Uncategorized • March 25th, 2011

Should Justice Prosser recuse himself?

by Chris Lato

I have a better question: Why is this even a story?

What possible reason is there to think that David Prosser would recuse himself? Is there some conflict here? A legitimate legal reason why this is an appropriate issue, worthy of coverage? If there is, this report should lay it out.

I realize pro-collective bargaining forces are desperately working to make the April 5 election a referendum on that issue. The messaging is that it’s time to ‘get even.’ Prosser opponents think he is Governor Walker’s right-wing right-hand man – Prosser is a former Republican state legislator, after all - but this line of inquiry is driven by an ideological, rather than rational, train of thought.

If JoAnne Kloppenburg is elected next month, will she be pushed to recuse herself from all cases involving the state Justice Department or the DNR? I’m no legal eagle, but I’m guessing no. But that’s the same shaky line of logic at work here.

More and more, I am coming around to the idea that races for Supreme Court should be partisan. The idea that these candidates and current judges are truly independent is looking more ludicrous by the day. That is not a criticism of anyone in particular, but there’s no such thing as a non-partisan candidate for the high court in Wisconsin anymore - if there ever was in the first place.

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Uncategorized • December 13th, 2010

‘High-speed’ train flies off the rails

by Chris Lato

As a candidate for Governor, Scott Walker said he was going to do it. As Governor-elect (the guy’s not even in office yet!), he did it.

Much will be written about whether the death of ‘high-speed’ rail is good for Wisconsin. But not long after the federal government was telling us that an $810 million-plus spending orgy in the form of trains was a done deal and couldn’t be stopped….well, it’s been stopped. Dead in its tracks.

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Uncategorized • October 13th, 2010

Time to clean House

by Chris Lato

We all know every argument regarding term limits. I firmly support them. Until this year, David Obey served as my go-to example of why we need to clean (the US) House. 20 terms is way more than enough, and can contribute to a kind of obnoxious arrogance (ask virtually any reporter who’s ever spoken to Obey more than once about his interpersonal skills).  The idea that Obey’s leaving Washington for any reason other than impending defeat doesn’t hold water.

Apparently folks in the 7th C.D. agree it’s time for a real change. The Hill is reporting that Democrat Obey’s soon-to-be-vacated seat is leaning GOP. 

Obey’s been in Congress for (slightly) longer than I’ve been alive. That’s way, way more time than anyone, Republican or Democrat, needs to spend in the same political office. Lest anyone point out that other members of the Wisconsin delegation have been in office for ages too, rest assured that I’m aware of that and my desire for term limits is bipartisan.

The mood of the electorate is one of anger and concern over the future of their jobs and their families (at least, those that aren’t unemployed or underemployed). Part of it may be a reaction to the Obama agenda, and a sense that it’s time to apply some more balance to his administration - just as the GOP did to Bill Clinton in 1994.

People don’t feel like government is really listening to them, and in a time of deep economic turmoil, it’s the incumbents who are often hard-pressed to justify what they’ve accomplished in office. The sour mood hangs heavy in the air, and the desire for change is sparking what may end up being a real shift in power.

In 2006 and 2008, a lot of pols with an ‘R’ next to their name faced an uphill battle. This year, incumbents are in the crosshairs thanks to a public that is fed up and engaged.

And without term limits in place, that’s not a bad thing.

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Uncategorized • October 12th, 2010

The ‘underdog’ struggles for traction

by Chris Lato

I just saw this ad again on TV last night and was struck by how it basically acknowledges that Russ Feingold is running behind, even though he says otherwise. (BTW, this is the older version of the ad,  which still features the NFL/Vikings clip in there - a bizarre gaffe from a candidate/campaign that ought to know better.)

Feingold built his political image on being the ‘little guy’ and the ‘maverick.’ He’s trying to reclaim the mantle of underdog here, which he doesn’t have to fight hard for at this point. The newest Rasmussen poll is discouraging news for Russ - when you are a three-term incumbent and your political newbie opponent is up by seven points (and now consistently above the magic 50% threshold) with three weeks to go…well, it’s not over yet but the Johnson camp has reason to dust off their cleats for a little end-zone shuffle. At the debates, so far Johnson has basically had to remain reasonably coherent to be seen as winning or at least tying Feingold, considering conventional wisdom had Feingold wiping up the floor with Johnson before the debates started.

While he’s on the wrong side of most every issue, Russ Feingold is no dummy and he will have the Democrat machine behind him. He may well be able to turn things around in the remaining days, but the winds of change don’t favor this Democrat Senator. In addition, Johnson has run some devastatingly effective and memorable TV ads. Put it all together and Feingold may be one who pays the price Nov. 2.

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Uncategorized • October 11th, 2010

Leisure-time President

by Chris Lato

Remember when George W Bush was President and the Left pounced on the guy for playing so much golf? Remember the clip from Fahrenheit 9/11?

Well, turns out Bush was a piker compared to our current Commander in Chief. President Obama has already hit the links more than twice as often as Bush did during his entire Presidency.

Presidents are not robots who are tied to the Oval Office 24/7, and no matter where a sitting President goes, he is always ‘on the clock.’ But it’s striking to recall how the Olbermanns of the world were apoplectic over Bush’s efforts to relax, yet Obama seems to be getting a pass.

Is it fair to compare these two? Or is it apples and oranges?

Soon enough, the voters will have their say on the direction of this country via the mid-term elections.

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Uncategorized • October 7th, 2010

The rumor mill vs. substance

by Chris Lato

Joe Biden is an endless source of amusement. Let’s hope the rumors of him being booted off the ticket aren’t true.  And they probably aren’t - it seems every President running for a second term is subjected to similar chatter.

For fans of political gaffes, Biden is the gift that keeps on giving. One can only imagine that his communications clean-up crew is battle-tested and perpetually on alert - a lot of Pepto-Bismol must be consumed in that office.

But there’s a larger issue here. E.J. Dionne suggests the Biden/Clinton rumor reflects laziness on the part of the news media - that this story sprouted legs because it’s ‘easy’ and not because there’s a whole lot of substance behind it.

Dionne also notes there are many more momentous issues to for the press to cover, what with a potentially game-changing election day right around the corner. He has a point.

There is a hunger for more in-depth political coverage - witness WisconsinEye and C-SPAN as two examples. Similarly, WISN-TV in Milwaukee has shown consistent dedication to political coverage, including jumping through a lot of hoops to stage political debates hosted by Mike Gousha.

While working with Mark Neumann’s campaign this year, we had no idea how many would tune in when the primary debate took place. WISN deemed the results a success. 

WISN worked hard to pull off a logistically challenging event and did a solid public service in the process. Wisconsin had the (very, very rare) chance to see those candidates interact directly.

Whether most people choose to watch is a separate matter entirely. Making the option available in the first place is an important step.

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Uncategorized • October 6th, 2010

um…shocker?

by Chris Lato

Nope.

1. If you have the lead and you know it, why risk stepping in it with a debate?

2. Passing on debates folks the opportunity to hear the candidates live and unfiltered. But if you think candidates care about that…well, refer back to point #1.

3. Do folks care about the LG race? As someone who worked for a candidate in 2006 (the awesome Jean Hundertmark) I can tell you interest is…limited.

It SHOULD matter more, since that person is a heartbeat or Administration appointment away from becoming relevant (lookin’ at you, Scott McCallum). So until the LG’s office goes the way of the dodo, yes, it is worth paying some attention to. It may not drive how most people end up casting their ballot, but it’s one of the factors that should be weighed.

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Creative, Promotions, Uncategorized • March 18th, 2009

Slammin’ the slogan

by Chris Lato

Mama always said, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. So…how do I put this…

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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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Uncategorized • October 14th, 2008

Obama in a landslide!

by Chris Lato

Obama up by 17 in Wisconsin? Really?

This number seems so out-of-line with every other poll out there that it is very, very difficult to believe.

Is the race over yet? No. The polling in battleground states doesn’t paint a rosy picture for John McCain but election day represents the only poll that really matters.

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