Tonight on television there will be an event that is about as rare as anyone who actually knows the name of or as actually seen the Attorney General in Wisconsin.
Channel 12 will devote an hour of prime time to the subject of politics. That's right. Politics. One Hour. Prime Time.
Local stations almost never do any local programming other than news. Either they don't have the capability or the will or the interest. Maybe they don't want to give up the money they make in prime time. Maybe they don't have any confidence in their abilities.
Beside sports specials and holiday specials, you'd be hard pressed to find any local programs on the four major TV stations in Milwaukee.
That's why the special tonight is such a surprising and ambitious undertaking.
However, it should come as no surprise that Channel 12 is the station taking on Wisconsin politics as a subject. They are the only station in town that could do this with any credibility.
With Kathy Mykleby, Mike Gousha, Joyce Garbaciak and Kent Wainscott, the station has people who have history and understand the way things work in this state and city. They have contacts and they can clear up many of the mysteries of politics in Wisconsin.
Channel 58 and Channel 6 could try this, but they really don't have people who anyone actually knows, with the possible exception of an anchor or two and a sports person or two.
Channel 4, the big dog of local news, couldn't do this for a variety of reasons. They've got two of the best anchors in the business in Mike Jacobs and Carol Meekins and one good reporter in Charles Benson. But most of the others are faces and names nobody knows and who are just stopping by on their way to somewhere else.
In addition, Channel 4 has decided they are "on my side" and they can't be if they want to take a critical look at politics. If you watch the station, every single report now ends with the reporter saying "On Your Side, I'm (fill in the blank with a name). I confess I've got a personal bias here."
I really don't give a hoot if a TV station is on my side or not. What I want them to do is give me some news. I've got enough people on my side already. I sure don't need Channel 4 or any other TV station. Give me news
Just like Channel 12 promises to do tonight.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
