She's One of "Us"

I know we still have three and a half months to go, but I think the winner for this year's "Least Surprising News Story" is the arrest and conviction of Oshkosh Common Councillor Caroline Panske for marijuana possession and driving with an open intoxicant.  In case you missed the news over the weekend, Panske was actually stopped for speeding and erratic driving near Wautoma back in July.  Reeking of beer, Panske refused to take a breathalyzer test and kept telling the sheriff's deputy that he had no right to search her vehicle--which turned up several smoked joints and open beer bottles.

I can't remember if she used this in her two campaigns for the Common Council or the two times she ran for Mayor, but I think Panske should adopt the "She's One of Us" tagline should she seek another term on the Council.  I don't mean the "us" that aren't driving around at 2:30 am after drinking and smoking pot--or the "us" that refuses to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance because Hillary Clinton didn't win the Presidential election.

I do mean the growing number of people who believe that laws they don't agree with should just be ignored--and just because you want to do something, you somehow have a "right" to do it.  Panske's Pledge protest is a petulant response to a democratic result that she didn't like--similar to the three year old that falls to the floor in the store because she didn't get the candy she wanted and screams at the top of her lungs as her parents try to get her back on her feet.

Panske was also the lone Council supporter of a "grass-roots effort" (pun intended) to decriminalize marijuana possession in Oshkosh and lower the fine to just 25-bucks.  While supporters of that effort claim it stops the targeting of minorities, Panske had to know that backing the proposal would likely save her a few bucks in the future.

My favorite part of the criminal complaint filed in Waushara County Court was Panske telling the deputy "I know my rights!!" while he searched her vehicle.  Obviously, she doesn't know her rights, as weaving in and out of your lane, smelling like booze and having a few empties rolling around in your vehicle does give a law enforcement officer "reasonable cause" to search your car at 2:30 in the morning.  A person with an actual degree in the law--and a license to practice that--must have informed her of her actual "rights" in that situation--and that's why Panske chose to just plead "no contest" to the charges instead of moving to have evidence thrown out.

I'm sure there will be plenty of people calling for Panske's removal from the Council--but, not surprisingly--there is no legal procedure for removing a sitting Councillor.  Nor is there a process whereby her peers can even censure her.  Besides, there were thousands of Oshkosh residents doing the very same thing as Panske on that same night--well maybe not driving around while buzzed--and they see absolutely nothing wrong with her actions.  And they vote too.