Refocusing for November
As conservatives and Republicans continue the navel gazing (myself included) over the just-past Chafee/Laffey race, it’s worth bringing up the substantial work that we still have to do in November. Though it’s a little tough to prioritize amongst state, local and national elections and issues–the local and city council race for Ward 1 in Warwick may be more immediately important to someone than who the Secretary of State (or Senator from RI) is, for instance–I’m going to do it anyway.
1) Re-elect Governor Carcieri.
2) Vote down the casino amendment, ie; “NO ON 1”
3) Pick off at least one of the Lt. Governor, Sec. of State, Attorney General or State Treasure offices from the Democrats.
4) Convince people to vote Republican for State Legislature! The opportunities aren’t really there for any substantial movement–much less gaining a majority–but even incremental gains are still….gains. Heck, just a legislatively effective minority would be a plus!
5) Tilt at the Kennedy windmill. It may be quixotic, but it sure is fun! I really don’t mean to belittle Jon Scott’s chances, but it’s a tough row to hoe for anyone attempting to convince nursing home and union hall denizen’s of voting against the red-headed step-child of “Camelot.” Nonetheless, Scott deserves conservative support (even if he’s not in my Congressional district).
That’s my short-list. Five main priorities, in order. The first three are doable, the last two….a bit tougher. Got your own list? Hit the comments.
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.
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).
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… Read more »
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.