Marc Comtois

Working Toward Education Reform

By Marc Comtois | December 31, 2006 |

It being the end of the year, the ProJo produced a piece detailing the public policy goals of various Ocean State political leaders. Among the topics was education reform: Lawmakers dole out more than $699 million in school aid to their home cities and towns, but it has been years since the state had a…

Press Distorts President Ford’s Iraq Opinion

By Marc Comtois | December 29, 2006 |

President Ford was interviewed by the Washington Post’s Bob Woodward, but embargoed the interview until after his death. The portion of the interview that is getting the most play is where President Ford differed with the Bush Administration on the Iraq War. Specifically, portions of the interview are being excerpted and rehashed as news articles…

The Quiet Conservatism of President Ford

By Marc Comtois | December 27, 2006 |

With the passing of President Ford, most people have, by now, been disabused of the notion that he was a perpetual klutz and have learned that, in fact, he was a two-time All-American football player at Michigan. Nonetheless, the role that history has cast him is as the man who pardoned Nixon. Yet, believe it…

Christmas During War (revisited)

By Marc Comtois | December 24, 2006 |

{Nota Bene: Two years ago I wrote this post offering some thoughts from soldiers and others concerning spending Christmas at war. I still believe it to be relevant today. Merry Christmas.} With the current confluence of Christmas and our nation at war, I think it appropriate to mention a few noteworthy writings that deal with…

President ’08: Looking at the GOP

By Marc Comtois | December 22, 2006 |

I suppose we at Anchor Rising may as well start talking about the 2008 Presidential Race. For right now, focusing on the GOP side of things, it seems to be a McCain/Giulianni race with a little Romney–and even Gingrich!–movement here and there. McCain’s chief appeal is his “independence” and his resolve on issues, whether he…

Gambling Reservation

By Marc Comtois | December 20, 2006 |

According to ProJo’s 7to7 Blog: The Narragansett Indian tribe is pursuing plans to build a slot parlor on its lands in Charlestown and has approached Rhode Island’s Congressional leaders about reversing a federal law that would block their efforts. “We don’t want table games. We don’t want roulette. We want what the state has,” Chief…

We Don’t Want No Civil War

By Marc Comtois | December 19, 2006 |

When two factions (or more) within one nation decide to contend with each other with bullets and bombs instead of through the political process, we are told that there is a civil war. At least, that’s the case in Iraq. Now if, say, two factions (Hamas and Fatah) in, say, the Palestinian territory also resort…

Children of “Murphy Browns” Paying the Price

By Marc Comtois | December 18, 2006 |

Dan Quayle was taken to task many years ago for his “Murphy Brown” speech, in which he said: Ultimately however, marriage is a moral issue that requires cultural consensus, and the use of social sanctions. Bearing babies irresponsibly is, simply, wrong. Failing to support children one has fathered is wrong. We must be unequivocal about…

Carcieri Confirms: Morgan Out as RI GOP Head

By Marc Comtois | December 15, 2006 |

[BUMPED] During his interview with WPRO’s Dan Yorke last night (audio not up yet), Governor Carcieri confirmed that current Rhode Island Republican Party Chair Patricia Morgan would be stepping aside. Let the speculation begin. UPDATE: ProJo 7to7 confirms: Patricia Morgan said today that she won’t seek another term as the head of the state Republican…

Preventing Point Street Overpass Cost Overruns: A Lesson in the Legislature’s Minority-Sponored-Bill-Auto-Table-Function

By Marc Comtois | December 15, 2006 |

The ProJo reports that Warwick State Rep. Peter Ginaitt is upset about cost overruns on the Point Street overpass project. Ginaitt said he was troubled by a Dec. 4 article in The Providence Journal reporting that the overpass project’s cost has grown more than 75 percent and that it is more than two years late.…