Uncovered: TV-Blasting Palin Hater is a Local Elected Official
- Posted on November 19, 2010 at 7:44am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Remember Steven Cowan? He’s the Wisconsin man who earlier this week took a shotgun to his TV after watching Bristol Palin on dancing with the stars, then pointed the gun at his wife and threatened to commit suicide. That lead to an overnight standoff with police. At the time, not much was known about Cowan. But now, turns out he is an elected official in his hometown.
Cowan, 67, has served as the board supervisor for seat 3 in the rural town of Vermont, located in the same country as the state’s capital of Madison. It‘s a position he’s held for a decade.
A statement on the town’s website praises Cowan for his service and withholds judgement pending a full investigation.
“Steve Cowan has been a supervisor and dedicated public servant in the Town of Vermont, Dane County for over 10 years,” the statement says. “During his time on the Town Board, Steve has provided insightful guidance on a wide variety of town issues and his service has been invaluable.”
While the statement recognizes Cowan was involved in the TV-shooting incident, it reminds the public that “Steve is presumed innocent until proven guilty under our legal system.”
Cowan is listed as a participant in the town’s recent October board meeting, where he proposed vacating two town roads, replacing town historical signs, and called for an alternative, cheaper plan for a town garage addition.
In an e-mail to The Blaze, town Clerk Marc Robertson said that Cowan is neither a Democrat nor Republican. “As with many local elected positions, Supervisor is a nonpartisan office,” he wrote.
A phone call to the town’s offices, as well as a message left on its answering machine, seeking further comment went unanswered.
It remains unclear, then, if Cowan’s rage was politically motivated. It’s been reported that at the time of the incident he did yell about “The (expletive) politics,” and his wife Janice said he was upset that a political figure‘s daughter was dancing on TV even though he felt she didn’t have talent. The description of Cohen as a “progressive liberal nut,” then, cannot be confirmed.
Cowan’s actions are nothing new. Janice told officers that about 15 years ago her husband had threatened her with a machete when he couldn’t find some ammunition and has threatened to shoot one of their cows. She also said he suffers from bipolar disorder and may have a drinking problem.
A number listed for Cowan on the town board’s website connected to a rental property company. A message left on the company’s answering machine also went unanswered.
“He scared the bejebees out of me,” Janice told detectives. He remains free after posting $1,500 bail, but cannot be near firearms or drink alcohol.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (89)
thetang
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:01amJust the mention of the Palin name,and one more Progresive Lieb bites the dust! Away we go!
Report Post »back2basics
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:00amthis guy must be related to JDR IV, stop the press
Report Post »back2basics
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:59amAdd your comments
Report Post »starman70
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:36amHis nbrain has been replaced with Wisconsin Cheezwiz!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:56amHe’s a retired TSA agent
Report Post »PDfromToledo
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:30amI’m 100% conservative…that being said… Bristol Palin has/had no business being on DWTS…she’s horrible and had a partner that manages to squeek out a few good dances. .
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:58amIt’s a TV show.Who cares.In twenty years it’ll be an answer to a trivia question. Like the Gong Show.
Report Post »SHASTADIANE1
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 12:40pmIt was for the MONEY! And afterall she is young, she wants to shine a little too. Let her do her thing. Look at all the publicity old LEVI got and keeps trying to get. Bristol has as much right to try to make a living for her child as anyone, and if someone offered you the chance to do it, or your daughter, maybe you’d think about it differently. I see and hear people everyday that can’t sing, or can’t dance and you wonder HOW on earth they ever got noticed? But that is MY opinion. I am sure that others must like them or their families love them and that is their opinion. We all have one.
Report Post »rondo
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:19amTypical liberal crazies can’t take it when they lose here we have a lovely young woman Bristol Palin who happens to come from a conservative family wins at dancing and they left explodes with their lies and distortions on how she came so far in the contest,
Report Post »BOO HOO YOU CRY BABIESHA THATS TOUGH JUST LEARN TO SUCK IT UP BECAUSE WE CONSERVATIVES ARE OUR ON THE MOVE AND MORE LOSSES ARE COMING YOUR WAY.
hempstead1944
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:18amHey ! It’s Wisconsin folks….what do you expect?
Report Post »conservativeone
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:17amWell … The Palin Family successfully drove another Liberal to expose themself for what they truly are … “NUTS”
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:17amWill Dane County do an autopsy on the TV? Don’t laugh, it’s Dane County.
Report Post »John Marshall
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:17amBudweiser,buttermilk, and buckshot do not mix. Go Bristol
Report Post »raybojabo
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:16amWas he standing in a hole? He’s got SMS (short man syndrome)
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:15amYelp, he’s a true career politician…..a drunk……bi polar…..violent…..and he’s innocent. This is all a right wing conspiracy….. yeah, right.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:57amBlame it on Bush! It’s his fault! EVERYTHING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED BADLY IN THE WORLD, OR EVEN OUTER SPACE, IS BUSH’S FAULT. If you listen to liberals.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:14amHey nutty libs, when you do lose it, do us a favor and shoot yourself, not innocent TV’s or spouses, it will be better for everyone.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 6:05pmThis is Wisconsin….elected officials will try to spin this as an argument against a concealed carry law.Stop laughing, I am calling this one.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:13amLet me get this straight, we shouldn‘t be too hard on the man because he’s obviously a drunk and a mental disorder, but we are supposed to listen to his insightful ideas as a politician. Yup,he’s a Democrat, just like my namesake.
Report Post »shane2813
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:13amJust pushing you Leftist Loons over the edge. Just a little NUDGE!
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:28amNudge Nudge, Push Push….sure…sure!
Report Post »Morningcrapper
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:13amThey better be glad we don’t start shooting the TV when Obama or his minions come on. There would not be a TV left in the country…………..
Report Post »Eyore
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:11amNow you know why people fly over this part of the country
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:09amSarah & her family do have what it takes to make the lefty-loons lose it!
Report Post »Observer
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:07amBi polar disorder? Drinking? Rental property? Cows? Politically motivated? Answering machine? Expletives?Machete? Shotgun? Bejebees? $ 1500.00 bail? This is Wisconson so it is still too hard, by the evidance offered, to blame this on the tea party folks. But some will ……………. the colour is blue
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 11:44amSounds like a stero-typical democrat, liberal politican who doesn’t know where to grind his axe.
Report Post »faktchekr
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:01amoh dear…is that anger and violence coming from a lefty politician? Oh my…and I thought he would have to be a tea party member…ha, ha…I love it when the left is caught in deep hipocrasy.
Report Post »Conserving Ink
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:01amFurther proof that there should be term limits. You have to be a little crazy to run for office in the first place no matter what your political leanings are. And the longer you stay the crazier you get.
Report Post »__________________________________________________________________
conserving-ink.blogspot.com
blue eyed devil
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:01amGo Bristol Go!
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 10:20amAmerica loves the Palins, and the pinkos can’t stand it…it‘s better than an Emmy’s bacon and mushroom omelet drizzled in hollandaise.
http://www.slugbuddies.com
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 7:59amPalin Derangement Syndrome: full employment for the psychiatric profession.
Dennis Prager: the only difference between the Obama Administration and the crew of the Titanic is that the crew of the Titanic at least tried to avoid hitting the iceberg.
Report Post »LadyLiberty
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 7:57am“Cowan’s actions are nothing new. Janice told officers that about 15 years ago her husband had threatened her with a machete when he couldn’t find some ammunition and has threatened to shoot one of their cows. She also said he suffers from bipolar disorder and may have a drinking problem.”
Wow. I hear dueling banjos. Is a town near where Deliverance was filmed?
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:14amNo,that was supposedly in the south. We only have colorful characters like Ed Gein & Jeff Dahmer in Wisconsin.
Report Post »voodoo donut
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:22amTEDDRUNK: Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Bernadine Dohrn.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 3:52pmWell he does take the Rules for Radicals a little far but all in all he gets things done in his little Vermont town government. I am suprised he can’t be around firearms or alcohol. I thought those were essential in the progressive diet, and don’t forget sharpies and poster board.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 6:02pm(sigh) We here in Wisconsin are so proud…..
Report Post »Fletch
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 7:55amI’m Shocked!! Shocked!!!
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 8:51amHe’s a real pillar of society, that one!
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:51am“He pointed the shotgun at his wife and threatened to commit suicide” ?? Seems to me that this couple have other issues. Bet she was listening to Glenn or Rush
Report Post »scan33
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 9:53amHe could be a TSA worker
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 10:17amDoes the phrase, Cuckoo for Coco Puffs mean anything to anyone?
Report Post »dominke
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 10:55amAll liberals are like this man.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 12:23pmyep it was that damn bristol palin who caused this. how dare she have a life after how they tried to destroy her and her mother……all you commietards and obamaists we dont care what you say or do any more. we know you are all a joke. america isnt buying your lies any longer. now dont push your luck. cause we will cut the nuts off the bottom the heads off the top and tack your insideout hides on the sides of barns and garages everywhere. now do you really want to play with americans?
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 2:08pmMay have a drinking problem??? lol
Report Post »chazman
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 3:49pmDrinking problem? No, he‘s got a ’Liberal Marxist’ problem …
Report Post »blacksmith
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 5:41pmThe headline should have read“ Wisconsin Politicians cheese slid off his *******”
Report Post »JGP
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 6:31pmWell hell, he’s qualified to run for POTUS on the democrat ticket then!
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 6:57pmA statement on the town’s website praises Cowan for his service and withholds judgement pending a full investigation.
“Steve Cowan has been a supervisor and dedicated public servant in the Town of Vermont, Dane County for over 10 years,” the statement says. “During his time on the Town Board, Steve has provided insightful guidance on a wide variety of town issues and his service has been invaluable.”
While the statement recognizes Cowan was involved in the TV-shooting incident, it reminds the public that “Steve is presumed innocent until proven guilty under our legal system.”
Generally, it is a really wise thing not to get involved in a domestic violence incident, which is what this boils down to. And the town needs to stay out of it as much as possible. Personally, if I was the wife, when he said he was going to commit suicide, I’d probably said something along the lines of, “Would you mind doing it outside, dear? It’s so hard to get the buckshot out of the walls.”
And to those who have elected this man as an official, ya’ll might wanna think once, twice, three times and wait – maybe a fourth, before you vote for this man again. Next time, he might be sighting one of you or your family members in the crosshairs when he gets upset.
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on November 19, 2010 at 7:49pmA true “extraordinary ass.”
Report Post »deac0n
Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:40amthey say 1 in 5 have mental illness, sounds like a progressive thing
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