Actually, Yorke is right to some extent. The RIGOP needs new leadership. There is no real effective fundraising or viable candidate recruitment efforts. The party needs to develop an effective policy platform instead of just “not Democrat”. Whether the current leadership is working/trying hard, it is clear (by results) that it’s time for new ideas and not bring back those who failed in the past. (Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic anyone)
As for those who blame the “extremists” in the party for the party’s losses, I say that we are some of the most dedicated and hardworking Republicans in the state. In talking to fellow “extremists” it appears that most of us actually did vote for Chafee realizing that a Republican US Senate was important. Instead of blaming others, those who lost should take a good look in the mirror for some of the causes for their defeats.
The RIGOP needs to be a good government & reform party. It’s leaders need to stand apart and be a thorn in the side of the Democrats and not “get along”.

Who are we calling RIGOP “leaders”?
Yorke is correctly disgusted by the behavior of John Holmes. But the critical, roll-up-your-sleeves work that’s been done in the party for the last four years was not done by Holmes or Jackvony or anyone in bed with the Dems. The fact that Yorke did not know this indicates that he has rather shallow knowledge of what’s been going on in the party. In fact, TCC3 is correct; much of that work was done by “extremists” who, say what you want about them, could not be accused of fraternizing with the enemy.
To shut down the existing organization, however small, and throw out the people who have been doing the work would be pointless. Actually, I cannot help but wonder if Yorke suggested this as a way of further sucking up to the Lynch boys (thank you, Tim) by ensuring that there is no loyal opposition for the next five years.
Do we need fresh ideas? More people involved? Money (to get crass for a minute)? Yes, yes, yes. But we also need to keep the people who have been working hard all along. Speaking as a moderate Republican, I would be pleased to work side by side with “extremists” and anyone else fed up with one party rule to continue making the RIGOP “a good government & reform party” that stands apart.
No deserts, thanks. Let’s send some Dems there.

Yorke and Achorn suck up to Murphy because he’s a social conservative (and does legal work for the Diocese). They’re sucking up to the Catholic Church by extension.
Those two are positioning themselves for the day Carcieri (prodded by the Mrs.) takes on abortion and gay marriage. Without re-election to worry about, The Don may be willing to touch those two third rails, and the casino debate will look like a Tupperware party.

tcc3,
Saying the RIGOP needs new leadership is like saying water is wet. It’s not news to anyone and Yorke was saying something entiely different. He’s all about kicking the weak.
TomW,
Paulie Monkeyman Moura beating Lloyd Monroe and Paul Grumpy old man Shanley beating Jim Haldeman suggests the real problem lies with the average moron voter in Rhode Island. But fear not. Look at the economic trends, look at the taxation already suffocating RI’ers, look at the unfunded liabilities. The moronic voter chickens are coming home to roost. The state is running annual deficits during a strong economic period.
That is a red flag of epic porportions.
The mission for the governor (he’s the only one who can do it) is to fundraise for the state party, hire a full time staff for the party and do nothing but associate spending and taxes with democrats in every speech in every city and town in this state for the next four years. A big time fiscal crisis is coming to this state in the next few years and when it does the RI Rep party needs to be ready. They need to have candidates all lined up and ready to go with the same message, spending and taxes are at the feet of the Democrat party.
rhody,
Gay marriage and abortion are non-issues for everyone but you apparently.
Very confident in saying the governor has zero interest in pursuing either issue on any level. But I am amused rhody how you’re morphing into Bobby Oliveira with your frequent references to the first lady. You going to stalk her like Bobby does? lol

Not only was the so-called “message” weak, but so was the “leadership” (my sincere apologies to the word “weak”). I’m a member of the Republican state central committee, and I don’t even know what our alleged message was supposed to have been this election cycle (other than “Keep Chafee,” because he’s one of John’s sons, and you liked John, right?). I think it’s something like “it’s just like voting for a Democrat, but you won’t get a job from us.” The leadership is literally non-existant. “Leaders” are supposed to have a clear-cut plan, hopefully, that they’ve developed in consultation with others. Then, using their charm or wit or whatever, convice you by logic and/or reason that theirs is the right plan, and then work hard to get people to follow them (ala Ronald Reagan). There’s nothing even remotely close to that right now. Anytime you try to stand up for Republican principles, you’re basically deemed a heretic for daring to question the status quo, called “not a team player,” and then it’s off to oblivion. That needs to change, and quickly. We need “change” quickly. About the so-called extremists — have they ever been in charge here and screwed things up so badly, that we wouldn’t want to go back? Best I can tell, we’ve never really tried to have a Republican message, just a muddled Democrat-lite one. I don’t think we need to kill the undead, because that part’s already been done for us. We need to start rebuilding the party from the bottom, up, not, as it currently is structured, from the top, down. If that requires sending some people, nice as they might be, off to an early retirement, or ruffling a few feathers, so be it. When the bird’s the phoenix, and it’s already on fire,… Read more »

John,
Agree completely with your analysis.
Will,
The great shame is the two people who could really rebuild your party from the ground up by working together don’t even talk. Sadly it’s very hard to lead a group when it’s splintered and self serving. Laffey is no less a cancer for party unity than John Holmes is. That’s the problem.
rhody,
When you get a clue about the governor and his relationship with Murphy and Montalbano get back to us. It’s obvious you’re lost on the subject.

Will,
I was me not rhody who made the ‘they don’t talk’ comment. You know what’s scary Will? I’m not a member of your party and yet I have a better handle on the dynamics of your party than you do. Psssst, there is a major rift between Carcieri and Laffey. A MAJOR rift. As far as Laffey’s ability to sell the message is that to the party or to the public? Because I for one am not convinced Laffey has the ability to sell anything statewide unless he smoothes out his personality and learns how to get along with others in the sandbox.

It says something about Laffey’s ego that there’s a rift him and Carcieri. Given that they are both social conservatives, they would seem sympatico. But as much as I dislike Carcieri, the man has political skills, an ability to read the room that Laffey obviously doesn’t.
I always assumed Carcieri kind of supported Laffey sub rosa (The Don endorsed Chafee because he was shamed into it after trying to go neutral – the book of political etiquette demands incumbents endorse fellow incumbents in primaries). Now I’m thinking Carcieri probably foresaw a bitter primary costing the GOP the Senate no matter who came out on top in September.

Tim,
Have you been at the with the party for the last 2 elections for Chairperson?
There has always been a real Republican willing to take over, BUT the Governor thought that Patricia Morgan was the one and of course just like the democratic voters in Rhode Island. The RIGOP Delegates are like sheep. Let’s talk about the finacials behind the RIGOP. Al Gelfuso OH! I forgot he donates money to Democrats. OH! I forgot again he went to Court to stop Fellow Republicans from telling the Truth! Oh WAKE UP AGAIN!
A Real Republican
Fred on The BLOG

Fred the Real Republican,
Who wanted the job as party chair? Names please!

Chafee is a RINO, and the RIGOP (as currently constituted) is not only a Republican Party in name only, it is a political party in name only.
One almost wonders if the Holmes and Jackvony’s are Democratic moles, inserted to make sure that the party never becomes a viable opposition party.
Carcieri appears to consider it a nuisance more than anything else. Indeed, most “name” Republicans – Carcieri, Chafee, Laffey – are essentially “free agents” running for office parallel to the RIGOP, rather than being part of it.
And who can blame Carcieri for keeping some distance? God only knows what could come out about the current RIGOP leaderships that could taint him by association.
The RIGOP needs a purge. It looks like it will have to come from below.
Hopefully, with the Chafee name now politically gelded, the opportunity is finally here.

One thing I will say about Yorke.
I am not blinded by it but I do appreciate his denouncing John Holmes as an openly Democrat agent.
But the “wander in the desert” idea is a complete non-starter. The passage of time is not the solution to a cockroach problem.

Fred on the Blog is smoking something. He thinks Chafee lost because he was a “RINO”!? If that were the reason, he would have lost in the primary election, not the general.
He lost because he was viewed by Rhode Islanders as being too close to national Republican Party policies. Stop living in denial and accept it. He didn’t lose because he was liberal, he lost because people associated him with the conservative Bush administration.
As for Laffey, it’s not a surprise that Carcieri doesn’t like him. While their politics are the same, Carcieri is a straight-forward guy. Laffey, while proclaiming himself to be straight-forward, tries to use cloak and dagger (more often the dagger) to get what he wants.
You stand a better chance of finding out what Steve Laffey really thinks by talking with Rob Manning than with Laffey himself.
URI presidency? US Senator? State party chair?
At one point or another, Laffey has denied he wanted all of these positions, yet EVERYONE knows he wants or wanted them. It becomes a silly and tiring charade.
Laffey’s ego got him fired at Morgan Keegan after a year at the helm and it led a quick crash of his political career. His best bet would be to go back to picking stocks and avoid any position where he needs to manage other people or where he needs the support of other people to succeed. He’s just not good at leading others.

on it the scars of scourge stripes whereto he had applied themselves to escape conscription or honest hard work. They could them, can divide the glittering curtain they form as they fly round and