Growing up in Milwaukee, Charlie Sykes was the talk host I listened to. Thoughtful, funny, and fundamentally decent. Starting out in talk-radio, he was the host I aspired to be.

Michael McGee was and remains SE Wisconsin’s local version of Quannell X/Sharpton.

The differences between these two men have never been clearer.

A former alderman and controversial radio talk show host said he’s happy the mother of his radio rival is dead.

Michael McGee Sr. made the comments during his radio show on WNOV-AM Thursday morning. Charlie Sykes is a radio talk show host on WTMJ-AM. Sykes’ mother, Katherine B. Sykes, died in a house fire Tuesday. The Ozaukee County Coroner said Thursday that Sykes died of smoke inhalation.

McGee and Sykes have been publicly battling for years, but even in the world of talk radio, some are saying the comments made are extreme.

“Mother Sykes, she dead. To me it’s the vengeance of God. I ain’t got no tears. Matter of fact a woman that would have a fool like that deserve whatever is coming her. She raised a sure enough idiot,” McGee said on his radio show. “My instincts say Charlie Sykes killed his momma, cuz she live out in this big palace in Mequon all isolated. He got tired of waiting for her money.”

McGee’s comments came about 15 minutes into his show. He went on for about five minutes and then moved on to a different topic, but later in the show a caller asked about it.

“Mike McGee Senior,” the caller began, “You really don’t mean that, about your enemies families members being dead — killed.”

“Man, you don’t think I mean that, man, you out of your mind,” McGee replied.

[h/t: WISN 12]

What a foul, wicked man.

Prayers for Charlie Sykes and his mother’s loved ones.

Last August, I wrote…

I am far too despondent and depressed to possibly write anything coherent right now.

I cannot possibly express my disgust for Ehud Olmert.

The Jewish Sabbath has already begun in Israel, but mark my words– when Israelis turn on their radios and televisions Saturday night and realize what has happened, an unimaginable wave of agony and fury is going to roll across the land.

In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, here are some analysis’ from very perceptive writers who manged to detect what was happening before it dawned on everyone else.

• The pathetic leadership of Israel
• The Coalition of the Unwilling

Take their sentiments, multiply them a thousand-fold, add a mountain of primal bitterness, and you will begin to have an inkling of the political hell that is about to be unleashed by the Israeli public upon its political class.

I’m going to stop typing now before I put my head through the computer monitor.

My timing was off; Olmert successfully danced away from immediate doom while the war was investigated by a commission (aka “The Winograd Commission”).

Many of you might not be aware that the interim report came in on Monday; David Horovitz of the Jerusalem Post offers this searing indictment in response.

For page after relentless page it continues, exposing, layer after horrifying layer, a picture of Israel’s military and political capabilities so dismal, so complacent and amateurish, as to defy belief. “It can’t really be this bad, can it?” you find yourself saying as you turn the pages. And then comes yet another clause, highlighting yet another untenable reality, to confirm that, yes, it really can be.

Read the whole thing; you’ve never seen anything like it.

It surely is refreshing to see a politician get elected and then work on the issues that he said he would. Sen. Dan Patrick scored another success yesterday, getting his bill requiring pre-abortion ultrasounds out of the Senate and to the House.

Senators approved the bill on a 21-8 vote, with all the dissenting votes cast by Democrats. One Republican, Kel Seliger of Amarillo, abstained.

Most excellent. For the naysayers out there that keep saying Sen. Patrick is all show and no go, think about the difficulty he faced in getting this bill passed.

“All you’re trying to do is harass women who are trying to get an abortion,” said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen. “You’re trying to make these women feel guilty and at the same time you’re raising the cost of the procedure for them.”

Good for you Sen. Patrick. Perhaps other politicians could learn a lesson or two from you.

Texas Dems used a point of order to block passage of the $100 million border security initiative on Thursday.

After four hours of highly charged debate, legislation giving Gov. Rick Perry control of homeland and border security strategy moved back to a House committee late Thursday at the request of its sponsor, who tearfully told legislators they disappointed him.

“This is stupid. I’m ashamed of this House,” Rep. David Swinford, R-Dumas, said on the House floor, moments before moving to recommit his House Bill 13 to the State Affairs Committee, which he chairs.

Really, Mr. Swinford, you are ashamed of the House? You think it is stupid for a Dem to do what Dems do, try to block legislation that they are against? Perhaps you should instead be ashamed of youself. Do you recall what you said earlier in this session about other immigration legislation? Let me help you:

A powerful House committee chairman plans to kill dozens of immigration-related bills, saying he doesn’t want legislators to waste time debating proposals that are divisive, unconstitutional or have the potential to induce long court battles.

“Good try, but we aren’t in the immigration business,” said David Swinford, chairman of the House State Affairs Committee.

So you can cry rivers of tears Mr. Swinford and it will not change the fact that you, sir, did this to yourself. And to the people of Texas. Some day Texas Republicans will get the message that you can’t talk out of your mouth and arse at the same time without polluting the air.

Remember how unimportant the whole Don Imus controversy seemed one week later, when we were consumed with the Virginia Tech shootings?

Well, apparently that story isn’t interesting any more. I guess it’s hard to focus the nation’s attention on the need to reform HIPAA privacy laws and shift college administrators’ overzealous interpretations of the Buckley Amendment when none of the main players has a big set of knockers or is wearing a diaper.

So it looks like we’re back to Imus, for the moment [h/t Washington Post]:

The uproar over Don Imus appears headed to court, as lawyers for the ousted radio host and his former network prepare for what could be an ugly battle by seizing on selected phrases in his $40 million contract.

Imus plans to sue CBS early next week for killing his radio show, invoking a contract clause that encouraged him to be controversial, his attorney, Martin Garbus, said yesterday.

Here’s the part that really caught my eye.

Garbus, a prominent First Amendment specialist, said the contract also required a written warning of unacceptable conduct — and the granting of a second chance — before Imus could be fired.

Note to self–hire Martin Garbus as my attorney in any future negotiations with Dan Patrick.

Think about it for a moment.

I had the opportunity to watch the big Republican debate last night (hey, it was raining and I couldn’t go watch the grass grow). My grades for each of the candidates. Definitely need to learn more about Jim Gilmore.

• Duncan Hunter - D - did nothing to distinguish himself, often looked uninformed. Terrible camera presence.
• Jim Gilmore - A - never heard of him but he came across as someone with fire in his belly. Good presence in front of the camera.
• John McCain - D - needs to go away. Nothing new here, even pulled the POW line out.
• Mike Huckabee - B - did okay but needs to show a bit more fire.
• Mitt Romney - F - maybe I just don’t like plastic men.
• Ron Paul - D - did well on some issues, looked bizarre on others. When they asked if he had ever made a decision that impacted a lot of people and he said, well, no, I never have………..
• Rudy Giuliani - C - where is this strong leader we keep hearing about? Using Ron Paul’s argument about states rights for abortion but federalism everywhere else is disingenuous at best, a straight up deception at worst.
• Sam Brownback - F - is he running for president or diversity club leader?
• Tom Tancredo - F - can you say deer in headlights? Dude needs to go beyond the border issue - there is a whole country to deal with as President.
• Tommy Thompson - B - solid performance but man, he has a face made for radio.

Speaking of radio, I had occasion to listen to Pat Gray of KSEV for a few minutes this morning. He was lampooning Ron Paul’s statement about never abusing habeas corpus. Pat actually said “the Ramos/Compean issue is far more important than habeas corpus”. Proof positive that a brain is not required to be a talk show host.

Wow, it was a busy week! Lots of new or haven’t commented here in a while readers chimed in. Here are a few that caught my attention:

In the category of “A Glimpse of the Future” goes:

gregg Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:23 am e

Its going to reach a point where officers wont respond to calls involving blacks or Hispanics. Too much liability. If they respond they get in trouble and the same if they dont respond fast enough. No win.

When they get a call in the hood they should refer them to Quanell the Tenth. When the call comes from the bario transfer them to La Raza

In the category of “Linda Lou is Gonna Get Someone in Trouble” goes:

GriffithLea Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 8:41 am e

Why not guns in bars? In a “Gimme Three Steps” situation, Linda Lou’s boyfriend is going to be emboldened by the fact that he’s in a “gun-free” zone, not deterred by it. The one thing that will deter him is the possibility that Ronnie, or a bystander, is packing that day.

More guns = less shootin

In the category of “John McCain Says to Lighten Up” goes:

twocute64001 Says:
May 1st, 2007 at 1:45 pm e

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver’s license to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I as very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, Unbutton your shirt. I opened shirt revealing my curly silver hair. She said, That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me, and she processed my Social Security application. When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, ‘You should have dropped your pants…you might have gotten disability too.

Read more

Ok I know the Rockets are tied 3 all and the deciding game 7 against UTAH is Saturday night at home.  I am just adding some insurance here.  Stay with me on this.

The Chronicle ran a tombstone for the Astros in 2005 because of the their lackluster season.  We know that the Astros got red hot and went to the big show.

So I figure I will plagerize their idea, the Rockets will win, continue in the playoffs, I will get flamed and all will be right in the world.

/Besides I am sick of cats

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