Steven Cowan

Wisconsin does seem to have more than its share of troubled Leftist individuals.

The latest to get national attention: Steven N. Cowan, a Dane County town supervisor.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A rural Dane County town supervisor believes Bristol Palin should not be on "Dancing With The Stars."

He demanded his wife get his pistols to emphasize his point.

The result: A 15-hour standoff Monday and Tuesday involving hostage negotiators, a dog team and other law enforcement authorities on one side and the Town of Vermont man on the other.

The only casualty: The man's television.

Dane County prosecutors have charged Steven N. Cowan with second-degree reckless endangerment in the incident that made his wife worry that he would shoot her, according to a criminal complaint.

Cowan, 67, and his wife were in the living room Monday night, watching the dance competition program that has featured the daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin this season as one of the competitors.

As Bristol Palin danced on the screen, Cowan raged.

"The (expletive) politics," he yelled, according to the complaint. Cowan was upset that a political figure's daughter was on the show when he didn't consider her a good dancer, his wife told authorities.

The Journal Sentinel is giving this story a rather light-hearted treatment.

"The only casualty: The man's television."

I doubt this violence would be seen as funny if a crazed man shot out the TV when a Democrat's daughter was on the screen.

This was a dangerous situation, really not a joke. Thankfully, Cowan didn't shoot his wife or himself.

Cowan went to his bedroom and came back about 20 minutes later, demanding that his wife find his pistols. Cowan's daughter had taken two handguns away for safety reasons, according to the complaint.

Cowan had tracked down a single-shot shotgun in the house, he "slapped" bullets down onto a TV tray, loaded a round and took out the TV, the complaint says.

Cowan's face was bright red. He loaded the gun again. His wife put a blanket over her head, thinking that if her husband decided to shoot at her, she didn't want to see it.

Cowan then demanded his pistols. His wife grabbed her purse and left the house and went to the local police department and the standoff ensued.

Cowan's wife told authorities that he has been taking medication for bipolar disorder and that the family's finances have caused stress. He had been drinking at a bar before he came home, according to the complaint.

This is an awful story. It had to be terrifying for Cowan's family.

I think it's wrong to make light of an armed, unstable man suffering from bipolar disorder.

Cowan appeared at a hearing Wednesday where his bail was set at $1,500 and a status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 6. Meanwhile, Palin advanced to the finals of "Dancing With The Stars," which will air next week.

Larry Ziemer, a fellow town supervisor, said he has known Cowan for about 20 years.

"I have nothing but good things to say about Steve," Ziemer said. "It was totally out of character for this to occur. He just does an excellent job on the town board and in his private working life."

Ziemer said Cowan is a talented carpenter and is well-respected in the area. Ziemer said he had never heard Cowan speak ill of Sarah Palin or her family before.

“He and I agree pretty much on politics,” Ziemer said. “We would probably lean both to the liberal side.”

Yes, Cowan is a town supervisor and a liberal.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel went wobbly on informing its readers of Cowan's political leanings, first including Ziemer's quote about Cowan's liberal bias, then removing it from the story online and not including it in its printed edition.

The information was returned to the online article after talk radio host Mark Belling complained.
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Read the criminal complaint.
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More:

Standoff ends after 15 hours; man taken into custody

Bristol Palin’s dancing on TV set off man in standoff, complaint says

Authorities: Wis. man shoots TV over Palin dance