Signs of disarray on the verge of January 3, via The Page:

Response to Huckabee Event from Romney Campaign

From Spokesman Kevin Madden:

Good afternoon, folks-

For those of you who saw it with your own eyes, there’s no need for me to describe how bizarre it was.

But for those of you who didn’t, The Politico has a report of Mike Huckabee’s meltdown at a campaign press conference today where he displayed a negative TV ad attacking Governor Romney, at the same time he said he was running a “positive” campaign.

The ProJo's Sunday Money & Business section closes the year, sadly, without any staff-written content on the section front, although there is a useful Associated Press piece on the second page about the so-called XO laptop (previously described in the New York Times), a cheap (under $200) computer that is helping to bring poor children into the contemporary age:

Courtesy of Scott MacKay, master of the juxtaposition:

State government is broke, Rhode Island was one of only two states to lose population in 2007, the schools lag those of its New England neighbors, college grads tend to flee the day they earn their degrees, our bridges are crumbling, some pols are in cahoots with crooked businessmen, and a felon hosts a show on the state’s biggest talk radio station.

The Warwick City Council might have done Mayor Scott Avedisian a favor by forcing his hand in the firing of the city's crossing guards. While the cause-and-effect is clear, it removes a bugaboo that had become a source for criticism and jibes with the current environment of austerity and diminished public funds.

Still, if Avedisian runs in the Republican primary for governor in 2010, we can count on Steve Laffey to remind us that it was the city council that precipitated this action.

Steven J. Coaty of Middletown Newport, the latest of that rare species -- Republican legislators in Rhode Island -- is slated to be sworn into office during a ceremony in the House chamber at 5 today. The perfect timing to bury the news before New Year's, or a good send-off into the holiday weekend? Since Speaker William J.

Denise Parrillo of Clean Water Action sends this along:

Providence, RI—Today the Environment Council of Rhode Island, a coalition of over 60 RI organizations, released its annual list of desired policy and law changes that will protect and enhance the environment. This list highlights the changes the Council will work for during the upcoming legislative session.

Phoenix contributing illustrator Steve Brosnihan has long raved about breakfasts at The Barn, in the Adamsville section of Little Compton, and Bill Rodriguez this week helps to explain why:

What also intrigued me were their four interesting variations on eggs Benedict ($8.25-$10.95), in addition to the regular one, which included one with lobster and asparagus.

You can't make this stuff up.

I'd already heard about this happening at one Southern metro daily, and the AP (h/t Romenesko) has more details:

The Miami Herald is outsourcing some of its advertising production work to India, the newspaper's editor said Thursday.

Starting in January, copyediting and design in a weekly section of Broward County community news and other special advertising sections will be outsourced to Mindworks, based in New Delhi.

Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano of North Providence joined guest host Tim White and myself for a taping this morning of WPRI/WNAC-TV's Newsmakers, steering wide of answering specific questions about Operation Dollar Bill and offering few details about how the General Assembly will help the state to curb its $450 million budget deficit.

Matt Bai had a timely and penetrating story in last Sunday's New York Times Magazine, looking at how Democrats' dueling fondness for Bill Clinton and their dislike for "Clintonism" will impact the upcoming presidential race.

Many of those who support Obama, of course, do so because they prefer the contrast that he represents to the establishment personified by Hillary Clinton

Dan Shaughnessy predicts that the New Year will be kind to former Red Sox slugger Jim Rice.

Rich Gossage and Rice should top this year's ballot, gathering the necessary 75 percent of the vote. There would be nice symmetry in the sight of this duo walking through the gates of the Hall together. Rice and Gossage were two of the central figures of the 1978 pennant race and it would be appropriate to see them enshrined on the 30th anniversary of the great race.

In this week's Phoenix, ace Red Sox amigo Mike Miliard looks into his crystal ball for 2008:

Hey geeks: all that online talk (nine billion Google hits and counting) notwithstanding, “Web 3.0” won’t be happening any time soon. And even if the anticipated advance to the next technological level was imminent, the growing consensus is that any blogger using that awful neologism should have his broadband connection yanked from the wall with extreme prejudice.

As Mitt Romney steps up his attacks on John McCain in New Hampshire, some observers, of different stripes, are calling the Arizona senator the best bet -- if he wins the GOP nomination -- to claim the presidency in 2008:

Steven Stark in the Phoenix:

McCain would bring a number of advantages to a general-election campaign.

While Rhode Island's statewide election in 2010 remains more than 30 months away, we can expect to see a heightened level of organizing among potential candidates in 2008. And Providence City Solicitor Joseph M. Fernandez has taken an early plunge by filing papers this month, indicating that he intends to be a Democratic candidate for attorney general, with the Rhode Island Board of Elections