Endangered species shows sign of life

A liberal columnist has infiltrated the ranks of the Waukesha Freeman. And his first column, which runs alongside Mark Belling's, is -- gasp! -- in defense of the nanny state (from Belling's point of view).

He's Tim Schilke, author of a book, Growing Up Red,which is not about having Communist parents but about growing up in a red Republican suburb.

Hope he survives. Non-members of the Flat Earth Society have a short life expectancy in Waukesha County journalism. Witness Jessica McBride's unsuccesful (so far) campaign to have the Journal Sentinel replace Laurel Walker with her hero Charlie Sykes or Sykes Lite, Jeff Wagner, as a columnist. And Dennis Shook, for whatever reason, is gone from the Freeman.

Maybe Schilke can at least raise everyone's blood pressure a point or two. Well worth the effort.