Promotions • December 29th, 2008

Skyline envy?

by Chris Lato

Oops! Using the Minneapolis skyline on a Wisconsin government website is obviously a really big error in judgment – almost as shocking as the $1 million pricetag being doled out to some out-of-state company for said website.

Let that be a lesson to politicos out there – keep a close eye on those developing your collateral materials for you. Few things send out a worse, more out-of-touch message than such errors in graphics, misspellings, failure to add disclaimers, etc.

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Views on News • December 23rd, 2008

Losers and winners

by Chris Lato

Hmm. Apparently a record like this will help Rep. Jeff Wood move up the legislative ladder like this – three spots on Assembly committees, appointed by majority Democrats.  Not bad for an Independent who just a few months ago was a Republican…and before that was a Libertarian…and has more of a history of trouble than he’s been willing to discuss.  

Meanwhile, who are the biggest political winners/losers of the year? Considering the winner, is there any question that President-elect Obama is the guy? Regardless of your political affiliation, Obama pulled off an historic victory on a number of levels. He has his work cut out for him now, but he has earned the kudos for a race that had the right message at the right time.

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Views on News, wispundits • December 18th, 2008

Enabling the enablers

by Chris Lato

Recently, the Journal Sentinel ran a big series on Wisconsin’s culture of alcohol and the resulting devastation on our roadways. In an editorial, the paper calls for tougher penalties including making at least a third OWI a felony. They call out legislators as ‘enablers’ who support the culture of drinking to excess.

Then, this week one of the editors suggests Rep. Jeff Wood, who has a history of drunk driving and was caught last week, loaded and urinating on the side of the road with two baggies of pot and a pipe on his person, should hang around the Legislature and push for anti drunk-driving legislation.

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Views on News • December 17th, 2008

Person of the year

by Chris Lato

This is, perhaps, the least surprising ‘Person of the Year’ selection from Time magazine in memory. You could have called this one weeks ago.

What IS interesting is the selection of two of the four runners-up: Sarah Palin and Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, who staged the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics.

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Views on News • December 16th, 2008

One toke over the line

by Chris Lato

I know politicians on both sides of the aisle get busted for driving drunk. It’s never the smartest move for those elected to write our laws, who should presumably be expected to follow them as well. And in this case, it sounds as though the driver was really loaded, out of control and a true danger to himself and others.

But Rep. Jeff Wood took it one step further by bringing some pot and paraphernalia with him on the trip. He claims someone gave it to him….did that someone give him the paraphernalia to smoke it with, too?

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Views on News • December 15th, 2008

A tale of two Bushes

by Chris Lato

A few thoughts sprang to mind when I saw this clip.

1.       President Bush has quick reflexes.

2.       Why wasn’t the Secret Service reaction quicker?

3.       W. isn’t the first Bush to have an embarrassing moment on camera. Remember Bush 41 in Japan?

Granted, these two events were ‘official’ so cameras were present. But in a time when just about everyone has a cell-phone camera, politicians always have to watch what they say and do, lest some enterprising audience member catches them in the act.

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Views on News • December 12th, 2008

UAW negotiating tactics

by Chris Lato

Hmm. When your back is against the wall and you are looking for help, this is not the way to do it.

But I digress…let’s consider this from a PR perspective, shall we?

Of course, this doesn’t do the UAW any favors. By the same token, any politician who would derail such crucial legislation because of comments like this isn’t much of a politician. Some form of aid for the auto industry is coming, one way or another.

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New Media, Views on News • December 11th, 2008

The problems with print

by Chris Lato

In this down economy, it’s no secret that all sorts of businesses are struggling and going under – including the newspaper industry, which was thought to be on a long, slow slide to oblivion anyway.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Newspapers need to figure out how to make real money off the Internet and adjust to the change in revenue streams. Print media outlets will continue to face serious fiscal challenges – some will fade away entirely, while some will adapt to an exclusive online presence. Reporters and editors will lose their jobs as newsrooms work to maintain consistent output with fewer resources.

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Creative, Promotions • December 10th, 2008

Beware of the doghouse

by Chris Lato

This holiday season, don’t let this happen to you.

Funny stuff. I don’t know where this 5-minute ad would actually air, (presumably JC Penney is just counting on this thing to go viral?) but it takes the old joke to a new level.Never underestimate he power of humor to deliver messages that stick.

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Branding Politix, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News, public relations • December 9th, 2008

A surcharge on suds?

by Chris Lato

I reference this story in this week’s poll – a movement is afoot to hike taxes on alcohol in Wisconsin.

Trying to raise the tax on alcohol in a state known for its powerful tavern lobby and general love for all things alcohol-enhanced poses a lobbying and PR challenge in the best of times, and the DAs association will likely face an uphill climb with this one.

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