Hines on Sunday Insight

Last week’s Sunday Insight with Charlie Sykes is online. 

The biggest news out of the show was Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines’ “loser” in the “winners and losers” segment at the end.  Hines calls McGee his loser, but offers up Mayor Barrett as a contender.  Hines hammers Barrett for perpetuating the “myth” of Aldermanic privilege and compares Barrett to the “gullible” store owners who McGee shook down. 

A few thoughts on Hines’ comments…

1) Hines’ strident slap at Barrett seems to indicate one of two things.  The first is that Hines could be angling for a mayoral run against Barrett.  That is somewhat odd because Barrett isn’t up for reelection until 2012.  It’s really early for challengers to be asserting themselves. 

Then again, Barrett has been a strong Obama supporter.  Check out this video of Barrett defending Obama (ironically from the same set as Sunday Insight).

Perhaps Hines in positioning for a possible Barrett appointment into an Obama administration.  Remember that Barrett left Washington to run for governor, lost, and then ran for Milwaukee mayor.  He might be hoping for a nice federal appointment. 

2) If Hines is trying to rise as a leader in Milwaukee who is separate and distinct from Barrett, I don’t think this is the issue to do it on.  Hines is arguing that Aldermanic privilege (the de facto power of an Alderman to veto things in hos or her district) does not exist.  While it isn’t a written policy, it clearly exists.  As I said on the show, it makes a lot of sense for something like Aldermanic privilege because the Alderman is best positioned to know the most about the district.  However, Aldermanic privilege caters to the corrupt by providing an avenue for Aldermen to reward or punish their constituents. 

Given the obvious abuse of Aldermanic privilege by Alderman Michael McGee, it seems quite odd for Alderman Hines to use this opportunity to deny that Aldermanic privilege exists and use it as a platform upon which to stand as an independent leader. 

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My personal interactions with Hines and his staff have been quite positive.  I disagree with him quite a bit, but I like him and think he’s an honorable person.  But if he wants to be a leader in Milwaukee, the kind of passive acceptance of the likes of McGee won’t help him. 

1. Hines’ strident slap at Barrett seems to indicate one of two things.  The first is that Hines could be angling for a mayoral run against Barrett.  That is somewhat odd because Barrett isn’t up for reelection until 2012.

   So?  Walker’s been running for governor for six years now.

   Posted by capper on July 01, 2008 at 2251 hrs




2. (the de facto power of an Alderman to veto things in hos or her district)

   What’s this about a hos district?

   Posted by Steve Burri on July 02, 2008 at 0757 hrs




3. Ken Lamke is useless on that show.  I know you need two people on either side of Charlie for Feng Shui purposes, but talk about milquetoast…

   Posted by on July 02, 2008 at 0841 hrs




4. Every time I watch Charlie’s show, I laugh at the small man syndrome belied by little Charlie’s booster chair.  Do his feet even touch the ground??

   Posted by Mike on July 02, 2008 at 1109 hrs




5. Hines is a shining example of what’s wrong in the inner city. Personally - I’m sure he’s a nice guy. But he lacks the backbone to make the changes that are needed there for Milwaukee to get itself out of the entitlement mentality and looking the other way on black corruption.

   I agree with Owen’s statement on the show - Hines HAD to know that McGee was trouble - yet he places him on the liquor committee.

   Posted by on July 02, 2008 at 1135 hrs