not to split hairs, but wasn't Gio a candidate in 1996 not 2002?

That's okay the "(Jo)Urinal" has him working for Adler, Pollock & Sheehan. He actually has a Private Practice in Barrington.
Oh well so much for Journalistic Standards and research.

So what happens now? Is this the new RIGOP Executive Committee? Or does the entire Central Committee now vote, presumably at the upcoming Convention?

per its bylaws, the full state central committee will have to commit to a vote at the upcoming convention.

if tradition holds, the nominating committee and gov's endorsements will stand.

however, i think it's important to note that this year appears to be a crossroads for the RIGOP. The losses it sustained in the last election and the clear divisions that exist over the direction of the party make this vote much more significant than in years past.

Can Cote - who's the head of the state's largest, fastest growing, and best funded town committee - pull off an upset? I think he can. His pairing with Joe White, himself the former head of the NKGOP and their perceived support of the Laffey wing in Cranston and elsewhere certainly poses an interesting and formidable west bay bloc.

So what do you think? are the votes there for a cote/white upset?

Having no first hand, inside knowledge, unlike certain OTHERS who shall remain nameless, I'll happily speculate that ... sure, maybe.

My question is about Marc's comment:

" ...it certainly has seemed as if there had been some reluctance amongst the long-time insiders to embrace Mr. Carcieri."

At the risk of providing fodder to ralph's commie reporters, the only reluctance I have heard (yes, first hand, but the comments were pretty public) has been, rightly or wrongly, about the Governor's choice for party Chair four years ago. Possibly much of the discontent Marc has heard about stems from that.

The Nominations Committee (8 members of the 13 member committee were present on Saturday) submits its recommendations to the RIGOP State Central Committee. On March 15th, the committee will have the opportunity to individually vote on each office that is contested. At present, there are three contested offices (Chair, 1st Vice Chair, and 2nd Vice Chair).

I would have to concur with SusanD's conclusion, in regard to the lingering resentment from what was imposed on us four years ago (only 10 days left!). To be quite honest, this whole thing really isn't entirely about Gio himself, but rather with the closed backroom process used to "select" him for us. Imposing leaders upon the membership -- instead of genuinely soliciting their input, and then seeking out the most qualified applicants based on experience and ability, etc. -- hasn't exactly been a winning strategy for us in the recent past. For a number of reasons, those who tend to be the "activists" are inclined towards a more bottom-up approach, as opposed to a top-down one. I like to call it "democracy."

JohnB is also right about this being a crossroads -- or as Reagan might say, "A Time For Choosing." As far as I'm concerned, the race now is a battle between better and best. When the race is over, I will work with whomever wins. Until that occurs, I will work to influence that outcome as best I can. Whomever is elected will certainly be much less divisive. At this point, I think almost anyone would be considered an "improvement" in that regard.

But you say, "what about tradition?". One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result (I wonder if it would help any to send the RIGOP "leadership" to the IMH?). When you have a "tradition" of being functionally retarded as a state party (with my deep apologies to both those with special needs, as well as the adjective "functional" for the comparison), why on earth would you want to keep following the same path, as if it's going to produce a different result in the future? What exactly, pray tell, has the RIGOP done over say the last 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years that we would want to keep on doing? Anyone?

Susan,
I was referring to the old-school, John Holmes, Bernie Jackvony types. I've heard the same "made-public" rumblings as everyone else regarding Morgan. Finally, FYI, believe me, the RI GOP doesn't exactly have a hotline to us AR guys. Party insiders we certainly ain't!

H!
Dave Cote has withdrawn his State GOP candidacy for Chair and is asking others to support Gio.
Dave has potential for both the present and futuure so do others.
I do not know Giovanni Cicione.I assume he will not be divisive like Patricia Morgan which will be a good thing.
Whomever wins they have to work with others.My only hopes are these:
1.Promises made are kept as humanly possible and no one is "stringed along"!
2.The totality of Qualifications,knowledge,and effort in selecting people are given more weight.
3.Be able to agree without being disagreeable be taken into consideration.
4.That ALL aspects of the party are considered except a few insiders.That means the GOP spectrum:local Republican committees,grass roots Republicans,various GOP groups like the Rhode Island Republican assembly,Log Cabin Republicans,College Republicans,etc.,.
5.Even though the Rhode Island GOP has many people of talent they need to be recognized by the Governor and the Rhode Island GOP.
Regards,
Scott

H!
Dave Cote has withdrawn his State GOP candidacy for Chair and is asking others to support Gio.
Dave has potential for both the present and futuure so do others.
I do not know Giovanni Cicione.I assume he will not be divisive like Patricia Morgan which will be a good thing.
Whomever wins they have to work with others.My only hopes are these:
1.Promises made are kept as humanly possible and no one is "stringed along"!
2.The totality of Qualifications,knowledge,and effort in selecting people are given more weight.
3.Be able to agree without being disagreeable be taken into consideration.
4.That ALL aspects of the party are considered except a few insiders.That means the GOP spectrum:local Republican committees,grass roots Republicans,various GOP groups like the Rhode Island Republican assembly,Log Cabin Republicans,College Republicans,etc.,.
5.Even though the Rhode Island GOP has many people of talent they need to be recognized by the Governor and the Rhode Island GOP.
Regards,
Scott

Anyone know the rationale behind selecting John Robitaille over Mia Caetano for 1st Vice Chair?

Hi!
What you have are all white males who will be elected to party offices of the Republican State Central Committee.
It would seem logical that you would have or like to have some diversity among the offices even it technically is not required.
Karen Salvatore who may have withdrawn(?)as candidate as Second Vice Chair is a former Miss Rhode Island in the Miss America pageant,ccame twice within 200 votes of a long time Democrat Rhode Island House member(Donald Lally) and was the force behind D.O.T. Watch, certaintly a 'go getter",.Matt Woycik was enorsed by the nominating committee.
What contests STILL exists on March 15TH,among the offices?
Regards,
Scott