Monique Chartier

Ireland’s Unconventional Minister of the Environment

By Monique Chartier | December 31, 2008 |

Unlike many of his counterparts around the world, put Minister Sammy Wilson squarely in the category of AGW sceptic. Drudge links to this article in today’s Belfast Telegraph. [Check out all the global warming alarmist articles linked on that page, by the way.] Spending billions on trying to reduce carbon emissions is one giant con…

Y EZPass?

By Monique Chartier | December 31, 2008 |

So the point of setting up EZPass on the Newport Pell Bridge is to faciliate the flow of traffic, right? Okay, I’ll say what seems to have escaped the attention of the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority. This isn’t New York or New Jersey. Using tokens, has anyone ever had to wait longer than three…

Just When You Thought Gov Blago Had Lost His Shock Value

By Monique Chartier | December 30, 2008 |

In part blaming the Illinois legislature for failing to pass a law that would give the people of Illinois the chance to elect Barack Obama’s successor, Governor Rod Blagojevich has appointed former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to the United States Senate, saying, The people of Illinois are entitled to have two United States senators…

Pro-Obama Media Bias

By Monique Chartier | December 29, 2008 |

In response to assertions by commenters under Justin’s post “All The Difference from D to R” that no bias exists in the press, below are two studies conducted just before the election which demonstrate otherwise. An MSNBC article of October 31 cites the Center for Media and Public Affairs. Comments made by sources, voters, reporters…

Coming Soon to Havana: Russian Orthodox Spires

By Monique Chartier | December 28, 2008 |

In post-holiday catching up of some favorite columnists, I learn from Christopher Hitchens that Fidel Castro, near death, has commissioned the construction of a Russian Orthodox cathedral in the capital of a country that completely lacks adherents to that religion. Hitchens soundly hypothesizes a desire on the part of Castro to solidify Cuba’s ties with…

Semi-Random Thoughts About Bernard Madoff

By Monique Chartier | December 21, 2008 |

Bail Fifty billion is missing and presumed lost or stolen. Lacking a clear picture of how much of that is lost and how much is stolen, is $10,000,000 really an adequate bail amount? Madoff needed to send only an equal amount offshore during the course of his scheme to be ready for a sudden need…

They Didn’t Intercept Any Toast Points?

By Monique Chartier | December 21, 2008 |

Bounced vs. Presented: Parsing A Denial

By Monique Chartier | December 11, 2008 |

About his brother’s bad $75,000 check, Mayor David Cicilline said this yesterday to the I-Team’s Jim Taricani: But what is absolutely not possible is that it was ever brought to my attention that a check had been issued, had been dishonored by bank or bounced in the amount of $75,000 by my brother. I would…

Anyone Need a State Contract? How about a Senate Seat?

By Monique Chartier | December 10, 2008 |

Hopefully, the conduct of the next Governor of Illinois will be guided by his or her observations of the fate of the current and prior occupants of the office. The allegations against Blagojevich provide a sharp contrast to a Democratic governor who campaigned for office promising reforms in the wake of disgraced, scandal-tainted Republican chief…

Re: Not the Way to Run a City… or a City-State

By Monique Chartier | December 7, 2008 |

From the ProJo article which Justin cites: According to the mayor’s chief of administration, Richard I. Kerbel, the retroactive pay for the nonunion officers matches retroactive pay awarded to police union members in arbitration over the last fiscal year Unlike so many other aspects of public sector compensation, it is, in fact, common practice in…