Good list, Marc.

I would add two items:

6.) Pursuant to your #2, Matt Allen's idea so passionately advocated by Dan Yorke today: ask Steve Laffey to be a spokesman for SOS.

Possibly another windmill. But it was a complete inspiration. And to allow Referendum #1 to pass without a fight and take a chance on getting it ruled unconstitutional strikes me simultaneously as wimpy and as risky as trapping the tiger in your house as a way of getting rid of him.

7.) This is not really work but - a pool on how many more ethical or other serious gaffs will come to light about Edward G. Robinson's little friend, Ralph Mollis. I say two, including one more mob related.

There are four basic options in the race for the US Senate here in RI: Casablanca, Chafee, write in someone, and don't vote.

The last two are fun but produce nothing of lasting value. You can tell all your friends how cool it was to write in Bozo the Clown, John H. Chafee, or John Galt but you make no ripples in the pond. This would be a waste. The point is if you can make a statement and cause a ripple then that would be a better choice than doing nothing. IMHO.

Chafee- Choosing to vote for this guy has multiple negative aspects. It vindicates the Washington establishment’s vicious and manipulative use of their political power. Political power itself is not the problem. The problem occurs when this power is used not to build but to destroy, as it was here in RI. These people care nothing about RI. In fact they are laughing at us right this minute while they smoke some Cuban cigars. Secondly voting for Chafee perpetuates the existence of a “liberal democrat” masquerading as a “true republican.” I am personally not affiliated with a party but would consider myself both fiscally and socially conservative. If the party system is your cup of tea then anyone with half a brain would readily admit that at the very least Chafee is liberal both fiscally and socially. The party system is the mother of all special interest boondoggles but it isn’t going away anytime soon so we have to live with it. Thirdly Chafee is a determined waffler. He honestly thinks that waffling is good and he is an accomplished waffler. He does what he does because that’s what he wants to do. He doesn’t ask the voters of RI what they think or want. He makes bad decisions very slowly so he can be both wrong and irrelevant at the same time. Fourthly he spends money like a drunken sailor (no offense to the US Marines or the US Navy) and is proud of it while at the same time he isn’t really honest about it. As part of the old Washington establishment he views every choice he makes as the divine right of the aristocracy. He is not a man of the people.

Casablanca- He is the exact carbon copy of Chafee. So except for the axis of evil (Rove, Dole, and Melman, et al) everything I said about Chafee holds true for Whitehouse, except for one small thing. He is a democrat and proud of it. There are some things I can tolerate and some I cannot. With Whitehouse you get what you see. I don’t like much of what he stands for but at least I know where he stands.

This is not an easy decision for anyone loyal to their values and held captive by their conscience. But for all the right reasons I refuse to not vote. I must make a ripple in the pond.

J Mahn

PS. Or maybe we should start a write in campaign for John Galt after all.

I think it's time to move beyond the US Senate race and talk about making a positive difference in other areas.

We have a tight governor's race, a casino issue on the ballot, the statewide officers up for election and several state legislature races.

Rather than continuing the bitterness of a primary that has been over for a couple of days, everyone would be better off preparing for the future.

The anti-casino movement seems to have lost its momentum (or it's snoozing on the hammock in Wellfleet).
Somebody needs to establish the message that a casino allows big corporate interests to set up in and pillage our state, and allow whores like Murphy, Montalbano and that ilk to profit handsomely. It's amazing that the move against the casino is dying, since I can't think of a statewide candidate of either party who is really pro-casino (though Fogarty really needs to sit down that girlfriend of his for a long talk).

"It vindicates the Washington establishment’s vicious and manipulative use of their political power."

BINGO ... which is why, regardless of the consequences, I will not be voting for Chafee in November.

Have any post-primary polls been taken on the general statewide officer races since the primary?

Who is John Galt?

;-)

You'll have to ask Dagny Taggart that one....

It's really not too far-fetched to think that we can get several Republicans into the General Assembly this year. Although several seats are up without a challenger, there are many of us running for the RI House and Senate this year and we're determined to make some changes.

I am running in House district 14, against Charlene Lima. Is it going to be a tough battle? You bet. But I'm willing to give it all I've got and see what happens.

Just in Cranston alone, there are two more RI House candidates (Ed Desautel in district 15 and Dick Nordlund in district 18) and two in races for RI Senate (Bob Lancia in district 27 and Ivan Marte in district 28).

The five of us from Cranston have begun meeting to support and assist each other with campaigning. It sometimes feels like we're each going this alone and getting together as a group gives us the re-charging we need to get back out there and keep running.

By far the biggest thing I would like to mention about running for the General Assembly is this: We need your help!

The RIGOP is mainly concerned with the state races--Governor, Lt. Governor, Senator, etc. The Republican city committee is mainly concerned with local races--mayor and city council. Those of us running locally for a statewide position are often shuttled back and forth between the two, trying to get whatever little amount of help they may have available for our campaigns.

If you want to see change in the General Assembly in November, seek out those of us who are running for those seats. Offer to help out in whatever way you can. We could all use locations for yard signs, help passing out fliers, volunteers to make phone calls, people to write letters to the editor in support of our campaigns (or about why you want to see our opponents out of office), and monetary donations if you are able.

Most of us are having fundraisers and asking for whatever donations people feel comfortable giving. If you can't give money, we would be thrilled to have you donate a few hours of your time.

I urge you to support local Republicans by checking the RIGOP website often and attending fundraisers, contacting candidates and offering assistance, and possibly even just drop us an email expressing your support. After a day where I've had two people slam their doors in my face when they find out I'm a Republican, it would be nice to come home and read a friendly note of support.

Here's to hoping for a fabulous November which will place many new candidates in office for the coming legislative session!

Yes, indeed, Dorinne.

Charlene Lima - boy, does she need to be gone. Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing. We'd love to send you to replace her, along with my potential rep, Jim Haldeman, and all the Republican candidates.

By the way, anyone who does not welcome you when you knock supports high taxes, generous social services, our overpriced state gov't, poor business climate -- you know, all the good things the Democrats have brought us.

Greetings my Conservative Friends (from a frequent poster at RiFuture),
I read the post and couldn't help but agree that someone else has to step up and take control of the SOS team. They have remained effectively silent while the pro-Casino team has dominated the discussion. Perhaps Steve Laffey, with his new-found free time, could take the reigns. Regardless of who it is, something must be done.

Also..on a side note. Has the RI Republican party even considered running television ads for its PARTY as a whole? Obviuosly, running an ad for a particular Assembly candidate is pointless and expensive...but it might be a good idea to run a state-wide commercial supporting your candidates and explaining what you're goals and priorities would be.