Did anybody hear

[ewagner]

that State Dem Senator Russ Decker got picked up for DUI?

My wife heard it on NPR on Friday....this isn't good news....Decker is one of the good guys....

[postulater]

1. If he was DUI then it's a good thing

DUI kills people, my wife's brother was killed by a drunk.

[ewagner]

2. Please understand

the fact that he WAS DUI is bad news....not that he was caught....

I hope my post didn't imply otherwise....

and I'm sorry that your wife's brother was killed by a drunk driver...I have campaigned against DUIs for over 20 years....

[postulater]

7. Thanks

and thanks for working against DUI.

[sybylla]

3. I heard that too!

Definitely not good. I don't understand why our public servants can't stick to a one drink policy or just don't risk it at all. Have a driver or get a cab. It's just plain stupidity especially when you're in a very public position and you supposedly know the law. I have no tolerance for drunk driving legislators.

I guess the SEB is investigating the "party" he was at sponsored by the Tavern League. The legislators had to pay $5 to get in which paid for munchies and all the beer they could drink. Apparently, in this state, all legislators are to pay in full for all lobbying "gifts." In this case, the SEB is questioning whether or not $5 could possibly cover all of a legislator's expenses that night. In the end, more legislators than Sen. Decker could be in trouble.

[htuttle]

5. If it was sponsored by the Tavern League in Madison...

...I can almost guarantee that he could have gotten a free taxi ride home. They set up free 'on-call' taxi rides for all of their events with the taxi coop I work for.

In addition, 'CareFare' half price coupons are always available for taxi rides from bars to home.

There's really no excuse.

[Jimbo S]

4. Hot Tip

On Belling's TV show this morning, Mary Jo Bass' hot tip was Decker will really be in hot water when the investigation unveils who his passenger was.....

[ewagner]

6. Groan.....

Just what we need.....

I agree with Sybylla.....if you're going to drink DON'T F-ING DRIVE!

If you're a Legislator.....Don't put yourself in compromising positions


grrrrr.....

Hey Sybylla...is Madashell ready to step in and run?

[sybylla]

8. That's Goddess40's district

My senator is Zien. MadAsHell already has too many irons in the fire to run for state senate anyway. (As evidenced by the fact that we can talk about him all we want and he doesn't even have the time to stop by and say anything about it.)
:evilgrin:

[ewagner]

9. Good and Bad...

I think he'd make a great State Senator so the fact that he's in the wrong district is bad....

It's good he's too busy to jump into the conversations and chastise us!!! :)

Wonder if Goddess40 has any suggestions...????

My sympathies for having to deal with Zien......

[sybylla]

11. Nice of you to say

MadAsHell has to win his local race tomorrow before he can even think about a senatorial bid one day. Baby steps, you know.

Gotta get the kids through college before we can even afford to think about it anyway. Even with Gard's per diems, it's a pay cut, though a small one, from our small business income. But since MadAsHell's skills are our only product at the moment, I'd be out of a job too.

Trust me, with your campaign experience, you'll be one of the first to know about it when he decides to make a run. ;)

[ewagner]

10. Any links to that?

I'd like a "head's up" before I get hammered by my Repub friends...

[Jimbo S]

12. No link

You had to be watching the show.

[ewagner]

13. Okay....thanks n/t

[goddess40]

14. Decker will be okay

Goddess40's mom here. Decker is extremely popular in the Wausau/Marathon county area. This being Wisconsin a DUI will not hurt him and that is not a good thing. I like him very much but he was extremely stupid. Roger Breske got a DUI and it didn't hurt him either. My only hope is Russ really learned his lesson and will get any help he needs if he has a drinking problem. As for his passenger that could be totally innocent and if not it is between Russ and his wife.

[ewagner]

15. Thanks for the post

I hope you're right about Russ....but.....

just in case,

do you have a favorite candidate who could replace Russ?

[goddess40]

16. Poll says DUI doesn't make a difference

Daily Herald Online Poll
Should State Sen. Russ Decker resign following his recent drunken driving arrest?

27.9%
Yes
72.1%
No

Total Votes: 512

Here's the link if you feel like voting:

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com

Russ is such a likable guy and I think he'll will really take this to heart so I don't think it will hurt him at all. Those that make a big fuss about it wouldn't vote for him anyway. While it was really stupid he was barely over the limit, a few years ago they would have let him get back in the car a drive home - before they lowered the limit.