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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
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 11:19 PM
One of the main reasons why America has such an out of control illegal immigration problem is that we are our own worst enemy. As a nation, we not only tolerate illegal immigration, we encourage it.
The most egregious example is in New Haven, Connecticut. In July 2007, I blogged about an outrageous action by New Haven officials. New Haven now offers illegal immigrants municipal identification cards that allow access to city services. Besides serving as identification for bank services and if police ask for ID, the card can be used at municipal locations such as libraries, beaches, and parks – and as a debit card for city parking meters and at more than a dozen downtown shops.
Gee, you think New Haven might be a place illegal immigrants might flock to?
Over a year later, Governing Magazine has an update on how the red carpet continues to roll out for the illegals.
As you read the article, note the subtle, sympathetic spin by the reporter, with my spin in red that follows:
“Some have responded with a hard-headed approach, passing ordinances that call for fines or jail time for property owners who knowingly rent to illegal immigrants or employers who hire them.”
If you oppose illegal immigration, you are hard-headed.
“To backers of the idea, though, the card's greatest effect may never be measurable: the extent to which it eases the burdens of daily life for immigrant residents….”
Yes, it’s good and proper to make life easier for people here illegally.
“We have a percentage of our population that was afraid to do things, and now they're less afraid. They're more a part of the community than they were without the card."
Well, isn’t that special?
“The influx of immigrants from all over Latin America — both legal and illegal — has put Fair Haven on a more promising track…”
It’s so much more promising for a community to attract more illegal immigrants.
“When the city finally did introduce it (the ID card), there was an explicit attempt to broaden its appeal beyond immigrants, mostly by emphasizing that it could be useful for all residents.”
An ID card that offers all kinds of goodies for illegals is actually good for legal citizens, too. Huhhh????
“You've created this population that is — because of their fears and the status the federal government has created for them — afraid to interact with us.”
Uhh, HELLO! They’re supposed to have fear. They’re not supposed to be here!!!!
"They're here already," Ramos says of the illegal immigrants he visits. "They're here. Should we not protect their health and safety while they're here? Are we going to close our eyes? We can't turn our backs on them."
We’re here. We’re illegal. Tough. Get used to it.
"Cities and counties around the country have to think about local measures to address the realities of new immigrant populations and how institutions like libraries, the police, fire departments, hospitals and schools can adapt to the realities of those populations — whatever happens in Congress.”
Don’t you understand, you law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who subsidize all these illegals? You have to adjust that attitude and embrace policies that accept these illegal immigrants into our communities.
The Governing Magazine article is as informative as it is nauseating. But this is what’s going on in our own country. As the title of the article suggests, we are throwing down the WELCOME MAT for illegal aliens. Come to America. We won’t harm you. If anything, we’ll take good care of you.
Why this wasn’t a bigger Presidential campaign issue is beyond me, unless both candidates didn’t want to ALIENate the Hispanic vote.
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By Kevin Fischer
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 10:13 PM
Here is The Daily Reporter story on the ACLU's civil rights complaint against the DOT and the propsoed Drexel Avenue Interchange:
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ACLU tries to kill I-94 widening |
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Sean Ryan , sean.ryan@dailyreporter.com
December 4, 2008
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The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation Inc. on Wednesday filed a civil rights complaint against the Wisconsin Department of Transportation over its planning for the $1.9 billion reconstruction of Interstate 94.
In a complaint (PDF) to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the group asked the federal agency to ban the widening of I-94 between Milwaukee’s Mitchell Interchange and Illinois state line, require public-transit improvements along the corridor, and block the removal of one offramp on the 27th Street interchange.
Karyn Rotker, ACLU senior staff attorney, said spending billions on highway projects while transit plans flounder creates racial inequity in southeastern Wisconsin. Many low-income residents of Milwaukee don’t have cars and would be able to access more jobs through public transit, she said.
“This is a world of finite resources,” she said, “so it shouldn’t be that every highway project gets funded.”
WisDOT representatives were not available to comment before deadline.
The complaint also asks the federal government to block construction of a new I-94 interchange at Drexel Avenue. By removing a ramp on the 27th Street interchange in Milwaukee and building a new interchange at Drexel to serve Franklin and Oak Creek, WisDOT would push businesses out of ethnic Milwaukee neighborhoods and into the predominantly white suburbs, Rotker said.
In the complaint, the ACLU cites 2000 U.S. Census statistics that residents in Franklin and Oak Creek were 89.6 percent non-Hispanic white, compared to 45.5 percent of Milwaukee residents.
“It’s actually going to shift development likely out of the city of Milwaukee and into the suburbs,” she said. “That’s having a discriminatory effect because of who’s living in the suburbs that are going to benefit.”
Mark Luberda, Franklin’s director of administration, said the purpose of interstate highways is to support commerce and resident needs throughout the nation.
“To try to manipulate that system to restrict commercial development seems to fly in the face of the purpose of the interstate system,” he said. “It really needs to be a technical engineering question: What’s the traffic demand and demand for access on and off the interstate at that point?”
WisDOT studies determined a need for more access at Drexel, Luberda said, and removing the interchange would only add more traffic to the highway because cars could not get off.
“Sometimes, to evaluate a proposal, it’s helpful to take that proposal to an extreme,” he said. “And to an extreme point, it would be that you get on at Racine and you can’t get off until Milwaukee.”
The complaint against WisDOT mirrors two civil rights complaints the ACLU filed against the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission this year. The group in August asked the U.S. DOT to force transit improvements if an interchange near Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc is rebuilt for $23 million. In September, the ACLU argued SEWRPC does not follow affirmative-action hiring rules when adding to its staff.
The ACLU filed its complaint with the U.S. DOT instead of in federal court because, in a court case, it would need to argue WisDOT intended to cause racial disparity through its projects, Rotker said. |
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By Kevin Fischer
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 10:00 PM
Brings back memories of watching Roller Derby on TV in the 70's with Joan Weston and Anne Calvello
Bring a non-parishable food item for $2 off the admission at the door! | |
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| Be Cool! Be Green! Save Green!
Take the Party Bus!
Since drinking and driving isn't cool, take the party bus instead!
Check it out, Bayview! We're heading out your way!
Shuttle departs at the following times and locations:
5:00 Roast Cafe 2132 E Locust St.
5:15 Landmark Lanes 2220 N Farwell
5:30 Club Garibaldi 2501 S Superior St.
6:00 Cataldo's / VFW 2860 S. KK in BAYVIEW!!
$5 round trip, returns to all locations.
$10 Bout tickets can also be purchased on the bus!!
Come party with us at Cataldo's/VFW in Bayview!
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Buy your tickets here! |
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WHO ARE WE? 
Established October 19, 2005, the Brewcity Bruisers are a skater-owned and operated flat track league dedicated to knocking the fans off their feet with our wheels.
We don't just have a pair, we have quads!
We are proud to carry on the tradition of roller derby and bring the new wave of the sport to Milwaukee, offering an unique blend of athletic competition and entertainment.
The Brewcity Bruisers represent ladies of all shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds, attitude and skill levels. It is our goal to promote women's strength and self esteem and to create a sense of camaraderie and friendship among our members that will also be extended to the community through support to local businesses, arts and charities. | | |
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By Kevin Fischer
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 09:21 PM
By Kevin Fischer
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 04:19 PM
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In keeping with the loopy, warped, twisted, moonbat tradition of the ACLU, read why they're so upset:
WISDOT VIOLATED CIVIL RIGHTS RULES, ACLU ALLEGES
For Immediate Release: December 3, 2008
Contact: Karyn Rotker, Senior Staff Attorney, (414) 272-4032 x 21; krotker@aclu-wi.org
The ACLU of Wisconsin today requested a federal investigation of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for violating civil rights laws when it decided to expand I-94.
In a complaint filed with Offices for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, the ACLU object to WisDOT’s plans to widen I-94, build an new interchange at Drexel Ave., and close much of the interchange at 27th St. and I-894. The ACLU is requesting that the government investigate WisDOT, stop the widening of I-94, and prevent construction of the Drexel Interchange - especially if the 27th St. Interchange is closed.
“WisDOT’s own environmental impact statement shows that building the Drexel Interchangeis likely to hurt development in the city of Milwaukee - the state’s only majority-minority city -while it helps development in non-diverse suburbs,” noted Karyn Rotker, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Wisconsin. Rotker added that the disparities will worsen with closure of the 27th St. Interchange. “Title VI of the Civil Rights Act makes it clear that agencies can’t take actions that have a discriminatory effect on communities of color - even if the discrimination isn’t intentional.”
There are similar problems with spending hundreds of millions of dollars to add lanes to I-94, added ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ahmuty. “WisDOT has said adding the lanes is going to have only a minimal effect on travel times - and that not adding lanes could increase the market for development closer to downtown Milwaukee, thus helping city residents,most of whom are persons of color.” WisDOT, however, rejected that approach.
The ACLU complaint also asserts that expanding highways without moving forward on public transportation projects has a discriminatory effect on communities of color, who are disproportionately dependent on public transit. “In a time of limited resources, WisDOT needs to ensure that it isn’t increasing the disparities between those with access to cars and transit dependent persons. But that’s what this plan does. Instead, WisDOT needs to ensure that a fair share of the benefits of its transportation programs are going to communities of color - who will be much more likely to benefit from increased transit access than from the bigger highway WisDOT wants to build.”
Boy they're really sharp at the ACLU. WisDOT wants to put in that Drexel Interchange because they're racist.
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By Kevin Fischer
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 12:50 PM
I recently responded to a Wisconsin State Journal editorial that suggested UW Band Director Michael Leckrone should be fired if there are any more incidents involving questionable behavior (i.e. hazing) on the part of his musicians.
I wrote, “While it’s true Leckrone is in charge, personal responsibility must come into play. Leckrone cannot serve as babysitter for hundreds of so-called young adults 24/7. His job cannot be put on the line because some boneheads decided to get really stupid. The ones who are stupid should be held responsible and dropped immediately, from the band and possibly from school.”
A UW Band parent e-mailed to say my blog was “spot on.” The parent then wrote the following:
“The recent band turmoil has taken a toll on both of my daughters. It’s apparent that the school’s administration has decided to make much ado about not much….over, and over again….the conspiracy theorist in me believes the intent is to eliminate the band as a creditable course and eliminate Leckrone.
I liken the band experience to my time in the military. Leckrone puts them through hell and breaks down their selfishness until they commit 100% to the band as a whole. There are no individuals and no individual is more important than the band. Because of that shared experience and camaraderie, the band members tend to be very, very tight.
I’m well aware of the downside of that (groups can tend to lose the conscience when shenanigans are afoot), but this group is really not like that. There’s definitely a few individuals that have crossed the line from time to time, but Leckrone deals with them harshly. Mike actually went all the way to the US Court of Appeals to force a member to pay one of his fines (the “F-bomb” is considered “the $200 word). http://badgerherald.com/news/2005/04/25/judge_clears_leckron.php Gauder v. Leckrone, 366 F. Supp. 2d 780 (W.D. Wisc. 2005).
Most of the behavior alleged was boorish, crude and for a lot of “normal” people, offensive. Drinking? Definitely. Excessive drinking? Probably. Underage drinking? Certainly.
But, let’s not forget…these are COLLEGE STUDENTS. Sincerely, the behavior alleged by band members (much of which is unsubstantiated legend) is nowhere near the level of debauchery that occurs every single weekend at most frat houses and athletic team parties.
As the university began the most recent investigation, they asked aggrieved students to come forward and state their grievances. When no one voluntarily went in to talk to the Dean of Students, she sent an email stating words to the effect of: 'because no one is coming forward to talk to us, the band may remain suspended indefinitely.'
The upperclassmen decided to go in on their own and talk to the dean. These 'talks' quickly turned into a witch hunt. Questioning went like this (per my oldest daughter):
'Have you ever _______?'
'Have you ever witnessed anyone else doing ________?'
'Have you ever HEARD of anyone doing _________....if so, who did you hear it from and who did they say did it.'
So, now that all is said and done, what was the outcome? At last count, seven members out of 350 were found to have violated the university code of conduct. All seven received letters of reprimand, which remain in their file…..until graduation….when it is to be removed and destroyed.
The reeking stench of fishy-ness is rampant here. The university tipped off the media to the situation originally.”
In a subsequent e-mail, this parent added:
“Just to illustrate the effect the university’s actions have had on many of the band students, my oldest, called us one night the week the story was in full bloom in the media. She was sobbing. Her comment: ‘I’ve worked so hard for four years…..I always thought being in the band would be such a great thing to put on a resume….now I can’t do that.’
It’s not so much the fact that the university did an ‘investigation’. It’s the way it was handled, the fiasco it created and the way they besmirched the reputation of 350 people when a handful were responsible.
Can you honestly think of any organization, having received an email ‘tip’, that would suspend an entire group and hold a press conference detailing the tip?
You would think the normal response would be: ‘We’ve received an allegation of potential hazing and will investigate. We won’t comment until the investigation is complete.’”
In my view, the university totally botched this entire affair.
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By Kevin Fischer
Wednesday, Dec 3 2008, 12:14 PM
Franklin voters were told that if they didn’t approve school referenda totaling over $78 million, students would be forced into trailers.
On April 3, 2007, the referenda were soundly rejected.
I’ve looked and looked and looked. Still haven’t seen those trailers.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 11:21 PM
By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 10:59 PM
Remember Governor Doyle’s state budget address delivered in February 2007 when the governor said:
"Oil companies have gouged this country in every way they can think of. Exxon announced forty billion dollars in profits…That's not just pure profit, it's coming right out of our pockets. Let's turn the tables on big oil."
Doyle’s brilliant idea? Tax the oil companies to get back at them for their gouging.
Where’s the talk of gouging now?
The Wisconsin State Journal editorial board has figured out just how ridiculous Doyle’s idea truly is, but Doyle will push for it again in the next state budget. Dioyle needs to read the paper and pay attention:
"Drumming up oil company outrage was phony back when gas prices were high. So it certainly won't work now that gas is cheap."
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 10:43 PM
By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 10:36 PM
Because I work for the state legislature and follow state political news quite closely, I was very interested to see the 2008 winners in state government reporting awarded at the ninth annual conference of CapitolBeat, an association of reporters and editors who cover state government.
There are two winners from Wisconsin and both articles are very good reads:
Wire Services and Newspapers with more than 75,000 circulation
IN-DEPTH REPORTING:
- Honorable mention: Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press, Wisconsin, “Financial Aid for Sex Offenders” (Foley's reporting led elected officials to take acton)
Newspapers with less than 75,000 circulation
SINGLE REPORT:
I read the work of Ryan Foley and Ben Jones often. Congratulations to both.
Here’s the complete list of winners.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 09:48 PM
By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 09:37 PM
The brainiacs at the Wisconsin Department of Resources strike again. The news story I’m about to share with you could only be the result of one or more of the following scenarios:
1) Governor Doyle forgot to memo the brainiacs at the DNR.
2) The memo was sent but the brainiacs at the DNR haven’t read it.
3) The brainiacs at the DNR have read the memo and are ignoring it.
4) The brainiacs at the DNR don’t read newspapers, watch TV, or listen to the radio.
5) The brainiacs at the DNR have been in a cave the past few weeks.
6) The brainiacs at the DNR don’t understand what a budget deficit is.
7) The brainiacs at the DNR fully realize the dire straits the state finds itself in.
8) The brainiacs at the DNR have chosen once again to display the characteristics they know best (pompous and arrogant) and don’t care that the state is deep in debt.
Governor Doyle has announced the state budget deficit is $5.4 billion. Even if the numbers are wrong, as some believe, the state budget is still a big mess. We’re broke, again, big time.
The governor has instructed agencies to make big budget cuts. How does the DNR respond?
The Lakeland Times reports:
“The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for a $27.3 million increase in its 2009-11 biennial budget, according to Department of Administration documents released this past week.”
A reader named Mike Brostowitz commented, “What part of across the board cuts’ doesn't the DNR understand? Why should the DNR get the big increase when other state departments suffer, either by employee lay off or cuts.”
More than any newspaper in the state, the Lakeland Times has put heavy scrutiny on the DNR.
Want more?
DNR wardens rack up more than $2 million in guaranteed overtime.
It’s nice to see that when the state is in a horrible financial crisis, Governor Doyle and the DNR are on the same page, doing their part to help beleaguered taxpayers.
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 06:08 PM
A bipartisan task force appointed by Congress reports that a nuclear or biological attack by terrorists with weapons of mass destruction on a major U.S. city by the end of 2013.
The task force does say a nuclear catastrophe can be prevented and urges President-elect Obama to take a hard line with both Iran and North Korea.
No one wants to see another destructive terrorist attack in the United States. But one must wonder how the cut-and-run Democrats now in command would respond.
Read more in the Washington Post.
HT: Jo Egelhoff and Foxpolitics.net
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By Kevin Fischer
Tuesday, Dec 2 2008, 05:23 PM
A 35-foot balsam fir now sits in the state Capitol Rotunda. Of course, anyone with a modicum of common sense or an ounce of the brains God gave him/her knows it’s a Christmas tree. But this is Madison we’re dealing with, folks.
It’s been called the “Holiday Tree” since the 80’s when cowards at the Capitol succumbed to the PC Police. In the last legislative session, the state Assembly passed a bill to call it the, "Wisconsin State Christmas Tree." While the Assembly was exercising good judgment, our clueless governor said he “couldn’t care less” what the tree is called.
So what’s it being called this year?
Christmas tree?
Uhh, again, this is Madison.
Xmas tree?
The same old Holiday tree?
None of the above.
Are you ready for this?
Jim Doyle's state Department of Administration has issued a release outlining some of this year's holiday events and it refers to that 35-foot balsam fir as…..
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The Capitol tree.
At this time, no one knows how or why that stupid designation was chosen and no one’s talking.
Madison. Pathetic.
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Dec 1 2008, 11:01 PM
By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Dec 1 2008, 10:01 PM
You think Democrats aren’t poised to hoist their loopy liberal agenda upon the rest of us, now that they’re in power? Please, don’t be naïve.
State Senator Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), who is a friend by the way, hasn’t introduced more than 2-3 bills of substance since he joined the state Senate. Now that Democrats control both houses of the Legislature….BINGO! Coggs comes out of nowhere with his self-proclaimed “progressive agenda.”
Don’t you just love liberals? They can’t come to grips with or stomach calling themselves or their moonbat proposals, “liberal.” Instead, they hide behind the moniker, “progressive.”
Just take a look at all these LIBERAL proposals from the suddenly awakened and rejuvenated Spencer Coggs. While you read, just imagine one right after another being sucked away from you:
- Require a background check when a gun is sold or transferred between two private parties. The proposal would also close the “gun show loophole” by requiring purchasers to undergo background checks when firearms are purchased at a gun show.
- Ban most sales of handguns to persons under 21.
- Prohibit the possession or purchase of a gun by anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving a firearm.
- Require licensed and certified day care centers to equip day care vehicle with occupant alarms, which require manual disarming each time the vehicle’s engine is stopped.
- Prohibit liquor establishments from opening within 300 fee of an existing day care center.
- Require that pay and benefits be ended for Milwaukee police officers fired for rules violations.
- Seek additional funding for local district attorneys to cover costs of operating witness protection programs.
- Make illegal and provide criminal penalties for those attempting to block, intimidate, suppress or deceive in such a way as to disenfranchise citizens from the right to vote.
- Seek to implement several findings of the Governor’s Commission on Reducing Racial Disparities in the Wisconsin Criminal Justice System.
- Incrementally raise the state minority procurement goal to 7% in 2010 and 10% in 2012.
- Create a legal holiday in Wisconsin to recognize June 19 as Juneteenth Day.
- Allow the City of Milwaukee and other cities to create a Housing Trust Fund to promote and support affordable, quality housing in Wisconsin.
- Require a child to attend a 5-year-old kindergarten prior to entering public school as a first-grade student.
- Provide a process for school district residents to object to an ethnic name, nickname, logo, or mascot used by a school.
Yeh, we really need another state holiday in Wisconsin. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf, a Republican, unsuccessfully tried a few sessions back to make Veterans Day a state holiday. If someone so much as questions a state holiday for Juneteenth Day, how quickly does the race card get played?
Get ready, folks. This is only the beginning. You wanted liberals to run everything, you got it.
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Dec 1 2008, 09:08 PM
A woman struggles as she comes through the doors with other shoppers at a Wal-Mart store in Secaucus, N.J., shortly after 5:00 a.m., Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. Hundreds of people lined up to get into this Wal-Mart for the annual pre-dawn Black Friday bargain hunting. (AP photo)
On the morning after Thanksgiving, a temporary Wal-Mart worker died after a throng of eager shoppers broke down the doors and trampled him moments after a Long Island store opened.
An attorney for Jdimytai Damour, the man who was trampled, is claiming he had been working at the Long Island store for only about a week when he was knocked over. In the attorney's view, the cause of death: lack of training. I prefer the current approach of law enforcement, and that is to find the people who actually trampled this poor man.
And how many people stepped on, jumped over him, or ignored him? For what? A VCR?
There’s now the incredible overreaction of a call to ban Black Friday shopping.
This from the New York Post:
"We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving," said Ellen Davis, a spokeswoman at National Retail Federation.
What happened was tragic. But ban early shopping on the morning after Thanksgiving? There has to be a way for stores to set up an orderly system outside for people waiting to get in so that shoppers are lined up single file. It's been done elsewhere for people waiting to buy concert tickets and what not. Beef up your security inside and outside the store. Have people enter the store at each doorway single file with security at the entrances armed with stop watches, allowing one person in every 15-30 seconds.
If people behave like animals over a video game, then changes have to be made. But certainly that shouldn't and won't include banning Black Friday shopping.
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By Kevin Fischer
Monday, Dec 1 2008, 06:59 PM
At some point during 2008, 30 percent of U.S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test. That’s according to a survey of nearly 30,000 students in high schools across the U.S. conducted by the Josephson Institute.
The Institute reports, “More than two of five (42 percent) said that they sometimes lie to save money. Cheating in school continues to be rampant and it’s getting worse. A substantial majority (64 percent) cheated on a test during the past year.”
What’s also troubling is that these figures are probably conservative. Today’s high schoolers have a nonchalant attitude about their lying, cheating ways with more than one in four (26 percent) confessing they lied on at least one or two questions on this survey!
No doubt echoing the sentiments of their parents (“Oh, no, my Johnny would neeeeeeever cheat!), 93 percent said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character and 77 percent said that when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know.
Not very promising.
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By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Nov 30 2008, 09:00 PM
Imagine a place that served the following:
Barbecue ribs, fried chicken, rib-eye steak, lobster tails, crab legs, roast turkey, stir-fry, cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, egg rolls, breaded shrimp, buffalo wings, chili, crepes, pancakes, omelets, waffles, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, quiches, bacon, polish sausages, pulled pork, corned beef hash, milk shakes and smoothies.
There are pasta bars, salad bars, sandwich and wrap bars with workers dressed in black and white uniforms, hats and bow ties.
For dessert there’s carrot cake, triple chocolate cake, strawberry cheesecake, black forest chocolate cake, devil chocolate cake, banana nut cake, apple pie, cherry pie, chocolate and vanilla pudding, three types of cookies, three types of ice cream bars, cones and popsicles, and five flavors of Baskin-Robbins ice cream with all the fixings, including caramel and chocolate syrup, crushed nuts, whipped cream, and blueberry and strawberry toppings.
Are you in:
1) A posh country club
2) A commissary in a Forbes 500 company
3) An Ivy League school cafeteria
4) A federal penitentiary where convicted members of Congress are sent
The correct answer is none of the above. You’re actually at a U.S. military base, Camp Speicher, Iraq where our soldiers, obviously, eat pretty well. That’s a sharp contrast to the days when our military had to settle for C-Rations....
And MRE's (Meals Ready-to-eat)....
I can just hear it, the anti-war crowd, normally not at all fiscally conservative that suddenly cries about the cost to the federal budget, questioning the practicality of lobster in battle.
Think there might be some grizzled old veterans who scoff and proclaim that they never got such soft treatment when they were fighting the Nazi's?
Give the Chicago Tribune some credit when it writes: "This is not to say the troops don't deserve a treat or two when they are on base, or as it's known here, 'inside the wire.' Many rise at dawn and spend hours armed to the teeth, patrolling in cramped armored vehicles, hunting for insurgents, looking for deadly roadside bombs or tracking down the next suicide bomber."
However, the reporter couldn't stop there because there has to be that catchy angle that makes this food find a real story. And here it is: Soldiers in Iraq are fighting, are you ready, a Battle of the Bulge. All that good food is causing a strain on the old waistline that rivals that feeling you had about 7:00 Thanksgiving night. Sorry, but if this is a story, it's a nice, feel good, human interest piece. There is no problem in search of a solution.
Let's think about this. Young military men and women in Iraq, where it can get mighty hot....think they won't work off a quesadilla or two?
This isn't 1942 anymore. Our brave men and women in Iraq or anywhere else on the globe putting their lives on the line deserve the best Uncle Sam can give them. The culinary no-no isn't the quality level of the food they're eating. The no-no would be depriving them of that very nice menu.
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