Back to Not For Nothing

Back to Not For Nothing

Comments

• PoliticalCritic said:

  Hillary is going to raise $500 million before the elections. She'll be there until the end...unfortunately.
  January 23, 2007 3:43 PM

• terrance said:

  Part of the problem is that the level of public funds available is too low to be attractive, given what it costs to run for office these days. Some candidates have to go into debt, even with contributions.
  January 26, 2007 6:13 PM

• Pat said:

  Great news. The best thing about blogs is that they give folks a hand in the news - participatory newsmaking. I wish you lots of luck Ian!
  January 29, 2007 5:24 PM

• Jon Scott said:

  Ian: I wish you luck with the blog. Rhode Island is a state that cries out for local perspective on it's issues and there is no place more accessible than the blogosphere for regular folks who want to air their opinions. I look forward to reading regularly JPS
  January 29, 2007 6:19 PM

• Kiersten said:

  I believe the official vernacular is, "Not for nuthin'," but it's good to know you still have the urge to adhere to some semblance of grammar. Best wishes. We'll be checking in frequently. Kiersten
  January 29, 2007 8:16 PM

• Dub Not Dubya said:

  The quoted text from the ProJo is nearly impossible for me to read in two of the three browsers that I use (Safari and Firefox for Mac). It is readable, but very small, on Explorer for Mac. Just thought you might want to know in case you can remedy that for future blockquotes.
  January 29, 2007 9:15 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  Thanks, Dubs. I'm still figuring this stuff out.
  January 29, 2007 10:02 PM

• jencoleslaw said:

  "not for nuttin, BUT" Go Ian. jen
  January 29, 2007 10:46 PM

• John McDaid said:

  Yaay! Look forward to reading!
  January 29, 2007 10:51 PM

• Marc C. said:

  I'd say welcome to the "fringe", but you DO work for the Phoenix already (just kidding Ian!) Great name, too!
  January 30, 2007 12:18 AM

• Mike said:

  Why don't you do a story on how some of these sadistic prison guards haul in over $100,000 a year-NOT including benefits for a job requiring a GED. My ex brother in law was one of them.
  January 30, 2007 5:58 PM

• Mike said:

  Not when his Council power grab and his brother's dirty dealings become more known.
  January 30, 2007 6:00 PM

• Kiersten said:

  Having worked in the RI ER when the 2 am crash of nightclub closing happened, I can see why a 4 am closing would make sense.
  January 30, 2007 8:09 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  Kiersten, the idea is that a later closing would allow crowds to disperse more gradually, perhaps diminishing the episodes that would send people to the ER.
  January 30, 2007 9:49 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  Kiersten, I misread your post, so my comment makes no sense. My bad.
  January 31, 2007 4:29 PM

• eileen said:

  It is not f'nuthin' that I welcome you to the wonderful world of blogging!
  January 31, 2007 6:16 PM

• Mike said:

  Could you do more politics and less cheap snipes at the Journal?
  February 2, 2007 9:39 PM

• Mike said:

  The lawmakers reacted cooly to the governor's proposal to save money through furloughs for state workers------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOL. I bet-the shit has finally hit the fan. Can just a single person on the far left explain how New Hampshire, with MORE people than RI has a state budget HALF ours? Other than the fact that the Grace Diaz, Matt Jerzyk, Frank Montanaro, Marcia Reback, Marti Rosenberg, Bob Walsh, Guy Dufault types are pariahs on the fringe who are not taken seriously there
  February 2, 2007 9:48 PM

• Mike said:

  What other state pays Hispanics to babysit their friends and relatives kids while their friends and relatives get paid to babysit their kids!
  February 2, 2007 9:51 PM

• eileen said:

  It's a good article with great pics. I wish that Erica would hold a statewide forum to bring all the local bloggers up-to-date on the newest technology and how to use it.
  February 3, 2007 5:22 PM

• Markcharles said:

  As long as alcohol sales were to end at 2 am or the latest 3 am then its a good idea. I think it would be wise to incorporate a period of non alcohol sales and club time to let people sober up which could cut down on alcohol related accidents. anyone know if they are looking into something like that?
  February 5, 2007 4:52 AM

• Diddy said:

  1-2 hours of being open without alcohol? Yeah, and do you think that people will sit around and play pinochle? No, as soon as the alcohol is done, people will leave. I think it's a great idea. Why even have a curfew. Let the clubs close when they want, like NYC. Let them go to 10 am the next day if they want to.
  February 5, 2007 4:31 PM

• Heartless said:

  Why is the taxpayer responsible for footing the bill for these people's day care bills? I work to pay for my own child's day care AND these other people's. Taxes should be for things that all people use, not for just a small fraction of the population. People who feel strongly about these people needing help should start a charity for them and let them help pay it. Or, if these parents want to work, why don't they get into the day care business? Let other people pay them to watch their own kids.
  February 8, 2007 3:46 AM

• Yorke said:

  Yet another dumb decision by a local radio station. Barber wasn't good, but DePetro is horrible. Terrible, terrible decision by WPRO.
  February 8, 2007 3:53 AM

• Nate Champagne said:

  I can't wait for the company Christmas Party.
  February 8, 2007 9:10 PM

• Pat said:

  He didn't bite because there is no republican out there to do it. Unless, of course, Chafee jumps in....
  February 9, 2007 6:33 PM

• tas said:

  That whacky WPRO.. They're all class.
  February 10, 2007 2:32 PM

• tas said:

  How about we do a swap, Heartless. You don't have to pay for childcare if I, say.. Don't have to pay for the Iraq war. Deal?
  February 10, 2007 2:44 PM

• Peter said:

  Hard to tell which station is worse-WPRO or WHJJ. Agree Dave Barber was a fish out of water here in RI. But hiring a homophobe (among other deficiencies) is absurd. This station will do anything for ratings. No doubt Buddy is next in line. Only question is where does he fit in.
  February 10, 2007 9:49 PM

• Heartless said:

  You've got yourself a deal, assuming that when some criminals come and attack you, you don't ask for the government's help.
  February 12, 2007 8:06 AM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian why don't you report the school is owned by your idol David's appointed solicitor? Guess we won't be hearing anything more from you on this story-LOL.
  February 12, 2007 4:07 PM

• florenz eisman said:

  My second visit to your blog and enjoying your writing so much I missed the Ocean State plate until now. A great logo. Good luck, F.Eisman
  February 13, 2007 7:50 PM

• Joe Ouellette said:

  Dump Coco! Dump that contract. Give Adam Stern a full season in center. Stern will be just as good if not better in center
  February 14, 2007 7:55 PM

• Jeff Grybowski said:

  Cuban Revolution has the endorsement of at least one other chief of staff.
  February 15, 2007 12:12 AM

• Pat said:

  Thats right. If we can forgive Keith for 2005, 2006, maybe we can now forgive Buckner for 1986...
  February 17, 2007 2:26 AM

• tas said:

  You have to register yourr blog for it to be recognized in TTLB Ecosystem, if you want to participate... I don't think too many people pay attention to TTLB rankings anymore, though. Back in the day, NZ Bear had a decent, bipartisan system going wherein he invited anybody to participate, had people vote for "Best New Blog of the Week," so you could actually find new stuff to read, etc. But then NZ Bear became just another rightwing blogging shill, took away the best new bog contest and things aren't the same.
  February 17, 2007 3:50 PM

• Linda said:

  You don't have a clue Ian. You don't even have the date of Col Pare's last day on the job correct. You call yourself a journalist? A gossip maybe but you're no journalist.
  February 18, 2007 1:38 PM

• Marc C. said:

  I just want to second that a good time was had by all and that there surely is some common ground on which progressives and conservatives can come together. For instance, I discovered that both Ian and I are hardcore Red Sox fans! In all seriousness, though, Ian's link ("civic engagement") to Putnam's "Bowling Alone" would be a good place to start for anyone, no matter their ideology.
  February 21, 2007 9:29 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Lovin' the activist journalism, Donnis! Go citizenspeak!
  February 23, 2007 5:08 PM

• Pat said:

  I wish the Governor hadn't outsourced all of his labor work to H.A.S.; his guys are so bored they have nothing better to do than to do silly postings like this all day.
  February 24, 2007 9:06 PM

• Jim said:

  The New England mob merely relocated to the statehouse.
  March 1, 2007 4:23 PM

• Jeff Grybowski said:

  Ian, I know that political pundits are enamored with the "flip-flop" label, but it just doesn't work here. The Governor didn't flip flop, he came up with a different way to save the same amount of money in personnel costs. The furlough plan became unworkable when the judiciary decided not to go along. The bottom line is that the state needs to cut costs, whether through furloughs or pay reductions. Which option to use is simply a matter of practicalities. On the corrections costs issue, you must have missed the Governor's proposal to reduce the ACI population by 500 in FY08 through alternative sentencing. It's right there in the executive summary of the Governor's budget.
  March 3, 2007 12:49 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Thanks for the comment, Jeff. I've updated the post.
  March 3, 2007 5:00 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  N4N made Daily Kos! http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/5/145915/1240
  March 5, 2007 8:56 PM

• Former East Sider said:

  Rumor has it that Mayor Cicilline has promised his support to Councilmen Clifford Wood and Terrence Hassett, and attorney Angel Taveras. He's telling each of them that he has to promise support to the others for political reasons, but that he's really behind the person he's talking to.
  March 5, 2007 11:47 PM

• westsiderez said:

  Charles Pinning is an endless source of outrage. He's pissed this time b/c no one consulted him. Don't feed this troll. This was plenty well-known throughout the neighborhood when last fall.
  March 9, 2007 6:24 PM

• Softball player said:

  Collier Field is, by far, the worst maintained softball field I have ever played on. The infield dirt is overgrown with weeds and rocks, and the outfield is mostly crab grass. Hank Soar is a gem by comparison, and there are 3 fields in that complex. Hell, even the field at Western Hills is much better managed.
  March 9, 2007 7:29 PM

• tds said:

  Although it is associated largely with the GOP, RISC has really shown itself to be a top-notch environmental organization and has demonstrated a refreshing support for both independent politics and sympathetic democrats as well. Though I'm not a card carrying member yet, the more I see of RISC the more I like.
  March 10, 2007 2:31 AM

• Linda said:

  Arlene Violet is no Republican. Why is she the keynote speaker at the NK GOP Lincoln Day Dinner?
  March 10, 2007 8:06 PM

• Linda said:

  Scott Avedisian is left of Lincoln Chafee. Scott is no Republican and he's on the rise to nowhere.
  March 10, 2007 8:10 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  When did they replace "Shoreline" with "Statewide"? Trying to not look like the super-rich South County-ites that they are??
  March 13, 2007 3:36 PM

• bob said:

  Matt, RISC changed their name at the beginning of 2007. However, it was not to hide who they are as you so rudely quipped. Rather it was to reflect their growing membership of over 4,000 from Lincoln, Coventry, and Cumberland to Middletown, Portsmouth, and Tiverton. As a grassroots organization they should be commended for their efforts and their growing numbers. I support them because unlike other coalitions in the state, they are not funded by large special interest groups vested in state funding streams. In addition to Voter Initiative (VI), RISC has stopped environmentally insensitive condo development, advocated for more open government, and has advocated for a cleaner environment with the salt ponds coalition. Judging by your tone and dismissive attitude, I can tell that you don't have a favorable impression of RISC, but perhaps if you were to have a more open mind you wouldn't be so quick to demean them. Whatever the case may be, your obvious unfamiliarity with the group and prejudices that RISC are "super-rich south county-ites" certainly does not reflect well on your own politics. With due respect I suggest that everyone put their preconceptions aside to give RISC a fair shake and try to look at their efforts with an open mind.
  March 14, 2007 1:36 AM

• Pat said:

  I hope Matt makes Dan eat his words. He can dish it, but can't take it.
  March 17, 2007 7:38 PM

• Josh said:

  Any video feed on this? I know Dan will talk about it tonight, but I'd love to see it.
  March 19, 2007 9:20 AM

• J. Mancini said:

  Seriously, it's Matt Jerzyk. What were you expecting? Unless it's being a liberal loon and allowing illegals to walk, he thinks it's wrong.
  March 19, 2007 9:27 AM

• Amy G. said:

  this is standard practice for janusonis... take whatever consensus has emerged from the respected critics and write exactly the opposite.
  March 20, 2007 3:35 PM

• Tom Hoffman said:

  Actually, in addition to the fact that Providence Grays' Messer Street Grounds were a couple blocks away from the Dexter Training Grounds, Dexter is specifically the earliest known site for baseball in Providence. It was used by local teams (the "Dexters") and Brown starting from the mid-1860's. In 1875, Adelaide Park (across the street from where I'm typing this) became the first enclosed field in RI and the primary site for baseball in Providence, until Messer was built for the Grays.
  March 22, 2007 6:38 PM

• It's the Sneak! said:

  Ozbek is a fucking coward who has been greedily eyeing the decatur for takeover ever since he was selling other properties in the area by hyping them as being 'close to the decatur lounge'. Lombardi won't do shit. He's just trying to paint himself as "not responsible".
  March 22, 2007 7:04 PM

• baseball bobblehead said:

  If not renewing the lease when it was due (maybe Jan 1) is a defacto notice to the landlord that the tenant doesn't want to renew, but the tenant is still paying rent (not realising that the lease isn't automatically renewed) for the months between when the lease was up and when the eviction notice was issued, than isn't that a defacto "lease" if the landlord accepts the $$? Has the Decatur been paying rent? just a thought...
  March 23, 2007 1:50 PM

• Tom said:

  Thanks for the recognition, Ian. From the US Attorney scandal to CBS' "Memogate" the New Media is increasingly driving the news cycle. I for one am excited to join the fray of Rhode Island's New Media and am thrilled by RIReport's early success!
  March 23, 2007 4:33 PM

• Sisto said:

  Yo Ian, what's with this "mayor-elect" business. He won the primary, but isn't there another election to go against the Republican? It's one thing to consider it a done deal, that the Republican can't win, but for a member of the media to already be calling him mayor-elect? Come on.
  March 23, 2007 8:31 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  You're absolutely correct, but I was under the impression that he doesn't have any competition in the election. Am I mistaken?
  March 23, 2007 8:51 PM

• neolugenious@aol.com said:

  april fools?
  March 27, 2007 3:29 AM

• neolugenious said:

  april fools
  March 27, 2007 3:31 AM

• Sisto said:

  No you're not. I was. I had not yet heard that Goodman had dropped out. Argh.
  March 28, 2007 3:49 AM

• T.Shevlin said:

  Great piece, Ian!
  March 30, 2007 1:40 AM

• Betty G. said:

  I guess the drug dealers that use to pay off his brother now pay the Mayor directly. He will be in for a serious wake up call when he leaves the east side and Broad St. and trys to get votes in the rest of RI. Good luck.
  April 1, 2007 11:36 PM

• Andrew said:

  Ian, If I could expand on Betty G's final point a bit, given Mayor Cicilline's political base, it wouldn't be unreasonable for people to believe that Governor Cicilline might be a little too amenable towards squeezing the rest of the state in order to further subsidize Providence and the urban core. So if/when Mayor Cicilline does run for Governor, how does he handle the question of "what are you going to do for the parts of the state that aren't Providence" without falling back on unconvincing Charles Fogarty-style platitudes?
  April 2, 2007 2:32 AM

• Andrew said:

  Should we watching for a late-night appearance by you on Judge Caprio's show?
  April 4, 2007 8:38 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  I'm just going to face the music and pay it, Andrew, before a boot gets slapped on my ride!
  April 4, 2007 8:52 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian, Sadly you're a better gossip than a journalist. Any evidence to back up your insinuations here? In not then shut up!! You embarrass your profession with this garbage.
  April 5, 2007 8:47 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  Linda, was it insinuation when I predicted in January that Brendan Doherty would get the job?
  April 5, 2007 8:57 PM

• T.Shevlin said:

  Linda, While there is an important distinction between the "hard news" you read in the Projo and the fluid news and commentary that appear on blogs such as this, I for one hardly consider Ian's work to be gossip. The media is changing right before our eyes. One of those changes relates to how news is gathered. Ian's sourcing on the above topic turned out to be accurate back in January just as his leg work on the WRNI sale beat everyone in town. Further, let's not forget that successful journalists are by their nature highly inquisitive. It would be folly to think that their inquisitiveness stops at the line that divides unsubstantiated gossip and reliable news. By being inquisitive and following his gut, Ian is simply doing his job as a reporter. And as readers of the news, we also have a job: to sift through the spin, innuendo, and faulty reports that may occasionally arise. I don't think Ian is embarrassing to his profession at all. In fact, who else outside of the Pickwick Papers do you know that would offer a fedora lunch as collateral to back up his report?
  April 5, 2007 10:01 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian, Your January prediction was a no brainer even for you. Doherty was always the obvious choice in everyone's mind. Most in law enforcment thought Doherty should have gotten the job over Pare 6 years ago. Pare walking away after such a short stint (much to the delight of the rank and file) only bolsters that view. T Shelvin, Other than the governor appointing Brendan Doherty to head the state police can you cite one other fact from Ian's piece above? Nothing but schoolgirl gossip and innuendo. Do agree with you on one thing, on how the media is changing before our eyes. There was a time when journalists had standards. Not true any longer.
  April 5, 2007 10:55 PM

• T.Shevlin said:

  Linda, I'm sure Ian could address this point better than I, but I cannot help but think that you might be caught in a bit of silver lined nostalgia. While I agree that the free press is one of America's most valuable rights and institutions, its history is not without its blemishes. In fact, you don't need to look further than the so-called golden era of American journalism to find a examples of a media defined by scandal, sensationalism, and war mongering. It speaks volumes that the Pulitzer prize, the highest award a journalist can receive, is named after one of founding fathers of Yellow Journalism and the muckraking press. Are there problems with today's media? Of course. But aren't most good old days simply the result of a bad memory? From the Hearst-Pulitzer newspaper wars of the late 19th century to the blind eye turned to political bosses through the first decades of the 20th century, the "good old days" of American journalism were arguably just as flawed as the media of today. Next time we find ourselves drowning in nostalgia for the lofty standards of our media of the past we should take the advice of the honorable newspaper men of old and "Remember the Maine"
  April 6, 2007 2:27 AM

• Not for Nothing said:

  Tom, thanks for the kind words. Linda, if Brendan was the obvious choice back in January, why didn't the governor name him then? No, Pare was not universally loved by the rank and file, but you suggest that popularity is a requirement for being an effective law enforcement administrator. You seem to be a big fan of Brendan, so good for you. As I note in my post, Doherty "has the right stuff to do a fine job," as well as "impressive credentials in the field." I wish him well, and my reporting on this topic is not a critique of him. What you fail to grasp is how the official story, as provided by governments and elected officials, is not always the real story. While there is a somewhat different tone between my blogging and my newspaper reporting, the underlying fundamentals remain the same: being accurate and fair. You are blaming the messenger because you don't like the message. Yet is it any surprise that people in law enforcement don't want to publicly criticize a professional colleague? You can call it "schoolgirl gossip and innuendo," but my reporting is based on multiple reliable sources, including those in the greater law enforcement community. When you talk about the media changing before our eyes, do you mean how top papers like the New York Times and Washington Post issued apologias for not offering sufficiently skeptical coverage in the prelude to the war in Iraq? If my reporting is so shabby, as you claim, why did the ProJo's Amanda Milkovits -- one of the best police reporters in the state -- include in her story today the governor's response to my question about whether Pare was asked to leave? I have built my name as a journalist in Rhode Island by being accurate, and I stand by my report.
  April 6, 2007 3:30 PM

• Dub Not Dubya said:

  Not for nothing, but...he's already made his first reporting error since starting the job. Rep. Joanne Giannini is from Providence, not from Cranston, as he mistakenly reported here: http://www.projo.com/news/content/prostitution_04-05-07_7754PHA.356ccc0.html
  April 7, 2007 1:06 AM

• Linda said:

  Ian, You stand by what report? You haven't done any reporting on this story other than to note Brendan Doherty was named to head the state police. The rest has been schoolgirl gossip. I must challenge the messenger because there are no facts to your message. Very pleased to see the governor of our state tell you to your face in a room full of people that reporters make things up. Obviously he would know since your factless innuendo and gossip involves him. Our changing media is all about reporters becoming columnists in their work. About reporters' work being about agendas and opinions and no longer about facts and balance. Amanda Milkovits is one of the best police reporters in the state? Really? Why hasn't Milkovits uncovered any evidence that Steve Pare was forced out of his job? Maybe Amanda can explain why Pare himself stated the governor was "surprised" when told by Pare he was resigning? Why Steve Pare was so relaxed and happy and very much peace with himself during his media interviews from January on when according to our media gossips this lifelong cop was forced to quit as head of the state police at age 46 after only 6 years? Why can't Pare's demeanor and statements this be explained by our media gossips? Because it doesn't fit *what you want the story to be* Ian as opposed to what the story really is. Steve Pare wasn't forced out. Pare retired because the job, a job he was given because then governor Lincoln Almond and his father were good friends, was not personally or professionally satisfying to him. Whether his dissatifaction came because of constant budgetary pressure and contraints or rank and file unhappiness or because of a chilly relationship with the governor only Steve Pare knows for sure. However I suppose the greater question here should be why you fair and balanced reporters haven't written about the low morale at the state police under Pare? Haven't written about the rank and file wanting a no-confidence vote against Pare? Didn't your friends in the greater law enforcement community tell you about this Ian? I haven't read that in your 'reporting'. Haven't seen it from the best police reporter in the state, Ms. Milkovits. How come? Because it doesn't fit in with the story you're trying to create through your gossip and innuendo. Don't ever let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy.
  April 7, 2007 6:46 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  I'm not going to try to speak for Amanda or for the ProJo. You've made your viewpoint clear; mine is different. While there may well be problems with the overlap of news and opinion, traditional "objective" journalism is hardly perfect, either.
  April 9, 2007 9:07 PM

• Pat said:

  Yorke should be pushed out the same door as Imus.
  April 10, 2007 1:14 AM

• Robert II said:

  Harion's a hack! Shelly Whitehouse would have been governor if he had gotton rid of her!
  April 10, 2007 2:26 PM

• streetstylz said:

  NeoMedia’s mobile code reading platform qode is making tremendous strides in Europe as well as here in North America. With a great showing at CTIA, tremendous media coverage from the New York Times, and their involvement with the Mobile Codes Consortium, qode is on its way to becoming the code-agnostic universal reader with its soon to be released upgrade version capable of reading UPC, Aztec, Datamatrix, and QR codes. Best, Sean http://streetstylz.blogspot.com/
  April 15, 2007 8:34 PM

• Linda said:

  We can only hope the BeloJo hires you soon Ian. This endless groveling and bootlicking is sickening.
  April 16, 2007 9:29 PM

• Linda said:

  By the way Ian how's the search for evidence of Colonel Pare firing coming along? Frustrating chasing ghosts isn't it? Searching for evidence of something that never happened usually is.
  April 16, 2007 9:55 PM

• Not for Nothing said:

  "Endless groveling and bootlicking." That's a good one, Linda. You obviously haven't read much of my reporting.
  April 18, 2007 4:35 PM

• Pat said:

  "The secret is out and it's all Barbara Nauman's fault. What secret you ask? ****The local newspaper monopoly is only interested in making money from the community, not supporting the community****" I wouldn't call that a secret exactly.....
  April 18, 2007 10:28 PM

• T. Shevlin said:

  And blogoholics everywhere mourned
  April 20, 2007 8:12 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Glad to have you back N4N!
  April 30, 2007 5:31 PM

• craig o'connor said:

  What we need to do is agitate to have the city work with the commnity to build a new fenced in dog run, so we can give the ball field back to the kids. We do need more ball fields, but there also needs to be space for us dog owners to come together and share the park and build community. Heck, I think baseball people and dog people should maybe start a fundraising drive to raise money to a) restore the ball field (which is not in playable shape), and b) build a dog run in Dexter Taining Grounds park. This could easily be a win-win situation if the City would help out.
  April 30, 2007 9:05 PM

• Joe Ouellette said:

  I too would love to see more ball fields but with exception to the little league ball fields at Roger Williams Park, the Providence Parks Department does a poor job of taking care of the fields they already have. Take a look at Collier Field behind the Bonanza Bus station. I dream of the day we can play ball at night on that field when it is adequately lit. Further, the grass is poorly cared for (ditches and dry patches everywhere). This is especially upsetting when you look at the property taxes here. Where does it go?
  May 2, 2007 8:47 PM

• evorgleb said:

  One of the guys over at <a href="http://highbridnation.highbrid.com/?p=2065">Highbrid Nation</a> wrote a very interesting post about Roger Clemems and and the "real" reason he has come back to play for the Yankees. Good Stuff.
  May 7, 2007 4:25 PM

• Joe Ouellette said:

  Well--I don't think money had anything to do with it. I heard he wanted to sign with the team that was going to give him the best chance of winning a world series. I think Kevin Millwood said the same thing when he signed with the Rangers a couple of years ago. Roger Clemens is a circus act. This was clearly evident in his announcement at yankee stadium sunday--"Ladies and Gentlemen--please direct your attention to the Master of Ceremonies--Roger Clemens."
  May 7, 2007 8:28 PM

• Andrew said:

  We've passed the point-of-no-return. Anything less than a World Series appearance will be regarded as a failure this year.
  May 21, 2007 3:12 PM

• ian donnis said:

  I love that optimism -- or is it determination? -- Andrew!
  May 21, 2007 5:49 PM

• Marc said:

  Ian, I heard a bit of that from Rush, too. He also cited the same Times article and commented that that "labor shortage" that the big corporations were bemoaning was really a "cheap labor shortage." It seemed to me that Rush was sounding a little populist today!
  May 21, 2007 7:24 PM

• ian donnis said:

  Thanks for the comment, Marc. I suspect we can find some agreement on the flaws in immigration. Yet I think some of the broad brush criticism on the issue overlooks how immigrants are an important labor source.
  May 21, 2007 8:36 PM

• Marc said:

  I agree that they are an important labor source in today's economy. And I don't have a problem with guest worker programs...the problem I've had is enforcement and managing their exit and entry into the country. Add to that a sense of "fair play" and the idea of amnesty for those who broke the rules--whether you like them or not, they are the rules--rubs me the wrong way. I suspect that is what bothers most people about the issue.
  May 22, 2007 12:21 PM

• D said:

  So much for CORI checks. D
  May 22, 2007 9:48 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  The writer of this post was Toby, not Matt
  May 25, 2007 6:32 PM

• Joe Ouellette said:

  What, no comment about A-Rod's bush league style of play?
  June 1, 2007 8:50 PM

• Levitra said:

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  June 1, 2007 8:50 PM

• z said:

  http://bloghd.blogspot.com/2004/09/black-days-at-jerusalem-post.html
  June 4, 2007 3:31 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, check my post from May 23
  June 4, 2007 8:04 PM

• Jay said:

  If Kennedy Plaza is the most watched building in Providence can you explain all of the drug activity going on during the wee hours of the morning? I know there are 24 hours to a day and that’s a lot of footage to sift through but it doesn’t take a genius to look around to see what was going on. I was there on business today waiting for a bus and saw numerous amounts of drug activity. Some even in front of a police man, of course the cop was talking to someone on his cell phone for about the entire time he was there which was about 2 hours, but some of the transactions where right out in the open. It made me think I was going to get mugged. And about this surveillance, I think this is a joke and if I was a Rhode Island citizen and spent one day in Kennedy Plaza I would like to know what is happening to this footage and what is this costing the tax payers. With all that said, Providence may have more “cameras to people ratio”, or coffee shops for that matter, then Boston and New Haven but what does it matter if they are not using it the way it was intended. Thanks for listening.
  June 7, 2007 7:16 PM

• Don Eversley said:

  As they say "you can’t please everyone"! However, I share Councilmen Aponte and Lombardi's regret that they were unable to rise above their animus toward City Hall and work more closely together with me to serve the needs of their business constituents. Nevertheless, it bears noting that their districts have received substantial financial support from my loan program. Out of total $13 million portfolio, their shares are: Lombardi/Ward 13 Federal Hill, West End(partial), Downtown Total current PEDP Loans: $7,823,860 Aponte/Ward 10 Lower South Providence, Washington Park Total Current PEDP Loans: $1,546,677
  June 7, 2007 8:49 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Ian: This was a good story at the time, but it is a little dated. For one thing, State workers now pay either 11% of the cost of the Health premium, or 2.5% of their salary for health insurance. Also, with the slashing and burning of the pension system, RI's schedule B pension is one of the worst in the country and in math terms, means that the workers will be funding their own pensions with 0% from the employer. This guy is out of control and just makes things up.
  June 7, 2007 8:50 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  You make a very fair point on the timing, Pat.
  June 7, 2007 9:05 PM

• Andrew said:

  Is Governor Carcieri claiming that salaries by themselves are out of whack, or that it's salaries + benefit overhead (according to the Governor's figures, 88% overhead for a state worker versus 38% overhead for the average unionized New England private sector worker) that are the problem? Given the order of magnitude of the numbers, BCJ's article doesn't seem to include the overhead.
  June 8, 2007 3:56 AM

• Pat said:

  YES! The person we just recently got has stepped up his game, but for about 4 monthes we might has well of played roulette as the whether the paper would get here, what time, and in what condidition. There was a period when every day the papwer would arrive wet, even though it was dry as a bone outside?????? I think the drivers should organize a union and get some protections so they can't be at the whim of management anymore for assignements or wages cuts. That should improve service.
  June 12, 2007 11:24 AM

• Pat said:

  shouldn't he have already done that?
  June 13, 2007 12:11 PM

• Kiersten Marek said:

  Hi Ian, Thanks for this piece. Being a clinical social worker who serves teens and their families in a residential setting, I guess I qualify as one of the dreaded "poverty pimps." It always hurts to feel like you are being defined as the scourge of society, especially when you see how programs work effectively to help people. I hope we can move toward a more humane state where we can increase our alertness to corruption and misuse of money and also be willing to value and support children and families.
  June 14, 2007 5:07 PM

• Phil said:

  Yeah by the way still no coverage of it on the local NPR station, WCAI, they even did a show last week on "new books" where probably 20+ books got mentioned, yet somehow not this one... I actually don't buy into the conspiracy theory, but I think in light of all the national coverage of the book the station is handling this book issue in a very ham-handed way, that's the most generous interpretation I have for it...
  June 18, 2007 3:28 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Let the circular firing squad begin!
  June 19, 2007 10:40 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Ian, I love it. This would be a great permanent feature for you... Boston Magazine has a regular piece called "Thank God we are a Two Newspaper Town" which regulary shows the difference in appraoch by the Globe and Herald. Imitation is the sincerest form of... well, you know what I mean.....
  June 20, 2007 2:41 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Thanks, Pat. I'm familiar with the Boston bit, and my former Boston Phoenix colleague Dan Kennedy sometimes does something similar. I'll keep on the lookout.
  June 20, 2007 4:14 PM

• Kiersten said:

  You've been tagged to participate in a blogging meme. http://kmareka.com/?p=1269
  June 25, 2007 4:04 PM

• eileen said:

  Umm, guess we just floated away!
  June 27, 2007 1:44 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Harry Staley should go back to cow-towing to the out of state landed gentry on Watch Hill and leave analysis to people who can count. “I’m Harry Staley and I’m not happy. Back in my day, we didn’t have these things called tests, or exams. No, you were either stupid or you weren’t, and you know how we knew who was which? If you had money, you weren’t dumb. Everyone else, you were dumb! That’s the way it was and We liked it.”
  June 27, 2007 3:48 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  now if we can just get them to vote
  June 28, 2007 7:13 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Thanks for exposing this guy for what he really is, Ian.
  June 29, 2007 6:19 PM

• nelson howard said:

  I think they did the right thing. Afterall, it must have been upsetting to here someone yell"Mr. President." There should be proper decorum at all times.
  June 30, 2007 11:19 PM

• nelson howard said:

  They did the right thing.
  June 30, 2007 11:21 PM

• AMERICAN VETERAN@kissminedotcom said:

  One comment from a REAL AMERICAN more than balances two from a neogoon. The phony credentials bush und der gangsters stole from the AMERICAN people need to be ripped away.
  July 1, 2007 1:05 PM

• Jim T. said:

  They did NOT do the right thing. Reporters yell at the President all the time because that is the only way that they can be heard since they are kept so far away from him. This is just more of the Bush administration punishing someone for a percieved wrong.
  July 1, 2007 2:35 PM

• Amy said:

  this is exactly what RI should be doing
  July 3, 2007 2:26 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Recall, impeach, whatever. Get rid of this guy.
  July 4, 2007 10:28 PM

• Sloc said:

  What does that crack about hipsters mean exactly? Stop marginalizing the west side to being about "hipsters" or dog loving "yuppies". It is not that black and white, and everyone that lives here makes it a vibrant community.
  July 5, 2007 5:50 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  The City Council sent this back to Planning and the CPC, where it should be. They will evaluate it based on how it relates to the comprehensive plan. The size is a little big, the density is good for this part of Providence, but abandoning Bradford Street is completely unnecessary. The proposed building also creates a gated complex type feeling on the block, not what we want for Providence.
  July 6, 2007 4:35 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Easy there, Sloc. As a former denizen of the Decatur, I meant the observation in a self-effacing way. My point was mainly that geography plays a big role in the popularity of various institutions.
  July 6, 2007 3:14 PM

• Marc Comtois said:

  For the record, your conservative friends agree! Newspapers drive the news cycle. Without good newspaper coverage, neither the other traditional news outlets (TV, radio) nor us rank amateur bloggers would have much content.
  July 10, 2007 7:18 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  Thanks for the support Ian. Hope to see you there!
  July 10, 2007 7:46 PM

• Todd Nicholson said:

  Thanks for flagging this critically important issue. I'm very bullish on the National Popular Vote plan -- not just on its great value, but also on its very reasonable political prospects. Remember that we're talking an issue with really strong support -- term limits levels of about 70%. Most Americans are very impatient with the relic of the electoral college, and as debate over the chances to change it rises, I think state legislators are going to be more and more likely to climb aboard. So light a candle for the current Electoral College system. We're stuck with one more election with it, but by 2012, we'll have a system based on equal votes and every act of voting and participating being equally important no matter where it happens. Check out more at www.nationalpopularvote.com and www.fairvote.org/president
  July 11, 2007 3:35 PM

• Michael said:

  I started my career as a Providence Firefighter in that building. It holds a lot of memories. Firefighting is steeped in tradition, I hate to let it go.
  July 14, 2007 3:09 AM

• vera said:

  Hi Friends, I Find Absolutely FREE PlayBoy & Penthouse: http://www.oxpe.net/playboy/ If I find something else I'll inform you. Best Regards, Vera
  July 16, 2007 10:12 AM

• Chris F. said:

  Best bet is that Reed goes to Sec of Defense, Carcieri nominates himself as interim Senator. Roberts becomes Gov two years early. Carcieri has no impact as a self-appointed Senator in a very small Republican minority and is gone from the Senate and politics altogether in 2010 when there is a special election to fill out the remainder of Reed's term. Langevin easily takes that seat allowing himself to not have to campaign every two years. Roberts is then a shoe-in in 2010 for the Governor's seat, running as the incumbent. So we just need to start lobbying Carcieri's ego that he should appoint himself to Reed's Senate seat when (if) the time comes!
  July 16, 2007 1:32 PM

• OptomisticinRhodeIsland said:

  I know the state has woes, but more Rhode Islanders are working today than ever before in the state's history. Since Carcieri took office we have over 20K net new jobs. We have incredibly vibrant start-up communities, and companies like Amgen are growing. Our academic assets are expanding. Why all the doom and gloom. Things are not perfect, but they are not nearly as bad as Laffey and others would suggest either.
  July 20, 2007 6:28 PM

• Tom Morra said:

  ...Oh, and btw... Lester looked pretty good, too.
  July 24, 2007 11:31 AM

• Linda said:

  Ian only a fellow liberal like yourself would find Charlie Bakst forceful. Rest of the world finds him tedious, repetitive and predictable. Find me a column of Charlie's where he's rightfully laid some major blame for RI's ills on the Democrats and then we'll have something to talk about. But then again don't bother looking because that column has never been written. You and Bakst are part of an echo chamber that is our Democrat dominated local media. Same song different day that's sung over and over and over again.
  July 24, 2007 2:49 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Nice to hear from you, Linda! Personally, I'd love to see a more competitive two-party system in this state, but the Republicans haven't been able to make it happen. And in case you didn't notice, the ProJo is generally pretty GOP-friendly on its editorial page.
  July 24, 2007 4:18 PM

• Linda said:

  I've visited Tom's site a few times and quite honestly I'm shocked to learn Tom Shevlin was ever a Republican. Honest!! Somehow this doesn't seem like a big blow to the Republican party if I couldn't tell his politics by his own website. A RINO maybe?
  July 24, 2007 10:46 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian why are you bringing up the issue of a more vibrant two party system when I'm addressing our Democrat dominant media's inability to properly criticize Democrats here in RI? Ian are you proving my point for me by changing the subject? hahahaha In case you hadn't noticed the ProJo editorial page is not GOP friendly at all and has taken more than one personal shot at RI's GOP governor. Same song different day that's sung over and over and over again by our liberal media lemmings.
  July 24, 2007 11:00 PM

• Paul said:

  I guess Cicilline has forgotten about his regular appearances on the Helen Glover radio talk show. I can hear him now..."oh, that radio talk show" Lies, lies and more lies. Paul Doughty
  July 31, 2007 6:53 PM

• Jan said:

  You sure captured our collective fascination with Rhode Island's own political rock star. The Bad-Boy charisma that intrigues us all.
  August 2, 2007 4:38 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  There is a video on YouTube of some of the destruction: http://youtube.com/watch?v=COZ6GjXvYn0 Also Art In Ruins has a page about the building: http://www.artinruins.com/arch/decay/policestation/
  August 3, 2007 4:15 AM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  I'd like to see the party designations taken off the ballot. People should have to know who they are voting for, not just show up at the polling place and vote for one letter or the other. Failing that, the asterisk denoting the party endorsed candidate needs to come off the primary ballots, that is tantamount to canvassing on the ballot itself. And speaking of canvassing, someone actually needs to be at the polling places to enforce the 50 foot rule. I'm tired of being chased into the polling place by Democratic party people trying to give me a sample ballot. I can fill out a ballot myself, thank-you-very-much.
  August 5, 2007 1:38 AM

• David Mastio said:

  You seem to be missing another layer of irony here. The former NYTer is criticizing the WSJ's new publisher by pointing out that the same thing people are worried Murdoch will do at at the Journal has already happened at the Times.
  August 14, 2007 11:14 PM

• Rhody said:

  Those of us who live in North Providence and don't plan on participating in the lynching talk radio is trying to gin up need to get out there and tell the world not everyone in our town is a vengeful thug. Hopefully, there will be state police and National Guard to head off the potential bloodshed, because I don't trust the NPPD as far as I could throw any of them (I felt that way even before last Saturday).
  August 17, 2007 6:51 PM

• Tim said:

  Please also check out www.startri.com . This is a new and growing Rhody focused news aggregation site. There are often stories from national or out of town sources with a local focus. It also has a great sports page that lnks to the best stories from all the new england papers. plus, there is a brand new national news page. The site will continue to grow and add more content and functionality in the coming months.
  August 21, 2007 4:19 PM

• Andrew said:

  Ian, Do you find it unusual that Montalbano's lawyer is making these grandiose it's-a-constituional-principle-that-legislators-are-above ethics-law arguments in defending his client? It seems like the risk of alienating the public with this line of reasoning is much greater than the chance that the EC or any court will buy into it.
  August 22, 2007 3:31 PM

• tim said:

  there is a local slant on facebook yesterday's news: Startri.com links to a story about Barrington students documenting their drinking exploits and how it is causing a dilemma for local authorities.
  August 22, 2007 3:43 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Thanks for pointing this out, Tim.
  August 22, 2007 6:21 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  It can certainly be seen as an attempted dodge for those inclined to view the legislature more critically, Andrew, but I wouldn't rule out the legitimacy of the point being pressed.
  August 22, 2007 6:23 PM

• Andrew said:

  One other local media note; I noticed Robert Kennedy of WPRO conducting some extensive interviews. I caught the early-evening news on Channel 10, and the NP rally was 4th. It probably would have been one slot higher, if not for the standoff situation in SE Mass. It was a good day for the right of peaceable assembly, the right to protest, and for police professionalism.
  August 27, 2007 2:41 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  why does anyone take this drug addict seriously?
  August 29, 2007 3:54 AM

• John Foster said:

  You have the two best candidates, and the only ones who have consistently opposed an interventionist foreign policy, in last place. Mike Gravel is an outstanding candidate. Ron Paul is building an unprecedented grassroots campaign and will likely become the Republican nominee. Care to bet giving me your posted odds? Obama isn't even aware that Canada has a prime minister and not a president. He has an admitted history of cocaine addiction and he has very little experience. On top of all of that he wants to escalate the current war on terror into Pakistan. Yikes.
  September 4, 2007 10:06 PM

• Chris F. said:

  Does this mean that WHJJ is dropping Helen Glover? Thank goodness--at least Limbaughs rhetoric is informed. He craftily smudges and adjusts things based on some fact. I still don't like him. But I found Glover to be offensive and ignorant. That aside, a year and change ago, I never listened to 630. At all. Now they are my #1 AM preset. I miss Arlene. I miss Imus. Heck I even miss Howie Barte. Okay, not so much. But good riddance to Helen, she was finally voted off. (I hope)
  September 5, 2007 8:46 PM

• Bob said:

  As far as I know, Helen is going to the late morning slot before Rush. They're keeping Hannity at 3pm.
  September 5, 2007 10:42 PM

• Andrew said:

  Will they be explaining how "foundation-based" aid works? In any event, it's hard to believe that with Rhode Island's particular circumstances, i.e. big districts (Prov, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, to start) already getting a big amount of state aid, having the biggest problems that a "funding formula" is the solution to anything. It's just a fancy way to try and give legislators political cover to claim there's nothing they can to stop taxes from automatically increasing, because the law says that a certain quantity of state aid must be provided. Consider this: It's doubtful that a new funding formula would have any impact on the situation in East Greenwich. And it's potentially a disaster for Burillville, another troubled school district this year, which would almost certainly lose is status as the 5th or 6th biggest recipient of state-aid on a per-pupil basis under new formula. So already, we see that a funding formula doesn't address the real problems. It just shifts the pain around, to whoever the legislature finds it most politically convenient to dump on.
  September 7, 2007 3:56 PM

• Hudson Hawk said:

  Promoting Brayton to COS has nothing to do with helping Chafee become Mayor and everything to do with keeping him from becoming Governor. It's just an added bonus that Brayton's close friends with Myrth York, too.
  September 10, 2007 7:05 PM

• Michael said:

  This kind of thing has been going on for years, (shootings, violence, etc.) I'm trying to figure out why the Journal is starting to report on it. There must be a plan...
  September 11, 2007 7:18 PM

• Jaason said:

  Thank God there are very few people with your mentality, the world would be alot shi--crappier. Keep drinking your bottled water maybe you will accumulate enough antimony or formaldehyde to make you sick...;) then you can pollute the ground with your remains...
  September 20, 2007 10:14 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  I love tap water! Don't you think part of the reason for pushing bottled water is another attempt to discredit anything that the public sector does? I am sitting here in a caucus in negotiations with Nalgene (made in the USA) 32oz bottle and loving it. That being said..... c'mon guys... pick the battles, pick the battles.....
  September 21, 2007 1:11 AM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Quack Quack
  September 22, 2007 12:56 AM

• Andrew said:

  Isn't a key problem with developing North Main figuring out how to tastefully yet effectively develop an area where a substantial amount of frontage on one side of the street is taken up by a cemetary? Having a long, walkable stretch of businesses/shops/restuarants on both sides of the street, ala Atwells Ave. or Thayer Street, becomes difficult under this restriction. p.s. The lounge at the Gregg's on North Main is an underrated location for a late-night meal in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.
  September 28, 2007 2:23 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I hadn't really considered the tombstone issue, Andrew. That might be a factor, but it seems like the area needs more of a critical mass of living people. Thanks for the tip on Gregg's.
  September 28, 2007 3:15 PM

• tiffany said:

  same-sexers? you have got to be kidding me. i'm sure someone was looking for a snappy, short title that would fit on one line, but this is not it. i'd except anchor rising to use something that sounds like an insult, but not the phoenix. how about "couples to celebrate at state house"... short, to the point, accurate and no where near as offensive.
  September 29, 2007 12:01 PM

• ALDO said:

  FYI... For a ready reference on previously published info regarding Sen Alves and his sordid history check out AlvesSucks.com by a former RI Resident and "Citizen critic" All the info is right there.
  October 1, 2007 9:15 PM

• Shawn said:

  Any word on when (or if) they're going to break ground on OneTen?
  October 2, 2007 5:50 PM

• RIers for Sound Public Policy said:

  This article by the great Seymour Hersh, pretty much is our warning that war with Iran (weather on Iranian soil or as an evolution of the war in Iraq) is coming. With Dick Cheney pressing pretty hard (for many years now) for President Bush to sign the already written Presidential Order, it really is only a matter of time before the showdown. Make no mistake of it this will lead to a extremely long regional conflict that in no way will be constrained geographically to Iraq or the Middle East. The entire situation is pretty much summed up in the following excerpt: According to a former State Department adviser on Iran, the Iranians complained, in diplomatic meetings in Baghdad with Ambassador Crocker, about a refusal by the Bush Administration to take advantage of their knowledge of the Iraqi political scene. The former adviser said, “They’ve been trying to convey to the United States that ‘We can help you in Iraq. Nobody knows Iraq better than us.’ ” Instead, the Iranians are preparing for an American attack. Pretty much what this is saying is that the US refuses to involve the Iranians in the necessary solutions for Iraq. Instead the US is positioning Iran as a power hungry dictatorship hell bent on achieving nuclear relevance. So batten down the hatches, cause Bush is going to bring the battle for Iran to our shores and he’s going to do it before next January!
  October 4, 2007 8:04 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Indians in 5? After that shellacking last night?
  October 5, 2007 5:55 PM

• Steve said:

  Columbia University claims they are America’s best and brightest? Did you see the way they applauded Ahmadenijad? They are just a bunch of filthy Little Eichmanns. Too bad that Cho Seung-hui didn’t go to Columbia University!
  October 7, 2007 7:22 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  OK, so I was off by a game!
  October 9, 2007 1:54 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  As an update, the resolution was killed when the issue was objected to by the floor and the sponsor, Mr. Cullen, couldn't even get 1/3 + 1 of the members present to override the objection. Therefore, the motion fails.
  October 11, 2007 10:12 AM

• Andrew said:

  I object to the saturation coverage of Joe Torre while the season is still active. Managers getting fired/hired are stories for after the playoffs, not during. I think I've heard Peter Gammons mention occasionally that in the world of baseball, there's a strong overlap between the "national" media and the New York media. Torre ad nauseam is proving this to be the case. I predict that the Red Sox need to score 5 or more runs to win tonight.
  October 20, 2007 5:10 PM

• Chris F. said:

  Somewhere on here, you predicted Sox in Seven!!
  October 22, 2007 4:02 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I hear you on the excessive coverage, Andrew, but considering the high profile of the Yankees and Torre, it seems rather inevitable.
  October 22, 2007 1:46 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Thanks for noticing, Chris. And, even better, I was right!
  October 22, 2007 2:13 PM

• Andrew said:

  But the important thing is that the Red Sox got their 5 runs on Saturday, and that they didn't need them all!!
  October 22, 2007 5:21 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I'll drink to that!
  October 22, 2007 9:19 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  There is no protest. An email was sent out by the URI Republicans under a fake "protest name" to try to generate the kind of publicity that you just gave them. Don't believe me? Email the "protester" back and ask for name and phone number and the organization sponsoring it.
  October 24, 2007 3:29 PM

• Jeff said:

  You should take a look at the Wounded Warriors Project. It raises awareness for severely wounded combat U.S. combat veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of the war. Here's a link: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebshow Jeff
  October 26, 2007 9:36 AM

• Mike A'Duji said:

  I am so excited to have Dan back. I remember him from when he was here before and he was great. He always asked the tough questions and his features were so funny. Welcome back dan!
  October 26, 2007 11:26 PM

• Andrew said:

  Most of the bullet list has merit of varying degree EXCEPT, perhaps, the citation of Lincoln Almond as an example of someone who "knew how to get people in a room to bargain". I know a few of my Republican friends who would describe Governor's Almond's negotiating strategy as getting everyone in the room, giving them most everything they were asking for, and letting someone in the future worry about how to pay for it. And here we are...
  October 29, 2007 1:22 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I'm not going to try to speak for Governor Almond, Andrew, and, yes, there's no denying our current fiscal straits. But I suspect that some others with insight into state goverment might speak more kindly about Almond's governing style.
  October 29, 2007 1:59 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian you supplied us with one of Gregg's intentional errors in her reporting of this story. With Gregg her usual signature is the intentional omission of facts on a particular story as a way to slant her work in a particular direction (see DOT/Smart staffing) but here it's the intentional mislabeling designed to lend a certain flavor to the story. Can you find it? Most troubling is when the producer from Helen Glover's show states that ProJo wonks called him up and were looking for audio from the governor's interview. But mind you they were not interested in audio from the entire hour long interview with Ms Glover. No the ProJo wonks were only interested in obtaining copies of the governor's remarks about the interpreters which makes Gregg's misprint all the more intriguing since she knew the text of the conversation and who was participating in it. Agenda free media huh Ian? ha ha ha ha ha Much like your own! Good to see the alternative newspaper in town is working OT to cover the asses of his fellow liberals in the local media. Good job buddy!
  October 29, 2007 5:50 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian makes no difference if ProJo wonks like Scott McKay deny an agenda if the greater public and the greater media believes there to be one based on what they actually read. The proof is in their writing and it's there for all to see but it does require you to open your eyes. You mouthpiecing for fellow Democrats in the media (McKay is a well known Democrat and union sympathizer) is old and tired and quite irrelevant. The greater public sees through it all. Being the so-called alternative newspaper why don't you look at the content of ProJo reporting instead of blindly shilling for your liberal buddies? Afraid of what you'll see if you take a hard look at the actual content of the Providence Journal? You should be! The alternative media snuggles cozy with the ProJo. Now that's a damning statement as to the pathetic state of our local media! ha ha ha ha ha
  October 29, 2007 9:12 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Linda, what color is the sky in your world?
  October 29, 2007 10:27 PM

• willy said:

  If I understand you correctly, the ProJo's editorial staff should not be criticized, because their position was based upon an incomplete news article by one of their own, notwithstanding that subsequent statements by the Governor absolutely cleared up any ambiguity? I surely hope you don't run your paper that way.
  October 29, 2007 10:56 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I love a cozy snuggle with the ProJo! Howard Sutton and I were drinking martinis at the University Club just last night. Get real, Linda. Can you identify another media entity that has offered sharper and more sustained coverage of the ProJo over the last eight years? And why do you show up only when you don't like the message?
  October 30, 2007 1:51 PM

• Bill said:

  Someone should ask Esserman how the retired detective who (according to Buddy Cianci) came to obtain the $30K consulting contract to investigate cold police cases in Providence. The retired detective, Cianci noted, who no longer is a cop and no arrest authority, operates a bookstore in Newport. The contract was supposedly a favor, but at our expense and for what benefit (is the bookselling in Newport slow with the summer tourism season over)? Or did the bookseller/detective know something about the US v. Mason case?
  November 1, 2007 5:27 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Bill, I don't have firsthand info on this. The retired detective to whom Cianci referred is Andy Rosenzweig. Rosenzweig had a distinguished career in law enforcement. If he's retired, that does not necessarily mean he wouldn't offer a useful service for the city as a consultant.
  November 1, 2007 6:58 PM

• Easy said:

  Cianci is on the war path. His enemies and Providence should beware.
  November 2, 2007 4:16 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian, the caller to the show who made that observation was the highly respected Dr. D'Alessandro. What is it with you liberal media types and your difficulty in properly ID'ing radio callers? Come on "buddy"! ;-) It is interesting to note the rather glaring lack of Italian-American reporters/editors/columnists/management within the ProJo given the large Italian-American population here in R.I. Perhaps the good doctor is onto something.
  November 2, 2007 8:33 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Me thinks the good doctor doth protest too much, Linda. Calimari is the official unofficial state food here. Italo-Americans have long since passed from facing discrimination in America to being properly celebrated and admired. I think the doctor's gripe has as much credence as those who maintained that the Sopranos was an attack upon Italian-Americans.
  November 3, 2007 12:33 AM

• Mike said:

  If the mayor was really Italian and not a Gay East Side Jew every day the Projo would be running hit pieces on his corrupt administration. Ditto the Phoenix. 1. The doubling of the unfunded pension liability. 2. The crushing property tax increases and proliferation of boarded up houses-unseen for 15 years. 3. The quiet cover-up of the Marcus Huffman case. A child molestor left on the police force to rape another teen. Previously CONVICTED of assault-he was not legally able to possess a firearm. The mayor and his $200,000 police chief (another East Side Jew-how's that for diversity-LOL) nonetheless left him on the force to continue his sexual predation. 4. The pathetic blaming of the Head Start implosion on a mayor who left office over 5 years earler. 5. The upcoming federal corruption trial of the mayor's brother on charges of conspiring with yet more of the mayor's corrupt cops. 6. The "retirement" of the notorious John Simmons. A whole 4 years on the job and he is getting a FULL PENSION, with lifetime COLA's. 7. The complete failure of the public schools as every East Side hypocrite who "supports the public schools" demonstrates that support by sending their own kids to private schools. The Projo, NPR and yes, the Phoenix hates Italians, French Candians, Portugese and all catholics in general-other than the handfull of extreme leftists. They love millionaires, atheists, Jews, illegals, transvestites, homosexuals and other degenerates.
  November 6, 2007 2:14 PM

• Mike said:

  I am sure (LOL) that if someone in the governor's office handling tax breaks was getting $40,000 a year in cash from some anonymous business through a non-profit the state's leading newspaper would be silent and not demand that the source of the the cash be revealed. By the way, Simmons is "retiring" after a whole 4 years and getting a FULL PENSION with lifetime COLA's. Enjoy your "good government" Cicilline subjects. Just as good as his public schools.
  November 6, 2007 2:24 PM

• Bill said:

  Sadly, no attempt was made to solicit candidates from outside RI for the position, who might have a more objective perspective on RI's problems (and might have been more competent than Sasse). One wonders whether Gary Sasse ever worked at Old Stone Bank, like the Governor and so many of his high-salary no-competition hires. Overall, the incestuous insider nature of politics and government is sickening -- it's surprising how inept this Governor is when it comes to appearances, not to mention substance. The related cover-each-other's butt syndrome seems to be well at work here as well. Carcieri-Sasse-Simmons-Cicilline. All problems and graft stay buried and concealed. Nothing unusual here.
  November 7, 2007 2:34 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Well deserved! Though he made 1, 1! error in the play offs, it is great to see a guy like Youk recognized. PS. as a member of the GTM (goateed minority) I love the secondary award!
  November 8, 2007 1:58 AM

• Support The Vets said:

  I just saw a film about homeless veterans that it think eveyone should see. it;s called WHEN I CAME HOME - and its about iraq war veterans that end up homeless in new york city after coming home from the war. There's a trailer online at: www.whenicamehome.com Support the vets!
  November 10, 2007 12:36 PM

• Bill said:

  Why is it embarrassing? The issue complex from many perspectives. Mukasey is an extremely bright, well-qualified individual. Next, Whitehouse will be asking why we are giving our troops live bullets. I'm sure he cries alligator tears every night thinking that they might hurt someone. And laughs at the fools who fall for his nonsense. What really is embarrassing is that Whitehouse sought to gain attention by such a stupid set of questions to Mukasey.
  November 10, 2007 7:18 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Bill, I'd say it is an embarassment because instead of making the case that torture might be justified in some instances, for example, Mukasey danced around the question in a way that wholly lacked credibility for a person nominated to be the US AG.
  November 10, 2007 11:09 PM

• Mike said:

  I think the maggots on Smith Hill have gotten the message from the declining sales tax and cigarette tax revenue that in a state this small people will evade consumption or service taxes. Income taxes are already the second highest in America -9.9% compared to California's 10.4%. So that's played out. Look for the flat tax to be ended, capital gains back to 5%. Say goodbye to the Historic and Film credits. All of that won't raise more than $100 million of the $600 million deficits ($150 million for FY 08 plus the $450 million for FY 09). Unless the GA intends to override the governor's veto of a broad based tax hike in an election year (and call it the "Elect more GOP legislators in 2008 Act") there will be half a billion dollars in budget cuts by July 1. The corrupt, quasi-Marxist policies of the last decades have finally caught up with the maggots. The geometric increases in payroll, benefits and welfare have produced the inevitable collapse of the system. Harvest Day is here.
  November 13, 2007 12:04 AM

• Shimmy said:

  My favorite aphid is named Charles Schumer. An irresolute bell rings in Charles Schumer's tiny, miserable head. Charles Schumer gambles everything for a pair of scissors, a Zippo lighter, an old stone savage armed, a handsome pin, lace, pennies, and ladybugs.
  November 13, 2007 1:27 AM

• Mike said:

  I guess your article on John "Slush Fund" Simmons getting a full city pension after a whole 4 years working will be in NEXT week's Phoenix?

  LOL.

  With all the scandals infesting your hero, do you you still harbor illusions that S & M leather queen has a shot in a statewide general election?

  November 14, 2007 7:29 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Ian - I think he actually said that he supported his Senate colleagues - Biden, Dodd and Clinton - and would be happy to support any of them.  Conspicuously missing from this list was Obama.  

  November 14, 2007 8:28 PM

• Joe said:

  Ticket prices up? Faith Rewarded

  November 14, 2007 11:01 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  My point was that Reed mentioned 3 names and then he said he would be happy supporting any of these 3.  Thus, one could postulate that he only likes 3 of the 8 Democratic candidates.  

  November 14, 2007 11:09 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  The story to which you refer has received a lot of time on Buddy Cianci's talk-radio show, and we tend to avoid repeating stories from other media. And while I don't have a dog in the 2010 gubernatorial race, it's worth noting that the mayor has polled very well statewide in recent surveys out of Brown.

  November 15, 2007 4:48 PM

• Mike said:

  Right now Caprio is positioning himself quite well for the nomination.  

  The current mayor is ripe for attack adds-the city may well be in Chapter 9 by 2010.  Plus his brother goes on trial in the Spring on corruption charges involving Providence police, a sex offender was left on the police force to molest another teenage girl on duty, the $25 million dollar Blue Cross giveaway, etc.  Throw in his waaaaay radical support of public giveaways to illegal aliens and you have numbers that will sink like a stone when put under any degree of scrutiny.  His base support of Jews, leftist ideologues, racial minorities and homosexuals plays very poorly outside the borders of the "Capital City".

  My guess is he is praying for a Clinton win so he can take a low level ambassadorship or sub-cabinet job and get out of Dodge before the city is forced into Chapter 9 or the enveloping scandals catch up to him.

  November 16, 2007 12:26 AM

• Deal Hudson said:

  I made this comment to Peter Boyer many months ago, and the attempt of James Dobson to create a third party movement is the first wave of the anti-Giuliani sentiment. The Dobson attitude among religious conservatives is what led Pat Robertson to endorse Giuliani -- he was making a statement to Dobson and his supporters, saying "stay in the GOP and fight Hillary."

  November 16, 2007 12:15 PM

• Mike said:

  Once again Ian you're a few sandwiches short of the full picnic basket. The governor was on the show earlier in the week.  That interview, along with today's, is on the WPRO website.

  November 17, 2007 12:10 AM

• Charles Steinberg said:

  Thanks so much for such kind words.  Indeed, leaving Larry--mentor, coach, friend--is the hardest part.  But I believe the Red Sox are in great shape, and the Dodgers are a terrific franchise whose social conscience should still lead the league...but folks in Boston have been nothing short of phenomenal.  Thanks again.

  November 27, 2007 5:34 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Ferri campaign manager Lauren Nocera on the RI Future blog about what the victory means:

  Thank you everyone

  Matt, thanks for the nod in your post.  It was kind.  Also deserving of a nod are Ann and Ed Bonetti, Frank's committee Co-Chairs, who worked every single day for the last 3 months to achieve this win.  What an amazing effort by the entire progressive community.  What a great opportunity to show that when we come together and run hard on our progressive values, voters will respond.

  I think there are also lessons here for other LGBT people who are currently in the legislature and not out, and folks who are interested in running for office.  Rhode Islanders are generally fair minded. It is not political suicide, as some believe, to be out.  And for non-LGBT elected officials and folks considering running for office, it is not political suicide to be pro-equality.  The vast majority of voters, frankly, could care less about these issues.  They care about what we all care about-- health care, schools, safety, and the economy.  Any voter who doesn't support a pro-LGBT equality candidate is a voter likely lost for a myriad of other fundamental values differences.  I hope that this win, along with countless data on Rhode Islander's voting behavior based on LGBT-equality issues, will encourage those in the legislature to be courageous and stand up for the rights of all Rhode Islanders.

  Link:

  www.rifuture.org/showComment.do

  November 28, 2007 9:15 PM

• Mike said:

  How many budget cuts will this save?

  33 days and counting.

  November 29, 2007 12:43 AM

• Jef said:

  Someone was asking me about this a few weeks ago. I'm glad to learn that it is real, AS220 will bring some much needed vitality to that stretch of Washington Street.

  Thanks for the link to UrbanPlanet, I've linked back from here:

  www.urbanplanet.org/.../PROPOSED-AS220-Expansion-t43399.html

  November 29, 2007 6:58 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Even funkier, the next night at the same location is the RI Young Dems holiday fundraiser.

  November 29, 2007 9:43 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds....

  November 30, 2007 12:15 AM

• Mike said:

  When I see the pablum of our local communi---er-"progressives" I am reminded of the Vietnemese general who was told "America never lost a battle in Vietnam". His response was "that is true but it is also irrelevant".

  The "progressives" win the bulk of elections in this state, with a stranglehold on the council's and school committee's.  However, they have driven the state broke and their kleptocracy is headed for a comupence. The Budget Office announced the only "relevant" results 2 weeks ago. The "progressives" lost-by 600 million runs.

  It's gonna be a fun GA session watching the kleptocrats twist in the wind.

  32 days and counting.

  Harvest Day is here.

  November 30, 2007 12:43 AM

• Mike said:

  Huckaby did well.  Ron Paul, as always, made the most sense. What programs would you cut?

  Well Duh-how about the trillion dollar military-industrialist complex that is destroying the country socially and morally.

  Try getting that answer from the "top tier" Democrats!

  November 30, 2007 12:50 AM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  And the RI Future blog has been calling for this for 3 years now.

  November 30, 2007 8:03 PM

• Mike said:

  Of course none of this overcrowding would be taking place if we had 16 as the age of criminal responsibility like NY and CT-and they don't seem to have fallen off

  the planet.

  Another pyrhhic victory by the overeducated dim bulbs known as "progressives".

  December 1, 2007 12:06 AM

• C said:

  If we can spend the money to build the Iway, we can spend the money to build light rail. Or at the very least, streetcars. More buses won't do anything.
  December 1, 2007 2:08 AM

• Mike said:

  It may cost a few dollars but at least Americans can leave.  Unlike "progressive" countries who have to imprison their own people due to their flailing, unnatural economic system.

  December 4, 2007 12:21 AM

• Andrew said:

  How about a shout-out for Dick Williams' selection by the veterans committee.  After Carl Yastrzemski, Williams was arguably the person most responsible for the creation of Red Sox nation as we know it today.

  (p.s. Bowie Kuhn never crossed my mind as someone who deserved election to the Hall).  

  December 4, 2007 5:06 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  No relation. Thank god, No relation.

  December 5, 2007 12:22 PM

• Blake Bascule said:

  I'm glad to see movement on this. A credit system might work, with nightclubs and bars paying for the privilege to stay open in half hour increments. For every 30 minutes a bar remains open past 2 AM, the establishment would pay for the extra police detail any administrative overhead of running such a program. I think the closing time should be set at 4 AM during a trial period of 4 months - and then extended to 6 AM if the program is successful, with credit fees adjusted accordingly.

  December 5, 2007 2:35 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  There are so many horrible people doing despicable things in this city, why is SBE&R always painted as such a monster? And to attack Bert and the Geeks, arguably some of the best people in the city, is just wrong on so many levels.  

  December 5, 2007 8:40 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  There are so many horrible people doing despicable things in this city, why is SBE&R always painted as such a monster? And to attack Bert and the Geeks, arguably some of the best people in the city, is just wrong on so many levels.
  December 5, 2007 8:40 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  She's cuter than you.

  December 5, 2007 9:26 PM

• baseball bobblehead said:

  I will never understand the whole "biting the hand..." business that has become some pervasive in Providence in this community.

  December 5, 2007 9:52 PM

• baseball bobblehead said:

  I will never understand the whole "biting the hand..." business that has become some pervasive in Providence in this community.
  December 5, 2007 9:52 PM

• Mike said:

  As a libertarian, I think anyone past puberty should be allowed to do whatever they want sexually without interference from Big Brother..

  Legal tolerance however, is not the same as acceptance or approval.  Our Soviet style "public" schools are promoting sodomy as a good thing.

  Personally, I think all 7th graders should be educated as to what sodomites do.  Show them one of the more popular "twink" videos, featuring 18 year old boys who look 14 in all their glory.  Show them the semen swallowing, the anus licking, the urine drinking, the felching and the fisting, the Double Penetrations, the glory holes, the S & M and the gang bangs. Let them decide if this is the type of lifestyle they want to explore and/or accept as normal.

  December 7, 2007 12:46 AM

• Mike said:

  The Stalinists eat the Trotskyites. So shall it ever be.  Another reason why the Left always fails in the long run.

  December 7, 2007 12:50 AM

• Mike said:

  The Stalinists eat the Trotskyites. So shall it ever be. Another reason why the Left always fails in the long run.
  December 7, 2007 12:50 AM

• joe said:

  katha pollitt!?she's a great source of wisdom(sarcasm intended)-this is the individual who agonized in print over her daughter's desire to fly an American flag from their swanky NYC apartment window just after 9/11-she eventually allowed the child to fly one from her room as long as the rest of the apartment wasn't involved-this woman obviously needs to live in a third world hellhole for a few years to appreciate this country-i am never able to comprehend the hatred and disdain for this country by its most privileged and spoiled offspring-their opinion is of no consequence to me

  December 7, 2007 3:30 PM

• chukmaty said:

  Liberals have hardly been having a love fest with Huckabee as their coverage of the Dumond incident has been grossly inaccurate.  They have also tried torpedoing him with the same bigoted anti religious anti conservative rhetoric you attempt to employ.

  December 7, 2007 4:18 PM

• Mike said:

  I wonder if one of the "facts" she will be discussing is her $140,000 salary.

  Ah, the world of the "non-profit" Left. Doing well by pretending to do good.

  December 8, 2007 12:11 AM

• joe said:

  Huckabee's whole statement on AIDS was well thought out.It was the first time a contagious disease had been politicized and consequently been handled in a way that allowed infection rates to rise-for all you leftists:Cuba,the great "people's democracy",has quarantine camps for HIV positive people-try that on for size-my grandfather had tuberculosis in the 1920's and was confined to a sanitarium until he was no longer contagious(it obviously didn't hurt him much as he was 93 when he died)and I was quarantined in my house when I developed a form of polio in 1953-I didn't have paralysis,but apparently was contagious so the NYC Health Department had me confined to the house for a while(hard to recall how long)-the point of this is that microbes have no politics-they act like microbes regardless of who carries them and the feelings of a particular segment of the population might just need to be hurt for some period of time to protect the surrounding community-AIDS was generally spread by behavior-whether unprotected promiscuous sexual activity or needle sharing doesn't matter-irresponsibility was at the core of the spread of the disease and at the time Huckabee's point was sensible-with current drugs and better hygienic education the issue has been somewhat muted-would a SARS outbreak be treated with political correctenss?I think not.

  December 10, 2007 10:37 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, what about how AIDS was known not to be spread by routine daily contact by the time when Huckabee made this comment in the early 90s?

  December 11, 2007 2:24 PM

• joe said:

  point taken-but what about the Cuban "solution"-you'll never see that addressed by the left-and in any event my basic opinion is that disease shouldn't be politicized at all-it happens regardless of liberal,conservative,etc-look at how the denial of the prevalence of mainly heterosexual AIDS cases in Africa by corrupt governments led to the needless spread of the diseasse and the accompanying loss of life,particularly since sophisticated multi-drug "cocktails" are kind of hard to come by in the Rift Valley-on my job pathogen excposure was a serious issue-i never worried too much about AIDS,but i was much more concerned about hepatitis and tuberculosis-when i was assigned to Chicago many restaurant workers we picked up who were here illegally were taking kanamycin(a tb drug)-and this was in the 70's

  December 11, 2007 5:01 PM

• Sad said:

  He will be missed!

  December 11, 2007 8:21 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I agree with you that disease shouldn't be politicized. My original post was mostly about how Huckabee, since he has emerged as a frontrunner, is likely to face more attacks, including those from his Republican opponents.

  December 11, 2007 8:56 PM

• Sarah said:

  I really like him. He didn't seem like a jackass in person, unlike a few I could mention...

  December 12, 2007 2:31 AM

• Mike said:

  I will be there.  Should be good for a laugh.

  Back on September 13 you printed an article on this blog entitled

  "Murphy: I have a deficit-reduction plan"

  which stated that Murphy would have a deficit reduction plan "within a month".

  That was 3 months ago.

  I am sure that you, being an impartial journalist and not (LOL) a partisan far-left ideologue, will be all over Murphy's hypocrisy and total failure to devise a single solution to the $600 million mess created by the Left.

  We should be seeing that front page article in the Phoenix any week now.

  Right Ian?

  Ian?

  Are you there? (Hope I'm not being churlish).

  December 12, 2007 2:35 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Who issued this statement? I don't recognize the name.....

  December 12, 2007 11:10 PM

• Mike said:

  WHOOO-HOOOOO!!!

  That press conference was sure worth the wait.

  To think, the nerve of that Grinch Governor.  Telling us that the problem was gross overspending on social welfare, overstaffing at state and municipal levels, and obscene benefits paid to state/municipal workers who are allowed to retire too early, with too generous pensions.

  All the while the solution to the $600 million and growing deficit was to change the titles of 5 people from Department Head to Director!

  Thank you Greg and company for solving the fiscal crises.

  Now we can all go back to mincing down the Yellow Brick Road, humming The Internationale:

  'Tis the final battle

  Let all stand in their place

  The international soviet

  becomes the human race!

  December 13, 2007 12:10 AM

• Janis said:

  most of us would be a lot better off if linc stayed in his ivy walls and pretended that people cared what he thought. he's actually even more irrelevent than he knows and laffey had nothing to do with his loss. his inability to be a 'stand for something' senator caused his downfall.
  December 13, 2007 2:30 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  UrbanPlanet Party has been cancelled due to the impending storm. We'll be rescheduling for sometime in January.

  www.urbanplanet.org/.../index.php

  December 13, 2007 3:32 PM

• Aldo said:

  This state is so screwed up.

  Even if Carcieri is out of the country, where the hell is the Lt Gov during this storm?

  She is an absolute moron!  

  Why isn't she in the RIEMA Cmd Center overseeing the DOT efforts?

  What a joke!

  At least Charlie Fogarty was ALWAYS involved.

  This idiot doesn’t have a clue.

  December 14, 2007 2:15 AM

• joe said:

  this deal sounds strange-why not reimburse ratepayers with this money-rates have soared at least in part due to corrupt and monopolistic practices-why did Harvard Health,at one time among the best HMO's in the nation go under?That question has never been answered and Blue Cross came in with Bluechip and screwed up the course of treatment for lots of people by putting a six month hold on picking up former Harvard specialists-i asked Ron Battista about this on a talk show and got a smart ass reply-there is one guy who should probably have done some serious time

  December 14, 2007 2:44 AM

• Mike said:

  Next week's Phoenix will have the front page story of how 38 cities and towns were able to get their kids home for supper but the corrupt mayor of Providence had them out till midnight while his corrupt cronies keep reaping multi-million dollar tax breaks. While his brother and his Uncle Joe await trial for fixing cases with his police force.  While the payroll is stuffed with six figure corrupt cronies like the "Director of Protocol" and "Facillitator of Communications.

  That will be on the cover of next week's Phoenix.

  Right Ian?

  December 14, 2007 1:02 PM

• Mike said:

  We already have "Progressiveland" in Providence , Pawtucket and Central Falls where every white person is prone to being beaten, robbed, raped and murdered by the Third Worlders drawn by laughable social welfare and illegal alien magnet policies.

  Something like 500 murders over the last 25 years in the "capital city", 95% commited by the Third Worlders glorified by progressives like you and your pals Jerzyk and Mayor "Leather Queen".

  I wonder if it is any white ethnic group who are commiting these home invasions and beatings on the East Side.  What white's carjack, rape and murder wealthy college students like Amy Shute?

  Pity the progressives: bitten by the black and brown hands they feed.

  A good theme park would be pictures of the last 5000 Providence residents convicted of murder, rape, child molestation (Marcus Huffman, Sissy's black rapist cop-ANOTHER cover-up the Phoenix won't cover), home invasion and robbery.  Let the people see who is commiting the violent crime-the blacks and browns.

  Another story which will go unreported.

  Right Ian?

  December 15, 2007 12:26 AM

• China Watchdog said:

  Senor Donnis -

  I think it's "export" not "import."

  December 15, 2007 11:00 PM

• joe said:

  i am constantly amazed at how certain elements begin screaming "racism", "right wing","xenophobe" etc ad nauseum as soon as the issue of illegal aliens comes up-this is not about (a)race(b)immigrants-i know matt jerzyk is a law student and as such should have an appreciation for precision of language(that's essential in the law)and yet use terms like anti-immigrant which is higly inaccurate in the current debate-an immigrant is a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence;a non-immigrant is a person lawfully admitted for a temporary period for a specific purpose-student,tourist,exchange visitor,performer,etc who may or may not be authorized to work;a refugee is admiited for political asylum purposes and can work during the currency of their admission-an alien is defined as someone not a citizen or national of the US-therefore an illegal alien is an alien illegally in the US-this is not a racist term-it applies to anyone who fits the definition-i was enforcing US immigration laws before mr.jerzyk or his friend mr. segal were born so i might just have some credibility on this issue-i am hardly a xenophobe since my career made me very comfortable dealing with people from virtually anyplace in the world-i took the time to learn enough of their cultures so they felt if not at ease considering my job,at least not like they were talking to a hydrant-my family is interracial and we don't use the word "diverse'-"blended' would be more accurate.The immigration issue at its core deals with sovereignty,national security,and yes,some control over who comes in and who stays(i can't tell you how many legal aliens i arrested for criminal convictions which made them deportable)-i am disgucted when i read the accusations that terry gorman is a racist-i know this man and i would never associate with anyone who hated hispanics-terry just wants what any normal person would-an adherence to the laws we have now-i have a news flash for messrs.jerzyk and segal-if you're going to make careers as attorneys or legislators you don't get to pick and choose the laws you will respect-and don't even compare this to the civil rights era-you fellas weren't around then-i was -and that was about US CITIZENS who couldn't vote,get served in a restaurant,get a good union job,or go to a good school,even though they may have served bravely in all our wars-this is like comparing apples and oranges.

  December 17, 2007 8:16 PM

• joe said:

  i am constantly amazed at how certain elements begin screaming "racism", "right wing","xenophobe" etc ad nauseum as soon as the issue of illegal aliens comes up-this is not about (a)race(b)immigrants-i know matt jerzyk is a law student and as such should have an appreciation for precision of language(that's essential in the law)and yet use terms like anti-immigrant which is higly inaccurate in the current debate-an immigrant is a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence;a non-immigrant is a person lawfully admitted for a temporary period for a specific purpose-student,tourist,exchange visitor,performer,etc who may or may not be authorized to work;a refugee is admiited for political asylum purposes and can work during the currency of their admission-an alien is defined as someone not a citizen or national of the US-therefore an illegal alien is an alien illegally in the US-this is not a racist term-it applies to anyone who fits the definition-i was enforcing US immigration laws before mr.jerzyk or his friend mr. segal were born so i might just have some credibility on this issue-i am hardly a xenophobe since my career made me very comfortable dealing with people from virtually anyplace in the world-i took the time to learn enough of their cultures so they felt if not at ease considering my job,at least not like they were talking to a hydrant-my family is interracial and we don't use the word "diverse'-"blended' would be more accurate.The immigration issue at its core deals with sovereignty,national security,and yes,some control over who comes in and who stays(i can't tell you how many legal aliens i arrested for criminal convictions which made them deportable)-i am disgucted when i read the accusations that terry gorman is a racist-i know this man and i would never associate with anyone who hated hispanics-terry just wants what any normal person would-an adherence to the laws we have now-i have a news flash for messrs.jerzyk and segal-if you're going to make careers as attorneys or legislators you don't get to pick and choose the laws you will respect-and don't even compare this to the civil rights era-you fellas weren't around then-i was -and that was about US CITIZENS who couldn't vote,get served in a restaurant,get a good union job,or go to a good school,even though they may have served bravely in all our wars-this is like comparing apples and oranges.
  December 17, 2007 8:16 PM

• gimi said:

  Well the immigration laws are a little harsh but that doesn't mean they are impossible...anyone could visit or cross the border legally...why risk prison for <a rel="follow" href="http://exploremexicotours.com/helicopter.php">cancun helicopter tours</a>
  December 18, 2007 12:10 AM

• Mike said:

  A better bet would be a recall of mayor Leather-Queen for being the only one of 39 municipal leaders not able to get the kids home before midnight after a 6 inch snow shower.

  You'll be doing your usual hard-hitting exposes of the corrupt mayor in this week's Phoenix.

  Right Ian?

  December 18, 2007 12:55 AM

• Mike said:

  You Looney Lefters just won't get it.  The public wants illegals to get a boot in the ass-Democrats included.  They want no benefits for them or their "Anchor Babies" (who are NOT citizens despite our treasonous government treating them as such).

  This issue will become, like the busing and anti-white job/education poicies of the 70's, become the bane of the Left. The Republicans went from 40% of the vote in 64 to 60% in 84-in large part due to the takeover of the party anti-populist leftist elitists without an ounce of sense.

  December 18, 2007 1:08 AM

• Mike said:

  You Looney Lefters just won't get it. The public wants illegals to get a boot in the ass-Democrats included. They want no benefits for them or their "Anchor Babies" (who are NOT citizens despite our treasonous government treating them as such). This issue will become, like the busing and anti-white job/education poicies of the 70's, become the bane of the Left. The Republicans went from 40% of the vote in 64 to 60% in 84-in large part due to the takeover of the party anti-populist leftist elitists without an ounce of sense.
  December 18, 2007 1:08 AM

• Jeff Grybowski said:

  Ian, I trust that "last week's epic snow calamity" was a touch of tongue in cheek fun.

  December 18, 2007 1:33 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Yes, Jeff, it was very much tongue in cheek.

  December 18, 2007 2:25 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Mike, we get it that you don't like Cicilline. If you feel so strongly about this subject, why not put your money where you mouth is and stage a protest in front of City Hall?

  December 18, 2007 2:28 AM

• joe said:

  i see mr.jerzyk claims to oppose nafta and the wtoas i do,but he seems to be a one-worlder who doesn't believe in national sovreignty or borders(at least not for the US)-i'm sure he believes in the inviolability of the borders of cuba,venezuela,and nicaragua-as far as obama goes i will say he has not hidden his position on various issues a la hillary-i disagree with obama on 4 out of 5 of his positions(pro life;immigration;taxes;gun control)and agree with one-how we got pushed into an unecessary war by the neo cons,most of whom avoided service during the Vietnam(i did not avoid anything-i was there during 1968-69,a busy time,although i got there well after Tet)-i support the war in afghanistan as unfortunately necessary and pretty much unavoidable based on the taliban's actions-i don't think obama can win against the right republican-i won't be voting in the primaries as i am an independent,but if it were a choice of either obama or hillary as president i would be less distrustful of obama-hillary has high negatives for a reason-people like myself would never vote for her,and we account for nearly half the electorate,which isn't to say we the same statistical group would agree on much else to that degree-hillary has a lust for power and is a liar(remember how she couldn't recall the subject of 17 phone calls between her and susan thomases in the space of an hour or two after foster's suicide?)-she's had to have been suffering from alzheimer's disease not to remember something like that

  December 18, 2007 3:57 AM

• Mike said:

  POPULIST? LOL.

  George Wallace was a poulist.  Jerzyk is an elitist COMMUNIST who opposes public opinion on most major issues such as open borders, public employee union kleptocracy, citizen firearm ownership, tax limitation, benefits to illegals, etc., etc., etc.

  He's as much a populist as you and you're  far Left Phoenix polemicists are representatative of the 55% of us who didn't vote for Myrth York.

  December 18, 2007 2:03 PM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian, why not have some contributors in your paper who represent:

  1.  The MAJORITY of the state that voted for Carcieri twice.

  2. The MAJORITY  of the state that hates the illegals and wants them to have no benefits.

  3. The MAJORITY of the state that wants tax limitations and the curbing of the union/welfare kleptocracy.

  Joe Trillo, Bob Watson, Nick Gorham, John Hazen White.

  You are a big believer in diversity, right?

  How about giving a voice to the views of the majority in your paper?

  What a novel idea!

  December 18, 2007 2:11 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Have you fellows considered the novel concept of debating the arguments in this endorsement, rather than obsessing about the person who wrote it?

  December 18, 2007 2:39 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  A wide variety of viewpoints are regularly featured in the Phoenix and on this blog, Mike. I quoted Bob Watson at length last week in a post on Steven Costantino's budget proposal.

  December 18, 2007 2:44 PM

• joe said:

  did you read my comment?-i specifically delineated obama's stand on issues and yes,i did comment on mr.jerzyk who seems to have no trouble calling terry gorman a racist and rep.joe trillo a proto-fascist-if you engage in personal attacks they become part of the discussion,but don't tell me i didn't address issues because i did,and if you read closely my attacks on mr.jerzyk,they were about his stand on issues-and the other person who left a comment did the same-"obsessing" indicates something abnormal-i guess when your friend "obsesses"about other people in his screeds it's just reasonable discussion,right?try to be honest here,as you seem to be most of the time-if mr.jerzyk would like to reply he only needs a keyboard-i tried to comment on his site,but although i got a password i cannot leave a post(probably an issue with my computer-i'm not saying he blocked my messages)-in any event i laid out why i wouldn't vote for obama even though he's not as bad as hillary-i think you got so defensive over your friend you just read what you wanted to into the comments,although i am sure the other person who wrote in can put it in his own words,so maybe i should just speak for myself

  December 18, 2007 4:28 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  My bad, Joe. My comment was directed more at Mike.

  December 18, 2007 4:41 PM

• Karl said:

  Great article, thank you!

  December 18, 2007 10:24 PM

• Karl said:

  Great article, thank you!
  December 18, 2007 10:24 PM

• Mike said:

  "Have you fellows considered the novel concept of debating the arguments in this endorsement, rather than obsessing about the person who wrote it?"

  Ian Donnis | idonnisAT NOSPAMphx dot com

  XXX

  Just like you and your fellow Leftists do when Cianci points out one the many failures and corruptions in Mayor Leather-Queen's reign?

  December 19, 2007 12:32 AM

• Mike said:

  A wide variety of viewpoints are regularly featured in the Phoenix and on this blog, Mike. I quoted Bob Watson at length last week in a post on Steven Costantino's budget proposal.

  Ian Donnis | idonnisAT NOSPAMphx dot com

  XXX

  What I am talking about is contributers.  You have marginal, far-far Left figures like Segal, Jerzyk, Sorrentino, that Mai-Pan (sp) from Jobs With Justice, etc. but NO contributor from the MAJORITY of us who never voted for Myrth York, voted 3-1 for Steve Laffey over the union kleptocracy and want illegals and their anchor babies to be given "zip".

  December 19, 2007 12:38 AM

• Bob said:

  I had the same thought - maybe a snow removal telethon is in order.
  December 19, 2007 7:09 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  I know there were 3 or 4 accidents on city streets yesterday involving RIPTA buses. Two within minutes of each other at North Main and the bus tunnel and North Main at Steeple. Mostly it seemed like much what happened Thursday night, people decided traffic regulations did not apply to them. Everyone thinks their destination is most important and sit in the box during light cycles, make illegal turns from the wrong lanes and generally just drive like assh*les. Parts of the city were utter gridlock South Main, Benefit, Canal, the Kennedy Plaza area, while others such as Memorial near Textron were like a ghost town, completely free of traffic.

  One thing has to happen soon, the city needs to move forward with their plans to redesign Emmett Square (the intersection in front of the Westin and the Journal). That light is simply a nightmare and no one in the state can seem to figure out how one is supposed to drive through it.

  Maybe a friendly reminder in the mail to everyone about exactly what red means would help too.

  December 19, 2007 9:18 PM

• joe said:

  i wouldn't read too much into Kill Bill-Tarantino just reprised a genre of Japanese films from the 70's such as the Lady Snowblood pair or the Rica series,or the Norifumi Suzuki films Sex and Fury and Lady yakuza,ad infinitum-they were generally referred to as "Sukeban" films or "Pinky Violence"(don't ask me why)-i have quite a few of these because Asian film is a major interest of mine-with the advent of region free dvd players and the production of these films for region 1 they have become very accesible-often incredibly well-made even if the titles smetimes translate awkwardly
  December 19, 2007 11:47 PM

• Mike said:

  Ian: As a self styled "impartial journalist" (LOL) will you be reporting on the latest corruption arrest in Mayor Leather Queen's administration. Maria Medeiros, as reported on the WPRI website. I would provide the link but you don't allow it. Also, you can report on $200,000 Chief Shiny Badge's hijacking the Gold's Gym on North Main for a "Freebie" workout right while kids were freezing, starving and pissing in garbage pails on school buses last week. Somewhere, the ghost of Rosemary Glancy is laughing. Two more tales of corruption we WON'T be seeing in the Phoenix? Right Ian?
  December 20, 2007 12:28 AM

• Mike said:

  Some of this victory is clearly attributable to the name Cicilline being identified in the last five years with corruption and cronyism, mismanagement and ineffectiveness, crime and perversion.

  How fitting that this defeat occurs on the same day yet another Sissyline employee is indicted on corruption, to a near complete media blackout.

  This victory will hopefully scare the suburban Democrats into not raising taxes and instead gutting the union/welfare kleptocracy. It will be a several years process but this session should be "Fun, Fun, Fun" for us-not for Jerzyk, Brewster, Donnis and the rest of the "Moscow Faction".

  12 Days and counting!

  "If you "broaden" taxes you "narrow" you're re-election chances"!

  December 20, 2007 12:32 AM

• Mike said:

  Americans can travel to any country they want to-except Cuba (though this is easily evaded by stopping in Bahamas or Canada). Cubans, by contrast, can travel to ZERO countries. They are imprisoned on a progressive, atheist, decaying, shitty little island by the ideological twins of the Donnis/Jerzyk RI Future crowd. So.... Ian Donnis, being an "impartial journalist" (LOL) posts an article decrying the lack of travel rights in which country? Personally, I would like to see every American visit Cuba and see what this country would look like if some creature like Markos Moulitos or David (my daddy's a millionare doctor and I'm a communist piece of shit who has never seen a days work) Segal were to became "El Commandante". Hope I'm not being "churlish" again.
  December 20, 2007 8:09 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I never claimed to be impartial; no one is, not even you. And did you read the story? I'm not endorsing the Cuban government. I'm pointing out that an overemphasis on Cuba is distracting from the terror fight.
  December 20, 2007 8:45 PM

• joe said:

  i think cicilline found out that he appointed people with a less than dedicated attitude towards their duties under emergency conditions-i believe that the actions of esserman,evans,and messier were inadequate under the circumstances and why try to gloss over esserman's alleged conduct vis a vis gold's gym?evans' conduct was reprehensible-he had the responsibility for those children,period-and he didn't go the extra mile to make sure of their well-being and that is unacceptable conduct for a public official-esserman made a remark at the height of the storm about snow being a secondary issue in providence-well,right at that moment it was a primary issue-i don't know what messier did or didn't do,but he was invisible during the storm so i guess that speaks for itself-this should not be a political discussion-it should be about public safety and a sense of responsibility on the part of people who have to make critical decisions-what it comes down to is that little children should NOT be put at risk of freezing and having no toilet facilities for up to 10 hours-i raised 2 children and i can tell you i would have been ready to hurt someone really badly over this type of situation-any halfway decent parent feels this way
  December 20, 2007 9:38 PM

• Mike said:

  Politics 101. That's what 17 year old freshmen take. Which is about the only class of people dumb enough to buy the Fat Sissy's "snow job".
  December 21, 2007 1:47 PM

• joe said:

  another thing-how could the police chief investigate his own response(or lack thereof)and make recommendations?you seem very eager to overlook shortcomings in this administration-i heard the Governor on radio yesterday and he did not try to shift blame to Lieutenant Governor Roberts even though they are certainly not political allies-as a matter of fact he defended her for following constitutional protocol-i think some of the things going on in cicilline's administration such as the simmons issue involving anonymous financing of a public official's income have been deliberately overlooked in the media including your own journal-cicilline tried to deny this occured,and then blew it off as old business-it was an invitation to conflict of interest especially considering the ridiculous real estate tax break given to Blue Cross-WHO gave simmons the extra money?was it someone doing business with or within the city?this lack of the so-called transparency promised by this mayor contributes to an atmosphere that results in poor response to emergency situations because there has been no expectation of accountability on the part of cicilline's appointees
  December 21, 2007 2:19 PM

• Mike said:

  The state, for the first time, got a view of Leather Queen without the usual varish from the biased leftist media. (how does THAT shoe fit Ian?). They nearly vomited at the site of the Emperor unadorned of the clothing the leftist media claims he wears. The mask came down on this corrupt, arrogant, mincing, freak of nature as he sashayed across city hall lisping "Unacceptable!". Who would have thought that a mere 6 inches would have caused such tumult. The chances of this pathetic felon being the state's next chief executive rank right about those of Kate Brewster, Grace Diaz, Alexandra Svoboda or your fellow leftist pal Matt Jerzyk.
  December 22, 2007 9:01 PM

• joe said:

  mr bakst- the self styled "man of the people"is huddled over on lincoln avenue in barrington far away from us common folk-and he preaches to us on a regular basis about how we are narrow minded for not embracing same sex marriage,full entitlements for illegal aliens,etc and knowing he couldn't get elected dog catcher in a town with 3 people and a rabies epidemic-to meet this "man" in person is to understand the need for a disinfectant
  December 24, 2007 2:04 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Way to be classy, Joe. And you've got to be kidding me if enjoying some success and living in an affluent town means that someone can't be concerned with those less fortunate.
  December 24, 2007 7:57 PM

• Mike said:

  No Virginia, there is NOT a Tobacco Fairy. The deficit is $600 million plus and will get worse every year hereafter. The fun begins-7 days and counting. Skeptics of Chicken Little never met a RI "progressive" or they would have believed.
  December 25, 2007 4:39 AM

• MIke said:

  He's not going anywhere. A lifelong hunter who saw his father march with MLK.
  December 25, 2007 4:42 AM

• joe said:

  i wasn't trying to be classy-bakst represents to me the real hypocrites-preachy and condescending to anyone who doesn't eat their bs and smile-it's the same with all the preaching about the schools when these limousine socialists NEVER send their children to public schools-that's where i sent mine-and i don't take tax shelters like these rich bastards the kennedys do-i recently got a free ticket from patches to attend a P Bruins game(it was sent to veterans)-it went right in the garbage because i wouldn't want one thing from that snake-okay-so i really can't stand patches,bakst,steven brown,and rhoda perry to mention a few-i think they are trying to destroy the country i love-why be nice?btw i have met bakst in person and he is a revolting individual-let me know when i am speaking out of both sides of my mouth like these creeps do and i will stand corrected-i recall bruce sundlun making fun of bakst's hygiene on a tv panel show-it was funny to see bakst sputtering and whining-sundlun just laughed at him-why is it that when your friend jerzyk(who i know only by his writing and seeing once on Laborvision)lashes out at people with sobriquets like ,hater,racist,fascist,etc you never notice it-being selective,don't you think?
  December 25, 2007 3:37 PM

• Chocolate Thunder said:

  I have two words for the entire RI Guild: "Your Welcome."
  December 26, 2007 4:11 PM

• Chocolate Thunder said:

  Sorry: "You're Welcome"
  December 26, 2007 4:14 PM

• joe said:

  i don't know mr.fernandez whatsoever,so this will be a positive comment only-i've known mr.jabour on a casual basis and even though i may often sound like a republican,i vote for anyone i think is competent,honest,and who i agree with-so i will vote for mr.jabour if he is the candidate-lots of time for that election ,though-my past knowledge of mr.jabour's legislative positions leads me to this point of view
  December 26, 2007 9:41 PM

• rioptimist said:

  Too bad to hear about this decision from General Growth Partners. In fact, if they looked at it from another perspective this is a great PR opportunity for them---they could even "support" a traveling exhibition.

  I understand their sensitivity on the one hand, but you can tell lawyers are now involved with the letters going back and forth to Townsend, et al. If there ever was a victimless crime, this was it. It happened. If I were the company, rather than looking like a silly corporation trying to protect its interests and concerned more with liability issues, I may take a different stance on this.

  The fact is, if they were to conduct a survyey of the mall's constituents in Providence (i.e., those who shop there and provide the "growth" in General Growth), they would soon learn that most people in these parts thought it was cool. These are not people that terrorized a mall, shot individualss, etc. These are artists.

  There is a difference after all!!!!

  December 27, 2007 12:09 PM

• joe said:

  this is no surprise-it probably wasn't orchestrated by musharaff-he doesn't inspire suicide bombers-it is most likely islamists-this goes back to the early seventies when her father was deposed by general zia al haq and after al haq's mysterious plane crash death she came to power and didn't last for various reasons-india was able to weather the assassination of two heads of state without too much fallout because they have a durable representative republic-pakistan doesn't; and this will be like "the good,the bad,and the ugly"-a three way struggle between islamists,the military dictatorship,and bhutto supporters-throw in nuclear armament to this mix and it doesn't presage a very positive situation-it almost seems that bhutto had a death wish,as many near misses as she had survived until today
  December 27, 2007 4:29 PM

• Mike said:

  In more media miscellany: "Turn out the lights, the party's over, they say all good things must end. Call it tonight, the party's over. And tomorrow starts the same old thing again." Dandy Don Meredith Progressive superstars (LOL) Paiva-Weed and Fox were just on Lively Experiment. In a pathetic half hour tap dance they did NOT discuss the following: 1. Reducing pay 2. or benefits 3. or pensions 4. or co-pays 5. or JCLS 6. Or Judiciary 7. Illegals 8. Babysitting 9. "Child-only" welfare 10. 60 month time limits 11. "Waivers" 12. Repealing unfunded mandates 13. Staffing levels 14 Anything else that might make sense. Anyone else looking forward to this session? 4 days and counting. Stock up on the popcorn. The over/under for the first brown baby held aloft at the state house with a GOVERNOR-PLEASE DON'T STARVE ME! placard is January 28.
  December 28, 2007 1:38 AM

• eileen said:

  He resides in Newport (in his District which is most of Newport, but not the north end bordering Middletown & the Naval Base- that's Reps. Jackson & Rice ). His law office is in Middletown with Rep. Jackson.
  December 28, 2007 11:42 PM

• Mike said:

  The deficit is $600 million. $450 million for FY 09 and $150 million for the current fiscal year based on the phony budget that was passed over the governor's veto by your friends like Josh Miller, Segal, Art Handy, Tom Slater, Grace Diaz, Betsy Dennigan and the rest of the stooges. 2 days for the show to begin. You and your commie friends ain't gonna enjoy it too much.
  December 29, 2007 1:21 PM

• Mike said:

  It's $600 million genius, not $450 million. A lot of brown babies will be losing their benefits. Awwwww. Did you ask Tailgunner Joe what the chances are for enacting the Left's "fair and equitable funding formula for education" this year! LOL. About as good as Jerzyk sending his kid to the "public" schools he claims to support. 2 days and counting.
  December 29, 2007 1:27 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  And what about Frank Ferri's election? What message does that send? A liberal pro-gay marriage Democrat wins in a district that went for Carcieri and Chafee in the last election? Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, the argument of Right Wingers everywhere!
  December 29, 2007 2:22 PM

• Ian said:

  Thanks, Eileen.
  December 29, 2007 9:34 PM

• joe said:

  wow-you did an obligatory jab at cicilline possibly being remiss!-i don't have clue one about the rights of union officers to "double dip" in providence-i don't think it is an issue in the police department where i saw union officers perform regular police duties routinely and since i was not a PPD officer,but assigned from another agency i have no motive to fabricate(of course this all occured 14-18 years ago,so maybe my info is not worth all that much)-cicilline has more to explain than this-WHEN will you ever deal with the private funding of John Simmons' salary enhancement via the RI Foundation?this issue isn't going away-no matter if the US Attorney takes notice or not-he doesn't always have the last word on everything in RI-and sometimes cicilline just flat out lies if it suits his purposes at the moment
  December 30, 2007 12:08 AM

• Mike said:

  Pat-you crawled out from under your rock. What's the chances of the "alternate funding stream for education" passing this year. Or increased "school aid". You commie trash don't get it. You killed the golden goose. You planted the seeds. Now Harvest Day is here. 1 more day.
  December 30, 2007 3:41 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Great first year bloggin' N4N! I look forward to even better things in 2008!
  January 2, 2008 10:35 AM

• joe said:

  why do we in the west have to feel guilty-we instituted anti pollution measures over 30 years ago.and there are concrete results-meanwhile third world tinpot dictatorships continue to rape the environment-air,rain forest,water,etc-and he "greens" in the west continue to think that buying their lattes in re cycled paper cups to drink in their diesel powered volvos will make them "green heroes"-hey guess what-i drive economic cars,re cycle like i'm supposed to and generally conserve energy-but because i'm conservative in many respects i am automatically a "polluter"-i heard a good comment about "greens" the other day-they're like watermelons-green on the outside,red on the inside-the whole tenor of you 'greens" is a talking down arrogant attitude-please explain what a "carbon credit" is-that four flushing phony oil company rich kid al gore is always blubbering about them while taking private jets everywhere-i once waited for a plane with patrick leahy-and he was in the public lounge and sat in coach-three across-now maybe i disagree with the man on various issues,but i don't think he's the least bit of a hypocrite- a rara avis among today's liberals
  January 2, 2008 11:14 PM

• joe said:

  did cicilline finally wake up to the fact that he needed to appoint someone who from all appearances seems to be highly competent,experienced,and most likely honest?i guess simmons wasn't all that much of a boon to cicilline's administration
  January 2, 2008 11:28 PM

• Kenward Claire said:

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  January 3, 2008 7:05 AM

• joe said:

  i can't believe it-i am in total agreement with you on something-The Wire has been the best series on tv in a long time and is the hands down winner for current entries(i really don't watch much tv)-season 2 wasn't that strong in that it left an interesting storyline to go in another direction,but it wasn't that bad as a standalone-having worked drug wiretaps and the all the related baggage years ago i can say that david simon is as always well grounded in reality,exposing the thin barrier between "normal" life and chaos at certain times and places-the casting,acting,and direction rock-most of the actors are just unfamiliar enough to allow for suspension of disbelief(that's why korean films are so interesting)-anyhow i can't believe the upcoming season will deviate from the high quality standard already set
  January 4, 2008 3:13 PM

• Ian said:

  Hallelujah!
  January 4, 2008 3:16 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Rice should be in!!! It is a crime against the Red Sox that he is not I blame Don Carcieri ;-)
  January 6, 2008 12:25 AM

• Mike said:

  "That's up to better minds than me" Josh Miller, owner of the non-union, no pension Local 121 on the Dan Yorke show when asked his solution to the Democrat's $600 million ++ budget deficit.
  January 8, 2008 1:25 AM

• Mike said:

  While corporate welfare is a disgrace, the reality of progressive economics means that this state would look even more like Gary or Hartford without it.
  January 8, 2008 1:29 AM

• Ian said:

  Mike, why not come down to 121 and share with Josh some of your insights?
  January 8, 2008 2:16 AM

• Mike said:

  My "insights" are very simple: You cannot continue to function with a union/welfare kleptocracy where annual spending increases at two and a half times revenues. PROGRESSIVE PLAN FOR RI FUTURE FY 09--- Sell the lottery. FY 10--- Sell the bridges. Sell I-95 to private turnpike company. Sell thousands of state park acres to developers. FY 11--- Sell state's VLT payments. Raise marginal income taxes on "the rich" to 15%. Make babysitters and crossing guards state employees. FY 12--- Raise capital gains to 9.9%. Hispanic population hits 30%. FY 13--- Revenues plummet further. Sales tax raised to 10% in "temporary" measure. FY 14--- Revenues fall again. Kate Brewster "baffled". Only 17 of "the rich" file RI tax returns. FY 15--- House Speaker Art Handy forces through law, over Governor Laffey's veto, for state's borders to be closed to those fleeing state. "It worked in Cuba, it can work here". Federal judge enjoins new law, calls RI "an isle of insanity". Attorney General Jerzyk promises to prosecute all clerics who promote "intolerance" with new felony hate crimes law. FY 16--- Hispanic population expected to reach 50% by end of year. Senate President Rhoda Perry pushes for law forbidding heterosexual marriage. Newly elected Governor Grace Diaz signs proposed Constitutional Amendment changing state's name to Aztlan.
  January 8, 2008 2:26 PM

• Da League said:

  Hey thanks for the link: "The League of Young Voters' Billy Wimsatt has some ideas on how non-NH residents can expand their influence." But the link appears to be wrong. It should be http://apps.facebook.com/theleague
  January 8, 2008 5:50 PM

• Andrew said:

  Look at the bright side. At least none of us local blogospheric pundits (I think) predicted that Jim Rice would make the Hall this year.
  January 9, 2008 6:29 AM

• joe said:

  just a guess,but maybe the unusually mild weather brought out more older voters still in thrall to the clinton spell-south carolina should be pretty interesting for both parties
  January 9, 2008 11:10 AM

• Ian said:

  Thanks, Andrew. And yes, Joe, it be interesting.
  January 9, 2008 2:28 PM

• Rhody said:

  Having watched AA last night, somebody should tell her to lay off the triple lattes before going on air. Maybe the gal with the golden resume is here because her act didn't play in Cleveland.
  January 10, 2008 4:47 PM

• joe said:

  steve brown made unsubstantiated allegations that the performance of their sworn duties by the ICE agents resulted in the death of the man who hung himself-having executed hundreds of similar warrants i can tell you it would be virtually impossible for a person to hang themselves while people were present in the apartment without making enough noise to attract attention-the agents can't ever be right in steve brown's book-his agenda is that ICE not do their job-did steve brown produce one shred of documentation to back up his allegation?if i accused steve brown of being a pedophile because he opposed jessica's law it would be just as irresponsible-i know what the agents are going through right now because of the paper pushers in headquarters who never had the cojones to work the street end of the job-why the man committed suicide may never be known-i would think he must have had a personal crisis -i never noticed in all the years of arresting guatemalans or anyone else for that matter that any of them were in such fear that they would kill themselves-as a matter of fact,most arrestees treated the situation as routinely as we did-mr.montufar absolutely deserved what he got-not only was he a fugitive,but he was foolish enough to go on tv and appear in the paper-what did he expect?-it was "mean spirited?"-that is total bs-it was the execution of an order by the federal immigration court-the advocates have no argument here-the venom used against the officers for doing their job is what is truly mean spirited and agenda driven-and i don't want to hear the drivel about what the US did in guatemala in 1953-david segal repeated that in an op-ed and i called him on it-it was part of the commie mantra of the 50's and 60's-it needs to be given a rest-i think it was a lowlife scummy move to use something as tragic as a suicide to push an agenda supporting illegal aliens-the man had DUE PROCESS and there are consequences for your acts-steven brown,wannabe attorney ought to realize that
  January 11, 2008 5:06 PM

• joe said:

  i don't know who's right or wrong here-but is it possible that the whole point is mooted by the state of the building-is it too far gone now to save even if there was a desire to?
  January 11, 2008 5:15 PM

• Ian said:

  Fair question, Joe. I'm not sure myself.
  January 11, 2008 6:37 PM

• Bill said:

  This is exactly what the city did to effectuate fraudulently the demolition of the former Police and Fire Bulding in downtown Providence about a year ago. After losing in court for deliberately violating the review procedures of the DRC in the developer's effort to get a demolition permit, the city had the building inspector suddenly declare the building unsafe -- which everyone knew was without basis. When neighborhood groups again sued, the court said they had no standing, and the building came down (for the benefit of The Proccachanti (sp.?) Group). And this mayor wants to be governor? Oh, please.
  January 11, 2008 8:59 PM

• joe said:

  i'd like to have $1 for every time she used the phrase "out of context"-i'd be driving a lexus-i couldn't help but notice how she referred to "getting rid of"people who made a mistake in the campaign-it seems to provide a little insight into her power hungry,intolerant personality,a trait she seems to share with giuliani-i wouldn't be so sure about her getting the nomination,but if she does i think she'd be esier to beat than obama because of the number of people(myself included)who despise her-obama seems to actually be more liberal-but more consistent also-hedoesn't seem to get his point of view from the focus group of the day-if obama and mccain ran the people would have a clear cut choice
  January 14, 2008 4:34 AM

• Mike said:

  I can't wait for the Mass. casinos to open. The Communist maggots who run this state will have $100 million a year less cash. Progressives, like all vermin, can best be controlled by limiting their food supply! Twin River will stay open "forever" like the locals joints in Vegas. Their buffet and Carmine's are great.
  January 14, 2008 2:59 PM

• Mike said:

  Like Richard Nixon and the Kennedy's, the Clintons are absolutely amoral, power hungry sociopaths. Interested party's should read Hunter Thompson's "Fear and Loathing On The Campaign Trail" and pay attention to his descriptions of Nixon, Humphrey and Muskie and see if you recognize the character of the felonious former First Couple.
  January 14, 2008 3:06 PM

• joe said:

  mike-i sure agree on the kennedys-they have been a cancer on this nation-but i believe nixon was mentally ill-he also was forever bitter at having the 1960 election stolen by richard daley in chicago on behalf of jfk
  January 14, 2008 4:24 PM

• Kim Ahern said:

  Great post here - it seems fitting to compare this with Matt's post over at RI Future about the recent blogging of the Family Court: http://www.rifuture.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=1189
  January 14, 2008 7:18 PM

• Mike said:

  What a joke. The fat, corrupt, mincing freak shot this down behind the scenes 2 years ago and all you looney lefters still worship him. This will NOT be voted on this Thursday or any other Thursday. Mayor Leather Queen will see to it. Progressives-you always eat your own. Jerzyk doesn't care. He's got his job with Leather Queen all lined up for May. You heard it here first.
  January 16, 2008 2:10 AM

• joe said:

  it's nice to know N4N blieves in a secure border(no sarcasm here),but the concept of "border"as a strip of land adjoining mexico or canada hasn't been accurate or realistic since the 1960's-the border is a continuum leading from the national boundary up through the US to centers of employment opportunity and pre-existing ethnic communities-when i was assigned to INS in chicago i saw this first hand-at that time in the 1970's chicago was the center of the largest and most diverse industrial zone in the world,extending to a radius of almost 100 miles,consisting largely of fabrication type industries,most of which required large numbers of unskilled or semi skilled workers-chicago also had a number of longstanding communities of latin american(mostly mexican)and east european ethnicities which were safe havens for arriving aliens,providing almost any service in their native language-and new ethnic communities(for example east indian) sprang up,not only in chicago,but in outlying communities to support the aforementioned industies-the point being that the "border"had moved north and was actually a phenomenon of population redistribution instead of a geographical entity-therefore immigration enforcement that focuses only on a frontier region and ignores the realities of the interior of the country is ineffective and will not solve the main issue-that once a person makes it past the international boundary,they are "home free"-the last amnesty in 1987 was badly flawed for reasons too involved to discuss here,an another one will probably be even more poorly thought out and executed-mccain got burned once on this issue,but he may still be able to come back with a better alternative-if i had a simple answer,i wouldn't keep it secret,but i don't-the best immediate action would be (and always has been)to prioritize criminals and gang members and those with terrorist connections with no wiggle room,limit litigation on their behalf and remove them expeditiously
  January 16, 2008 3:53 AM

• Ian said:

  Sounds reasonable to me, Joe
  January 16, 2008 2:01 PM

• Mike said:

  "At least 13 states -- led by California, New York and New Jersey " XXX 3 more corrupt, progressive, union and welfare dominated illegal alien magnet sewers. wel Golleeeeeeeeee-what a coincidence. About as surprising as the death of the "funding formula". Gee , another shocker. Oh well, there's always another Darfur resolution to perk up the progressives. LOL. School financing plan faces an uncertain future 01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 By Jennifer D. Jordan Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE — An unlikely coalition attempting to develop a statewide school-financing formula has broken apart just as the state grapples with a $600-million budget gap over two years, leaving the future of the ambitious plan in jeopardy. A hearing to discuss the formula was scheduled for 1 p.m. today at the State House. The House Finance Committee was to hear from a consultant hired last year to help lawmakers develop the formula. Members of the Joint Committee to Establish a Permanent Education Foundation Aid Formula said they hoped the meeting would resurrect the discussion. But it is unclear if there is enough political support to approve the formula this year. Governor Carcieri, who supported the concept last year, says it is not a priority. “The coming year will be a very difficult time to be discussing increased state funding for local communities, and, in essence, that is what you are talking about when you talk about a school-funding formula,” said Carcieri’s spokesman, Jeff Neal. “Unfortunately, this is probably not the year it can happen.” But Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline says that he and other municipal leaders have not given up. “This is an extraordinarily difficult budget year, and it will be hard for legislators to find money to invest in a variety of important things,” Cicilline said. “But we can still move forward with the concept and plan to phase it in over a number of years.” Last year, groups that often disagree with one another — teacher unions, business-backed economic and education policy groups, children’s advocacy organizations, mayors, Carcieri and state education officials — joined lawmakers to establish a financing formula for schools. Developing the formula was touted as one of the state’s top priorities. Officials hoped it would provide a stable financing stream from the state to local schools, and relieve pressure on local property taxes. Yet after months of meetings and thousands of dollars in studies and consultants, the project’s momentum has stalled. Studies indicate that the formula would increase the state’s contribution to education — by $95 million to several hundred million a year — at a time when the state is facing serious budget shortfalls. State officials have already warned school districts to expect no increase in state aid for the coming school year. The state now pays an average of 38 percent of local school costs. Advocates for the financing formula want the state average contribution increased to 44 percent over a period of years. The proposals also call for the state to establish a “foundation” aid amount of between $10,000 and $11,000 per student, adding more money for certain groups, such as low-income, special needs, and English-language learners. Some legislators balked, seeking a better accounting of school expenditures before millions more are pumped into education. Last June, the joint committee, chaired by Rep. Edith H. Ajello, D-Providence, and Sen. Hanna M. Gallo, D-Cranston, ended the session without passing a formula. “I am hoping to push forward the concept of a formula even if there isn’t any money,” Ajello said in a recent interview. However, the coalition cannot agree how to proceed. Officials at the state Department of Education say they hope progress on a formula can continue, even in a limited form. They suggest that the state begin to assume the cost of key elements outside the control of local school districts over the next few years. Local districts would receive less school aid as the state absorbed the cost. “Even if you can’t add money to the system right away, you can streamline the system and begin to shift responsibilities,” said Deputy Education Commissioner David V. Abbott. Teacher unions disagree, saying cost shifting does not make sense without a formula in place, according to Robert A. Walsh, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Education Association. But Valerie Forti, executive director of the business-backed Education Partnership, says districts would need to improve student performance in exchange for the increase in state investment. “We didn’t want to give local districts more money without getting outcomes,” said Forti, whose group pulled out of the coalition last year. “The formula should require more from districts. It might require a certain kind of professional development for teachers, or give principals more control over teacher placement, or require a longer school day and year.”
  January 16, 2008 2:37 PM

• Rhody said:

  And to think some people still criticize Lynch for being a liberal.
  January 17, 2008 5:00 PM

• Bob Walsh said:

  Funny. And scary. Not sure in which order.
  January 17, 2008 5:06 PM

• Gayle Gifford said:

  Whether you liked the building or not, one has to wonder whether the current city administration cares at all about preserving the historic architectural fabric of the city. Certainly none of the big initiatives include it. Rip down the schools. Rip down historic buildings. Ironically, the city is touting film crews, but what makes them want to film here is what Rick Smith used to tell us ... the 3 Rs Architecture, Architecture,Architecture.
  January 18, 2008 2:46 AM

• joe said:

  anyone who has ever worked on a wiretap investigation as i have is aware of the safeguards(referred to as "minimization")that are in place and closely monitored by a judge,whether state or federal(sorry,no experience with FISA)and there are very specific types of conversations that can be monitored-any extraneous monitoring can (and should)result in adverse action by the court of jurisdiction-what is the aclu's problem?i can't speak to national security investigations and wouldn't if i could because those are classified matters
  January 18, 2008 2:55 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  You forget that RI Future made this suggestion: If the truly invidious parts of this story prove to be true, the city should seriously consider sanctions against Carpionato such as taking away their development rights to the prestigious Parcel 12 in Capital Center.
  January 18, 2008 7:39 PM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian, What happened to the "living wage" that was "definitely" going to be voted on last night? LOL. The deep-sixing of this measure is the latest cover-up by this fat, vicious perverted leather "bottom" which will never be covered by biased, self-proclaimed "journalists".
  January 18, 2008 8:32 PM

• Mike said:

  Don't forget NOT to report the building is owned by one of the Fat Sissy's solicitors who is STILL ON the city payrolls. The usual degree of "journalism" we expect from you Ian. LOL.
  January 18, 2008 8:35 PM

• joe said:

  democrats eating each other?why should this surprise you?forget the national scene-it could happen here involving people you know very well sooner than you think
  January 20, 2008 3:47 AM

• Andrew said:

  You mean "Cloverfield" wasn't subtitled "Hillary: The Movie"? Rim-Shot... ...then the sound of crickets chirping... Er, I guess I'll head back to my own blog now...
  January 20, 2008 5:53 AM

• Ian said:

  Good one, Andrew!
  January 20, 2008 7:00 PM

• joe said:

  i recall back in college(this being in 1963 )there was a lab technician who assisted teaching the biology courses-she was a woman of apparently mixed black and white background,but i recall her saying one day that she was pessimistic that black and white people in this country would ever get along or trust each other-not that she was a hateful person,like the ron karengas of the world,but rather hopeless about the issue-racial animosity still exists between not only between black and white,but involving every racial group-the problem will never completely go away in our lifetimes,but the worst way to approach it in my opinion is by using group dynamics-assigning values and attitudes by ethnic background-i find leftists even more prone to this tendency than "right wingers"-my family is interracial and it hasn't been the cause of any problems-not to say we don't ever have problems,but they relate to other things-i believe the only meaningful way to not fall into the "groupthink" mentality is on a personal level-i don't worry about the big picture,but rather try to live my life finding value in people based on how they interact with me and quite frankly how much i like them as individuals or dislike them for that matter
  January 21, 2008 3:56 PM

• Kim said:

  Ian - Thanks for posting this, I thought it was a good and comprehensive article. Hopefully the General Assembly gets the idea too! ~Kim
  January 21, 2008 5:26 PM

• Mike said:

  AN INCONVIENENT TRUTH After looking at King's 20 minute anti-Vietnam speech posted on Jerzyk's Communist site it occurs to me that if King were with us today he would be the recipient of FAR more hate and scorn for being a Christian than he ever got for being black.
  January 22, 2008 2:58 PM

• Mike said:

  The fact is, we can not cut our way out of the state's current structural deficit. There are more responsible alternatives we must look to." XXX LOL. Yeah, I am SURE this asshole will be outlining his $600 million plan to balance the budget tommorow. Progressives-all talk, no common sense.
  January 23, 2008 1:25 AM

• Mike said:

  What's next? What I am hearing is the floating of a bond backed by a new 2% tax on food and clothing. Brilliant. Maybe they can call it the "Elect Republicans To Suburban Districts Act of 2008".
  January 24, 2008 2:10 AM

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  January 24, 2008 6:10 AM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian- I guess another of Fat Sissy's cover-ups you will not be covering is his giving John Simmons a $110,000 pension for 4 years of "work". Great "journalism" as always Ian. LOL.
  January 24, 2008 1:41 PM

• Ian said:

  It's hardly a cover-up, Mike, when your favorite talk-radio host has extensively talked up this subject.
  January 24, 2008 2:21 PM

• Mike said:

  The chutzpah of all you commie scum is oft times astonishing. YOU have created these socialist programs that extend far into the middle class over the governor's veto then you blame HIM for them! He proposed last year that Rite Care income limits be tightened. The marxist GA refused. The same drama will play out this year. Progressives-the biggest bitchers in the world but "zero" solutions. Other than the always effective (LOL) TALK TO THE UNIONS!!!!!
  January 25, 2008 12:46 AM

• Mike said:

  Oh, my God. How did you steal Ian's password and post this germ of truth on a marxist blog?
  January 25, 2008 12:49 AM

• joe said:

  you present crowley's assertions as gospel-good journalism there-as long as you tip a few with someone,i guess the accuracy of what he says loses importance-does crowley have documentation he is willing to present publicly to support his numbers?considering some of his past antics and vile accusations about various people he merits skepticism to say the least-and if his numbers are correct,do they reflect employee numbers or total number of people covered,such as spouses and children-that would make quite a difference in terms of percentage of employees covered-and where did crowley get his information-from the companies named?the state?it seems like matt jerzyk,david segal, pat crowley,and steven brown all get a free back rub on your blog no matter what they say
  January 25, 2008 2:41 AM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Hi Joe: Ian's post has the links.
  January 25, 2008 11:10 AM

• Mike said:

  It's quite true Joe that the workers get free health care from the taxpayers. What scumsucker Crowley DOESN'T tell you is that the much reviled "Enron Don" has tried to STOP this by tightening eligibility. Who stopped the governor? The NEA backed "progressives" in the GA! Crowley's chutzpah reminds me of the kid who killed his parents and cried for sympathy because he's an orphan.
  January 25, 2008 1:50 PM

• Ian said:

  Mike, it tells us a lot about your character that when presented with information you dislike (from a state report), you respond by calling people names.
  January 25, 2008 4:00 PM

• JoeO said:

  I'm not sure Pat was accurately interpreting the data. Pat was including dependents. The actual number of actual corp employees is a much lower number. For example; total number of Bank of America employees is 112. Further, and I know it's not a corp, Pat forgot to include City of Providence, which is 92. What about changing state pension system to a 401k type plan?
  January 25, 2008 6:32 PM

• Rhody said:

  I'm not sure I understand Pat's data (and I'd endorse 401ks for state workers, too), but I've been on the receiving end of many a Mike tirade. He makes me proud to be a progressive.
  January 25, 2008 7:31 PM

• joe said:

  i like mccain even though i think he should never have collaborated with ted kennedy on a severely flawed immigration bill-i also disagreed with his support for invading iraq-however,if you want a perfect candidate plan on not voting at all-and as long as we are stuck in iraq i would rather have mccain in the oval office than anyone else running because he is the only one who truly understands the consequences of sending people in harm's way and his survival of five years of torture is something few people could endure and still go on to live not only a normal,but successful life-and i think he as honest as a politician at that level can be-which is to say he probably won't be up for sainthood,but neither will he be an embarrassment to the office-his only drawback is that he had melanoma on his face,which is a very sneaky and dangerous form of skin cancer that can occur years after you think it's gone and it is a very invasive and deadly disease once it spreads-that aside i'd feel most confident with him making the decisions that might come up(probably will)that concern our national security in the face of potential WMD threats(real ones)on the horizon-i also think he can command respect from foreign leaders,something the bush nitwit cannot
  January 25, 2008 10:46 PM

• Personal Experience Essay said:

  http://www.masterpapers.com/personal_experience_essay.htm. Frequently the reason behind the desire to write this type of paper remains unclear. However, once the events are recounted and recorded, it becomes clear that the writer is striving to find the universal truth.
  January 26, 2008 8:13 AM

• joe said:

  the democrats have a primary system using proportional allocation of delegates which makes prediction diffficult to say the least-hillary still leads in total delegates-this was a big win for obama no doubt-but he absolutely has to win illinois,his own state and put in a strong showing in ny-i don't think anyone expects hillary to lose ny,but if he stays within 10 points it would be huge for him-california seems to be hillary country what with confidantes like barbara boxer and laura sanchez out there just to name two,oh yeah,and nancy pelosi-this race is just heating up and i wasn't surprised by the ugly racist undertone of the clinton campaign-did you hear susan estrich complain about hearing the words "race and afro-american 90 times in the last half hour"?gee,who brought it on?the clintons are such power mad egotistic scum that they will stoop to anything to get back in the white house and plunge this country into more years of hateful gridlock-the clintons are adept at the subtle patronizing type of racism that so many elitist liberals have-"we know what's best for you,dear"or something like that-i personally think obama's positions on gun control,abortion,immigration,and taxes(not entirely sure on this)are absolutely wrong,but he is hard to dislike and i don't think he's crazed for power-i look forward to voting for john mccain who i don't totally agree with,but whose dedication to serving the people of this country is unquestionable and who has the best foreign policy credentials of any candidate-it's nice to see hillary lose her sense of entitlement to the nomination
  January 27, 2008 3:39 PM

• Mike said:

  Yeah, I am sure (LOL) these assholes will be proposing their own plan for solving the $450 million hole THEY created. Beyond the ubiquitious "raise the capital gains and repeal the flat tax" that falls $410 million short. I am equally sure that self-styled "journalists" like you, Bakst, Kerr, etc. will be doing hard hitting pieces on how the progressives "balanced" budget, passed over the veto of the governor who "can't count", turned out to be a little off-$160 million worth.
  January 29, 2008 2:47 PM

• Rhody said:

  Maybe attacking the media WILL balance the budget, he said, ducking just out of the way of the flying pig.
  January 29, 2008 3:59 PM

• joe said:

  the clintons threw the race card first-the king-johnson remark by hillary was not what i'm talking about-that was very legitimate-without a powerful and realistic politician like johnson pushing civil rights legislation,king would've not been able to effect the changes he did,because he wasn't a lawmaker-it takes two ingredients to make epoxy work,right?same thing-however the jesse jackson remark was pretty blatantly racist(not bigoted,but bringing race to the front burner)-even though both jackson and obama were chicago activists,had anyone ever sen their names associated in any significant way?no-i don't think they run in the same circles-or share much of anything other than racial background-i don't know,but it wouldn't surprise me if jackson had supported bobby rush against obama in the congressional primary years back-but bill clinton brought it up as kind of a non-sequitir response to a question-the clinton campaign has displayed the patronizing racism of elitist liberalism
  January 29, 2008 7:14 PM

• joe said:

  what a balanced panel!why not have the common decency to at least disclose that only one side of the issue will be presented-i can't attend due to other obligations but i would really like to hear this one!who selected this panel?let's see-rwu-could it be matt jerzyk?nah,why would such a thought come to mind?even if he didn't,he might as well have-what will the keywords be at this panel-"racist","hater",anti-"immigrant","neo-nazi","gestapo"anyone?
  January 30, 2008 12:14 AM

• Mike said:

  "Progressives-people who believe all Latin Americans are entitled to open borders-except Cubans." Dennis Miller
  January 30, 2008 2:52 AM

• Mike said:

  Keep laughing asshole. You won't be laughing when the budget is out tommorow!
  January 30, 2008 2:57 AM

• rhody said:

  Mikey, I am rolling on the floor laughing at you, and even if the governor cuts a billion from the budget tomorrow, I will STILL be laughing at you.
  January 30, 2008 5:25 AM

• Andrew said:

  I'm starting to wonder if the conventional wisdom on the Giuliani campaign has the cause and effect reversed. Was it really the case that the Giuliani campaign didn't excite anyone because the candidate chose not to actively compete in the early states, or was it more the case that Giuliani was unable to compete in the early states because his campaign was unable to excite anyone? I guess that's a question for academics and historians now...
  January 30, 2008 1:10 PM

• Mike said:

  These fucks, Limbaugh and everybody else better get used to Mccain or look forward to the Wicked witch or George Jefferson.
  January 31, 2008 12:04 AM

• Mike said:

  Ian, You are sooooo jealous of real journalista who put out papers people actually spend money to read and don't rely on ads for "Bootom scat boy looking for slavemaster to punish me good".
  January 31, 2008 12:08 AM

• jen coleslaw said:

  Ian: I just thought I'd let you know that i am starting a new career writing and consulting on lolcats. The environment is so 2005. I am ready for some new challenges. I have also picked up some part time work being a baseball hanger-on and hotdog moocher. hope to see you at my big party. I'm gone from this miserable city by Feb end. very truly yours, Jen
  January 31, 2008 6:26 PM

• Thumb said:

  Dear Huckabee supporters! If you want Huckabee to get his far share of news time let your voices be heard. We need to bombard the networks with emails. We believe Huckabee can still win! Stand up for what you believe in and stop letting news decide the candidates! A place to start: hannity@foxnews.com Don’t stop at TV shows, email newspapers, family, friends, and senators too! Go Huckabee!
  January 31, 2008 7:35 PM

• Mike said:

  Move over to Prarie Ave. or Manton Ave. from your millionaire's perch on the East Side and you will see what a Third World sewer the city has been turned into by progressives. With ever higher taxes driving out the productive class all that will be left is the rich lunactic progressives and the Third World mooches. Call it Deeeeeeee-troit East. Hey Ian-remember your hagiography on Looney Left Liz and her miracle health plan she would be introducing in "January"? Well look at the fucking calendar. I guess that's another leftist hypocrisy we won't be seeing covered by your brand of "journalism".
  January 31, 2008 7:40 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  More proof that they just look for any excuse to blame poor people for their own pathological hatred of Rhode Island.
  January 31, 2008 7:46 PM

• Ian said:

  I plan to be at the party, Jen. You need to make your spelling wurse if you want to be a lolcat.
  January 31, 2008 8:00 PM

• Jon said:

  Mr. Obama is exciting a lot of people. He has intelligence and charisma. We will see if that is enough to overcome his lack of political experience. I think intelligence and leadership ability and the ability to inspire people is enough to overcome inexperience.
  January 31, 2008 10:07 PM

• Mike said:

  From the Forbes article: "Only New York City fares worst than Providence when it comes to income tax rates." XXX Well that part is WRONG. Both Modesto and LA as well as Stockton have a 10.3% income tax as they are in California, the "gold medal"- we are only the silver-though that may change soon. All in all, it is no surprise to see Providence metro ranked right along with those other progressive run, third world infested sewers like NYC, Chicago, LA, Modesto, Flint, Philly and the king-Deeeeeee-troit. The real RI Future. Upon re-checking the figures, while California has the "gold medal" for incomes over $1 million, RI has the "honor" of that job stifling title for incomes between $336K and $1 million. So the Forbes figures are right. Congratualtions progressives!!!
  January 31, 2008 10:21 PM

• joe said:

  i've lived in different parts of the country and i've been in providence 24 years-i can't see it as being 10th worst-anyone been to rockford,IL or lawrence,MA recently?and the list could go on ad nauseum-however there has been a decline in some areas like chalkstone avenue since the 80's that is undeniable-and it's not just poverty-gang activity and a drug trade that's as hard to control as the flu are a big part of it-the east side and college hill is another world-they don't get it because they only see what they want to-i live in a middle class neighborhood that hasn't changed much-the complexion has changed from mostly white to mixed,but it's the same kind of people -taxpaying homeowners who are productive-ian -you and your friends like to accuse people of being mean spirited because they get sick of shelling out more taxes for less services and for the benefit of people who have better things apparently to do than work-did it ever occur to you that most middle class people have people in their own families who might need help?that the economy has affected more than just the poverty institute's noble poor people?i can never forget some years back when i worked at lincoln park,that i saw a bunch of people who had been at an ACORN demonstration run by henry shelton protesting gas prices sitting at slots still wearing their ACORN buttons-they could've saved some for the gas bill-i grew up in a poor neighborhood-blue collar all the way,but everyone had two parents and no one hung out all day waiting for a handout-how much tax does david segal pay?i'd love to see his return-what i don't need is being preached at by inherited wealth fops like sheldon whitehouse and patrick kennedy on the one hand and the professional activist/advocates like jerzyk,burdick,brewster,malcolm on the other-how about the novel idea of not living beyond one's means-abuse of credit is a personal problem that i believe is for the abuser to solve,not someone else-should we punish people who become doctors because "they make too much"?next time you're REALLY sick go have an entertainer or athlete treat you-or maybe a politician-people who do something useful deserve more than those who live as parasites-you have a problem with that?
  January 31, 2008 11:42 PM

• Bill said:

  Note that Providence caught the national eye for its problems before the worst effects of the budget problems have been applied. How will Providence rank when the state budget deficit is $500 million (and Providence's has similarly increased)?
  February 1, 2008 12:56 AM

• joe said:

  i can't disagree-limbaugh is a draft doging blowhard i haven't listened to since he stopped being humorous back in the early 90's-if you consider mccain vs.the alternatives-power hungry psycopathic bitch or super liberal gun grabber there is no reason to not support mccain-i trust him with the potential life and death decisions a president might have to make-hillary will put herself ahead of anything and obama will do a re-run of jimmy carter
  February 1, 2008 3:42 AM

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  February 1, 2008 9:19 PM

• Ian said:

  Thanks for the tip, Jenn!
  February 1, 2008 9:24 PM

• joe said:

  ian-have you EVER done anything but roll over for steven brown?is he exempt the "devil's advocate" treatment or hard questions you seem to have for everyone else-i assume you are friends with matt jerzyk and pat crowley so i don't expect you to take them to task(you probably shouldn't interview friends either)but i can't imagine a snotrag like steven brown having a friend at all-nevertheless he always gets a pass from you-did you really think jessica's law was a bad idea?when rhoda perry and joe trillo vote for the same bill,it must be good,but not for steven brown-he wants a level playing ground for CONVICTED child molesters-i'd like to see what he has to say to the mother of the little boy who was abused in new bedford-that offender should never have gotten free-i know it was a judge that let him go-but the aclu carries water for these predators day in and day out-do i sound unreasonable?maybe.i had a relative who was raped as a child and she never lived a normal life -never had a good day-and she hadn't deserved that-nor does any child-so while brown whines about state budget cuts hurting children,he doesn't give a damn about people who really hurt children forever-but with your crowd his shit doesn't stink
  February 2, 2008 2:52 AM

• Ian said:

  Joe, you are sadly mistaken. I have asked the same kind of tough questions of Steve Brown that I ask of other subjects. For example, during Brown's most recent appearance on Newsmakers a few weeks back, I asked him why the case involving the father of the New Year's baby is a civil liberties concern. Crowley is an acquaintance of mine, and on this week's show I ask him at which point do the concerns of the state becoming greater for people like himself than those of his union members. I wouldn't call that "rolling over." I don't necessarily agree with every stance ever taken by the ACLU, but I happen to think that defending the Bill of Rights is a good and important thing. Rational people recognize that child abuse is a terrible thing, and that throwing out civil liberties doesn't make for a safer society. If you don't like the ACLU, that's your prerogative.
  February 2, 2008 3:15 PM

• Ian said:

  Mike, it's pretty funny how a homophobe like yourself is so obsessed with gay men and their sexual activities.
  February 2, 2008 8:28 PM

• joe said:

  ian-i did not accuse you of "rolling over" for patrick crowley-i've never seen you interview him,so how could i-i will be watching tommorrow but the subject isn't one on which i have any strong opinion-i just thought that interviewing a friend is hard to do and stay objective if it concerns a controversial subject-i didn't think you held steven brown's feet to the fire at all,but i guess we'll disagree on that-my negative experiences with the aclu goes back decades and includes subornation of perjury by that organization(in another state) which didn't work for them-they are not concerned with the bill of rights-2nd amendment case in point-i know the "progresive" stance on that issue-if we had the time i would've liked to explain the hypocrisy of the aclu in the nambla case in massachusetts-dave kane asked me to do so in a 2 minute segment on his radio show-when i was done he admitted that the points i made had him thinking,which,considering kane's affinity for the aclu was something i didn't expect-there are people aside from the aclu who defend civil liberties-as a matter of fact-i don't think they do-ian let me close by saying i hope you never find yourself accused of things you had no idea ever happened(if they did)and defending these baseless accusations in a deposition-i did,thanks to the aclu and was completely by a federal court as were all the other targets of those outright lies-and all we did was our job-executing a court ordered search warrant-i have lived in the real world my whole life and don't have a lot of time for high minded theories about how things should play out
  February 2, 2008 9:00 PM

• Mike said:

  "but I happen to think that defending the Bill of Rights is a good and important thing." XXX Is that right Ian? You're articles on the Second Amendment supporting freedom of choice for citizens to keep and bear firearms are, I presume, quite extensive?
  February 3, 2008 12:27 AM

• Ian said:

  Mike, there's a big ocean of news out there. For one person, I'd say that I cover a pretty broad range of issues and viewpoints.
  February 3, 2008 12:39 AM

• rhody said:

  Why make an honest effort to bring all parties together to solve the budget crisis? Blaming the media and progressives (who hold none of the cards in Rhode Island) is so much more con-veeeeee-ient.
  February 3, 2008 2:58 AM

• Mike said:

  Mike, there's a big ocean of news out there. For one person, I'd say that I cover a pretty broad range of issues and viewpoints. XXX How about a follow up to your Liz Roberts hagiography where she promised to solve the issue of universal coverage by proposing legislation "in January". Well, duhhhhhhh. It's February and "nothing" has happened. Big surprise. Progressives-all questions-no answers.
  February 3, 2008 2:38 PM

• Ian said:

  Following up on the pronouncements of Roberts and other elected officials is a natural path to pursue, and I suspect that myself and other reporters will do this in the future. However, the opportunity to break other stories is more immediately appealing to me. Mike, perhaps you should start your own blog (I believe the software is freely available on the Web), so you can air all the stories you describe as being overlooked.
  February 3, 2008 5:25 PM

• Mike said:

  Yeah, a teenage Craig Price lookalike is going to fare real well against one of the few voices against the kleptocracy of progressives, unions and welfareites. I guess sleaze merchant Guy Dufault wasn't available.
  February 5, 2008 12:10 AM

• Ian said:

  A fool is his own informer. Mike, while your own statements show you to be a hateful, bigoted person, you've outdone yourself with this one. You should be ashamed.
  February 5, 2008 1:14 AM

• joe said:

  i didn't get the part of the governor's wife's statement where she mentioned terrorists,but that said,she was angry with good reason because her husband was unfairly accused of being a "racist"by this youth group and i believe she was 100% correct when she referred to the two students being mentored and indoctrinated by older people -if you check PrZYM's web site you will see that matt jerzyk and mimi budnick are on the board of directors-both known for left wing agitation and "organizing"and the basis for the organization being formed about 8 years ago was to prevent the deportation of convicted felons from se asia-what could be more racist itself?give a pass on deportation resulting from criminal activities if the convicted felons belong to a specific ethnic group(s)-why the special treatment when it isn't extended to other asians,latinos,africans,europeans,etc.?and david segal's scurillous entry on ri's future on this subject is more evidence that these two students are being manipulated-maybe the interpreters should have been retained-that is a legitimate question because they serve a community that is here legally,mostly having arrived as refugees-why were no spanish interpreters let go?however the whole tone of the protest bespoke an attitude of hatred and false accusation toward the governor-i believe that indoctrination takes place when the met school students attend brown university outreach sessions at the swearer center and that it is all set up by messrs.ishihara and jerzyk
  February 5, 2008 1:41 PM

• rhody said:

  The Don uses Sue to do his ideological dirty work. Being First Lady, as far as I'm concerned, does not give Sue a free pass to mouth off like that.
  February 5, 2008 4:51 PM

• joe said:

  rhody- i see-the ist amendment only applies to those people on the "pre-approved"list of steven brown-she was pissed off at the bullshit accusations against her husband and if she exaggerated about the terrorist thing,well,what goes around,comes around-i don't think the governor gave her a script at al-and as far as bakst goes i would love to hear what he says when he's not writing for public consumption-he's a slimeball-someone you wouldn't want to sit next to on an airliner
  February 5, 2008 5:58 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  Wha? The state could raise $6.2 million by enforcing regulations already on the books, like oh I don't know, not running red lights, not turning left from the right lane, a cop with a radar gun on Waterman Street could probably raise $6.2 million in a week... And wouldn't tickets issued go into municipal coffers, is the state police expected to focus all its attention on cell phone driving?
  February 5, 2008 11:26 PM

• Ian said:

  Jef, given the number of pedestrian accidents in Providence, heightened traffic enforcement seems like a good idea.
  February 5, 2008 11:49 PM

• Mike said:

  I'd like to know how many Republican-leaning independent's will come out for Obama in coming primaries if Mccain wraps it up tonight. Anything to stop Hillary. Please someone save us from the Wicked Witch. Isn't 28 years of Bush's and Clinton's ENOUGH?
  February 6, 2008 12:01 AM

• tmm said:

  I'm always amazed at some of the ramblings that the ProJo allows on its letters page. It's called quality control!
  February 6, 2008 12:32 AM

• Mike said:

  New Mexico now going for Obama with 93% in. My take: Hillary cannot win this race. Obama will sweep 6 races by next Tuesday night (Washington, Nebraska, Louisiana,D.C., Virginia, Maryland), giving him 24 wins total. The Republican race will be over next Tuesday and Republican minded independents will be coming out IN DROVES after that for Obama (Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Wisconsin, RI, VT, SD, Hawaii) either because they like him or (like me) the idea of a third Clinton term makes them literally wretch. Throw in a guaranteed win in Mississippi and Obama will have won nearly 35 out of 49 races for delegates (Mich. and Florida have no delegates) and a majority of the elected delegates. With those results, if the Clintons pull some shady deals (among superdelegates or trying to seat Clinton rump delegations in Mich. or Florida) to steal the nomination the party will be torn like 1968.
  February 6, 2008 1:54 PM

• joe said:

  how can you compare clemente to jackie robinson?robinson literally risked life and limb to play at the beginning of his major league career-clemente was far from the first hispanic major leaguer- chico carrasquel and bobby avila preceded him by many years as did others-and i recall exactly zero controversy over hisapnic ball players-it wasn't an issue-clemente has been honored on a US postage stamp going back quite a few years-the state senate is like a child that won't sit down to do their homework-they have to engage in diversions first while the house is on fire-back in the 1930's the yankees had a pitcher named lefty gomez-i guess he must've been russian?
  February 6, 2008 6:46 PM

• Ian said:

  Joe, just because I report something on this blog doesn't mean that I am personally endorsing it. I would agree that Robinson was an unrivaled pioneer, although I do think Clemente, at a time when Latino major leaguers were few, also had a tough road.
  February 6, 2008 9:35 PM

• Mike said:

  Seperated at birth; 19 year old William Pierce, who was last year going to gym classes and proms and this more famed onetime Warwick resident: http://www.polarisls.com/Craig%20Price%20Year%20Book%201200dpi.jpg
  February 7, 2008 12:20 AM

• Jen ColeSlaw said:

  There's room in my heart for an NL Team. And while I'm making Virginia my home base, I could end up anywhere. I'm like a leaf on the wind...
  February 7, 2008 6:20 PM

• Ian said:

  The world is yer oyster, and Brendan Donnelly handles your security detail.
  February 7, 2008 6:31 PM

• kahtzee said:

  Dear Tree Lady, Thank you for planting all these trees in Providence, but also for saving our lives too!!! Signed, Posse of Rescued Kitties
  February 7, 2008 6:41 PM

• Mike said:

  Surely we can count on you to do your usual hard hitting pieces on all corrupt, shady and incompetent things commited by the fat, lisping mayor "Leather Queen". Hey Ian-you're never getting a Pulitzer but you're on the inside track for the Walter Duranty award.
  February 7, 2008 8:04 PM

• Ian said:

  A fool is his own informer. Mike, who broke the story about how DC was trying to remake the City Council?
  February 7, 2008 8:21 PM

• Mike said:

  This should be a big boost for Obama and another headache for the Wicked Witch. Starting Saturday there are "open" primaries or caucuses in Nebraska and Washington state and on Tuesday in Virginia, continuing to Wisconsin and Hawaii later this month and Texas, RI, Ohio and Vermont on March 4 with North Carolina, west Virginia, Indiana and Montana later in the calendar. Only Pennsylvania and Oregon are "closed" primaries with few blacks which will be difficult for Obama. Obama will get the votes of independents who like him. He will also get the votes of those like me who are physically ill at the thought of a third Clinton term. Imagine Ian, I will be voting for the same candidate as you, Miller, Segal and the rest of your Communist puke friends! "A cancerous element that will stifle every vestige of free life in the U.S. ... the word liberal has come to stand for the most damnable tyranny, a sniveling, mealy-mouthed tyranny of bureaucrats, social workers, psychiatrists and union officials" William S. Burroughs " The Letters of William S. Burroughs" Oliver Harris
  February 7, 2008 8:31 PM

• joe said:

  who would want to hear what this marxist hag apparition from the sixties has to say?i shouldn't be surprised that she'll have an audience at brown-40 years ago jerzyk,segal and company would have been part of her retinue-i believe she got away with murder in the courthouse breakout attempt-manipulating george jackson's younger brother jonathan to take on a suicide mission which resulted in numerous deaths-she got acquitted,but that doesn't mean she wasn't guilty-the verdict sucked-and now like so many sixties radicals she lives the good life in academia-some days it seems like everything is upside down-that's okay ian,don't even bother to disagree-just giving my opinion here and it doesn't matter to me if no one thinks i'm right
  February 7, 2008 8:40 PM

• joe said:

  i see that PrZYM has changed their website,eliminating the names of board members and the listing of supporting organizations such as resist inc and the haymarket group from massachusetts,two leftist activist organizations-i guess the sunlight was uncomfortable for them-the new site departs from the professional appearance of the last one and is designed to look like it was totally done by kids-orwell's world is alive and well on the left-let's just delete the facts and reinvent history
  February 7, 2008 8:49 PM

• joe said:

  as long as we have a kumbaya attitude towards interior enforcement of the immigration laws,particularly with regard to young males from islamic states we can expext to get whacked again-not if-when-and the aclu will have a large piece of the responsibilty with their imbecilic attitude towards national security-the next time there is an atrocity committed on our population i hope people remember who made it easier for the perpetratorsthis is not about race,it's about dealing with a fanatical movement that will not decide to pack up their beliefs and stand down from terrorism
  February 7, 2008 10:11 PM

• jen coleslaw said:

  this better not be some sneaky way of getting out of that fat clause, that's all i gotta say.
  February 7, 2008 10:27 PM

• joe said:

  i watched the show-it was pretty lively,but you seemed to hang back altogether-it wasn't even a matter of giving cicilline a pass,you just weren't very assertive-arlene violet's outrage of the week was spot on-of course i expect the segal-jerzyk politburo will now deem her a "racist"or "proto-fascist" or whatever trendy term they're usig this week to smear people for daring to hold n opinion not theirs-you ought to do a little talking over or you'll never get a word in edgewise
  February 8, 2008 2:00 AM

• Mike said:

  What I actually did was call your fancifull claim that the city council would pass the living wage ordinance on "Thursday". I replied that the fat freak wouldn't let it happen-ever. Several "thursdays" have now passed. I was right, you were wrong. "A cancerous element that will stifle every vestige of free life in the U.S. ... the word liberal has come to stand for the most damnable tyranny, a sniveling, mealy-mouthed tyranny of bureaucrats, social workers, psychiatrists and union officials"William S. Burroughs"The Letters of William S. Burroughs"Oliver Harris
  February 8, 2008 2:23 AM

• matt weldon said:

  If we can't void the deal, pay him what he has coming, slap him on the back and part ways with him. I find it hard to believe that he was not acutely aware of his condition when he enterered into this contract. Move over Shill and make way for Clay!
  February 8, 2008 2:24 PM

• joe said:

  another clinton turn in the white house will be the end of this country,especially with the evil madwoman running the show-obama 's main fault is simple-he's a liberal on every issue-and he will be another jimmy carter on foreign policy and national security-he doesn't have the visceral evil nature of the hildebeast,but not many people do-the lust for power burns in her demented eyes when her guard is lowered slightly-if one hasn't read macbeth,they should-hillary to a tee-although bill hasn't got macbeth's sense of guilt-think about it-a feminist commie bitch with a serial rapist husband running the country-and think mike-cicilline is a strong supporter of hers-like one of those minor little demons in a bosch or bruegel work from medieval times
  February 8, 2008 3:33 PM

• Ian said:

  Mike, I didn't make any claim regarding the CC passing LW on a particular day. I referenced part of another report about the measure.
  February 8, 2008 4:45 PM

• Mike said:

  Moderate my foot. He is a leftist who repeatedly "bends over" for the unions....and others.
  February 9, 2008 12:28 AM

• joe said:

  this is a 1st amendment issue-as long as there is no physical intimidation,the buffer zones are bullshit-interesting how art handy,one of two legislators who voted against jessica's law is so concerned with reproductive rights-i heard handy being quesioned by buddy cianci on the radio-handy is an unethical scumbag-he also likes the idea of raising taxes-miller is the uber liberal who runs acouple of non-union establishments,right?i wonder why the big time labor organizer matt jerzyk hangs out there at local 121?segal must be right in this case-he's the puppy legislator who knows so much about everything-his parents probably chuckled when he spoke out of turn at the dinner table-just what we need in rhode island-a 26 year old rich kid who never had to support himself to lecture us-hold on!we already have one -patches kennedy-so david-why don't you move back to maryland?
  February 9, 2008 3:04 AM

• joe said:

  sherbet whitebread-the perfect example of the peter principle-rising to his level of incompetence-an empty suit with a noblesse oblige condescending attitude towards public service-he was an inadequate us attorney-fortunately he had good assistant prosecutors to keep his sorry ass afloat in that job-then state attorney general-he couldn't keep a 15 year old witness safe because his knowledge of just how dangerous certain criminals in this state are was dangerously deficient,as is common with "to the manor born"scions of privilege-when he ran for senate,he blathered on about his "fatha's" accomplishments-probably true enough,but he was the one running for office-my knowledge of this loser is first hand and that is how i came by my opinion of him
  February 9, 2008 3:14 AM

• joe said:

  i am getting a laugh out of how walsh,crowley,and jerzyk rushed to post comforting messages to the thin skinned david segal,boy legislator-PPRI exists to promote the killing of fetuses,so why should they care about the feelings of a brat like segal?i'm not catholic,nor a member of any organized religion at all-guess i'm a no brand name believer -that said ,abortion doesn't have to be opposed on a religious basis-nat hentoff,a noted civil liberties advocate and an avowed atheist opposes abortion precisely because he is an atheist and believes that this life is all one has and doesn't think it should be taken away arbitrarily-then i look around at charley bakst and steven brown and think maybe it's too bad their mothers didn't exercise the choice they're always pushing as the right move for everyone else
  February 9, 2008 3:16 PM

• jen coleslaw said:

  Wow. That is easily the longest, craziest run on sentence ever. I think it is unfortunate that with all the actual bad guys in RI politics, that Planned Parenthood decided to try to make some sort of point with Rep Segal's support. Biting the hand that feeds eventually comes around to biting you on the ass...
  February 9, 2008 3:31 PM

• Mike said:

  Joe, You say many great things but PLEASE start to use standard punctuation, capitalization, periods and paragraphs. One long run-on sentence in lowercase is way too hard on the eyes. Thank You.
  February 9, 2008 3:41 PM

• joe said:

  I plead guilty to run-on sentences.Jen,I'm not crazy anymore than the next guy;just angry and opinionated. Mike-point taken buddy.My wife and daughter are teachers and have frequently brought up my prejudice against paragraphs,punctation,etc.
  February 9, 2008 4:36 PM

• Jen Carter said:

  I just came across this "article" and am amazed that you did not include Christopher Young, WHO RECEIVED 26% OF THE VOTE FOR MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE IN 2006, in your list. He should have been first on the list!  I can see that you have no interest in the truth or journalism - So, Providence Phoenix, go on pushing your crooked agenda to the very few people who still read you as you keep your worthless rag afloat through ad money from the strip clubs that help to destroy our city - I'm sure it makes you feel important. I just thought you should know (and I'm sure you know this already) that you are going straight to hell.

  - Supporter of the true Mayor of Providence

  February 9, 2008 7:46 PM

• Eric S. said:

  Joe, you sound like a class act. And well-informed too!
  February 10, 2008 1:13 AM

• joe said:

  eric-your sarcasm is wasted on me because i could shit care less for opinions from the daily dose("dose" was an old nickname for gonorrhea)
  February 10, 2008 2:07 AM

• Andrew said:

  1. Is there any agreement what goes into the VP choice anymore? The last two winners were non-traditional political choices, Clinton choosing Gore despite the two candidates coming from the same region and sharing similar resumes, and Bush choosing Cheney more for his Washington experience than for any states he could deliver (though you could argue that the Cheney was chosen to reassure conservatives worried about the Bush's families less-than-conservative family history). The traditional attempts we've seen in the past few cycles, balancing Gore with Lieberman and Kerry with Edwards, didn't pay any dividends. Someone with more time on their hands than I have will have to analyze the meaning of the Dole-Kemp ticket. 2. The selection of a Christine Whitman-type blue-state liberal would, in one step, undo the rapprochement between McCain and conservatives that appears to be inching forward Now, Condoleezza Rice, on the other hand… 3. This election cycle has shown that the Republican habit of nominating the next-guy-line is as strong as ever, so that running for VP might be attractive to someone (Romney, Thompson) looking to run for President 4 or 8 years from now… 4. …except that, if many Republicans believe that a Goldwater-like landside against them is in the making (such rumbling were hinted at on Meet the Press this morning), candidates with Presidential aspirations may pass on the job this time around.
  February 10, 2008 9:59 PM

• Ian said:

  Thanks for the good comment, Andrew.
  February 11, 2008 3:10 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Dude, she she really say "more bluntly" ?
  February 12, 2008 2:34 AM

• Ian said:

  Whoa!
  February 12, 2008 2:17 PM

• Mike said:

  Can't think of a better place for the rich Communist scum from this school to go to. Maybe they can stay there like the Cubans who are imprisoned on this "progressive" island. Ian-you earn a few more points with this posting in your quest for the Walter Duranty award.
  February 12, 2008 2:48 PM

• Mike said:

  Respectable? LOL. His numbers went down 20% in one poll and this is before his brother's corruption trial involving Providence police begins later this year or the inevitable tax increases this year and next. More Walter Duranty brilliance from you.
  February 12, 2008 2:53 PM

• Ian said:

  At least you're not predictable, Mike. Anyone could anticipate that Cicilline's numbers would take a hit after the snow storm.
  February 12, 2008 3:10 PM

• Ian said:

  Mike, you win the Golden Troll award for using anonymity to spew your dyspepsia, hate, and bigotry.
  February 12, 2008 3:22 PM

• Andrew said:

  If the protesters block the sidewalks in front of the courthouse, should we expect Rep. Handy and Sen. Miller to introduce a bill to make their protest illegal? After all, the preamble of the current Handy/Miller bill does seem to apply... ===== (1) Preservation of public safety is a fundamental obligation of state government. (2) Pedestrians have a right to travel peacefully on Rhode Island streets and sidewalks. ===== Or maybe, in the Handy/Miller view of the world, we are just supposed to realize that it's obvious that "peace" protests are protected by the Constitution while right-to-life protests are not. p.s. My posting of the above comment in this forum should in no way be interpreted to mean that I believe that the proprietor(s) of this blog share the ridiculous anti-freedom views of State Rep. Arthur Handy and State Sen Joshua Miller.
  February 12, 2008 3:55 PM

• Ian said:

  Andrew, I gather that you saw my previous post about buffer zones, which noted that they are contentious subject.
  February 12, 2008 5:03 PM

• joe said:

  the whole point of robert's visit and the presence of non-violent deomnstrators is what this country's about-but i suspect many of the demonstrators would happily stifle dissent if they had power-it's not part of the marxist continuum
  February 12, 2008 6:28 PM

• joe said:

  personally i thought the insanity of new haven's mayor was a bigger story-making new haven a "sanctuary city"-but i may be wrong-my original argument that EXISTING law should be followed is what i base my position on-now ian,why not tell me where i am incorrect on this-and please spare me the "we're all descended from immigrants" crap-this is all about people sneaking in and thinking that act earns them full rights in this country-you'll probably do your usual skirting of a subject you're unprepared to debate honestly
  February 12, 2008 6:36 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  Word on the street is there will *definitely* be cake at the UrbanPlanet event.
  February 12, 2008 6:36 PM

• joe said:

  maybe these kids can take some time to examine the concentration camps for HIV positive cubans-and they better take a good supply of basics,like toilet paper,because there are severe shortages in the "people's paradise"- i believe these students ,like michael moore will be shown only a preselected panoply of "progressive"accomplishments-my wife's cousin lived in cuba with her husband and family for decades and has nothing but hatred for the communist system-she lived there because she didn't want to split up her family,but never gave up her us citizenship nor her love for this country-jerzyk,segal,bakst,handy,and all their friends would probably be liquidated as unreliable elements in a true communist state,but they can't bring themselves to believe that
  February 12, 2008 6:44 PM

• Ian said:

  Woo!
  February 12, 2008 7:42 PM

• Rhody said:

  Gio is silent, however, on the additional drop in Carcieri's approval rating. Rhode Islanders aren't opposed to Carcieri's solutions so much as they are to his attitude. If he just said something like, "Hey, we all have to tighten our belts a bit," he'd get much more support than he does from his bullying, fingerpointing tactics. People are more willing to make sacrifices when ALL are asked to make them. The First Lady's recent penchant for sticking her foot in her mouth doesn't help his cause, either.
  February 12, 2008 8:07 PM

• joe said:

  let's not even think of mentioning contributions from entities doing business and/or tgetting tax breaks from the city to the mayor's gubernatorial campaign war chest,the inexplicable hiring of state rep art handy for a city job,the total incompetence of the superintendent of schools and his administrative staff(can't even deduct correct FICA from teachers' salaries),and rampant crime that is subject to underreporting to make the chief look better
  February 12, 2008 9:57 PM

• tmm said:

  Good for speaking out, but what's his plan to get competent, solid Repub candidates to run for the GA seats and help out the Gov? This is where the state party consistently fails. And there's nothing to suggest that they're building a team for November.
  February 13, 2008 12:56 AM

• greeneyedstone said:

  I am posting here at the risk of incurring the wrath of many Obama supporters, but here goes.. I am imploring every RI Democrat to consider this. If Senator Obama wins the nomination and does not invite Senator Clinton to join his ticket, then this party stands a very good to excellent chance of fracturing and allowing Senator McCain a cakewalk to the White House. To that end I am hoping you will choose to support Senator Clinton, who understands that a united party is our only hope of returning to the White House, and will certainly invite Senator Obama should she win the nomination. Not what Obama fans want to hear I know, but if you"ve heard that Sen. Clinton is "polarizing", just wait until Sen. Obama tries to take on McCain alone. We need them both to win this thing.. I hope that is the message you will send on the 19th. I welcome all replies..
  February 13, 2008 9:09 AM

• greeneyedstone said:

  I implore all RI democrats to consider this: ANY Democrat is preferable to four more years of blood for oil. To that end I hope that you will all come out strongly for Senator Clinton who understands that she needs Senator Obama on a joint ticket to win this thing. If Senator Obama wins, the prospect of a joint ticket becomes far less likely and Senator McCain's chances of walzing into the Oval Office become far more likely. Without a joint ticket (I hate to say it,) but the possibility of our party splitting along Age, Gender and Racial lines becomes very possible. Senator Obama has been deliberately vague about his intentions should he secure the nomination. I say this. Without Senator Clinton his chances decrease exponentially. So support the Senator who understands that our strength lies with a united party. Vote Hillary!!! all comments welcomed!!
  February 13, 2008 9:26 AM

• joe said:

  MERI has a curious attitude-they don't support the rights of common law heterosexuals who for one reason or another cannot get married,just the homosexuals-well,i don't think they'll get what they want anytime soon except by judicial fiat as in Massachusetts
  February 13, 2008 7:18 PM

• jen coleslaw said:

  I think those are ALL the republicans in the entire state.
  February 13, 2008 9:28 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  What, No Gov? I know he was with Mitt, but c'mon, time give it up...
  February 14, 2008 12:23 PM

• Mike said:

  No Jen better stick to your coleslaw. The last 4 elections have seen 4 straight Republican governors and the dismemberment of your communist hopefull Myrth "Emma Goldman" York. Indeed, outside the Prov/Pawt/Central Falls "people's Republic" the Republicans have gotten 60% of the vote.
  February 14, 2008 1:52 PM

• joe said:

  crowley-why do you give a damn about who's on mccain's team?you have already come out for obama and personally i like it when liberals fall to fighting among themselves mike-"emma goldman"-haha right on the money
  February 14, 2008 2:04 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  My "500" figure is derived from the campaign having over 420 people sign-in and the reality that many, many people were unable to sign-in due to the crowd.
  February 14, 2008 3:52 PM

• Rhody said:

  No Laffey, either. I get a laugh out of how some Republicans could call McCain too liberal after he donned the kneepads for Bush at the '04 convention.
  February 14, 2008 5:40 PM

• Denise Smith said:

  Top Three Contributors to Ron Paul are U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force (2/14/08) Message of strong national defense and strictly following the Constitution resonates with American servicemen and women ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – According to opensecrets.org, the top three contributors to Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s campaign are from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force respectively. “No matter how you measure it, Dr. Paul has the support of our nation’s brave servicemen and women,” said Kent Snyder, Ron Paul 2008 campaign chairman. “His message of a strong national defense, and only going to war with a declaration of war – as mandated by the Constitution – resonates with those who risk their lives to defend that Constitution.” No branch of the military appears among the “top contributors” to GOP frontrunner John McCain’s campaign. Additionally, Ron Paul’s military contributions are greater than those of all other current candidates – John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama –combined. The “Top Contributors” figures can be found at www.opensecrets.org.
  February 15, 2008 12:08 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  She better bring cake for my birthday, and presents!
  February 15, 2008 7:52 PM

• joe said:

  ian-what makes you think that Hispanics somehow have an inbred tropism to slant left-nothing could be further from the truth-you think it's a choice between hillary and obama? my wife and her extended family are of Hispanic background-honduran,puerto rican,mexican,and cuban-and they think i'm a liberal for supporting mccain-they mostly supported romney based on the immigration issue!surprised?don't think that juan garcia,rick martinez,grace diaz,and juan pichardo are the last word on this in arizona 46% of Hispanic voters supported a provision that required proof of citizenship to vote(what is wrong with that?)-they don't want their franchise stolen any more than anyone else-i'm sure steven brown and matt jerzyk could explain why that's a bad law but i think they'd have a hard time convinccing the average person of that-please don't assume group behavior or beliefs-that is what racists do
  February 16, 2008 12:43 AM

• greeneyedstone said:

  I would like to invite all Democrats to join Senator Clinton on the 24. Senator Obama has shown me nothing except that he possibly knows how to read a teleprompter. We have weathermen that know how to as well... Probabaly the very reason he doesn't want to face Senator Clinton in heads-up debate any more than is absolutely necessary. Particularly in RI, where saavy voters know the difference between style, and substance... I don't think that Providence, in particular will be fooled by him. The man gets flustered any time a response requires a declarative statement. Rhode Island will see right through him. Go Hillary!!!
  February 16, 2008 12:47 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  I know, those damn rights are such fiat, aren't the Joe? Just like the Bill of Rights - those "special rights" all of us are entitled too..
  February 16, 2008 9:55 PM

• joe said:

  so f#####g what?as i understand it,winston churchill and harry truman made mccain sound refined-at least mccain puts his attitude right out there-i would love to hear hillary clinton anytime in the last few weeks with her staff-probably would get thrown out of a biker bar for foul languaue-i bet kurt waldheim didn't swear-oh,but he was a war criminal-at least he didn't have pottymouth
  February 16, 2008 11:35 PM

• joe said:

  i already got obama canvassers at my house-they didn't stay long,but it is nice to see young people engaged in something serious
  February 16, 2008 11:55 PM

• joe said:

  Mary Ann Sorrentino-i recall her as a talk show host and i know she writes a column for you,but there was one exchange with her that made me think very little of her. She made disparaging comments about why military personnel had to wear silly ribbons and medals on their uniforms(she never missed a chance to call veterans"men in funny hats",and not in a nice way either)-i called in and told her those "silly ribbons"were references to whatever accomplishments,awards,and deployments the service member had received or performed and i asked her in return why Brown professors had to parade through College Hill each May wearing silly puffy hats and robes like children playing dress up.She very testily retorted that those outfits represented the various academic disciplines and dated from the middle ages.I got really pissed off and told her if those of us who wore the "funny hats" hadn't put our rear ends on the line for this country and sometimes came back damaged or not at all she and the professors might not enjoy the liberty they had. Consequently,Ms.Sorrentino's opinion is of no consequence in my book.I think she disdains the governor because he doesn't share her passion for aborting fetuses.
  February 17, 2008 4:42 AM

• InformedLatino said:

  As a Latino, I am amazed at the extent to which some Latinos display their ignorance about black people. Lest they forget that black people played a major role in shaping the Latino culture and defining who we are as people. The Latino dance (salsa, meringue etc), music and musical instruments are African in their origin. They were brought to the SA continent by African Slaves and their descendants. I am so fed up with all the "Latino don’t like black people" talk played by the media and some ignorant Latinos in this election. A large chunk of Latinos are descendants of African slaves. The Latino community in general is not monolithic, but racially diverse. We have Latinos of African, European, Asian and Native Indian descents. Ex-President Fujimore of Chile is a good example of a Latino of Asian descent. President Chavez of Venezuela and Lula of Brazil were born to a family of African, Native American and European stock. However, they were certainly not among the first or the most famous Latinos of African Origin. That honor belongs to Mexico's Vicente Guerrero. Vicente Guerrero was a towering figure in the Americas, masterfully commanding Mexico's liberation army during much of its independence movement, and later assuming his country's presidency (on April 1st, 1819) where he fought off foreign invaders. Those Latinos who won’t vote for Obama or a black candidate simply for being black are ignorant fools who need some lessons in their own cultural history.
  February 17, 2008 5:09 AM

• joe said:

  if the company is using temp workers the temp agency has the legal responsibility to check the status of their employees,not the company to whom they are dispatched,because they are not employees of that company-many temp agencies hiring illegal aliens are owned and operated by members of their own ethnic communities(not only Hispanic by any means)who are exploiting them-it's the "who got here first" syndrome that leads some people to rip off their own -karen lee ziner by the way,has been an advocate for illegal aliens rather than a reporter-what great solution have you got for this?legalize everybody?i think the Maselli bill is a good start-i am sure you will disagree,but that's your prerogative-as far back as i can recall as an INS agent unsafe working conditions have existed where the workforce is "underground"-there were two incidents in the Chicago when i worked there-one involved some workers who died of cyanide poisoning at a silver recovery factory and 7 workers who died after the wrong chemicals were mixed inadvertantly at a hide stripping plant-a number of agents,myself included were injured or made severely ill by environmental hazards at such places because we were not issued safety equipment and routinely went into very dangerous industrial sites which we were not familiar with and got into chases,fights,searches,etc with no regard for what was there-i remember being covered in pcb's after subduing a man who fled into a drainage pit-i'd have loved for steven brown or karen lee ziner to have come along for the ride
  February 18, 2008 3:07 AM

• Ian said:

  Joe, if you read Ziner's story, you will see that she examined the role of the temp agency. It seems clear that various people look the other way under the status quo. I disagree with your characterization of Ziner as an advocate. Isn't it newsworthy to report on unsafe working conditions -- including those you describe -- and how certain workers appear to be suffering a greater proportion of work-related injuries?
  February 18, 2008 2:14 PM

• joe said:

  i was sure you would disagree with me about karen lee ziner-it's the totality of her stories on immigration that have a cumulative slant in favor of illegal aliens-i remember when lee dykas reported on crimes committed by aliens and alien smuggling back in the 80's-the story was reported-there was no subtext of good alien vs.evil oppressive government-the ICE agents are executing frderal laws-and we live in a country of laws-if you want to expound in this blog about how illegal aliens are getting a raw deal,or jerzyk wants to do the same on ri's future,well,it's your opinions-nobody will mistake your blogs for news sources-more akin to columns which are expected to take a side and which elicit responses in opposition such as mine
  February 18, 2008 3:01 PM

• Ian said:

  I wasn't sure what you would do, Joe, but you didn't answer my question. If someone suffers a debilitating injury in an industrial accident, it's news -- regardless of whether the person is a citizen or an illegal immigrant. How does Ziner's story advocate for illegal immigration? It doesn't. Is there some opinion on this blog? Yes, but plenty of stories are first reported here.
  February 18, 2008 4:26 PM

• joe said:

  ian-to answer your question it is news that karen lee ziner reported-i'm referring to the whole body of her writing regarding immigration matters-she seems to have an agenda of sympathy for illegal aliens-it comes through in her stories-the injury certainly is worth reporting,whoever got injured-do you think i consider illegal aliens less worthy as humans than myself or anyone else?no-they are just breaking the law-i always viewed the ones who hadn't engaged in criminal activity as basically traffic violators(didn't stop at the border)but the bottom line was that i had a job to do which was get them started on the way home-if your are professional about your job-reporter,law enforcement,whatever, you have to try to keep personal feelings from intruding into the conduct of your work-and none of us is flawless at that,but you have to do your best to limit it- and i wasn't saying that you never break stories here,it's just that you are up front that this blog is YOUR take on the news-nothing wrong with that-but when you write a news story for the Phoenix i've noticed you have less opinionated content than here
  February 19, 2008 5:49 AM

• Ian said:

  I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on Ziner, Joe. In terms of the difference between my print reporting and my blogging, I think it's common that blogs are more opinionated.
  February 19, 2008 2:46 PM

• Mike said:

  If you credit the aptly named Professor "Bogus" what the Second Amendment REALLY says is "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed-unless the government says so". One can only wish that the Democrat party would adopt this stance as a requirement for all its Congressional candidates. Here is a ditty which hangs in a Vermont gun store: Not The Left Not The State Gun Owners Alone Decide Our Fate
  February 20, 2008 12:14 AM

• Pat Crowley said:

  AS someone else who was there for the 200th victory, but doesn't remember too much of it, I'd rather see Schilling go out while on top.
  February 20, 2008 12:15 AM

• Mike said:

  Without a trace of facetiousness let me say that no one would make a more appropriate and representative candidate for Governor than this corrupt, semi-literate creature.
  February 20, 2008 12:17 AM

• Mike said:

  How about Jewish Atheist Princess Political Action Commitee or JAP-PAC. Got to love Newsmakers with you and this creature on. a representative of the far, far left and one of the far, far, far left. About as indicative of the MAJORITY of RI who never voted for Myrth York and want illegals booted in the ass as your choices of contributors to the Phoenix. Ian "Walter Duranty" Donnis.
  February 21, 2008 12:23 AM

• rhody said:

  Ms. Lawless must be doing something right if she's attracting anti-Semetic cheap shots.
  February 21, 2008 6:13 AM

• Andrew said:

  My erudite point: I find Kennedy's mention of "Clinton's graceless 'concession' speech" to be very interesting. As much as Howard Dean's scream itself was part of his undoing in 2004, I've always thought the tone of the speech it was surrounded by – "I wasn't planning on losing these caucuses, so I'm going to pretend it didn't happen" -- also played a role. When people have a nagging fear that someone may be, to steal a phrase from Thomas Sowell, a little too eager in their pursuit of power over other people's lives, displaying public behavior detached from reality does nothing to assuage that fear. And, as is widely understood in the realm of sports, Americans are just plain turned off by people who make claims like "My team may have lost nine in a row, but we're still the better team". My point is, I think Kennedy's point about Hillary Clinton's behavior slowing down the natural tendency of the media to try to bring down the frontrunner in the form of Barack Obama is more prescient than he realizes. My less-erudite point: Just because the Republicans can be counted on "paint the Democratic nominee, either Clinton or Obama, as some kind of widly dangerous hyper-liberal" doesn't mean it isn't true!
  February 22, 2008 3:00 PM

• Dan Kennedy said:

  Andrew: Thank you, although I'm not sure why you think I didn't know what I was saying. I stumble on the truth infrequently enough as it is. When I succeed, I'd like to think I'm aware of it.
  February 22, 2008 3:42 PM

• Andrew said:

  Dan, I hope I didn’t give any offense, I certainly didn’t mean to. It’s not that I thought that you didn’t know what you were saying, it’s that I think that it has a much broader scope than media impact alone. Senator Clinton’s insistence on presenting herself as the inevitable frontrunner -- no matter what the voters in a long string of consecutive states say -- is going to turn voters off, regardless of the kind of coverage she receives.
  February 22, 2008 5:07 PM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian, not for nothing but why are you giving credence to a story where BOTH subjects deny anything took place while the federal court case of Larry Sinclair Vs. Barack Obama, et. al, which has been reported by the Cleveland Dealer and semi-mainsteam sources such as the Smoking Gun and Jeff rense nationwide radio show is ignored? Sinclair, in his federal court case, claims he had a 1999 cocaine and gay sex romp with Obama. http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/4766 http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0214081obama1.html http://www.gaywired.com/NewsArticle.cfm?Section=66&id=18245&CFID=18617804&CFTOKEN=50608480 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56626 http://www.whitehouse.com/
  February 22, 2008 8:07 PM

• jen coleslaw said:

  Why oh why does she spell it "Park Avenue Puppy's?" that just drives me insane! Puppy's what? Store?
  February 22, 2008 8:12 PM

• Mike said:

  Actually Ian, you will be happy to learn that the Larry Sinclair drug and sex allegations were alluded to on Billl O'Reilly's TV show last night to about 3 million people. So mainstream media coverage may be coming soon. For the O'reilly clip, go to: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/22/oreilly-unfounded-rumor
  February 22, 2008 8:27 PM

• Andrew said:

  Gio and -- with all due respect to the Phoenix -- the Web's coolest newspaper seem to be on the same page here. From "Steven Henley" in the Onion... "Well I was going to vote for him out of hope, but I suppose voting for him out of fear and intimidation is just as good." http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/teamsters_endorse_obama
  February 23, 2008 2:40 AM

• Bob said:

  Obama also seems to have a fairly extensive cable TV buy as well (CNBC, WB, etc.)
  February 24, 2008 1:51 AM

• Mike said:

  By what progressive math does a 52-40 lead translate to "8 points"? Probably the same math that gives us "zero" Phoenix contributors from the MAJORITY of the state that voted for Carcieri and wants illegals kicked out of the country. Ian "Walter Duranty" Donnis.
  February 24, 2008 2:36 PM

• Bob said:

  What was the turnout like at RIC?
  February 24, 2008 8:39 PM

• RIC Expert said:

  The capacity at the RIC auditorium - which is listed in plain view on the wall - is 1,500 people. 5,000 people? About as inflated as Clinton's hopes at winning!
  February 24, 2008 10:17 PM

• Michelle said:

  What's with the Clinton campaign's use of the royal "We"? Have They not realized Their Candidate is not Entitled to this Nomination, to Randomly capitalize Words, or misuse Punctuation and Grammar?
  February 26, 2008 9:09 PM

• Mike said:

  Will Esserman be taking him and his entrouage to the Capital Grille on taxpayers dime?
  February 27, 2008 11:51 PM

• Mike said:

  The governor's aide was beaten sensless and suffered lifelong injuries while Chief Quarter Mil charged it as a mideamenor! If a governor's aide gets this treatment we can only imagine what gets put over on the illiterate Third Worlders who make up the bulk of the city east of South Main St. Yet another Fat Sissy cover-up you WON'T be reading in the Phoenix, aka Izvestia.
  February 27, 2008 11:56 PM

• Mike said:

  Should be "west of South Main St."
  February 27, 2008 11:58 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  "Bottom line: It would require a more extensive investigation -- which would be incredibly time-consuming -- to offer a definitive answer to the provocative question raised in his report." Well shouldn't that be an investigative reporter's job? To do a thorough, time-consuming, and extensive investigation. I don't want to be too rude, but most "investigative reports" on Providence television and Jim Hummel in particular, are worthless. Why even broach the subject if you aren't going to do any leg work? Oh, is it sweeps month?
  February 28, 2008 2:55 AM

• Ian said:

  Mike, I agree that the assault to which you refer seemed undercharged. You're out of your tree, though, if you think the PD was in better shape in the pre-Essserman era. Jef, I'm of the impression that Hummel did put a lot of time into his research. However, and particularly in this current moment, news orgs. have a lot less leeway to cut reporters loose than in the past. And as Ch. 6's chief reporter, Hummel does not have the luxury of working on just one story for months and months at a time.
  February 28, 2008 2:29 PM

• Charles Drago said:

  A PRELIMINARY RESPONSE TO MS. BRAYTON AND HER BOSS; AN EXERCISE IN LOGIC An initial attempt to respond to Ms. Brayton, whose original letter copy is enclosed in quotes. "I am writing with regard to your February 26, 2008 story about Providence crime statistics as reported by Jim Hummel. I believe it displayed a serious breach of journalistic standards for broadcast news. Very serious accusations were made that undermine the integrity of the men and women of the Providence Police Department." -- Wrong. This is a tired rhetorical trick. Mr. Hummel's accusations undermine the integrity of a small group of officers and their civilian overseers -- and by definition supports the rest of the department. "Below are the assertions made in the story, and the reasons why they did not meet the standard. "1. Assertion that Providence's drop in crime is exaggerated. "Mr. Hummel claims to "cast doubt" that crime is down 30% since 2002 in Providence, but never presented evidence to the contrary. The reporting did not dispute that there were 4,218 fewer incidents of Part I crime in 2007 than in 2002. It only addressed the classification of crime." -- Correct -- it only addressed issues related to classification. So don't try to set up a straw man by stating the obvious with an air of discovery, not to metion with the intention to confuse. "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out, statistics that show a steep drop in crime where a change in classification is impossible - the murder rate and the victim of gunshot rate. From 2002 to 2007, murders dropped 39%. Gunshot victims dropped 45%." -- Correct. Mr. Hummel was not interested in discussing statistics that were immune to manipulation. Ms. Brayton, you cite them, non sequitur, in order to prejudice your response. "2. Assertion that the Providence Police "downgrade" crimes "The Providence Police are devoted to total accuracy in crime reporting and welcome any fair and thoughtful review. Accurate crime data is one of the chief reasons behind the success of the Providence Police. It determines crime prevention strategies. It is critical to knowing exactly where, when, and what kinds of crime have taken place." -- Now that's reassuring. Let's all agree to take you up on the offer. "Mr. Hummel made an insinuation about a department-wide conspiracy based on three incidents (there were roughly 9,821 Part I crime incidents last year). The allegations came from anonymous sources and one former union president, who had made discredited claims against Department leadership in the past." -- Again, Mr. Hummel did not charge an entire police department with manipulation of statistics, but only a small percentage of that force plus its civilian overseers. Stop trying to play the conspiracy card, which you deal as part of an ad hominem attack on Mr. Hummel. "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out of the story, the system for reviewing crime classification. Command staff and Lieutenants review classifications in a setting that includes community partners and law enforcement partners." -- Apparently not always. "Regularly present at these meetings are the U.S. Attorney, members of the Office of the Attorney General, and FBI officers. Instead Mr. Hummel reported a second-hand rumor about a meeting, and did not report that the PPD contradicts the account." -- "Apparently not always. And do you seriously expect Mr. Hummel to state the obvious: that "the PPD contradicts the account"? "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out, dozens of crimes that were "upgraded" in the process of review, including specific cases to which he was given access." -- Well by all means share those "upgrade" statistics, Ms. Brayton - perhaps within the context of your aforementioned and endorsed "fair and thoughtful review." And by the way, I'd add "impartial" to that list of adjectives. "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out of the story, that after a similar allegation made by two members of the Providence City Council, the PPD asked for a review by the State Police. The State Police review found the data to be accurate." -- Irrelevant to this discussion. We are at a different point in time, and allegations are being made by different individuals. "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out, the broader context of the three incident reports used in his story. (descriptions omitted; see Ms. Brayton's original statement for details)" -- Fine. Let's let the proposed review panel decide on the issue of context. "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out, that the same sources of many of these allegations also told Mr. Hummel that they "knew about parking ticket fixing" by the Chief of Police. The Chief presented Mr. Hummel with evidence to completely discredit the source's allegations. Mr. Hummel still based his story on their other allegations." -- So it's once wrong, always wrong, is it? Are you prepared to hold your boss to that standard? "Mr. Hummel knew, but deliberately chose to leave out, that his single on-the-record source, Robert Paniccia is the former head of the Fraternal Order of Police Union. Mr. Hummel deliberately chose to leave out that Paniccia had a highly adversarial relationship with the Department over many issues." -- Ms. Brayton, your union-bashing genes are showing. Your anti-organized labor stance is in keeping with that of your boss, and we would expect nothing less from you. "Mr. Hummel deliberately chose to leave out that Mr. Paniccia had falsely claimed that PPD leadership planted a surveillance device in a patrol office in the highly publicized 'blinky light' incident." -- My recollection is that the device originally was unidentified and deemed suspicious. Surely you are not claiming that Mr. Paniccia deliberately filed a false claim. Or are you? If so, please be specific rather than simply appear to be libelous. "I think you will agree that this story falls far short of the journalistic standards that this community expects. The subject of crime affects everyone in our community: residents, business owners, tourists and prospective investors. I hope you will take appropriate action, including a sincere, on-air apology to the men and women of the Providence Police Department." -- I think you will agree that the "pass" given your boss by self-styled journalists in this town is despicable. Wait a minute ... no you won't. But I suggest that you get used to this sort of thing, for your Emperor is, not to put too fine a point on it, bare-ass, and he no longer can intimidate anyone of substance to compliment him on his wardrobe. As for an apology owed to the "men and women of the Providence Police Department: When will your boss draft one? ***** So much for Ms. Brayton. Let's conclude with a bit of logic: If Jim Hummel's report is sound, then ... An unaware Col. Dean Esserman either has presided over a Police Department whose officers wilfully manipulate data to project a false decrease in violent crime in Providence, in which case he is incompetent and should be fired, or ... Col. Esserman is complicit in the manipulation, in which case he is at best an untrustworthy public servant and at worst a felon and should be fired, and/or ... Mayor David Cicilline is ignorant of the manipulation, in which case he is incompetent and should be recalled, or ... Mayor Cicilline is aware of the manipulation and has not stopped it, in which case he is an accessory to the act and should be recalled, or ... Mayor Cicilline is an active participant in the manipulation, in which case he is at best an untrustworthy public servant and at worst a felon and should be recalled. So there are two, and to my mind ONLY two, ways to get to the truth: 1. Take Cicilline's "word." 2. Empower a truly independent investigative body to provide answers quickly, authoritatively, and substantively. Of course, should you lean toward number 1, you might also continue to accept George Bush's word that there WERE SO WMD in Iraq.
  February 28, 2008 11:06 PM

• Mike said:

  The star of the Fat Sissy and Chief Quarter Mil is rapidly falling and all the "bend over" putative Journalism from Providence dailies and weeklies ain't going to change that. 85 murders under Chief Quarter Mil. More by far than the rest of the state COMBINED even though Providence has less than 16% of the state's population. Disgracefull.
  February 29, 2008 1:49 AM

• Mike said:

  "Not Guilty" Plea of the fat perverted, mincing, lisping freak's brother in federal court to corruption charges involving police still on the force under Chief Quarter Mil.
  February 29, 2008 1:53 AM

• Julio C. said:

  Tony Mendez was incorrectly included in this list. He has NOT endorsed Hillary Clinton. The Clinton campaign was asked to do a retraction and they said that they contacted media outlets accordingly. Please edit your post.
  February 29, 2008 5:15 PM

• Ian said:

  I have not heard from the Clinton campaign on this. Tony can feel free to contact me directly.
  February 29, 2008 7:31 PM

• tipster said:

  well, this was in Jack Reed's weekend schedule email sent out just after noon: Senator Jack Reed’s Schedule for February 29, March 1, and March 3 Friday, February 29, 2008 7:30 PM Senator Jack Reed will attend the annual Providence Newspaper Guild Follies. LOCATION: Venus deMilo Swansea, MA
  February 29, 2008 8:51 PM

• Ian said:

  I believe the senator is a regular and a previous Mystery Guest, so I don't think it's him.
  February 29, 2008 9:52 PM

• Mike said:

  Whew! Sure glad segal has his baby killing credentials back in order.
  March 1, 2008 12:02 AM

• joe said:

  I cannot have an intelligent opinion on the issue of crime reporting because i don't have all the facts and they are difficult to determine in such a subjective situation as classifying a specific incident. However the segment on the Chief's compensation package was very enlightening and contained enough comparative information to be raise serious questions about the amount of money being spent by both taxpayers and a private institution on this individual. I have two serious complaints about Esserman's policies-first the "Lucky Seven" matter which involved the circumvention of the criminal justice system in the case of seven drug dealers operating in the Lockwood area.At the behest of the Urban League in the person of Dennis Langley this specific group of seven African-American males from a very limited geographic area in the city were afforded treatment not available to anyone else-if they were deserving of a second chance there are two mechanisms that could have been employed in the judicial system-deferred sentencing and/or pretrial diversion,both of which would involve a decision by a judicial officer based on individual factors in each case.What was done in fact set up a special class which an attorney for a defendant not in this very limited group could use as the basis for a violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution. The second issue I recall was that the Chief supported the Almeida-Perry Bill last year which would have effectively prevented the police and ICE from cooperating-this abominable bill,which I testified against was opposed by every other Chief in the state.Something tells me that Esserman is not right when almost 40 other individuals in his position oppose him on this issue. The Chief's demeanor in the second interview with Hummel was arrogant and quite frankly smartass,which is unbecoming his office. Lastly,this Chief never served on the street as a rank and file officer of any kind,which in my opinion,after serving 21 years on the street,makes him unfit for the position by virtue of the fact that he cannot understand the people he commands.
  March 1, 2008 1:25 PM

• Tom Kenney said:

  Esserman Fudges and Cicilline Lies The recent disclosure of Police Chief Dean Esserman’s falsifying crime data from the City of Providence as reported by ABC6 may have come as a big surprise to many in the state, but for Providence police officers and firefighters this was old news. We are the ones who patrol the streets of the capitol city day and night – each and every day. We are the ones who respond to the aftermath of violent crime on our streets. We see the evidence that violent and serious crime has not dropped in the manner the statistics ‘seem’ to show – in fact I seriously doubt that it has dropped at all since Chief Esserman has taken command of the Providence Police Department. Who can really say? We have no credible numbers either way. The Chief himself has seen to that. From day one his mission has been to ‘show’ that crime is down as the result of his leadership. It didn’t really matter to him if the numbers were true or not – only that the perception and the ‘statistics’ were accepted as the truth. I have spent many nights at the scene of a violent crime talking to other firefighters and police officers. If it has been a fairly busy time period for these types of crimes, inevitably the conversation turns to the Chief. “Colonel Esserman is gonna be pissed Monday morning,” someone would say. We all understood what that meant. The Colonel just didn’t accept bad numbers when it came to serious crime. ‘Someone’ was going to have to make them go away. His contract with the city and his resume for prospective jobs after Providence depended on the statistics showing a drop in the crime rate - motive. This is what he knows – pushing papers and compiling reports. If he had ever worked a beat on the streets as a ‘real’ cop, the ‘real’ crime rate would be important to him. He has not. For Mayor Cicilline to state that he had never heard that the Providence Police Department’s numbers on the drop in violent crime were inaccurate is either a downright lie or he is a worse administrator than even I had believed. In my opinion Mayor Cicilline was complicit in the falsifying of the official statistics. He had much to gain by having the reports show that crime was on the decline in the city. He had much to lose if the crime rate rose. By spouting the declining crime rate he justified the exorbitant salary he was paying Esserman and he could use these statistics to lure commerce into the city. Surely, if the crime rate rose (or didn’t decline enough) he would be held to task by the Providence City Council, and ultimately the voters, for paying the Colonel more than twice the amount of money that any other previous Providence Police Chief. Mayor Cicilline has motive to lie about the statistics and to deny any knowledge of tampering with the numbers. He also has motive to stand behind Colonel Esserman at this point. It could only hurt him to waver in his commitment to such a high-priced administrator. If a scandal on this issue takes the Chief down, the mayor can assert that he has been bilked also. The problem with this, however, is that (as ABC6 reported) the Colonel’s contract would force the city to pay Esserman an exorbitant buyout. This contract was negotiated by the mayor. The anti-corruption, honest government administration of David Cicilline has only begun to show some of the cracks in its foundation. Mismanagement of the school department by the only present member of Cicilline’s administration who earns more than Esserman, Superintendent Evans, has shown itself in the recent test scores of Providence school children. The Mayor, the Police Chief and the Superintendent were equally responsible for the fiasco in December regarding the school buses stuck in the snow. Instead of taking responsibility for their actions (or lack thereof), the Mayor found a scapegoat who was not one of his ‘inner’ circle – the EMA Director. Business as usual in the Cicilline Administration. Lt. Tom Kenney Providence Fire Department
  March 1, 2008 2:38 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian, The fun is always in who didn't show up. Did the Governor show this year? Buddy Cianci? Guy Dufault? That's what we want to know. Who stiffed the Projo Guild not who pandered.
  March 1, 2008 6:51 PM

• rhody said:

  If Kerry had told his jokes and given Obama a quick plug, it would've been cool. But he did not to pull out the boilerplate stump speech at a night of music and comedy - it killed the show's momentum, and the cast and crew had to work its collective arse off to get it back. As an Obama supporter, I was disappointed to see Kerry hijack the show (one cast member timed him out at 17 minutes).
  March 1, 2008 9:27 PM

• Linda said:

  rhody, kerry was allowed to wallow for 17 minutes? oh my god! who makes the decision on something like that? since it's a highly liberal newspaper does the guild ever invite republicans to participate? ian, my question from below is who did not show up? that's always the interesting scenario at events like these. did the governor show this year? buddy cianci? was cianci even invited? how about guy dufault?
  March 1, 2008 11:03 PM

• Ian said:

  Linda, as Guild members might hasten to tell you, there's a bit of a distinction between ProJo management, which is not involved in staging the Follies, and the Guild, which is. Republicans were in attendance, including party chair Gio Cicione. I did not see the governor at the event, but I don't know whether he attended. I didn't see Cianci or Dufault, either.
  March 1, 2008 11:46 PM

• Rose said:

  I know first hand that this is BS the reason the crime rate has dropped is because the Providence Police do NOT make police reports know wonder the rate is low or they charge someone with a lower crime or let them go. I know this first hand my husband and 15 month old at the time were assaulted by scumbag family members they busted our mirrors to our automobile tried to get into it and pulled out a gun my husband had no where to go seeing they stopped there auto mobile in front of ours there were cars in back of him and traffic traveling in the opposite direction he drove up on the sidewalk and street to make sure our baby would not get shot striking two of them. He went to the Providence Police Station and was told to wait he waited over 45 minutes He was arrested and they went free one sargent said don't worry it was self- defense the detectives never even spoke to my husband or me even though I called the detective everyday and left messages to see how the investigation was going finally he called me and said the investigation is over ( the same day) there never was one they finger printed our auto mobile which there prints were all over it but the Providence Police said they Lost them how convenient My baby could of been killed and they did not care to make a long story short my husband received 10 years on a probation violation (32f) where is the JUSTICE???
  March 2, 2008 4:48 PM

• Rose again said:

  Now to continue 6 months later I went to pay my rent with three of my younger children ages 21 months,5 years old and one day short of being 12 while I was parked getting the money order out my scumbag in laws started bagging on my auto mobile calling me a snitch and surrounded it my scumbag mother in law (which is not my husband mother she is five years older than us) handed my sister in law a knife to try to stab me my brother in law said I was going die and its coming soon no one even helped us mind you this is on a busy Providence street people were watching as if it was t.v show. I'm on my horn blowing it at yelling for help and trying to keep a eye on my children and them at the same time I did have a cell phone but I couldn't remember 911's number which I'll never forgive myself for that. Finally one person came out of the building and they left. I called the police my children were crying and scared the police took a half hour to get there. The police report says threats and they are still not arrested well my children are all in counseling my baby has P.T.S.D my five year old has depression,anxiety,nightmares,separation disorder and anger. My 12 year old has a lot of Anger gee I wonder why. Now where is the justice once again none. The Providence Police are doing such a great job explain that to my children. I can't even put a restraining order on these scumbags they move to much. Maybe the police will do there job when they kill my children or me but then again we are talking about Providence Police they are useless and inept.
  March 2, 2008 6:07 PM

• rhody said:

  Somehow, my earlier comment didn't make it on. I didn't see Dufault, but my sister claims she did. Linda, the Follies has had Republican mystery guests before (and the state GOP did have a table this year). Believe me, if The Don was interested in the mystery guest slot, he'd be more than welcome - his staff had a table, and I'm sure some of them begged him to do it. Problem is, from what I understand, Sue can't take the heat (or the jokes), so she keeps Don out of the kitchen. If you had attended, you'd have found Dems on the receiving end of the vast majority of jokes, songs and skits. You'll be entertained, no matter which side of the spectrum you're on.
  March 3, 2008 4:15 AM

• joe said:

  for some reason obama is being confused with rep.keith ellison of minnesota who refused to be sworn in on on the bible and instead wanted to use the koran-ellison is in fact a muslim and i believe the only one in congress-his name interestingly enough gives no clue to his religion
  March 4, 2008 2:12 PM

• Mike said:

  She kicked his butt, winning the non-black vote roughly 2-1 in RI, TX and OH. He is proving to be able to get the Howard Dean vote plus blacks-and that's IT. I can't tell you how many people have said to me they were voting for HRC yesterday and if she lost, McCain in November.
  March 5, 2008 1:53 PM

• rhody said:

  If that were true, Limbaugh and Hannity would've been urging Republicans to vote for Obama. BTW, when did Obama become a bigger threat to conservatives than Hillary? It just makes their anti-Hillary screed of the past seven years seem like a lot of hooey now.
  March 5, 2008 9:05 PM

• JOE said:

  it is in the interest of every immigrant to learn english to facilitate a more easy relationship with their new home and to diminish the mistrust that might exist among those here who can't communicate with their new neighbors-and notice i mentioned immigrants-not ILLEGAL ALIENS
  March 5, 2008 9:40 PM

• Mike said:

  I'm talking about Democrats. The ones I meet-in the real world. Without Jerzyk/segal millions. Over 30. Working people. Virtually all of them said they were voting for HRC yesterday and IF she loses the nomination McCain in November. I voted for Ron Paul for the record who was re-elected in his district with 70% over a neo-con Zionist lover.
  March 6, 2008 12:48 AM

• rhody said:

  As an over-30 working person without millions (and oh yeah, I'm white, too), I'm tired of seeing Democratic presidential politics held hostage to Terry McAuliffe and Bob Shrum. Those two moneychangers don't give a damn about working people.
  March 6, 2008 1:29 AM

• Cageylefty said:

  Not a bad piece, sort of a Tickets 1a for those who don't know much about the issue. It's interesting to wonder why the "scalper" bill hasn't made its way through the Legislature yet after storming through the House. Is the Senate balking? What will the Gov do? Why don't we hear from the Attorney General on this -- in other states, AGs take a far more aggressive stand on resellers, automated bots, etc. Another interesting question is, how many tickets do the Sox allocate to local hotels who offer summer packages to guests, does that cut significantly into the available supply? Anyway, these issues are an ongoing debate among devotees and it's good to see some attention to them, even from a newspaper that has given Ace(-hole) Tickets a "Boston's Best" award. best scalpers, definitely ... Best, CL
  March 6, 2008 3:16 PM

• Mike said:

  Eveyone knows what needs to be done. Everyone knows the Democrats won't do it. we'll be like Chicago soon with a 10.25% sales tax. Just change the name to Deeeeeetroit Rast and flush it down the toilet.
  March 7, 2008 12:59 AM

• Mike said:

  Eveyone knows what needs to be done. Everyone knows the Democrats won't do it. we'll be like Chicago soon with a 10.25% sales tax. Just change the name to Deeeeeetroit EAST (not Rast) and flush it down the toilet.
  March 7, 2008 1:01 AM

• Michelle said:

  What 3 am foreign policy emergencies has Hillary Clinton ever had to deal with? She has no experience in this realm.
  March 7, 2008 1:11 AM

• Butchie from beyond the grave said:

  I think it's a little misleading to look at voter turnout in the primaries and judge that the dems will have a stronger turnout than the republicans in November. There hasn't been a race on the republican side in a few weeks and the democrat race is tight. Democratic voters believe their vote means something. A republican vote right now means nothing, so why bother? I think that's more the reason why the D's are turning out in better numbers than the R's right now.
  March 7, 2008 3:53 PM

• Butchie from beyond the grave said:

  Ian- I read your article and it is the usual that I hear from people who like to go to Sox games regularly. But the parts that I don't understand is why do people think that the law of supply and demand shouldn't apply here too? Some say the Red Sox are charging ridiculous amounts for their tickets. I'd say they're not charging enough. If there is still demand for tickets even after they're all sold, then they could have charged more. The main people who benefit when the team doesn't charge enough is the scalpers. If people are willing to pay $200 for a $100 ticket, the team should get that $200, not the scalpers. You briefly alluded to it in the story, but what's the alternative? Go back to the days when the best we could hope for was a 3rd place finish? It's really easy to get Bruins tickets now. Wasn't so easy in the Neely/Bourque late-80s. Same thing here. I'd much rather have the Red Sox be a perennial WS contender and not be able to get tickets than have an easy ticket situation and the Sox suck.
  March 7, 2008 4:01 PM

• Charles Drago said:

  We do indeed, as the Little Mayor boasts, "have a city government that looks like the city it serves" -- maximum shine, minimum substance, as over-hyped and vacuous as the twin-tower tombstones that loom over Waterplace Park. Which is what we deserve when we let elected dogs lie ... over and over again.
  March 7, 2008 9:53 PM

• Mike said:

  More articles like this Ian and you will slip from your frontrunners position for the Walter Duranty Award. If you actually have the balls (highly unlikely) to put this IN PRINT in next week Phoenix you will surely be out of the running.
  March 8, 2008 12:23 AM

• Mike said:

  Mary Landreie a "heavy favorite". Yow, these must be the same people that pedicted Governor York and Mayor Sisto.
  March 8, 2008 12:25 AM

• Ian said:

  Joe, please be civil in making your points. Mike, it's very funny to hear you talking about "having the balls," since you make your misguided points as a coward, from behind the veil of anonymity. And while the Phoenix generally isn't interested in republishing material from other sources, the fact that I raised this issue four years ago should tell you something.
  March 8, 2008 9:02 PM

• joe said:

  i don't recall using uncivil language in my post-and talk about cowardly-you delete the post and then criticize it so no one can see it and make up their own mind
  March 9, 2008 3:49 AM

• rhody said:

  Milestone? What milestone? These bastards just erased Rhode Island's only sports talk station. The whole SCORE crew was let go today.
  March 11, 2008 1:27 AM

• Christian Winthrop said:

  Tony: You are in my prayers my friend. Get well soon, Christian Winthrop
  March 11, 2008 2:59 AM

• Mike said:

  What a joke. People on walmart salaries go out and get $200,000 mortgages and then expect to be bailed out. It ain't happening.
  March 11, 2008 11:04 PM

• Mike said:

  A real joke from someone whose every family member has sucked on a government tit since the first Lynch arrived from County Morebooze.
  March 11, 2008 11:07 PM

• will said:

  Forget Clear Channel - Citadel is the new Enron of radio.
  March 12, 2008 7:27 AM

• Mike said:

  George Jefferson's real problem is that he is getting crushed amongst the non-elite white voters. All the blacks and a third of whites will be an electoral debacle. Mccain is leading in New Jersey! A vote for Obama is a vote for McCain. the blacks and leftists have nowhere to go in November. The Clinton voters do-and many will.
  March 12, 2008 1:33 PM

• rhody said:

  Geraldine may be an Italian-American, but that doesn't make her a mobster. If only she extended Obama the same consideration.
  March 12, 2008 3:18 PM

• Mike said:

  I have a good solution. Raise taxes even more to accelerate the flight from the state of businesses and productive people. Plus raise the taxes so more people will cross the border and buy online.
  March 12, 2008 10:57 PM

• Mike said:

  Without looking it up I believe while RI has the 4th highest taxes, NY slips ahead at number 3. Meanwhile Florida, run lock, stock and barrel by those evil right-wing Republican wackos just LOWERED its property taxes-without playing the whack-a-mole game of raising some other tax. Somebody's doing something right. It's not the left.
  March 12, 2008 11:06 PM

• Mike said:

  The Left doesn't get it. The party is split in half. Hillary has won the majority of the primary vote. The one where you vote like November; secret ballot, cast your vote and go home without being haranged by the latte left. Obama's people (blacks and leftists) have NO WHERE TO GO in November. The Clinton voters have a sane, popular, war hero who was smeared by the Bush/Rove machine to turn to-and many will. Don't doubt that for a minute.
  March 12, 2008 11:14 PM

• rhody said:

  The only flaw in that theory: Ridge is pro-choice, which is probably why Bush didn't choose him as a running mate. He might actually exacerbate McCain's waekness with the cultural Taliban.
  March 13, 2008 3:23 PM

• Mike said:

  Actually, if the Dummycrats nominate George Jefferson, who is getting a full third of the white primary vote, the perfect candidate will be Kay Bailey Hutchinson or even our neighborhing Jodi Rell.
  March 13, 2008 11:31 PM

• JoeO said:

  Wish I could say I'm surprised. . .
  March 14, 2008 1:13 AM

• JoeO said:

  This may be as good as Beacon Mutual.
  March 14, 2008 2:37 AM

• Do people want change? Yes said:

  If they're serious about tossing the good 'ol boys out of state government (Murphy, Montalbano and their enablers), I support 'em (and so should others). If it's all about pushing a socially conservative agenda on the people of this state, however...Houston, we have a problem.
  March 15, 2008 6:36 PM

• Mike said:

  He increased unfunded pension liability to a record $700 million He appointed the state's first $250,000 a year police chief His $190,000 School's chief was allowed to appoint his comatta to a $600 a day "consultant" job His brother goes to jail for fixing cases with Providence cops Better than this-he has brought back to Providence a sight unseen for 2 decades-boarded up houses For all these and more-the choice is clear Cicilline For governor!
  March 16, 2008 12:10 AM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Hey Ian - It would have been more accurate to list all of the RI elected officials on Facebook (Cicilline was not even close to being the first to sign up - Whitehouse used this in his 06 Senate race!). -Whitehouse -Kennedy -Langevin -Caprio
  March 16, 2008 6:57 PM

• Mike said:

  "Part of the last sentence -- "the shadow of postindustrial atrophy" -- sounds like a ringer for Rhode Island, where, despite high hopes among some Obama supporters, Hillary cleaned his clock, by 12 points." XXXX Clinton 58 Obama 40 Only in the mind of a biased self-styled "journalist" does this equal 12%. Source: real Clear politics Rhode Island 03/04 75,316 40.4% 108,949 58.4% Clinton +33,633 +18.0%
  March 17, 2008 5:20 PM

• Mike said:

  Who knows? Anyone who listens to Buddy's show! Do-Nothing Donnie got caught red handed putting his comatta on the payroll for a $600 a day "consulting'. score one for Buddy. score -1 the fat Leather Queen. score zero for self-proclaimed "journalist" Ian's reporting comattagate in this week's Phoenix.
  March 18, 2008 11:58 PM

• tmm said:

  How will we be able to hear him through his Donald Duck mask??
  March 20, 2008 1:35 AM

• tmm said:

  I would second Ian's comments. Jeff's been in many a difficult spot, but whether or not you agree with the Governor's policy decisions, even the critics have to admit that he has been an articulate advocate on the Gov's behalf.
  March 21, 2008 8:14 PM

• tmm said:

  Another theory to why Jeff is leaving...He just can't do the job without Kass around :)
  March 21, 2008 8:21 PM

• Mike said:

  8 Christian sites attacked. No rewards, no weeping and wailing, no coverage from anti-Christian "journalist" Ian Donnis. Anti-Christian graffiti mars churches By Herald wire services Saturday, March 22, 2008 - Added 11h ago E-mail Printable (0) Comments Text size Share (0) Rate Seven churches and a school in the Gardner area were defaced by anti-Christian graffiti which police said was aimed at people attending church on Good Friday. The vandal used expletives involving the name of Jesus and Mary and painted several upside down crosses. The messages included “Jesus is dead” and “You brainwashed zombies.” “People got up, they were seeing this stuff, it was terrible,” Gardner police Lt. Gerald Poirier said. “Whoever did this planned it on Good Friday for the biggest impact and shock value.” Poirier said the vandalism was spotted first at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at about 11 p.m. Thursday. The other vulgarities were seen yesterday morning at Gardner churches of various denominations, including Episcopal, Methodist and Baptist, as well as a Congregational church in Phillipston.
  March 22, 2008 12:18 PM

• Ian said:

  Mikey, last time I checked, Gardner wasn't too close to RI. And considering some of the bigoted remarks you've posted in the blogosphere, you don't exactly exuded credibility in this area.
  March 24, 2008 8:52 PM

• jen coleslaw said:

  I hope you were thanking your lucky stars like I was that we could actually see the game. I smell a DirecTV/ComCast sacrifice in the winds today. It is just a matter of time before those executives are called to the Senate to testify. Red Sox Nation will not be trifled with! Especially at 3am on the west coast and 6 am on the east!
  March 25, 2008 4:53 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  Sometimes, losing some "institutional memory" is good. Sometimes it is those who think the way it has always been is the way it always has to be and that is the attitude that stymies growth, innovation, and creativity.
  March 25, 2008 7:13 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  how much for left wing activists? Are we in for free?
  March 26, 2008 10:37 PM

• Mike said:

  I really wish you Communist dirtbags would raise the income tax on "da rich" to 99% so I can sit back in Florida and LAUGH at the results of such folly. Progressives-dim witted lucky spermers who can't add 2+2 without a calculator.
  March 27, 2008 11:56 PM

• Mike said:

  Most unsexiest man? MARCIA REBACK-LOL
  March 27, 2008 11:58 PM

• Rhody said:

  "Cut our taxes again or we'll move our businesses to Florida." I believe that's called extortion.
  March 28, 2008 12:59 AM

• Corey said:

  Is it really all that environmentally blighted, though? The state is full of the kind of thing that the rest of the country is only just now trying to reproduce: dense, urban population centers, with very low sprawl. Sure, the old mills are a task to clean up, but when you look at the over all land use and consumption patterns here versus places like Florida, Texas, and California, RI fares much better. That's why alternative energy is such a hot topic here. Rhode Island has quite possibly the most potential of any state to be completely sustainable in terms of energy sources (we already have the lowest energy consumption rate per capita of any US state).
  March 28, 2008 5:01 AM

• Ian said:

  Corey, I didn't mean to imply that the state is environmnally blighted at present. Rather, my point was that the old industrial age had a lot of adverse environmental impacts on rivers, etc.
  March 28, 2008 2:50 PM

• Mike said:

  Hey genius- It's not an "immigration" initiative it's a "don't give illegal scumbags any more" initiatiave.
  March 28, 2008 11:17 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Why all the hysteria?The Governor's initiative mainly concerned criminal aliens.Grace Diaz doesn't want to admit it,but she and the other enablers of immigration violators are the ones representing a narrow minority in the state. Are criminal aliens the new group of heroes for the "advocates"?It wouldn't surprise me.I knew they were going there anyway. The Governor is only trying to reinstitute a tracking system for illegal aliens in the criminal justice system that was in routine use for many years.Legal residents with certain convictions are also subject to deportation. The state should not be employing illegal aliens as contractors nor as state personnel.I know you won't answer this honestly,so I am probably wasting my time.
  March 29, 2008 3:22 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The heading of this article is nonsensical.It's like asking-what's a greater danger,SARS or trucks with defective brakes? Both issues merit coveraage.
  March 29, 2008 3:26 AM

• rhody said:

  Seeing a Latino member of the press really seemed to go up The Don's keester.
  March 29, 2008 4:55 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  I don't think the Governor knew Tony Mendez of 1110 Poder because I seriously doubt they invite him there to be interviewed.he asked who he represented-normal question because the press conference was for media questions only. I can't get over how Latinos think they own the immigration issue.i guess no one else comes here?There's racism in action for you.Did you hear Grace Diaz screaming at RIC for Latinos to vote for Hillary?Just insert "white" and another candidate's name and the whining would never cease.
  March 29, 2008 6:56 AM

• leprechaun said:

  Grace, Do you really expect anyone in their right mind to believe you wrote that statement to the press yourself and do you think anyone thinks YOU truly believe your own words . Let's give credit where credit's due . The credit should go to those persons who are directing your subversive motives and goals to ( at any cost ) ultimately LEGALIZE ILLEGAL ALIENS in R I . Maybe your local leaders Mr. Lynch and Mr. Grilo should stop protecting those directing your agenda and contemplate protecting Rhode Islands' Citizens and the LEGAL Immigrant population of our state.
  March 29, 2008 6:00 PM

• Linda said:

  As a proud American of Portuguese and Irish ancestry not sure which of these inflammatory hatemongers offends me more, the Democratic party JV team headed by Grace Diaz and Tim Grilo featuring Grilo and his lame and offensive use of the I am Portuguese card to somehow justify (in his mind only) his hateful missive or the suddenly silent Democratic party chairman Bill Lynch who avoids putting his name on the inflammatory rhetoric he sanctioned and ordered carried out by these underlings directly under his control. Shame on you Bill Lynch. Might be time for Lynch family friend Col. Brendan Doherty to pay Bill a visit. Attempts to inflame and incite violence against a sitting Governor are frowned upon by law enforcement. Except the AG of course!
  March 29, 2008 6:50 PM

• Rhody said:

  Bring the evidence, Linda.
  March 30, 2008 3:45 PM

• Mike said:

  there is no "immigration debate". The debate is whether every third world maggot should be allowed to sneak into the country and suck off the rest of us. 80% of the people in this "debate" are on one side. You, Jeryk, Segal and other rich communistic trash are on the other.
  March 31, 2008 11:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  A training manual for revolutionaries-a porno flick for Brown University trust fund "revolutionaries"
  March 31, 2008 11:23 PM

• forsanri said:

  I'll concede that there are great pieces of journalism from the print media--but they are not frequent enough. One of the tragic mistakes of this generation was overlooked by a complicit media in the run-up to the war in Iraq--the same media that willingly transcribed and amplified White House talking points as Gospel. And so it is fitting that Talking Points Memo has cast the new mold for journalism with a tenacious mindset to challenge the conventional assumptions. Josh Marshall has broken new ground in his work. Were our traditional media to adopt his mindset, perhaps we could be liberated from Britney, Paris, or the rest, and focused on what will make us great again. Blogs breed equality. What was once a one-way conversation to the uninformed masses has been transformed to a dialogue between the people and the media. And much to the MSM's surprise, we--the masses--are intelligent, enthusiastic, and tired of their ruse. This is not to say that the MSM should cease their work, but rather that we should approach their product with trepidation--knowing that they are fallible, corporate, and in many cases, elitists who compromise integrity in reporting for continued access to power-brokers. So there is a role for the Providence Journal, because Rhode Island's future depends on their vigilance. Thankfully, we have the Phoenix and your work to goad them into action. -Forsanri
  April 1, 2008 1:19 AM

• Ian said:

  You credit me too much, Forsanri, but thank you for your comments. Yes, the MSM did its job very badly in the runup to the war, and that's why the NYT and WP issued subsequent apologias.
  April 1, 2008 1:33 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  see-you "progressives" always heel to a "party line"-we conservatives are a little more independent of thought-i could s**t care less about Wright-I have five reasons not to vote for Obama; 1:gun control fanatic 2:wants amnesty for all illegal aliens 3.supports murder of infants(sorry-i meant to say partial birth abortion) 4:raise taxes on anyone(except trust fund babies like kennedy and whitehouse)who makes more than $50,000 a year 5:wants to re-create the 1975 holocaust in SE Asia by pulling out of Iraq overnight Joe Bernstein
  April 1, 2008 5:37 PM

• rhody said:

  Dennis & Callahan are the alleged sports talk act now that The Score is gone. They're basically a righty circus act - having Schilling and Tom Brady on weekly during their seasons is the fig leaf allowing them to continue to call themselves sports talk hosts. These are the guys who referred to a black kid in Boston photographed waiting for a bus to a suburban high school as a METCO gorilla. If I want to hear conservative frothing at the mouth, I'll put on John DePetro - at least he's local.
  April 1, 2008 7:50 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Saw this the other day and didn't have the scratch at the time. I'll pick it up tomorrow.
  April 2, 2008 12:46 AM

• MM said:

  Ian Along those same lines, there was a great piece in the New Yorker last week about the future of newspapers and how blogs can (and cannot) fill them. Lots on the HuffPost. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/31/080331fa_fact_alterman/?yrail
  April 2, 2008 1:20 AM

• Mike said:

  You and the rest of the lunactic leftist claque continue to play music while the ship is sinking.
  April 2, 2008 10:55 PM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian why don't you go to Washington or Havana or someplace your nutty ideas are taken seriously. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
  April 2, 2008 10:57 PM

• Ian said:

  You're the one who thinks it's "libertarian" to believe that gays should be allowed to live -- but not to run for public office -- and you're the one who's calling me "nutty"? Nice try.
  April 3, 2008 2:12 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian simply shocking (sarcasm fully intended) how you missed the two most meaningful comments from Col. Brendan Doherty. 1) "Rhode Island is not a sanctuary state" (Doherty has said this before now he has the tools to act via the Executive orders) 2) He attended the Diva and Dean dog and pony show today to support "the rank and file" of the Providence police dept. Little question there will be a much greater presence of the R.I. State police in the city of Providence in the coming months. A cops cop like Brendan Doherty has little respect for a faux-cop like Shiney badge Esserman and his sanctuary city disposition. Esserman's comments only serve to give illegals a very false sense of security in the city of Providence.
  April 3, 2008 7:45 PM

• Mike said:

  Chief Quarter Mil parrots the corrupt desires of his fat, mincing Leather Queen mayor. Cloud of corruption? What a joke. A police force exposed as faking crime statistics. The one crime they can't fake-murders-were up 27% from 06 to 07. A known child molester left on the force, with a gun, unsupervised, to molest yet another child. Last, but not least, the Sissy mayor's even fatter brother goes on trial next month in federal court. The charges? Corruption involving underlings of Chief Quarter Mil. rersult-complete silence from in the bag "journalists" like Ian "Walter Duranty" Donnis
  April 3, 2008 11:48 PM

• Mike said:

  I never said they shouldn't be allowed to run for public office-just that I wouldn't vote for them. I was in the model legislature in the early 80's and my proposals to repeal the sodomy laws got me more than a few askew looks despite my being built like a linebacker.
  April 3, 2008 11:55 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Esserman has joined the ranks of police and public officials across the country who have decided they will ignore laws that are not politically correct in their estimation. Ian-I know you are very happy with this attitude,which I think is a dereliction of duty in the office held,but think past your leftist template and imagine if this were not about immigration,but some other issue such as pedophilia.Would you support selective adherence to the law in that case?? I won't hold my breath waiting for an answer because you generally duck questions that test your beliefs.
  April 4, 2008 9:32 AM

• JOE BERNSTEIN said:

  I read the story in the Phoenix.Would you refer to this as a news story? It was unbalanced to say the least,lionizing the "noble"people who think our laws are meaningless. Who will the next adulatory article feature?Maybe the scumbag judge in New Bedford who released the baby raping piece of crap who attacked the little boy in the library?You could have Steven Brown write that puff piece.
  April 4, 2008 9:38 AM

• Ian said:

  Joe, you know very little about my beliefs. Reporting news is not the same thing as endorsing it.
  April 4, 2008 3:12 PM

• Joe O said:

  So this is the issue Carcieri decides to tackle? RI is dealing with far worse problems than immigration. What an idiot!
  April 4, 2008 4:06 PM

• Joe O said:

  So this is the issue Carcieri decides to tackle? RI is dealing with far worse problems than immigration. What an idiot!
  April 4, 2008 4:06 PM

• rhody said:

  Esserman isn't opting not to enforce the law. He's opting not to enforce an executive order of dubious, at best, legality. If Doherty wants to enforce it, let him ride into town on his white charger and do it. If Carcieri issued an executive order that immigrants or gays were to be rounded up and shot at dawn, would Esserman have to enforce that, too?
  April 4, 2008 4:20 PM

• No bimbos, please said:

  NESN has heretofore done a fine job of hiring (even if it precludes those of us who manufacture testosterone instead of estrogen), but I want to know more about Heidi Watney's firing in Fresno before I can support her as Tina's successor.
  April 4, 2008 4:23 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Rhody- If the Providence Police make a traffic stop and run an NCIC or III Criminal History check on an individual or they arrest an individual and run the same checks,which are part of police routine and they discover that the person has an outstanding INS or ICE administrative warrant(these warrants have no expiration and the only administrative warrants entered into NCIC are those on criminal aliens) or the person has a history of being arrested by the old INS or ICE and the chief has a policy of not calling ICE he is facilitating the felony of harboring an alien in violation of 8USC1324.It is frankly disingenuous beyond belief to equate this with rounding up people and shooting them.The Governor's order does not instruct the police to proactively investigate immigration violations;it is a reactive procedure that is being implemented to be carried out in conjunction with their norml duties. Ian-I've read enough of what you write to get some idea of where you're coming from,and taking a snotty attitude doesn't make your point any better.As I thought you managed to avoid answering my question about selective adherence to laws. It isn't hard to discern that you admire the writings of Matt Jerzyk and David Segal because you frequently reprint them with acknowledgment on this blog.
  April 4, 2008 6:21 PM

• BCC said:

  Curt, despite his faulty brain-to-mouth filter, seems like a reasonable guy. So I'm not surprised he has a reasonable perspective on the Wright/Obama issue, rather than joining the partisan noise machine that, when it looks at a grape under a magnifying glass, sees a watermelon.
  April 4, 2008 7:28 PM

• Ian said:

  Joe, I also write about things involving the RI Republican Party and have been known to reference posts from Anchor Rising.
  April 4, 2008 8:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  And the Red Sox.I just think that you are pretty far to the left.I am a rightwinger on some issues,but i don't follow a playbook.I like Dick Cheney and George Bush and the stay at home warmonger neocons about as much as I like Steven Brown. I think an opposing view to that examined in the article on Mrs.Carrera would have added some balance.
  April 4, 2008 8:53 PM

• Monique said:

  Thank you, Ian! (Ahem) This is the first I've heard of it.
  April 5, 2008 2:16 AM

• Linda said:

  Ian nice spin (the Projo would be proud and will no doubt follow your "liberal" concerns ha ha ha) but what woes for the Carcieri administration's DOT? This is a story that involves how pensions are dealt with in Massachusetts. Lewis wasn't removed from an existing job. Lewis held a job that was being eliminated with the completion of the Big Dig. I'd call that being laid off rather than being fired but that's just me. And this impacts his ability to run RIDOT how? As I said this story is relevent to Massachusetts hence the story in the Boston Globe and how they set up their very generous pension system. Is irrelevant to Rhode Island and the running of RIDOT. Now back to your spin.
  April 5, 2008 2:56 PM

• Ron Sanda said:

  As a State employee in a large Human Service agency in RI and retired US Army soldier I have very strong concerns for the direction we are heading. Even though cuts in State government threaten my career, they are necessary. With that, so too is it necessary to explore other burdens on State government. I have said time and time again, RI is the smallest state and therefore should be the example and leader not just for illegal immigration studies, but illegal / fraudulent public assistance and waiting periods to establish RI residency, not just US residency, to be eligible to receive State Public Assistance. My theory is simple. If we make a modest family income of $85,000 per year with no children to support, we try to donate to church and other charities. Perhaps $3,000 to $4,000 per year or more, in good times. In hard times we reduce that charity to $1,000 to $2,000 per year. The same has to happen with the State of RI. We cannot afford to take care of everyone. We need a 12 to 18 month (min.) waiting period for anyone that is not a RI resident to receive any public benefit from the State. This deterrent, combined with other reduction of expenses should contribute greatly to reducing the budget deficit. We should also give the companies that hire illegals a one-time amnesty which would include a workforce shift. By this I mean, you get caught as a company, the State would waive the penalties if that company replaced the illegal workforce with citizens that are on public assistance or unemployed. The company would be allowed under this State program to continue to pay the $5 per hour (if that was the rate it paid the illegal worker) and not be subject to possible future health care legislation for any worker hired under this program. Can you imagine the offset to our public assistance programs if these private companies were paying the $5 hour x 8 hours per day x 40 hours per week portion? Then multiply by the number of workers yielded (potentially) by the "shift". The Executive Order is an emergency mechanism. The RI Assembly now needs to pass more detailed immigration legislation, which would include the Governor's Order and also target those areas that cost the State government the most money - first. The waiting period should be a first step. Remember - this would be for ANYONE, not just illegals. Finally, when the word "illegal immigrant" is used, let's not forget the countless Yugoslav, Asian, African, and many other White / European and former Soviet block illegal immigrants. I never once saw the word "Hispanic" or "Latino" in the Executive Order or any other targeted format where the term "illegal immigrant" was used in potential lawmaking. Good Luck Governor -- Ron Sanda - Sergeant First Class US Army Reserve (Retired)
  April 5, 2008 3:17 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  Nice try Linda. But the fact that Carcieri hired a guy that was fired by the big dig shows his people picking skills are still lacking. But hey, what's another six figure state boss to the CEO?
  April 5, 2008 3:58 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian, can you please explain to Pat there is no Big Dig project any longer which is why Mr. Lewis' job was eliminated. Please also explain to Pat and the rest of your readers if you would the significance of the Globe placing this story in their Saturday edition as opposed to the Sunday paper and what that says about the importance the Globe places on this story. Most surely our local tabloid Projo will run big screaming headlines tomorrow (they're dying to change the subject after getting massacred over their embarrassing illegal alien coverage) but at the end of the day this is about the Massachusetts pension system and has nothing to do with RIDOT or Mr. Lewis ability to run it. Sorry Pat!
  April 5, 2008 5:33 PM

• Buzzm1 said:

  The Bottom Line on Illegal Imigration is Red As with all states, education is California's single largest public expenditure and commands 42% of that state’s $150 billion budget. The State of California's Legislative Analyst's Office reports that of the state's 6.4 million K through 12 public school students, one out of four is not fluent in English. Of that number, 85% are Spanish speaking. Additionally, one out of nine of these students require special education programs. These children of Spanish speaking foreign immigrants increase California's K-12 enrollment by 21.3%, nearly 1.4 million students. At $11,584 each, which is the state’s 2007-2008 budgeted allocation per student, the cost of educating these students is $15.8 billion. Add in the $1.3 billion for special programs to accommodate non-English speaking students, and the cost increases to $17.1 billion. The state's current budget deficit is projected to be $16 billion. The other significant public costs directly attributable to illegal immigration are law enforcement, health, and welfare services. Randy Alcorn is a Senior Writing Fellow for Santa Barbara-based Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS), http://www.capsweb.org/content.php?id=301&menu_id=8
  April 5, 2008 6:26 PM

• rhody said:

  God forbid ordinary working stiffs get juicy retirement benefits. But Don doesn't seem to mind having a benefit vacuum of questionable competence working for him. Mixed message, n'cest ce pas?
  April 5, 2008 10:48 PM

• Rhody said:

  Sounds good - I'd like to have more choice on my ballot. But you know any of these new candidates who has the most minute of ties to Linc Chafee will be savaged by members of his own party. That's why I don't see the GOP gaining many seats, if any, even though they'll never have a better environment for big gains.
  April 5, 2008 10:51 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  except that we HAVE been cutting taxes. Not working.....
  April 6, 2008 11:07 AM

• mIke said:

  I wish the Communis- er "progressives" like you and Mister Crowley would just double the income tax on "da rich" and raise the sales tax to 10.25% like "progressive" Chicago did. If nothing else it would provide America with a 21st century exemplar of the policies which made Moscow, Havana, Pyngyang, Bucharest, Sofia and Minsk the economic powerhouses (LOL) of the 20th century.
  April 6, 2008 12:46 PM

• Mike said:

  Dufault has become as forgotten, and irrelevant, as the long vanished "funding formula for education".
  April 6, 2008 12:50 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Mike-dufault is like an old toxic waste dump-he still seeps poison out-he was on a recent Laborvision show with George Nee indoctrinating a group of "community activists" in a "leadership" course-learning how to lead themselves to the next free lunch(why is it that so many "poor"people have gold jewelry and expensive shoes?I wore a lot of hand me downs as a kid and my cousins were all at least 6 ft tall-I'm 5'7"(barely)-so i had to roll up my sleeves a lot.I am not mean spirited,but I know fakers when I see them.
  April 6, 2008 9:05 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  The photo shown above is not depicting a war crime-Gen.Loan was executing a North Vietnamese regular army officer who had just committed multiple murders after having infiltrated Saigon in civilian clothes.Under the rules of war that type of activity is punishable by summary execution.The US forces in Europe executed German special ops troops dressed in civvies at the Battle of the Bulge and it was never questioned.The photographer who took the photo was distressed at its misuse by activists alleging a "war crime".Gen.Loan was brave officer who was subsequently wounded and partially paralyzed in the fighting in Saigon.He was Commander of the Vietnamese National Police.He later lived near Washington DC where he ran a pizza parlor until his death.
  April 7, 2008 2:57 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  I will bet Jerzyk tells him how things should be run at SCOTUS.
  April 7, 2008 4:03 AM

• Ian said:

  Joe, my point in using this photo was that we got a lot more graphic imagery out of Vietnam than we have from Iraq.
  April 7, 2008 1:35 PM

• Ian said:

  Linda, hiring a guy who has more than tripled his pench, even in another state, doesn't exactly jibe with the governor's role in needing to cut state spending and state benefits. See Justin's post on Anchor Rising on this, if you want a demonstration of how I'm not alone in making this point.
  April 7, 2008 1:38 PM

• Ian said:

  Joe, I believe in the rule of law. I believe that RI would be better off with a more competitive two-party system. I also believe that the immigration issue, with real or tacit support from the federal government and big business, has developed over a period of decades, and that complex problems require complex solutions. If you want to call this "pretty far to the left," it's your prerogative, but I would disagree.
  April 7, 2008 1:41 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Now believe it or not Ian,I fully agree with you on this.The coverage of the Iraq and Afghan campaigns has been bowdlerized to spare the public having to deal with the reality-this is shameful.War is a fucked up thing whether justified or adventurist.We don't even show flag-draped coffins,while in the Vietnam War the imagery in print and on television was graphic.It wasn't exaggerated-there is no way to exagerrate war.Serving in Vietnam made me realize a few things which I'll keep to myself- but i didn't become a pacifist at all- I think war is that last resort which you better be ready for the consequences of.The Bush administration treats the public like children on this issue.Maybe that's why there is a big disconnect between most Americans and this war.None of what I said should be construed to mean that we shouldn't be in Afghanistan-we have to;but Iraq is much more difficult to deal with.I don't think we should have gone in,but we are so deeply entrenched that it is no longer even physically possible to withdraw quickly.I wrote my previous entry to point out that General Loan was a man who put his body in the line of fire without a second thought,unlike despicable draft dodging cowards like Cheney,Perle,and Wolfowitz.
  April 7, 2008 4:32 PM

• Ian said:

  Our agreeing on some things might not be as far-fetched as you think.
  April 7, 2008 7:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-the immigration is surely complex as I've written here before.The last amnesty in 1987 was a complete disaster because the devil is always in the details and those people who did not qualify because of criminal background;lack of basic qualifying factors;and fraud were allowed to have their identities shielded from enforcement.They slipped back into the population because Ted Kennedy and Leon Pannetta comletely raped the Simpson-Mazzoli Act.The amnesty stayed-everything else was thrown under the bus.Now we are hearing cries for another amnesty-call it" coming out of the shadows" or a "path to citizenship",whatever-it's still an amnesty,and the "advocates'are not serious about weeding out the criminal element-even the Bishop said criminals should be evaluated on an individual basis-hell,no they shouldn't.Without zero tolerance for criminals the conversation about"path to citizenship"can't even start.I will take you at your word that you believe in the rule of law-we have laws that work if they're enforced.Ignoring these laws in the hope of some "comprehensive"solution is a no-win position for our society.Cherrypicking which laws to follow is dishonest and immoral when done by a public official.If this is a right wing position,fine,but I really don't think it is.The "racist/xenophobe"rant is beyond worn out.The case of Mr.Zepeda is illustrative of the criminal alien problem,but hardly unusual.
  April 7, 2008 7:20 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian_i don't post to RI's Future,but I have to reference Jerzyk's statement there that Byron Zepeda is not an "undocumented alien"because he is a legal immigrant-okay-the corret term for Mr.Zepeda is"deportable alien"because the firearms conviction is an aggravated felony.The PPD in this particular case is not on the hook,and since Zepeda apparently never served time at the ACI,the Governor's Executive Order wouldn't have made a difference here-what was needed was periodic examination of Probation and Parole records by ICE to reveal deportable criminal aliens in the community.We did this routinely years ago,resulting in the deportation of many hundreds of criminal aliens who were a danger to the general public.The point I'm making is that Zepeda should have been gone years ago.
  April 7, 2008 10:18 PM

• jen coleslaw said:

  Hoist one for me, boys. I'll be watching alone with a crock pot full of beer infused hot dogs and a few beers down here in the southland. Thank cod for Extra Innings.
  April 8, 2008 3:58 AM

• Ian said:

  Right back at ya, Jen. Happy Opening Day!
  April 8, 2008 1:47 PM

• Andrew said:

  Ian, The point about people who generally believe that the government can't get anything right putting their faith in an automated government system is a fair one. I would conject that there's a risk/reward calculation involved. Presumably, E-Verify proponents assume that if an E-Verify mistake occurs, it's easy for a citizen or a legal resident to show that an error has been made, therefore the risk of real damage resulting from a mistake is small. There is also a pure libertarian argument to be made that you shouldn't have to show the government anything in order to work anywhere, an argument I will treat seriously as soon as the groups opposed to E-Verify also come out in opposition to my having to submit W-2s and other assorted forms as part of my income tax return each year. On the flip side, I would ask politicians who believe that the government is capable of verifying the health insurance coverage of 1,000,000 Rhode Islanders (Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, for one) or who want the government to track the commuting practices of tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders working for firms larger than a certain size (State Rep. Arthur Handy, for one) why they believe that those goals are possible, while verifying the citizenship/residency status of a few hundred state hires is beyond achievable. Finally, I differ, on the idea that immigration is a purely Federal issue. If the refusal of the Federal government to act on a certain issue impacts legitimate state and local functions, the people, through their state governments, have a right to act. We don't live under a governing system based on an automatic assumption that if the Federal government does not do something, it shall not be done.
  April 8, 2008 11:13 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Until the "advocates" agree that criminal aliens should be deported without exception,no conversation should take place.This was evaded and glossed over in 1987 and it cannot happen again.And ANYONE who thinks this somehow applies to Hispanics alone is INSANE.
  April 8, 2008 11:20 PM

• Mike said:

  The governor is half-Swedish but every time he brings up the illegal plague no anti Swedish hate speech comes from the Looney Left, just their usual anti-Italian hate speech. No reporting how Looney Left Liz fired her Chief of staff a couple of days after she appeared at the pro-illegal rally. Think she got some advice from a pollster? Meantime Bryan Zepeda, a thrice convicted alien who would have been deported if you leftists didn't control America killed a 41 year old black father of 3 in Sissyland, yelling "shut up nigger". I guess as long as they stay out of the East Side and Edgewood Communist millionaires like you Jerzyk and Segal won't feel the pinch. It was a little justice when one of Jerzyk's Latin female friends got killed in a drunk driving crash a couple of weeks ago and the killer turned out to be a 17 year old white boy. So thanks to Jerzyk, you and other far left loons the kid will have no criminal record, play pattycake in the juvi system and end up doing a little community service. Remember last year's "stop trying 17 year old kids as adults" hysteria? LOL. Progressives-hoisted on their own petard. Couldn't happen to a nicer crew.
  April 9, 2008 12:40 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The last INS Commissioner who was any good was General Leonard Chapman,former Commandant of the USMC-he left in 1977 after Jimmy Carter was sworn in and replaced with a corrupt Texas politician named Leonel Castillo-it has been going downhill from there ever since.Why is this surprising that the Bush administration would have such a useless,ignorant turd in this position?I can't think of any good commissioners since Chapman-some were less bad,but that's about it. I hope you're not trying to make a connection between the political swine who lead the agency and the officers who work on the street,because if you are,then shame on you.The vast majority do their job honestly and fairly,notwithstanding the unsupported allegations of Steven Brown and company. The working officers in ICE are hired in an open competetive process the same way any other Federal agents are selected. I am fairly sick and tired of the demonization of people who are carrying out their Federally mandated duties and then stabbed in the back by despicable Federal legislators like Sheldon Whitehouse and Ted Kennedy(re:the New Bedford opeartion).
  April 9, 2008 6:02 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  And this is a good reason to oppose 287g training here?Are you comparing Supt.Doherty to Sheriff Arpaio?I love the way you seek out an example of what you consider abuse of authority and try to insinuate that this will be the norm in Rhode Island.If Arpaio,by the way,is doing such a terrible job,why is he always re-elected?Arpaio has a reputation of being pretty hard on offenders in general,regardless of immigration status. Is your idea of a good police chief Dean Esserman?If so,I think you are badly mistaken-you are apparently willing to overlook any of his faults because he is so politically correct.I believe Esserman neglects public safety in the interest of political expediencey.
  April 9, 2008 7:11 PM

• Ian said:

  Joe, you are the one who is making the rhetorial leaps -- not me. I am not insinuating that this will be the norm in RI. I am highlighting an example of what is happening in a state, as I note, that is on the border with Mexico. Does reelection signify that an elected official is serving the public? Not necessarily. In terms of the Providence police, would you contend that the department was better off in the years before Esserman? If so, I would disagree.
  April 9, 2008 8:04 PM

• Joe O said:

  Joe, I'm not sure what State you live in. Every year the voters of RI re-elect the same bozos back in to General Assembly who do very little, if anything, to tackle the major issues that face RI. They do plenty to line their own pockets. We have a Governor that somehow thinks that immigration is an issue. What a joker. And what do most Rhode Islanders do when corruption rears its' head? They laugh. So was Urbano Prignano a better Chief than Esserman?
  April 10, 2008 1:16 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Arizona has a much more evnly divided two party system tha RI so getting re-elected isn't necessarily the same cakewalk it is here.According to a good friend who lives in Maricopa County,Arpaio has a strong following in the community.As a border state,Arizona faces different and more emergent problems than RI. I was assigned to PPD for 4 years(1990-94)from INS on "loan" during which time I worked out of SIB which was commanded by Urbano Prignano(then Inspector)-I am still friendly with him and while the test scandal was certainly not his finest moment,which he admits,he had a good understanding of cops and criminals-he was what is called a "cop's cop"-Esserman isn't.Esserman never did the job on the street;he never admits to being wrong;his current stance on the Governor's executive order is a negative in the area of public safety;and his "Lucky Seven"program was very poorly thought out and set a terrible precedent of circumventing the court system. I think Esserman's vendetta against Prignano in trying to take his pension absent any conviction for even a misdemeanor speaks volumes about his character. There are numerous allegations that Esserman is "badge heavy"in trying to obtain freebies.This is unacceptable behavior,especially for a man making as much as he does. The two Chiefs I served under at Providence were the late Walter Clark and Bernard Gannon.Both were men of spotless reputation and I think were head and shoulders above Esserman in the same job. I truly believe that Esserman is willing to trade publlic safety for political expediency. I mentioned my friendship with Prignano so as not to present a false face to anyone here.
  April 10, 2008 2:37 PM

• rhody said:

  Joe Arpaio is just a media slut. His dog and pony act is successful re: helping him get re-elected, but as far as solving problems...negative.
  April 10, 2008 3:26 PM

• Joe O said:

  The circumstances in Arizona are far different than RI. Last time I checked, immigrants weren't scrambling across the border to get into RI--what a crisis. Why is Carcieri doing this?Carcieri is just seizing a hot button topic because he needs to boost his popularity among conservatives who watch too much national television news. He's seizing upon it because he's failed to tackle real issues like economic development and education. I can't really comment on Walter Clark and Bernard Gannon because I relocated here during Prignano's tenure. I did attend quite a few community policing meetings in my neighborhood at which Prignano was present. Now I know that these meetings were and probably still are a little emotional at times. My neighbiorhood had a tremendous amount of street level drug dealing that was not being addressed by the Providence Police Department. Prignano refused on many occasions in these meetings to even acknowledge that there was a problem despite widespread agreement among citizens that there was. The community policing station was rarely staffed. One of our community police officers was arrested for drug posession while on holiday. The bikes purchased for the officers to use in the neighborhood hung mostly on the wall inside the station. I'm so glad that he was a "cops cop," but the police are here to protect serve the citizens of this city who pay their salaries through excessively high taxes. Esserman's focus on community policing reduced the level of drug dealing. Getting the police out of their cars and walking a beat worked. Lucky Seven was a good idea but may've been poorly executed. But I would argue that most programs of this type need a little time to be refined. As much as someone can plan for something, unforeseen obstacles always arise. It's what you do to overcome them that makes a difference. As for Esserman going after Prignano's pension. I do believe that Prognano is entitled to a pension, just not all of it. We should not be rewarding corrupt public officialls.
  April 10, 2008 5:11 PM

• rhody said:

  Gee, when a person dies in a drunk driving accident, I guess it's called justice. Didn't know that. Silly me. Okay, carry on with the anti-Jerzyk jihad.
  April 10, 2008 5:34 PM

• Andrew said:

  Ian, Is the fact you posted a graphic of Pete, Julie, and LINC with your Moderate Party item just a coincidence or some kind of fiendishly clever subliminal message?
  April 10, 2008 6:56 PM

• Ian said:

  Very good, Andrew! Purely coincidental.
  April 10, 2008 7:04 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Joe O-When Prignano became Chief I had been reassigned to DEA Task Force for a couple of years.I do know this-while he was Narcotics Inspector,neighborhood response was his top priority.We executed 2 or 3 search warrants a night,plus buy-busts and other stuff.I estimate I participated in about 800 drug search warrants while I was assigned to Prignano's unit.Not a shot fired.I'd call that good professional conduct and Prignano was in charge.All I can say is that he is a decent and sincere man,and ALL of us have lapses in judgment unless we're in a vegetative state. Now,Lucky 7-I don't begrudge anyone a break who is deserving-but there is already a process in place-pretrial diversion-at least in that case a judicial officer has oversight.These weren't cases about shoplifting cd's after all-they were about drug sales with a 30 year potential sentence.There is also deferred sentencing-a major step up from pretrial diversion,but still less than incarceration.Use the tools that are available-don't invent a new and potentially dangerous one.
  April 10, 2008 8:37 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Let me make one thing clear-I'm voting for McCain.Okay,that said,Obama isn't personally responsible for the speech or behavior of Wright or Billy Ayers-he is responsible for his relationship with them,but that is different. Hillary IS responsible for lies out of her mouth.
  April 11, 2008 7:44 PM

• Justin Katz said:

  A vote-based award from the Phoenix? I'm sure the blog category had all of the ideological variation of a RIC social-work class's theses. Happy to be proven wrong.
  April 12, 2008 1:20 AM

• Mike said:

  There is no debate on "immigrants" just illegal aliens.
  April 12, 2008 10:35 PM

• Mike said:

  Since McCain is leading in Ohio, florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and (yes Viriginia) New York, the hacks dream of that Senate seat opening up are premature, to put it kindly.
  April 14, 2008 5:31 PM

• Mike said:

  In more than 40 years this is the first Democrat I've seen on TV make absolute sense. Wonder what Crowley, Walsh, Nee and the rest of the kleptocratic "coalition of the the greedy" think about that interview. the pigs have been eating us alive for decades. To quote Dylan, it looks like "A Hard rain's Gonna Fall'! I guess this is who nitwit Josh Miller was referring to when he told York that "better minds than me" were needed to solve the state's fiscal debacle.
  April 14, 2008 5:37 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  The internet is a medium,like clay,or paint or airwaves.It is what you make of it.I initially thought it would have a negative impact on book reading,but it does quite the opposite-it can enhance the reading experience by giving instant access to others who would like to discuss what you read with you,or reviews,commentaries,etc. The internet also gives the same access to myriad technical questions.The caveat is-know the source of your information,or at least vet the source with one you trust' I have personally had a lot of questions answered by doing research on the internet.I'm not talking about controversial issues here,just ordinary learning. I've also managed to communicate directly with a surprising number of people I have no practical expectation of meeting.(Ham radio anyone?)
  April 15, 2008 12:55 AM

• Mike said:

  Oh, please. 50 years ago all Western Europe was a war shattered catastrophe. Now they live like princes. Even recently poor countries like Greece and Portugal provide no more emigrants. Meanwhile progressives like yourself have turned America into a lazy, corrupted place which will begin having a black/brown majority of live births beginning in 2011. The Brazilification of America into a Third World sewer continues. THANKS PROGRESSIVES
  April 15, 2008 5:46 PM

• Corey said:

  Mike isn't very smart.
  April 16, 2008 1:55 AM

• Mike said:

  I'm very smart asshole. I have a doctorate. Just because I don't agree with your communist open borders mentality doesn't make me dumb. I hope your grandchildren enjoy the Third World sewer fucks like you are creating.
  April 16, 2008 12:20 PM

• Aldo said:

  Alves... Can Everyone Really Be That Stupid? Do any of you really think that Alves is motivated by a desire to save the taxpayers money or for pension reform? Can you really be that STUPID? Why doesn't he go after the Judiciary's pensions? Think about it? 100% for life. Even the surviving spouse is entitled to the full pension. How much do they contribute? It is a travesty. As for the police, firefighters and municipal employees, at least they contribute to their own pensions. By the way, perhaps you might look into the Senator's financial background. He was a member of the State Pension Board until the Separation of Powers initiative removed legislators for state boards and commissions. Why didn't he do anything at that time? As Chair of the WW Pension Board, he brought in a subsidy of UBS Paine Webber as the financial advisor. At the time the unfunded liability was only $1.4 million. By the time he left the Pension Board it had grown to over $23 million. His close political associate was hand picked to continue. The unfunded liability for West Warwick's taxpayers is now over $57 million. In case you didn't realize it, approximately one year after bringing UBS onboard in West Warwick, the same financial advisor that he had hired in West Warwick played a role in his being hired as a VP at UBS. Draw your own conclusions.... Seems a real coincidence that in June of 2002; UBS and associated law firms "earned" over $4.7 million in fees for the Tobacco Securitization deal. His name has been linked to convicted felons Todd LaScolla and Brian Sarrault for questionable pension deals. How much did that cost the taxpayers? I guess this latest move on his part is just about protecting RI taxpayers right? Draw your own conclusions.... Why don't you ask Senate President Montalbano about his background since Alves claims he has the support of the "leadership"?? While you're at it ask him how WW hired him to do legal work that earned him close to $105,000? Once again, draw your own conclusions....
  April 17, 2008 1:26 AM

• Corey said:

  Mike's PhD program didn't teach him that using profanity liberally when making a case is rarely convincing.
  April 17, 2008 4:08 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ramon Martinez-way to go.Elevate an ethnic pimp to local hero status.Martinez accuses people of things and then denies he did it.He's a "professional Hispanic"-just like "professional"Jews or Irishmen,etc-people who wouldn't have anything to do if they couldn't whine incessantly about ethnic issues.
  April 17, 2008 10:15 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  At least the Daily Dose takes all comments and sometimes has fascinating non-political subjects-it's not like Jerzyk's..excuse me ..Rhode Island's Future
  April 17, 2008 10:19 PM

• rhody said:

  Seeing a military guy stand up to The Don...way cool.
  April 18, 2008 12:06 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Rhody-most veterans I know(myself included) like Governor Carcieri at least regarding his stand on immigration issues.
  April 18, 2008 2:06 AM

• Mike said:

  Keep up your Atheist Left chatter to the 4 people on this blog (2 who hate your guts). George Jefferson is still going to get whupped by 8+ Tuesday.
  April 19, 2008 12:12 AM

• rhody said:

  Laffey and Avedesian in the same room? Damn, this could be fun.
  April 19, 2008 4:59 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The tragedy is that we allowed GM and the oil companies to destroy the great electic transit systems we had in place for so long.Now we are trying to rebuild them at hundreds of times the cost of having maintained them to begin with. With so many jobs having moved to the outlying areas of cities,we have priced people out of being able to commute back and forth.
  April 19, 2008 6:45 AM

• Linda said:

  Joel Rawson is the man most responsible for the demise of a once great newspaper. Belo's cost cutting and reduction of staff is no excuse for the shocking lack of editorial oversight by management at the Projo. All too often we've seen biased "storytelling" instead of fair and factually accurate reporting. Unfortunately what's written in the Providence Journal these days is no longer accepted at face value, no longer taken as factually sound. Sadly that's Joel Rawson's ultimate legacy. Rawson will forever be known as the architect of a newspaper now known more for agenda driven storytelling than legitimate journalism. Congratulations Joel!
  April 21, 2008 10:47 AM

• Ian said:

  Linda, people can quibble with and critique the ProJo's news coverage, but your condemnation of Rawson is flawed and entirely misplaced. Say what you will about the ProJo, but Rhode Island would be far worse off without it. The paper has long played -- and continues to play -- a leading role in rooting out corruption, fighting for the public's right to know, and shining a light on government. Is it perfect? Obviously not, but what's a realistic alternative at this moment? Also, while the cuts at the ProJo are hardly unique in the newspaper industry, Rawson has long fought for the journalistic mission.
  April 21, 2008 5:34 PM

• Linda said:

  Ian, you're a member of the brotherhoood so I don't expect you to take a slap at your ProJo brethren. The reality is the ProJo is incredibly selective about their targets and because they're in bed not only with the democratic party but also with major business players here in R.I. they actually do a is very poor job in rooting out corruption. A very poor job! Speaking of poor jobs, Rawson's mission should have been to insure the integrity and quality of reporting at the ProJo instead of promotion of creative writing and storytelling. Maybe a rename is in order? How about The Providence Fable?
  April 21, 2008 9:56 PM

• Mike said:

  More commie prpoganda from hypocrite My Daddy is a multi-millionaire who pays minimum wage Jerzyk. A better question would be how many productive people keep leaving a state whose income tax is double its neighbors.
  April 21, 2008 11:00 PM

• rhody said:

  In bed with the Democratic party? Linda, you're killing me here. If the ProJo is in bed with the Dems, endorsing Carcieri twice and endorsing every Republican presidential candidate in my lifetime is a funny way of showing it.
  April 22, 2008 12:36 AM

• Ian said:

  Rhody's right. I'm sure it will come as news to legislative Dems that the ProJo is an arm of the Dem Party. Mike Staton's Gerry Martineau "bagman" story was a virtual blueprint for the feds. There are many similar instances of the ProJo digging out corruption. Linda, perhaps your outlook is colored by your own views as a partisan.
  April 22, 2008 1:36 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-I watched the show-you went right to the stock "party line" assertion about racism and profiling with regard to illegal aliens-Pulner gave you a good answer.Did you really believe what you were saying or are you concerned that Jerzyk won't include you when he buys a round at Local 121 or wherever?
  April 22, 2008 9:27 PM

• Mike said:

  Oh, he believes his own bullshit. He's as much a "journalist" as John Reed or Walter Duranty.
  April 23, 2008 12:06 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Mike, you should be able to make your points without personal attacks. Argue the issues on their merits and demerits. You're already been reprimanded at Anchor Rising. Keep it on-topic or your future comments may be deleted.
  April 23, 2008 1:29 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Mike-not too many people could tell you who Duranty was these days,but for better or worse,Reed is still pretty well known to students of 20th century history 90 years down the road.I guess it helps if Warren Beatty plays you in a film.I can't imagine students evaluating the impact of Ian Donnis in 90 years.
  April 23, 2008 1:32 PM

• Ian said:

  Joe, since you seem to have so much time on your hands, perhaps you should cultivate a hobby beyond parroting your buddy.
  April 23, 2008 2:54 PM

• Mike said:

  I'm sure the usual contingent of biased left-wing "journalists" (not mentioning any names-LOL) will be parroting the party line that half of Hillary's MAJORITY vote will defect in November "means nothing".
  April 23, 2008 11:14 PM

• Mike said:

  Another thing you won't see reported is that in the 29 state primaries held so far Clinton LEADS Obama by 300,000 votes. That's not even including Michigan. He only wins the popular vote because of the undemocratic caucuses which cater to the young, healthy leftist cadre dreaming of the "better world". Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html
  April 23, 2008 11:27 PM

• Rhody said:

  Biased left-wing journalists? Ha! I love that canard. Look at the way they spun last night: "He outspent Hillary and he lost!" They conveniently forget Hillary started the primary campaign having the nomination at least as wired, if not more so, than Bush did the 2000 GOP nomination. Her dominance in fundraising and staff intimidated Gore and Kerry out of the race. Obama can't put Hillary away? With all the advantages she entered the campaign with, she should've put Obama away by Super Tuesday.
  April 24, 2008 12:25 AM

• Jake said:

  Gore-Obama '08
  April 24, 2008 3:50 PM

• Monique said:

  Good scoop, Ian. Very interesting.
  April 24, 2008 6:12 PM

• Ian said:

  Thanks, Monique.
  April 24, 2008 6:57 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-I don't have to parrot anyone,particularly someone I don't know, to break balls.As I think you know I am not thin skinned-I certainly don't think I'll be anything but a face on a faded photo in 90 years-and some little rug rat will be asking -who was that?And no one will really be sure. I actually do have a hobby.
  April 24, 2008 7:14 PM

• Mike said:

  I've been saying for the last 3 months that Gore is the best nominee. Obama can't even get 40% of the most liberal white people of America-Dem primary voters. Hillary would be perceived of as stealing the nomination and would lose black and white marxist votes. Gore is the logical choice.
  April 24, 2008 9:27 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  It would be smart for the RI Republicans to grab a clue and realize that Rhode Islanders like their Republicans socially liberal and fiscally conservative. But even if Avedisian grabs this spot, I hope that Linc remains Independent, that's what he should be and what he has always been, and it would be nice to have an Independent Man on and in the State House.
  April 24, 2008 10:45 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  How refreshing to see someone who seems to be pretty much a liberal himself recognize publicly that there is a dictatorship by the "activists"at many universities(suborned by professors who believe in indoctrination)that effectively silences any "unreliable"speech by students or faculty.I had a neighbor who is a Brown professor in an ehtnic studies deparment who told me very specifically that it is his job to indoctrinate his students with his beliefs.I won't use his name here,but if anyone thinks I'm lying just drop me an email and I will tell you his name and how it came up in the first place.
  April 25, 2008 1:56 PM

• Mike said:

  What did Cianci get when he ran for governor? @55 or so. Fat Sissy should do better. Maybe 26%.
  April 25, 2008 10:51 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  The "unauthorized migrant"(?) numbers(calling people migrants when they're domiciled seems inaccurate-migrants are usually agricultural workers)-if they're talking about illegal aliens,it seems like even the "advocates" concede greater numbers than 26,000 or so.If they are so far off here,how about the rest of their stats?Some stats like war casualties or GDP of course are probably indisputable.
  April 26, 2008 3:46 PM

• JoeO said:

  Jen, You're totally wrong on this one. Warwick is closer to my house. -Joe
  April 26, 2008 10:00 PM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  Well, I live in Providence and don't own a car. Google Transit tells me it will take me 38 minutes to take bus 22 from Empire and Westminster to the Rhode Island Mall, from which I must walk 18 minutes (on streets without sidewalks) to Bald Hill Road. Not knowing exactly where on Bald Hill Road this Trader Joe's is going, my walk could be further or less. Bus 22 runs approximately once an hour. Guess who will not be shopping at Trader Joe's.
  April 27, 2008 3:57 AM

• Mike said:

  Typical leftist nonesense-"Route 2 is the worst place for a business". Yeah right. That's why there's so many of them. Better locations would have been in the Third World infested shitholes of Prov/Pawt/CF? Guess they were just to stupid to pass up ythose better spots? LOL.
  April 27, 2008 12:46 PM

• rhody said:

  I didn't realize the desire to avoid massive traffic jams was leftist nonsense. Silly me.
  April 27, 2008 6:44 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Hillary Clinton and her cabal couldn't convince me it was raining if I was outside getting drenched.That said,Obama has done a good job of pissing on his own shoes.I had a feeling the Wright thing was going to hurt him even before all the hullabaloo when I read that he attended a church where farrakhan received a lifetime achievement award. After all the shouts of "change"and "hope" diminish,we are left with Obama's positions-higher taxes,more gun control,more governmental social programs,mass amnesty for illegal aliens,a replay of the overnight pullout from Vietnam that left millions dead in its wake,and a naive foreign relations stance.Change?Sounds like Johnson/Carter redux with Ted Kennedy crap thrown into the mix.
  April 27, 2008 9:46 PM

• Mike said:

  Obama=McGovern 1. Blacks 2. Hardcore leftists---like the biased Phoenix staff 3. Wide-eyed post adolescents Anyone remember how many states McGovern won?
  April 28, 2008 1:05 PM

• Mark Sutton said:

  You do realize that Chafee is no longer a Republican, right? Therefore, he or his minions are totally irrelevant to this contest.
  April 28, 2008 11:07 PM

• Mike said:

  The people on that fat pervert you constantly shill for becoming governor:"Ha Ha,Ha Ha HA, Ha Ha"
  April 29, 2008 12:00 AM

• Rhody said:

  FYI: McGovern endorsed Hillary.
  April 29, 2008 12:40 AM

• Ian said:

  Both of my posts on this have noted the comments of those who say this has no bearing on 2010. Still, it never hurts to have friends, relatively speaking, in high places.
  April 29, 2008 1:16 PM

• Ian said:

  Posts like this, in which you make baseless accusations without a scintilla of backing, only encourage people to view you as a moron. Whether Cicilline runs for governor does not concern me beyond the level of interest of someone who follows local politics.
  April 29, 2008 1:20 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Are Local 121's employees unionized;do they get a "living wage";do they have health coverage?I'd like to know these things before I'm expected to admire them for their social conscience.
  April 29, 2008 5:31 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  There's something going on here we don't know about>Wright as much as called Obama a phony-why would he do this?I don't think he supports Hillary and certainly not McCain.I think he has some grudge against Obama and he sounds somewhat unstable,sort of a Jekyll-Hyde type. Obama has another,unrelated problem:Al Sharpton,the racist demagogue from Brooklyn has denounced Obama for asking for no violence in the wake of the Bell verdict where three police officers were acquitted in the shooting death of a man after his bachelor party in Queens,NY.While not aclassic racial case(two of the officers were AfroAmerican,like the decedent,and the third was Lebanese descent)the case has large segments of the afroAmerican community angry,egged on of course by the abominable Sharpton. Obama said the normal thing -don't riot,and for that Sharpton condemns him.I'm not supporting Obama for President,but he is in real trouble from people who have been his supporters in the recent past.Not a promising sign.All this has prevented him from making substantive policy statements.
  April 30, 2008 1:24 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  This ought to be quite a show-an orgy of hate directed at Governor Carcieri and a paean to illegal aliens masquerading as concern for immigrants.There will probably be lots of wailing for higher taxes to shake down the middle class who are having more serious financial problems each day that goes by.I have no doubt that lots of privileged brats from Brown and RISD will be there with their Che Guevara and hammer and sickle tee-shirts. I wouldn't be surprised if after the "green"contingent heads home,the ground will be littered with trash.(Probably take out from Whole Foods). Did I forget anything? Yep-I hope it rains.
  April 30, 2008 5:50 PM

• Marc said:

  I just want to publicly say "thanks" to Ian for an insightful, informative and balanced piece of journalism. That was some trick given the raw material you had to work with (speaking for myself!).
  May 1, 2008 4:09 PM

• Ian said:

  Thanks for the kind words, Marc, and for your self-deprecation. I found your comments very helpful.
  May 1, 2008 4:24 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-I read your blog (obviously),Anchor Rising,PDD, and RIF.I post on all but the latter(they don't seem to want me to)-your article was very evenhanded and informative-it was also interesting to see faces to go with names. PDD has a nice aspect-they often depart from politics to examine some interesting stuff that isn't even controversial.
  May 1, 2008 8:12 PM

• Ian said:

  Thanks for the kind words, Joe.
  May 2, 2008 2:47 PM

• Andrew said:

  I think if Ms. Little is accusing Brown University, its administration or its agents of "silencing" voices on campus, she needs to be specific with her charge.
  May 4, 2008 9:26 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  We had two recent examples of violence in New Bedford that were extremely disturbing.One involved a pedophile assaulting a child in a library(if you don't consider that a crime of violence I don't know what to say)and the other involving a teenager shot dead on New years Eve.In both cases the offenders had BAD track records and yet they were out and about.That is the problem.Identify the most dangerous offenders and keep them incarcerated until they're too old to be a danger to anyone. what I keep hearing from the liberals is that gun control is the answer.Not so.the cities and states with the most draconian gun control policies have the highest rates of violent crime.The murder rate in the US would be much higher if not for medical advances in the last few decades.So,my solution:shorter sentences or less than prison sentences with closely supervised probation for non violent offenders and harsh punitive sentences for predatory and violent offenders.
  May 5, 2008 3:47 PM

• Matt Jerzyk said:

  Congratulations, Tim! There's no better alarm clock than the crying of your child!
  May 6, 2008 5:46 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Hillary 101:She lies with no hesitation-a sign of a psychopathic personality.Some of her lies insult the intelligence of anyone listening.She has no conscience. Obama is a more or less normal person.He just doesn't fill me with confidence as a potential President.Plus his stance on gun control is moronic.
  May 6, 2008 8:43 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I was fortunate enough to work closely with Jack's late brother Mike during the first few years I was assigned to RI.He sadly died at age 50 of heart disease.He was an outstanding law enforcement officer.I got to know Jack through his brother,although certainly not to the same extent.I remember him as a really fine journalist who had a lot of class and was accurate in what he reported.I never had a clue to Jack's political leanings,which says a lot for the way he did his job.His son is a chip off the old block,it seems.Jack was always a gentleman and a very nice individual to talk to.Any way all the good luck in the world to Tim and his new baby.
  May 6, 2008 8:51 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  To be fair you should note that Chris Young is running against Reed.Chris may be pretty unconventional,but he did make a credible showing against Cicilline considering he was an independent with no money to speak of.He got 21% or so in that race,didn't he?I am not for or against Chris Young,but he deserves mention,even if the MSM are ignoring him.
  May 6, 2008 8:56 PM

• Ian said:

  I had a vague impression that Chris might be running, Joe, but I'm not aware of any formal announcement, as I noted in the post.
  May 6, 2008 9:01 PM

• Mike said:

  HRC will win close to 65% of the non-black vote in both states tonight, despite being outspent 3-1. After the body blows of Kentucky and West Virginia Democrats, if they are smart, will see that BO is a potential 40 state loser in an electorate 89% non-black.
  May 6, 2008 11:05 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-I don't think Young is a Republican-I believe he is independent.
  May 7, 2008 12:51 AM

• rhody said:

  Hillary began the campaign with much more than a 3-to-1 financial advantage over the field. She's getting outspent now because she burned through all that money early in the campaign. Speaks volumes about Hillary's ability to manage the economy.
  May 7, 2008 2:15 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  What a waffler!!Even the useless fop Whitehouse made a choice.This guy has 3/4 of the state conned.
  May 7, 2008 5:29 PM

• Beth White said:

  I thank you for your comments, Ian. As you well remember, you took that photo of Jack and I that August night game, about 2 months before he died...I have it enlarged here at home.It was a good night. jack would have been so honored last Saturday, and as always, so proud of our family , and happily sharing that event with you and all of his friends. Baby Dylan breathes joy into our ever growing family, as do all of the 6 other grandkids...keeping Jack's loves very much alive... Beth
  May 10, 2008 12:04 AM

• Mike said:

  Get used to it because it's a vicious circle. The more the marxists like yourself raise taxes the more people will evade them by divers means, ultimately by leaving the state and making room for yet another Third World parasite. In other words "heads you lose tails we win".
  May 11, 2008 11:54 AM

• Ian said:

  Perhaps you missed this, Mike, but I don't have a vote in the General Assembly. And if I'm a Marxist, it's of the Groucho variety.
  May 12, 2008 1:15 PM

• Mike said:

  Bob Walsh uses the same disengenous line. You can call yourself anything you want but your politics are plain. You may fool some. Not me. Not one single Phoenix contributor from the MAJORITY of the state who voted for Carcieri and Almond and will vote for Laffey. What is your justification for this "Lack of diversity". Contributors, not quotes.
  May 12, 2008 11:52 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Obama will have more problems from his history as a Saul Alinsky inspired community activist than from his association with either Wright or Ayers.Alinsky also had a strong influenece on Hillary Clinton.(And Matt Jerzyk it seems,but he's not running for anything I'm aware of) Alinsky would have no use for Ayers because the Weatherman organization never had a mass following.It was an insular group of mostly middle class college students arising from SDS.I grew up with people who went into the "Movement"-most of them wound up being such radical things as chiropractors and lawyers.I never fell for the leftist BS for even a minute. Alinsky was a smart cookie-never actually a card carrying communist,he avoided legal problems and promoted a strategy devoid of bombs and even bombast,but advocated community organizing to enter the power structure and change it.It will become obvious that Obama was engaged in just this.There's nothing at all illegal about it,but a lot of people will be very uneasy with it.It was hard for Hillary to bring it up since she danced to the same piper for a good long while. McCain's campaign won't have any conflicted feelings about throwing some sunlight on Obama's far left point of view. Some people of course,will like it,and that's what makes political horseraces.
  May 13, 2008 1:24 AM

• Theresa said:

  Ian, As a journalist (and with you I use that term very loosely) you really should have more than a vague impression that Chris Young is running for US Senate as a democrat against Jack Reed. The Cranston Herald and the Warwick Beacon actually ran a whole article on the fact that Chris is running and WPRO-AM & FM feature Chris regularly as well. I have also seen Chris in both the Providence Business News, Providence Journal, and on Capitol TV - and he has been mentioned numerous times already as a candidate against Reed in September of 2008. I voted for Chris Young for Mayor of Providence in 2006 and he received 26% of the vote against Cicilline. I also voted for him in the last election for US Senate, and I will be voting for him again on September 9th against Reed. You should read Chris' website, WhereToVote.com to educate yourself. Chris Young warned everyone two years ago about the collapse of the housing market, and has been proven right about this and many other issues. He has spoken about how to fix gas prices, by setting federal rate control, which Jack Reed refuses to do. Everyone knows Jack Reed is owned by the banks and has voted for the war since the very beginning, costing 3 trillion dollars on the national debt and more than 1.2 million lives. Christopher Young stands for the truth and he is the only one I see doing that. You have no right not to cover him, unless you want to come right out and admit you are a propaganda rag with no interest in journalism or democracy.
  May 14, 2008 10:38 PM

• Theresa said:

  Ian - Here is some more proof for you about Chris Young's candidacy. http://www.nationaljournal.com/campaigns/2008/senate/ri.htm
  May 14, 2008 10:48 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-I didn't know that there was a formula for representation based on race or ethnicity.The only rich,predominantly white area I know is the East Side-doesn't Seth Yurdin represent that area?Isn't he an ally of Segal?What is to keep minority candidates from running for at-large seats?I don't know if Woods' proposal is a good idea or not because I don't know much about how it would work out in reality.How does Cicilline represent the majority in this city?A rich,gay lawyer-but he got elected.I think Jerzyk and Segal,while barking about freedom ,would really like things to be pre-arranged according to a socialist model.They are like most socialists-wanting most people to live in an anthill while they stand outside it and give directions-in their dreams.
  May 15, 2008 4:07 PM

• Ian said:

  Like I said, Joe, I think various forms of the at-large concept are deserving of consideration. Matt and David can certainly speak for themselves, but their efforts, IMHO, are in support of small-d democracy.
  May 15, 2008 5:54 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Another radical lawyer-just what RI needs as if we didn't have enough crap going on here-the Metcalf award might as well go to the Enquirer if they consider Jerzyk a journalist-it's only my opinion so it doesn't mean anything much,but the unmitigated garbage spewed out at RI's Future is nothing but a collection of angry screeds and name calling with very little or no factual basis-the main vocabulary words over there are:racist,hater,fascist,reactionary,ad nauseam aimed at anyone who dares to question the great poobah himself or his acolytes crowley and segal.Jerzyk couldn't win an honest debate with anyone having real knowledge of a subject,so avoids serious challenges and only responds to invective.
  May 15, 2008 7:21 PM

• Matt said:

  Joe - You're funny! You write that I "couldn't win an honest debate with anyone having real knowledge of a subject,so avoids serious challenges and only responds to invective." Since you won't come on my blog and debate me on ANY issue, doesn't your criticism more aptly apply to you?
  May 15, 2008 7:24 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  matt-In all seriousness I left an invitation on Anchor Rising for a no BS debate on particular issues to both you and crowley after you guys had been on those threads and got no answer-I can't post on your blog-every time I tried it was blocked so I assumed you didn't welcome any input from this quarter.I am sure you are no slouch when it comes to intellect,and i've said so,but you are oftentimes just wrong on the facts-I am sure you learned the importance of precision of language in law school -when it comes to the immigration issue and racism you throw out statements that are not provable-I never attended law school,although I had a pretty good amount of legal training in immigration/criminal law-i did however,have a great deal of experience in testifying and being cross examined by very good attorneys and was never once accused of fabrication,nor fell into any of the courtroom traps laid by competent attorneys.Why?Because I don't have a big head and I've learned from experience-I was a NY State court officer for 4 1/2 years prior to joining the feds.It was a good job while I was in night school getting my criminal justice degree. It taught me a lot about the way law plays out in the courts.I have a son and daughter,one your age and the other older than you.I might just have seen and retained a few things you didn't during periods you like to write about ,but which I lived through.I was a union member for 26 years.Surprised?You once lectured me about actually having a life on Anchor Rising-and when I answered-total silence from you. Maybe being in the military at a young age and going to war gave me a little humility and made me realize that the more I learned the more it became apparent how little I would ever know. Any criticism I've made of you has been based on your writing-I saw you on Laborvision once and I don't recall what you said in particular,so I hardly think I've made it personal because I don't know you at all. One thing I won't do is wing it and try to speak to an issue where I am ignorant of the facts-even regarding immigration. I have read a lot of what you write, including an interview you gave on the living wage project at Brown.so I believe I am on solid ground when I discuss what I think your agenda is. Joe PS:My worst enemies would concede that I am consistent and willing to admit when I am wrong,which has been far from rare.
  May 15, 2008 8:42 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Matt-I forgot to mention that I stopped in at the last"drinking liberally"-I don'tknow if you were there because it was before the Phoenix aarticle on bloggers and I really didn't think I'd have recognized you from the one time you were on with Scott Malloy-i had a very interesting talk with a lawyer named Chris Blazejewski-we weren't on the same page at all,but I thought it was a good exchange all the same- I didn't feel that I was speaking to someone with pre-conceived notions closed to new information-I also spoke with Donnis,but we had exchnged ideas previously. Joe
  May 15, 2008 8:49 PM

• Mike said:

  Hey Ian- All Childrers proves is that your side can win if they run pro-war, anti-choice, pro-gun, anti-rectum marriage, pro-God, anti-illegal candidates. Still gloating?
  May 16, 2008 12:17 AM

• rhody said:

  A district that went 62 percent for Bush in '04 should be sending a Republican ham sandwich to Congress. The only real difference in this campaign was Childers wanting out of Iraq faster. This race tells us that even people in the reddest of the red states are as sick and tired of this war as any liberal.
  May 16, 2008 3:28 PM

• pat said:

  Some people don't realize when its time to cut bait. His time is over and if he doesn't know it, someone (george nee) should tell him.
  May 16, 2008 9:49 PM

• Mike said:

  If Childers is the kind of Democrat you want to elect-bring em on. we'll vote for them too!
  May 16, 2008 11:05 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I think the only time anyone notices the "plantations"thing is when it's brought up in this context.Most people think of Rhode Island as just that.There are more pressing issues before the legislature.
  May 17, 2008 12:53 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Somehow I suspected you wouldn't answer.My point about not posting on RIF was proven today by your boy Alex,who told somebody that posted an entry critical of Obama that your left wing blog didn't appreciate his trolling.That pretty much defines you and most of your crew with a few exceptions. Many of your posts are characterized by a frantic,overheated torrent of rhetoric directed at the issue of the moment whether you have any real knowledge of the situation or not.I hope you don't intend to take this attitude into the legal profession,but I suspect you're clever enough not to.Unlike the young attorney who asked me a question on cross in US District Court that she didn't know the answer to.It cost her client an additional five years in the slam.The point is I can not post on RIF and you refuse to debate on another forum such as AR(okay ,you don't like them)or here at N4N,which is hardly unfriendly territory for you.Ian isn't exactly on my side of most issues.
  May 18, 2008 2:28 PM

• Joe said:

  As a frequent reader of N4N, I thought it was important to correct the record: Jack Reed was one of 23 Senators who opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning, and since 2002, he has aggressively worked to change the failed polices of the Bush Administration. Along with Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Reed has offered an amendment to rapidly and responsibly withdraw American forces from Iraq. I closely follow Senator Reed, and admire his service to our nation. I will be voting for Jack Reed in 2008 - he makes all of Rhode Island proud. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237
  May 19, 2008 8:50 PM

• Nick said:

  Joe, Actually... • Jack Reed voted YES on Defense Authorizations Bill (01/22/2008) • Jack Reed voted NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007) • Jack Reed voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006) • Jack Reed voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003) Also interesting: • Jack Reed voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001) • Jack Reed voted Against the Feingold Amendment, which would have removed combat troops – except for some very broad exceptions – by March of 2008. Over 4,012 U.S. troops have died so far. • Jack Reed refuses to submit legislation to re institute federal rate control on the price of gasoline or oil. Rate control reduced the cost of gas and oil for almost 10 years before it was repealed. For more information, go to: http://www.wheretovote.com/JackJohnReedVotingRecord.html If you are voting for Jack Reed, you are one of the many deceived, hypnotized masses who are falling for what the mainstream media feeds you. Open your eyes and see the truth. Vote for Christopher Young for U.S. Senate. You know he is honest because the media attacks him constantly and doesn't cover the positions that are on his website. Check out Chris Young's website www.wheretovote.com if you really want to know the truth about what's going on in the world and in our state. Young has my vote on September 9th!
  May 21, 2008 12:11 AM

• John Torgan said:

  Oh, come on, Ian! I can't believe that you think the Quonset container port was a needed infrastructure improvement killed by NIMBYism. The truth is that it was a speculative venture that proved to have no backing from private industry once people started asking questions. It would have wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, messed up the Bay, and for whose benefit? I've learned to live with that kind of revisionist history from some of your competitors, but I expect better from you. JT
  May 22, 2008 7:26 PM

• Ian said:

  John, Yes, I oversimplified the port issue in handling it with a brief mention, but the larger point remains true -- that NIMBYism does stand in the way of a variety of economic improvements.
  May 22, 2008 7:51 PM

• Joe Bernstein said:

  Ira Magaziner was the key player in Hillary Clinton's Star Chamber group that was going to re-do the health care system in the US.I moved to RI in 1984 and didn't vote that year so I had no voice on the Greenhouse Compact.Magaziner makes me distrustful because I think he is somewhat of an elitist who knows "what's best' for us "little people".Health care is not a national security issue where secrecy can be justified-it is an issue that IS the business of each and every one of us.Health care is the great common issue-most of us will get sick and all of us will die,mostly from illness.
  May 22, 2008 11:55 PM

• John Torgan said:

  Thanks for the clarification, Ian. I don't disagree. What frustrates me is that the conservative pundits seem to think that the only real economic development comes from industrial mega-projects. What they miss is that our best economic and cultural assets are the Bay and the southern coast. We haven't found a way to really measure that value accurately. Industrial development is important, but it would be foolish to pursue it at the expense of the environment and the character of our coastal communities. Let me know if you want to take another boat ride to discuss this! Best regards, John
  May 23, 2008 1:05 PM

• Ian said:

  It'd be great to go out on the boat again! I agree with your point, and hopefully the effort to promote "green jobs," which I've written about previously in the Phoenix, will also yield dividends.
  May 23, 2008 3:23 PM

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  May 25, 2008 11:04 AM

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  May 26, 2008 7:30 PM

• bob said:

  Here's more info on that conference in Portland.

  http://carfreeportland.org/

  June 10, 2008 6:40 PM

• Will said:

  "And since the confab is going down in Lincoln, will the ubiquitous Pat Crowley crash the party?"

  We're actually counting on it! (why do you think we targeted, I mean picked Lincoln). Bring on the duck!

  June 11, 2008 5:11 PM

• Andrew said:

  I get off to a slow start on Mondays, because I absolutely have to watch Channel 12's 12:30 am showing of the syndicated version of "The Shield" as the end to my weekend.  

  And I'll resist the temptation to make some tacky low-brow comment about the irony that, if he accepted the role, Chiklis would likely have to grow hair...

  June 13, 2008 9:22 AM

• Will said:

  That would be because the Projo guy (I think it was Scott McKay) left before all the voting was finished, and the RIGop didn't e-mail him with the final results until well after 1:00am. It was an interesting night.

  June 13, 2008 11:59 AM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  "EVERYMAN also has that most elusive of Providence amenities: parking, and plenty of it, right outside our front door!"

  Wow, thank the baby jebus! For those of us without cars, RIPTA serves ALCO once a day, and conveniently, ALCO has no sidewalks connecting it to Valley Street. HOORAY!!!

  June 17, 2008 4:33 PM

• Mark Sullivan said:

  It would also result in a loss of millions of federal highway fund dollars, ......

  June 18, 2008 1:00 AM

• Marc said:

  Ian, Is it hyperbolic? Certainly! Does it fall into the "slippery slope" class of argument? Yep.  Is it entertaining? I hope so!  Will it add to the larger debate?  Probably not.  But thanks for appreciating it as the satire it was intended to be.

  June 18, 2008 11:50 AM

• Jencoleslaw said:

  You know, Miss Manners would say that it is in very bad taste to 1. Send an invitation and mention money or a gift and 2. have an invitation sent by a family member soliciting money.

  very very rude.

  June 19, 2008 1:55 PM

• Irene said:

  What's wrong with those people?? why are they refusing to protect law abiding citizens from criminal invaders??

  June 23, 2008 5:47 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Having been the INS agent assigned full-time to Providence PD from 1990-1994, I am convinced from what I have seen since the Cicilline administration has been governing Providence is indicative of a de facto sanctuary city posture.

  The price of ignoring immigration status while carrying out routine police duties(as opposed to "hunting down" aliens)is the abduction and rape of an innocent woman as well as many other crimes which could have been prevented.

  I have repeated ad nauseum that within the legal immigrant population and the illegal alien alien population there exists a significant number of criminals who are dangerous to society and deportable.They don't represent a large proportion of either group,but with the total numbers we are dealing with,they are no small worry.The inability of the "advocates'and the current city administration to differentiate between the predators and the relatively harmless illegals and law abiding legal immigrants is outright dangerous.

  June 23, 2008 9:39 PM

• Delaware Bob said:

  To Governor Donald L. Carcieri,

  Issue another order for a special session and get them to give you an Immigration Law like you requested.  Why are Democrats against the American people and all for the ILLEGAL ALIENS?

  "If Demoncrats had any brains, they'd be Republicans"...Ann Coulter

  June 23, 2008 10:24 PM

• Ira H. Schwartz said:

  Another Racist Italian with a "big fish in a small pond complex". Always complaining  how their hairy chested grandmothers were forced to learn English.  Stop your whinnying already "Gumbas".

  You people have no shame calling others criminals. How about all the Italian union leaders, politicians, insurance companies and so on robbing innocent Americans of their benefits and health care. I'm not of Hispanic or black heritage but I'm sick of Italian mafia criminals getting glorified in movies and television. You want to further your political careers and hide your crimes by chastising  powerless hard working people. You are the real criminal Donald "the capo" Calcieri.

  June 23, 2008 11:11 PM

• Tommy said:

  The governor is half-Swedish so I assume we will be seeing racist attacks from you on Swedes.

  Not to mention the Communist mass-murdering Jews like Trotsky and "the poor innocent Rosenberg's".

  If anybody is glorified by the media it is the "poor persecuted Jews" who control it.

  Stop your whining already "Matzoh's".

  Your fat pervert Jew mayor is going nowhere fast in this state and his even fatter Jew brother is going to be enjoying some unkosher schwratze meat real soon.

  June 24, 2008 9:06 AM

• Mike said:

  Should call a special session for E-verify and cutting all local aid to any city that doesn't send the names and fingerprints of all arrestees to the federal government IMMEDIATELY.

  Yes sissy this means you you filthy corrupt piece of  crap.

  June 24, 2008 2:16 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  The faxes sent to ICE look like grocery lists,not official communications.That aside,the faxes show court dispositions,meaning that Riz had already been released twice before ICE was informed of his name on either occasion.This effectively thwarts ICE in its efforts to locate deportable aliens already in custody for other offenses.

  Sending the faxes before court appearances would be the effective method,which I am sure Cicilline and Esserman know very well.Their motives are very questionable here.

  The so-called "twenty year protocol"the mayor referred to is not true.I retired from INS about 11 1/2 years ago,and at that time an INS officer checked the PPD cellblock personally each morning prior to court appearances and issued appropriate detainers at that time.

  So much for the validity of the last point you made.

  Since I am putting my name to these assertions,I think the mayor is the one making misrepresentations,because I can back up what I say.

  June 25, 2008 12:26 PM

• b79 said:

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  June 25, 2008 6:28 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I think there's a little truth to each of the above.I get a little tired of hearing how tolerant young people are.I came of age in the Sixties and my generation is pretty unconcerned with race except when it gets forced into an argument.Most of us just want someone who might represent some of our views.Obama doesn't do it for me.His race is inconsequential.BTW why is it that a peron of mixed race is always the"darker" of the two(or three,etc)?That is an aspect of embedded racism that we just can't escape.Why is Obama Black with a White mother instead of White,with a Black father?It's like asking yourself when time began.Have fun.

  June 26, 2008 5:34 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I get scared when I agree with Segal and Perry.RI has the worst probation system I've ever seen.The probation sentences are too long,creating an impossible caseload,and leading to less effective supervision.

  Shorter,more intensively supervised probation sentences should be instituted.

  The legislation is the right thing,even if ir comes from far lefties.It corrects the"innocence is no excuse"thinking that has existed.

  June 26, 2008 5:38 PM

• Mike said:

  Multi Millionaire Marxist Matt Jerzyk should be on the list for his repeated censoring of the slightest dig regarding fellow Marxist's David Segal's only job being signing daddy's checks.

  June 26, 2008 8:43 PM

• forsanri said:

  Race impacts media coverage.  Obama's smear defense website is a direct response to the Fox News/right wing merchants of fear, because they do have a cascading effect on media coverage.  Setting aside the age issue, Fox will influence the election because they bring the Muslim issue up repeatedly, and by extension they label Obama as a terrorist--these fabrications will continue to inform and invigorate their base.  

  That won't wash with most younger voters though, but they were already with Obama anyway.

  There is a realignment coming, but not as much because of Obama/Race as the fact that the GOP can't unite.  Bush destroyed their party and they don't know where McCain stands on the issues since he's vacillated on nearly everything.  Because they're going to need to muster all the fear in their arsenal to unite the party this time, expect Fox News/GOP strategists to color their coverage with racial points routinely.  Fear has always been the GOP's best antidote to hope.

  June 27, 2008 1:43 PM

• ericjames said:

  Hey Ian, were portions of this serialized in the Journal a year or two ago? I remember a week long series or so, I think it was this...

  I missed the event though, damn.

  June 27, 2008 4:43 PM

• Atomic War Baby said:

  Awesome Fist-Bump! Grandma with a Crush on Obama!

  June 28, 2008 2:12 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  I read the story and I have a question for Ziner(and you Ian,who seem to have a high opinion of her work);has the same critical standard been applied to the SPLC and ADL as has been to FAIR.I am aware FAIR has been around a long time,and I never heard them desribed as racist,although I never spent any time looking into the group,nor joined it.The SPLC and the ADL have become advocates for illegal aliens over the last few years and have gone into the smear business- equating organizations they disagree with to the traditional hate groups like the KKK.I am of Jewish background and I can't stand Abe Foxman and the ADL-they purport to speak for Jews and they don't.They are ethnic pimps like Ramon Martinez.Foxman is a whining busybody.Any legitimate criticism of what he believes is "chilling" and "anti-Semitic"-he wears the word out frankly.

  There are Hispanic activists who call for the reconquest of the southwestern US-they are small in number,but very vocal.Why doesn't Ziner give it a rest with the storekeeper?Does every Guatemalan carry responsibility for Marco Riz' alleged crime?I say of course not-anymore than a member of RIILE is responsible for Dave Richardson being rude to customers.Does Ziner question the vile lying rhetoric of Fred Ordonez and the "Rev"Rivera from NJ when they compare the plight of aliens in RI to Nazi Germny(Ordonez)and 'ethnic cleansing"(Rivera)?

  She's very evenhanded-yessiree!!

  She chose sides long ago.

  I expect you to disagree,but I'm not making any false allegations here.

  June 29, 2008 6:09 PM

• Will said:

  I supposed that this was as "fair" a story (bad pun) as Karen Lee Ziner is capable of writing. Anything she writes needs to be taken with a grain of salt, because she is clearly not an objective reporter, even if she is able to mask it somewhat from time to time. She has a very clear pro-illegals agenda which is outside the mainstream of what most Americans favor.

  While some may have issues with the gentleman who founded FAIR, I certainly don't think that has anything to do with the over all issue of illegal immigration reform, or with other independent grassroots organizations that FAIR provides information to. If there are any criticisms to be made, it should be about accuracy of information which is provided to the public. Refute assertions with facts, not with ad hominem attacks. Best I can tell, unless what FAIR asserts is actually refuted with facts, I don't see a reason to distrust the information provided by them.

  I'm not sure what the story's purpose was (though I can guess), as there is no official relationship between FAIR and RIILE, even if there may be some overlap in membership or in broad goals. The vast majority of Americans want secure borders, English as the national language, and end to illegal immigration, and well-regulated legal immigation. This is a post-partisan, 90-95% issue.

  I think that as far as RIILE is concerned, it could actually be interpreted as a good story. I'm not a member myself, but I know Terry and other members and the vast majority are very good people trying to do the right thing for America. Remember: when you're a grassroots organization, any news is good news (especially on Page 1)!

  June 29, 2008 9:17 PM

• Linda said:

  The timing of the Projo story is blatantly obvious. With liberals like Cicilline and Paiva Weed badly damaged by their illegal alien protectionism in recent days it was time to (attempt to) change the subject.

  Sorry liberals but your illegal alien poster boy Marco Riz is not going away.

  Will is right, the attention paid to RIILE by an illegal alien advocate like Ziner is actually quite a compliment to that organization.

  Terry Gorman and Co. have come a long way baby!

  My only question to Ziner would be why mention but not question the motives of a racist group like La Raza in her "objective" piece as she tries to sell us a racist tale about FAIR and deems RIILE guilty by association?

  Her injecting La Raza in her tale of woe was an unintented comedic touch on her part.

  She cites La Raza when trying to claim FAIR is racist? ha ha ha ha ha ha

  Ziner is a graduate of the Bill Rappleye school of "journalism". All liberal agenda all the time.

  Poor Ian Donnis!

  So much journalistic incompetence to defend and so little time to do it.

  June 30, 2008 6:13 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, since RIILE is a local group, it seens a much more relevant topic than the ADL or the SPLC.

  June 30, 2008 9:26 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The ADL is a local group in case you haven't noticed.I belong to RIILE and have never seen or heard any racist activity/comments at a meeting.There are certainly strong positions taken with regard to such isues as English being the official language,access to health/welfare benefits by illegal aliens,etc.

  Doesn't it seem relevant that a so-called Hispanic rights group calling itself "The Race" is a major player in the Democratic party nationally?

  It's okay Ian,just remember that guilt by association cuts more than one way.(Obama/Wright/Ayers for example?).

  You conveniently ignore the disgusting comments by Hispanic activists which I quoted accurately-I personally Ordonez make that remark on the Jim Vincent show.The "Reverend"Rivera I did not hear directly,but rather a news report of his statement.

  You have a good set of blinders on when you need them it seems.And having met you a few times,I

  know it's not due to lack of intellect.Just try to be honest-the Marco Riz incident blew up in the faces of Cicilline,Esserman,and the "advocates"-I expect you think I'm happy about it-and I would be but for the fact a woamn was raped.And she didn't have to be.

  I can tell you this-RIILE isn't a cult which enforces political correctness on its members-you know-always agree with the leadership-members are free to have their own opinions-I have disagreed strongly with some others on the issue of children born in the US to illegal aliens.No one has tried to "purge" me as would happen in many "progressive"groups.If a free exchange of ideas on a controversial topic makes an organization a "hate"group,then I would take a look at the accusers.

  June 30, 2008 10:03 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, my "blinders" might have more to do with how if I spent all my time responding to you, I'd never get anything done.

  June 30, 2008 10:34 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-most of my comments here are made with no response expected from you.It's an open forum,so I just fire off my messages and see what happens.

  June 30, 2008 11:50 AM

• rhody said:

    More cheap let's-blame-Ziner. How sad and predictable.

  June 30, 2008 12:21 PM

• SPECIAK K said:

  Not 4 Nuthn but- That article will "never" make anyone who believes in enforcing our laws believe that RIILE is a "hate group".  Keep trying!

  June 30, 2008 2:13 PM

• SPECIAL K said:

  I agree totally with Bob Watson!  Why should anyone have the ability to destroy someone's career publicly with out putting a name on it. If you put your name to it you should be able to go for it.  

  Thank God for Bob Watson, Nick Gorham and the rest of the Republicans who are up there trying there hardest to protect the citizens of RI!

  June 30, 2008 2:30 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  rhody-If Ziner wants to be a coumnist a la Kerr and Bakst she ought to ask management about an opening over there-otherwise she should at least try to report all the facts without a bias-years ago Lee Dykas reported on hte enforcement aspects of immigration as did Kevin O'Connor of the Pawtucket Times-both speialized in crime/police reporting and they related the events dispassionately and accurately-I still seem to recall recent wild accusations against ICE regarding the suicide of man in the apartment of an ICE arrestee-Steven Brown and numerous "advocates" have yet to have their fet held to the fire for what they alleged without a shred of evidence-why do I bother responding to one of your posts?Your mind is programmed in a predictable "progressive"rut.

  June 30, 2008 3:26 PM

• mike said:

  Is there some reason this hack's salary is not included in the story since any of the governor's staff's salary is stuck like glue to their names?

  June 30, 2008 7:30 PM

• Mike said:

  She is the daughter of Tony Pires,

  XX

  Gee, that's a whole lot closer than "niece-in-law".  somebody tell Lynch, i am sure he'll fire her.

  LOL

  June 30, 2008 7:33 PM

• DonnaC said:

  Bob Watson, Nick Gorham and Joe Trillo...the Holy Trinity up on the Hill (Smith).  This state needs more like them!!  

  June 30, 2008 11:04 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Growing marijuana is commonplace in the Netherlands-there are "grow" supply shops all over Amsterdam.It can't really cost that much or so many people wouldn't be doing it.

  July 1, 2008 9:59 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Too bad.He ran an outstanding magazine which I read over all the years since I left NYC.It always brought me home,even from far away and the quality of the writing was top drawer.

  His magazine and Joseph Mitchell's writing are my NY journalistic icons.

  July 1, 2008 4:22 PM

• takes responsibility said:

  Ya well if your landlords would act responsible then the needless tragedy would have been averted go after the ones who let it go on , you did not prove the paint was used properly or where it came from what did you expect?

  July 1, 2008 11:06 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I agree.As an NRA member I can never trust Obama(nor the Clintons)-Giuliani was no bargain either.

  The makeup of the Supreme Court is a major concern to me,because I oppose the slide towards the acceptance of international law in the internal affairs of our country.

  July 1, 2008 11:20 PM

• Paul Q said:

  Rhode Island is the most corrupt state in the union. It's all about nepotism and who you've done a favor for.  

  July 2, 2008 7:45 AM

• Paul Q said:

  The article does not mention how the A.G.'s office failed in the Station Night club fire case in which one hundred people lost their lives,the most significant case in R.I.'s history.

  July 2, 2008 7:55 AM

• PulSamsara said:

  The NRA kills our Kids - everyday.

  July 2, 2008 8:38 AM

• rich said:

  How can Rhode Island lawmakers even consider having a law on the books that still makes people go out into the streets and buy medicine as if they were some sort of criminal? The legislature needs to pick up the pace on this one. They are certainly going in the right direction; but they need to work harder to make this law a reality--- not just a fairy tale.

  July 2, 2008 9:49 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Mitchell was the man. About that we can agree, Joe.

  July 2, 2008 10:12 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  What kills our kids is the attitude that life is cheap-reinforced daily by the same Hollywood and media phonies who whine about the NRA.

  July 2, 2008 11:09 AM

• Jean Weills said:

  I would like to see Hilary for V. P.. That is the only way i would vote for Obama. Never vote for that McCain, Bush clone!!God help us

  July 2, 2008 1:14 PM

• Jean Weills said:

  HEMP would be the the BEST renewable engery we could use. Clean, protects our enviroment.

  July 2, 2008 1:22 PM

• b79 said:

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  July 2, 2008 3:06 PM

• Will said:

  One can only hope that the Democrats remain so confident about Obama going into the fall. Never underestimate the ability of the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign to self-destruct at the most advantageous time for the GOP, despite all the historical disadvatages that the GOP is up against this year. Of course, there's always the possibility of an 'Osama Surprise.'

  Presidents Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry would probably agree with that assessment.

  July 2, 2008 5:13 PM

• Richard Steeb said:

  Requiring the ill to grow their own medicine is bizarre and untenable.  

  There is no reason to deny any adult eligible to purchase beer and cigarettes-- much less patients with their physician's assent-- the ability to acquire their kind herb in the same way.

  This Glaucoma patient visits Oaksterdam regularly, and enjoys it.  

  It is time to take George Washington's advice and "sow it everywhere".

  -San Jose, California

  July 3, 2008 10:28 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  I don't know what this has to do with anything,but evry time I see Lugo come to bat he looks like he thinks the pitcher is trying to sell him outdated bread.

  July 3, 2008 3:38 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  One thing you have to say for Patrick Lynch-he thinks for himself.There is no way to predict his approach to any particular situation.That's not a bad thing for a public official.Sometimes I agree with him,other times not,but it's never boring.

  July 3, 2008 3:41 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  On the money, Joe. Have a happy Fourth.

  July 3, 2008 6:04 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Sometimes it seems like the production end of our economy has gotten tired.And no wonder.It's hard to start up a manufacturing business today.

  Essentially,our main competitors are India and China.Russia has lousy quality control on everything except vodka(which may explain the state of quality control)-China,in particular,has no problem starting up new industrial sites without environmental impact studies,they burn huge quantites of coal(they still run steam engines on many trains!!),the concept of OSHA is a bad joke over there,they pay little,and they extract natural resources without any concern for collateral damage.All the while we get ourselves into contortions over drilling for oil.

  And then we're surprised that their economy is aggressive,particularly in manufacturing/export?

  The Chinese had the equivalent of multinationals(the"Overseas Chinese")before we were independent.

  Any ideas on this?

  Oh-and India-competition in the "soft end" of cyberbusiness.

  July 6, 2008 4:44 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  The renewable energy, digital media and IT sectors, while hardly a cureall, offer promise for growth in RI.

  July 7, 2008 9:39 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Really,if temper were a disqualifier to the Presidency,I guess Eisenhower ,Ford,and Carter would be the only Presidents in recent memory who should have served.JFK wasn't necessarily known for a bad temper,but he conceaaled that he had Addison's Disease,which can seriously affect the daily well-being of the sufferer.

  Please don't tell me Bush 1,LBJ,Nixon,Clinton,and Truman didn't have bad tempers.

  This Bush acts brain dead half the time,so who knows if he has a temper or nor?

  Obama comes across as thin-skinned,which is no attribute for a potential President.

  This is just my personal opinion,but Mary Ann Sorrentino and Sid Blumenthal are two of the last people whose point of view would impress me.

  I have a cousin who flew in the same squadron as Orson Swindle,and knws him very well.Swindle was shot down and spent considerable in the same location as McCain.He has the highest regard for McCain's strength and ability to deal with adversity.

  Remember when Nelson Rockefeller,as VP gave some hecklers the one-finger salute?No one accused him of being crazy.

  This has Swift-boat stink all over it.

  July 7, 2008 3:26 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I have no argument there ian,but those industries require good literacy and more than a HS diploma in most cases.People who have only a HS diploma,GED,or nothing also need decent employment to break the poverty cycle,because public funds are drying up for them.

  July 7, 2008 3:30 PM

• Mike said:

  Mary-Ann Sorrentino should worry about her own mental health.  She has gone nuts from all the guilt over the babies she has promoted killing to line her own pocket.

  July 7, 2008 6:49 PM

• COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] said:

  Dear American Voters, reporters, media. professionals, political parties, and our hon. Presidential Nominees,

  Subject: Presidential Temperament

  Please talk about and "Compare And Contrast" the " Presidential Temperament" of our Presidential presumptive nominees. I will also request and plead to the nominees themselves [ Hon. Senator McCain and Obama ].

  Our nation has been applying this yard and stick tor the appointments and confirmation process of our Supreme Court Justices nominees.

  Our Greatgrand Nation Foundations are as under:

  Family, friends, fellows, faith, funds, fun, with fairness & freedom And without fear, favor, and failure.

  It will be disgrace and shameful if the nominees and media will not look into this critical and crucial aspect under current challenging times and circumstances within our country and all around the Globe.

  America wake up and the discuss the " Presidential Temperament" of our presumptive presidential nominee's [ Hon. Senator McCain and Obama].

  Yours sincerely,

  COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret].

  Disabled American Veteran

  Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas, Nevada

  July 7, 2008 10:10 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  don't you mean "Gorhamville?"

  July 8, 2008 6:23 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Agreed. A better educated workforce is a big need hereabouts.

  July 8, 2008 1:11 PM

• Eric said:

  A solar farm in the northeast makes little sense. Wind farms off the shore are what make the most sense and should be where we are focusing our efforts.

  July 8, 2008 2:48 PM

• Monique said:

  H'mm, "Gorhamville".  That has a nice ring to it.

  [Hi, Ian!]

  July 8, 2008 3:22 PM

• Kathie Costos said:

  100% of people who have been tortured develop PTSD.  The question is, how bad, what level and what treatment he is receiving plays a bigger role in what kind of decisions he can or cannot make. Has he been diagnosed at all? He wouldn't be the first. Does he have impaired decision making problems and at what level? Does he have short term memory loss? Flashbacks? Nightmares? PTSD is not one size fits all but unless he is willing to release his mental health reports, no one will know.  By the way, the 100% figure comes from training at the lowest level, so the experts know this.  Why aren't they talking about it? He was tortured for 5 years!

  July 8, 2008 5:27 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I love this-here come the analysts.I admit I have no training in psychology aside from two undergraduate courses I took over 30 years ago.What I do have is five senses and my eyes and ears tell me that McCain has been a Senator and previously a Congressman for some decades now,and aside from what could be called a little over the top behavior on occasion,basically consisting of colorful language,he has been remarkably stable and effective.

  I don't know what Obama's reaction to severe adversity would be.He hasn't faced any more than anyone else whose parents separated and who went to live with his grandparents.Okay,they made fun of his ears,but he hasn't been tested.I have no confidence in his ability because all he's done is talk a good game.He hasn't walked the walk.McCain has.This disgusting slander about his mental state will come back to haunt you people.

  I recall that Bill Clinton wouldn't release his medical records-did he have STD's or substance abuse?I don't know.can anyone spell DOUBLE STANDARD?

  July 8, 2008 6:18 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Hi, Monique! Thanks for stopping by.

  July 9, 2008 10:47 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  I was inside the syetem of liaision between Immigration and the PPD in a hands - on capacity for years.I went on talk radio in a number of broadcast venues and explained clearly why the mayor was lying.He could have refuted what I said.He didn't,nor did any of the suddenly quiet advocates do so.I have nothing to gain by making things up because I belong to no political party nor am I contemplating a political job or office.My sole motive is to tell the public what the facts are.The fact that I am sometimes pretty conservative shouldn't automatically make even left wingers assume I have a nefarious agenda.

  Cicilline and esserman on the other hand,have a multitude of reasons for not being straightforward.Cicilline has a history of lying(as a recent example the John Simmons situation)and he is generally arrogant and snippy -as is the police chief.

  Everyone I know who has dealt with Esserman has mentioned his arrogance,and this includes people who disagree with my assertion that he is doing a poor job.

  We have 38 shootings as against 18 at the same time last year,and Cicilline says crime is down.What crime is down?Insider trading?

  July 9, 2008 1:32 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Cicilline's new initiative on selling garbage bags to city residents combined with a charge per bag for pickup on top of a tax increase and non-pickup of bulk items for weeks at a time is really endearing him to city voters.Not to mention his own little sanctuary city nonsense with his boy Esserman doing the dirty work.

  I hope the marco Riz controversy stays a hot topic for a while.The "advocates"are apparently feeling the heat.Pretty soon even the Journal will be unable to carry his water.His lickspittle columnist,"Charlie the Schnorrer"Bakst will thankfully be folding his tent soon,which will leave him only Bob Kerr and a few reporters to have his back.I think Cicilline's days as a political power may be numbered.I sure hope so and will do whatever possible to hasten his downfall.

  July 9, 2008 3:56 PM

• mass guy said:

  I agree joe. There a lot of issues hanging out there regarding the Mayor, someone should look at his fundraising when he first ran. Who held funraisers? How much cash was taken in? What about his campaign headquarters on Elmwood Ave. Who ownes the building? Who hired Juan Ghirdo? in his law firm. Not the upstanding honest person esserman claims he is.

  July 9, 2008 4:26 PM

• Will said:

  I can't even believe this is being discussed seriously ... but it is the Phoenix, not the Wall Street Journal. The only way he has any chance, is that if he were the only one running.

  Cicilline can probably be mayor of Providence for as long as the illegal aliens and dead people in Providence cemeteries keep voting him in. The people who vote in Providence have dubious standards which they use to determine who gets elected as mayor or to city council, which usually comes down to getting a job or a tax break or something else of value out of the city's coffers in exchange for their vote (or votes if they vote other different names). By and large, the population of Providence is not representative of the state's population as a whole, by any number of ways one might determine that.

  I don't see any way, under any circumstance whatsoever, in this or any other universe, that he would ever even make it out of a Democratic primary for governor, nevermind actually having any chance in the general election. He would be slaughtered like a pig (with lipstick?).

  This may be a largely Democratic state, but it is not a liberal one. He'd probably do himself well to go back into private practice defending illegal aliens, drug dealers, and mobsters -- since he has so much prior experience at it.

  July 9, 2008 10:33 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Will-There are a lot of people in Providence who are like the rest of the state.

  I voted for Chris Young in the primary and Dave Talan in the general election-I would vote for a steaming dog turd before I'd vote for Cicilline.

  The little scumbag's latest attempts to shake down the already overburdened residents will backfire on him and city council members.I am reaching out to my councilman on this and I am not being friendly about it.

  July 10, 2008 10:58 AM

• Rhody said:

    If Dave has Buddy Cianci complaining about on radio every day and Don Carcieri running to Bill O'Reilly to bring Buddy's gripes to a national audience, he must be doing something right.

    Seriously, I'd rather see Dave run for mayor again. I don't want the Cianci crew back in charge.

  July 10, 2008 11:33 AM

• rhody said:

    Dave really needs to take on the convicted felon, be it on the radio or somewhere else. As Lee Atwater said, keep repeating the lies loud enough and long enough, and people start to believe them.

  July 10, 2008 11:36 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Yeah,Rhody-Talk about repeating lies.That is what Cicilline is really good at.Whatever Cianci's faults,(I don't need to carry water for him)-he can ably defend himself.Cicilline hasn't the balls to go one on one with any talk show host who can challenge him and who will keep him from one of his childish talk-over rants.

  Before he was mayor;during his days as a legal advocate for alien drug dealers;Cicilline was known among LE personnel as a man who would lie in your face without blinking-he has always impressed me as a psychopath.He will do anything and say anything to get his way.He is about as tantrum-prone as a small child.

  July 10, 2008 1:00 PM

• Geico Caveman said:

  "Gorhamville"

  hahhahhahahh

  July 10, 2008 1:33 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Buddy can't run until 2014,when he probably wouldn't consider it.There ARE other people around who'd run.

  July 10, 2008 5:06 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  And this is a perfect time-in the face of higher taxes and energy costs,for Cicilline to try to foist his by the bag(which we will sell you) pay per pickup garbage collection scheme.

  Who will police this and at what cost?

  July 10, 2008 9:11 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Mackay,according to Dan Yorke who was at a conference or gathering of some type with him was disturbed by the use of the word "alien".That is the legal term for someone not a citizen or national of the US.It is in the Immigration and Nationaltiy Act.It is not a pejorative term,any more than "respondent"is;which is the term for someone undergoing deportation proceedings

  If Yorke is not the one I heard say this,I apologize,but I am certain it was.

  MacKay used the poll results in a misleading way.Yes,only 4% of those polled thought immigration was THE major issue facing Rhode Islanders.However 75% approved of the Governor's Executive Order,so it is clear that more than 4% of Rhode Islanders are concerned with immigration issues.

  Mybe the Projo is beginning to realize that having two columnists who are advocates for illegal aliens is enough.I am sure their feedback and declining sales are having an effect.

  In a column format I realize that objectivity is irrelevant,but the constant drumbeat for "immigrants"(undifferentiated as to legal or not)in these columns may begin to pall,and MacKay just was the one to take the heat.

  July 11, 2008 4:18 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Every polling place should have a large sign stating that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote.Steven Brown will squeak that it is "intimidating"as well it should be,just like shoplifting signage.

  This Secretary of State probably has some BS excuse why it can't be done.

  July 11, 2008 4:21 PM

• mass guy said:

  Rhodys logic makes no sense. Is he saying if ANY  BODY raises an issue or disagrees with boy david,that means he's doing something right? Or that means Cianci and Co are trying to come back?

  Wow! Wait for the next shoe to drop, its coming.  

  July 11, 2008 9:02 PM

• KinkyKathy said:

  Scott needs to crop the goatee just a bit. I know he's full-figured and uses it as a crutch...but I'd tap him even if he sported the chubby, fresh-faced cherub look...and I'd love him too...and I'd put it in the paper...and I lick anything not nailed down...

  July 11, 2008 11:13 PM

• rhody said:

    The righty view that the ProJo is a liberal institution has just been exposed again as a canard.

  July 12, 2008 11:19 AM

• rhody said:

    For the record, there are at least three people I'd vote for governor before Cicilline. But if you're willing to give the convicted felon on talk radio any credibility...

  July 12, 2008 11:23 AM

• rhody said:

    Joe, you don't suppose Italian-American pols are so anxious to turn on Dave because he happens to be of a different religion than most of his peers, do you?

    BTW, I'm not a big Cicilline loyalist. There are three gubernatorial candidates (one not a Dem) I'd vote for before him. I'm just tired of Cianci being portrayed as this big hero, and Carcieri playing along with it.

  July 12, 2008 11:29 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The editorial board isn't liberal.Just that columnists Harrop,Bakst,and Kerr,not so much Patinkin-and worse,reporters Peoples,Needham,ZINER,MacKay and sometimes Milkovits.That's all.They are left leaning where most people pay attention.

  July 12, 2008 12:33 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Rhody-you may not like Cianci-I was never involved in politics at all,and frankly didn't vote for him,but i will say that he did a lot of good things in Providence,and more importantly he didn't make a concerted effort to destroy the quality of life for middle class taxpaying homeowners by picking their pockets every time they breathe,unlike this mayor does.When it comes to what goes on in Providence and running a city,for better or worse,Cianci is an authority.It was his life.Rhody,I sometimes get the impression that you resent people who worked for what they got and want to hold onto it as somehow akin to Dick Cheney and his gang.It gets real tiresome to hear after a while.I resent Cicilline sucking up to two groups:the rich East Side limousine liberals,and the drug dealers and moochers who helped him get elected.I am voting against my councilman if anyone runs in opposition because he seems to go along with Cicilline on evrything.he owns a business in Providence and maybe he is intimidated by Cicilline's ability to make his commercial life miserable.I don't know,but he won't answer my messages so I effectively have no representation.

  July 12, 2008 12:43 PM

• Pat Crowleu said:

  McAdams is the best thing at the Projo, period.

  July 12, 2008 1:11 PM

• rhody said:

    If they were so liberal, Belo management would've cleaned them all out by now. The big decisions are made in Texas, not on Fountain Street.

    Harrop liberal? She has been a one-woman jihad against Obama while doing her Hillary-to-McCain dance.

  July 12, 2008 11:20 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Yeah Rhody-guess what-there are liberals who are still angry with Obama for dethroning Queen Hillary.

  July 13, 2008 5:19 AM

• Will said:

  From someone who can proudly claim to have never read the New Yorker (though I do own a vintage copy from the mid-1950s for some reason), this is clearly an attempt at humor. It will work on everyone who sees it, except for a campaign that seems scared of criticism of any sort. Is the New Yorker now officially part of the vast right wing conspiracy? C'mon! This is what happens when political correctness is allowed to regulate what is funny. The hubbub is quite ironic considering the source of the material.

  This is something from their friends to their friends. One can only imagine what their enemies have planned ahead. It's funny, because it polks fun at all the rumors surrounding Barack H. Obama (the portrait of Obama over the mantle was a nice touch). Why not acknowledge the elephant(s) in the room? They really need to develop some thicker political skin, because I assure you, once people start focusing on what Barack really believes, it's going to get a whole lot worse than that by November.

  July 14, 2008 12:05 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Will, do you fear that your ideological purity would be sullied by reading the New Yorker on occasion?

  July 14, 2008 12:26 PM

• mass guy said:

  Rhody are you saying every issue raised has no  credibility? Regardless of who raises it? The issues are not being created by any organization or person other than Cicciline's administration. They should answer for everyone of them instead of hiding behind quick agrogant sound bites.  

  July 14, 2008 2:04 PM

• indaknow said:

  Ian,

  David Cicilline goes on the Helen Glover show because her husband works in his administration.

  July 14, 2008 2:32 PM

• rhody said:

    Really? The captain of Team Glover would allow him to work there?

  July 14, 2008 3:01 PM

• rhody said:

    If this picture ran inside along with the story, I wouldn't have a problem. But its placement on the cover, with no explanation or context, invites questions. But then again, we're talking about the New York publishing world, where no matter the politics involved, these people have no clue how something like this will be interpreted beyond the bridges and tunnels.

  July 14, 2008 3:05 PM

• rhody said:

    If she were liberal, the Dallas home office would've had her drummed off the editorial board many moons ago.

  July 14, 2008 3:09 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  The New Yorker has declined since the days of Joseph Mitchell and his contamporaries.As I said on PDD a "fist bump"is a Maury Povitch level item in the face of terrorism,economic instability,two wars,immigration issues,energy costs,and environmental dangers.

  The satirical aspect will be missed by many if they don't go further into it.I don't want Obama to win,but I think it serves no purpose to insinuate he is a Moslem if he isn't.Without making a value judgment about Moslems,it just isn't true,so why bring it up?

  And what's with the Sixties revolutionary shtick about the wife?I am concerned with her long association with Trinity Church,but I hardly think she's the new Angela Davis.

  I think Obama's lack of experience,and far left positions are fair game and should be examined in detail.

  July 14, 2008 4:36 PM

• amber said:

  In addition, there is a RISD professor presenting Karaoke Convention as part of the Dialog:City exhibit that Partly Sunny is connected to. The professor conceived of the project and is working with a Providence based graphic designer and a film person, as well as a student staff in Denver to design and execute the performances.  The link is at www.karaokeconvention.com

  July 14, 2008 5:02 PM

• Will said:

  "Will, do you fear that your ideological purity would be sullied by reading the New Yorker on occasion?"

  Where's the Purell??? It doesn't have anything to do with ideology. I read a lot of left-leaning publications (case in point). I'm just not an elitist, which is something I've always detected from the New Yorker. Plus, I'm a Rhode Islander, not a New Yorker. ;)

  July 14, 2008 5:06 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Rhody-if someone named you "Froma" wouldn't you be generally pissed off?

  July 15, 2008 12:12 AM

• SPECIAL K said:

  I'm sure he never will again!!

  July 15, 2008 1:34 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Touche!

  Will, if featuring some pretty fine writing on an array of subjects is elitism, the NYer may well be guilty.

  July 15, 2008 9:20 AM

• rhody said:

    Romney's presence on the ticket would push the last of the Hillary dead-enders back into the Obama camp.

    But if McCain wants to fight the culture wars (which even a lot of Republicans appear to be past at this point)...

  July 15, 2008 2:28 PM

• Will said:

  As someone who ran as a Romney delegate, I see Mitt as the best choice for VP (no bias here).

  He seems to be the best choice of the choices presently under consideration, esp. if your number one consideration is the economy. There might be other "out of the box" choices, or perhaps some great unknown out there, but that seems a little risky to me at this point.

  Let's face it, Romney has a lot of what McCain lacks: money, the ability to make money, friends with money, charisma, youth, mainstream conservative support, the ability to motivate people, gubernatorial experience, a strong economics background, and of course, great political hair!

  He's already been vetted, never even a hint of scandal, a great family life, etc. Sure, Romney's good on most of the cultural stuff, too, but as was pointed out a lot in the campaign, he was something of a late arrival to that. Whatever appeal he has on a cultural level, I think his economics background will outshine that for most people. He's fairly conservative, but not as conservative as some conservatives would prefer.

  As far as I can tell, Romney's only real drawback is that he's a Mormon. That is only a drawback among a segment of the evangelical Christian community who are afraid that this is part of their plan to take over America. I'm certainly not a Mormon, but I don't fear them. I'll go by the Constitution's prohibition of a religious test to hold public office anyday, as long as someone handles himself in office well. I don't think those who would hold Romney's Mormonism against him would be likely vote for McCain, regardless of who McCain chose for VP.

  Even though they may be a bit of a political odd couple, there's plenty of precedent for that (i.e. Kennedy-Johnson, Reagan-Bush). The important part is that you bring the party together and have a coherent conservative message. Regardless of whether he's chosen for VP, Romney is definitely a top contender for 2012.

  PS I think the GOP has finally found some footing with the energy independence idea (i.e. drill now, drill everywhere, more nuke plants, etc.), because it puts the Democrats on the defensive. It's a good example of turning a pretty bad economic lemon into political lemonade.

  July 15, 2008 6:31 PM

• Monique said:

  Great point, Ian.

  As for Helen's husband working in the Cicilline admin, assuming for a moment this is true, why would it be a reason for the Mayor to go on Helen's show?  The Mayor (of any city) is the boss; he has no obligation to go on the show of the spouse of an employee.

  July 15, 2008 8:46 PM

• KinkyKathy said:

  Ian, screw the national dialogue. Stay local with your coverage, in print and on the blog. We've got so many sexy characters in this 40-square mile plot. It gets congested. It gets kinky. Cover it. National politics is for robots. The country, indeed the world, does not exist outside of Southern New England. They film that Irag stuff on a blue screen.

  July 16, 2008 8:51 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Thanks for another entertaining comment, Kathy. I prefer the local focus, but some national stuff will find its way in.

  July 16, 2008 10:02 AM

• Jef Nickerson said:

  Jenn is one of the good ones. Her efforts for our community, not just in the sphere of marriage, have been multitudinous and she gives her all to everything she involves herself with. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors, and hope she takes the time for a well deserved rest before launching into her next task.

  Now when is the party? I need a drink!  

  July 16, 2008 12:10 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-are you saying two important issues can't exist simultaneously?Illegal immigration and the economy are not totally disconnected as you seem to infer.alot was made of the fact that only 4% of the people surveyed by RIC thought immigration was the top issue facing RI.i don't believe it's the top issue either.But 75% supported the Governor's executive order,which annoyed the "journalists" at the projo to no end.So it seems that the people of RI are concerned about immigration and the Governor's response.It just isn't the #1 priority of the vast majority.

  Immigration raids much larger than this were routinely covered on page 12(i.e.)of the Projo if at all druing my years on the job.Now because of the loud,in your face advocacy groups and their minions in the General Assembly the immigration raids become front page news.This is more than a local truism.Immigration has come to prominence on national tv and in print as well as on the web.There wasn't this much coverage even during the amnesty of 1987.You are taking the Projo to task,but what about Rhode Island's Future?Matt put inflammatory pieces by Pat Crowley and Meg Grady on his front page.I don't believe stuff gets on the front page there without Jerzyk's OK.It's his blog,after all.You know I am no fan of the Projo so let's be evenhanded when discussing who is ginning up the conversation.  

  July 16, 2008 12:43 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, of course many important issues can and do exist simultaneously.

  I am not taking the ProJo to task for covering this issue. I do believe, however, that immigration receives a disproportionate amount of attention. It remains an important issue.

  July 16, 2008 1:41 PM

• rhody said:

    Immigration...bread and circuses for the talk radio audience.

    Going after the immigrants themselves - easy.

    Going after their employers - hard.

    Carcieri and the talk radio crowd don't do hard.

  July 16, 2008 2:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Rhody-I spent 90% of my my time going after criminal aliens who were not already in custody-not easy.If you tried it you would know.You like to demean the talk radio crowd.What have you done in your life that is so productive?Share with us,why don't you?A lot of us who like talk radio are retired from productive lives and have families we care about.The stereotype of an antisocial nerd living in his parents basement is pretty weak in the reality department.

  July 16, 2008 3:02 PM

• Linda said:

  Joe, isn't it interesting how rhody and other Dems always obsess over talk radio (but they always listen) yet it's been Democrats like rhody and Paiva Weed who've not been strong on this issue and who've not held business acountable for their role in the expensive illegal alien blight on our society. Hypocrites!

  July 16, 2008 5:00 PM

• Will said:

  The difference between this case and Romney's hiring a company to landscape his house, who it turned out employed illegals, is that in a courthouse, there are major security concerns.

  These employees were required to have complete background checks done, and used fake documents to do it. That's a huge problem that could have major consequences, especially if some illegals were blackmailed by others to do "special work" inside the courthouses for gangs and other bad people.

  While I think the raids (or "police enforcement actions") serve a basic public policy purpose, I would also like there to be a lot more focus on prosecuting employers who knowingly hire illegals as well. There needs to be a deterrant.

  PS I'm aware of another instance immediately following the issuance of the executive order, that to the best of my knowledge was never publicized, where a good percentage of the cleaning staff used in a large state-owned building, turned out to be illegals. I don't know if it's the same contracting company. However, if it was, it would certainly be very interesting. I suspect the feds have been onto these folks for a while now.

  July 16, 2008 5:23 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Yes,Linda,and I notice that while there are some nutjobs who call talk radio and some over the top hosts,the blogosphere has some people who sound like they should be on Haldol-and they come from both ends of the spectrum.We haven't even mentioned public access tv.Talk radio is,as Ian mentioned previously,a very real part of Rhode Island public discourse.

  July 16, 2008 5:26 PM

• Linda said:

  Joe, have you noticed the PR campaign coming out of Providence this week? Deanie Weenie stages his on the street roll call strictly orchestrated for media consumption yesterday and Mayor Fluff-A-Nutter pens his latest attempt to change the Marco Riz subject by attacking the governor in this mornings Projo. How beautiful when all that well planned Providence PR glitz and glitter from Deanie and Fluff blows off the media radar screen in 5 seconds when ICE raided the courthouses of R.I.

  There is a GOD and he doesn't like Deanie Weenie and Fluff-a-nutter either. (LOL)

  The executive order. The ICE raids in Newport. The ICE raids in the courthouses. The RISP bust illegals on Rt 4. No wonder Grace Dias is whining about illegal aliens fleeing to Massachusetts.

  July 16, 2008 6:46 PM

• Mike said:

  Can someone name me a single other policy issue where people are over 4-1 on one side?

  The issue is not "immigration" but "deporting illegal aliens who commit felonies". You will note even the usual suspects are quiet as mice today.  They know which way the wind is blowing. I speak of Paiva-Weed, Looney Left Liz and the disgusting, perverted felon in City Hall.

  July 16, 2008 6:54 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Mike& Linda-the leftist open borders anti-sovreignty bunch is shrinking fast,but are shriller than ever-kind of like a hornet that just got bug-sprayed.They are desperate,nd I wouldn't give two cents for Marco Riz' life if they got a hold of him.He screwed the pooch but good for these "advocate"commies and his fellow illegals that they patronize and use for their own ends.

  July 16, 2008 9:15 PM

• Andrew said:

  Bringing young kids to Fenway is one of the greatest things about being a Dad.  Of course, there are right ways and wrong ways to do it.  

  On those rare occasions when I can score a ticket, I usually bring my daughter.  I never go to my seat, but head straight for the last row in the bleachers.  

  I find an aisle seat and offer my grandstand seat in exchange.  They always comply.

  We sit in the last row.  Take in the game.  And have a blast.  I don't need to worry about my child going behind me, and because we are so high up, my child (3 years old) can hang out in the aisle and not block people's line of sight.  

  My kid was two years old when she saw Big Papi hit a three-run walk off.  The experience (now on Youtube) is permanently etched in her memory.

  As I said, there is right way and wrong way of doing this.

  July 17, 2008 6:46 AM

• rhody said:

   Joe and Linda, would you support criminal action against the companies that hired these illegals?

   I'm just sick of seeing the full weight of the law come down on the immigrants themselves while those companies who bring them here are protected by their powerful friends in the GA and the governor's office. Don't let your obsession with Paiva-Weed (while you let Murphy off the hook) blind you to the other powerful interests in this state that enable these companies to get off scot free.

    Let's attack the WHOLE problem, not just the politically expedient part.

  July 17, 2008 11:27 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Rhody-are you serious?I have always believed that knowingly hiring illegal aliens should be punished with prison time and destructively high fines.Where did you get a different impression?Maybe because I dealt mostly with criminal aliens and smugglers I don't get on the employer issue very often.I like to discuss topics where my knowledge is in depth so I can offer accurate comments.When employer sanctions were introduced in 1987 I was reassigned to narcotics enforcement,where I remained for 9 years until I retired.My knowledge is a little thin on the details as a result.

  July 17, 2008 2:02 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  The "bank run" comment isn't that laughable-it has gotten ugly with the IndyMac run.

  The activist was only elucidating the subtext of what we hear daily from the "advocates",Steven Brown,Matt Jerzyk,Pat Crowley,Fred Ordonez,David Segal,Grace Diaz,Kate Brewster,Shana Kurland,and Rachel Miller to name a few.Can't forget Juan Garcia either.She put the cards on the table and I am glad.No more politically correct speech on this subject is needed.

  July 17, 2008 2:07 PM

• Linda said:

  rhody, you bet I would support legal action against these companies. Nobody should be hiring illegals and when found out there needs to be some tough consequences and you can bet there will be in this case. It's one of the reasons I support mandating use of e-verify for all employers. So you must support e-verify too rhody?

  By the way I'm not a fan of Murphy but his House of Reps passed the e-verify legislation two years running only to have Paiva Weed kill it in the Senate. You should be outraged rhody. It's the Democrats who are roadblocking for business.

  July 17, 2008 3:19 PM

• rhody said:

   Guarantee me fair and proper enforcement of E-Verify, and I'll think about it. But I don't trust the crew currently running the state right now to handle this properly.

   Weed probably opposes it because she has so many employers of immigrant labor in her district. But if she opposed those Newport hotels and restaurants, the same people who criticize her now would probably be whining that she's anti-business.  

  July 17, 2008 3:44 PM

• Linda said:

  rhody, so in other words you don't support using e-verify even though you piss and moan about business never being held accountable over the illegal alien blight in our state. Quite hypocritical!

  July 17, 2008 6:36 PM

• bobblehead said:

  Bikes, the BLVD and the folks who live there have not been peacefully co-existing for years. East siders have for a very long time tried to keep bikes off the blvd. Bike lanes were a way to try to give bike riders the actual RIGHT to ride on that street.

  July 17, 2008 7:15 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  This is exactly what he wanted... fear.

  July 17, 2008 10:12 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Linda-these people like Rev.Nogueras,Steven Brown,Juan Garcia,maybe even Rhody really don't want anyone deported,no matter what they did.they may give lip service to deporting criminals,but when that happens they come up with more lame excuses-every criminal alien has extenuating circumstances it seems,according to these people.

  I recall in 2002 when Cicilline was running for mayor,he was demonstrating along with the Brown U.radicals,PrYSM,and assorted other activists against deporting convicted aggravated felons who were aliens.

  I believe in no compromise with the activists,because if you give them any room they launch an all out attack.If Obama wins,it won't matter anyway.

  July 17, 2008 10:26 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  People breaking the law should fear the consequences-what is so hard for you to understand about that?The sign "shoplifters will be prosecuted" is an example.It is supposed to make you think twice.I know you don't believe in the immigration laws we have,Pat,but in this society,or virtually any other, one doesn't get to pick which laws they will follow.Not without a price to pay anyway.I hope there is a mass exodus fom these jobs by illegals.Apparently there was one at the AG's who used bad paper-she was not at work last night.In 1984 we charged 5 or 6 illegal aliens who used bad paper to get unemployment payments in US District Court with felonies.It worked wonders.The illegals stopped applying for a long time.It IS a crime to enter the US illegally,as opposed to overstaying a visa.It just isn't charged as a matter of practicality except in border areas.Maybe that ought to change.We never got this coverage when I was with INS.It's not like they're doing more these days-it just seems to be automatic big news.

  Apparently it's easy for ICE to assemble large groups of agents for these raids.In my day it was like pulling teeth.One week back in 1982 or so in Chicago we got a Border Patrol detail of about 60 agents to assist our +/- 80 in the District office and grabbed 1320 people in a week.We had to pass up many more because of full vehicles.And a paltry 31 arrests gives all these "advocates" the runs?No wonder the US is in trouble.

  July 18, 2008 1:05 AM

• Mike said:

  You will notice the COMPLETE silence from Looney Left Liz and sissy-line.  

  They know which way the wind is blowing on these cockroaches-and it ain't a 4 percent political problem.

  Hey Joe, how can we find out what happened to the illegal "First father of 2008". was he deported or were the commies able to sneak him loose?

  We sure won't get any answers from the the Pravda reporters in this state.

  RIGHT IAN?

  July 18, 2008 10:03 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Mike-I would think that him being the subject of a deportation warrant,he would have been deported.I wouldn't know how to find out as I am no longer "in the loop" and haven't been since I retired-I am more concerned with why the ME's office never released an approximate time of death on the individual who hung himself because of Steven Brown's baseless assertion that he committed suicide out of fear of being arrested.Brown defames people doing a job he would never have the balls to do himself.I once asked him if because he was so concerned with constitutional rights,he had ever served his country.Well,of course he said no.It figures.I am fairly sick and tired of people like Shana Kurland calling federral agets carrying out their sworn duties "terrorists".I hope sincerely she finds out first hand what a terrorist is.

  July 18, 2008 11:51 AM

• Will said:

  The only thing is gives them a right to, is a greater likihood of getting hit by a car.

  I drove down it two days ago. Now that there's apparently no passing lane for cars, if you get stuck behind a 90 year old driving 15 miles per hour, you're screwed. By the way, what's the deal about putting bike lanes between the driving lane and the shoulder? It's very confusing.

  July 18, 2008 11:57 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Obama's record speaks for itself,backed up by his pre-reversal statements.

  July 18, 2008 4:46 PM

• Carsuberalles said:

  Gee God forbid you are stuck for 1.75 miles.

  Maybe they should widen Hope St. too, since one is  far more likely to hit traffic on there.  Knock down all those stupid houses and buildings so the cars can get around better.

  ACtually, let's just make the city a big looping highway.

  July 18, 2008 9:02 PM

• John Richard said:

  Is it me, or is the pot calling the kettle black in Bob Kerr's column in the ProJo, "The beer that just left home" 7/16/08

  "And now it’s in that great commercial sinkhole that swallows up once-distinct local businesses where quality was demanded and skill respected and the boss knew everybody’s name."

  Is he talking about AB/InBev or ProJo/Belo?

  July 19, 2008 2:17 AM

• rhody said:

   Sounds like you're just the guy to teach her, Joe.

  July 20, 2008 12:13 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  A typical response from you "Rhody"-a smartass response under your assumed identity and no specific answer to the rest of my post,because you are too ignorant or bent to offer anything meaningful.

  July 20, 2008 8:50 AM

• Linda said:

  A prime example of why people hate the media.

  Smear and insinuate first - get the facts later.

  July 20, 2008 11:01 AM

• rhody said:

   Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Blame the Media!

  July 21, 2008 12:41 AM

• rhody said:

    I'm not the one uttering thinly veiled threats of violence to those with whom I disagree, Joe. I don't need you showing up at my family's door with a .45, a machete, or whatever. If what I say bothers you that much, it sounds like you're the one with the problem.

    Or maybe you never retired from the role of Mr. Tough Guy.

  July 21, 2008 12:46 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Thinly veiled threats of violence?You're full of crap.I have never threatened anyone on this or any other blog.I never played a "mr tough guy'role-I did my job,period.I have never gotten into any "incidents"like so many of our esteemed legislators have.Accusing me of threatening someone is serious shit and as far as I am concerned you are a lying lowlife.

  I have actually met with numerous people I disagree with-Jerzyk,Crowley,Ian,Segal,etc,and I didn't show up with a .45 or machete.I haven't owned a machete since I was a kid.

  If you are referring to Shana Kurland I was serious-I hope she winds up somewhere in the world finding out what real terrorism is.She likes to throw out vile accusations,and I despise her.

  Interestingly,by using my real name,I am more likely than you to have the concerns you expressed.I can't live my life worrying about what other people might do.You are an abusive noisemaker on this and other blogs.You must have a lot of time on your hands.Do you collect workmen's comp?

  July 21, 2008 9:50 AM

• dcmsox2004 said:

  doesn't the majority rule???

  motor vehicle traffic has and always will vastly outnumber our self powered two wheeled friends...

  i'd spoken with da city and they made it quite clear that this new bicycle lane was not a 'traffic calming' measure... it was an attempt to integrate our bike paths of rhode island... please....

  another case of the city pandering to a minority faction... with complete disregard for the majority of those who live and traverse the 'boulevard' on a daily basis....

  for those einsteins who did not think of this... motorists will now take the path of least resistance... they will now take side streets as a means to their respective ends... which will now only increase traffic flow through the residential areas... where there are those on bicycles and strollers without the benefit of bike signage and striping!!! DUH!!!!

  given that in this day and age what will also transpire is that folks will pass on the right, and perhaps become even more aggressive in their driving tendencies..... can the traffic cops ticket those who drive under 20 mph?????

  one last thing parents, any of you who allow your children to bike on the boulevard... you must be living in a dream world of isolation and insulation.... you're exposing them to incredible risk.. rhode island drivers are 49th / 50 states in being the worst in the county... the white line will NOT protect them........

  thanks councilman wood, for not taking your majority constituency into consideration.... hope your future is replete with flat tires.......

  July 21, 2008 11:02 AM

• rhody said:

    What's happened is that many of the people who bought the social conservatism argument in '04 have lost their jobs, seen their finances go up in smoke, and are realizing they've been had. The national GOP increasingly depended on social conservatism while not offering economic solutions, and got burned.

    You can only scream "Anti-abortion! Anti-gay!" so loud for so long. People eventually discovered it didn't improve their lives.  

  July 21, 2008 12:22 PM

• rhody said:

    For Shana Kurland's sake, I hope there is security in her workplace. If I were you, I would hope she is never assaulted on the street or in her home, either. And some people think Bobby O is dangerous.

    For the record, though it really is none of your business, I don't collect workers' comp, nor have I ever put in a claim.

    And if my posts offend you so much, ignore 'em.  

  July 21, 2008 12:34 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Hey-asshole-you're over the line now.I don't know a Bobby O although I've seen his name on blogs.Apparently he was arrested for stalking.I've never gotten so much as a traffic ticket.

  I have no desire to meet Shana Kurland-my way of dealing with people like her is to discredit what they say.If I wish them ill,it's my right to do so.It may not be nice,but I don't care-I've had worse said to me.

  If you think I can be intimidated by your rantings about me threatening people,you are sadly mistaken.I don't get intimidated by anybody.And if somebody takes it in their mind to f##k with me personally,I will definitely be ready to deal with that.I have in the past.

  and I will ignore your posts-I don't think anyone takes you very seriously because you never have anything but invective to spew out of your troubled mind.

  July 21, 2008 1:27 PM

• rhody said:

    Beg to differ, Rach.

    Did you forget 159 other members of the press couldn't get seats on that plane?

  July 21, 2008 3:04 PM

• rhody said:

    Joe, if you're going to ignore my posts, why did you just bloviate and threaten me? I don't get intimidated, either, but I don't feel I need to prove my masculinity through insults and abusive language. Your jihad against me accomplishes one thing: wastes other people's bandwidth.

    Remember, counseling is available.

  July 21, 2008 3:08 PM

• bobblehead said:

  There are fewer pedestrians than drivers, so should there be no sidewalks?

  I may be mistaken (but I doubt it) I think the speed limit on the blvd is 25 mph.

  Maybe the cops should ticket people breaking the law, rather than those who are driving below the limit? Or because the majority breaks the law should the cops just allow them to do it?

  The idea that the majority is always right is kind of nutty. History will probably back me up.

  It isn't 20 miles of bike lane keeping people late for their appointment with an extra extra at Dunkin Donuts. It is, what? a mile plus?

  Even at 25 mph, AND the dastardly bike path, the BLVD is still a faster way from Pawtucket to Wayland Square. If folks are stupid enough to deal with 250 stop signs between East Ave and Pitman street by taking the "side streets through the residential neighborhoods" well, then, they deserve to be all annoyed and pissed off.

  Please.

  July 21, 2008 5:52 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Yeah,I'll try to be concerned about other peoples' bandwidth while you and your coffehouse revolutionary  friends are busy saving the world

  July 21, 2008 8:42 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  payback is a bitch.....

  July 21, 2008 9:20 PM

• rhody said:

    Joe Bernstein: a lean, mean, one-man entertainment machine!

    Please tip your waitstaff.

  July 21, 2008 10:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I would understand if they didn't let the correspondent from MAD magazine aboard.They've been satirizing Obama since the 1950's.

  July 22, 2008 12:34 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The library and its branches are a vital city resource-access to computers for those who cannot afford them;homework space free of distractions for students;cool(or warm) space for the elderly and infirm in temperature extremes with reading material available;and centers for literacy-this is a hell of a lot more important than waterfire or similar bread and circus events.

  This and public transportation are two areas where I find myself on the same side as some people I usually militate against.

  I have great memories of the Brooklyn Public Library and what I learned from that institution.

  July 22, 2008 3:57 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  As far as I'm concerned that organization can work a no-day week.Ramon Martinez and Fred Ordonez have turned what was a community service organization into a group devoted to demagoguery

  and ethnic separatism.

  July 22, 2008 8:04 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I have to thank Matt Jerzyk-I had no clue if at large seats were good or bad.I was leery of them because they could cause more of a disconnect between city residents and the city council.

  Jerzyk gave the pro and con lineup on RIF and then I knew which side to take.I think....

  July 22, 2008 8:07 PM

• Boulevard User said:

  FTR I drive the blvd both motorized and two wheeled fairly often.  Other than a small time during peak traffic, I notice no difference in the overall traffic patterns. Oh, and btw during peak traffic all you are doing by getting down the blvd faster is maybe improving your place in the Butler/Angell/Waterman St. traffic light queue, or, at the other end, the Hope/Overhill/Pidge light queue.

  I think what this is about is people being upset that they can no longer drive 50 mph on the blvd, which by the way residents also complained about.  In fact the councilman has likely addressed the needs of his constituents very well.  What he hasn't done is represent the needs of the people who use this park as a speedway to get from point A to point B and contribute nothing to the neighborhood except smog, noise, and a generally distasteful attitude.

  July 23, 2008 11:30 AM

• John L said:

  Ian, you're a day late on this story. The ban has been rescinded.

  yankees.lhblogs.com/.../common-sense-prevails-at-stadium

  July 23, 2008 12:19 PM

• L. E. Fant said:

  I would love to get Segal and Jabour on a lie detector and ask if they would have submitted the legislation if a Democrat were in the Governor's office right now.  Methinks no.

  July 23, 2008 12:44 PM

• Marc said:

  Ian, Wow! Just last week she was a blogger/reporter and interviewed Candidate Fogarty. Now, 6 days later, she becomes Fogarty's campaign coordinator.  Who was interviewing who?  Remarkable.  

  July 23, 2008 2:21 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  It is a swift change, Marc, but crossing the line between reporter and the other side isn't all that uncommon. Jim Taricani, for example, did a spell as Governor Almond's communications guy.

  July 23, 2008 4:14 PM

• Kiersten Marek said:

  Thanks very much for the mention, Ian.  We are going to work super hard to try to ensure a Democratic victory for Cranston and a better future for our residents, from toddlers to teens to seniors.  Cindy has a strong reputation and track record -- just chatting with fellow parents at my babysitters I learned of how well she worked with Ward 2 members in a certain area about 4 years ago, to address creating a "neighborhood watch" for crime.  It's great stuff and it comes naturally to her.

  July 23, 2008 4:24 PM

• Bobblehead said:

  I don't know how the library can continue to operate with a straight face. To borrow from the urban dictionary, the trustees of the PPL "Jumped The Shark" when they closed the important Empire Street entrance. I don't trust anything the trustees say and the idea that they would continue to receive the same stipend from the city, while not promising to return the same services is kind of bush league.

  July 23, 2008 9:16 PM

• Chris Barnett said:

  The Secretary of State's office researched the succession question. When there on vacancies in the U.S. Senate, state law gives the Governor the authority to make a "temporary appointment" to the seat. The Governor does not need the advice and consent of the state Senate or any other body. The last person appointed to a vacancy in the U.S. Senate was Lincoln Chafee -- former Gov. Lincoln Almond appointed him following his father's death in the fall of 1999.

  Temporary appointees serve until the next general election, when there will be an election to fill the balance of the seat's term. A temporary appointee may run for the seat (as Lincoln Chafee did in 2000).

  Article I, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution sets forth three qualifications for senators: each senator must be at least 30 years old, must have been a citizen of the United States for at least the past nine years and must be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the state they seek to represent.

  July 24, 2008 11:16 AM

• MsSwin said:

  I do have to take the media in general to task for not giving full coverage to the subject of John McCain.

  The media gives us full coverage of McCain's war hero history, writes numerous stories about how he was tortured for many years, produces hundreds of articles every time a vet speaks out for him and talks about the torture, yet no one in the mainstream press ever asks the question "could the man running for the highest office in the United States of America, a job with incredible stress, possibly suffer from PTSD"?  At present you can google the words 'mccain ptsd' and approximately one half million google hits will appear, many of these are articles by veteran groups, yet there is still no real mainstream media coverage on this issue.

  “Among U.S. servicemen taken captive during the Korean War, as many as nine out of 10 survivors may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental disorders more than 35 years after their release, psychologist Patricia B. Sutker of the New Orleans Veterans Administration Medical Center and her colleagues report in the January AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY.”

  McCain has a nine out of ten chance of having PTSD, displays many of the symptoms, yet no one in the mainstream press will question this.

  'Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can result from wartime trauma such as suffering wounds or witnessing others being hurt. Symptoms include irritability or outbursts of anger, sleep difficulties, trouble concentrating, extreme vigilance and an exaggerated startle response.'

  www.reuters.com/.../idUSN17282413

  Before the Iraq war many of us begged the media to fully report on the wmd in Iraq, how it got there, who helped to supply Saddam and to report on previous administrations dealings with Iraq.  We were told it was ancient history.  The media 'apologized' years later for their failure to fully report the war.

  Today, we are asking the media if John McCain is emotionally fit to serve as the President of the United States.  Surely the voters deserve to know prior to the fall election.

  July 24, 2008 11:22 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  If these people had only bothered to check out the fact that Jackie's no longer did business with a sweatshop supplier,noe of this would have happened.The North Providence police haven't had to deal with this type of unannounced demonstration in at least the last 25 years,if ever.I think the injury was an accidental result of an attempt to use the routine amount of force.It is strange that when the photos were posted online last summer,the sequence of the actual takedown were not shown-it was before and after.

  July 24, 2008 7:49 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Esserman is very critical of this country while there are 41 shootings this year compared to less than half that this time last year.I am quite sure none of the Providence shootings were committed by people who waited 7 days after filling out the required paperwork to buy a handgun- the gun owners Cicilline has spoken derisively of in the past.And right after every shooting it seems we are lectured by Teny Gross on the 6 o'clock news.A great deal of good he's done at taxpayers expense.

  This city will be better off when Esserman moves on to his next self-aggrandizing project and an actual police officer assumes command here.

  July 24, 2008 7:56 PM

• KinkyKathy said:

  Carcieri will buckle. He picked an easy target--undocumented workers--with his executive order to distract everyone from his eventual capitulation to all the union thugs he went to CCD classes with as a child. Nothing against those guys, by the way. But the Don knows they bleed state coffers more than undocumented workers ever could. He also knows he can't push 'em around. By the way, Amy Kempe needs a sedative.

  July 24, 2008 11:27 PM

• KinkyKathy said:

  Only time I go to Warwick is for the movies. Does that make me a tourist? Love it when the budget thugs inflate numbers.

  July 24, 2008 11:29 PM

• NotSoKinkyKathy said:

  I sure hope Carcieri doesn't fold on this one.  Make 1,000 eliminated positions just a slow day.  Start cutting.  Fire 'em.  Don't like the deal your own leadership negotiated, go find another job.  State workers...

  July 25, 2008 9:45 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Obama will maintain his cool until the "big ears" jokes start coming out.Apparently he was harrassed about it as a kid.

  July 25, 2008 2:06 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I once met Egbert briefly when he was representing a defendant arrested by another agent.We were the same age and background.Egbert was extremely competent and I think a lot smarter than Alan Dershowitz.He was fit-looking also.Just no way to tell when it's coming.He reminds me a little of Bob Mann,who I have great respect for,because they took on the toughest cases and worked hard on their clients' behalf.Well,actually,Mann still does.

  July 25, 2008 2:14 PM

• Michael said:

  I had just returned to the station after treating the gunshot victim and turned on the news to hear that two officers had been shot. I couldn't believe how wrong the news was, and how they continued to air the story. There were a lot of people around, and a lot of stories being told.

  This was reckless and inexcusable. It was a tragic end to a botched robbery, no need to sensationalize. Channel 6 took a giant leap backwards.

  July 25, 2008 6:57 PM

• Jim said:

  I agree.  Additionally, after ABC6 aired the wrong information, ABC6 changed the story claiming the police gave them the inccorrect information.  This was a complete cover-up for the misinformation provided by Malini Basu.  I know for a fact we did not provide any incorrect information to ABC6 and for them to use us as a cover-up is completely disrespectul to the work that we do.

  I doubt people will able to watch ABC6 news, or even watch Malini Basu, and be able to see the report as reliable.  

  July 26, 2008 9:35 AM

• MsSwin said:

  There are only two articles in Google news even questioning this issue, including full archives.

  July 26, 2008 1:54 PM

• Anthony said:

  I cannot believe ABC6 has the audacity to blame the police sources for their mess up.  They not only misconstrued the story once, but twice! This is completely unprofessional and unacceptable coming from a news medium that is to provided fast, accurate news to their audience. My question is that if they really did get provided with misinformation, then why didn't any of the other news mediums provide the same misinformation? It seems obvious something went wrong with the ABC6 reporter and not their sources and I (as I'm sure others) would like to know what the heck happened and how they screwed up the information so bad...TWICE!

  July 27, 2008 9:06 AM

• Pat Crowley said:

  www.nytimes.com/.../20seigel.html

  July 27, 2008 12:09 PM

• Gift Of Peace said:

  Combining town powers will only increase our only already increasing police state.

  Gorham is a police tool.

  July 27, 2008 12:55 PM

• Leslie Yeransian said:

  I'm not gone. I'm right here.

  Feel free to contact me anytime.

  Leslie.Yeransian@gmail.com

  617.733.1225

  July 27, 2008 2:57 PM

• Larry said:

  ABC6 should follow in the foot steps of Channel 10.  Inaccuracies like these should not, in any way, shape or form be tolerated...especially not in this field of work.  It's just like being a lawyer, if you misrepresent facts then there will be severe reprecussions to follow.

  July 27, 2008 3:46 PM

• Jenny said:

  It is unfortunate a mistake was made, but I have a lot of respect for ABC6 for how they handled it.  Why is it that only newspapers--like the Phoenix--admit their errors?  I see news stations make mistakes all the time, then report the correct information on a different newscast never mentioning their original error.  I actually have MORE respect for channel 6 now.  At least I know when they make a mistake, they will fess up

  July 27, 2008 6:11 PM

• Jack said:

  As a former co-worker of Lisa's, who wants to remain anonymous, I can say that she SHOULD have been fired.  While I have only met Malini, hers was an honest mistake, albeit careless.  Lisa outright misled viewers.  Her mistake was not a MISTAKE--she knew what she was doing.  She just happen to get caught.  Big Difference.

  July 27, 2008 6:16 PM

• Response to Jenny said:

  I have the utmost respect for journalists who do not provide erroneous reports on simpe stories.  All the reporter had to do was obtain the information and relay it to the audience. The point is in HOW she screwed up in obtaining the information. The police gave their information and for some reason the reporter completely changed the story to claiming that police officers had been shot. It seems as though some people have low standards when it comes to receiving their news, but I, along with the majority of news watchers,  expect ACCURATE news all the time, particularly on the most basic type of reporting.

  July 27, 2008 7:12 PM

• Joe said:

  What about Taricani? He was in the piece too.

  July 27, 2008 8:19 PM

• KinkyKathy said:

  This is why your Royal Kinkstress eschews TV (the porno flicks excepted). They get everything wrong. Plus they profile boring women in their eighties in Warwick at boring yard sales, or they trot out boring councilmen saying boring provincial things about cops and graffitti (sp?).

  July 27, 2008 8:25 PM

• Linda said:

  CARELESSNESS AFFECTS THE JOB! Carelessness is a form of irresponsibility especially relative to the type of work involved.  If something so simple can be messed how will anything with more depth be handled?

  July 27, 2008 9:10 PM

• Sanders said:

  I agree with Larry.  Journalists are responsible for relaying accurate information all the time as that is what their job requires.  Malini Basu gave incorrect twice within the same report. Fine, she made one mistake, she had a chance to fix it, but then she goes ahead and provides ADDITIONAL incorrect information.  And then she (or the station) attempts to blame their police source! I have not seen this happen in any news report without any sort of action taken by a station. Intentional or not, both of these reporters have shown themselves not to be within the standards required to be deemed as reliable reporters.

  July 27, 2008 9:23 PM

• Jenny said:

  If you expect accurate news all the time, turn off the TV and hide the newspapers

  July 27, 2008 11:33 PM

• Joe said:

  As a former journalist, I can tell you, police get it wrong ALL THE TIME. I am certainly not condoning Miss Basu's actions....simply stating that officers -- like the rest of us-- make mistakes in fluid situations.  At least a dozen times I have had firefighters, PIOs or some other official give me the wrong information, initially.  From the way I understand it, a police officer said shots were fired and the suspects got two of their guys.  Either Miss Basu misunderstood or the officer--based on scanner traffic--initially thought two of his guys WERE  shot.  Regardless, it seems as if it was an unacceptable, but innocent mistake.

  July 27, 2008 11:46 PM

• Joe said:

  As a former newspaper journalist, I can tell you, police get it wrong ALL THE TIME. I am certainly not condoning Miss Basu's actions....simply stating that officers -- like the rest of us-- make mistakes in fluid situations.  At least a dozen times I have had firefighters, PIOs or some other official give me the wrong information, initially.  From the way I understand it, a police officer said shots were fired and the suspects got two of their guys.  Either Miss Basu misunderstood or the officer--based on scanner traffic--initially thought two of his guys WERE  shot.  Regardless, it seems as if it was an unacceptable, but innocent mistake.

  July 27, 2008 11:47 PM

• Response to Jenny said:

  And you may continue reading the National Enquirer and watching inaccurate news casts.

  July 28, 2008 9:01 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Well,I for one am very happy that the report was erroneous,if you get my drift.

  July 28, 2008 10:21 AM

• Super Rhody Empire said:

  Emperor Gorham of North West Rhode Island. With his Police tools, leave the job to the staties they don't like competition  

  July 28, 2008 3:05 PM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  An imagined conversation between Ian Donnis and Jack Reed:

  Jack Reed: "Jump, Ian!"

  Ian Donnis: "How high?"

  July 28, 2008 5:24 PM

• Stu said:

  I used to live a block away from Blackstone. I'm thrilled not to be there now given the stupidity of the new bike paths on the Boulevard, or should I say, Lane - since it's no longer a Boulevard. Traffic, which was already crowded in rush hours, will now sit in long lines due to everyone being behind the slowest common denominator. The long lines will be wasteful of fuel, will produce more fumes in the neighborhood, and will clog up the side streets as cars find themselves unable to cross both bike and car lanes on both sides. Cars trying to make turns through the median will pile up, backing up traffic, as they wait for traffic on the other side to clear sufficiently for them to cross. All this for a bike path that will be used three months of the year by all except the most dedicated cyclists.

  My suggestion: Bike path during weekends and during specific hours of weekdays, avoiding rush hours. Otherwise, two lanes of automotive traffic.

  Additionally, the 25mph limit on the street is absurd. It was when I lived there. It still is. Noone goes 25 there. 35 is much more realistic and there's plenty of visibility to prevent unnecessary metallic impacts. Moreover, 35 has a chance of being followed, whereas 25 is so foolish that everyone just went 50.

  Recommendation 2: Change the speed limit to 35.

  July 28, 2008 6:56 PM

• old timer said:

  Baskt better take the money and run.  He is so out of touch it's sad. Buy the condo in Florida near Sox training camp and make a few bucks taking tickets at the park.  You'll get to see the games for free.

  July 28, 2008 8:35 PM

• marcia june shuman said:

  Thank you (The Phoenix) for this article.  My husband  attended Richie's funeral and (not surprising) it was attended by hundreds of men and women.  He certainly had the respect of all his peers and his clients.  He was definitely a tiger in court, but also a "real mench".

  Our sincere condolences to the family.

  July 28, 2008 9:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  "for free"-words to Charley like worms to a carp

  July 28, 2008 10:42 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  People are bound to have their likes and dislikes when it comes to reporters and columnists. It's unfortunate, though, that more of those commenting from a partisan perspective don't recognize this as a further running-down (as is the case in scores of other cities) of an important civic institution.

  July 29, 2008 9:06 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  For a characteristically anonymous and misguided troll, you're very clever!

  July 29, 2008 9:23 AM

• Anne Maureen said:

  How many reporters/staff writers does the Journal have right now?

  July 29, 2008 10:10 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  It's a good question, Anne. Management there has generally declined to talk with me over the years, so hard figures are hard to come by. Watch for my story in this week's Phoenix.

  July 29, 2008 10:40 AM

• sue fairchild said:

  You didn't mention the employees' defined benefit plan ,which they don't contribute to, and which I last read was 50% of salary.

  July 29, 2008 1:29 PM

• Observer said:

  Vaguely Republican?  Completely Republican would be more accurate.

  July 29, 2008 1:54 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  I don't want to make fun of anyone losing their job due to economic reasons,but I won't feel bad about whatever obnoxious telemarketer is the one who keeps calling my house to take a subscription after being told at least 30 TIMES WE ARE NOT INTERESTED!

  July 29, 2008 3:30 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-seriously,did you bemoan the loss of jobs for thousands of linotypists when printing newspapers went digital?A lot of things pass when their usefulness is over.Except for trolley cars and medicinal leeches,it doesn't look like many are making a comeback.

  July 29, 2008 3:34 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, I recognize the march of technology. However, there remains a need for reporters to watchdog public and private institutions.

  July 29, 2008 4:27 PM

• Dub Not Dubya said:

  Joe, the magic words are, "Put me on your Do Not Call List." If you tell them that, they are required by law not to call you anymore. Worked for me back when I had a landline.

  How many columnists does the ProJo have, anyway, that they can talk about cutting five?

  July 29, 2008 5:18 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Yes,Ian,no argument from me-it's the activity of a free press that is important,and not so much the medium.

  Network TV hasn't the time to do good in depth stuff it seems.

  Cable has a lot more "bandwidth"(I am sure someone will correct me),and so far they've been wasting it on tabloid crap.But the tools are there.

  Obviously,we are talking about the Internet as the substitute for "real"papers.It has madehuge inroads,but I don't think newspapers will disappear entirely,particularly Sunday editions.

  Don't you think the papers cut their own throats by going with online editions that don't get soaked in the rain or land in dogshit?

  July 29, 2008 6:22 PM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  I am neither a troll nor misguided. Save your soul before its too late. Remember there is a distinction between being a journalist and a propagandist. You have the choice to either help save what's left of this country or you can remain a complicit hack contributing to its destruction. Your paper is propaganda. Why don't you go help sell some strip club ads.

  July 29, 2008 7:40 PM

• MIke said:

  He's with us all the way.  Enjoy progressives.  The 2010 "general Election" is really just a Republican primary.

  July 30, 2008 8:36 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  No one has figured it out, Joe. Part of the difficulty is how news consumers have come to expect news for free. As I point out in my forthcoming story this week, combined print and online circulation for most papers remains as high as the old print-only total, but they're making a lot less money, because Internet ads are cheaper and less profitable.

  July 30, 2008 9:02 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  If you offer something beyond a baseless assertion ("you're paper is propaganda"), I'll be happy to engage you in debate.

  July 30, 2008 9:04 AM

• Scott said:

  This is a sad development for the station.  Jim is fair, honest, and does his homework.  What a loss.

  July 30, 2008 12:28 PM

• Ted said:

  I really think all of the 'progressives' in this state need to raise their hands so that the five of you can all see each other and realize that you're a laughably small minority.  Progressive = communist and everybody but you Che t-shirt wearing morons have already figures out that communism doesn't work.

  July 30, 2008 12:37 PM

• Ted said:

  Joe, just tell them what I told them the last time they called five years ago.  "Why would I pay for your paper when you already put all your news online for me to read?"

  July 30, 2008 12:39 PM

• Ted said:

  If only we were talking about reporters and not columnists I might care about the degradation of the newsroom at the Projo.  Ziner hasn't written a NEWS story the whole time she's been at the Projo and I certainly won't bemoan the day her 'activist journalism' leaves the newsfloor.  And she's just one easy example of reporters with agendas at the Projo.

  July 30, 2008 12:42 PM

• rhody said:

    Oh no, not the Reporters with Agendas Rag again.

    Ted, let's you and I tuck the liberal mainstream media myth under the covers and turn out the light.

  July 30, 2008 1:04 PM

• Ted said:

  Are you asserting that Karen Lee Ziner is a straight-down-the-middle reporter who just tells the story without any personal agendas?

  July 30, 2008 1:31 PM

• HS said:

  Jim Hummel's pieces earlier this year that exposed Dean Esserman and Cicilline were incredibly important and showed Rhode Island what true journalism is all about. I hope Jim gets an great new job where he can work on his own terms, and that he continues to have the courage and tenacity to bring out the real issues that people urgently need to be made aware of.

  July 30, 2008 2:38 PM

• rhody said:

    Good on you, Jim. I think anybody would be uncomfortable being put in the situation you were, where it often appeared (fair or unfair impression) that you had to carry Cianci's water.

    Now if only that bad Megan Mullally impersonator at the anchor desk would leave. If Allison Alexander was an award-winning anchor in Cleveland, it says even more about the Cleveland market than it does about her.

  July 30, 2008 3:32 PM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  Ian, before writing pieces that do nothing but flatter and rubber stamp Jack Reed, take some time to look into what Reed is really all about. For example, Reed is someone who takes huge amounts of money from the big banks, including Fannie Mae, while at the same time voting to de-regulate those same banks through the elimination of the Glass Stegal Act, which contributed GREATLY to the current and future mortgage crisis. Reed is also someone who has voted to fund the war many times. Reed has Picerne Military Housing as one of his top campaign contributors, which is especially intersting because Reed sits on the senate's military housing committee that gives out those contracts. Guess who got seven of those military housing contracts? Hint: Picerne Military Housing. I wonder if Picerne Military Housing has an interest in a continued war in Iraq and/or a future war with Iran, seeing as without a war that would be no much less need for military housing? I wonder what interest the big banks might have, those same banks that Jack Reed takes his money from, those same banks who profit off of the increased national debt that results from the war? These are just a few of the many reasons I do not like Jack Reed, another being that Jack Reed has a ZERO rating with the Christian Coalition on family issues. I will be voting for Christopher Young this September for US Senate in Rhode Island and I urge others to wake up and do the same.

  July 30, 2008 3:44 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Hummel is a good investigative reporter-he doesn't seem to make empty allegations-his stories generally stand up.Plus he seems like a much nicer guy personally than some other investigative reporters on tv around here.Jack White was the gold standard.

  July 30, 2008 5:30 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Being a babysitter(in effect)and flak-catcher for this pathetic wreck of a man must be tiring.He is mentally ill,has an uncontrollable temper,doesn't care if he drives a car while in a condition where he could kill someone,and never held a job.And he seems frankly afraid of unrehearsed contact with the people he is supposed to represent.I haven't mentioned his political point of view-he is just unfit for public office,regardless of the liberal vs.conservative issue.Langevin is pretty liberal,but hardly a disgrace to the state.

  July 30, 2008 8:24 PM

• Julie said:

  Congratulations Jim, best of luck to you.  You are a great journalist and I know you'll find another good gig.  I like 6 much better now, though it is different from before.  Allison and Erica are my favorites but I like that new guy Rob that reports at night and the blond that is sometimes on.

  July 30, 2008 9:40 PM

• Pat Crowley said:

  When I agree with JB on something, you know something must be wrong. Good for Hummel.

  July 30, 2008 10:12 PM

• Gino said:

  Jim said he was a traditional journalist and that fits the newspaper style.  I can't believe this guy is getting any attention.  Until last year the newsreaders, reporters, and stories bored me to tears.  Channel 6 is better off without him!

  July 31, 2008 10:19 AM

• Micky said:

  Way to go ch. 6 and good job kid.  I agree, you didn't seem to fit the news stations style.  But I think they are great and a lot of fun to watch.  They certainly are different, though.

  July 31, 2008 10:25 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  C'mon Pat-outside of political opinions,I am sure we believe in a lot of the same things like putting our families first and doing our jobs with energy-and having met you a few times it seems you'd be a good guy to see a ball game with-I think you really believe what you're saying-so do I.  

  July 31, 2008 10:53 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  You'll get no argument from me that the overwhelming influence of money in politics is a serious and pervasive problem -- and I've written about that. About Christopher Young, well, that's another story.  

  July 31, 2008 11:01 AM

• Troy said:

  I gotta say I grew up watching 10 but i recently switched to 6 because everyone was talking about them and i wanted to see what the fuss was about.  They are much better than they used to be, the few times I watched them.  They have a lot of new people that are good.  I like Hummel too, but people come and go all the time.

  July 31, 2008 11:37 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  The use of the "N-word"is normally disgusting,however in literature,film,or plays set in a particular time and place it is different-the context of the times has to be reflected honestly.Oprah Winfrey obviously thinks a lot of Cormac McCarthy and the word is frequently used in his great novel"Suttree"set in 1950's Knoxville.Is it offensive.Not if you realize that the most admirable character in the story is Ab Jones,a black man.McCarthy's depiction of black people in his books is generally not derogatory at all,except where the character is not very attractive,based on behavior,rather than race.

  james T.Farrell used very harsh epithets for jews and blacks in his novels.Farrell was diametrically opposed to racism and anti-semitism-he did however write the way his cgharacters would have spoken in the time his writings are sert in.He didn't lionize jews and blacks either-he just approached them as people,good,bad,and indifferent.

  This use of language is a whole lot different than Michael Richards,or Jesse Jackson.

  In the case of Eileen Slocum I think it shouldn't be redacted because it reflects a woman from another era coming to terms with something she hadn't thought possible.

  My own mom is 95 and has a half black great granddaughter who she adores without reservation.I guess it just matters where and how you grew up.Anyhow,in my family ethnic intermarriage is not the least unusual.

  July 31, 2008 3:21 PM

• Ted said:

  Step 1 for Council 94 should be a No-Confidence vote against Grilli.

  July 31, 2008 3:54 PM

• Jim said:

  While I think the gov is whacked in the head, I applaud him for standing up to the unions.  There is no reason that the unions should have a better benefit package than the non-union employees.  It's partially the fault of the unions for the current budget issues.

  July 31, 2008 4:30 PM

• Eric said:

  I can definitely see what Hummel is referring to when he describes being uncomfortable with ABC6's "informal writing". It is horrible. The language used in these reports are extremely juvenile. Their ratings are increasing because not much thought is needed to understand what is being reported. Hence, the type of people watching their news are of lower class and lower education.  That is easily reflected in the comments that are left by the viewers, as well as the reports given by reporters.  I have had to email them with simple grammatical corrections to their stories, while other I have left uncorrected because I just got tired of correcting their child-like writing. For this reason I cannot watch ABC6. I am above that and expect to receive news at an adult level and not a grade school level.

  July 31, 2008 5:32 PM

• Joey Natale said:

  Jimmy should stick with what he knows best, Newspaper.  He was dreadful on tv.  I used to hate channel 6, but in the past year they've really grown on me and now I like them even more.  What's the big deal, though.  A reporter left a television station.  So what, who cares?

  July 31, 2008 8:41 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Bay's stats are impressive this year and he is relatively young-why does Pittsburgh want to get rid of him?

  Hansen gone?yawn.

  Moss had potential,but the Sox need relief pitchers and Moss wasn't that essential.I just hope they don't trade Casey because he can't run-he can hit in a pinch-he just needs to remember it's going to be a single unless it winds up in the stands.

  How will Ortiz take losing his buddy?Big Papi seems like a sincere guy who makes friends and misses them when they leave.

  July 31, 2008 10:00 PM

• Will said:

  I really don't know, nor really care whether Mrs. Slocum ever said that word (which I can literally say, I've never heard of). However, one thing I know about Mrs. Slocum is, that if she ever did say it, it certainly would not have been done in a derogatory way. She didn't have it in her. She was a class act all the way.

  The reasons they were rightly deleted were:

  (a) The comments were left anonymously

  (b) They were not sourced or referenced

  (c) It was not tasteful or appropriate

  (d) It's the Projo's forum and they can do anything they want!

  PS I went to Mrs. Slocum's place for the viewing this evening. It was nice that they were able to do it in the home, instead of at a funeral parlor (of course, their "home" is a lot fancier than a funeral parlor!).

  I talked with her son and her grandchildren. They still seem a little shocked, because she's been the head of the family so long, but of course, weren't necessarily surprised by her passing. She died very peacefully surrounded by her family. There were all sorts of photos and flowers everywhere tonight. Lots of good memories.

  PPS Buddy Cianci came in right behind me.

  July 31, 2008 10:17 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Will-I do see your point and you are correct-it was tasteless for someone to bring up just after her passing.i can't say I ever knew much about the lady except that she was active as a Republican.

  July 31, 2008 11:08 PM

• harry haller said:

  They were probably deleted because somebody pushed that new Report Abuse link.

  I think it's odd though, with so many people complaining about comments that are "censored," that you'd complain about Mrs. Slocum using the vernacular in an affectionate way. That's reality, journalism, the speech of the person and her time.

  You're complaining it took them so long to delete a piece of history?

  July 31, 2008 11:31 PM

• rhody said:

    It's ridiculous that the Sox gave up two guys IN ADDITION TO paying Manny's salary the rest of the season. I was hoping the Sox could get 70 cents on the dollar, but for what they gave up, I don't think they got 60. Hansen and/or Moss would've been better used for bullpen help.

  August 1, 2008 12:39 AM

• Mauney said:

  Hummel,

  You'll land well, and you're not a news dinosaur. Hang in. We're cheering for you.

  There are times when it's important to take a stand. It's ok to be old-school.

  August 1, 2008 9:10 AM

• Andrew said:

  Mentally prepare yourselves for Manny to go on a tear that would have had the recently-retired Bob Lobel saying "why can't we get players like that?!?!?" about three-times a week.  

  I agree with Rhody, I hate these deals where you get rid of someone and still pay his salary.  

  August 1, 2008 9:46 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I support the deal. This was about the best we could do under the circumstances, crazy as that may be.

  August 1, 2008 10:24 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I'm not complaining, just reporting on something that struck me as noteworthy.

  August 1, 2008 10:26 AM

• Bobby Tornado said:

  Is that photo stolen from Ebay?

  August 1, 2008 11:04 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  just think-Ken Griffey Jr.has been traded twice now,right?And all he's ever done is play standout baseball and give a good name to the sport.He reminds me of Cal Ripken Jr.Maybe if Barry Bonds had been a Jr.he'd have been a better guy?

  I can't always be serious.

  August 1, 2008 12:04 PM

• Jim said:

  $90 per pay period is not unreasonable to ask for healthcare premiums, even for people making less than $40k (I was in that same position just a year or 2 ago, paying about the same amount).

  I am not a Carcieri supporter, but I am delighted by his stance.  One of the biggest reasons for the economy issues this state has is the unions.  Public employees already get better benefits than those of us in the private sector.  They don't need union protection.  The state should be able to lay off who they deem most wasteful and have that layoff stand.  However, they can simply bump someone who hasn't been there as long even if that person is more qualified.

  August 1, 2008 1:24 PM

• Observer said:

  So, Moderate seems to mean right wing?  And Rodi is running in two districts at once?

  August 1, 2008 8:43 PM

• Andrew said:

  To pick an important nit here, this is more of a PAC right now than a party, isn't it?  

  August 1, 2008 11:21 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Good distinction, Andrew.

  August 2, 2008 3:14 PM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  So you're willing to bring up corruption when it doesn't really shake things up or make waves or get you in trouble, and you basically want to keep the status quo. That's what you're saying if you don't respect and support Chris Young, because Young is the only one with the courage and intelligence to understand and unroot the real causes of the corruption and the problems we face, and he is the only hope we have for changing Rhode Island.

  August 2, 2008 4:34 PM

• intassegrart said:

  Tahnks for posting

  August 2, 2008 8:16 PM

• Geoff said:

  This celebrity argument is just the original, disingenuous, smear that Karl Rove unsuccessfully tried out a few months back with a slight twist.

  Rove originally said, "Even if you never met him, you know this guy," "He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

  If anything, it now appears that it is Sen. McCain who is making the "snide comments."

  This latest attempt to play on peoples' prejudices is just as hollow and baseless as the original assertion.

  Frankly, I'm surprised that Sen. McCain allowed this advert. Either he is desperate or his handlers have pulled the wool over his eyes.

  August 3, 2008 10:06 AM

• John Q. Public said:

  Let them go on strike!

  I think the members of Council 94, along with the other unions that rejected the contract, should go on strike (“AFSCME's Council 94 rejects proposed state settlement”, 2008-07-24).  If they don’t want to give up a few dollars per week from their higher-than-average salaries to help pay for their way-too-generous benefits, maybe six or eight weeks of receiving a paycheck of zero dollars from the state might convince them to ratify the contract their very own leaders negotiated.  

  August 3, 2008 10:29 AM

• Gabrielle said:

  What happened to Senator McCain's pledge to run a "respectful campaign?" These ads are embarrassing and ridiculous. Calling a US Senator and presidential candidate a mere "celebrity?" Comparing a US Senator and presidential candidate to Paris Hilton?

  Senator McCain is out of line, but most importantly, tarnishing his image of respectability and integrity.

  I'm listening to Senator Obama. I want to hear what he has to say, where he will take this country, what he is going to do about the war,a dn about the economy,a nd about health care. I do not want to hear about Paris Hilton and celebrities. I have People magazine for that..

  August 3, 2008 10:54 AM

• Mary said:

  There's nothing racist about the ad and the polls show that.

  Obama played the RACE CARD.

  Obama is GHETTO TRASH.

  August 3, 2008 11:45 AM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Hey, Mary,

  Can't you muster a better argument than than last bon mot?

  August 3, 2008 6:33 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Obama turned down McCain's challenge to a series of town hall meetings.

  Maybe Jesse Jackson's crude remark about what he'd like to do to Obama was moot.

  This move seems to show Obama hasn't got any cojones if he can't take on a 70 year man in a head to head in front of ordinary people instead of the press.

  This isn't a race for town council.

  If Obama really has the lock on the specifics of "hope" and "change" that we supposedly need,why doesn't he bring it on?

  This reminds me of Patrick Kennedy always ducking a one on one with an opponent.But Kennedy is a pitiful drug abuser and mentally ill person who unfortunately will one day likely kill himself and/or an innocent bystander during one of his "lost weekends".

  There is nothing to indicate Obama has any such problems,and he is seeking the most powerful position in the world.So,no excuse.

  Have I been too harsh?.Sorry-the stakes are too

  high for niceties.

  August 3, 2008 8:27 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Your words speak for themselves.

  August 4, 2008 12:28 PM

• Chris said:

  The moderate party is really right wing, it's more common sense than anything else.

  August 4, 2008 12:59 PM

• Chris said:

  The moderate party isn't really right wing, it's more common sense than anything else.

  August 4, 2008 1:00 PM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  YOUR words speak for themselves, and you are a coward for not writing any articles on Chris Young.

  August 4, 2008 5:21 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  It would help if Chris returned the call when he gets one from a reporter.

  August 5, 2008 11:35 AM

• Ken Block said:

  I am missing the Rodi comment.  He is running in the Democratic Primary for House District 2.

  The Moderate Party of RI is not a formal party YET in the eyes of the State of RI, but will be in 2009 when we gather the 20,000 plus signatures necessary to attain that status.  We are running a PAC, and will use this vehicle to support select endorsed candidates and our signature gathering effort.

  As far as right wing, etc....

  We believe that we have staked out the middle political ground.  Our legislative agenda focuses on the three Es (Education, Economics and Ethics).

  Most folks who have signed up on the Moderate Party web site specifically indicate that they are NOT social conservatives.  We are centrist voters who understand economics and how our current tax policy is decimating the state's economy.  We are not ideological conservatives nor bleeding heart liberals.  We believe that the best governance comes from political center, not from either political extreme.

  August 5, 2008 11:48 AM

• dcmsox2004 said:

  most drivers on the blvd are not mario andretti... most observe the posted speed limit within reason, NOBODY drives 25mph..... i usually cruise at 33mph... because i've been driving on the blvd for 36 years and know that ticketing is an art form for the illustrious police dept........

  please note that the bike path was NOT meant as a calming measure, this comes directly from the city of providence...

  will the police vigorously cite those bicyclists who do not ride in their prescribed lane?

  NO, they will not.... what's good for the goose is good for the gander.....

  the ultimate joke is that as a frequent blvd driver, the number of bikes i've witnessed is almost NONE!!!  so the question once again is why the city panders to a minority faction, while not considering that as a democracy, the majority rule should apply.... wait a sec... i forgot that the 'city' does not subscibe to this most basic of political tenets.........

  PATHETIC.......

  August 5, 2008 11:50 AM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  I went to Chris Young's website WhereToVote.com and got his phone number. I called him and asked him if you called ,and he said you never called him and that any story you've ever done where he was mentioned you attacked him. He said he would love it if you would do a story on him, and his phone number is 477-6178. He said he will tell me if you ever call him, and I'll post on here if you ever do call him. You should be honored to be able to talk to him.  

  August 5, 2008 5:40 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  One empty suit telling another how to succeed.

  August 5, 2008 7:23 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Driver is a jew hater disguising himeslf as an "anti-zionist" and he tells some bald faced lies as I found out debating him once on radio.

  All that said,I am glad he won the case,because they were violating his rights.When I find myself agreeing with the ACLU it makes me want to swallow drain cleaner,but this is one of those rare occasions.

  August 5, 2008 7:27 PM

• Will said:

  I can't even pretend to care what Sheldon Whitebread thinks about anything, especially the GOP.

  Of course, in Sheldon's small mind, Democrats are as pure as the white driven snow looking out for the poor, and the Republicans are big corporate meanies, even though Sheldon is the one living off his inheritence in a multimillion dollar mansion. This is so third grade (and he was the kid getting wedgies in third grade).

  Did you see how the Daily Show ripped him a new one over sounding like a bumbling idiot at congressional hearing last week?

  PS Does this mean we can take his picture off the milk cartons?

  August 5, 2008 9:13 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Does the buyout include gift certificates to buffet joints?

  August 6, 2008 10:26 AM

• rhody said:

    Or a pack of No-Doz?

  August 6, 2008 11:24 AM

• Will said:

  Speaking of buffets, I was at Bob Watson's fundraiser last night in East Greewich, and who do I see at the table munching away with abandon in a wrinkly pseudo-WASP seersucker suit (use your imagination) other than Charlie "Can't leave the Projo soon enough" Bakst.

  Anyway, I overheard him (not that I was making any special effort to listen in) talking to several folks about "my retirement" in very clear and unambiguous terms -- so stick a fork in him, he's done, good riddens. Don't let the door hit you in the arse on the way out!

  August 6, 2008 12:07 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Thanks Will the image of Charley gobbling down chopped liver in a seersucker suit just caused me to spit coffee on the keyboard :))

  August 6, 2008 12:32 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  On Monday, I left a message on the phone number on Chris's Web site. I have not yet heard back from him.

  August 6, 2008 1:45 PM

• Tom said:

  I have known M Charles for more than 20 years.  He may not be the most exciting or charismatic journo on the planet but he is one of the most dogged and conscientious in his field.  He really cares about RI and the hypocrisy that more often than not passes for its politics.  It's unfortunate that the previous writers ( Joe Bernstein and Will )focus less on Charlie's professional ability and more about his "sartorial" appearance.  Will...look it up and while you're at it...the word is riddance as in good riddance.  Charlie...you are one of a kind and while many in the political world will be happy to see you go...those that truly care about RI politics and serious journalism realize what a loss your retirement will be.

  August 6, 2008 4:58 PM

• Rose said:

  News isn't meant to be "created" or "made" to be "entertaining;" it is meant to be reported as factual events. Well done, Jim; way to stick your guns. I know you'll go places further than ABC6 that respect not only the art of journalism and truth, but their employees. Best of luck to you.

  August 6, 2008 5:41 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  I agree that Charlie has made an important contribution. Charlie is a class act in my book.

  August 6, 2008 6:39 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Ian-you're too much.You are johnny on the spot to replyt to wiseass remarks like I've made above.On another thread you took one "Mary" to task for rude comments about Obama(He definitely is not "ghetto")I then replied in a completely serious tone and made specific points.Total silence.If you think I was wrong,just say so and point out why.I'm a big boy and don't sweat criticism-valid or not.As it stands my assertion on that thread is unchallenged.  

  August 6, 2008 7:35 PM

• rhody said:

    In this political environment, whoever takes over that column is going to be wearing the same bullseye on his or her back that Merrill has, even if they look GQ or earn Miss Manners' gold star.

  August 7, 2008 12:40 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  I bet Kathy Gregg could do it,because she lacks the empty arrogance of Charlie-I don't always agree with her,but she doesn't pontificate  like this loser did.

  August 7, 2008 5:06 AM

• Jim Taricani said:

  Whether you agreed with Charlie is not the issue. His columns added to the public discourse, and when we start subtracting from that, whether it be a liberal or conservative point of view, we are losing the free exchange of ideas our Founding Fathers so cherished.

  I was here when he was a state house reporter, doing straight news-and he was one of the best-fair and tough and a damn good reporter.

  August 7, 2008 8:14 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Okay Jim-since you are an investigative reporter and generally,although not always, are pretty accurate with the facts underlying your stories,don't you concede that when Charlie got into this immigration issue he made wild allegations and incited emotion driven responses rather than learn the facts first hand?I was a professional in the field of immigration enforcement for almost 21 years and Charlie ,to my knowledge never in all that time undertook to educate himself in the nuts and bolts of the situation.Kevin O'Connor of the Pawtucket Times certainly did.Lee Dykas of the Journal also covered immigration operations dispassionately and accurately.You got involved on an occasion or two,as I recall you in our office,although we never spoke and I forget what it was you were there about.Charlie may be a columnist,but that is no excuse for polemics vilifying people doing a hard job mandated by Federal law.His de facto portrayal of ICE agents as somehow akin to the Gestapo was slanderous.I don't give a hoot in hell for his political coverage in general-maybe he knew the territory in the Statehouse better than he knew immigration issues.I sure hope so.His ambush of Sue Carcieri reeked,and frankly the few times I've met Charlie I was sure I wouldn't want to spend any time around him.

  Many years ago in Chicago an investigative reporter for one of the networks,I believe ABC, by the name of Roberta Baskin came to INS with two separate stories she was developing-one concerned with voter fraud involving illegal aliens and the other to do with corrupt state employees supplying drivers licenses to illegal aliens(sound familiar?)and the INS acted on her information.Both investigations resulted in dozens of convictions and in the case of the state employees over 20 were convicted and 13 driving schools were shut down.Roberta Baskin took the time to learn the terrain  and knew when she was in over her head and did the right thing.

  i also had a DesMoines Register reporter as a ride along for a while and he submitted accurate realistic stories.I am telling you this because I have no vendetta with the media.I only ask that they do their job fairly and ethically.I don't think Charlie made the grade with relation to the matter of immigraton enforcement.

  August 7, 2008 10:22 AM

• Gino said:

  I don't really care if John Depetro has more listeners than the other guys in local radio, but I do think it speaaks voloumes about his character if he has anything to do with this.  It is does not bode well for WPRO.  It seems the best thing they can do at this point is fire depetro.

  August 7, 2008 10:33 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Jim-as an investigative reporter Iam sure you research the facts thoroughly before going with a story.I have found your stories to be usually,with an exception here and there,responsibly done and valid.No one is perfect.

  Tat said,Charlie got into the immigration issue with apparently no hard facts at his disposal because he didn't take the time or effort to find them out.Being a columnist is no excuse for vilifying people and suggesting they are de facto Gestapo gents because they do a hard job mandated by Federal law.

  i recall that in past years you were in the INs office a few times.I was an agent for almost 21 years,12 in Providence.We never spoke,but I assume you educated yourself on whatever it was you were there about before going with a story.

  I have no axe to grind with the media.Kevin O'Connor of the Pawtucket Times and Lee Dykas of the Journal reported fairly and accurately on immigration enforcement activities for years.

  When I was assigned to Chicago Roberta Baskin of ABC did investigative reports of great depth and accuracy on this issue.She came to INS first with her informtion and reported on the investigations after they were prosecuted.One involved voter fraud using illegal aliens.The other involved corrupt state employees issuing licenses to illegals(sound familiar?).Over 20 employees were arrested and 13 driving schools shut down.She knew her information involved serious felonies and acted responsibly.

  I also had a ride-along reporter from the Des Moines Register for awhile.He wrote accurate accounts of what he saw and heard.

  Maybe Charlie was a fount of knowledge about statehouse politics,I'll take your word for it,but he knows next to nothing about the real world of illegal aliens.This hasn't stopped him from demagoguery disguised as opinion.

  I met Charlie a time or two,very briefly,and we don't know each other on a name basis.I didn't like him right off the bat,to be perfectly honest.

  His extreme liberal point of view turns me off.But what really bothers me is his irresponsibility in inflaming passions on a false basis vis a vis the immigration issue.

  While we are on the subject your colleague Bill Rappleye ought to look up the term "undocumented citizen" he used on tv-ain't no such critter.

  To be fair,Jim I have found your reporting on immigration issues to be evenhanded and accurate in most cases.

  August 7, 2008 11:04 AM

• Dan said:

  This guy has proven over and over again that he can't do radio the right way.  If he doesn't have the skill to be a radio talk host without slanderous comments, like the one that got him fired in Boston and dishonesty,by cooking the books...WPRO needs to get rid of him.

  August 7, 2008 11:12 AM

• Shannon said:

  He is a cheater and a liar. Get rid of him. He has no integrity and no conscience. Karma is a bitch John.

  August 7, 2008 11:17 AM

• rhody said:

    Think Yorke's lighting up a cigar about now?

  August 7, 2008 11:18 AM

• Jim Taricani said:

  Joe: I agree with you on the illegal immigration issue. although I don't recall meeting you, I know of your excellent reputation. I spend a lot of time with law enforcement. I was a military policeman 4 years in the Air Force and worked my way through college doing P.I. work.

  I often times didn't agree with Charlie, but I was just pointing out that it's not bad to have a lot of points of view for public discussion.

  From both the right and the left, there seems, with some people, that they only want to hear the point of view that fits thier own.

  I enjoy listening to you on Dan's show. On the illegal aliens issue, you are one of the few that make very good sense.

  August 7, 2008 11:27 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  Check out a film called "Windhorse" about the Tibetan situation.

  August 7, 2008 11:43 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  As I understand it,capellan gave up a job as a school principal in NYC to came back here.Is he nuts?That is a good gig in NYC.Of course living down there you have to be Donald Trump to get a decent place to live there.

  August 7, 2008 11:47 AM

• Blue Bug said:

  Yorke isn't much better, but he looks like a saint standing next to depetro.  If WPRO wants any credibility they will get rid of him.  His little sidekick isn't much better

  August 7, 2008 11:49 AM

• joe bernstein said:

  You're right Jim-we didn't get introduced -I think maybe you were interviewing SA Mark Furtado about a fraud case he was working now that I think more about it.Furtado is now the RAC in New Hampshire.

  Sorry for the double post-I thought I had somehow deleted the first one.

  I actually didn't go after Charlie about his statehouse reporting because I know nothing about statehouse politics and read less about it.

  Thanks for the compliment-on issues other than immigration I can on occasion sound like a nitwit.

  August 7, 2008 11:53 AM

• Jim Taricani said:

  Yeah, I think it was Furtado. I'm trying to work up an investigative piece about illegals working in the finer restaurants in Rhode Island..I know of a few....hope it works out.

  August 7, 2008 12:03 PM

• Jim Taricani said:

  Yeah, I think it was Furtado. I'm trying to work up an investigative piece about illegals working in the finer restaurants in Rhode Island..I know of a few....hope it works out.

  August 7, 2008 12:03 PM

• Jim Taricani said:

  Yeah, I think it was Furtado. I'm trying to work up an investigative piece about illegals working in the finer restaurants in Rhode Island..I know of a few....hope it works out.

  August 7, 2008 12:03 PM

• Jim Taricani said:

  Yeah, it was Furtado. I'm working up a piece on the numerous illegals that work in some of the finer restaurants in Rhode Island..could be interesting if I can get it..

  August 7, 2008 12:08 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  It's interesting that Helen Glover,who runs a very lively show and who herself is opinionated but fair and decent to a fault,is down to 2 hours versus 3 previously.WHJJ uses syndicated garbage like Quinn&Rose which is unbearable to listen to instead of a good local host like Helen who they could have on easily for 3 hours a day.Disclaimer:I call Helen's show almost every day.I wonder what her real numbers are versus WPRO in the 8-10 AM time slot.

  August 7, 2008 12:10 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Joe, you ever seen Scorsese's Kundun? What did you think?

  August 7, 2008 12:17 PM

• Tom Blaine said:

  Depetro's show is nauseating and his team (him and Tara and that news guy) are fools. Now we know they are liars and cheats too. Shame on you John Depetro. Your advertisers will not forget this.

  August 7, 2008 12:54 PM

• Charles said:

  Typical DePetro - his ego is too big to find any blame in this and WPRO is to ignorant to do the right thing. Citadel couln't dump the BJ guy a few years ago, they aren't going to dump Dollars DePetro.  The staunch defense from Haynes and Co. begins now.  Enjoy the show.

  August 7, 2008 1:40 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  It might be the one film on Tibet I haven't-and no excuse because i have it on VHS-you know how it is-just like with books.

  I saw a Bhutanese(!) film-it's available on dvd-called "Travellers and Magicians'-not political at all-just a mindblower.

  A recent film about Tibetan ex-pats in India is "Dreaming Lhasa"-all the more surprising is that the lead actress is a Tibetan American who came here as a toddler and is normally a banker in Virginia!These are all available at Acme Video-Ralph has films from all over the world.

  August 7, 2008 1:48 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  We used to get an enormous number of illegal aliens working in the restaurants in the Chicago area,including a fair number with active TB.In Rhode Island it wasn't that prevalent,mainly due to the overwhelming presence of Johnson & Wales providing so much manpower in that field.Offhand i can recall one case of a Chinese restaurant prosecuted for harboring,but that was about it.i spent 90%of my time on criminal/drug violators.

  August 7, 2008 1:55 PM

• Alarmed Rhode Islander said:

  Chris Young said that he definitely did not get a call from you. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you must have dialed the wrong number. Try him again: the number on his website is 401-477-6178.

  August 7, 2008 2:10 PM

• Ian Donnis said:

  Thanks for the tips.

  August 7, 2008 2:51 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  You can't be serious-you mean they would have to detract from the above retarded activities to address specifics and what to do about them?Are you smoking something?

  August 7, 2008 4:03 PM

• matthew lawrence said:

  I sure hope they go to the Irving station on Dean Street.  Half of Providence is there at any given moment, letting their cars idle for half and hour while they wait for gas that's 4 cents cheaper.

  August 7, 2008 4:16 PM

• matthew lawrence said:

  And by half and hour I mean half an hour.

  August 7, 2008 4:16 PM

• Peter Khan Zendran said:

  Having been in journalism for 8 years and having worked as an advocate for 10 years I can say Leslie did nothing wrong.  She called the story as she saw it, and as usual the mass of rhode island retards could not handle the fact how sucky their state appeared as in real life on her report.  If you can't handle straightforward reporting then you need treatment, not scapecoating other people.

  August 7, 2008 4:28 PM

• Will said:

  Um, without the permission of the gas station owners, wouldn't they be trespassing? I'm guesssing they won't be at any corporately owned (i.e. Exxon) stations.

  Of course, as is the usual with most things Obama, this is a whole bunch of nothing. If you have issues getting Providence residents to vote democratic, you've got a much bigger problem than I thought. Obama's plan, if you want to call it a plan, would actually increase our dependence on foreign oil, hurt domestic oil companies and domestic production, and tax American consumers more, because any tax put on the oil companies will be passed through to us.

  PS When do you think the last time either Patches Kennedy or Mayor Chickalinnee actually pumped their own gas?

  August 7, 2008 5:16 PM

• Will said:

  Why does Liz Roberts have a staff? Just curious.

  August 7, 2008 5:17 PM

• joe bernstein said:

  Good for Kim-a very nice young lady.

  August 7, 2008 7:22 PM

• CT said:

  Congratulations Kiersten. Now that you are part of the Fogarty campaign, will you make an announcement and provide disclosure on Kmareka.com?

  In following your blog, your affinity for a particular political party was fairly transparent. I feel that your readers will appreciate the continued transparency.

  August 7, 2008 10:05 PM

• Jake said:

  I think WPRO may have no choice in this one.  How much will they have to refund to advertisers?

  August 8, 2008 12:30 AM

• Steve St.John said:

  Hey J.D. remember the adage about people who live in glass houses; don't throw stones. But he's never learned to embrace integrity before, why start now

  August 8, 2008 8:56 AM

• Rufi said:

  Maybe the Governor will find him a state job, as he did for Kass

  August 8, 2008 9:00 AM

• Mike said:

  I think this geeration, like mine, needs to experience the misery of "progressive" government to see what a sinkhole it is.

  My guess is that in 12 years most of these clueless "Yes we Can" types will be voting for Bobby Jindal or Sarah Palinin.

  August 8, 2008 9:24 AM

• joe said:

  is this surprising!!

  August 8, 2008 2:51 PM

• Molly said:

  After Helen Glover's time slot got cut, I began to fear for the end of talk radio. Now, I don't have to fear. I will just sit back accept the inevitable.

  Thanks a lot, DePetro.

  August 8, 2008 7:36 PM

• Bill Monroe said:

  DePetro is just planting flowers on the deck of the Titanic. WPRO and terrestrial radio is dying faster than daily newspapers.  Suscriber satelite radio is the future.

  August 8, 2008 9: