I'm as big an anti-corruption guy as the next person. But even I'm starting to see Kerry King, with his anti-corrution lawsuits, as that crazy guy on the corner yelling about how the world will come to an end on next Friday.

Greg,

Then what's with the multiple federal grand juries, and so many smiling defense attorneys around downtown Providence? And why would Charlie Fogarty choose to make anti-corruption, of all things, his main campaign theme, when it looks to many people like he's running against his own party?

Me thinks Mr. King is only taking a different approach to the problem.

Again, I'm not against the anti-corruption movement. I just think Kerry's actions are more of a stunt than a serious attack on corruption.

Strangely, I find myself agreeing again with Greg.

King decides to run for lt. gov., not because he wants be lt. gov., but because he'd like to succeed Carcieri.

He runs a terrible campaign thinking everyone is going to line up behind him and then Reggie C. jumps in at the last minute. Now he has to do something to come back against Reggie C. who had higher name ID and polled better than King before he even got into the race.

If King had worked hard, he never would have had to worry about a primary. Now he's the underdog and this seems more like a stunt.

Of course, I haven't seen much from Reggie C. yet either.

So let me get this straight. In both of your minds, it is wrong for someone to take a stand against corruption, and test a new approach to attacking it, because it looks like a "political stunt." Do I understand you correctly?

If so, I completely disagree. Whether it is Charlie Fogarty or Kerry King, I think it is critically important that political leaders take a public stand against Rhode Island's culture of corruption. If taking these actions helps to mobilize the public to change the current situation (even if it taints the feds future jury pool), I say more power to them.

"this is beyond a stunt. if this was filed in federal court, king and his attorneys would be lucky if they weren't fined before they were tossed out on their butts."

-- the take of a lawyer friend of mine who is as anti-corruption as anyone out there, and a strong proponent of good government.

and to boot, we learned this week that king has given thousands of dollars to Democrats including state sen. Revens, chuck schumer, chris dodd, and john kerry.

whatever happened to king being "the jobs candidate"?

i couldn't agree more with greg and anthony

There's no hope for this state.

Sure it's a stunt. But it's a much needed stunt.

One of this state biggest problems is corruption, legal and extra-legal. Sorry, everyone, it has much more impact than emergency preparedness. This lawsuit, however badly written or politically driven, will remind the occasionally inattentive voters (i.e., no one who posts here) of the unacceptable state of politics and justice in this state. Frankly, I wish more candidates would pull "stunts" like this.

what i want to know is when was it the lt. gov's job to pursue corruption and lawsuits against state legislators? not to defend the GA, but king isn't even a lawyer, so it's not like there's an ethical duty he needs to fullfill. not to mention king's "anticorruption" webpage has morphed after a whole 2 weeks into a "Do You Really Know Reggie" website with very little to do with corruption at all.

further, i have real problems with king's portrayal of centracchio as a "democratic supporter" and "ineffective bureaucrat"

to begin, a $50 contribution to charlie fogarty pales in comparrison with the thousands King has given to democrats across the country and to one of gov. carcieri's most outspoken critics

secondly, there is nothing bureaucratic about serving our country's military, mr. king. and unlike you, reggie centracchio has actually voted for Don Carcieri and served under orders from President Bush.

the sad thing here, is that i started off supporting kerry king. while i have always been skeptical of his promise to be the "jobs candidate" i thought him to be a decent guy. now it's clear through his dramatic shift in style and message that he is not someone i want to represent me as a republican.

with only marginal support, it is important the republicans put candidates up with only the highest caliber of integrity, substance, and ability. while mr. king may be able to represent rhode islanders as lt. gov, i do not think he possesses the honesty (as evidenced by his hypocracy in trying to paint centracchio as a "democratic supporter") or substance (his lawsuit and supposed anti-corruption site are both total political stunts without merit or depth)

while most people will be voting on primary day for laffey or chafee, i for one will be voting to see that reggie centracchio is the republican candidate for lt. governor

John,
No, I think corruption needs to be addressed and I like the fact that King is raising the idea. I just question his motivations for doing so at this point. It's not like he decided to run for office intending to root out corruption. He's been very quiet until now and it comes across as opportunistic at this point.

I've made similar comments about Laffey's motivation to run for Senate. But even while I question Laffey's true motivation for running for Seante, am not even really sure what he would vote for if he ever did get elected, I can respect the work, effort and determination that he has put forth.

Don't get me wrong. It's King's right to run and I like what he is saying. But I still do question his motivation for running for the job. I also question whether the anti-corruption thing is just spin.

And unlike Laffey, even if King is as anti-corruption as his talk would lead you to believe, I question whether he would put in the effort to do anything about it or just do nothing and bide his time to run for governor after Carcieri.

The problem with RI is voters like Greg & Co. You want an anti- corruption candidate but he has to be an anti-corruption candidate who doesnt look like he is trying to win an election? What is wrong with you people? There is right and there is wrong. Just because you dont like Kerry King you choose to support corruption. Are you waiting another four years for a candidate who files a law suit at a more opportune time for your liking....What a joke... Keep voting for Patrick Kennedy, keep voting for corrupt legislators, and keep hearing the laughs from just outside our state boarders from people who have lower taxes and better government. SMARTEN UP YOU IDIOTS!

a little bird has told me that mr. king might not have the most upstanding people advising him in his campaign.

now if you're a corrupt RI political lifer who would you want in office? a desperate ex-businessman looking for higher office, or a proven man of integrity and dedicated service to his country and state with no one to answer to?

me thinks mr. king has sold himself out just like so many other RI "reform" candidates