Views on News • March 13th, 2009

Color me shocked

by Chris Lato

I had to read this piece very closely to make sure it wasn’t some kind of joke. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. On the Daily Page (the online incarnation of Madison’s free liberal mainstay publication, Isthmus) Bill Lueders has written a, yes, fair and balanced piece about the state Supreme Court race that actually has some strong praise on behalf of candidate Randy Koschnick and points out Shirley Abrahamson’s disingenuousness on the campaign trail.

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2008 Primaries, Promotions, Views on News, public relations • July 23rd, 2008

The six-million-dollar election

by Chris Lato

Brace yourself for a new round of hand-wringing. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign has issued an analysis that shows nearly $6 million was spent in the recent State Supreme Court election between Mike Gableman and Louis Butler.

The biggest spender: that shadowy cabal known as Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. The right wing has MoveOn.org to loathe – now the Wisconsin left has WMC to demonize.

We’ve been down this road before, but it’s amazing that Butler’s supporters still aren’t letting this go. Like it or not, the Supreme Court race was democracy in action. Was it nasty? Yup. Did some of the ads take harsh pokes at the candidates? You betcha.

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Branding Politix, Views on News, public relations • July 7th, 2008

WMC bashers cry: “Bring me the head of James Haney!”

by Chris Lato

Every time I think this story is slowly dying away, a fresh outrage emerges.

Some folks on the left in Madison are foaming-at-the-mouth desperate to symbolically score the head of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce on a silver platter. They’re in a massive snit over the fact that WMC got heavily involved in the last two state Supreme Court races – and backed the winning candidates both times.

Without pausing to take into account the intelligence and will of the voters, and the fact that the high court had shifted to a decidedly anti-business stance recently, WMC-bashers are convinced that James Haney and Co. have signed a deal with Satan to be the high court’s puppet masters. more »

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Leadership, Views on News, public relations • June 27th, 2008

Surveying the landscape

by Chris Lato

The weekend is almost here, and my short attention span won’t allow me to focus on any one topic – a few things grabbed my attention this morning.

First, were you listening to Wisconsin Public Radio at 8 this morning? If not, shame on you. Catch the Week in Review in the archives here. Thanks to Joy Cardin, her staff and Matt Rothschild for a fun and enlightening hour.

Next….is there any doubt that Scott Walker is going to veto this thing? It’s the tax idea that simply won’t die in Milwaukee County- and great timing to boot, what with the economy and all. more »

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