Marc Comtois
The senate race between Laffey and Chafee offers a rare opportunity for the Rhode Island Republican party–both its leadership and, especially, the rank and file–to define itself. For decades now, the “traditional” (elected) Rhode Island Republican seems to almost pathologically belong to the “can’t-we-just-get-along” club. They smile and wink and get gut-punched by the Democrats…
To amplify Don’s previous post, read what Max Borders has to say in a column over at TCS. He labels it “Vietnam Syndrome” and echoes many of the points mentioned by both Preston and Frum. He also has some of his own ideas as to how to combat this creeping mindset. First, the Administration needs…
I noted with interest the national splintering of the AFL-CIO and wondered what effect it would have on this, one of the most “labor-friendly” states in the union. According to this report on this subject in today’s ProJo, RI ranks 1st in New England and 9th nationally in percent of union employees in the workforce.…
From Pennsylvania: The family of a Marine who was killed in Iraq is furious with Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll for showing up uninvited at his funeral this week, handing out her business card and then saying “our government” is against the war. Rhonda Goodrich of Indiana, Pa., said yesterday that a funeral was held…
Governor Carcieri has put forth his case against the privatization of Beacon Mutual in today’s ProJo. First, there are risks: Rhode Island employers should worry about this expansion because Beacon is not just any insurer. Beacon has two statutory duties that no other insurer has: First, Beacon must offer insurance at the lowest possible cost…
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch writes in National Review Online about the proper method of “advise and consent” that should be exercised by the Senate with regards to the process of nominating a Supreme Court Justice. The fact that the president and the Senate each has a role, however, does not make those roles co-equal. The…
I’ve thought that there was some credence to be given to the flypaper theory–fight the terrorists there so we won’t have to fight them here–as applied to Iraq. With the recent London bombings as background, Gregory Scoblete convincingly argues that Iraq-as-flypaper is a flawed theory. The strategy of aggressively preempting terrorists and terror-threats, the essence…
On the eve of the President’s press conference to buck up America with regards to Iraq, the pollsters are busy trying to set the table for their spin. First, we have this from CNN/USA Today: As Bush prepares to address the nation Tuesday to defend his Iraq policy, just 40 percent of those responding to…