Marc Comtois

Chafee’s Perilous Pragmatic Appeal to the GOP

By Marc Comtois | August 3, 2006 |

I understand what Sen. Chafee is doing by highlighting the polling data showing that Mayor Laffey is “unelectable” should he beat Chafee in the GOP primary and face-off against Sheldon Whitehouse in the General election. As Dan Yorke pointed out today, it makes political sense to scare people a little bit. But Yorke also made…

Karl Rove Offers Hope…or not?

By Marc Comtois | July 31, 2006 |

At first, being of a cynical mind this morning, I wondered if Karl Rove (via Dale Light) had ever been to Rhode Island when I read his recent statements at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. But upon further consideration, I think he truly hit on one truism, which I’ve highlighted: “There…

Michaud’s Pretend Voters

By Marc Comtois | July 27, 2006 |

I realize that this is just too easy and that Dennis Michaud has gone way beyond irrelevancy at this point, but the fact that he so obviously screwed up his voter petitions–dead people, forgeries–is interesting. You see, it can be taken as proof that: a) There was a definite insider game to get Michaud on…

Left/Right Consensus on Education Reform Emerging?

By Marc Comtois | July 24, 2006 | Comments Off on Left/Right Consensus on Education Reform Emerging?

What do George Soros’ and John Podesta’s Center for American Progress, New York Gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer, former Clinton Administration member Joel Klein, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Enterprise Institute all have in common? They all think that Teachers’ Unions are a major impediment to school reform. Morton Kondracke explains: The U.S.…

Senator Chafee’s Foreign Policy Ideology

By Marc Comtois | July 20, 2006 |

Once again, Senator Chafee has exhibited his prediliction to blame President Bush. (But thanks for the support Mrs. Bush!). I heard this on Rush Limbaugh yesterday, and now the transcript is up. Sen. Chafee was interviewed by NBC’s David Gregory about the conflict going on in Lebanon and Israel. Gregory says, “In effect the United…

Poll Fodder for the Weekend

By Marc Comtois | July 14, 2006 |

Taken from the ProJo’s 7to7 blog: A new poll by the independent pollster Rasmussen Reports finds Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, edging ahead of incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, 46 percentage points to 41. The margin of error in the poll of 500 likely voters was 4.5 percent, according to…

Constitutional Ideals Undergird Opposition to Casino Amendment

By Marc Comtois | July 13, 2006 | Comments Off on Constitutional Ideals Undergird Opposition to Casino Amendment

Many are making primarily economic arguments against the Casino Amendment, claiming that the state could get a better deal with competitive bidding. While I recognize the utility and pragmatism of such a tactic, I think the case for opposing a Casino Amendment offered by Brian Casey, owner of the Oak Hill Tavern in North Kingstown,…

“Money, Money, Money”

By Marc Comtois | July 12, 2006 |

Money makes the political world go ’round and according to the latest numbers, the leaders in RI’s “Hot” political contests are Governor Carcieri in the Governor’s race and Sheldon Whitehouse in the Senate race.

Politicians Among The People

By Marc Comtois | July 8, 2006 |

Like many communities, North Kingstown offers a summer series of children’s concerts or shows for families to get together and enjoy whilst enjoying a picnic. North Kingstown’s are at the Town Beach on Thursday evenings and my family has been going for three years now. It is especially convenient as I work in NK and…

Laffey and Chafee on Yorke Show

By Marc Comtois | June 29, 2006 |

{NB: This started as a brief re-cap of Mayor Steve Laffey’s amicable return to the Dan Yorke show. Subsequently, State GOP Party official Chuck Newton and Senator Lincoln Chafee appeared.} Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey and WPRO’s Dan Yorke have buried the hatchet, hence, Laffey was on Yorke’s show today to discuss the Senate race and…