Marc Comtois

Sovereignty, Olive Branches and Big Sticks

By Marc Comtois | November 17, 2005 | Comments Off on Sovereignty, Olive Branches and Big Sticks

http://dustinthelight.timshelarts.com/rays/mt-tb.cgi/2430

How Deep is their Conservatism?

By Marc Comtois | November 11, 2005 |

To build on Justin’s latest post, I’d point you to John Hinderaker’s post in which he boils down what has happened to the Republicans over the last year and asks why they appear so weak-kneed: So what has happened in the past twelve months to terrify so many of our Republican office-holders? Two hurricanes struck,…

Levesque: Early Warning or Something Else?

By Marc Comtois | November 9, 2005 |

It has been revealed by J. Michael Levesque that he himself had broached the topic of “infidelities” with the Governor earlier this year. It seems the timing was…convenient, to say the least: Levesque said he personally told the governor, during a private meeting eight or nine months ago, “that I had been hearing talk on…

Pragmatic Reason for Chafee to Support Alito

By Marc Comtois | November 1, 2005 |

According to Michael Barone: The political risks of opposing an Italian-American are therefore probably less than in 1983 [when Judge Antonin Scalia was nominated and confirmed]. But they’re not zero. I wonder whether Tom Carper of Delaware (where 7 percent of the population in the 2000 census said they were of Italian ancestry), Frank Lautenberg…

The Perils of Gambling on Gambling

By Marc Comtois | November 1, 2005 |

According to this story: For years, slot machines at Lincoln Park and Newport Grand have seen double-digit growth. But now — while the machines are still extremely profitable — they are not producing the same boom, and that could have grave ramifications for the state. This year’s state budget is based on the assumption that…

Conservative Ideals Triumph In Miers Nomination

By Marc Comtois | October 27, 2005 |

By now, most have heard that Harriet Miers has withdrawn herself from consideration for the Supreme Court (go here or here for more). While conservatives are relieved and are patting themselves on the back, there are many Republican party loyalists who are accusing them of being “extreme” conservatives and of ultimately undermining the President. Despite…

Owens: Keep Posse Comitatus As Is

By Marc Comtois | October 26, 2005 | Comments Off on Owens: Keep Posse Comitatus As Is

Mac Owens (a contributor to this site) has a column up over at National Review explaining both the history of the Posse Comitatus Act, which defines the line between the militia (or National Guard) and U.S. military, and why it shouldn’t be changed despite the recent events surrounding Hurricane Katrina.

When Ideology and Politics Collide

By Marc Comtois | October 25, 2005 | Comments Off on When Ideology and Politics Collide

David Sirota is the co-chairperson of the liberal Progressive Legislative Action Network and has written about what he dubs “Partisan War Syndrome” and how it is negatively affecting the political prospects of the left. In short, Sirota writes about how partisanship and political opportunism–the anything to get Bush syndrome, as it were–has eclipsed ideological steadfastness…

Conservatives Aren’t “Whig”-ing Out

By Marc Comtois | October 21, 2005 | Comments Off on Conservatives Aren’t “Whig”-ing Out

If you find yourself stuck inside while the rain falls this weekend, and you feel like reading a historical critique of an attempt to link modern conservatism to that of the short-lived Whigs of the antebellum era, then head over to Spinning Clio, settle in (perhaps with some coffee!) and have a read.

Summing up the Rhode Island GOP Debate Over Laffey/Chafee ’06

By Marc Comtois | October 18, 2005 |

Andrew’s last post about the negative ads against Mayor Laffey has been commented upon by an assortment of Republicans. Some support the Mayor, others bemoan the willingness of the National Republican Party to interfere at the primary level–and on the side of the more manifestly liberal of the two candidates at that–while others think the…