Laffey's new neighbors (especially his Gay and Lesbian neighbors) should be warned.
IN HIS OWN WORDS

In one column, Laffey said he has never seen a happy homosexual.
"This is not to say there aren't any; I simply haven't seen one in my lifetime. Maybe they are all in the closet," he wrote. "All the homosexuals I've seen are sickly and decrepit, their eyes devoid of life."

In another column he wrote that pop music was turning the children of America into sissies, and criticized the singer Boy George, referring to him as "it."

"It wears girl's clothes and puts on makeup," he wrote. "When I hear it sing, 'Do you really want to hurt me, do you really want to make me cry,' I say to myself, YES, I want to punch your lights out, pal, and break your ribs."

5,352 sq.ft. of house for $2,000,000 and the listing says the property taxes are $3,592!

State income tax is a flat rate of 4.63%.

I have friends living in Durango, CO for ten years now and they love it.

What's not to like?

Says a lot more about him.
Maybe it doesn't have the reputation Boulder does, but Fort Collins in a college town, too - Steve's tender sensibilities may be injured out there. He seems more like a Sandpoint, Idaho kind of guy.

Laffey will find exactly the same problems there that he did here. He can't run away from himself.

Anchor,

I was warmhearted by Steve Laffey's decision to move Fort Collins. I myself had lived there from 94 to 96 managing and promoting bands. In fact, my campaign manager and I struck an immediate bond as he too has Fort Collins in his past, albeit much Later. Having spent three years in the early eighties in Boulder and owning Property in Idaho(well south of Sandpoint and not stricken with the same reputation) I carry with me the western experience that gets into your blood and psyche. The one best word is Space. There are many more square miles out there to reduce the population density and more distinct are the mountainous, sweeping views you only get out East from sea.
Fort Collins ,when I was there, was rapidly evolving from a cow town with only cowboy culture. CSU was best known for its agriculture focus. Now there is just one front range mono city that runs from Colorado Springs, through Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins being the North Westernmost border. What was once just Country and boots, has become urban hip hop.
I was pained to see the Hotel Northern, a once salty refuge of the western characters and home of the Bar Bazaar that was my first music venue on "Bazaar Tuesdays" become a Starbucks.
The dry air and once wide enough roads to turn a wagon are well suited for Bike travel. It is home to Belgium Breweries best known for its Fat Tire beer. The town has a history of home-brew and other things homegrown.
I imagine that Laffey's home sounds like the high end developments sequestered out near Horsetooth resevoir.
Aside from the reduction in taxes, Colorado still certainly has it's ills. The population is predominately white with a very small and non rooted black population. The Hispanics are at best second class citizens and are looked at with much suspicion as many illegals work the nearby slaughter houses in Greeley.
There are gang problems. The requisite good old boy network is just missing a vowel or two from their last names to distinguish them from the RI boys.
All in all , the trade off is giving up the diversity that RI brings and thus the numerous cultures and the histories they bring. The compensation is wide open sky and the effects on everyone's mind that such space brings.
Fort Collins was said to be cursed by Indians. White men who entered would not easily leave. Maybe its just because they didn't want to. Don't expect to see Laffey anytime soon.

Joe Lusi

I believe that the applicable term is "Going Galt."

Laffey looks and sounds like a narrow minded man, one who has found a locale of likewise narrow minded individuals. Please, let him sink to oblivion in his monochrome world.

Hi!
Both Steve Laffey and Allan Fung suceeded Democratic administrations that were not good for Cranston.
Steve might have had a strong personality but he brought competence and was what Cranston needed at the time.
I trust as we approach this election Rhode Islanders really look at the "Democratic leadership" has done "to" as well as "for" Rhode Island.
Regards,
Scott

"5,352 sq.ft. of house for $2,000,000 and the listing says the property taxes are $3,592!"

By the way, that little house on the prairie is on 38 acres of land, too! I can't blame him a bit. I know he absolutely loves it. I'm very happy for him and his large family.

This is such old news (at least to me), I was actually kind of surprised to see it reported now. Timeliness hasn't been a hallmark of Projo reporting as of late, has it?

As some of you know, I have been a Laffey supporter, going back to the 2002 mayoral election. I guarantee you to near metaphysical certitude that he will not be running for any political office in Rhode Island, in the near or probably even distant future. He did his work here; he tried his best to do more despite a politically difficult environment, but he has moved on to much greener pastures (both figuratively and literally).

That being said, it would not be surprising to me in the least to see him run for something big in Colorado, perhaps as soon as 2012. Colorado has some good conservative areas where one with ambition (he still has that!) can build a political base of support. If one were to run in 2012, 2010 is a good year to start building up your network of supporters. Colorado also has a history of electing outsiders and transplants from other states.

It is incredibly discouraging, but sadly not surprising, to read and hear so many "good riddance" comments about Laffey's departure. RI's true motto isn't "hope"; rather, it's "if you don't like it, leave." And so many who loved the state and tried to change the system, to avoid the oncoming disaster, have preceded Laffey in the move away from RI when they concluded that in the absence of deep crisis, change is impossible here.

Anyway, wherever they're having their "hi, ho the witch is dead" party to celebrate Laffey's departure, I hope they're having having a good old time, with lots of strong drink and free food. Because in the years ahead, they're going to have a lot fewer "victories" like this to celebrate, as so many other organizations who have driven change agents out the door have come to realize over the past 30 years.

"And so many who loved the state and tried to change the system, to avoid the oncoming disaster, have preceded Laffey in the move away from RI when they concluded that in the absence of deep crisis, change is impossible here."

I'm going to agree with everything you stated, but with one addition... I don't think there is an "absence of deep crisis." I think we are at that point now. Louisiana did something, after a devastating storm. New Jersey did it, too. Why not us?

However, I believe that Laffey simply believed that there were not enough good people left in Rhode Island who would be willing to make the hard choices about what needs to be done to fix everything that is wrong here. We may have already gone past the point of no return. I'm an eternal optimist, but I'm not even sure of that myself. We'll see after November. Depending on what happens, I think there may be considerably more people evaluating their future, or lack thereof in RI.

Laffey leaves..... the circus comes to town. First the advance men arrive and create a disturbance on the main road- a fistfight- and get an audience. Then they break out the notices. The circus arrives with dancing bears, jugglers, and barkers. Glee and wild expectations ensue. Its all fun at first. Then the problems start mounting. Before the law comes down, the clowns and the hucksters and the whole show leave in the dead of night for another town and another audience.

I couldn't understand the perception that Steve Laffey was any ideal candidate. He's always seemed to be a guy who is only out for himself. He is blown around by the wind. As mayor of Cranston, he gave an illegal alien lobbying group free space in city hall, then last year, he tried to paint himself as anti-illegal alien. He was cocky as hell when he was mayor, but when that disappeared, suddenly he cared?? I don't think so. I think he realized he'd burned his bridges and decided to try his game further afield. Good riddance.

Listen to the union pukes and liberal losers here, all happy to see Laffey go. You'll be choking on your own vomit not knowing what hit you when it all comes crashing down. And Laffey will be laughing his @ss off, watching from Colorado.
Don't say he didn't warn you, losers.

Delete the word,(homosexuals) from
Laffeys published comments, and insert your own
Jews
Catholics
Rebublicans
Democrats
Heterosexuals
Reight-WingNuts

"All the __________ I've seen are sickly and decrepit, their eyes devoid of life."

YES, I want to punch your lights out, pal, and break your ribs."

"Hello from Northern Idaho!

It's true, I bailed out.

I am loving it up here :)

Glad I left RI with a bang. I heard my ProJo commentary got alot of play,
including on the on the radio talk shows.

Poor Don Carcieri, he is one man against a mob.

~Hal Meyer, list owner"

Former web master of RIpolitics.org

Sammy, why are so many homosexuals so outwardly hung up on their own sexuality?? Don't blame Laffey or use his views as a spark to vent your own obsessive hang-ups about your own sexuality. Grow up!! The world doesn't obsess about this stuff half as much as you do as you play your victimhood (yawning) card.

Right you are Mary. What's truly baffling is how otherwise intelligent people like Will, Dan Yorke et al bought Laffey's fraudulant act to the bitter end.

Michael, you have Laffey diagnosed perfectly. He's a man constantly on the run....from himself. Hope someday he'll find peace of mind and soul.

Mike Cappelli
You make Sharon Angle, Rand Paul
Rev. Fred Phelps, Justin Katz, Jerry Falwell, David Duke, Eric Robert Rudolph and Osama Bin-Ladin

Look like... and sound like... careful, rational, reasoned people

Timmy...Tim
Steve Laffey wrote
"All the homosexuals I've seen are sickly and decrepit, their eyes devoid of life."

he wrote. "When I hear it sing, 'Do you really want to hurt me, do you really want to make me cry,' I say to myself, YES, I want to punch your lights out, pal, and break your ribs."

AND YOU (and the folks who own Anchor Rising) ENDORSE THIS HATE SPEACH ??

However, I believe that Laffey simply believed that there were not enough good people left in Rhode Island who would be willing to make the hard choices about what needs to be done to fix everything that is wrong here.

That's Will

Four years ago he said he wanted to represent all the people in the U.S. Senate. What gives. They were good people then but bad now? Oh I get it. They didn't vote for him. They must be bad and mean too.

I see that we have a bumper crop of inane, off-point comments from the liberal Fascists this season. And that, as usual, they are either insults or amateur psychological analysis.

It is entirely possible that Laffey's polls demonstrated that too many Rhode Islanders are either: 1) corrupt members of the liberal-Fascist interest groups; 2) dependent clients of the state government; 3) employees of the poverty-pimp organizations who deliver "services" to those dependent clients; 4) successfully indoctrinated citizens who believe the liberal-Fascist propaganda with religious faith; 5) mostly indoctrinated citizens who have been made sufficiently ignorant and apathetic that they are easily swayed by the liberal-Fascist propaganda

that Rhode Island's democracy is broken beyond repair. If so, what father would want to keep his family in such conditions?

Perhaps because I didn't have access to Laffey's polls, I remain more optimistic and am still here, working for the citizens' interests against the Marxist machine. But November 2nd is the signal day. If the corrupt political machine remains in power on November 3rd, I'm leaving temporarily. I'll come back after the collapse to score some bargain waterfront property.

Sammy,
You are obviously too obsessed and confused over your own sexuality to offer any meaningful perspective - on anything.
Get counseling.

People are people. Americans are Americans.
Laffey's scthick will get some run in Colorado, and maybe he'll have some initial success like he did in R.I. (local office, perhaps a state legislative seat), particularly if he coattails on a successful U.S. Senate run by the GOP's Tea Party guy. But unless he's undergone some fundamental changes in his outlook, his bad circus act will get just as stale out there as it did here.

Rhody,

Laffey's outlook only comes across as a bad circus act to you because it draws such a stark contrast to what the typical "rhody" expects.

If Laffey were to change, there would cease to be a need for his "act". What you view as a circus act only appears so because you view Laffey's genuine motivation to fix problems and serve all people through a lens that wants to keep seeing the same thing.

Whether he runs for office again, goes back into business or retires to his ranch, he will do it exceptionally well. A lot more than you can say about one single elected official in all of New England and most of the United States.

If he choses to return to public life, he will have an impact - that's guarranteed. If you'd gotten to know him, you'd understand: He is genuine, he is sincere, and he is as for-real as anyone can get.

But that's hard to notice when you've got your status-quo to protect.

Rhody,

Laffey's outlook only comes across as a bad circus act to you because it draws such a stark contrast to what the typical "rhody" expects.

If Laffey were to change, there would cease to be a need for his "act". What you view as a circus act only appears so because you view Laffey's genuine motivation to fix problems and serve all people through a lens that wants to keep seeing the same thing.

Whether he runs for office again, goes back into business or retires to his ranch, he will do it exceptionally well. A lot more than you can say about one single elected official in all of New England and most of the United States.

If he choses to return to public life, he will have an impact - that's guarranteed. If you'd gotten to know him, you'd understand: He is genuine, he is sincere, and he is as for-real as anyone can get.

But that's hard to notice when you've got your status-quo to protect.

You mean we's gots to work and not sleep on the job?? We like sleepin' on the job.
What, you mean we's gotsta clean up this stinkin' dump? We like this dump!

Yup, I understand why a lot of people don't like Laffey, are glad to see him go, and why RI is such a pit.

How f'n pathetic!

DavidS

Unfortunately not all the clowns in the Laffey circus left town. We got a sample here.

George, there's plenty of us here who want to change the status quo - I don't like the good 'ol boys who run the Statehouse any more than you do. It's all in how you go about it.
Laffey is a change for the worse. He left plenty of people here who've supported him feeling pretty used. Once discovered, the snake oil salesman moves on to the next territory, in the time-honored American tradition.

Sincere best of luck to Steve Laffey and his family. A very, very bright guy and financial wiz who was simply far too good for this seemingly hopelessly screwed up state. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Laffey on several occasions in addition to hearing and seeing many of his other interviews and presentations. Who can blame him for moving on when no one here had the motivation to take the smart steps he recommended. Maybe he'll emerge on the national scene; if so, let's provide him with more support than we gave him here.