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.
A Super story about a Super Wisconsin business
From Baraboo. The product has quite a history.
The response from liberals: Yeh, but is that company paying enough taxes?
Steeler fans at this year's Super Bowl. AP Photo.
Best NFL commercial star?
The NY Times examines.
My vote is for Joe Greene.
My most popular blogs
As I post every Sunday, here are the top five most popular of my blog entries from the previous week:
1) This would be the talk of any Super Bowl party
2) Friday night on InterCHANGE
3) Lena Taylor on InterCHANGE?
4) Doyle gets McCallum-itis
5) TIE
What price clean elections?
Another tired old idea from state Democrats
Photos of the Week (2/1/09)
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In his State of the State, Gov. Jim Doyle said, “Staying even is the new increase,” referring to state expenditures.
Journal Sentinel photo: Joe Koshollek
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reaches to sign an autograph after leaving "The View," Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Culinary no-no #97
Are you going to or hosting a Super Bowl party today? If you are, you’re going to eat, and eat, and eat. When the game ends, Americans will have consumed 156 billion calories. Today is the second biggest eating day of the year. (Thanksgiving is #1).
Since everybody is watching their weight because of all those New Year resolutions (insert huge guffaw here), there are a kazillion websites encouraging healthy Super Bowl snacks. Take this one, for example, that opens with:
“Just because its Super Bowl time doesn’t mean you have to pig out on chicken wings and nachos.”
Excuse me, but yes it does!
“We here at Twirlit have got some great suggestions for the healthiest, tastiest and most recession proof snacks this Super Bowl Sunday:
2) Plain yogurt and fruit cups w/acai berry- Plain yogurt makes a great substitute for whipped cream and acai berries are the new diet superfood.
3) Veggie platter w/celery, carrots, broccoli and low fat dip- Substitute those greasy old potato chips and head over to the produce section for some healthy alternatives.”
My response?
Then there’s the food police and their all-knowing advice. Eat this but don’t eat that.
This could be the worst: Animal rights advocates masquerading as cancer sympathizers in an effort to get you to eat tofu during the game.
I congratulate Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko who said, “Super Bowl Sunday is about watching football and eating food, not hugging cows and saving chickens. This phony-baloney Cancer Project group shouldn’t try to ruin the big game with a health scare. I’m throwing a flag on this whole nonsense campaign. Fifteen yards—personal foul for unnecessary buzzkill.”
Here are the details.
Wolfgang Puck says, “Live, love and eat!” I say eat, whatever the hell you want: cheese puffs, dips, meatballs, cheese, deli meats, sub sandwiches, nachos, pizza. Calories? Bring ‘em on!
Counting calories and adhering to a strict diet today is a SUPER culinary no-no.
Here’s another no-no dieticians and nutritionists lined up from Walla Walla to Miami would agree on.
I don’t care.
I want it.
I want it right now.
It has me drooling.
I have to have it.
Don’t lecture me about how it hardens the arteries,
Please carve off a slice for me pronto!
CULINARY NO-NO BONUS:
Worst airline in-flight meal
Say it ain't so, Michael
This is very disappointing.
I may talk about this Monday when I fill in for Mark Belling on Newstalk 1130 WISN.
Rolling Stone, The Boss, and Super Bowl betting
It sounded innocent....asking readers what songs they thought would make up Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl halftime playlist.
It proved dramatic enough for Vegas to notice, big time.
It is now 2:00...
And Jennifer has Animal Planet tuned to Puppy Bowl V.
Please, please, please, if any of her friends are reading and want to call her and keep her occupied on the phone until, say, 5:20....
The MJS Scorecard (2/1/09)
EVERY SUNDAY I REVIEW THE MOST COVETED EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE WEEK BY OPINION-MAKERS AS WELL AS THE MOST WIDELY-READ, THE SUNDAY “CROSSROADS” SECTION OF THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. I WILL KEEP TRACK OF THE CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERAL PIECES CONTRIBUTED BY NON-JOURNAL SENTINEL WRITERS AND KEEP A RUNNING SCORE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
TODAY’S LIBERAL PIECES:
James Rowen: A focused, green stimulus would do us good
I didn't even have to read the piece to know that this offering from environmental elitist, far leftie Jim Rowen goes immediately into the "L" column. But to be fair, I did read the column that endorses a fedeal stimulus package with obscene spending, suggestst "green" be the top priority of state agencies like the DOT, calls Scott Walker's objection to the stimulus concenpt, "absurd," insists that road builders not build new highways or addtional lanes, and requests greater rail construction.
Joseph Stiglitz: Federal takeover required
The federal government should take over America's banking system (MJS lifted the column from CNN.com).
Wayne S. Smith: Time to re-engage Cuba, at last
Throughout UWM's annual Great Decisions lecture series, the paper is allowing presenters to write columns. This week, Wayne Smith is delighted that President Obama has a different approach to Cuba than his predecessor, whom he's happy to criticize.
TODAY’S CONSERVATIVE PIECES:
Peter Boone and Simon Johnson: Stock warrants are better
The federal government taking over America's banking system is not such a good idea.
ANOTHER VIEW: Wisconsin banks didn't cause crisis, remain strong
Kurt Bauer defends Wisconsin banks in a response to today's main MJS editorial.
NEITHER LIBERAL NOR CONSERVATIVE
John Gurda: Milwaukee TV's days of invention
MJS SCORECARD:
TODAY: Liberal-3, Conservative-2
YEAR TO DATE: Liberal-10, Conservative-6
Super Bowl tidbits
From Slate:
• "More Americans watched the Super Bowl last year than voted in the 2004 presidential election."
• "The 17 most-watched programs in TV history have all been Super Bowl games."
SUPER photos
Singer Faith Hill gestures after singing "America the Beautiful" prior to the NFL's Super Bowl XLIII football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa, Florida February 1, 2009. Photo: Reuters
US singer Jennifer Hudson performs "The Star Spangled Banner" prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009. Oscar-winner Hudson, making her first major public appearance since three members of her family were slain last October, received a stirring ovation at Super Bowl XLIII for her rendition of the American National Anthem. Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were murdered last October in a shattering tragedy for the celebrity singer and actress, whose star turn in "Dreamgirls" earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007. Photo: Reuters
Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III, Jeffrey Skiles of Oregon, Wisconsin, and the US Airways Flight 1549 crew stand on the field as singer Jennifer Hudson performs the National Anthem during the pre-game show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (#7) is pulled down just short of a touchdown by Darnell Dockett (#90) of the Arizona Cardinals in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009. Photo: Getty Images
Gary Russell (#33) of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown past the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009. Photo: Getty Images
I'm on WISN today...
I fill in for Mark Belling from 3-6.
J. Gravelle of The Daily Scoff will have a guest blog later.
ELVIS and Super Bowl XLIII
Remember this Coke ad?
Elvis did it first, back in 1970.
For $20,000, I'd Go Back to High School Too
By Guest Blogger J. Gravelle
In lieu of attending my senior year of high school, I took some time off to find myself. Twenty-one years, in fact. (Seriously, I looked everywhere.)
One of my gym teachers had told our entire phys-ed class that "You don't need a high school diploma."
He was right.
"You could go out into the world today and start earning a living. Lots of young men have done that in their teens."
He was right about that, too.
"Of course, you'll have to work harder than most, at lower paying jobs than most, and even if you end up with a decent career, you'll have to prove yourself over and over again to try and get ahead because you'll be up against people with diplomas and degrees."
I should have paid more attention to that last part, but I didn't. So I put off graduating for a generation or two.
You know what would have kept ME in school that last year? A check for more than $20,000.
Not only would I have stayed, AND graduated, but my tookus would have a Manitowoc Lincoln High logo tattooed on it too, were that part of the deal.
There was no such program back then, but Franklin has one today, in the guise of the Franklin High Saber Academy.
No, they don't cut checks to the kids. Too bad, too. According to this story, they're spending over twenty grand per kid to get them to graduate. They aren't paying the students though, they're paying teachers to not grade their papers and coo "Oh, good try!"
Me, I'd have preferred to get the money myself instead of paying professional patronizers.
Maybe we should ask Franklin's marginalized students which way THEY'D prefer it...
Through the magic of podcasting...
If you missed today's Mark Belling program on Newstalk 1130 featuring yours truly as guest host, here it is.
HOUR 1- Super Bowl stuff, Firefighters call in sick on Super Bowl Sunday leaving city vulnerable
HOUR 2- Michael Phelps
HOUR 3- Smoking bans in prisons
"Blue flu" in Milwaukee?
It happened in Atlanta Sunday when firefighters, upset with proposed budget and salary cuts, called in sick on the most heavily watched television day of the year, leaving a large metropolis vulnerable to arsonists and fire damage. Innocent residents, including children, could have been killed because the Atlanta Fire Department was essentially non-functional Sunday.
I spoke about this while filling in for Mark Belling on WISN today.
Shame on those firefighters that called in sick (they probably weren’t) for putting their city in jeopardy and peril. Don't insult the taxpayers' intelligence by saying this was just a coincidence.
Shame on the city for proposing cuts to public safety. Find other ways to fix your budget mess.
Atlanta firefighters, while I recognize you’re upset, fight at the bargaining table and honor your commitment and job responsibilities. Do not protest by sitting on your couch eating nachos watching football while potential fires kill innocent people.
During my program, several Milwaukee firefighters called in, with some willing to go on the air. Others were not. They claim the same pattern of absenteeism could hit Milwaukee because of proposed budget cuts.
I do not support any budget cuts affecting police or fire protection. As I said on the air today, I will look into this, and if a similar situation resulting in a near total collapse of fire protection could take place in Milwaukee, I’ll write about it here and blast it on WISN. Here’s the Atlanta story I talked about today.
No smoking in prison...period!
Wisconsin is one of 18 states that bans smoking in its corrections facilities. Inmates can’t smoke, period. Employees at the Kettle Morraine and Jackson correctional facilities can smoke outside as part of collective bargaining agreements.
Otherwise, a ban has been in place since September 2006 in Wisconsin. Inmates can’t smoke. Employees, including the guards can’t smoke.
Michigan became the 18th state to ban smoking in its prisons. Their ban went into effect yesterday, February 1, 2009.
In the 18 states that have banned smoking in prisons, there have been no insurrections, no uprisings, no riots. And corrections workers aren’t quitting their jobs.
I support this ban.
Wait a minute, Kevin. You are vehemently opposed to a statewide smoking ban in Wisconsin. How can you be in favor of this ban?
Easy. Real easy.
Inmates, in addition to their housing, food, recreation, law library opportunities, etc, are guaranteed health care. Why should the taxpayers, when health care costs are skyrocketing and many are without health insurance, subsidize the care of criminals when they smoke?
I’m for any measure that makes life difficult for inmates. They are to be punished. This isn’t supposed to be pleasant or a Hilton.
What about the workers? Don’t they deserve a smoking break for the crummy job they have to endure?
The state already bans smoking in many, if not all state workplaces. How can we make an exception for corrections officers? The state is trying to use a heavy hand and tell businesses they can’t allow smoking on their own property. If that’s the case, how can we allow prison guards to smoke, inside or outside a facility?
Here are details on the Michigan ban I talked about on WISN while filling in for Mark Belling today.
The night the music almost died in the northern Wisconsin woods
January 31, 1959
AP
50 years later, we still remember
The story of "Peggy Sue"
Good news, unless you're a liberal
The liberal NY Times is crying the blues that the rough economy has not resulted in an explosion of welfare. The paper went out of its way to find quotes from folks who are alarmed.
Fewer people on the welfare rolls means more people who are self-sufficient. Reduced dependency on the government is a good thing. Take a look at what’s happening in Wisconsin. Food stamp aid is increasing while the number of welfare recipients is declining.
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State |
Welfare recipients, 2007 | Welfare recipients, 2008 | Pct. change in welfare recipients | Unemployment rate, 2007 | Unemployment rate, 2008 | Pct. pt. change in unemployment | Food stamp recipients, 2007 | Food stamp recipients, 2008 | Pct. change in food stamp recipients |
| Wisconsin | 38,803 | 37,811 | -2.6 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 394,494 | 469,853 | 19.1 |
Are the poor being served? Liberals examining food stamp data would perform a double spin. The increase in the number of food stamp recipients, they’d claim, is an indication that the poor aren’t being helped enough because they’re having to apply for assistance. On the other hand, if the number of recipients goes down, again, the spin is that the poor aren’t being helped enough.
When it comes to government handouts like the Porky Pig stimulus package, it’s never good enough for the liberals and the crowd that can’t wait to get their grubs on the money and spend it.
I raise the question that I have in the past: just how poor are the poor? You’d be surprised.
Greenfield's on a roll
Tonight, the Greenfield Common Council voted 5-0 to approve a ban on sick leave mandates. Last week, the greenfield Common Council voted to reconsider its rejection of a Franklin-like ordinance restricting where sex offenders can live, and passed that ordinance unanimously.
Both common sesne ordinances were proposed by Greenfield alderman Linda Lubotsky. Lubotsky is not a candidate for mayor this April. Someday, she just might be.
Like Ohio, like Wisconsin
Take this story and wherever it says Ohio, replace it with Wisconsin. Wherever it says Governor Strickland, replace with Governor Doyle.
The Ohio governor's approach to the state budget sounds eerily like a document Jim Doyle might propose. Ohio's Strickland wnats to incease 120 state fees. God, I hope Doyle isn't paying attention.
90,000 sex offenders
They've been booted off MySpace.
That's an astonishing number.
They're out there, folks. The fight to protect the innocent from falling victim to these perverts never ends.
Is it Denny's?
Or is it state and local government officials, like pigs at a trough, waiting to be fed fatty federal stimulus funds?
Democrats don't commit crimes...
They make mistakes.
Charles Dharapak/AP Photo
Michael Reagan writes:
"No Democrats ever commit crimes. They merely make mistakes. Not so with Republicans. If you tell a joke at the 100th birthday party of a retiring and dying Senator, your career in the Senate will be in shambles, as Trent Lott discovered. If you're a Democrat, however, well, you simply make a mistake when you do something wrong. Democrats can do just about anything they want. They can avoid paying taxes, wrap $90,000 in bills in tinfoil and put in a freezer, and it's written off as just another mistake."
Read...
Posing as someone else on the Internet
It's a huge pet peeve of mine. In an ideal world, everyone who writes or comments on the Internet would have to divulge his/her true identity. Not all but far too many that choose to use a false identity or nickname have an ulterior motive at hand.
These cowards hide behind a false name to pump themselves up in their feeble minds, cause mischief, be mean or cruel, or at worst, commit crimes.
Here's another example.
Put a leash on this dog of an idea
On Sunday morning, January 25, Kathy Lueneburg’s golden retriever, Megan jumped over a fence at the Animal Campus kennel on Loomis Road. Megan is a companion to 17-year old Michelle Lueneburg who has Down’s syndrome.
The Lueneburg’s of Oak Creek were planning to embark on a road trip, but those plans came to a sudden halt and a search for 2-year old Megan soon began.
For days, Franklin police and an alerted community looked for signs of Megan. Day after day passed with no luck. Finally, after nearly a week, Megan crawled into a dog crate left by Lueneberg at the Polonia Soccer Club on Loomis Road. The ordeal was over. Megan was happily, safely back home.
For seven days and six nights, Megan roamed, no one knows where, but she was out there, somewhere……..without a leash. That’s right. An entire week, Megan wasn’t within 6 inches, 6 feet, or maybe even 6 miles of her owner.
Under a proposed ordinance by Franklin alderman Steve Taylor, this story would not have had a celebratory ending. Taylor wants a requirement that all dogs, cats, and even tiny horses, when off the owner’s property, be on a leash. That means that Megan’s owner, if Taylor’s plan would have been Franklin law, would have been in violation. Megan’s owner would have been the bad guy. Megan’s owner would have been the villain.
The Megan story clearly demonstrates what a farce Taylor’s nonsensical idea truly is.
Franklin Common Council delays action on proposed dog leash ordinance
Tuesday night, the Franklin Common Council put off a vote on Alderman Taylor’s proposed dog leash mandate.
During debate, questions were raised about the proposed ordinance’s effect on the two dog daycare facilities in Franklin that have dog run events and a possible dog park in the city. City Attorney Jesse Wesolowski answered that Taylor’s ordinance would apply to both the dog runs and the dog park. In other words, the ordinance would prohibit such events or parks.
Sensing his resolution would go down in flames, Alderman Taylor moved to refer his plan back to the City Attorney for review. Taylor plans to bring forward a new dog leash mandate, possibly in April that would exempt the dog runs and dog parks.
Even with those exemptions, it’s still a foolish idea. It makes me wonder what other similar plans Taylor has in the works. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of his unnecessary proposals.
The wise move for Taylor would be to simply withdraw the entire dog leash requirement and get his priorities in order.
Here’s more from FranklinNOW’s John Neville.
How did UW do today?
Today was signing day in college football. Alabama ranked #1 in the rankings of signings of high school athletes.
In the Big Ten, Ohio State was 3rd, Michigan was 7th, Michigan State was 16th, Penn State was 25th, Illinois was 32nd, Minnesota was 39th, and Wisconsin was 43rd.
My Fighting Irish had the 20th best recruiting class.
More on Wisconsin, and for you fellow Golden Domers…
College football is less than seven months away, one of the only good things about the end of summer.
Is the Pro Bowl ever interesting?
Other than the travelogue pictures of gorgeous Hawaii, or fans in the stands in bikinis?
This year, the game could be very interesting.
Now that the money has poured in, Assembly Democrats pose for holy pictures
The Democrat-controlled Assembly is falling all over itself about its new policy that members of the Assembly cannot raise funds during state budget negotiations.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? That whole good government thing. However, there is a loophole.
And why weren’t the Assembly Dems hootin’ and a hollerin’ about this before? Too bad the executive branch won't follow suit.
Can you say....this?
Note to Franklin Alderman Steve Taylor...
Please, please, please, please don't read this...
Where is the **** outrage?
Can you **** imagaine if a Republican had proposed this?
South Carolina Democrats would rather ignore their colleague.
Deport Obama's aunt?
That's what one group is demanding.
What will the Great One do?
What will his aunt do?
What will the INS do?
Answers to above:
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Isn't the U.S. government great!
They've been telling you for over a year the digital TV conversion is coming.
Your favorite TV shows have been interrupted over and over again with that nauseating crawl at the bottom of the screen that the digital TV conversion is coming.
You've been inundated with announcements on TV, radio, newspapers, the Internet that the CHANGE (the buzzword) is coming.
But despite the fact that over 90% of America is ready for the original conversion date of 2/17/09, because some are just too lazy or stupid to take the simple action necessary to make sure they can watch American Idol and House, and even though a delay will cost millions of dollars, the scheduled conversion has been put off for another few months.
This is yet another example of the wussification of America. The federal government has to step in because some folks won't have television, even though they had over one year to do something about it, including applying for coupons to make the transition.
On last Friday's edition of InterCHANGE on MIlwaukee Public Television, ultra-lefty Joel McNally took issue with my argument that folks had plenty of time to adjust. Some folks didn't see the announcements on TV, Joel proclaimed, because they don't watch TV. Well then, what the hell do they need a delay or a coupon for if THEY DON'T WATCH TELEVISION!!!!
What a country. Because you're too lazy or dumb to do what you've been told to do for the past 365-plus days, we'll just give you more time. We'll even PAY for whatever you need to watch TV, you lazy bum.
What's next?
Can't get your refrigerator to make perfect ice cubes? Here's a coupon for a new icebox.
Your microwave won't reheat French fries just right? (Don't you just hate that?) Call 1-800-FREELOAD for a coupon.
That toaster won't pop up because the bagels and Texas French toast slices are too big? Call Gwen Moore. She'd be happy to tell you how to get a coupon for a new toaster.
Again, tell me how this spoiled rotten generation would have fared during a REAL Depression? I know. They'd be under the mattress, sucking their thumbs.
Even the lefties are ripping the Journal Sentinel
Have I started something?
Some left-wing bloggers jumped all over me for daring to suggest their favorite in-their-hip pocket newspaper was too biased, all because I started to pay closer attention to their coveted Sunday editorial page.
Now a liberal blogger attacks the paper for bragging about itself.
Liberals crying the blues that the MJS isn't liberal enough? I love it. That's the laugh of the year so far.
We must, we must, we must have smoking bans until...
The money stops coming in.
The do-gooder smoking ban advocates seem to run out of steam when the bottom line goes south.
More disregard for human life
In the past, I have blogged and discussed on WISN the extremely disturbing pattern in America of a total disregard for human life.
This behavior is most apparent in the brain dead parents or guardians who leave small children, babies, or pets in locked cars during hot weather days. They get no sympathy from me.
As great as America is, there are too many intellectually and morally bankrupt individuals walking the streets. ABC News put a laser beam on just how ignorant and/or uncaring our society has become.
Despite it being winter on the calendar, ABC dedicated a segment of “What Would You Do?” to the sudden encountering of a baby locked inside a hot car.
Watch. I love the passersby in this video.
But there’s more, what you didn’t see on the video.
ABCNews.com reports, “What we learned both surprised and alarmed us.”
Read...
Sadly, when summer arrives, young babies are going to die because the children were left unattended in an automobile furnace. The negligent parents will cry and cry and cry and cry some more and claim sorrow at such a tragic mistake. And a lot of naïve people will be sucked in and buy that malarkey and foolishly say in the so-called parent’s defense that mistakes happen. And then there’s my personal favorite: Hasn’t that person suffered enough?
Who’s buried in the cemetery underneath a tombstone? The sobbing sore excuse of a parent/ guardian or the innocent child?
I kid you not..
I had to laugh, with the blogging I've been doing about that proposed dog ordinance in Franklin to receive this e-mail today:
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Dogs, dogs, and more dogs
This couldn’t wait for Saturday’s edition of The Barking Lot.
Next week, it’s the Westminster Dog Show.
But TONIGHT at 8:00 Milwaukee time, CNBC has a sneak preview of the show and takes a closer look at the $43 billion and growing pet industry.
Friday night on InterCHANGE
Here are the topics the panel discusses Friday night on InterCHANGE on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10 at 6:30:1 – New Berlin Student.
A male New Berlin High School student gets not one, not two, not three, but thirty-one fellow students to send him nude pictures of themselves via the Internet while he poses as a fellow female student! He then allegedly blackmailed many of them into various sex acts. Can you imagine anyone you know sending nude pictures of themselves to anyone over the internet? When you were in high school could you imagine giving nude pictures of yourself to a female student? Why did thirty-one teenage boys do this? Is this a new reality of the Age of Technology? Is this just an example of stupid, inexperienced, horny, teenage boys who think that the internet is “private.” Can parents use this as a wakeup call and a teaching moment to show their kids the tragic damage that can be done by foolish behavior? Is this another example of the pressures on kids today that just simply weren’t there thirty or forty years ago?
2 – Obama So Far.
Well, how do you think the president is doing so far? Is he impressive, or unimpressive? During the campaign, all the reports said he surrounded himself with the best political minds. If so, why has he had so many failures and tax dodgers amongst the people he had hoped to name to his cabinet and inner circle? Is he wasting his time looking for approval and support from the Republicans? Is it smart to be making himself so available to the media while he tries to sell his stimulus package to the American public?
3 – Michael Phelps.
Should people be upset and outraged that Michael Phelps, the superstar gold medal winning Olympic athlete is caught via cell phone camera taking a hit off of a bong? Why would he be so stupid? Is he still just a young, immature guy trying to fit in with the regular folks? Is it any big deal? Both the current president and the two preceding ones admitted smoking pot. Is it time to make pot smoking legal?
C'mon, Franklin!
Franklin should be on this list.
You think the Great One would know his way around by now
Obama is perfect. That's why the media ignores stuff like this.
The president is no pauper
"When I saw an article today indicating that Wall Street bankers had given themselves $20 billion worth of bonuses -- the same amount of bonuses as they gave themselves in 2004 -- at a time when most of these institutions were teetering on collapse and they are asking for taxpayers to help sustain them, and when taxpayers find themselves in the difficult position that, if they don't provide help, that the entire system could come down on top of our heads, that is the height of irresponsibility. It is shameful."
President Obama, 1/29/09
The president doesn’t exactly have it that tough, either.
Will Wisconsin be the last to deprive citizens self-protection?
There are just two states that don’t allow the right to carry a concealed weapon: Wisconsin and Illinois.
In Illinois, support is growing to make a change, support from an unlikely source.
Speak out against late-term abortions at UW
The UW makes a horrible decision about abortions. You can make your voice heard.
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Have you ever wondered who is looking out for the severely disabled animals of the world? Well, you can meet one group in North Carolina doing just that – Blind Cat Rescue. Feline blindness is very common and it takes particularly caring people to help these cats enjoy the colors of life they can’t see. 
Get updated on Operation Baghdad Pups' successes and goals by video. You can watch a news story about a dog and sailor Baghdad Pups recently reunited and another video about Pacino, a dog still in Iraq who SPCA International hopes to bring home for Sgt. Daniel Schaefer in March. 
Although spring is on its way, cold weather is still lingering. Your pets are as vulnerable to cold temperatures as humans. SPCA International recommends you always keep your animals indoors during extreme cold and only let them outside for short periods of supervised time. 
Is your local shelter struggling in this tough economy? SPCA International gives regular grants to local animal shelters, rescue groups, rehabilitation centers, foster networks and wildlife support centers through our Shelter program. Your local shelter may be eligible for a $1,000 Shelter grant. 