Dealing with the reality we face

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

November 7, 2012

America chooses a dangerous, possibly irreversable, course

If you thought the Tea Party was dead...

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

If the election results prove anything, it is this:

We are on our own.

If Barack Obama and his ruinous agenda are going to be stopped, it’s going to have to be done by Tea Party Americans who aren’t afraid to fight for true limited government

So, Tea Party Patriots is about to launch a massive grassroots counterattack and take the political fight directly to Barack Obama and the liberals.

Please make a generous contribution of $30, $50, $100, $200 or whatever you can afford to help us beat back Obama’s drive to raise taxes this winter.

We have to stand up right now and make sure that every single Republican understands that we expect them to FIGHT Barack Obama—not “compromise” with him!

Stopping the liberals scheme to destroy even more jobs and economic opportunity by hiking taxes is our number one priority. We need to be prepared to bombard Congress with calls, faxes and emails.

And we need to educate every new conservative member of Congress on exactly what the grassroots expects of him or her when they get to Capitol Hill.

So, next week we are hosting a historic conference between these new members of Congress and hundreds of local tea party coordinators. It will be a chance for these newly-elected leaders to listen to “We the People.”

And “We the People” are going to give them an earful!

Please make the best contribution you can to help Tea Party Patriots fund this political counterattack. We really need your help. We depleted our treasury this fall fighting the Obama agenda in the swing states, and this new grassroots offensive will be very costly.

You see, we have no intention of taking Obama’s reelection lying down. We have no plans to allow the Republican political establishment to sell out the American people in the interest of bogus “bipartisanship.”

Instead we are going to counterattack!

Please make the most generous contribution you can to Tea Party Patriots today.

On Tuesday America took a big step backwards. Barack Obama now believes he has a mandate to continue spending and taxing at will.

However he is wrong. Dead wrong.

Poll after poll shows the American people hate big government, they despise higher taxes on anyone, and they demand federal spending be CUT not increased!

That is why we must fight. And fight now.

Please help fund our Tea Party counterattack.

Barack Obama may have won an important battle, but the American people will win this political war.

Please make the most generous online donation you can.

Much lies ahead

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

Time for a vacation

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

This Just in… has been a blogging whirling dervish this year and I could use a break.

The Fischer family is heading out of town this Saturday. I’ll post cartoons, The Barking Lot, and Week-ends, then it’s goodbye for a week.

Filling in on my blog while I’m gone will be the equally edgy Donna Cole of Oak Creek. I’ll be back on Monday, November 19^th.

Franklin, the school district isn't done with you

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

The tax and spenders at the Franklin Public Schools were popping champagne corks Wednesday morning. Once again, they successfully took you taxpayers to the cleaners, getting approval on two of three referenda.

Starting immediately, the district will begin a design phase of the approved projects (Questions 1 and 2) that is expected to last for 8-10 months. There will be site work and other preparation work starting in the summer 2013. The proposed additions are expected to finish about one year after completion of design or the summer of 2014. The remodeling may last up to another year, for a total construction time of two years, with a final completion in late 2015.

Franklin school board member flunks civics and the law

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

I don’t think I’m overreacting when I say comments made by a Franklin School Board member about the referenda results were ridiculous and highly disappointing. They were made in yet another profoundly one-sided journalistic embarrassment from FranklinNOW’s Rick Romano, lapdog for the Franklin school administration.

Romano sought out the usual suspects to gush about the election results. One was Debbie Larson, a top cheerleader for tax and spending increases who’s been on the school board for far too long. Romano writes:

“Debbie Larson, a School Board member since 2003, said the results left her emotional.

‘I am so excited and grateful to the community,’ she said. ‘This was successful because we listened to our community and we followed what they indicate were needs.’

"She also pointed to help from an anonymous sign maker who posted black and gold signs along major roads stating ‘Franklin Public Schools - Vote Yes Times Three’

‘No one knows where they came from, but I think they helped,’ Larson said.”

No one knows where the signs came from. That’s due in large part because the signs didn’t have any disclaimer written on them as to who paid for them. That’s ILLEGAL.

They also were placed on public property. That’s ILLEGAL.

Larson, an elected official who should be familiar with election laws is trumpeting these ILLEGAL signs as aiding the victory? And she’s in charge of overseeing the administration of our schools? Thank goodness this lightweight isn’t in our classrooms actually teaching.

Ms. Larson, control your emotion for one moment to answer a fundamental question: What part of ILLEGAL don’t you understand?

Larson is up for re-election in April 2013. She needs to go.

A dear friend produces a labor of love

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 8, 2012

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.

Head to the website of the Alzheimer's Association of southeastern Wisconsin and you’ll find the story of Fred and Irene Ruekert of Waukesha:

“Seven years ago, the roof caved in on the couple’s happy life. Irene could tell there was something seriously wrong with Fred. ‘He’d put in hours and hours at work, and come home not knowing what he did all day,’ said Irene. ‘He developed crutches at work. He set reminders on his computer to tell him what to do and he’d have tons of Post-It notes he’d written himself fall out of his pockets.’

“The jig was up. Fred, who had tried in vain to mask his memory loss, was unable to continue in his job and took early retirement. Irene was heartbroken as her worst suspicions were confirmed – a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Fred is now 60 years old, and isn’t able to speak anymore.

Goodnight everyone and have a whoopee weekend!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 9, 2012

"Picture a little love nest
down where the roses cling
picture the same sweet love nest
Think what a year can bring"
The words to a very old, very famous song

It's Friday night. Time to unwind with our regular Friday night feature on This Just In.

The weekend has finally arrived.

The sun has set.

The evening sky has erupted.

Let's put controversy and provocative blogs aside for the rest of this work week and smooth our way into Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight, well, let's get right into it with the Boston Pops.

OK, Kev, so what's the theme tonight?

Classical?

Patriotic?

What?

I’ll tell you.

Tonight, we get a little frisky.

Naughty.

A notch above PG-13.

A recent survey asked respondents what their favorite muiscal selections were to play while having sex. We'll have more details later, but first, some suggestions that would, ahem, fit the mood.

Didn’t make the survey.

Neither did this one. Saxophonist Ed Calle does a steamy re-make of Billy Paul’s 1972 hit, “Me and Mrs. Jones.”

The best cartoons of the week (11/10/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 10, 2012

Political Cartoons by Robert Ariail

Political Cartoons by Michael Ramirez

Political Cartoons by Chuck Asay

Political Cartoons by Glenn Foden

Political Cartoons by Henry Payne

Political Cartoons by Robert Ariail

Political Cartoons by Bob Gorrell

The Barking Lot-America's Finest Dog Blog (11/10/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 10, 2012

The Barking Lot

The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of this just in…Written by my lovely wife, Jennifer and me. It opens with the weekend dog walking forecast followed by the main blog from dog lover, Jennifer. Then it’s DOGS IN THE NEWS and our close. Enjoy!

THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.

TODAY: Cloudy skies this morning. Partly to mostly sunny skies this afternoon. High of 60. "B"

SUNDAY: Wake up to mostly cloudy, windy conditions, then a possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon. High of 60. "D"

Here’s my lovely wife, Jennifer with this week’s main blog:

Can you believe that in two weeks, we start the kick off for Stuff Your Face and Over-Indulge Season? Oh, I mean The Holidays. We’ll be deluged with tips from “the experts” on “How To Avoid Gaining Weight This Holiday Season.” I always love those articles. You know, the ones that tell us to “have a nutritious snack before you go to a party so that you’re not tempted to over-eat,” “stay away from the buffet table and mingle instead,” and my favorite “have a glass of water for every other beverage you drink.” It’s the same old tired advice that clearly no one listens to anyway.

Well if YOU are eating your weight in turkey, ham, potatoes and cookies for two months, chances are you will likely relax the “no table scraps” rule for Fido. I personally believe in the mantra “all things in moderation” and that goes for our four-legged companions as well. Truthfully I don’t see the harm in my (future) dog getting a taste of turkey or mashed potatoes. But even though you are well-meaning there are some things that your pup SHOULDN’T SAMPLE.

I chuckle at the Food Network and other culinary resources who try to top themselves every year with a list of what to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers. Who are they kidding???!!! With the possible exception of turkey soup, the only thing I want done to my leftovers is one minute in the microwave. But if you are so inclined, and actually don’t know what to do with that last bit of turkey, etc. you can easily make treats for your tail-waggin’ friend.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family, including the canine members!

---Jennifer Fischer

Thanks, Jennifer!

Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.

Wild dogs kill boy at zoo exhibit.

Woman with service dog could be barred from apartment.

Loyal dog found alive under fallen tree that killed owner during Sandy.

Saviors to the rescue.

A dog is lost, hope is found.

Dog is fine after his trap tussle.

Want to stalk your dog?

Dallas dog poo may fetch big profits.

Dudley gets ready for a day like a human.

Dog owners re-create photos with their pets years later.

Want your dog to eat less?

What about dogs that chase their tails?

Why dogs find some toys boring.

Good dog, Holly!

Story of stray dog and Marine inspires.

What are dogs for?

Week-ends (11/10/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 10, 2012

Week-ends

A look back at the people and events that made news the past week. Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...

HEROES OF THE WEEK

Marine veterans

VILLAINS OF THE WEEK

Chris Matthews... of course, he later apologized.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come.

Getting rich from Obamanomics

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 12, 2012

By guest blogger Donna Cole

No doubt that times have been tough in recent years, and it has left corporate management teams scrambling to make a few dollars in the world of Obamanomics. But for those crafty enough to see opportunity in the president's failed economic leadership, there are big bucks to be made. Let's take a look at a few who have made out like bandits in Obama's ever expanding welfare state. Look at the following stock charts and note what they all have in common.

Holiday Parade?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 13, 2012

Christmas

By guest blogger Donna Cole

I heard a news report this morning that reminded me it is getting to be that time of year again. Yes, this Saturday is the annual Milwaukee Holiday Parade, and the reporter said that Santa Claus will be there (Of course). I can hear 'ole Nick now, "Ho Ho Ho, Merry Holiday!" This got me to thinking about how we are supposed to be all inclusive, and the Holiday Parade is certainly missing the boat, or sleigh, on political correctness. What's up with the discrimination? Shouldn't all the holidays be included? It is a Holiday Parade after all.

Hold on, we're going over!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 15, 2012

Doom and Gloom

By guest blogger Donna Cole

Since the election, the media has turned it's focus to the fiscal cliff debate and what, if any, kind of deal can be made to avoid it. I think most folks understand the basics of what is going on with this situation, if you are reading this blog you certainly do. So, MediaPolitical wants to use this post not to talk about the nuts and bolts of some deal, but to make the case why I fully believe we will go over the cliff and why President Obama is going to allow it to happen.

This stuff drives me crazy

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 18, 2012

Libertarians

By guest blogger Donna Cole

I usually read the quack liberal blog Daily Kos for simple comic relief understanding substance and accuracy are foreign concepts to their bloggers. As an example, during the Wisconsin recall elections it read more like a UFO government conspiracy site than a political blog, and Kos gave me daily belly laughs through the whole affair.

My thanks to Donna Cole!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 19, 2012

I appreciate her guest blogging contributions while I was gone. Love her stuff!

It’s going to take me awhile to get caught up, so you may see a lot of the clearinghouse material I often post.

Let me guess. Democrats, being such a classy bunch are still gloating. And Republicans are out there on the ledge, beating each other up about what happened.

Vacations are nice, but eventually they end and reality sets in.

Losing Elections has Consequences

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 19, 2012

By guest bloggers Bob and Jean Dohnal
Publisher/Editors
Wisconsin Conservative Digest

Losing elections has consequences and we are about to have that magnified. Thank God that we still have the House, but that is shaky. We have lost a battle, but the war always goes on.

We were out smarted, out worked and out organized. Despite the fact that Wisconsin did the finest job ever on Grass Roots politics, we were smacked good. WE are Boy Scouts and they are running Junk Yard Dogs. No wonder we lost.

Despite the fact that we spent millions of dollars on ads, most of it of little value, and probably, in many cases, costing us votes. These outside groups, biggest headed by Karl Rove, enrich the TV stations with their bare knuckled attacks, but the needle doesn't move. Rove, incidentally is getting a lot of heat from his donors. He wasted millions of their money on useless attacks. Many donors are now asking if that money should have been spent on GOTV and precinct organization and got better results?? They are right.

Let's go back to last year in October when the recall petitions went out. I toured the state and talked to all of my old buddies, on the liberal side, to find out what they were doing. And it is simple. They follow the AFL-CIO COPE book, the rules from Tammany Hall and the Chicago Mafia that rules Cook County. Simple: "Find every Democrat and get them to the polls.” They had 160 or more Victory Centers, last fall that canvassed every block in the state. They went into the inner city and by canvassing, going to churches, meetings etc., they located everyone of voting age that would back them. They then put them into their handy, dandy little computers and then rolled them out at election time.

In Urban Milwaukee Bruce Murphy said it best: "The explanations for Obama's victory are many, but arguably begin with his superior ground game. I was actually contacted many more times by Mitt Romney's campaign. As my Democratic-leaning zip code includes many wealthy Republicans. But it was old-school stuff: I was showered with Romney mailers and literature and robo-calls, but received almost none of this from Obama. Romney's old fashioned top-down style of campaigning seemed to echo his proposed economic policies. Recent research has found that blanketing a neighborhood with campaign literature has no impact and that robo-calls generate one vote per 900 calls. By contrast, one study found Obama's network of small inexpensive field offices made a one percentage point difference in his national vote in 2008. In key states like Ohio, Obama had a huge advantage over Romney in field offices.”

We have lost 8 statewide presidential elections. You think that at sometime, people would find out that something isn't working and do something else??? Not us, we keep doing it and more of it: Ads, robo-calls, mailings, everything except hard work.

After all, it is much easier to sit on your butts in a nice office and order TV ads, radio, flyers, robo-calls then get out into the trenches and work. Course you also pocket nice commissions at the same time. Makes those of us that work for free for years a little peed off!!!!

Why, then did we win in 2010 and also the Walker recall?? Because a lot of their people agreed with what Walker was doing and were unhappy about the way state government was being run under Jim Doyle and company.

Now we come to Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney. The Democrats succeeded in making Tommy and Mitt out to be greedy Capitalists that were only out for the rich. Many of them feel that they are victims and as O'Reilly says, they want "stuff.” We did not answer those attacks on Romney and Tommy, so they were thought to be true, by many.

The stage was set. They zeroed in on young women, like Sandra Fluke, who were made into heroes, to that group, by Rush and Hannity. The youth vote and minorities were the top of their list to organize. Our efforts, at the grassroots level, were miniscule compared to theirs, despite the fact that we can have a good message to those groups if we try. They flooded the area with organizers, buses from Illinois and thousands of volunteers.

When the election rolled around the paid organizers, thousands from around the country, descended into our state the last few months, many of them voted, but we did not lose on account of that. They were ready to get out the vote. We used phones and some door to door, while they used every method that they could dream up, to accomplish their goal of getting people out.

I was at my polling place when an organizer came in, with a kid, obviously not even slightly interested in politics, as I watched them explain the ballot to him. Then I watched him spend 10 minutes figuring out how to vote for Prez and Senate. This has been done for years, very successfully.

They, the organizers, zeroed in on two lines on the ballot, vote for Prez and Senate. They taught their people how to vote that way. Skip all of the rest, took too much work too get them to do that. There were 647,000 votes or so, cast for Obama, over the votes for the legislature and 338,000 votes cast for Obama, that were not cast for Democrats in Congress. Yes, they just went out and rooted out more than half a million people just to get them to vote for Obama and Tammy. Luckily the legislature had eliminated straight ticket voting or the legislature and Congress would have been a disaster.

After a losing election, the argument is always about what the candidate and the campaign should have done to win, never about the mechanics. Our guys feel that our people always come out, and that is not so. Since the Liberals brought out almost all of their votes, where were our guys?

Supposedly, 70% of the people voted, not true, as it was actually somewhat lower. They measure the vote percent based on the people registered before the election and then compare that to the total vote. Since we allow on site registration the totals ballooned giving us the belief that we got our votes out. We did not, our votes were left on the table in the 30% plus that did not come out for various reasons. Most likely lots of them were conservative but not fans of Mitt.

We lost this election on the streets; simply, they got their vote out and we did not. If we had followed the same methods that they followed, we would have gotten out the other 5% that we needed to win. In Milwaukee 89% of the registered voters were out. Liberals won 69% of the vote, highest that I have ever seen. WE did not cover every precinct over 35% GOP, on foot. They did and they followed up till everyone was out.

How do they do it? They have a built in organizational advantage because they have the unions with headquarters and lists. They have well paid and well trained organizers that know how to do this job. For some reason, the GOP spends little on training and lots on TV.

They, the Libs, follow the old AFL-CIO COPE book, plus Saul Alinsky's rules for Radicals. We sleep in too much.

I have outlined on how to organize a precinct on many occasions. I have taught it at many campaign schools, but locals say that they just cannot get people to do precinct organization or door to door. I say that if you can't get people to do that work, then find someone else that can. We need leadership, not excuses. We count on phones way too much. In the 60's, when everyone actually answered their phones, had land lines, Campaign Central's were much more successful. We still walked the wards to get people out. We must do everything possible to use their methods to beat them or no one will ever come to Wisconsin again to campaign.

Many of us have screamed about this for years. We followed the old Kasten plan, developed by Fritz Rench, who went on to found the Heritage Foundation with Paul Weyrich. The Kasten plan was used by Paul Ryan, Dan Quayle and others to get elected. It is simple precinct organization. It works. You can actually wage a very strong campaign for Assembly, without much money, by recruiting 20 or so volunteers and following the plan.

The rules in campaigns have changed. Wisconsin used to be a capitol of ticket splitters, but in the last two elections they vote almost the same, down the line. In 2010 Walker and Johnson got almost identical votes, same with Tommy and Mitt.

They, the Libs, zeroed in on 4 counties: Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Dane. We cannot do much in Dane but we can, in all of those counties, get our vote out plus work the GOP counties harder. We must do what Waukesha does every year.

They concentrated on the youth vote, minorities and young unmarried women. These groups are shown politically to be the most vulnerable. We played right into their hands on young women by demagoguing Sandra Fluke when she testified in favor of insurance companies providing birth control pills on their insurance. Contrary to what Hannity, Rush and others said there are many BC products that cost more than a hundred dollars per month. As a practicing pharmacist up until May, I dispensed them daily. One talk show host, when confronted with facts, told me I was wrong. Every time we zapped Fluke, the young women ran over to their side. You might not like it, but those are facts. We can present young women with a program, just like we can get to Latinos and other minorities with a message of jobs and the future, not just "stuff.”

While there is some fraud, we did not lose the election on that. We are losing because the organization of the GOP is letting our candidates and our futures down. This cannot go on. The GOP needs to wake up and get to work. I will go into that in the future. Right now, if I were running in 2016, I would not have Wisconsin on my list as a swing state. I would have plans to reach out to the Latinos, young women and the youth. We can have a message for them that can win their votes.

The issues are war, economy, jobs, deficit, debt, Medicaid, Medicare, SS. Immigration is far down the list and surely not enough of a problem. To solve that, we want to hand over the reins of the government to the Liberals for the next 50 years.

But mostly, we have to decide if we want to go all out in organization, work, and dedication or just raise money and run ads. Unless we do that, we are doomed. It is time to turn over the leadership of the GOP to a new generation that recognizes the problems and wants to solve them.

We have to take a strong look at the "Ruling Class" that Rush and others talk about. In the last 50 years, we have seen groups in Madison, composed of big donors, political operatives, lawyers, lobbyists and some GOP leaders, forge a policy that tell us that Conservatives cannot win. They say that if we put Conservatives up they will drag the whole ticket down. Guess what, they got their candidates: Romney, McCain, Dole, Bush and they not only dragged the ticket down but the country as well.

Conservatives have to step out, work with the local legislators who do listen to us, and forge policies that will run the state and the country. We will win.

We have to confront these big money guys, who raise and spend millions on ads, then stuff millions into their pockets while doing it, and knock them down. They are screwing up the whole system. This is the bankrupt "Ruling Class", headed up by Karl Rove and company that are doing that.

Tommy and Tammy

What a disaster. I worked with Tommy on numerous occasions and I have never seen a candidate work so hard. I saw his schedule and it was nuts. I could not keep up and I am in good shape. The worst part is that what ever he did, by himself or the campaign, was pretty much meaningless as the people voted the ticket. They were not enamored with Romney and we did not get out our vote. Lots of people stayed home.

The rush of millions of dollars of TV ads drowned out Tommy's message, whatever the campaign did get out. Tommy could not get a strategy going because his efforts were drowned by the 527's.

After the primary, he was broke and no one came in to give him some effort to get out his message. Then Tammy, flush with money, made Tommy, one of the most solid Wisconsinite backers in history, out to be some greedy capitalist out to line his pockets with their money. He could not counter that and that set the stage.

Why we let the Libs do that to us time after time is beyond me. WE have a group of operatives in Mad City that just cannot "get it.” You cannot sit at your desks, order ads, robo-calls and literature and win consistently in this state. You need to get in the trenches, find your vote and organize it. The NRA identified 1.4 million people in this state that were prime Tommy backers. If they did nothing but concentrate on that group and got them out to vote, Tommy would have walked to victory, dragging Romney along.

KF NOTE: While I am happy to post the writings of a long-time dedicated conservative soul like Bob Dohnal, I take issue with a few of his points.

1) Please don’t question the effort of the GOP on the ground. They worked their butts off. To suggest otherwise is insulting.

2) My God, national talk show hosts were absolutely correct and appropriate to shish-kabob Sandra Fluke. Why handle her with kid gloves? Those of her ilk would never vote with us, ever, no matter what the message. We must stick to our principles. Rush and Hannity did and should be commended, not blamed for GOP losses.

3) Rip Karl Rove and the boatload of $$$ he brings? Please.

E-mails, I get e-mails: Slogan

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 19, 2012

From a highly respected colleague:

“After reading a dozen articles on the recent election disaster, here is my slogan for future GOP campaigns: ‘It's the welfare state, stupid’."

Amen.

AFP Applauds Governor Walker for Rejecting a Health Insurance Exchange

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 19, 2012

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 16, 2012
CONTACT: Luke Hilgemann at (608) 609-6663 or lhilgemann@afphq.org

The latest pro-life news (11/19/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 19, 2012

From Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right To Life.

Also, How I can oppose abortion and support the death penalty.

UPDATE: Previvors: Courageous, heroic women

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 19, 2012

Topics talked about on WISN

Previously on This Just In...a blog about a topic I discussed while filling in for Mark Belling at Newstalk 1130 WISN.

The update from today's Good Morning America on ABC...

Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.

UPDATE/REMINDER: A dear friend produces a labor of love

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 20, 2012

Previously on This Just in…

Here’s a reminder to catch this documentary on MPTV Channel 10 tonight at 11:00.

The latest from Franklin alderman/Milwaukee County supervisor Steve Taylor

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 20, 2012

The November 2012 e-newsletter.

Priceless: Lefties scream media bias

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 20, 2012

The Media Action Center “has filed petitions with the Federal Communications Commission – on behalf of citizens of the greater Milwaukee area – to deny radio licenses to Clear Channel's WISN-AM and Journal Communications' WTMJ-AM. MAC said it conducted a comprehensive study in May/June of 2012 – during the Scott Walker recall campaign – which clearly showed the two stations each gave supporters of Gov. Walker and the GOP about 80 minutes of free airtime daily on their local talk radio shows, while refusing any access to supporters of Mayor Tom Barrett and Democrats whatsoever. In total, the two stations subsidized the Walker campaign with an estimated $1 million dollars in airtime. The study documents that WISN and WTMJ hosts and guests not only exclusively promoted GOP candidates, but actively recruited volunteers for GOP campaigns over the publicly-owned airwaves, while refusing to provide any free airtime for the other side."

Gee.

I don’t recall conservatives filing petitions against any of these ... or these. Or local TV stations. Or local public radio. Or WMCS.

Media bias.

Damn.

Dontcha just hate it!

Franklin could lose Meijer? Not exactly a news bulletin

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 21, 2012

Franklin’s quest to attract Meijer’s to build one of their successful stores here has been a complete debacle. I’m not surprised.

When it comes to luring businesses and economic development, Franklin has a dreary obstructionist history of being the tortoise rather than the hare. Without exception, city of Franklin officials have been in complete and utter denial about this dismal track record, making all kinds of excuses for our sorry inability to attract job creators on a consistent and reasonably timed basis.

That’s why it was very interesting to read the angry comments of Franklin alderman Steve Taylor about the problems associated with dotting all the I’s and crossing all T’s in getting Meijer’s to build here.

During the process over the past several weeks, I have bemoaned on my blog Franklin’s past that I fear will prevent Meijer’s from setting up shop here, eventually sending them to play ball elsewhere.

One week ago this past Friday, I learned that Taylor had expressed his dismay in an interview with The Daily Reporter, a Milwaukee-based construction industry daily newspaper. I knew Taylor was upset, but I didn’t know why, so I reached out to Taylor and asked him if he’d issue a statement that I could post on my blog. However, I flew to Florida the next day on a family vacation, and we never were able to make final arrangements.

While I was gone, the print edition of this story appeared in The Daily Reporter on Monday, November 12 with the headline;

"Meijer puts brakes on store”

To this cynic, the immediate reaction was not one of surprise.

The article opened stating that Taylor “blames the city” for “dragging its feet” on approving a Meijer store at Highway 100 and Loomis Road.

Taylor told the paper the city goofed when, during the project’s FIRST city public hearing, witnesses were not sworn in. Now that sounds like a minor, trivial matter. Nevertheless, it necessitated a SECOND public hearing.

Good grief, a technicality throws a monkey wrench into the operation, a technicality that maybe someone with years of municipal experience should have picked up on? So we as a city drop the ball on an innocuous procedure.

If you’re keeping score, give this one to Taylor.

Taylor also told the paper “the city should have given approval a long time ago.”

I certainly would agree. While trying to kiss Franklin’s ring, Meijer has also been negotiating to, if I may use an over-used phrase, move forward to build stores in other WI communities.

Oh, if only the story ended here. But there’s more.

The city’s response to Taylor is that from their perspective, the city has okayed just about every approval it needed in order to, my goodness I’m going to write it again, move the project forward.

Who asked for a delay in the entire approval process? Not the city of Franklin, but ironically, Meijer.

Meijer hasn’t specified why. A Franklin official told The Daily Reporter he believes the self-imposed delay is due to Meijer's requirements with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the US Army Corps of Engineers. In essence there are still city, state, and federal hurdles.

Once again, hyper-enviro concerns are standing in the way of much-needed progress and business/job creation in Franklin. The Meijer project…

Could threaten some wetlands.

OH NO! NOT THAT! PLEASE NOT THAT!

So Meijer has three keisters to smooch…the DNR, the feds, and the city. At the city level, Meijer has to, according to The Daily Reporter, meet Franklin’s environmental standards (you know, the kind that keeps our city in reverse) at the SECOND public hearing that is necessary because city officials didn’t swear in witnesses at the FIRST public hearing.

CARAMBA!

Dealing with the DNR isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s less difficult than in the past under Jim Doyle’s Gestapo-like DNR. State Senator Frank Lasee just wrote in an e-newsletter:

"Because of the leadership of DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been improving greatly. Reforming the 2300 employee DNR is a huge undertaking, and will take more time. I've been hearing from people that the DNR is now working for the environment and for you, not against you (there is still room for improvement).

"The new Office of Business Support and Sustainability (OBSS) has been created to help businesses navigate the DNR's bureaucracy by helping them comply with DNR rules and the permitting process.

"The OBSS is a special help line for getting permits to increase job growth in Wisconsin by cutting red tape while protecting the environment. We can probably poach some businesses from our neighbors to the south. Since Illinois has declared 'open season' on job creators with more taxes, out of control spending, and tons of red tape, it’s not 'poaching'.”

With sharks in the water, the Milwaukee Business Journal under the very capable reporting hands of Sean Ryan weighs in.

Again, the headline is gloomy:

Meijer store in Franklin hits hurdles

Accurate. Why? Because the store does hit hurdles.

The paper reports in its lead paragraph that city officials are worried that Meijer’s may “abandon its plans” for a megastore in Franklin.

Enter another city voice: Alderman Steve Olson whose district includes the Meijer site.

While Taylor blames a slow city view, Olson says road accommodations at the site are a problem. The state even pushed a roundabout at the site, adding to the mess.

But the Business Journal notes Meijer is working through similar issues in Grafton where they want to build, and guess what? No problemo there.

And some in Franklin don't want Mejer's open 24/7.

So here we go.

This is a full-blown fiasco with finger-pointing and no one, I mean no one at the city of Franklin level accepting blame or responsibility. That's not to be expected. It's everyone else's fault. Meanwhile bye bye economic development. Bye bye jobs.

BOTTOM LINE

The conventional wisdom seems that the threat to wetlands (Yes, are you kidding me?) is a major hang-up.

Meijer’s lawyers outsmarted our lawyers and insisted on a second public hearing addressing primarily those wetland issues where witnesses are sworn in. Now, Meijer's wants no part of a second public hearing on wetlands issues. They won’t say why. That doesn't look good. Oh, no. Bye bye economic development, bye bye jobs? Thanks, Franklin.

Alderman Taylor was right, but only to a certain degree. While the city is open to criticism, there are other roadblocks, along with Meijer walking away from the table. I think Taylor picked the wrong case to blame the city for a failure to seal the deal.

What is Meijer doing rather than working to get this done expeditiously? Taylor has doubts Meijer will return to talk turkey with Franklin. I submit he may be right on that count. My guess is that Meijer is back home discussing what’s in their best interests. Jumping through all these hoops ain’t it. I said it before and it could happen. Meijer will take their ball out of Franklin and play somewhere else, more easily and quickly. That's a real possibility.

If that happens, you can forget all the finger pointing. Enough blame to go around, and everyone loses. And again, given the way we do things in Franklin, no surprise.

I'm on WISN

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 21, 2012

I fill in for Mark Belling this Friday on Newstalk 1130 WISN from 3-6pm

Black Thanksgiving?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 21, 2012

Yes, Black Friday has morphed into Thanksgiving leading a very wise man to say the following. Do you know who it is?

“The stores, we hear, will open on Thanksgiving. Isn’t that a sign of progress and liberation? Sorry, but no — it’s a sign of a further descent into a highly privatized, impersonal, keep-people-at-a-distance culture, one that values having stuff and doing things over just being with people whom we love, cherish and appreciate.”

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

The answer…

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Timothy Dolan

NOOOOOOOO!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 22, 2012

Your Thanksgiving dinner could kill you

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 22, 2012

Here's hoping you survive...seriously.

Say, Kev, could you pass that dish around one more time?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 22, 2012

I’d be happy to.

Goodnight everyone, and have a firefly dreams weekend!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 23, 2012

“People who are already stressed out about the holidays -- worrying about money, traveling, or seeing relatives -- may find the musical reminder of the cause of their stress very unwelcome, she (Victoria Williamson, Ph.D, Goldsmiths, University of London) says. But those who approach the holidays in a receptive, relaxed state are more likely to get a boost from the happy associations -- childhood memories, family gatherings, or the holiday's religious meaning -- triggered by holiday music.”
NBCnews.com

It's Friday night. Time to unwind with our regular Friday night feature on This Just In.

The weekend has finally arrived.

The sun has set.

The evening sky has erupted.

Let's put controversy and provocative blogs aside for the rest of this work week and smooth our way into Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight and through the end of the year, our Friday night feature will focus on sounds of the season. We start with new Christmas recordings this year.

From the Trans-Siberian Orchestra website:

“When Paul O'Neill first conceived Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his goal was as straightforward as it was ambitious. ‘The whole idea,’ he explains, ‘was to create a progressive rock band that would push the boundaries further than any group before, following in the footsteps of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, the Who...but take it way, way further.’

The best cartoons of the week (11/24/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 24, 2012

Political Cartoons by Bob Gorrell

Political Cartoons by Henry Payne

Political Cartoons by Jerry Holbert

Political Cartoons by Steve Kelley

Political Cartoons by Gary McCoy

Political Cartoons by Steve Breen

Political Cartoons by Lisa Benson

Political Cartoons by Gary Varvel

Political Cartoons by Glenn McCoy

Political Cartoons by Bob Gorrell

Political Cartoons by Nate Beeler

Political Cartoons by Michael Ramirez

Political Cartoons by Steve Kelley

Political Cartoons by Gary McCoy

Political Cartoons by Steve Breen

Political Cartoons by Gary Varvel

Political Cartoons by Henry Payne

The Barking Lot-America's Finest Dog Blog (11/24/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 24, 2012

The Barking Lot

Week-ends (11/24/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 24, 2012

Week-ends

A look back at the people and events that made news the past week. Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...

HEROES OF THE WEEK

America's givers

Pete Vadola

Hero vets

Joe DiBernardo

Nico Castro

Andrzej Sekowski

Sia Ta Kian

Tim Allen

Jack Taylor

And don't miss this one...Dr. Russell Dohner

VILLAINS OF THE WEEK

Hamas

Audrey Collins

Sarah Hamilton-Parker

Ken Qualls

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“We have got to stop dividing the American voters. We need to go after one hundred per cent of the votes, not fifty-three per cent.”
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal

“The president was elected on the basis that he was not Romney and that Romney was a poopy-head and you should vote against Romney.”
Grover Norquist

"You know, I travel all around the country, every week I go to a different part of the country. I'm with small businesses. And I'm not hearing that.”
Obama’s Small Business Administration Chief Karen Mills on MSNBC saying she has not heard one case of Obamacare hurting small business.

“You’ve never heard that? You need to talk to your staff and tell them to get you out of the bubble, because we are hearing that all the time.”
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough responding to Mills

“The stores, we hear, will open on Thanksgiving. Isn’t that a sign of progress and liberation? Sorry, but no — it’s a sign of a further descent into a highly privatized, impersonal, keep-people-at-a-distance culture, one that values having stuff and doing things over just being with people whom we love, cherish and appreciate.”
Timothy Dolan

“This film… takes you back to a younger, perhaps gentler, America. An America where only IBM and the military had computers. Where there [were] no smart phones… no emails. And a simpler America, where we didn’t read other people’s emails, so we didn’t know four-star generals were having affairs.”
Mick Jagger, introducing the new HBO documentary “The Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane.”

“A situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, characterized by a string of blunders and miscalculations.”
The definition of “omnishambles,” the Oxford University Press word of the year.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look like John McCain?”
An Arizona man to John McCain.

OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK

Black Friday.

Headlines from the Drudge Report:

'Gang fight' at Black Friday sale...
Man Punched in Face Pulls Gun On Line-Cutting Shopper...
Shots fired outside WALMART...
Shoppers smash through door at URBAN OUTFITTERS...
Customers run over in parking lot...
Woman busted after throwing merchandise...
Thousands storm VICTORIA'S SECRET...
VIDEO: Insane battle over phones...
Mayhem at Nebraska mall where 9 murdered in 2007...
Shoplifter tries to mace security guards...
Men Steal Boy's Shopping Bag Outside BED, BATH & BEYOND...
Heckler calls them zombies...

MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK

Stimulus reporting errors

MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK

Take your pick: Twinkies or Black Friday.

STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK

WHAT kind of surgery?

That's it for Week-ends.

We close with the latest from NewsBusted. NewsBusted is off this week, so here's last week's installment that we couldn't show you because we were off.

I read the news today, GO IRISH!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 25, 2012

Photos of the Week (11/25/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 25, 2012

Photos of the Week

1) Anthony Trujillo pickets outside a Walmart store as holiday sales commence in San Leandro, California on November 22, 2012. Calling on Walmart to treat workers with more respect, a group of about 30 demonstrators spent several hours standing outside the store, Reuters reported. Photo: Noah Berger / Reuters

2) Target Manager Jay Fitzgerald welcomes shoppers as they flood his store in Harbison, S.C. Fitzgerald, who recently retired from the Air Force after 27 years of service, took over the Harbison Target just three and a half weeks ago. Photo: C. Michael Bergen / Zuma Press

3) A crowd gathers as security guards break up a fight between shoppers waiting in line just as the doors open for Black Friday shopping Nov. 22 at Target in Bowling Green, Ky. Photo: Alex Slitz / Daily News via AP

4) Shoppers rush to grab electric griddles and slow cookers on sale for $8 shortly after the doors opened at a J.C. Penney store Nov. 23 in Las Vegas. Black Friday got a jump start this year as many stores opened just as families were finishing up Thanksgiving dinner. Stores are experimenting with ways to compete with online rivals like Amazon.com that can offer holiday shopping deals at any time and on any day. Photo: Julie Jacobson / AP

5) Chris Dispenza of Vicksburg, Miss., tries to keep his daughter Jayde Dispenza, 8, awake as they wait to enter a Best Buy store Friday morning in Jackson, Miss. The Dispenzas waited in line for a couple of hours before entering the store after midnight. Photo: Rogelio V. Solis / AP

6) John Hardy, left, and his son, Liam, 13, visit the charred remains of his wife's parents home in the Breezy Point section of the Queens borough of New York, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012. A fire destroyed more than 100 homes in the oceanfront community during Superstorm Sandy.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

7) Thanksgiving on Breezy Point: Terri Dodge and her fiancee Steve Peterson drove from Portland, Maine to Breezy Point, NY on Wednesday to cook Thanksgiving dinner for up to 30 people. Teri Dodge shows off the company patch she was given from Firefighter Sebastian Danese as she receives a round of applause for cooking Thanksgiving dinner at the Point Breeze Fire Department, Breezy Point, New York, Nov. 22. Photos: John Makely / NBC News

8) Actor Kirk Douglas serves Thanksgiving meals for hundreds of homeless individuals Wednesday Nov. 21, 2012, in Los Angeles. Thousands of Skid Row residents and homeless people from downtown and beyond were served Thanksgiving dinners with all the trimmings today during the Los Angeles Mission's annual holiday feast. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

9) Oliver Horne, 5, says goodbye to his father Josh Horne, before leaving with his mom and Josh's wife Angelina, right, for Minnesota for the Thanksgiving holiday at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, in Atlanta. Feeling the pinch of the sluggish economic recovery, many Americans setting out on the nation's annual Thanksgiving migration had to sacrifice summer vacations, rely on relatives for airfare or scour the Web for travel deals to ensure they made it home. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

10) Rockets launched from the northern Gaza Strip head toward Israel on Nov. 20, 2012. Photo: Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

11) Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Nov. 21. Israeli aircraft pounded Gaza with at least 30 strikes overnight, hitting government ministries, smuggling tunnels, a banker's empty villa and a Hamas-linked media office. Photo: Bernat Armangue / AP

12) Jihad al-Masharawi, a Palestinian employee of BBC Arabic in Gaza, weeps as he holds the body of his 11-month-old son Omar, who according to hospital officials was killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Nov. 14, 2012. Photo: Majed Hamdan / AP

13) In this Nov. 15, 2012 photo, a young girl reaches out to greet a Pakistani policeman securing the road outside Kainat Riaz's home in Mingora, Swat Valley, Pakistan. Security stepped up after Kainat was wounded by the same Taliban gunman who shot Malala Yousufzai and 13-year-old Shazia Ramazan on Oct. 8 on their way home from school. Malala was shot for her outspoken insistence on girls' education. Shazia and Kainat are to return to school this week for the first time since the shooting. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

14) A French riot gendarme reacts after being covered with lime during clashes with demonstrators during an evacuation operation on land that will become the new airport in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, western France, on November 23, 2012. Photo: Stephane Mahe / Reuters

15) Afghan National Army commando, Khairuddin Sultan, 21, is helped up by his friend Ala Mohamed who joined the army with him 18 months ago, as an orthopedic specialist molds a cast for his prosthetic legs on Nov. 19. Khairuddin, a double amputee, lost his legs when an IED exploded during a joint operation against the Taliban with U.S. special forces. The IED exploded while he was using a mine detector, sending shrapnel into his outstretched hand and blowing up his legs. Photo: Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images

16) People stand near a house which sits in the middle of a newly built road in Wenling city in east China's Zhejiang province Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. The house belongs to an elderly man, who refused to sign an agreement to allow his house to be demolished by the authorities, as the compensation offered to him was not enough, according to local media. (AP Photo)

17) President Barack Obama yawns as he sits between Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, right, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during the plenary session of the 21st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and East Asia summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 20, 2012. In his first meeting with a Chinese leader since his re-election, Obama said on Tuesday Washington and its chief economic rival must work together to "establish clear rules of the road" for trade and investment. Photo: Samrang Pring / Reuters

18) Linda Restaino poses for a photograph in front of a message written by her son on the boarded up back wall of her property which was flooded during Hurricane Sandy in New Dorp Beach, Staten Island. Restaino, who has lived at the property for 35 years, is now hoping to leave Staten Island. Photo: Mike Segar / Reuters

19) Not quite as big as Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth II views the interior of a recreational vehicle during a visit to the Bailey caravan factory in Bristol, England as part of her Jubilee tour on November 22, 2012. Photo: Carl Court / WPA Pool via Getty Images

20) A driver crashed into a railing on the Southwest Denny Road overpass in Beaverton, Ore., and was stuck dangling over Highway 217 on Nov. 24. Traffic was stopped in both directions as crews worked to get the driver out of the truck. He did not appear to be hurt. The crash happened around 3:40 p.m. Photo: Beaverton Police Department

21) Pete Ramberg and his dog, Monte, pose at the Florence Bridge fishing access site Tuesday Nov. 20, 2012, in Florence, Mont., at the spot where the dog's paw was caught in a foot-hold trap on Monday. "I can't believe that someone would set a trap in a place that is so popular with dog owners," Ramberg said. State wildlife officials say a trapper has been cited for placing the trap near a Florence fishing access. (AP Photo/Ravalli Republic, Perry Backus)

22) First lady Michelle Obama leans down to smell the official White House Christmas Tree after it was delivered to the White House, as her daughters Malia Obama (R) and Sasha Obama look on, on November 23, 2012 in Washington, DC. The tree is a 19-foot Fraser Fir from Peak Farms in North Carolina, which is owned by Rusty and Beau Estes. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

23) Santa Claus makes his way through Herald Square in the 86th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov 22, 2012, in New York. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicked off in New York on Thursday, putting a festive mood in the air in a city still coping with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano)

24) The Sailor Mickey balloon floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)

25) This combined picture shows Italian sculptor Oliviero Rainaldi's statue of Pope John Paul II before its restoration, left, on Sept. 23, 2011, and at its inauguration after the restoration, in Rome on Nov. 19, 2012. Photo: Gregorio Borgia / AP

26) Students at Cape Town's City Varsity School of Media and Creative Arts take part in Bodyspectra, South Africa's premier body painting event. Artists and models prepared for up to fourteen hours before showcasing their creations at a gala show. The event forms the final practical evaluation for motion picture make-up and production design students. The brief is simple: create a human canvas using body paint, prosthetics and props. Photo: Nic Bothma / EPA

27) A naked man stands at the top of a statue in Whitehall as police cordon the area off, on November 23, 2012 in London, England. The area in central London has brought traffic to a standstill as Police attempt to talk the man down from the Duke of Cambridge statue outside the Ministry of Defence building. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

28) Penn State football players huddle on the field during warm ups before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. The 42 worn on the left side of their normally white helmets is in honor of injured senior linebacker Michael Mautii, who wears No. 42. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

29) Montee Ball scores his 79th career touchdown to set an NCAA FBS record against Penn State. But the Badgers lost in overtime, 24-21. Journal Sentinel photo: Rick Wood.

30) Marcus Cromartie (left) and Montee Ball (right) console kicker Kyle French after French's missed field goal in overtime at Penn State. Journal Sentinel photo: Rick Wood

31) Packers kicker Mason Crosby watches his field goal attempt miss during the second quarter last Sunday against Detroit. Journal Sentinel photo: Mark Hoffman

32) Despite double coverage, Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb catches the game-winning touchdown pass. Packers 24, Lions 20. Journal Sentinel photo: Mark Hoffman

33) Washington Redskins cheerleaders wear U.S. flag tops for Military Appreciation during an NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on November 18, 2012 in Landover, Maryland. The Washington Redskins won, 31-6. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

UPDATE: Photos of the Week (11/25/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 25, 2012

Photos of the Week

After viewing today's Photos of the Week, my wife was surprised that I didn't include a picture from Saturday night's huge ND victory over USC.

OK. I've got 60. I particularly like #57.

Culinary no-no #304

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 25, 2012

Culinary no-no's

THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
FOOD BLOGS, BUT ONLY ONE CULINARY NO-
NO!

I used to love watching that network.

Informative. Entertaining. Interesting. Intelligent, quality programming.

Not anymore.

Hosts eating insects. Cooking contests harshly focused on chef mistakes. Restaurant owners almost brought to tears from being ridiculed.

Somehow the Food Network has succeeded in gearing shows to an audience lower than the lowest common denominator.

In short, they’ve gone stupid.

Classic example, this guy…

Guy Fieri is the host of Food Network’s Guy's Big Bite and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Fieri also has written a best-selling cookbook and owns several restaurants.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has Fieri motoring across America in search of greasy spoons that are popular with the locals that also serve great food and lots of it. I’ll admit that while channel-surfing, I’ve stumbled across dishes in some of those dives that have me drooling, “Yeh, I’d love some of that!” But the program seems to center too much on Fieri who has to have his punk-like mug in every shot, attempting humor but failing miserably with a dumb line for every shake of salt or stirring spoon. Naturally, Fieri must have the camera catching him devouring every fatty morsel being served. More dumb lines. More punk-like shots.

At the risk of sounding like an elitist snob, he needs to realize he’s on television as a celebrity chef. Why the teenage rapper outfits? On one episode that featured his entire family, he went to an elegant restaurant dressed like a proverbial bum.

You’re supposed to be yourself on the air, and for me, I can’t get beyond my view that Fieri is one big goofball. The Food Network actually dumped Emeril and now highlights this clown?

Fieri recently opened a restaurant in Times Square. According to Pete Wells of the New York Times, Fieri hasn’t learned much on those drives to dives and doesn’t practice what he preaches.

I'm more sympathetic than most about the US Postal Service

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 26, 2012

After all, my father worked for the USPS for 31 years, “including Army time” as he proudly used to say.

But.

The latest pro-life news (11/26/12)

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 26, 2012

From Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right To Life.

Plus...

Fetuses yawn in the womb. Oh yes, they do.

More on the 40 Days for Life.

A message for Obama lovers and every Franklin resident that voted YES on any of the recent school referenda

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 26, 2012

It comes from one of my favorite columnists, true, authentic, bona fide conservative Doug Giles, author and radio talk show host.

His latest column is entitled, “Psalm 666: The State Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want.”

And again, remember, this, when you change the words to Franklin school district, Franklin school board, and Franklin property taxpayers, is also directed to the Franklin voters that chose to have themselves and others pay for their wants.

This Just In: This Just In...missed it!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 27, 2012

Here at This Just in…, we like to be compelling, provocative, interesting, TIMELY.

I read a lot and like to pass on articles that I find noteworthy and worth your attention.

But I can’t see everything, or see it when first posted.

I realize Thanksgiving is over. But a Thanksgiving piece I just stumbled upon today is worth a look, even if it is a bit tardy.

Talented WSJ columnist (and UW grad) Jason Gay has a terrific piece about a Thanksgiving ritual for many folks.

Elvis Presley Touch Football - Dave Wells Community Center December 27, 1956

Yes, it’s that good and can and should be read even if it is almost a week old.

Enjoy!

No matter how much the lefties hate you, God bless you, WI hunters!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 27, 2012

I love the Wisconsin deer hunting season. It’s a wonderful annual rite of passage.

Besides, it drives the lefties nuts.

The gun control crowd can only manage a stunned silent face when confronted with the fact that hundreds of thousands of rifle-totin’ guys and gals all gathered in a concentrated area during a short period of time DO NOT create mass carnage.

Anti-hunters mouth off during the sanctioned annual hunt. The guilty white liberals suddenly go silent when a tribe wants to violate the law and dangerously hunt deer at night. Oh, we can’t possibly criticize the Indians. No way, no how.

But a white hunter? He’s open season, especially if he’s a white conservative Republican like Paul Ryan who...

GASP!

took his 10-year old daughter hunter and in the process she...

GASP!

shot a deer!

Oh my goodness, it’s the end of the world as we know it.

The Washington Post blogged about this family get-together and the online comments were worse than losing the Chicago Bears three times in the same season.They're in the blue, combatted by those in the red.

I like to get my meat the way God intended - from the supermarket.

This is so horrible! How can he be proud? A little girl, killing an innocent deer? I am so so very glad that Romney and Ryan didn't get elected!

When i was 10 yrs old I played with dolls and was even afraid of cap guns.

I'd be impressed if the deer had guns... make it an even fight.

Why suppress their chances of living another day?

Unless Paul Ryan is planning on using the meat from these deer to fill his freezer because it will be their main source of protein for the season unlikely), I don't think he should be hunting. What a terrible lesson for his daughter, a waste of a beautiful creature.

hunting is a despicable atrocity and it's destroying entire ecosystems. The MAJORITY of hunters hunt because they derive sick pleasure in murdering animals. Hunting is nothing but legalized animal cruelty.

Awesome! Yes, you haters, most of the deer are processed into venison and given to local food pantries all across the state. Even the out-of-state and out-of-country hunters turn it into the local deer processing centers. They keep the rack if it is a buck. What is interesting is that you totally do not understand the teaching of respect for the land and the deer that gets passed down through generations. Killing a deer is not done willy-nilly or to simply have a rack to put on the wall. It is taken seriously and that is why there are specific rules to be followed about how and when and how many. It is one of the most "regulated" seasons that exist for hunting. Teaching children to respect the land and the animals that inhabit it is one of the main functions of the hunting legacy here in WI. I hope when all the lights go out, I am in the company of a lifelong hunter who will be able to get dinner.

OH MY GOD! SOMEONE KILLED A DEER AND ...(GASP) THEY ATE IT!!! Now I think I will go vote for the other side...they only KILL BABIES. Do you see the utter and complete hypocracy of the whole Democratic party?

My friend Charlie Sykes took calls on WTMJ about this topic today. One of them was quite bizarre, Mike from Richfield. They’re out there, folks. Of course, you can listen to the entire podcast, but the bizarre call is from 22:47- 26:23. Good stuff!

Related Reading from Doug Giles.

STAND BACK, FRANKLIN! IT'S A STAMPEDE!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 28, 2012

THAT'S RIGHT. A STAMPEDE!

Joel McNally downplays strange guy slapping women on the butt

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 30, 2012

Think I'm joking?

If you missed tonight's installment of interCHANGE, check the re-broadcast Sunday morning at 11:00.

Cartoon of the Year?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 30, 2012

You be the judge Saturday morning on This Just In...

Goodnight everyone, and have the most wonderful Christmas weekend!

Posted by Kevin Fischer on Nov. 30, 2012

Nostalgia

“I never tried to sing like anybody else, fortunately I didn't sound like anybody else. It just happened."

"I'll keep going until I get to the point where I can't get out on stage."
Andy Williams

It's Friday night. Time to unwind with our regular Friday night feature on This Just In.

The weekend has finally arrived.

The sun has set.

The evening sky has erupted.

Let's put controversy and provocative blogs aside for the rest of this work week and smooth our way into Saturday and Sunday.

Growing up, there weren’t 150 channels on cable television because there wasn’t cable television. Entertainment-wise in prime time you had three choices: ABC, NBC, and CBS. Public TV was purely educational and instructional. And UHF, in Milwaukee’s case, Channel 18, was a hodgepodge, if the signal even came through.

Christmastime brought great variety specials. You never missed Bob Hope or Perry Como. Andy Williams was on that list, too. His annual Christmas show was always the highest rated of his weekly TV programs. It simply wasn’t Christmas without him.

For the first time in over 50 years, we celebrate Christmas without Williams who died on September 25 after a year-long battle with bladder cancer. He was 84.

Williams performs at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2002.

Thankfully we have memories that live on via video and recordings.

Tonight, the sounds of the season, Andy Williams style.

Of course, an Andy Williams Christmas special had to have brothers, lots and lots of brothers.

Produced by Journal Interactive, a division of Journal Communications, Inc.

Like us on Follow us on

America chooses a dangerous, possibly irreversable, course

Page Tools

Latest Posts

Archives