SEXTING, TEXTING AND TOUCHING

SEXTING, TEXTING AND TOUCHING,

A strange world we live in today, what with instant, up to the minute news headlines, text messages that precede the (up to the minute headlines), with pictures no less, all brought to you by that little pocket cell phone which, twenty years ago was a cumbersome devise only used by the rich and shameless.

How a political figure, one elected to his position through the voting process in America can be as stupid as to leave a trail of covert messages, one's that can be received and recorded, of  messages so private and fraught with sexual innuendos, that even make me blush.

I am talking specifically about the former Calumet County district attorney, Kenneth R. Kratz, who resigned from his post in October in 2010. Kratz made the right choice and the only real choice that he could make when then Governor Jim Doyle began the removal process at the highest level in the state.

Since the first women's complaint was made public, four other women came forward with their own  complaints of his, (Kratz) sexting messages. Wisconsin had it's first case(s) of  Sexting text-gate and the number of such complaints would reach a bakers dozen.

Ken Kratz saw the hand writing on the wall, or in this case, (the textings on the wall.) Kratz resigned as mounting pressure from some of his fellow district attorneys, state lawmakers and victims' advocate groups. For Kratz,  his family and friends, the resignation must have been terrible,  embarrassing and almost unbearable to withstand.

Kratz had been the Calumet County's district attorney since 1992, which after 18 years was a life-style, not a job or vocation. The perks and recognition related to the office are many and varied and the tastes acquired become habit and expected. All of that is gone as is the salary and benefit packages that were cultivated through the years.

Kratz referred to his sext vixen as  a "young, hot nymph", wondering if she "liked secret contact with an older married elected D.A." Ummm, ummm, hot stuff, of course everybody knows these erotic HOT messages didn't work.

Almost lost is the equation is the intimidation that was brought to bear on these young women as well as the feeling of helplessness. After all the office of the district attorney has the power to do many, many hurtful things to a common citizen.

Violated, emotional pain and suffering are just two of the words that come to mind. My wife would have probably punched the old fart, shook her head and walked away. Of course she is probably the single strongest person that I have ever met. She would have handled the incident with the proper amount of disdain it deserved.

For me, the incident proves once again how absolute power corrupts, absolutely. Elected officials, (not all) use an extended period of never being wrong, (how many district attorneys recant a decision that has been argued as wrong, a mistake.) I can answer that question, "not many."

So, for Kratz, his improper sexting wasn't wrong, it was a right and it was his right, his position made it right. It's an attitude, an attitude of entitlement, of not being wrong, of being able to do whatever he wants. Sadly the longer some people remain in elected office, and are re-elected multiple times, they get this feeling of (being above and beyond), they actually start to believe the crap they spit out.

To bad Kenny, all you needed to do was talk with the lady, gotten a motel room and used your middle aged charms to induce whatever a rather rolly polly elected public official does with a women half his age. Your probably lucky pal, she might have killed you, now how would that have looked to the rest of your generation.

Since leaving office in October, Kenneth Kratz has opened a private legal practice in Kimberly, Wisconsin. I'm not sure what is legal expertise is, but I have a suggestion for him.....sex crimes.