Stephen P. Laffey

Latest Articles

Cicilline: A go or no for governor?

His rough patch shows how the mayor’s office remains a tricky launching pad
Call it a case of art imitating life.
By IAN DONNIS | July 09, 2008

Media rebels in the Internet age

The debate-defining posts of Rhode Island activists wield influence beyond their readership
Bloggers have “used a new and powerful medium and ‘crashed the gates’ to ensure that information — the most important ingredient in a democracy — would be available to anyone who wanted to write, read, or debate.”
By IAN DONNIS | May 01, 2008

Avedisian, Trillo challenge Manning for GOP post

Talking politics
Since the RNC is “basically a seniority-based organization,” he says, a change in the post would mean “we’re going to [have to] start all over again.”
By IAN DONNIS | April 30, 2008

Chafee for governor?

Running as an independent, he could thumb his nose at the worst of both parties
For now, Lincoln Chafee has the luxury of discussing his political future as a riddle wrapped up in an enigma.
By IAN DONNIS | April 10, 2008

Revealed at last: The curious similarities of Steve Laffey and Greg Palast

Oddities
Never seen former US Senate candidate Steve Laffey and lefty investigative journalist Greg Palast in the same place at the same time?
By IAN DONNIS | February 14, 2008

The year of impending doom

A softening economy and the $450 million state deficit point to a painful 2008
This hardy old New England state should be able to cope with a little snow, right? Not so much...
By IAN DONNIS | December 19, 2007

Why RI Republicans fail

Quick to blame Democrats, the local GOP can’t seem to find candidates or a long-term plan of its own
Providence Journal op-ed columnist Edward Achorn has made repeated reference to the apparent “learned helplessness” of Rhode Islanders.
By IAN DONNIS | November 14, 2007

Will King have a hangover? Plus, Palangio,RI Nexus, and Chafee

Politics + media
King’s unsuccessful primary campaign featured sharp criticism of some leading legislative Democrats.
By IAN DONNIS | September 26, 2007

Recent items from Not for Nothing

Best of the blog
You didn’t have to be a genius to realize that the publication of Steve Laffey’s new book would mark his formal reemergence on Rhode Island’s political stage.
By IAN DONNIS | September 12, 2007

Giuliani highlights hypocrisy of the church and Catholic pols

Lightning strike
Giuliani, a former seminarian, is twice divorced and remarried, a public philanderer and arguably a political slut.
By MARY ANN SORRENTINO | June 12, 2007

What’s next for Steve Laffey?

With a forthcoming book about his senatorial campaign, he looms as a prospective gubernatorial candidate in 2010
Can you imagine Steve Laffey — a tireless self-promoter and all-around media hog — not returning a phone call from a reporter?
By IAN DONNIS | May 31, 2007

Last Republican standing

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian is a rare bright spot for the RI GOP
Last year, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian made a very smart decision by standing pat.
By IAN DONNIS | March 07, 2007

Divide grows between State House and regional coverage

As the ProJo turns
The Providence Journal’s State House bureau is a fortress, an outpost singular in its ability to dig out and report important political stories of statewide interest.
By IAN DONNIS | February 28, 2007

Cicione emerges as contender for GOP chairmanship

Talking politics
Giovanni Cicione, a lawyer and Republican activist who paid his dues by running against US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy in 1996, has emerged as a leading contender to succeed Patricia Morgan as chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party.
By IAN DONNIS | December 27, 2006

Rhode Island in ’06: same as it ever was

Democrats on top, a casino quest, and a dose of corruption
Imagine a year when the Narragansett Indians were energetically pitching a casino, cynical Rhode Islanders had plenty of reason to reinforce their jaundiced views, and state house Democrats maintained the upper hand over hapless Republican opponents without even breaking a sweat.
By IAN DONNIS | December 20, 2006

Violet’s rude ouster is a loss for RI

Media
Considering Arlene Violet’s 16-year run on talk-radio in Rhode Island, not to mention her unmistakable local accent, the way in which WHJJ (920 AM) abruptly jettisoned her last week came as an unpleasant surprise.
By IAN DONNIS | December 13, 2006

The national GOP could take some tips from Chafee

Last of the moderates
Given Washington’s prevailing partisan gridlock in the late ’90s, George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign pledges — to be a uniter, not a divider, and to pursue a humble foreign policy — struck Lincoln Chafee as harbingers of something better.
By IAN DONNIS | November 15, 2006

Déjà vu all over again for RI GOP

Carcieri faces failure in having fostered a real two-party system
Lincoln Chafee should be the next head of the Rhode Island Republican Party.
By IAN DONNIS | November 15, 2006

Separated at birth

The partisan difference is the big thing dividing Chafee and whitehouse
Six years ago, when Lincoln Chafee won the US Senate seat to which he’d been appointed after his father’s death, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Sheldon Whitehouse approached him during the victory celebration at Providence Marriott to offer his congratulations.
By IAN DONNIS | October 25, 2006

Having cut runners, PROJO lagged on primary returns

Media
In an apparent effort to save money, the Providence Journal abandoned its traditional use of runners to gather election tallies during Rhode Island’s September 12 primary.
By IAN DONNIS | September 20, 2006

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Stephen P. Laffey

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