Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, January 06, 2012
Who's Hot
Governor Chafee -> The Governor should stay off of YouTube forever, but he deserves credit for continuing to go to bat for cities and towns. The most important topic of the General Assembly session will not be a popular political vote for many General Assembly members, but with pressure from Chafee and virtually every mayor in the state, municipal pension reform might be a possibility.
Gordon Fox -> Kudos to Speaker Fox for pushing for a more efficient General Assembly session as opposed to the traditional habit of jamming every major vote into the final days of the session. Cynics will say leadership just wants to ensure a short session so office holders can focus on their campaigns, but if lawmakers are actually given the time to read the bills they are voting on, the state will be a better place.
David Cicilline & Brendan Doherty -> Two more impressive fundraising quarters for the incumbent and the top challenger in the 1st Congressional District. It's still early and both the Democrats and Republicans are waiting for other credible candidates to throw their hats into the ring, but Cicilline and Doherty are clearly the frontrunners.
Hugh Clements -> Nobody had a bad thing to say this week about the new Providence Police Chief, who has been with the department for his entire career. It will be interesting to see how Chief Clements, who has the overwhelming support of rank-and-file members, handles community policing efforts moving forward. He's also forced to deal with a handful of recent unsolved murders that will undoubtedly be the topic of discussion in the first six months of the year.
Angel Taveras & Michael Solomon -> Both the Providence Mayor and Council President voiced their support for the Achievement First Mayoral Academy again this week. While no one is saying that one school (or even several schools) will turn around the city's failing education system, it's worth giving AF an opportunity to produce results.
Joe Kennedy III -> Sounds like another Kennedy plans to make a run for office. As RIPR first reported, Joe Kennedy III is planning to run for Barney Frank's Congressional seat in Massachusetts. Anytime a Kennedy enters a race, they instantly become a favorite and that will likely be the case here as well. This adds yet another layer of interest to the Bay State in a year where it already is likely to have the hottest Senate race in the country.
Rick Santorum -> The former Pennsylvania Senator is surging after coming from out of nowhere to finish second in Iowa. The question is, after putting everything into that caucus, will he have anything left for New Hampshire or South Carolina? One has to wonder what the end game is for Santorum. Is he lining himself up for a cabinet position or does he think he can actually win this thing?
Who's Not
Patrick Lynch -> More than a few Democrats were unhappy to hear the former Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate put an end to rumors that he was planning to challenge Congressman David Cicilline this year. Lynch, who would have had to move more than $300,000 from his state campaign account to a federal account, would have been instantly viable if he decided to run.
Gina Raimondo -> The Treasurer has rightfully been praised for all she accomplished in her first year in office, but she still continues to make political mistakes that could come back to haunt her down the road. First it was the fist pumping at the EngageRI rally and this week, it was accepting an award from a conservative think tank in New York. Decisions like this only give her opponents more campaign flier material.
Point Judith Capital -> Speaking of Raimondo, it's a shame to see her former company leaving the state. Point Judith is often referred to as the first venture capital company in Rhode Island. Now it's just the latest business in the state to head for the hills.
Occupy Providence -> It seemed as thought the Occupiers were going to get their way, but now Mayor Angel Taveras is saying he doesn't expect to open a homeless shelter in exchange for the protesters leaving Burnside Park. It is unclear exactly why Providence won't open the shelter (god knows, the city needs it), but it certainly could cause the generally cordial relationship between both sides to sour.
Robert Pelletier -> No one wants to beat a man when he's down, but one of the cardinal rules in local politics is that you have to actually live in the community you represent. A story like this pops up all over the country every year and it never ends well for the politician. This Cranston City Councilman should probably step aside for the time being.
Michele Bachmann -> The Minnesota Congresswoman finally bowed out of the Presidential race after a poor finish in Iowa. Bachmann made a strong effort (and actually won a few of those early debates) but she fell out of sight as folks started to pay more attention to the race. It will be interesting to see who she throws her support behind.
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- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
- Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Comments:
john paycheck
6:26am on Friday, January 06, 2012
yawn......
Charles Drago
11:02am on Friday, January 06, 2012
David Cicilline is a "frontrunner"???
Because he raised money???
David Cicilline is a bottom feeder.
Do your job, Go Local Prov. Where is David Cicilline's money coming from? To whom will David Cicilline be obligated if the arms of Orion are twisted askew and he is re-elected?
Frontrunner???
David Cicilline is a bottom feeder.
David Cicilline is feasting on the waste products of those who wish to preserve the old politics of patronage and control.
Pull up a chair, Progressives. Put on the old feed bag, Myrth York.
Disgusting. Utterly disgusting.
frank bentley
11:16am on Friday, January 06, 2012
Drago is a joke..thats reality..he's like Cianci..using media to settle scores..in fact, he's more like Cianci than many know !! sorry Chuckles but the truth hurts
Cicilline is no frontrunner but who else is in the race? Col Leather? Plumber Gemma? maybe Loughlin for now..but once active duty is over, he has to stop using Vic Mikaels aka Mike Napolitano as his voice..GINA IS A FRAUD..she cant keep HER company in RI...
Taveras had good week: Clements & NOT OPENING SHELTER...maybe the McGowan family can fund the "needed shelter"??..my family can't support any...speaking of "old feed bags"..there's Drago
Charles Drago
11:23am on Friday, January 06, 2012
_____________________________
Thanks, Frank, and God bless.
Maybe you're right. Maybe David Cicilline did not drive Providence to the brink of economic and educational ruin. Maybe David Cicilline did not lie about it all -- repeatedly and on the record. Maybe David Cicilline is not dishonorable and incompetent.
Maybe it's all about me.
And maybe your assignment to shoot this messenger is going to fail as miserably as David Cicilline will fail in the 2012 Democratic Primary.
So ... Let the people decide.
Until then, here's hoping that your master hires you, Frank, to write his speeches and control his message.
Fish in a barrel, baby.
Fish in a barrel.
Charles Drago
11:28am on Friday, January 06, 2012
_____________________________
One more thing, Frankie baby.
David Cicilline is not running against Buddy Cianci.
David Cicilline is not running against me.
Which is about all Buddy and I have in common other than our ethnicity and our fondness for fine wines and great olive oil.
David Cicilline is running against his own record of corruption and incompetence.
David Cicilline will run against an enlightened Democrat in the Primary.
The victorious enlightened Democrat will then move on to defeat a Republican who makes Sarah Palin look like the dean of Harvard Law School.
Sorry, Frankie baby. Pick another horse while you can. David Cicilline's feedbag is empty.
anthony sionni
12:29pm on Friday, January 06, 2012
Cicilline ? All he is doing is giving speeches,press releases and attending fundraisers!
Russell Conway
1:12pm on Friday, January 06, 2012
"While no one is saying that one school (or even several schools) will turn around the city's failing education system, it's worth giving AF an opportunity to produce results."
Hard to argue with that kind of logic. Why not also consult an astrologer? (at least it would be cheaper) Meanwhile, Providence's public schools, some built more than a century ago, continue to fall apart.
Russell Conway
1:29pm on Friday, January 06, 2012
Shame to see PJC leaving, but perhaps you should note the reason...
From PBN...
“A majority of our partners live in Massachusetts, so it was simply commuting logistics, there wasn’t any issue with Providence, and we still think it is a great place to build new technology companies that we hope to invest in,” March said, while noting that Point Judith Capital has two current local investments, NABsys and Narragansett Brewing.
“Regardless of where our offices are located, Point Judith Capital remains committed to actively investing in Rhode Island,” he added.
W. Walwyn
6:17pm on Friday, January 06, 2012
Don't get some of these, Dan. I mean, we know you're in the bag for Achievement First, that's obvious to anyone who's read about three or four of these Who's Hot Who's Not. But shouldn't you have listed Achievement First as "Hot" for getting the support from Taveras and Solomon? I mean, otherwise you should've listed yourself as "Hot" a long time ago for jumping on that bandwagon. I don't mean that in an offensive way, just that it doesn't make much sense to praise someone for hitching their wagon to another's initiative. It's like saying Peter was "Hot" for following Jesus.
Likewise, why does Occupy not having its demands being met rank it as "Not", when you clearly put the burden of fault on the Mayor for not delivering a day center? Why doesn't Taveras take the "Not" in that case?
Also, I think the case against Fox is that he also is looking to get a shorter session, unless I'm mistaken, which I could be.
Michael Trenn
9:24pm on Friday, January 06, 2012
BOOOORING!