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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Leadership, Research & Ideas, Uncategorized, Views on News • November 20th, 2008

Part-time lawmaking

by Chris Lato

Well, here’s something I never thought I’d be saying: Dave Zweifel is on to something in pushing for Wisconsin to go back to a part-time Legislature.

I disagree some of his points, including the notion that we should judge the success of a legislative body by how much legislation they pass. This idea of ‘laws by the pound’ will, almost by necessity, lead to a lot of idiotic laws. And I’m sure making such a serious change in how the Legislature does its business is far easier said than done. Decades of bureaucratic buildup won’t be washed away overnight.

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Leadership, Views on News • November 18th, 2008

Doyle for A.G.? Nope

by Chris Lato

It looks like President-elect Obama has selected his attorney general, and it’s not Gov. Jim Doyle.

For some reason I always suspected that Doyle would not get the nod for this post, despite the fact that on paper, Doyle’s resume would fit. However, A.G. always seemed a bit too high-profile to put a Wisconsin governor (and former state A.G.) into. Eric Holder has the kind of D.C.-based resume that Obama will need for the stormy times to come.

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Leadership, Messaging, Strategic Blueprints, Views on News, wispundits • November 13th, 2008

Let the turf war begin

by Chris Lato

Interesting stuff...the first real sign that as Democrats take over the Legislature, it’s still going to be a bumpy ride.

Locking Milwaukee lawmakers out of leadership roles sends a message, suggesting that it will be a Milwaukee vs. the-rest-of-Wisconsin session as the new majority grapples with a multi-billion-dollar budget hole.  

The Assembly Speaker will be Mike Sheridan, a rep from Janesville who used to be a UAW president. Other Dem Assembly leaders come from Kaukauna and Wausau.

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Grass Roots Organization, Leadership, Messaging • November 12th, 2008

Help!

by Chris Lato

Some Republicans are looking for advice on how to rebuild the party. The focus is on infrastructure, not platform or who should lead. And this site is definitely on the right track regarding one way the party needs to rebuild after their carpet-bombing at the polls this month at the hands of Democrats.

In an example of using the web to build up the social media components of the party, organizers of this site recognize that the GOP was outgunned on the ground, and suggest the Republicans should no longer give the technological edge to the Democrats. And they’re right.

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