Leadership, Views on News • August 12th, 2009

The gold rush, 2009-style

by Chris Lato

If there’s a theme that ties these different bits of news together, it’s that money does, indeed, grow on trees these days.

In New York, for example, they’re giving out ‘free money.’ Well, it’s actually ‘stimulus’ money but it might as well be free, right?

more »

No Comments »

Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • August 6th, 2009

Cal Thomas nails it

by Chris Lato

There’s little I can add to this. The cliché goes that the devil is in the details, and yet we don’t even have details to consider yet in the headlong rush for healthcare reform. The central idea to date is, “Healthcare reform has to happen NOW.”

Meanwhile, President Obama’s poll numbers are taking a hit and the spin machine is whirling feverishly. One particularly stark example: House leader Nancy Pelosi claiming that healthcare town hell protestors are ‘carrying swastikas.’

So, oppose what the government is proposing and you are a neo-Nazi? Hmm.

No Comments »

Leadership, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News • August 4th, 2009

The trains from Spain

by Chris Lato

A 47-million dollar, no-bid contract for trains from Spain gets the approval of the Joint Finance Committee. Even legislative Democrat leaders are expressing some misgivings over the way the Doyle administration handled this one - yet are doing little to actually challenge it.

Republicans like Rep. Robin Vos are sounding off, but it doesn’t matter much. The die is cast, the deal is done.

All this in the face of evidence that the state originally planned to do a competitive bidding process, then decided it was too much bother. Also, other companies had expressed interest in the project.

more »

No Comments »

Leadership, Views on News, public relations • July 22nd, 2009

Degrees of misconduct

by Chris Lato

I had an interesting conversation recently about whether any law or state regulation that is on the books should still be enforced- particularly when those who create/enforce the laws are accused of breaking it.

The initial discussion was spurred by adultery – which is illegal in Wisconsin. Recently, a top law enforcer was caught in an affair with a reporter/commentator/professor who wrote a story about him. Both were married and admitted to the infidelity. (I’m not mentioning names here – I see no need to rehash. Read some of Dan Bice’s recent columns at JSOnline if you don’t know who I’m talking about.)

Now, beyond the obvious questions of journalistic ethics, should the law enforcer face punishment for breaking what most people likely consider to be an unnecessary law that hasn’t been enforced in decades?

more »

No Comments »

Leadership, Views on News, public relations • July 16th, 2009

In the news

by Chris Lato

So, Governor Doyle is now refusing to answer questions about missing travel receipts?

The state news media is generally obsessed with the notion of open records in state government, and not without reason. By that standard, shouldn’t the press refuse to take no for an answer and call for full disclosure…and not give up until they get it?

more »

No Comments »

Global Concerns, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • June 10th, 2009

Budget blues

by Chris Lato

Once again, I waited far too long between posts – keeping very busy on the business side, which is always a good thing.

But reading today’s Journal Sentinel inspired/disheartened me.

The following comes directly from the article:

Both houses agree on taxing oil company revenue, but they differ on how to structure the tax. Doyle and Senate Democrats want to bar the oil companies from passing the tax on at the pump, but the oil industry is threatening to sue over that provision on the ground that it would violate constitutional protections on commerce.

Some Assembly Democrats said they didn’t want to wind up paying interest and legal fees on a case they were likely to lose. (emphasis added)

Wait what?

So, the Legislature and governor want to enact a tax that they know will get them sued, and some legislators even admit they will likely lose in court…but they still want to go ahead and run up a taxpayer tab.  Just how big is that state deficit again?

So, what is this, other than a feel-good shell game? (Get it? ‘Shell’ game!) I guess we’re expected to take comfort from the knowledge that Wisconsin is trying to punish Big Bad Oil, no matter how fruitless and expensive.

And, if we actually did win a lawsuit, it would mean higher prices at the gas pumps. Assuming this actually survived a legal challenge, does anyone honestly believe the cost to oil companies somehow wouldn’t be passed along to us? In the meantime, I wonder which law firms will benefit from the suit…

Another bit from the article that caught my eye:

The state budget faces a record $6.6 billion shortfall over two years. To close that gap, Democrats plan to cut state agencies and aid to local governments, spend federal economic stimulus cash and raise taxes and fees by about $1 billion a year. (emphasis added)

The budget is still in flux right now and the amount of that hike may well change. Still, just a little something to keep in mind next year when politicians are out looking for your vote, and they claim to be fiscally conservative types who oppose tax and fee increases - as they have been known to claim whether it’s true or not.

Give ‘em a little truth test - ask for detail on how they voted on the budget back in ’09.

No Comments »

Leadership, Messaging, Speeches, Views on News • February 25th, 2009

Fact-checking

by Chris Lato

One thing that you can count on is that when given a big stage to speak from, most politicians find it mighty hard to avoid using some creativity in their facts, figures and versions of history.  So, while President Obama knows how to deliver a speech, and every reasonable American should be pulling for him to succeed, it’s always good to do a bit of fact-checking.  

Bottom line: last night’s address to Congress and the nation not detail-heavy. In fact, some may have been disappointed by the lack of detail, but all that comes later. Obama was doing nothing new in that sense. And these deep economic problems won’t be solved overnight, no matter how much some want to believe that all our president has to do is wave a magic wand and our national nightmare is over.

more »

No Comments »

Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • January 15th, 2009

Assessing the Bush 43 years

by Chris Lato

With Barack Obama’s inauguration right around the corner, columnists are conducting their assessments of our departing president. Some assessments are positive. Some are mixed at best. Others are consistent and unsparing in their relentless criticism.

I consider this after recently seeing ‘Frost/Nixon,’ an excellent movie that offers echoes of the current Bush administration and how the media sees these two presidents and works to ‘take them down.’

As the critiques continue to pile up, context is key. Certain writers and media outlets will simply never give Bush an ounce of credit for anything. In that sense, they discredit themselves almost instantly.

more »

Comment (1) »

Leadership, Messaging, Views on News, public relations • January 7th, 2009

Aggressive PR is paying off

by Chris Lato

Call it ‘Mr. Burris Goes to Washington.’ The Roland Burris saga continues to play out in Washington, where he appears ready to be allowed to take over former Senator Obama’s seat after initially being denied.

Burris’ trip to DC was dismissed earlier this week as political theater, a stunt. Dismiss it all you want, but it appears to be working brilliantly. Chalk it up to the power of aggressive PR to change minds and drive action that leads to a desired outcome. He’s out in front, taking charge of the story and never shying away from the camera, while subtly supporting the notion that he is the victim of circumstances beyond his control.

more »

No Comments »

Branding Politix, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • December 2nd, 2008

D’oh!

by Chris Lato

You just knew some enterprising reporter would start digging this stuff up. It doesn’t make much of a difference now, but candidates and potential candidates always need to remember that any public statements, including blogs and definitely remakes said during a campaign, can always bite the speaker in the behind later.

If Hillary Clinton had no substantive foreign policy credentials nine months ago, why has Barack Obama suddenly reversed course and decided Clinton is fully qualified to become secretary of state? Read the Washington Post link for an example of how Obama is now trying to brush it all off as the press ‘having fun.’ Apparently he was let off the hook after that, because the story doesn’t offer much more on Obama’s response.

more »

No Comments »