Views on News • October 22nd, 2009

No more

by Chris Lato

The news of yet another arrest for State Rep. Jeff Wood is angering, sad and, no pun intended, sobering.

First and foremost, Wood is a clear danger to the general public as he repeatedly gets behind the wheel while (allegedly) under the influence. It is unacceptable behavior from anyone, but in Wood’s case he is accused of breaking the laws he is charged with creating and overseeing as a legislator.

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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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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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