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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2008 Primaries, Leadership, Messaging, Views on News • November 3rd, 2008

The curtain is falling…

by Chris Lato

What else can be said about election year 2008?

It will be interesting to see what kind of last-minute shenanigans pop up when the polls are clogged with voters. If turnout is as high as expected, the system will undoubtedly have problems.  

Polls are indicating a Barack Obama win, with the only question remaining: how big a blowout, and how long will his coattails stretch? So far that Wisconsin will have a Democratic legislature to go along with its Democratic governor?

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2008 Primaries, Views on News • September 30th, 2008

Who’s to blame…and where are the leaders?

by Chris Lato

So who’s to blame for the economic crisis? Democrats? Republicans? Obama? McCain? Bush? Clinton? The Masters of the Universe on Wall Street? Individuals who took out home loans they could never hope to continue paying off?

Or is it all of the above?

The more I read, the more I realize there’s plenty of blame to go around for just about every player in this scary state of affairs. No one’s hands are clean. Mistakes were made all over the place. This whole affair looks distinctly bipartisan.

President Bush’s goodwill is essentially spent. He will leave office seriously dinged by Iraq and the economy. Democrats are doing all they can to emphasize the lame-duck-ness of Bush. And let’s face it, we’re all looking ahead to the November elections anyway.

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2008 Primaries, Events, Views on News • September 10th, 2008

Post-election potpourri

by Chris Lato

It looks as though Rep. Jeff Wood, the Libertarian-turned-Republican-turned-Independent in the 67^th district in western Wisconsin, will have a GOP challenge in the November general election.

Republican Don Moga has surfaced with little time to spare, and garnered enough write-in votes Tuesday to get on the November ballot.

To which I say, good. Anyone who pulls a last-minute switcharoo on voters and his party in an effort to coast to re-election deserves a challenge and should have to answer for the reasons behind those moves. Hopefully Moga will provide vigorous opposition in the weeks to come.

Any other surprises? Not really. In the Milwaukee area, Assembly incumbents all successfully beat back primary challenges. No major shakeups in the Congressional races either.  

Meanwhile, the presidential race just keeps on tightening up, if you believe the numbers from Strategic Vision. The race is a statistical dead heat. Reading through the numbers, one thing does leap out: Sarah Palin enjoys the highest favorables and the lowest unfavorables of all four major party candidates (along with the highest undecideds). How much of that is a convention bump, how much of that will erode as Palin undergoes attacks, etc. all remain to be seen. But it’s becoming clear that the choice of Palin is about the smartest thing John McCain has done in this campaign.

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2008 Primaries, Views on News, wispundits • July 21st, 2008

When life gives you lemons…

by Chris Lato

If the polls hold (and keep in mind a LOT can happen between now and then), our next President will be Barack Obama. And if the idea of ‘President Obama’ comes to pass, I am nearly convinced Governor Doyle will get a job offer to join the Obama administration. I would be shocked if Doyle refused such an opportunity to get out of Wisconsin as the economy continues its slow, painful slide, with marquee businesses like GM saying ‘adios’ to the Badger State.

I wrote about this scenario a while back but wanted to revisit this after Scott Milfred wondered what Doyle’s departure would mean for the GOP.

There are many factors to consider: what if the Dems take over both houses of the Legislature this November? The game’s not over yet but GOP is definitely nervous. (By the way, you can hear my take on that by visiting Wisconsin Public Radio’s website – I appeared as a guest on Joy Cardin’s show during the 7 o’clock hour this morning).

Also: what kind of governor would Barbara Lawton make? Is she ready for prime-time after the years spent in Doyle’s shadow? Would two years of all-Dem control with Lawton at the helm prove that Dems really are the better party to lead Wisconsin forward, or would it be a disaster of biblical proportions?

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