Electing Justice Butler

Beyond knocking on strangers' doors in the rain, the Brawler has never particpated in a political campaign.  Let alone a State Supreme Court race. But if Owen Robinson can float a sonservative SC candidate without appearing to know anything about said candidate, well, the Brawler feels he can put in his two cents. Why else shovel over hard-earned cash to the good people at SixApart?

The Brawler does know one thing: It's quite likely this race, pitting incumbent Louis Butler against whatever anti-consumer hack the right puts up, will be the "must win" for the right in Wisconsin in 2008 (if  current trends hold). The Brawler suspects that WI will go to the Dems in the presidential election. The Brawler suspects that the Assembly will slide into Dem hands, particularly if certain RPW Representatives continue to follow the lead of Owen Robinson, the pied piper of West Bend. The Brawler thinks Kagen should be able to retain his seat.

So if you're the WMC et al, where do you devote the bulk of your resources? Why, ensuring that the state  Supreme Court will tilt right and seek to protect the prerogatives of capital over the rights of consumers and labor.

So they're going to throw everything they have at it. That said, Butler has a good chance of prevailing. A city mayoral election should help boost turnout in the Democratic Milwaukee. He is the incumbent. And, frankly, just as the WMC will spend millions to unseat Butler, the Brawler suspects that trial lawyer interests will spend handsomely to keep him in office.

So after that entirely unoriginal analysis, some points of varying degrees of obviousness.

1. Butler should run on his story. Butler's straight-out-of-the-'hood-and-into-the-judges'-chambers story is, frankly, one of the better ones in Wisconsin politics. It's a testament to his character, dedication and work ethic. Play it up. (And to those snivelers on the right who snark, "He's only there because Doyle appointed him there and he got beat in his last Supreme Court race," please recall that his opponent in that race, one of Charlie Sykes' ex-wives, was appointed to the bench by Tommy Thompson months before said race, giving her the appearance of incumbency. Moreover, the JS and others called for Thompson to nominate Butler for the post that went to one of Charlie Sykes' ex-wives. He is eminently qualified.)

2. Butler should be proud of his philosophy. Butler will be attacked for not being a "Strict Constructionist." The response to that, of course, is "If the court in Brown vs. Board of Education was strict constructionist, many millions of people would have been denied opportunities in this country because of the color of their skin." The "strict constructionist" pose should be mocked and derided. Do we still write with quill pens? Of course the Constitution is a "living, breathing document."

3. Butler's opponent should be made to pay for his/her support by the WMC. The Brawler hopes to hear radio ads and see TV ads with this script.  "Joe Blow's biggest supporter in his race for the State Supreme Court is a shadowy group called the WMC. This same group spent millions to elect a Supreme Court justice who regularly violated judicial guidelines. This same group opposes XYZ things the people of Wisconsin want (fill in whatever tests best). Why does the WMC want him on the Supreme Court? And what does it mean for you?" OK, that sucks. But you get the point.

4. Here's a slogan: "Louis Butler. A justice for justice." Or, if you really want to get populist, "Because nobody is above the law." A tagline that covers everything from Butler's career as a PD to his rulings on civil rights to lead paint.

5. Be prepared to mock and deride accusations that Butler is bad for the state economy. These charges will be made, thanks to the lead paint ruling. And they are stupid. Only someone who knows nothing of business would suggest that the fact a state has an "activist" (to use the right's language) Supreme Court would play a make-or-break role in a corporation's investment, expansion or hiring decisions in a state. Fortunately, the fact that WMC is perpetually doomsaying, sometimes to the annoyance of its membership, should help in this effort.

6. Experience. It's quite likely Butler will have more experience on the bench and in law than any of his opponents. Play it up.

There you go. Advice from an anonymous blogger with no experience in any kind of campaign. Offered for what it's worth.

Comments

[Michael Leon]

The Brawler is right on.

[kr]

Or how about this slogan? A justice for all.