From the projo "In his statement, Bill Lynch said he is running for Congress “because we need to cut through the Washington gridlock and get Rhode Islanders back to work and our economy moving again … Rhode Islanders can no longer afford the partisan bickering both the Republican and Democratic Parties provided last year and there is plenty of blame to go around.”

Yeah, he is the person to end partisian bickering alright. Can a more laughable statement ever be made? I would atleast respect him if he didn't bring up the topic of partisianship and said he wanted to run for the honest reason of power and money. The lynch family will fail this election. People aren't stupid. The CD1 race is turning into a whos who of hapless, crony, political hacks.

While I share the hope that the Lynch mob will lose big in this election, I urge folks not to underestimate them. The combination of (1) the money and manpower of their allies in the unions and "social-service" organizations that parasitically feed on big government, (2) a hangover effect from the last decade of demonization of the Republican Party and (3) the strongly-held self-identification of many voters as Democrats is formidable, and it will take the greatest effort by as many people as possible to defeat them.

I was talking with someone yesterday who used the increasingly common slogan, "Vote them all out". It occurred to us that the only way to vote out the incumbents is to vote IN new candidates. There is no option on the ballot to vote against anyone, only an option to vote for someone.

So if you want to replace the corruptocrats who have brought our state to the edge of disaster, please consider running for office, or encourage your friends to do so. We can't win without candidates.

Bob's right. And there is a part of the problem for a Democratic primary voter.

Justin wrote: "Does Bill Lynch really think he's got a shot at the 1st district congressional seat"

Of course he does. His opponent is David Cicilline. He just oozes slime himself.

So the hard core Democrats get to choose first between their former party boss and hard-core Dem, or the slimy Providence mayor, and then choose between the Dem and the Republican. So yeah, Lynch can definitely win.

Lynch
"The Democrats are good guys and the Republicans are the bad guys"

Then ALL the eight graders laughed, knowing it was a joke.Eight graders are NOT stupid

Mr Artigas is the partisan here

There's nothing progressive about Bill Lynch (he talks a good game, but still backs the good 'ol boys). He's just another political hack we have to eradicate before we can get anything accomplished.
No matter what side you're on politicaly, if you think this guy is progressive, you're only fooling yourself.

jeff-I guess when a hack like Bill Lynch insults people and calls them racists with no basis in fact,it's okay with you.I got your number pal.I had it awhile back,but refrained from clling you a hypocrite.That's open to question now.
Choosing between Cicilline and Lynch is like that line in The Odd Couple-"what kinda sandwiches you got-brown and green-what's in the green ones?-either very new cheese or very old meat"-that's
the choice.
rhody-no he is not progressive,but will pretend to be to get elected and start getting REALLY dirty.Cicilline is already as dirty as used toilet paper.

Are we really basing our blogs on letters sent to the journal about a reference made mostly as a joke? Do you really think that a Republican or conservative has never jokingly made such a statement? More importantly do you have so little faith in eighth graders as to think that they may not get the joke?.

Did Lynch immediately say, I'm just kidding after these comments? If not, it was sarcasm laced with truth - or rather his belief that Republicans are the bad guys. If Gio Cicione said the same thing in reverse, you can't see why if he claimed to want to govern from the middle, such statements would pretty much debunk his attempt to fool the masses with dressed up non-partisan rhetoric?

Come on guys, seriously.

Don-why so you waste your time expecting anything but the same old party line crap?

Mr Roach
If Gio Cicione Had called the Dems the bad guys, the kids would still have laughed, as they laughed at Mr Lynch's
comments. It would still be JUST A JOKE
lighten-up guy

Mr Bernstein, i can't respond, because your comment makes no sense.

Jeff, right, Trent Lott was just joking too, but look where that got him.

Lynch says he was raised in family that believed in puplic service .That meant get as many family members on the Puplic payroll as possible and pretend it's a sacrifice. He says his first job out of law school was with the attorney General office as if he was working for the peace corps . Those jobs go to politcally connected people and most of the young law school grads would take the job in a heartbeat.
What a BS artist.

Jeff-apparently you haven't heard Lynch throw the race card every time the immigration question comes up.Like in the controversy over the Governor's Executive Order.That document merely(for the most part)reprises what was standard procedure in RI in the 80's and 90's.
"Lighten up"-why don't you?You get all thin skinned on behalf of other people and stick your nose into disputes without knowing the origin of them.
Maybe you know Rhody personally and feel the need to defend him.Knock yourself out-I actually find it kinda funny.

Context matters here. Lynch claims his Republican counterpart was present when that remark ("The Democrats are the good guys and the Republicans are the bad guys." ) was made and joined in the laughter that followed.

The transition from advocate for one political party to candidate is going to be a bit rough given the number of quotes from this amusing and effective chairman. You all will have an opportunity to respond in the fall.

Katz calls the Democratic Party "the Party of Death" in a piece called "the Federal Church of the United States" as recent as January of this year. I guess he is "showcasing his own mindless partisanship". Sad thing is that I don't think that he was joking when he wrote that.

Bernstein's Rhody Derangement Syndrome now strikes as non sequiturs. I just pray it doesn't strike at family events.

Rhody-I'm sure you find yourself so sharp you can barely tolerate it.Kinda like that creature Rachel Madcow.Too clever by half.
I think you and Jeff oughta get together for a few.It could be a mutual admiration society-neither of you seem to be making a dent here.

"Lynch says he was raised in family that believed in puplic service .That meant get as many family members on the Puplic payroll as possible and pretend it's a sacrifice."

Well said.

One of the biggest acts of public service would be to minimize the amount of money government takes from its citizens at gun point. How has Mr. Lynch advanced that goal?