You didn't trust Chafee before deliberations, during deliberations and after deliberations.

"I didn't read it" sounds very lame and, personally, I don't think much of the excuse, but please; any pretense of giving the governor a fair hearing on any substantial legislation is just gilding your personal prejudices.

OldTimeLefty

There you go, attack the messenger.

"He Didn't Know It Was In The Bill!"

It's simply not believable. His Director of Administration, Richard Licht, was briefing RI-NPR on the amendment in detail shortly after the Governor had signed the bill.

Are we to believe that Mr. Licht was running around behind the Governor's back sneaking amendments into the bill without his boss's authority???

"Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"

So which is worse, that he didn't know it was in the bill or that he's dumb enough to publicly admit it.

If he is too busy with his schedule, I'm sure that Chafee could hire a skilled "reader" for half or a third of Stephen Iannazzi's salary. I've been asked to read and summarize 100+ page bills before on an hour's notice, and that's hardly unusual in the law-related fields.

Do not be too hard on the Missing Linc. He had an excellent role model in "Stretch" Pelosi. Remember "Stretch" said we have to"Pass the bill (HusseinCare) so we can see what's in it". It is the mantra of liberalism. Keep the populace barefoot and pregnant while emptying their pockets.

Patrick,
Aren't you attacking the messenger? This is a game of chasing one's tail (tale). You were doing nothing more than restating your preconvictions. I generally support Chafee, but said that his excuse here was weak in this instance. You never concede him an inch on anything and that is my point. All you can say in reply is a lame "Attack the messenger." Unworthy.
OldTimeLefty

"You never concede him an inch on anything and that is my point."

That's just another lame attack OTL. You're basically accusing Patrick of having an inability to hold a credible opinion based on past criticisms. In your scenario, once you've criticized, you lose all credibility. Remember, you too called this a lame excuse. Despite it's shortfalls, this is 'monumental' legislation that required his final stamp of approval to become law. Was it asking too much for him to know what he was signing? Was it asking too much that he know he was signing a new 5.5 percent tax increase? Don't you think a majority of the electorate shares the same opinion?

Stupidity. OTL, I like you more than well enough, and I think everyone here knows my strong positive bias towards Gov. Chafee.

But seriously? Linc... man. You spent 2 hours with me going over a map of Native American Reservations I visited randomly one day -- paying attention to every detail and noting points of interest. But you can't be brought to read one of the more important pieces of legislation in RI in at least a few years?

How gullible are we supposed to be? Well, if you didn't read it, you aren't doing your job. If you did read it and said you didn't, you are lying. So either way, foul play.

Maybe John Cucco should have been on this one? I worked with him on policy on the campaign and I know he has a brain. Who is this Brian Daniels guy? Does he know how to read?

Nope, I'm with Patrick on this one. I call BS.

" Was it asking too much that he know he was signing a new 5.5 percent tax increase? Don't you think a majority of the electorate shares the same opinion?"

1. No.

2. Yes.