Marc Comtois

On Withdrawing Miers

By Marc Comtois | October 13, 2005 |

Peggy Noonan has called for President Bush to withdraw his nomination of Harriet Miers (or for Ms. Miers to withdraw herself). While she believes such a move doubtful, she does offer a forecast of what would happen next. The White House, after the Miers withdrawal/removal/disappearance, would be well advised to call in leaders of the…

RIGOP Dissension II: Further Illumination

By Marc Comtois | October 4, 2005 |

I noted earlier that there was some dissension in the RIGOP as two local GOP committees had called for RIGOP leader Patricia Morgan to step down. Well, the comments to the original post have provided further illumination and are worth highlighting. First to comment was the anonymous “Robert,” who had some unkind things to say…

More Dissension in RIGOP Ranks

By Marc Comtois | October 4, 2005 |

According to this Chariho Times story, there is some dissension bubbling from below in the RIGOP, and, unsurprisingly, Mayor Laffey is involved. Members of the South County Republican Coalition and the Hopkinton Republican Town Committee, two local republican organizations voted no confidence in the state party leader Patricia Morgan. Both groups are asking for her…

Who is Harriet Miers?

By Marc Comtois | October 3, 2005 |

As most know by now, President Bush has nominated now-former White House Counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Immediately, two memes have sprung up. One is that the President followed the “Cheney template,” by which it is meant that he ended up nominating the individual he had originally tapped to lead the search committee…

The Republican “Economy Bloc” in the Senate

By Marc Comtois | September 30, 2005 |

Robert Novak wrote of a successful rebuttal of a bi-partisan attempt in the U.S. Senate to spend more of our tax dollars under the auspices of “Katrina Aid.” The Senate was up to its old tricks Monday evening. It prepared to pass, without debate and under a procedure requiring unanimous consent, a federal infusion of…

Land Speculation and the General Assembly

By Marc Comtois | September 22, 2005 | Comments Off on Land Speculation and the General Assembly

I had one of those “only in Rhode Island” moments this morning when I picked up the ProJo and read that the Democrat leaders of the General Assembly had secretly placed a bid on a prime piece of downtown Providence real estate for the purpose of expanding the bureaucratic office space. House Speaker William J.…

Chafee v. Laffey: Yorke Interviews GOP Nat’l Senate Committee Spokesman Nick

By Marc Comtois | September 20, 2005 |

Following is a rough summary of Dan Yorke’s interview with Republican National Senatorial Committee spokesperson Brian Nick. First, Dan Yorke found it provocative that Elizabeth Dole personally tried to talk Steve Laffey out of running against Sen. Chafee. Nick explained that Dole told Laffey that the mission of the Senatorial Commitee is to protect incumbents.…

Some Perspective on ANWR

By Marc Comtois | September 20, 2005 |

Everyone can read about the good and the bad of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Without further comment, and to add some “perspective,” here is an image of the area in dispute.

RI Supreme Court: Harrah/Narragansett Casino not Legal

By Marc Comtois | September 19, 2005 | Comments Off on RI Supreme Court: Harrah/Narragansett Casino not Legal

Looks like it’s back to the drawing board for Harrah’s and the Narragansett Tribe as the RI Supreme Court has concluded that the latest casino proposal doesn’t pass constitutional muster: A bill that would allow the Narragansett Indians to open a casino on nontribal land does not pass constitutional muster, the state Supreme Court said…

John Roberts Confirmation Hearings

By Marc Comtois | September 12, 2005 |

The hearings for Chief Justice-in-waiting John Roberts begin today and can be seen and heard via C-SPAN beginning at 11:30 AM. As C-SPAN “warns,” however: On Monday, the multi-day Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts begin. They are expected to last all week. First, will be a series of opening statements by the…