This Just In ...

Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.

UPDATE: Week-ends (5/30/09)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 1, 2009

Connor Sorensen definitely deserves mention in our HEROES section in this past Saturday's blog, so I've updated.

Recession? What recession?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 1, 2009

The New York Post writes about the Obamas' night on the town:

"Taxpayers footed the bill for the big night on the town, which included a total of at least $24,000 for the three aircraft used to ferry the Obamas, aides and reporters to New York and back. Dinner costs and orchestra seat tickets -- at $96.50 apiece -- were paid by the Obamas.

Obama's jet, a Gulfstream 500, served as a more modest Air Force One for the day in place of the customary presidential Boeing 747.

The White House declined to say how much the trip was costing taxpayers."

Let's hope they don't make a habit of "date night."

Franklin superintendent one of the highest compensated in the state

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 1, 2009

Franklin Superintendent Steve Patz is the 4^th highest compensated public school administrator in the state of Wisconsin.

Franklin School District Business Manager Jim Milzer (who likes to stand up at meetings and say the Franklin schools don’t have enough money because the big, bad state won’t give us enough so taxes have to go up 5.6% and then they really go up almost 12%) isn’t far behind.

Even the Russki's can see the deterioration of the USA

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 1, 2009

Pravda is causing international waves with an opinion piece that nails what is transpiring in
America: the not so slow, ugly transformation into socialism.

Granted, the current day Pravda is more supermarket fare than the traditional Pravda during, say, the Reagan years (Actually, I kinda like those articles about vampires and such). Even so, they oughta know Marxism when they see it.

“First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics.

Then their faith in God was destroyed…

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama.”

Sounds right to me.

If we move the focus of attention to publications here in the good ol' US of A, here's an editorial cartoon from the Chicago Tribune, April 21, 1934 that is quite prophetic.

Explanations for historic refernces made in above cartoon:

Stalin- Joseph Stalin (18 December 1878 – 5 March 1953) was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union’s Central Committee from 1922 until his death in 1953. In the years following Lenin’s death in 1924, he rose to become the leader of the Soviet Union.

Wallace-Henry Agard Wallace (October 7, 1888 – November 18, 1965) was the 33rd Vice President of the United States (1941–1945), the 11th Secretary of Agriculture (1933–1940), and the tenth Secretary of Commerce (1945–1946). During his stay as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture he had to order a very unpopular strategy of slaughtering pigs and plowing up cotton fields in rural America to drive the price of these commodities back up in order to improve American farmers financial situation.

Ickes- Harold LeClair Ickes (March 15, 1874 – February 3, 1952) was a United States administrator and politician. He served as Secretary of the Interior for thirteen years, from 1933 to 1946, making him the longest serving Cabinet officer of any department in U.S. history. Ickes was responsible for implementing much of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal”.

Tugwell- Rexford Guy Tugwell (July 10, 1891 – July 21, 1979) was an agricultural economist who became part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first “Brain Trust,” a group of Columbia academics who helped develop policy recommendations leading up to Roosevelt’s 1932 election as President. Tugwell subsequently served in FDR’s administration for four years and was one of the chief intellectual contributors to his New Deal.

Richberg- Donald Richberg. Head of the National Recovery Administration (NRA) from 1934 - 1935. The NRA, symbolized by the blue eagle, was popular with workers. Businesses that supported the NRA put the symbol in their shop windows and on their packages. Though membership to the NRA was voluntary, businesses that did not display the eagle were very often boycotted–making it seem to many mandatory for survival.

Jesus the Torturer

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 1, 2009

Let’s check in on one of my favorite columnists, Doug Giles.

Why do I love Doug Giles?

He’s thoughtful, witty, insightful, funny, irreverent, and not to mention diverse. By diverse, I don’t mean he has 14 different ethic backgrounds that would make him a favorite for the guys who write the various pamphlets for the DMV spots.

I mean he is a minister, writer, and radio talk show host.

His latest column deals with terrorists. Does the minister in Giles have him turning the other cheek, offering loads of excuses, government programs and support groups for people in turbans who want to blow us to smithereens?

Hell no!

Giles relates how he, in my estimation, successfully and surgically tore a Christian radio talk host into ribbons.

“As a patriotic white male Christian redneck, as far as I can deduce from the holy text, Jesus and the balance of Scripture seem to be okay with dunking Achmed if said butt munch has the 411 regarding the 10/20 of the next mass slaughter of innocent Americans.

Please note: If Christ wasn’t cool with irrigating irate Islamicists for facts, I must admit, I would still have to green light our boys getting data from enemy combatants 007 style. Stick a fire hose up their tailpipe and turn it on full blast. I don’t care. I’m not as holy as most of you super saints or as evolved as some of you progressive atheists purport to be. Security beats spirituality in this scenario, as far as I’m concerned.”

Giles continues that the radio talk show host did his best to put on his “60 Minutes” routine:

“He then asked me, in kind of a tsk-tsk tone, for a proof text or two from Jesus’ lips and la Biblia that would come even close to him wishing or implementing ill on those who would harm or kill the innocent. This was like taking candy from a baby for me.”

Dear God, he is so good!

“WWJT: Who Would Jesus Torture?”

U.S. health care is worth every penny

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 1, 2009

In Washington, Congress is poised to put HillaryCare on the front burner even though it would break the bank for the 932^nd time.

Closer to home in Madison, we’re in the middle of a state budget battle that’s not really a battle. Those who want to tax and spend Wisconsin into oblivion control the Joint Finance Committee. They control the state Assembly. They control the state Senate. And the chief tax and spend jester lives in the governor’s mansion who just can’t wait till the state Legislative socialists send him their budget so he can take out his veto pen, and tax and spend some more!

Do you play pool?

I do.

I’ve been playing since I was just a kid.

You don’t focus on the ball you’re shooting at. You plan your shots, two, three, four balls down the table.

So it is with the state budget.

The Democrats who’ve wanted control for so long now have it, so every Communist plot is being hatched, every attempt to separate you from your wallet is underway.

The budget Democrats want is going to pass. If it’s not nailed down, it will be taxed. If it is nailed down, it will be taxed.

The day after a major business leaves, Jim Doyle will hold a news conference feigning ignorance and blasting corporate America.

This would be an outstanding talk radio topic

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 2, 2009

On May 19, 2009, a pharmacist is confronted by two holdup men at a drug store.

The pharmacist pulls out a gun and shoots one of the robbers once in the head. He then proceeds to chase the other holdup man away.

All of the action is caught on a surveillance camera behind the drugstore counter.

After chasing one of the robbers away, the pharmacist goes behind the counter to get another gun. News reports indicate the wounded robber is unconscious on the floor and unarmed.

You are the pharmacist. What do you do?

The district attorney has filed a charge of first-degree murder against 57-year old Jerome Ersland, a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and disabled Gulf War veteran who wears a back brace on the job.

After chasing away one of the assailants, Ersland gets another gun behind the counter and shoots five more times into the abdomen of the robber on the floor.

Ersland is now free on $100,000 bail, courtesy of an anonymous donor and has received a cult hero’s backing. He could face the death penalty if convicted.

From one of the news accounts:

”His adrenaline was going. You're just thinking of survival,” said John Paul Hernandez, 60, a retired Defense Department employee who grew up in the neighborhood. “All it was is defending your employee, business and livelihood. If I was in that position and that was me, I probably would have done the same thing.”

The district attorney, David Prater has been all over the map on this case.

“District Attorney David Prater said Ersland was justified in shooting 16-year-old Antwun Parker once in the head, but not in firing the additional shots into his belly. The prosecutor said the teenager was unconscious, unarmed, lying on his back and posing no threat when Ersland fired what the medical examiner said were the fatal shots.”

Prater has done his best Tasmanian Devil imitation, doing his damndest to sit on the fence.

Remember, Prater has charged Ersland with first degree murder. However, he also asked the judge to let Ersland, who is out on bail, have a gun at work.

Why?

Though Prater admits his request “sounds crazy,” he contends that under the law, Prater has the right to defend himself and others at the pharmacy and that he is worried other criminals will now realize it’s “open season” at the pharmacy if Ersland is on the job and he is armed.

Oh, really!

Of course, you dimwit, criminals will think twice about walking into the pharmacy armed with the knowledge that an armed Ersland might be on duty. More from a news account:

“Prater said the pharmacist would not be in court if the two robbers had not come into the drugstore. The judge said, ‘Then, why did you charge him, Mr. Prater?’ The district attorney replied that Ersland went too far. A clearly irritated Prater also told the judge, ‘I’m the one who filed the charge so my butt’s on the line.’”

Yes it is, Mr. Prater.

Let this be a message to the criminals in 48 states that have made the right decision to allow carrying concealed weapons. Listen, you punk, if you walk into a store with the intent of robbing and possibly even killing anyone inside, someone inside might be packing and you might be dead. Got it?

Ersland is alive today and so are his co-workers because he took the action he did. The liberals are always talking about the need for a level playing field. Guess what? The playing field was level this time, and the crooks lost.

More details and the surveilance video here.

More here, including details about Oklahoma's "Make My Day" law.

Government-Run Health Care is the Wrong Prescription

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 2, 2009

Government-Run Health Care is the Wrong Prescription for an Ailing Economy
Share your views at this critical time

Congress is about to take up the most important debate on health care in the last 30 years. At the U.S. Chamber, reforming our health care system so that more Americans have access to quality, affordable health care is a top priority.

And we'll work with anybody in Washington, DC, toward this goal.

But we must approach this issue in a responsible way. Recent discussions including costly employer mandates and government-run insurance plans are reason for concern and would have devastating effects.

According to a recent study, an estimated 130 million people would drop private insurance for the government plan, leaving bureaucrats to ration the types of treatments available.

As a matter of principle, no American should have to wait in line for care or be denied lifesaving treatments. Congress should avoid putting government bureaucrats between you and your doctor.

I want this for Christmas, Santa!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 2, 2009

The Beatles: Rock Band video game.

How ya enjoying this "nice" weather?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 2, 2009

The other night I was outside grilling pork chops. Some dog-walking neighbors passed by wearing what appeared to be parkas.

We exchanged the obligatory jokes about the less than balmy weather.

The average high temperature for this time of year is 74 degrees. We may not hit 74 until Independence Day.

In the not to distant past, I have read on jsonline.com the word, “nice” to describe this sudden onslaught of global warming.

Not to be outdone, local TV anchors in their non-scripted chat with the weather folks have also borrowed the term, “nice” as a lead-in to the 4-minute weather presentation where the actual forecast takes 15 seconds (The more the weather guy rambles on and on and on and on, the less time for the good stuff, like sports).

Apparently, the weather guys and the non-confrontational TV anchors who never give the meteorologists static pull out the over-used adjective, “nice,” whenever the sun is out.

For example, “Wasn’t it a nice day today, Mr. Isobar?”

“Oh, yes (insert anchor person’s name here), you’re so right. It was very, very nice.”

You betcha the sun was out, but it was 55 degrees. In June. When the rest of the country is wearing shorts and bikinis.

Sorry, but that just ain’t “nice.” Please, weather people. Have some guts. Tell the God’s honest truth. When it’s 20 degrees below normal, go on the frickin’ airwaves and say, “I don’t know about you, folks, but this is depressing. I’d really love it to warm up around here, wouldn’t you?”

Your inbox would be flooded with e-mails commending you for your candid honesty.

When the thermometer hits 54 in January, it’s “nice”, real “nice.” Not at noon on June 2^nd.

Who's really tingly warm all over about that silly idea to make the Franklin mayor a full-time position?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 2, 2009

In my blog Sunday about the need for Franklin City Hall to get its priorities in order (there’s a call to make the mayoral position full-time instead of part-time), I wrote:

“Pay close attention to the arguments in favor of making the mayor’s position full-time and WHO’S making them. Could there be a personal agenda at stake here? You betcha.”

So, who’s really excited about this idea and pushing the hardest for the change? Is it:

A) Franklin taxpayers

B) Franklin bloggers

C) Current Franklin mayor Tom Taylor

D) Franklin Common Council President Steve Taylor

E) Franklin alderman Steve Olson

F) Franklin alderman Kristin Wilhelm

G) Other Franklin aldermen

H) All of the above

I) None of the above

J) No one because it’s such a foolish thought

Lots of choices there.

And one of them is correct.

Think you know the answer?

The correct choice should be, I say, should be, “J.”

However, it’s not.

The correct response is “D,” Common Council President Steve Taylor.

Here’s an open invitation to Taylor to submit to me a guest blog as to why the long-time, part-time mayoral position suddenly needs to be expanded during tough budget times to full-time, other than the fact he’d like the job someday.

Don’t hold your breath for any response.

What's happening with the Doyle recall?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 3, 2009

Amy Geiger-Hemmer writes on The Right View Wisconsin that it's gaining momentum.

When will Wisconsin start to recover from the recession?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 3, 2009

Try July 2010.

Most Americans opposed to the onslaught of government intervention

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 3, 2009

That's according to Rasmussen Reports.

Thought we were done with high energy prices?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on June 3, 2009

Remember how George Bush took a lot of heat over high gasoline prices?

Prices have tumbled from those $4/gallon days but they’re on their way back up, and with help from our democrat-controlled Congress.

The Heritage Foundation has done an analysis of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. and here’s what it has found:

“Gasoline costs will rise $118 annually for a typical four-person household once the bill's provisions take effect in 2012.”

There’s more.

“The bill likely would reduce coal use and replace it with more expensive options for producing electricity. The costs would filter down to consumers and boost electric bills by $235 in 2012, rising to $468 by 2035. That's a 90 percent increase over current rates.”

Hope and change.

Elections matter.

You wanted Democrats in control. You got it.