up. Sharing opinions does not equate to devaluing. Try not to be paranoid, Mordecai.
“She only meant that, in fairness, women should also be given the opportunity to comment on this blog.”
And she has. I don’t recall anyone saying otherwise.
“Sharing opinions does not equate to devaluing. Try not to be paranoid, Mordecai.”
Pointing out that all the commenters are men is not opinion. It’s an observation that, if a man made about a group of women, would rightly cause those women to point out its sexist undertones. It’s not paranoia to call out behavior that I’ve seen practiced by countless feminist zealots over the span of decades because they can’t take men standing up for themselves. Perhaps not SK’s intent here, but it is standard practice for many.
“Getting Skidmored”
That’s awesome.
I’ll ask Paul if he minds his name being used that way.
“Getting Skidmored”
Your superbly detailed ANALYSIS deserves mention!
The Gotch
I got a reply back from Paul Skidmore and in a nutshell he said, he doesn’t mind if “Skidmored” is used to describe someone who is or has been slandered or defamed even though there are no facts to support the claims.
Here is the definition of Skidmored for the world to see.