At 12:40 pm today, Governor Carcieri is slated make his first second appearance on WPRO-AM's Buddy Cianci Show.
While David Cicilline is leaving it to others to assess Cianci's credibility, it obviously helps the pol-turned-talk-show host when he's able to attract an appearance by the governor, who previously leaned against making such an appearance. AG Patrick Lynch is also booked to join Cianci today.
Cianci appeared as a panelist this week on A Lively Experiment, although the show will not be broadcast until Sunday because of a station fundraiser that aired last night.
Earlier this year, the Phoenix's Brian C. Jones was the first to broach the question of whether Carcieri would appear with Buddy on the radio:
Masters of the medium: Will Carcieri join Cianci on talk radio?
These are two of Governor Donald L. Carcieri’s favorite roles:
• Wearing the white hat in debates about government ethics.
• Appearing frequently as a guest on talk radio.
So what will Carcieri do when former Providence Mayor Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci, freshly sprung from the federal pen, resumes his role as a talk show host, as is widely expected?
“I knew Buddy when I was in the private world,” the governor says, noting the ex-mayor is “very bright, very personable . . . with a terrific skill set.”
On the other hand, Carcieri says he knew business people who wouldn’t open up shop in Providence when Cianci was there, and that his public corruption conviction is “a very sad chapter in the city.”
So will the governor do the Cianci show? “Probably not.”