Sunday Sound-off: Is Mike McGee, Jr. a genius or whack job?
Welcome to the OnMilwaukee.com Sunday Sound-off,
featuring a question, two different perspectives -- then opening up the
topic to our readers' responses. Please use the Talkback feature below
to contribute your thoughts on the issue.
Ask anyone to name an alderman from Milwaukee and most will only know Ald. Michael McGee, Jr. He and his dad -- Mike McGee, Sr. -- have dominated local political news for years.
It's no secret that Mike McGee, Jr., was arrested three times in the past year-and-a-half. On one hand, high profile actions keep him in the public eye, which allow his messages to be heard by the masses. On the other hand, some see him as a misguided person with a few loose screws.
What do you think? Is Mike McGee, Jr., a genius or a whack job when it comes to politics?
Genius. Name recognition in politics is important, brash ideas are innovative and passionate constituents are key. McGee has all three. The guy, despite his faults and foibles, will rise again and exercise his political will for years in Milwaukee. (Mayor McGee, anyone?) Plus, Milwaukee's central city is struggling, and as the saying goes: desperate times call for desperate measures.
Whack job. This latest turn of events is the last straw. Even before this week's arrest, McGee had a list of shady behavior and routinely made threatening and inappropriate comments. Mike McGee, Jr. is not helping his community, and he finally got what he deserves: jail time.