Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics
Friday, April 22, 2011
Every week, GoLocalProv takes an insider's look at who is on fire and who is cooling down on the Rhode Island political scene.
Who’s Hot
Lincoln Chafee -> The Governor is on YouTube. This is better than the time the Providence Democrats started a website. All he needs now is a blog and a quirky screen name and he’ll have officially joined the 21st century. All kidding aside, it’s a smart move for the governor to spread his message himself as opposed to letting talk radio or other media outlets set the tone for him.
Travis Rowley -> Gave an impassioned speech at last week’s Tax Day rally, and followed that up by taking a major risk by throwing his support behind upstart Barry Hinckley in the 2012 U.S. Senate race. It’s a great hire by Hinckley, who is trying to establish himself as the socially moderate candidate in what looks to be a crowded field next year. The big question: Can Rowley help rally enough Young Republicans to help push Hinckley past a Don Carcieri type?
Kate Brock -> Say what you will about the Governor’s tax proposal, but at least Kate Brock was willing to publicly support the plan. If more progressives were willing to go to bat for the guy they helped get elected, the plan might have some legs.
Providence City Council -> You remember all those times the Council voted to approve Mayor Cicilline’s budgets? Apparently neither do they. At least they’re now willing to admit their mistakes and they appear ready to help move the city forward. That said, a criminal investigation into Cicilline’s actions might be a little much.
Scott Avedisian -> Here’s why the “Governor Carcieri cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to cities and towns” argument has little merit: Despite the cuts and the horrible economic climate, the mayor of Warwick was able to generate a surplus this year.
Keith Oliveira -> Welcome to the Providence School Committee, Keith. You’re coming on board at a time when teachers, parents and students aren’t the biggest fans of the school board. Good luck!
Who’s Not
Providence Retirement Board -> It’s one thing to disapprove of Cicilline, it’s another to suggest he should lose a pension he can’t even apply for. Taking away pensions for doing a poor job isn’t the path this group should want to go down. Because if they do, Cicilline and Cianci won’t be the only two they will have to go after.
Individuals Demanding Economic Accountability -> Nice to know the conservative group formed last year only now wants to step up and offer advice to the governor. It would have saved a lot of time to have reached out before the guy proposed a crazy sales tax plan.
Deborah Cylke -> The other Deborah in education in Rhode Island made a mistake this week when she defended spending almost $3,000 to send one of her school board members across the country to a national conference. There are people on that board that don’t know what’s happening in their own city. Maybe she should have taken the time to train them on that first.
Lisa Tomasso -> There are plenty of people who would have no problem presenting their ID when they use their EBT card. But the idea that anyone would be turned away from buying food because they don’t have proper ID is outrageous. Maybe it’s time to stop attempting to balance to budget on the backs of poor people.
Johnson & Wales University -> Really, JWU? Are you really presenting a governor who spent eight years cutting millions of dollars in aid to higher education with an honorary degree? What’s it going to say, “Thanks for allowing us to offer even crappier financial aid packages to our already in-debt students?”
If you valued this article, please LIKE GoLocalProv.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Related Articles
- 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?
Enjoy this post? Share it with others.
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Comments:
noel davis
7:45am on Friday, April 22, 2011
do I detect a Beale/Mcgowan feud?
Prov city council HOT?..what air?
Dan McGowan
10:39am on Friday, April 22, 2011
Beale drank my apple juice at the office yesterday. So yes, we are feuding.
Charles Drago
1:45pm on Friday, April 22, 2011
__________________________________
John Loughlin should be ashamed of himself.
John Loughlin has rigged a behind-the-lines (if any lines are left in Iraq) administrative job – risking paper cuts of Homerian proportions – to “serve his country.”
If Loughlin were intent upon serving America in its armed forces, why didn’t he press for an assignment in Afghanistan?
Why did he accept an assignment of extremely limited duration?
I’ll tell you why.
John Loughlin is interested only in serving himself.
And you know it, for as you write about this shameful charade, “If nothing else, it’s a great political move by Loughlin.”
Really?
Do you think that the spouses, mothers, fathers, children, and other loved ones of Rhode Islanders killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will praise Loughlin for his “great political move”?
Or will they chastise him for disgracing the flag in which he wraps himself?
How would you suggest that John Loughlin explain his cynical, disgraceful act of sunshine patriot cowardice to the unquiet spirits of Sgt. Gregory A. Belanger, Sgt. Charles T. Caldwell, Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, Spec. Michael Andrade, CW5 Sharon T. Swartworth, Capt. Matthew J. August, Lance Cpl. Matthew K. Serio, Sgt. Christopher S. Potts, Lance Cpl. Holly A. Charette, 2nd Lt. Matthew S. Coutu, Cpl. Brian R. St. Germain, Sgt. Moises Jazmin, Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas, Sgt. Michael R. Weidemann, Spc. Agent Nathan J. Schuldheiss, Sgt. Kyle J. Harrington,Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV?
For starters.
John Loughlin would be in the way of greater harm if he were walking down one of David Cicilline’s downtown streets after dark.
John Loughlin and David Cicilline are cut from the same cloth: cheap political hustlers who will stop at nothing to further their personal agendas.
David Cicilline is incapable of feeling shame.
Shame on you, John Loughlin.
joe bernstein
11:23am on Saturday, April 23, 2011
John Loughlin has nothing to prove,so I am not susicious of his motives for returning to active duty.
He flew military helicopters for 20 years,including a deployment to Bosnia.Being a military helicopter pilot is a hazardous job in peacetime as well as wartime.They fly some very high risk maneuvers under much less than optimal conditions.
Charles Drago
11:33am on Saturday, April 23, 2011
___________________________
Joe,
I respect Loughlin for his former service; you comments about military helicopter pilots is on-the-money.
The timing, duration, and duties involved in his current "service" breed suspicion in the minds of seasoned political observers.
It's almost certainly a political stunt -- an ill-advised, ugly political stunt that will backfire if Loughlin dares to run for public office again.
Unless Loughlin is broke and needs the job. But surely he has enough connections to get a gig with a local defense contractor.
Michael Trenn
4:12pm on Saturday, April 23, 2011
These cynical comments about John Loughlin are ridiculous. I wish he were in Congress. What would Chi-Chi be doing if the roles were reversed? Going to Iraq, or representing slimeballs?
Max Diesel
11:53pm on Sunday, April 24, 2011
This is third in a daily series called "I HATE JOHN LOUGHLIN" by Charles Drago whose only claim to fame is believing in conspiracy theories.
In other news, what's up with Chafee and the Providence City Council being on the hot list? Chafee makes a hack Youtube video doing his best rendition of a snake oil salesman and did the indignant Providence City Council just wake from a Rip Van Winkle nap? There is nothing hot about any of them.
Cara Mella
4:29pm on Saturday, April 30, 2011
Dear Comment #8
For the moment Drago is back in action, and personally speaking I enjoy the read, This man can write!
Too bad Matt Jerzyk isn't able to write on blogs anymore...or is he?? Just one of my conspiracy theories.
(those interactions were some of Drago's finest moments on RI Future)