Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Who’s Hot
Sandra Powell -> After Lincoln Chafee was blasted by former NAACP President Cliff Montiero for replacing Powell as DLT Director, it’s nice to see the Governor step up and make her head of Human Services.
Jim Vincent -> An excellent choice to help move the NAACP forward in Rhode Island. Vincent is new-media savvy and is visible thanks to his Sunday morning talk show. It will be interesting to see if he is as outspoken as his predecessor.
Lt. Governor Roberts -> Aside from every out-of-work person in the state, no one is happier than Lt. Governor Roberts about Governor Carcieri leaving office. She is already playing a major role within the Chafee administration.
The Mayors, Lombardi & Taveras -> Two Mayors who did an excellent job handling Wednesday’s blizzard. Mayor Lombardi was out plowing all day and Mayor Taveras took the Cory Booker approach, utilizing Twitter and Facebook effectively to update residents throughout the day.
Emergency Management Agency -> Kudos to everyone involved with snow removal this week. RIEMA gets two thumbs up for keeping the highways mostly clear and safe on Wednesday. Anyone who did have to drive was pleasantly surprised with their commute.
President Obama –> Delivered the inspiring speech our country needed in the wake of the horrible tragedy that took place in Tucson last weekend.
Martin Luther King Day -> Have the day off on Monday? How about heading to one of the state’s many service projects and getting your hands dirty. The biggest project will be hosted by City Year Rhode Island and take place at the Gilbert Stuart Middle School in Providence.
Who’s Not
Lincoln Chafee -> Even if he feels a couple of talk show hosts are out to get him, the Governor made a foolish, short-sighted move by banning state employees from going on the radio. WPRO listeners may have not voted for him, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to hear about what’s happening from the people in charge.
Bishop Tobin -> The insufferable face of the Roman Catholic Church in Rhode Island made a scene by not showing up for Governor Chafee’s inauguration and penned a pathetic column regarding gay marriage last week.
Newport School Committee -> Bringing up the age-old school uniform debate again. Keep your eye on the ball, Newport. The Nike VS Loafer conversation isn’t the one we should be having when it comes to education in Rhode Island.
Sarah Palin -> A failed attempt at making yourself the sympathetic figure in the Tucson situation is definitely worthy of the “Not List”.
Antonio Cromartie -> Let’s get this straight: The guy who has nine children with eight women across six states is criticizing Tom Brady? Really? Here’s hoping he gets what’s coming to him this weekend.
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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?
Comments:
Donn Roach
9:57am on Friday, January 14, 2011
Can you say knee-jerk. Expected more this week, Dan.
Cara Mella
2:13pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
Dan,
Do you tend to not like free speech unless it applies to you?
Rex Hammond
3:09pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
On the issue of the Newport School Committee taking up "the age-old school uniform debate again": This is an important issue for performance. I think school committees have enough bandwidth to take on more than one facet of our failing schools. As someone who went to a school with uniforms and one without I can tell you it makes a huge difference for the positive. For you to tell them to "keep there eye on the ball" just shows how young and inexperienced the staff and the "Mindsetters" are at Go Local Prov. I usually just read this as a lark but now Im not even sure I want to give them the "clicks." Once you decide to get someone with more insight and less rudimentary knowledge of issues then maybe I'll read this site again. Not hot: Go Local Prov's inexperienced staff and lack of journalistic norms and standards.
Dan McGowan
3:27pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
Thanks for the comments, folks. Please feel free to send ideas to DanMcGowan21@gmail.com...
Don:
Now you know what it feels like reading you...
Cara:
I'm not sure what you mean. Of course I support free speech. It's that right that allows me to criticize both talk radio for mostly spewing racist, agenda-drivel drivel and Gov. Chafee for banning the still-important medium.
Rex:
Just because you did well in Dockers doesn't make it an important issue. This has nothing to do with me being young. It has to do with making sense. How about we talk about extending the school day and the school year, making sure our children can read and making sure our teachers are qualified before we tell students to pull up their pants?
You and I both know that whenever the uniform argument comes up, you get a million children and parents protesting at school meetings and so yes, in fact, it does force you to deal with one facet of failing schools.
Thanks for reading and I appreciate the discourse,
Dan
Rex Hammond
4:13pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
Dan, My point is that a school committee should not be criticized for trying and also while you focused on this one issues it does not mean the members of the NSC are not willing to discuss all ways to improve our schools. They have the ability to multitask but you have the ability to pluck one proposal they mention and then criticize them for not focusing on the "real issues." To fix the schools many things must happen and why not flush them out and discuss things like school uniforms. Also I never wore dockers but I was focused on the teachers not on what was "cool to wear at school" so yeah while most of it was parents, good teachers, well planned and thought curriculum, etc ....it was also partly due to the uniforms.
Dan McGowan
4:16pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
I think we can meet half way here. Clearly we both want to see education fixed in this state.
I don't doubt the school committee has the ability to multitask. I do doubt they will have that ability when 100 parents who don't want to listen to their children bitch about wearing Dockers decide to make a scene at the school committee.
Thanks for writing...
Donn Roach
9:12pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
@Dan
A witty reply.
Here's a question for you when you talk about RI Radio hosts who spew hate, can you cite an example or two? When I hear this comment I hear 'spew hate' = 'does not agree with me'. I'm hoping you can clear that up.