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This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Aug 19 2008, 10:32 PM
Sanya Richards was supposed to win the gold medal in the women’s 400 meters competition in Beijing. Richards had licked the unusual illness, Behcet’s syndrome to solidify herself as the favorite.
For most of the race, Richards appeared headed to the gold medal spot on the winner’s platform. But at 320 meters, she knew her hamstring “grabbed up” on her. Somehow, she managed to not only finish the race, but end up in third for the bronze. Most athletes would be happy with that finish, but not when you’re expected to brink back the gold.
The classy Richards consented to an interview with NBC following her defeat, and she told a global audience that the race wasn’t about Sanya Richards, but about our country, one that she’s very proud of.
Even in her despair and depression, in her lowest of moments, she found it in her soul to express love for the United States. Compare that to Mrs. Barack Obama who didn’t feel proud of the U.S. until her husband gained fame. Compare that to Barack Obama, who finds it difficult to express even a modicum of patriotism.
Even if Obama is victorious in November, he’ll never be the winner Sanya Richards is.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Aug 19 2008, 08:12 PM
It’s an argument you often hear from the left about spending priorities. If only we’d take a large chunk of that money we allocate for corrections and put it, instead, towards education.
In this spending spree state we call Wisconsin, we’re not cheap when it comes to our prisons, no doubt about it.
The Wisconsin Family Council recently released the comprehensive Wisconsin Cultural Indicators, an overview of important indicators that impact Wisconsin’s best natural resource: traditional families. According to the report:
“Expenditures per inmate have increased over the last several decades. Between 1970 and 2003, per inmate expenditures increased nearly 9 fold in Wisconsin from $4,505 to $40,096 per capita. In 2003, Wisconsin ranked 15th among the states in the amount of total state corrections expenditures. During this year, Wisconsin spent over $9 billion on state corrections. Since 1960, the adult prison population in Wisconsin has increased 8 fold, and between 2000 and 2005, there was a 66.7 percent increase in the adult prison population.”
Yes, we’re locking up lots of bad guys, and yes, we’re paying a pretty penny to keep them incarcerated. But make no mistake, the cost of corrections isn’t short-changing our commitment to education. From Wisconsin Cultural Indicators:
“Expenditures on public primary and secondary education in Wisconsin have increased to $9.9 billion for the 2006-07 school year. In 2005, Wisconsin’s per student spending was 15 percent higher than the U.S. average per student spending. During this same year, Wisconsin’s average spending per student was $10,605 compared to the U.S. average of $9,207.”
So, we aren’t cheap when it comes to school spending, either. Education is the largest expenditure in the entire mammoth state budget.
Corrections vs. education doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition, nor should it. Money spent on public safety is a wise, if I may use the word liberals always use as code for spending, “investment.” Again, from Wisconsin Cultural Indicators:
“According to the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, a violent offense was committed at a ratio of one every 32 minutes, 23 seconds in 2006. In 2006, there were 165 homicides (one every 2 days, 5 hours, 5 minutes), 1,241 forcible rapes (one every 7 hours, 3 minutes), 5,634 robberies (one every 1 hour, 33 minutes) and 9,183 aggravated assaults (one every 57 minutes, 14 seconds).”
Earlier this year, the Pew Center on the States’ Public Safety Performance Project reported that at the end of 2006, Wisconsin had 23,431 inmates. One year later, at the end of 2007, Wisconsin had 22,690 inmates. That’s a decrease of 741 inmates, or a 3.2% decline. Wisconsin is bucking the national trend of locking up more prisoners.
In fiscal year 2007, according to this report, Wisconsin spent $890 million, or 6.7% of the state’s General Fund. How does that compare to education spending in Wisconsin? In fiscal year 2007, Wisconsin spent $1.214 billion on education.
Is the cost of corrections too expensive? It would cost more NOT to lock up criminals.
Crimes of rape, robbery, assault, personal and household theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft cost victims of crime in America billions of dollars each year according to the U.S. Department of Justice. These costs include losses from property theft or damage, cash losses, medical expenses, and amount of pay lost because of injury or activities related to the crime.
The National Center for Victims of Crime also keeps crime statistics:
• Crime is estimated to create $105 billion in medical expenses, lost earnings, and costs for victim services. Factoring in the intangible costs, such as pain and suffering and a reduced quality of life, brings the total estimated cost of crime to $450 billion annually.
• Victims of violent crime and their families received benefits totaling $442.3 billion in federal fiscal year 2003.
• Medical expenses were 48 percent of all victim compensation payments in 2003; economic support for lost wages for injured victims and for lost support in homicides comprised 21 percent of the total; and 12 percent went toward mental health counseling for crime victims.
• Reported burglaries resulted in an estimated monetary loss of $3.5 billion, with an estimated average of $1,626 per burglary.
• In 2003, the average value of property stolen due to larceny-theft was $698. Cumulatively, $4.9 billion in property was stolen.
• The average monetary value of motor vehicles stolen in 2003 was $6,797. The total value of stolen motor vehicles was $8.6 billion.
• The average dollar loss due to arson offenses was $11,942 per offense in 2003.
When it comes to corrections and education, there doesn’t have to be a choice. We’re already spending more than half of our state budget on education. Cutting back on corrections would only make our streets less safe and cost us a lot more in the long run.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Aug 19 2008, 06:18 PM
I have learned that the Franklin School Board at its June 25, 2008 meeting approved a salary increase for Superintendent Steve Patz as well as salary increases for other District Administrators and certain District non-represented employees. Patz and his office confirmed the salary increases. This is the first time this information is being reported.
The School Board approved a 3.8% increase for Patz who is in the second year of his contract. I reported in my blog, “Do NOT cry for any school superintendent” that prior to the Board's action, Patz’s annual salary was $150,000. The increase approved by the Franklin School Board would hike his salary to $155,700. Governor Doyle’s annual salary is $137,092.
The vote in favor of the increases was 5-0. School Board member David Works voted to abstain. School Board members discussed the salaries in closed session, then voted in open session. It is certainly open to debate whether Patz, who already had been signed to a lofty contract, deserved an increase after one year on the job. The actual percentage of the increase is not out of line.
Here’s what I find alarming and totally outrageous. As I’ve documented many times on my blog, last year, the Franklin School Board, at the direction of Business Manager Jim Milzer, approved a property school tax levy increase they thought was 5.6%. Milzer told the Franklin School Board the night they voted for the school budget that the increase was 5.6%. It turned out weeks later after I reported it on my blog that the increase was actually just under 12%.
To date, there have been no ramifications for Milzer who has not been held accountable for his fleecing of the taxpayers. Instead, he’s been rewarded with a huge raise.
Milzer’s previous salary was $119, 893. On June 25, the School Board voted 5-0, with Works abstaining, to increase Milzer’s salary by $14,090. That’s an 11.75% increase, Franklin taxpayers. Milzer’s new salary is $133, 983, putting him in the same ballpark as Governor Doyle.
All total, besides Patz, 61 district employees got raises. Keep this information in mind as the Franklin School Board goes through another round of budget deliberations. Remember all the “woe is us” stories about school districts being cut to the bone with fewer and fewer resources at their disposal.
During a brief, but pleasant chat with I had with the Superintendent, Patz told me there’s a greater emphasis on accountability to the public within the School District. I hope so. It starts with being upfront and open about how you’re spending the taxpayer’s money.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Aug 19 2008, 05:30 PM
I'm sorry, but...
Henry Winkler unveils the Fonzie statue this morning. Journal Sentinel Photo/Gary Porter
That statue does NOT look like the Fonz.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Aug 19 2008, 05:57 AM
This Friday, I fill in for Mark Belling on Newstalk 1130 WISN from 3-6.
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Aug 18 2008, 11:28 PM
LA Lakers star and U.S. Olympian Kobe Bryant put NBC's Chris Collinsworth in his place when Collinsworth questioned if Bryant's patriotism was "cool"?
Read...
It's quite revealing. Even the sports media thinks Americans shouldn't be proud to be Americans.
Good for you, Kobe!
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Aug 18 2008, 10:25 PM
One of my favorite columnists is the very blunt, irreverent Doug Giles. While the mainstream media ignores the barbaric, horrific abortion views of the Messiah, Giles is one of many columnists who continues to keep the leaser beam focused on this important issue that isn't going away. Giles writes:
“Barack doesn’t represent hope or change, unless of course you’re an American-based euro-socialist or . . . or . . . an unborn child who’s queued up for an abortion. To the unborn baby, or fetus, as the hopemeister would call you, you’re about to change—but it isn’t for the best. But that doesn’t matter because Obama’s Jesus is cool with your eradication, you little pest. Next!”
Read the entire piece. Giles, as always, is exceptional.
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Aug 18 2008, 09:54 PM
Barack Obama has been trying to cover up his votes in favor of infanticide. His latest defense: His detractors are liars.
Prove it, Mr. Obama. That’s the challenge that’s been issued by National Right To Life. Here’s a news release issued today by Wisconsin Right To Life about the most dangerous Presidential candidate ever, a man who favors killing live babies that survive abortions:
Obama Accuses the National Right to Life Committee of Lying
For immediate release: Monday, August 18, 2008
Last week the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) released documents that proved that Barack Obama has been blatantly covering up his actions as an Illinois state senator to actively defeat legislation to protect the lives of born, living, breathing babies who survive abortion attempts.
The documents included records from the Illinois state legislative committee Obama chaired that revealed that Obama voted for language clarifying that a Born Alive bill would not in any way affect Roe v. Wade. But shockingly, Obama turned around and voted against the amended bill which contained the language he claims to this day would have made the bill acceptable to him. "Obama was caught red-handed in his attempt to deceive the American people when NRLC released these official documents, "said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director for Wisconsin Right to Life.
Over the weekend, Obama continued the cover-up when he told CBN News correspondent David Brody that NRLC is lying about his actions on the Illinois Born Alive bill. Obama said, "I have said repeatedly that I would have been completely in, fully in support of the federal bill that everybody supported -- which was to say -- that you should provide assistance to any infant that was born -- even if it was as a consequence of an induced abortion. That was not the bill that was presented at the state level. What that bill also was doing was trying to undermine Roe v. Wade."
Then Obama attacked NRLC by telling Brody, "So, for people to suggest that I...somehow in favor of withholding life saving support from an infant born alive is ridiculous. It defies commonsense and it defies imagination and for people to keep on pushing this is offensive and it's an example of the kind of politics we have to get beyond. It's one thing for people to disagree with me about the issue of choice, it's another thing for people to out and out misrepresent my positions repeatedly, even after they know that they're wrong."
Douglas Johnson, NRLC Legislative Director, has issued the following challenge to Obama: "We now challenge Obama to either declare the two 2003 documents to be forgeries and call for an official investigation, or else apologize for his four years of misrepresentation on the issue of babies who are born alive during abortions -- and forcalling us liars."
"This issue is not going to go away, " said Armacost. "Obama is still blatantly trying to cover up his infanticide votes and the American people deserve to know the truth."
Contact: Susan Armacost
414-778-5780
sarmacost@wrtl.org
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Aug 18 2008, 09:14 PM
In light of an investigation showing MPS has all these empty buildings after a $102 million spending spree to fill neighborhood schools failed miserably, the Journal Sentinel asks online readers the following poll question:
Do you trust MPS to make sound financial decisions?
Are they serious? That’s like asking Packer fans if they respect the Bears.
Poll results thus far…
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Aug 18 2008, 05:05 PM
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All of Franklin is outraged at the actions of Eddie Lynn Keck, who awaits sentencing for running down and killing a West Allis couple in Franklin last Christmas after being over served at the Buckhorn, a Franklin bar. One can certainly understand the anger and frustration at the slow-moving wheels of justice in this case. I blogged in the past that the city of Franklin has left itself open to criticism at the way the entire Buckhorn issue has been handled.
There’s an outcry as to why the Franklin Common Council isn’t taking any action on the one area it has leverage in this controversy: Buckhorn’s license. Like it or not, there’s a specific process that is being followed.
I spoke with Franklin City Attorney Jesse Wesolowski today to get some answers. You’ll recall that several months ago, Franklin named Greenfield City Attorney Roger Pyzyk as the special prosecutor in this matter. I attempted to speak with Pyzyk today for a status report but he was unavailable and is getting back to me.
Pyzyk’s responsibility is to examine the case and make a recommendation. His recommendation could be to strip the license, plea bargain, take action against the bartenders and/or the establishment, or do nothing.
Pyzyk’s recommendation will be submitted to the Franklin Common Council’s License Committee comprised of Aldermen Tim Solomon, Steve Taylor, and Kristen Wilhelm. Solomon years ago was instrumental in changing the city’s licensing procedure that now incorporates intensive reviews by building inspectors and comprehensive reports submitted by Franklin Police.
The License Committee can then conduct a hearing before being required to prepare a written report with its recommendation to present to the full Common Council. Then the Common Council can convene and take action.
At the moment, the ball is in the special prosecutor’s court. Pyzyk has yet to sign off on the case with his recommendations. When he does, it’s then up to the Franklin License Committee to take up the matter before the full Council ultimately acts.
I would submit that most residents aware of the Buckhorn controversy want swift action. That won’t happen until the special prosecutor wraps up his part of the investigation.
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 09:22 PM
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
My wife, Jennifer told the waitress at Elvis Presley’s Memphis Restaurant she wanted the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. Jennifer paired it with a chardonnay. That combo is not our culinary no-no, but if you ask a Frenchman, he might have a different opinion.
The Beale Street restaurant closed and is now the site of the EP Delta Kitchen and Bar.
The EP Delta Kitchen and Bar does not have one of the King’s favorites, the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich on its menu, and no, that’s NOT our culinary no-no, but it certainly could be. I mean, c’mon.
This past week was ELVIS WEEK. Thousands of Elvis fans make the sacred sojourn to Memphis to commemorate the anniversary of the King of Rock and Roll’s death, August 16, 1977. So it’s only fitting this week’s culinary no-no focus on this sandwich Elvis made famous.
The fact is there’s nothing wrong with a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich from a purely appetizing standpoint. If we’re talking healthy, file under culinary nightmare. A recipe for the sandwich submitted to the Chicago Sun-Times has the following nutrition information:
Nutrition facts per serving: 486 calories, 31 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 33 mg cholesterol, 45 g carbohydrates, 13 g protein, 546 mg sodium, 4 g fiber
Imagine the flaming dessert Bananas Foster. You’ve got those bananas swimming in butter and brown sugar and cinnamon and vanilla ice cream and rum. If you toss in some Skippy’s, I certainly wouldn’t complain. Fried peanut butter and bananas………..yeh, I could see it at Kopp’s next August.
It’s when you start messing with or experimenting with other alterations to the peanut butter sandwich formula that the red flag goes up.
The Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop in the heart of Greenwich Village has some rather different variations of the popular peanut butter on white:
Menu
Flavored Peanut Butter Sandwiches
The Heat Is On™ Sandwich”
Spicy Peanut Butter and chilled grilled chicken, with a little bit of pineapple jam. Like a Thai satay - only better.
Cinnamon Raisin Swirl™ Sandwich
Cinnamon-Raisin Peanut Butter and vanilla cream cheese, stuffed with crisp apple slices. Cr-runch!
White Chocolate Wonderful™ Sandwich
White Chocolate Peanut Butter and orange marmalade. Like a peanutty creamsicle.
Dark Chocolate Dreams™ Sandwich
Chocolate Peanut Butter and cherry jam, stuffed with shredded coconut. It's peanut butter meets black forest cake.
John Dreyer of the Christian Science Monitor discovered people who admitted to eating peanut butter and mayo, peanut butter and fried eggs, peanut butter, bacon, and honey on toast, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, peanut butter and bologna, fruit and yogurt peanut butter sandwiches, and peanut butter and kimchi (the Korean pickled vegetable dish).
And people say Elvis was strange?
Here's another odd one for you. They serve it at Mo's in, where else, Burbank, California. Click here, scroll down the menu to the Burger section and read the description for Foggybottom Burger.
Suddenly the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich sounds pretty tasty. And it's fairy easy to make.
Don't be cruel. Don't disrespect the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. And by all means, no peanut butter and mayo or bologna in the kids' lunches when they head back to school!
To read previous Culinary no-no’s, please click CULINARY NO-NO under my TAGS section.
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 07:57 PM
I have blogged some e-mails from a retired MPD detective who strongly opposes Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn’s desire to send 36 of our officers to St. Paul to help out with the Republican National Convention.
Another retired MPD official, former detective Glenn Frankovis, whom I respect a great deal, has a not the perspective. He wrote a letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today:POLICE
Milwaukee cops should help staff convention
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn wants to send officers to help provide security at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, and the Milwaukee Police Department will receive training and experience at no cost to the City of Milwaukee taxpayers. Officers will be able to bring that training and experience back here where it can be used if we ever host a similar conference where protesters are expected.
As a City of Milwaukee taxpayer and lifelong resident of Milwaukee, I don't have a problem with Flynn sending troops to help St. Paul. It's not like we'll be the only outside agency helping them, and if you check out the RNC Web site, you'll find the protesters' Web site linked to it. Protesters have a strategy of disruption endorsed by a large number of other protest organizations, including three from Milwaukee. If we're going to send Milwaukee protesters, then the least we can do is send some of our troops.
Crime in Milwaukee is trending down due to Flynn's leadership. If he believes he can do this for a short period of time without sacrificing efficiency, then I trust and support him.
Glenn D. Frankovis
Retired captain, MPD
Milwaukee
From a practical and procedural perspective, I still contend this is a bad move.
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 01:00 PM
You have seen her often during the Olympics. Deborah Phelps is the most famous mom in America today.
She has been an inspiration to her son, Michael, and she’s had to be. She separated from her policeman husband when Michael was 7 years old. That’s when he first learned to swim, even though he was petrified of putting his head underwater.
Watching her son compete this past week has been “no vacation.”
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 09:30 AM
Wounded South Ossetians stay in a hospital shelter in the South Ossetian capital of Tshinvali, August 10, 2008. Russian troops took most of the capital of the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia on Sunday after a three-day battle but the United States condemned Moscow's "dangerous and disproportionate" action. Russia poured troops and tanks across its southern border into tiny Georgia and bombed Georgian targets after Tbilisi attempted on Thursday evening to retake South Ossetia, a small pro-Russian province which broke away from Georgia in the 1990s. (reuters photo)
 Photo: Sergei Grits/Associated Press
Georgian Gocha Kutkhashvili mourns near the body of his mother Natela Guraspashvili, who was killed in the village of Ruisi, near the Georgian breakaway province of South Ossetia, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008. Three villagers were killed and five wounded after a Russian air raid Tuesday morning, residents said.
Manuel Uribe waits for a forklift outside his home in the suburb of San Nicolas de los Garza, in Monterrey August 10, 2008. Once heaviest man in the world, Uribe, now weighing 52 stone (330 kilos), left his home for the third time in six bedridden years to go to La Boca dam in Santiago, some 36 km (22.3 miles) away from Monterrey as part of a postponed birthday celebration. (Reuters photo)
Sheboygan police examine graffiti spray painted on the Lao, Hmong and American Veterans Memorial in Deland Park. Submitted photo to Sheboygan Press
T.J. Wagner, 9, steps up to the tee Thursday during his round of miniature golf at Putters Paradise, a temporary course set up next to the Brown County Veterans Memorial in Ashwaubenon. Some veterans are upset that a miniature golf course and concessions were placed so close to the memorial. Corey Wilson/Press-Gazette
Tourists photograph King penguin Nils Olav as he walks past soldiers from the Norwegian King's Guard after he received a Knighthood at Edinburgh Zoo August 15, 2008. Edinburgh Zoo penguin Olav has been an honorary member and mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard since the 1980s and was made Honorary Colonel-in-Chief in 2005. (David Moir/Reuters)
 Photo: Mike Brown (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
The Elvis and Priscilla Barbie Doll are displayed at Graceland after being unveiled on Tuesday.
Nikki Boertman/The Memphis Commercial Appeal
31 vigils and counting Elvis fans Charlene Adams, left, her mother Joan Abbott, and sister Connie Roberts, all of Alabama, join fans from around the world holding candles during the candlelight vigil held in front of Graceland on the 31st anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley Friday evening August 15, 2008 in Memphis, TN. Elvis Presley died at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977. He was 42. Police officials estimated that 15,000 of the Elvis faithful braved stormy weather outside the gates of Graceland Friday night to mark the 31st anniversary of the singer's death on Aug. 16, 1977. The annual candlelight vigil is the focal point of Elvis Week in Memphis. Crowds swelled after the rain broke, right on cue for the lighting of candles. The theme of the evening was "I Miss You." Visit commercialappeal.com to watch an AppealTV video of the vigil. Note: the candles were lighted at 8:30 p.m. Rain is intermittent at this time.
Retired NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp, far right, is cheered on by U.S. Army soldiers and Marines from Southern California as he plays the new Madden NFL 09 game with U.S. Army soldiers in Camp Virginia, Kuwait via Internet hook-up at 'Maddenpalooza,' the official launch of the Madden NFL 09 game in Pasadena, Calif., Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Players on Spain's Olympic basketball team defended a photo in an ad showing the players using their fingers to apparently make their eyes look more Chinese. The photo, which has been running as a newspaper spread in Spain since Friday, shows all 15 players making the gesture on a basketball court adorned with a Chinese dragon. (Photo: Seur, via AP)
Greco-Roman men's 74-84Kg bronze medalist, Sweden's Ara Abrahamian leaves his medal on the mat during the medal ceremony to protest against a decision in the semi-finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Vanda Biffani)
How close can you get? Michael Phelps claimed his seventh gold medal in a disputed finish in the 100 butterfly. He's on the right, Serbia's Milorad Cavic is on the left.(Nick Laham/Getty Images)
(Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
Garrett Weber-Gale and Michael Phelps celebrate their team's victory in Monday morning's 4x100 meter freestyle relay.
Journal Sentinel Photo: Mary Jo Walicki
James Jones loses his helmet on his way to a touchdown Monday night for the Packers against Cincinnati.
Journal Sentinel Photo: Mary Jo Walicki
Green Bay Packer fans share their opinions Monday night at Lambeau Field
Journal Sentinel Photo: Mark Hoffman
A fan shows her view of Green Pay Packers general manager Ted Thompson during warmups prior to the game against Cincinnati on Monday.
President Bush gestures toward the back of Misty May Treanor as he visits the practice of the U.S. beach volleyball team the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing, China. At right is Treanor's teammate Kerri Walsh. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)  Get used to this, Packer fans. Journal Sentinel photo
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 09:15 AM
By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 08:24 AM
In case you missed it, John McCain gave a fascinating interview to the Chicago Tribune about faith, and rioting against his Vietnam captors in an effort to have Sunday services.
“McCain talked about how his faith was tested during his years as a prisoner of war from 1967 to 1973, said God must have had a plan for him to have kept him alive, and reminisced about his appointment as informal chaplain to his cellmates.”
Recommended reading today…
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Aug 17 2008, 08:16 AM
Wisconsin home values went up, barely, at 1% last year. That’s the smallest increase in over 20 years.
I hope city leaders all across the state, especially now at budget time, are paying attention. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, “The 1% growth in home values will squeeze cities as they struggle to live under a 2% cap in their property tax levies for 2009 and don't know what health care and gas and diesel fuel will cost, said Rich Eggleston of the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities.”
It’s simple. Inflation is increasing. Food and gas prices are high. Our taxes are some of the highest in the nation. Families are struggling to get by. Local units of government need to make tough choices and put the clamps on spending.
That means as budgets are prepared, city officials must decipher between needs and wants. If a budget item is unaffordable, serious consideration should be given to dumping it. The well (the taxpayers) has been tapped too often and too much. There isn’t as much to give anymore.
I hope city leaders are paying attention. Their track record would suggest otherwise.
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By Kevin Fischer
Saturday, Aug 16 2008, 11:39 AM
In my blog last Sunday, "The Smear Against Mark Carstensen,” I challenged Franklin bloggers Greg Kowalski and John Michlig to be very sure about their facts:
“I urge anyone who reads their blogs to question everything they write, especially Kowalski who has a history of blogging anything he wants without facts or substantiation other than rumor and his feelings. Make sure you read carefully for proof and evidence. If they’re going to attack and smear someone, they’d better have the goods. They need to back up anything they say when they write about this in the future, or risk a complete loss of credibility.”
Former FranklinNOW blogger Greg Kowalski will simply never learn.
In his haste to blast Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor, whom Greg is always, always, always ripping, Greg posted yet another irresponsible blog on one of his three blogs last night (My gosh, he can’t even get one blog right and he’s doing three?).
Greg made two accusations against Mayor Taylor: 1) That Taylor refused to attend Bank Mutual’s ribbon cutting ceremony at 51st and Rawson Thursday, and 2) Mayor Taylor high-tailed it out of town AFTER Alderman Lyle Sohns filed a letter with the Mayor’s office questioning how complaints have been handled about a property adjacent to the barren Fountains of Franklin site at 56th and Rawson. Mayor Taylor, Greg noted, put Common Council President Steve Taylor in charge while the mayor went camping.
Greg wrote, in part:
"I was told that Mayor Taylor was not at the Bank Mutual ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon. Instead, it was found out that he was at his office in City Hall at that time."
This morning, Alderman Taylor busted the young gumshoe’s chops, leaving this comment on Greg’s blog:
FYI....I was with Mayor Taylor at the Bank Mutual Ribbon Cutting for over a hour and a half. I also knew that he would be out of town before the letter from Alderman Sohns was even sent.
SFT
Posted by: Steve F Taylor | August 16, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Greg, Greg, Greg….
I’ll say it for the 543rd time, even though you won’t listen. You got to get your facts straight, boy! This isn’t some movie or restaurant review.
Let’s go through this in an orderly fashion that maybe Greg can understand.
1) TOM Taylor is the mayor.
2) STEVE Taylor is the Common Council President.
3) TOM can appoint STEVE in charge whenever TOM goes out of town.
4) This is August.
5) August is a summer month.
6) People take vacations in August.
7) Mayor Taylor planned for this vacation well in advance of any Sohns letter. He even informed Alderman Taylor he’d be handling the reins.
8) Mayor Taylor was, indeed, at the ribbon cutting.
9) A simple phone call would have verified #8.
10) Greg was in such a sweat to slam Mayor Taylor with a negative headline, MAYOR VANISHES, that he did what he does so often….writes without supporting arguments, or thinking. He assumed he was doing damage to the mayor when, in fact, he was only harming himself.
That’s quite an omelet Greg is wiping off his face, I’d say.
But as another blogger once said, and it bears repeating, he's such a whippersnapper!
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By Kevin Fischer
Saturday, Aug 16 2008, 11:03 AM
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
New Yorkers, and the woman they tried to save.
The amazing Michael Phelps.
Let's not forget Jason Lezak......and all our Olympic athletes.
Ted Nugent
VILLAINS OF THE WEEK
Jeff Pelo
Tom Anderson.......ABC Video interview.
Vandals in Sheboygan
Whoever was behind this.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"Dream as big as you can dream and anything is possible. I am sort of in a dream world. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it is real."
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, after winning his 7th gold medal at the Olympics.
"It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time. He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet."
1972 U.S. Olympian Mark Spitz, on Phelps.
"At this time we would like to declare an emergency and also have CFR [crash equipment] standing by in St. Louis."
Just 41 seconds after discovering he no longer had full control of the plane's up and down movements, a pilot talking to an FAA air traffic controller. The campaign plane carrying Barack Obama last month was owned by Midwest Airlines. According to FAA tapes released this week, the incident was more serious than originally thought. At the time, an FAA spokesperson said the pilot did not declare an emergency and Midwest Airlines said safety "was never an issue."
"Russia rolls over Georgia, Hillary Clinton does the same to Barack Obama. Now we know who's boss. Obama blinked and stands guilty of appeasing Clinton by agreeing to a roll call vote for her nomination. . . . It was supposed to be his party. Now it's theirs. His and hers."
Michael Goodwin in his New York Daily News column
"What if you have an 18-year-old daughter who has a breakdown in one of these dark zones?"
Jay Sorensen, a Shorewood resident who noticed burned out lights one night in February as he drove home from the airport. The Journal sentinel reported, “Nearly four out of every 10 streetlights along I-794 and the Lake Parkway are burned out, leaving motorists to drive without the guidance of that familiar orange glow spilling down from above as they cruise the expressway late at night.”
"You tell your kids not to jump into a stranger's car alone and why that's dangerous; tell them why they shouldn't travel the Internet highway alone and why it is dangerous."
Wisconsin State Attorney General, J.B. Van Hollen said his office has identified approximately 15,000 computers in the state that are being used by sexual predators to exchange child porn and sexually explicit chat rooms.
“Of course, the Democratic Party is breathing a giant sigh of relief. What if Edwards had won the nomination? They’d be looking at the prospect of their nominee engulfed in a sexual scandal that makes Bill Clinton look like a prude. Since Edwards didn’t win, the only harm to the Democrats is that yet another one of their heroes has been exposed as a lying lout. He joins a large club.”
WISN talk show host Mark Belling in his weekly column.
“I am vetoing this proposal because it is unfair to raise the vehicle registration fee from $75 to $95 for only City of Milwaukee residents. At a time when residents are already grappling with increases in food and fuel prices, a 26% increase in the vehicle registration fee and a complete elimination of the responsibility of other property owners is not the road to go down.”
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett vetoing the proposed city of Milwaukee wheel tax.
"If Milwaukee dramatically increases the number of kids who take the ACT, we'll no longer be in the number one or two in the country. We're going to drop. If the state of Wisconsin wants to be one or two in the ACT, they're going to have to figure out ways to help Milwaukee kids do better."
MPS board member Terry Falk. Wait a minute. Terry, you’re on the school board. Figuring out ways to make Milwaukee kids do better…isn’t that your job?
"Here we are in 2008 and it's early August, and we're already seeing problems I'm very concerned that we're going to see more problems throughout 2008."
Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. The liberal group Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) fired about a dozen of its Milwaukee election registration canvassers for registering voters multiple times as a way to avoid having to actually register new voters to reach their performance goal of 20 voters a day.
"This is the very reason I have fought for photo ID in order to receive a ballot. We have added more names on the voter rolls, and we still have no idea if the person that is handed the ballot is truly that person.”
State Representative Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield)
“Unfortunately, the GOP will use any excuse to call for the use of voter ID. If it rains too hard, they'll say it's because people aren't required to show their driver's licenses when they vote."
State Representative Joe Parisi, a Democrat from Madison, throwing his hat into the ring for dumbest quotes of the year.
“We don’t make this deployment lightly. We know that our first obligation is to the citizens of the city of Milwaukee. I understand my responsibilities to my city, but . . . none of us can handle national security events alone.”
Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn explaining why he wants to send 36 officers to St. Paul to assist with security at the Republican National Convention.
“I’m not sure we can afford, from a manpower standpoint, to send 36 officers to St. Paul.”
Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman
OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK
A police chief's #1 prirority is to serve and protect his community. Then why does Milwaukee Police Chief want to put the city in jeopardy while he sends 36 officers to essentially patrol streets and guard doors and keep an eye on dignitaries at the Republican National Convention?
MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK
The mainstream media refuses to report how dangerous their anointed one, Barack Obama, really is.
MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK
Michael Phelps.............deservedly so.
STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK
Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us. Just pass the soap.
Could you two keep it down, We're trying to get some sleep.
Special delivery.
The USC football team can beat a lot of opponents, but what about this?
REMEMBER: Your suggestions/nominations for any of these categories every week are welcome, especially for HEROES OF THE WEEK. If you know of anyone in the community deserving of recognition, please e-mail me.
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By Kevin Fischer
Saturday, Aug 16 2008, 09:25 AM
Madras Riail!
That’s a rough Irish translation for “Dogs Rule!” And they do, at Irish Fest. The Celtic Canines area at Irish Fest is, of course, my very favorite.
Oh I do love those curly-haired little girls dancing their hearts out on stage. Corned beef sandwiches? Bring ‘em on! There is one particular jeweler we always stop at and more often than not, I end up with a new Claddagh “bauble.” And then there’s the Tipperary Tea Room… About four years ago, Kevin and I had their Irish Mist torte. We fell in love with the moist Irish Mist liqueur-soaked cake and heavenly butter icing so much that we inquired who actually made the cake. Turns out it is made exclusively for Irish Fest by Suzy’s Creamcheese Cakes. It also turns out they are willing to make it for your wedding, if you ask nicely!
But this blog isn’t about dancers, sandwiches, jewelry or cake. It is about D-O-G-S. Sure, GermanFest has their Dachshund races and they are fantastic. But while GermanFest highlights only ONE breed, IrishFest showcases MANY breeds. Trust me, I stop at every one of them, pet at least one of each breed, and then beg Kevin to get me a Soft Coated Wheaton terrier. We’ve come home with many souvenirs over the years and have yet to have it be a puppy.
As I tour the area wearing my “Dogs of Ireland” T-shirt (no lie!) patting and petting and swooning, I also enjoy talking to the proud owners. I strongly encourage you to learn about these magnificent breeds from the people that know them best. The dogs are all so different from one another. But the common theme is “adorable.” For example:
The silky chestnut strands of the Irish Setter...
.... glisten in the August sun.
The wiry-looking coat of the Irish Wolfhound...
... is surprisingly fun to pet, and you can’t help but compare their size to a small pony.
The energetic Irish Terriers...
... are always fun. Watching their antics makes me smile. They know they are the stars, and that the people in the area are there for THEM.
Other “Dogs of Ireland” include the Kerry Blue Terrier...
...and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Of course, I have mentioned several times already that my heart belongs to the breed of Soft Coated Wheaton Terriers.
As their name perfectly describes, these precious dogs are like petting a cotton ball. Their curly coats are amazingly soft and springy. Once you start giving one of these pooches a rub-down, you won’t want to stop any more than he/she wants you to! We are lucky enough to live a few houses down from Mickey, a darling Wheaton who likes me, but is IN LOVE with Kevin. The other day we were out talking to Mickey and George, her owner. I was petting Mickey, and then happened to stand up and give Kevin a hug. Mickey sprang up from the ground and came right over to me to break up the sign of affection! Yes, I do believe she was jealous.
If you happen to see Kevin and me in the Celtic Canines area this weekend, please stop and say hello. Just don’t interrupt me when I’m talking to a Soft Coated Wheaton breeder! Enjoy your day at Irish Fest!
---Jennifer Fischer
Thanks, Jennifer, and welcome back after your week off.
Hey!
What happened to the screen?
That’s better!
Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.
The owner of those cloned dogs is wanted in Tennessee.
This is an amazing story. Read what this dog did after her owner committed suicide.
And if dogs had their own Olympics….
That’s it for The Barking Lot.
Time to…….
Dog paddle our way out of here!
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