Rhode Island Politics - Discussion

[Zioneer]

Was Lincoln Chafee a good governor or senator at all?

[This account no longer in use.]

Was Lincoln Chafee a good governor or senator at all?

He had no scandals. He was a block of granite ideologically.

[Simfan34]

Was Lincoln Chafee a good governor or senator at all?

He had no scandals. He was a block of granite ideologically.

I don't think that's a particularly apt term for someone who kept on changing parties.

[The Arizonan]

If they are going to make fun of Rhode Island for being small, then they should make fun of Delaware too. Delaware has even less people and, from what I've heard, boring.

[Mike Thick]

If they are going to make fun of Rhode Island for being small, then they should make fun of Delaware too. Delaware has even less people and, from what I've heard, boring.

I was trying to find jokes about Delaware's size, but all I got was a bunch of stuff about Christine O'Donnell .

Seriously, though. Population isn't what determines jokes about size -- if that were the case we'd have loads of jokes about how small Wyoming is.

[This account no longer in use.]

I'd never make fun of a state which was represented by the scandal-less Lincoln Chafee.
I also used to live there, but that pales in comparison to Chafee.

[Maxwell]

Chafee was a pretty trash Governor, ended extremely unpopular and did not run for re-election for that reason.

[Blue3]

Chafee was a pretty trash Governor, ended extremely unpopular and did not run for re-election for that reason.

But I don't think it was really Chafee's fault. He was elected in a 4-way race, and RI was usually the #2 worst state in the country with its economy, and improving to now be around #10.

It could be a lot better, but the Governor of RI is pretty much powerless. He had an agenda but managed to get most of it done, including gay marriage and immigration reform. Which is more than Raimondo so far, who hasn't even proposed anything after a year.

It was that damn "Holiday Tree" "scandal" that hurt him the most. That and, as the 2016 primary debate showed, he's not the best PR spokesperson.

[The Arizonan]

Chafee was a pretty trash Governor, ended extremely unpopular and did not run for re-election for that reason.

But I don't think it was really Chafee's fault. He was elected in a 4-way race, and RI was usually the #2 worst state in the country with its economy, and improving to now be around #10.

It could be a lot better, but the Governor of RI is pretty much powerless. He had an agenda but managed to get most of it done, including gay marriage and immigration reform. Which is more than Raimondo so far, who hasn't even proposed anything after a year.

It was that damn "Holiday Tree" "scandal" that hurt him the most. That and, as the 2016 primary debate showed, he's not the best PR spokesperson.

I'm not crazy about the word "holiday tree", which I don't understand why it even exists, but they shouldn't be giving Lincoln Chafee flak over using it. If they are going to give him flak over it, then they should give the other governors of Rhode Island flak for also using it just to be consistent.

[indysaff]

RI House just passed Raimondo's Truck Toll plan.

http://m.providencejournal.com/news/20160210/ri-house-passes-raimondos-truck-toll-plan

[Blue3]

RI House just passed Raimondo's Truck Toll plan.

http://m.providencejournal.com/news/20160210/ri-house-passes-raimondos-truck-toll-plan

What do you think about it?

I'm kind of indifferent, lean negative, but understand there's budget concerns. Very meh.



Anyone watch her State of the State?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I find it interesting that Rhode Island has the strongest legislature in the country. What do you think is the reason for that?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Also, I find it unusual that Little Rhody had the Brayton Law.

[indysaff]

RI House just passed Raimondo's Truck Toll plan.

http://m.providencejournal.com/news/20160210/ri-house-passes-raimondos-truck-toll-plan

What do you think about it?

I'm kind of indifferent, lean negative, but understand there's budget concerns. Very meh.



Anyone watch her State of the State?

I'm okay with, though honestly the issue isn't of much importance to me. Im interested to see how it would turn out if it was on the ballot in November.

[Blue3]

So... that new damn logo... huh? Ew? Wha...?





Or rather...




Also, Raimondo said she's open to legalizing marijuana, either on the ballot of by legislation.

[Blue3]

So, interesting primary results...

Is this the beginning of RI Democrats finally turning on the RI Democratic establishment?

Trump also has his biggest victory so far here, and probably his biggest margin of victory of the year.

[DINGO Joe]

Don't really know much about the state post Roger Williams.  I do know that somebody was dumb enough to give Curt Schilling $75 million and it wasn't to throw a baseball.

[NerdyBohemian]

Don't really know much about the state post Roger Williams.  I do know that somebody was dumb enough to give Curt Schilling $75 million and it wasn't to throw a baseball.

Kingdoms of Amalur was kinda cool. Best $75 million dollar mistake RI ever made.


I'm surprised by RI's primary. I voted for Clinton but I hope RI starts to primary all of the fake Democrats in office starting with our governor and lt. governor.

[NerdyBohemian]

Well a bunch of fake Democrats in the RI General Assembly and Senate lost their primaries yesterday. What is going on in my state? First we vote for Bernie over Hilldawg and now this? Is Gina gonna lose her primary in a few years too?

[Blue3]

Yeah, it wasn't as big of a wave as I wanted... but change is finally happening.

[Blue3]

Rhode Island is a microcosm of the country this election... our coastal/educated/urban areas went for Hillary, and the rest for Trump.



As a RI Democrat, it's not surprising.

We're almost like a Rust-Belt state in the main cities, with lots of Catholic White Blue-Collar Workers (and some Hispanics), surrounded by suburban and rural Republican-leaning WASPs, and overall have an aging population with a lot of young adults of my generation moving out.

We have never really had progressive Democrats in charge... but the party machine is strong, with lots of DINOs, which is one of the only reasons why we're probably still so Democratic.

[Soonerdem]

Rhode Island is a microcosm of the country this election... our coastal/educated/urban areas went for Hillary, and the rest for Trump.



As a RI Democrat, it's not surprising.

We're almost like a Rust-Belt state in the main cities, with lots of Catholic White Blue-Collar Workers (and some Hispanics), surrounded by suburban and rural Republican-leaning WASPs, and overall have an aging population with a lot of young adults of my generation moving out.

We have never really had progressive Democrats in charge... but the party machine is strong, with lots of DINOs, which is one of the only reasons why we're probably still so Democratic.

Interesting. Could Rhode Island in a future in which the Trimp based white identity politics still rules become competitive? You know more about the Island then me what future do you see in its politics?

[Blue3]

Governor Gina Raimondo is proposing 2 years of free college for in-state students of good academic standing at any state college/university (which in RI means the 6 CCRI community college campuses, Rhode Island College, University of Rhode Island at its 3 campuses).

Finally a bold initiative with vision! That's been sorely missing from Raimondo so far. The cost of college was one of her big campaign issues too, so finally seeing some action, it's the biggest reason why I've been disappointed with her so far. Looking forward to seeing the details soon. I don't agree with her on everything, but I've gotten to meet her or see her at different things about a dozen times over the last seven years, and she's very intelligent, she just needs to focus on some bold initiatives and it's great to see her finally doing that and making RI one of the states leading the charge on an important issue in a good way, instead of lagging behind like usually.

http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170115/ri-students-to-get-free-tuition-for-2-years-at-state-colleges-under-raimondo-budget--poll