Monique Chartier

Governor Carcieri and “civil rights”

By Monique Chartier | December 5, 2007 |

The ACLU of Rhode Island has attacked Governor Donald Carieri’s record on civil rights (and the Providence Journal newsroom obliged with an undiscerning, over-the-top headline). Following is the basis of the ACLU’s charges: •Carcieri suggested on talk radio in October that English-language interpreters are unnecessary. •He made statements in a legal brief in August condemning…

Re: Thanking Hillary, Tongue in Cheek

By Monique Chartier | December 3, 2007 |

When members of the College Republican Federation are at the corner of Post Road and Airport Road in Warwick at 3:30 today, they will have good reason to thank the Junior Senator from New York. Senator Hillary Clinton not only voted in favor of the war in Iraq, Christopher Hitchens pointed out in February that…

Cranston’s Creche

By Monique Chartier | November 30, 2007 |

Thanks to Mayor Michael Napolitano (D) who has tried to summon the Ghost of Controversy Past, the front lawn in front of Cranston City Hall will not have a manger scene or any religious decorations this year. In December, 2003, then Mayor Steve Laffey (R) invited Cranston residents to place religious and seasonal decorations on…

House District 22: Unofficial Results

By Monique Chartier | November 27, 2007 |

Frank Ferri: 878 Jonathan Wheeler: 553 Carlo Pisaturo: 228 With all four precincts in Warwick’s District 22 reporting but before the opening of approximately 25 mail-in ballots. Story about today’s election – before the polls closed – in the Warwick Beacon. Thanks to Will Ricci for calling me with the results.

Re: Let’s Make Everybody Special

By Monique Chartier | November 25, 2007 |

Let us not forget that in this area can be found yet another dubious “Rhode Island, We’re Number One!” rating. From a February 8 Providence Journal article by Jennifer Jordan: Rhode Island already claims the highest percentage of students in special education in the country – 21 percent compared with the national average, 13.7 percent…

Thanksgiving Dinner

By Monique Chartier | November 21, 2007 |

For those who are hosting (or bringing a dish … or even just your appetite), Dave Barry has some tips. Great American Turkeys Tips for Not Hosting Thanksgiving Next Year [Heads up: the last one is pretty tasteless.] Quibbles with The Gobbler

Re: Froma Harrop’s Genius Economic Cure-All

By Monique Chartier | November 18, 2007 |

This and the absurd carbon tax are bad ideas – in fact, for the same reasons. Firstly, no thought has been given to the millions of people of limited means who simply cannot pay such a premium on their gasoline. Are they supposed to stop working? And no, mass transit is not the answer. Beyond…

Nuances of Communication

By Monique Chartier | November 17, 2007 |

Let’s play a new game. It’s called: “Identify That Whine” It’s simple. Read the following two statements. Determine which is a declaration of facts designed to educate and motivate and which is whining. But the overall budget – taxes and spending – is set by the General Assembly. All of the increases in Marc’s chart…

Senator Clinton Abandons Drivers License for Undocumenteds

By Monique Chartier | November 14, 2007 |

Get out the scoreboard. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York), who had endorsed the idea just two weeks ago, has this afternoon done a one eighty on the question of drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. “I support Governor Spitzer’s decision today to withdraw his proposal,” Clinton said in a statement. “As president, I will not support…

Governor Spitzer Abandons Drivers License for Undocumenteds

By Monique Chartier | November 14, 2007 |

Governor Eliot Spitzer has backed off his controversial plan to issue drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Wednesday dropped a controversial plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants because of overwhelming opposition to the policy. “I’ve concluded that New York state cannot conduct this program on its own,” Spitzer…