Omerta: No Wisconsin Republican Godfather

Omerta: the code of silence.

From January 18, 2006, Recall from the Scooter Jensen "Keep-Me-Out-of-Prison "Witness List:

Here are the Top Ten reasons why Jensen presents a witness list of luminaries from Wisconsin politics from the 1980's and 1990's?

10. "I'm going down and I am going to take everyone of of these sonsofbitches with me."

Yup, right at the top, a little bit of bitterness and revenge. Now we see from The Capital Times:

What Price to Save Jensen?

Trial's dirty laundry has GOP furious

By David Callender

In his bid to clear his own name and salvage his political career, former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, is apparently ready to sacrifice the two Republican candidates for governor.

During Jensen's corruption case this week, former legislative staffers have implicated aides to both Republican gubernatorial candidates - U.S. Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker - in having them do illegal campaign work on state time and using state resources.

As Jensen went to trial, it was easy to forecast, that he was willing to save himself at the expense of others. He was unwilling to throw himself on his sword for the good of his colleagues and his party.

When the charges were first brought, Jensen most likely felt that he had done much for his Republican Party and they abondoned him. 

That is why when we look at the panorama of criminality, bribery and abuse of power in America, the great sagas and stories are not built around politicians or their corrupt business advisers, but around the gangster.

The gangsters were loyal, they took a hit for one another, they kept the code of silence, and they took care of fallen comrades.

I never liked Chuck Chalva. I still don't. But whether it was right or wrong, he was more honorable than Jensen.  Even if Jensen avoids conviction.

Now we can go back to our TVs and watch the Sopranos.