Marc Comtois

The Iraq Surge and the Democrats’ Non-Solutions

By Marc Comtois | January 11, 2007 |

Like Rich Lowry, I think that the President’s new Iraq plan (“the Surge”) is “better late than never.” And that applies to more than just changes in the military operations side of things and includes such “hearts and minds” actions as giving ground commanders more walking around money and the implementation of an Iraq Oil…

Mac Owens on “The Surge”

By Marc Comtois | January 11, 2007 |

Via NRO: The president’s speech was adequate. He said the right things. The question of course is whether or not the plan he outlined can be implemented. In terms of substance, the president’s plan is not so much a true innovation as an adaptation to the changing circumstances in Iraq. Until February of last year,…

Democrats 9/11 Commission Bill: Both Less and More Than Advertised

By Marc Comtois | January 10, 2007 |

So, the 100 Hours continue and Speaker Pelosi has gotten her 9/11 Commission legislation through. And though some may think that every one of the 9/11 Commission prescriptions were included (the necessity or wisdom of implementing them all is another discussion), apparently, that’s really not the case (via The Corner). Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent…

Canada Makes it Official: Heather Can (legally) have 2 Mommies and a Daddy

By Marc Comtois | January 8, 2007 |

Back in October, I posted, and Justin elaborated (and I further elaborated) about a NY Times story (“Gay Donor or Gay Dad“)on the the inherent difficulties and consequences of having 2 lesbian women and a male sperm donor (and possibly his partner) all seeking to press a claim on the parenthood of a child. Yet,…

Slot Revenue Keeps Going Down, but Budget Never Does

By Marc Comtois | January 6, 2007 |

Looks like the slot-machine revenue panacea isn’t working out too well. For the first time since video-slot machines were introduced in 1993, both Lincoln Park and Newport Grand are taking in substantially less money than they did the year before. This could have dramatic consequences for the state, which is already struggling with a $105.1-million…

RE: Scrap the Middle Schools?

By Marc Comtois | January 6, 2007 |

A couple days ago I mentioned about how–and why–many urban school districts are doing away with middle schools and going to a K-8 model. Apparently, Providence is looking to head in the same direction, as indicated by Mayor Cicilline: Addressing the challenges facing the Providence School District will not be easy, [Mayor Cicilline] said, and…

In praise of the inherent conservatism of Motherhood

By Marc Comtois | January 4, 2007 |

With all that has been going on here in Warwick regarding the mycoplasma outbreak, I need to give public recognition to my wife. When we were informed that the schools throughout the city were shutting down for the rest of the week, my gracious spouse refrained from telling me, “I told you so,” though she…

A Tale of Two Speakers

By Marc Comtois | January 4, 2007 |

On January 5, 1995, Newt Gingrich was elected Speaker of the House, the first Republican to do so in 40 years. Newt Gingrich took the Capital by storm today like many of the generals he has studied — before dawn, with a plan and with an eye on history. As he achieved his longtime dream…

Education Reform Suggestion: Scrap the Middle Schools?

By Marc Comtois | January 3, 2007 |

In his innaugural address, Governor Carcieri vowed to reform our current education system. As Maggie Gallagher reports, maybe getting rid of “middle schools” entirely is one worthwhile goal. According to the New York Post, almost 50 of the city’s 220 middle schools have closed in the last two years, part of a plan to move…

Massachusetts Pols End Up Listening to the People

By Marc Comtois | January 2, 2007 |

In the end, the Massachusetts Legislature ignored governor Duval Patrick and decided to listen to the voters–or perhaps the Massachusetts Supreme Court–and voted to allow a vote on a State Constitutional ban on gay marriage. Lawmakers in Massachusetts, the only state where gay marriage is legal, on Tuesday voted to advance a proposed constitutional amendment…