Hey, it's a small room

Randy Melchert pays a compliment to me on how well I'm tracking the number of Doyle recall supporters. Easy to do when I haven't yet used all my fingers and toes.

Here's a schedule of their upcoming events:
1. May 18th 7pm Chilton/Eagles Hall; 1041 E. Chestnut; Chilton WI 53014 920-849-9223 (Hwy 57&151)
2. May 19th 7pm Manitowoc /American Legion; 811 Jay St #A, downtown/Manitowoc WI 54220 920-684-1993
3. May 20th 6:30pm/Plymouth/ Plymouth family Restaurant; 506 E. Mill St.; Plymouth WI 53073 920-893-1770
4. May 27th 7pm at Harry Lemon’s. Washington County. No cover charge required.
5. May 28th "Big Milwaukee Recall Doyle Team Rally" at Serb Hall on Thursday 5/28 at 7pm.

As of right now, I believe the only elected official to support the recall of Governor Doyle is State Senator Ted Kanavas. State Senator Mary Lazich is still silent on the subject, despite the support of the recall by her aide Kevin Fischer.

Update on Lazich's position concerning the proposed recall of Governor Doyle

You may recall that State Senator Mary Lazich's aide Kevin Fischer came out in support of recalling the governor, a statement that I thought was newsworthy and worth following up with the senator herself to see if she agreed with her aide. After leaving a comment at Fischer's site and sending several e-mails to her office and Fischer's personal e-mail address, I received no reply and indicated this on the blog. I also invited my readers to contact Lazich's office to see if anyone else could get an answer.

This prompted an e-mail from another of Lazich's aides, Lance Burri, claiming no record of any attempted contact by me. I have since forwarded the e-mails directly to him and await an answer what happened to my e-mail requests. It ought to be interesting.

In the meantime, Burri has informed me that Lazich still has not taken a position on the proposed recall of Governor Doyle, and claims what her aides say on their own time is not her concern. Asked if I was satisfied with the answer, I informed Burri that I was not. Given that staff from her office have already offered their opinions on such an important state issue as the removal of the governor from office, she owes it to her constituents to clarify her position on the matter.

Burri might not like what that means about his own ability to speak freely on state matters, but that's what happens when you work for an elected official.

I'll give an update as soon as Lazich chooses a position, or when Burri's investigation of Lazich's office e-mails problems is complete.

Republican state senator and a state senate staff member call for the governor's recall

State Senator Ted Kanavas, interviewed by the Waukesha Freeman, told the reporter he is a supporter of the effort to recall of Governor Jim Doyle.

One of those joining the Facebook group is state Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, who said he wants to send a message to Doyle that he needs to stop creating more debt.

“I think it’s a thing that is intended to get the attention of the governor so he hears the needs of what Wisconsin wants,” he said. “People don’t want to have more debt. We’re making too many promises to too many people, and we need to get Doyle’s attention.”

Also joining the Recall Doyle bandwagon is State Senator Mary Lazich's aide, Kevin Fischer.

A recall would energize conservatives, Republicans, and moderates unhappy with Doyle, giving them a head start on the November 2010 race. The effort would galvanize forces, recruit volunteers, and uncover new donor sources, not to mention create a buzz and momentum that could catapult a conservative to victory in November if a recall is unsuccessful.

I thought you oppose recalls, Kevin? Generally yes, and always when they’re unleashed because of one vote. Jim Doyle’s tenure has been a checkered history, a dismal pattern of one damaging move after another that has had a detrimental impact on taxpayers, businesses, and our state fiscal climate.

Conservatives can politely, respectfully disagree on a recall, but they are in unison that Doyle has to go, whether it is now or next year. I prefer sooner than later.

I'll take this moment to point out that everything he just said about the Republicans and the recall would also apply to the Democrats. Moreso, actually, because they would have the added benefit of defending their still-popular governor from an unjust recall.

But here is where it gets strange. Since Fischer is Lazich's aide, and since it is highly unusual for a politician's staff member to actually call for the recall of a sitting governor, I made repeated inquiries of Fischer and Lazich whether she supported the recall. Judging from the way the comments are phrased at his blog post, it looks like I'm not the only one asking, but the other comments are missing.

Since it's a state secret (pun intended), maybe one of my readers can get the answer from her office. Her e-mail address is Sen.Lazich@legis.wisconsin.gov. Here is her address and phone number:
Room 109 South,
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison 53707-7882
Telephone
(608) 266-5400
(800) 334-1442

Fax
(608) 267-6790

Here is her district office:

4405 S. 129th St.
New Berlin 53151

District Telephone
(414) 425-9452

We'll keep a running tab on how long this takes.

Bias is all in the eye of Ricky on State

State Senator Mary Lazich's aide Kevin Fischer is tracking the liberal bias of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed page, which is a little like looking for acorns in an oak tree grove. Fischer's effort is in response to a comment by managing editor George Stanley.

Sonya Jongsma Knauss of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel disputes Fischer's method of keeping score, and reminds the readers Stanley doesn't control the op-ed page; it's controlled by O. Ricardo "Ricky on State" Pimintel.

Just for the record, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also claims,

We believe in the American free enterprise system and minimal governmental interference with business and finance.
As economist Milton Friedman put it: "The free market is the onlymechanism that has ever been discovered for achieving participatory democracy."

We are conservative on fiscal issues.
We believe that the power to tax must be vigilantly checked. The government that governs best is frugal and levies taxes reluctantly.

I know. It's pretty damn funny.

Graber and Walker

Jay Weber, morning radio host on WISN-AM, has entered the world of blogging with a brief look at a possible Graber candidacy for governor.

"...these Graber fans say, Walker doesn’t have a Vision for Wisconsin (notice the capital ‘V’?). We need Vision.

Pardon me, but Vision sounds expensive to me if it is coming from Thompson cronies. Vision sounds like code for expand government, give in to lobbyists and loyalists, play the game.

I am an open Scott Walker backer. I know nothing about Rick Graber, he may be a wonderful man. Further, I like Tommy Thompson, and I believe he did a lot of great things for this state.

But... Let’s be honest. Tommy was a governor who expanded government and spent all the revenue that came in during a time of prosperity when we could have been building a rainy day fund. So forgive me if I don’t fault Scott Walker for not having Vision."

Kevin Fischer has the roster of bloggers for The Right View Wisconsin.

Boomgaard

I thought it was the name of Mayor Nelson's next Saab.

Losing my lunch

Is Mary Lazich stealing Kevin Fischer's sandwich from the office 'fridge and this is his subtle way of telling her to knock it off? Fischer explains why lunches are stolen at the office and who are the likely culprits.

Who is most likely to take someone else’s lunch?

John Buffini of Buffini Communications Systems in San Diego does personality testing for corporations.

Buffini says beware of the accounting department. Accountants fall into that category I mentioned as angry in a passive-aggressive way.

Customer-service workers are also usual suspects because they are in constant stress, dealing with unsatisfied patrons.

Those above suspicion are managers. They’re always being watched. So-called “hero” departments, like the information technology folks are also less likely to steal because they help you when you’re in need. Marketing employees get so many food freebies that they’re really not interested in your soggy sandwich.

My mistake

I'm sorry Kevin. I didn't mean "Lola" - I meant "Yoda".



My bad.

Kevin Fischer, love muffin

Sen. Mary Lazich's aide and WISN fill-in Kevin Fischer lists the top ten greatest love songs of all time.

"Lola" did not make the list.

folkbum and Fischer, for the record

Some bloggers are questioning the blogging demeanor of Kevin Fischer, aide to State Senator Mary Lazich, and whether his blog and comments he leaves on other blogs reflect poorly on her. I don't yet have an opinion.

I was surprised when Jay Bullock of "folkbum's rambles and rants" linked to my site as a conservative "irritated" with Kevin Fischer. I'll be the first to admit that I don't remember everything I write, so I checked the blog posts to which Bullock linked and confirmed that Bullock completely mischaracterized my posts. I noticed the other conservative cited by Bullock as "irritated" with Fischer was Fred Dooley, and his posts were completely mischaracterized as well.

I've written three comments at Bullock's site pointing out his misuse of what I wrote and, while I didn't expect an apology, I expected a correction after my first two comments.

Jay, I'm concerned about the way my blog posts that mention Kevin Fischer have been mischaracterized. I don't see where there's any interpretation possible that I could be "irritated" with Kevin Fischer. In fact, I don't see where I offer an opinion on him at all.

For that matter, Fred's posts don't seem to indicate any displeasure with Fischer either.

We seem to have had this problem before with your links not supporting your arguments.

james wigderson | Homepage | 01.25.08 - 5:07 pm

No response from Bullock. I wrote this in response to one of his commenters:

I count one open question of whether a staff member is allowed to have a blog. In the comments I even added,
"I don't have a problem with Fischer blogging; it's just that a year ago there were a number of blogs shut down because the state legislators didn't want their staff blogging."

And I did one post poking fun at his elected boss, which I'm known to do from time to time. (Full disclosure: I was a paid campaign consultant for Lazich for her first state senate race in the primary.)

I don't think I have even offered an opinion in print or pixels on Kevin Fischer himself. I might have, but I don't remember. I do know him to be a fan of Andre Rieu. That or his wife is.

Other than that, if I am going to be accused of being irritated with someone, it'll be with someone who uses my posts out of context.
james wigderson | Homepage | 01.25.08 - 7:55 pm | #

Finally, this afternoon I commented once more, to the attention of one of Bullock's co-writers on the site:

Capper, I am asking for a prominent correction. And at this point, I'm also owed an apology. Perhaps you can track Mr. Bullock down and tell him to set the record straight.
james wigderson | Homepage | 01.26.08 - 12:41 pm | #

I realize that Bullock's site has degenerated into a cartoon and I'm probably not going to get any satisfaction, but I wanted to set the record straight.

Funny, my satellite dish is working just fine

Warner Cable is having trouble in Franklin. Kevin Fischer is reporting the wait for a service rep on the phone is 45 minutes. (Ht: Patrick)

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The Fischer Singer

Former WTMJ AM radio personality, current WISN fill-in and also current staff member for State Senator Mary Lazich Kevin Fischer has his own blog. (Ht: Badger Blogger)

I thought that was verboten? Or did the rules recently change for legislative staff?


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