We aren’t Belling babies – but close. We are among the many Wisconsin residents whose political opinions were formed in part because of Mark Belling’s monumental influence.
Thank you, Mark, for all you have done for Wisconsin.
Although he’s going to be doing a podcast now, and WISN 1130 has a strong farm team, Mark Belling leaving live radio feels like the end of an era. He is irreplaceable. Wisconsin would look much different if he had never picked up a mic.
We’re old enough to remember Belling’s TV show (which Jessica appeared on – the cajun food was great), and the age in which Belling and turncoat Charlie Sykes battled it out on the radio like Holyfield and Tyson. Okay, it was more of a collegial rivalry. No one bit anyone else’s ear, and Belling came first, but they did help usher in the age of Scott Walker and WOW county dominance.
In the end, Belling won that battle. Unlike Sykes, Belling never careened off the anti-Trump cliff.
While Sykes migrated away from Milwaukee radio to embrace the leftists on MSNBC and turned his back on the causes and people he once convinced us he championed, Belling remained steadfast in his loyalty to this state and his listeners. He’s never sold out for a grift. He has remained remarkably consistent in principles. In fact, Belling doesn’t do ads or appear at events, as far as we can tell.
Consistency is key in talk radio, and he has delivered day in and day out, year in and year out. His semi-retirement is a loss to Wisconsin conservatism. It’s a loss to Wisconsin, period.
WRN co-founder Jim Piwowarczyk first started listening to Belling when he was delivering furniture as a college student in his early 20s, and he continued listening while he was a Glendale police officer. To local police officers, talk radio was often the only place where they could get a fair shake. To this very day, Belling’s show is the one that Jim makes sure he doesn’t miss. As a newly elected legislator, Belling has helped guide his political formation.
In her early 20s, WRN Co-founder Jessica McBride also started listening to Belling’s radio show. Driving home from her job as a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper reporter, she would listen to Belling and think, “Wow, I agree with everything this man says.”
Simply put, Belling helped form our political value system. He delivered conservative values with great clarity and common sense. There are many people like us in Wisconsin.
Out here in Waukesha and Washington Counties, where we live, Belling has a unique bond of trust with his audience. Go into any café on any morning and listen to the old men discussing politics over their morning coffee. They’re far more likely to talk about what they hear on talk radio than in the newspaper (or on TV). Out here, he IS the news.
Belling always struck us as fearless and ethical. He’s also a gifted writer whose Waukesha Freeman column similarly tackles the issues with great clarity.
His show stands out for several reasons. One is that he does actual reporting – yes, George Stanley, radio shows in Wisconsin do BREAK NEWS. We’ve lost count of how many big stories Belling has broken over the years.
We’re sure many public officials fear nothing more than getting a phone call or email from Mark Belling (especially if they’ve done something wrong or really stupid). Belling alone can make or break a career in a single show.
The biggest mistake a person can make is ignoring Mark Belling. Just take his call or answer his email and give it to him straight. He’s tough but fair. He’s got an unrivaled network of sources.
But radio is also a performance art. When it comes to timing and style, there’s no one better. How often have we checked to see if the radio was still on after one of his famous long pauses?
Jay Weber, Dan O’Donnell, Vicki McKenna, Dave Michaels, Ben Yount and the rest do a great job. Jerry Bott has built a powerhouse lineup that will continue to lead the way at 1130.
Paul Kronforst is a loyal and effective producer, producing Mark’s show for 34 years. We once asked Paul about Mark, and Paul responded that he was the most generous person he knew.
But there will never be another Mark Belling. His institutional knowledge will be greatly missed.
Wisconsin’s conservative movement owes him a big debt. Thankfully, he will continue to share his wisdom through his podcast. We’re entering the age of the podcast.
So we wish him well, but we also thank him. The liberal media will never properly recognize his contributions to this state’s politics. We know we speak for many people when we say: Thank you, Mark, for everything you’ve done for this state.
