If You Love an Idea, Set It Free

I’ve got the third offering in Ted Nesi’s week-long series of letters of advice to Governor-elect Lincoln Chafee:

Cynical political observers might suggest that Chafee should take a lesson from Politics 101 and host short, pointless meetings with his issue-by-issue opposition in order to deflate their claims of exclusion. The governor-elect’s problem goes deeper than that, though.
His doubters don’t want evidence that he has the patience to listen to the hum of their voices; they want evidence that he has, indeed, considered their points. He will be a proven independent only when they emerge from their meetings feeling as if he could accurately paraphrase their positions, and they will “come together” only when they trust that he is intellectually capable of independence, even though surrounded by left-wingers, labor leaders, and political insiders.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
18 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
JohnD
John
13 years ago

Justin:
It’s good to see that Pat Crowley is following your every move. Just don’t stop too fast or you’ll end up at the emergency room getting a rectal duckectomy.
Good advise for soon to be Governor Chafe.

Max Diesel
Max Diesel
13 years ago

Ditto on the Pat Crowley comment. There was some serious venom in his remarks but no substance as usual. Was that you he was flipping off in that infamous picture?

David S
David S
13 years ago

“Don’t freeze out skeptical voices”
But your voice is not skeptical. Oh, and I know, I can not call it partisan. It is the voice of the ideologue. So now you want to attribute that tag to the gubner elect. Since the partisan game no longer works for you, now it is Chafee the Bad- the leftwing Ideologue.

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
13 years ago

Hey-David S-why don’t you grow a pair and tell us your real name?Whatever you say is just so much pisswater coming from an unknown source.
You surely aren’t afraid of a bunch of people arguing on the blog,are you?That would be beyond stupid.

Tommy Cranston
Tommy Cranston
13 years ago

I must add on a side note that the semi-literate Helio Melo from CF is our new House Finance Chair according to info I got literally 2 minutes ago.
Assuming this is not a joke or a trial balloon we can look forward to a year of no illegal alien and no welfare parasite left behind.

Tommy Cranston
Tommy Cranston
13 years ago

No, this Melio character is from EP so that’s not the guy I was thinking of.
Any info on hime? a complete union stooge or a step away in the mode of Costantino or Murphy?

Triplerichard
Triplerichard
13 years ago

So now Joe, we are only to post if we all use our real and full name. That certainly will reduce the numbers for this site and many others.please call out those on your side ofbthr arguments who do the same.

Triplerichard
Triplerichard
13 years ago

So now Joe, we are only to post if we all use our real and full name. That certainly will reduce the numbers for this site and many others.please call out those on your side ofbthr arguments who do the same.

Warrington Faust
Warrington Faust
13 years ago

I have suffered through interminable numbers of meetings that seemed only designed to wear out the opposition. I must be naive, I neve realized that this was a recognized political tactic.

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
13 years ago

Yes-3 R-why not have a little openess?It’s easy to trash someone from cover.
I didn’t get that luxury in my life-I had to confront whoever I was dealing with physically-I got banged up pretty good and gave it back in spades,so if you think it bothers me to swap insults with a bunch of weasels here,you gotta be kidding.
Anyone can find out where I live and it bothers me not in the least because I have the wherewithal to deal with anyone stupid enough to screw around.
My point is simply that if you want to trash me,step up like a man(or woman)and identify yourself.Otherwise all you are is a fly.

Phil
Phil
13 years ago

David S
Justin complains that the Governor elect is not listening or responding to those who have opposing views from his. How often do your comments directed to Justin get answered. By him. I’m afraid you’ve become the x cop’s favorite new chewtoy. He lost his old one when Rhody went away. Good luck.

Tim
Tim
13 years ago

Absolutely outstanding commentary you’ve written on Chafee, Justin. So spot on in your critique of his actual behavior vs the lip service he offers. Methinks Linc now realizes he ain’t in remote and distant Washington anymore.
A rectal duckectomy?? lol
Yet more spot on commentary this time from John.

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
13 years ago

RRR-I think that would be a good idea-everyone using their real names.I bet it would get much more civil(or maybe not),but being retired,I guess it’s maybe a little easier for me because I can’t be threatened with sanctions on the job.
I just don’t particularly like calling someone out from behind a rock.
I do use screen names on the Projo blog and one other because in the first case,everyone there uses one and in the second case,none of the regulars are in any doubt who I am anyway.In any event on those blogs I almost never am addressing anyone else who’s posting comments in a directly derogatory way as I do here.My comments in those places are directed at public figures.
BTW before I got completely disgusted with RIF(I mean the blogger who runs it should AT LEAST identify themself)I always used my real name-and got slammed on a daily basis.
Much as I can’t stand Crowley,and I’m not going to swap spit with Jerzyk,they don’t run away from their comments with the use of cutsey little monickers.
Despite what Phil says,NO ONE can approach Rhody for cowardly poisonous lies,and I’m not the only one he targeted.
I take little offense at being called a know it all because that’s a matter of opinion,but saying that I threatened someone is slanderous because I didn’t-and I’m not a public figure,so Rhody was on thin ice there,but of course,he hid out.

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
13 years ago

Here’s a thought on the “independent” Chafee administration:no cronyism.Really?
Richard Licht and Charlie Fogarty are the poster boys for political hack/crony.Combined with the likes of Walsh(Crowley comes along as a door prize there),George Nee,and john simmons,can Chafee expect to be taken seriously?

David S
David S
13 years ago

Has it occurred to you that you may not be the person or persons( his doubters) that he needs listening to? I mean- do you have exclusive rights on the doubting? Only your select few on AR and WPRO count as doubters?

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
13 years ago

I don’t want Chafee to listen to me or any of the people that think he sucks.Because he’s not capable pf listening to anything that isn’t implanted in his semi-autistic mind,He’s like “Rainman”.

bella
bella
13 years ago

Remember, everyone, only those who agree with Joe are allowed to use synonyms. Otherwise, as Joe says, urinate skyward.

joe bernstein
joe bernstein
13 years ago

bella-you’re a strange duck-how can I “allow”anybody to do anything here?In case you hadn’t noticed I’m not one of the contributors here-I have only met two of them personally-Andrew and Monique,that’s it.
If you want to feel dominated,go join an S&M club.
Fire away,because I like to know you’re getting annoyed.When you start making sense,I’ll stop.

Show your support for Anchor Rising with a 25-cent-per-day subscription.