Having never set foot in the Ocean State, I have written
extensively about the politics in the region. Local conservatives welcomed my
take on the back-and-forth governance there, too, telling me “You know more
about the history of Rhode Island than some of the people who live here.”
extensively about the politics in the region. Local conservatives welcomed my
take on the back-and-forth governance there, too, telling me “You know more
about the history of Rhode Island than some of the people who live here.”
!["The]("http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2013-11/enhanced/webdr03/8/0/enhanced-buzz-4167-1383887066-9.jpg") |
| Big Blue Bug Drinking an Awful-Awful (Annie Babineau) |
From the Dancing Cop to Coffee Milk, to controversial
twice-elected Mayor, twice-convicted felon then radio host Buddy Cianci, the
quintessential Ocean State has its motely character and freedom-fighting past.
Founder Roger Williams bucked the impure Pharisaical Puritans, and established
a colony based on religious toleration: a tenet needed now more than ever, yet
under attack from all sides. To Williams’ credit, he actually paid the Indians
for their land. His colonial successors were the first to break away from the
British Crown, the last to join the US Constitution, and the original site for
the American Industrial Revolution. One famous Civil War General,
widely-mustached Ambrose Burnside, served until his death as a Republican US
Senator. Notable Conservative broadcaster John McLaughlin (Issue One! Issue
Two! Wrong!) is a born and raised Providential, too.
twice-elected Mayor, twice-convicted felon then radio host Buddy Cianci, the
quintessential Ocean State has its motely character and freedom-fighting past.
Founder Roger Williams bucked the impure Pharisaical Puritans, and established
a colony based on religious toleration: a tenet needed now more than ever, yet
under attack from all sides. To Williams’ credit, he actually paid the Indians
for their land. His colonial successors were the first to break away from the
British Crown, the last to join the US Constitution, and the original site for
the American Industrial Revolution. One famous Civil War General,
widely-mustached Ambrose Burnside, served until his death as a Republican US
Senator. Notable Conservative broadcaster John McLaughlin (Issue One! Issue
Two! Wrong!) is a born and raised Providential, too.
A state with politics both fascinating yet disconcerting at
the same time, small wonder that national politicos have ignored or written off
the most Democratic state in the union and all of its four electoral votes.
Until now, that is. From unprecedented pension reforms (Central Falls fell on
hard times, scalped public sector pensions), to Rhode Map RI (a backdoor effort
through President Barack Obama’s Department of Housing and Urban Development to
implement UN style housing policies), and a tech administrator’s frustrated
attempt to run for US Senate, now for the first time, a Rhode Island native son
is running for President now Presidential Election 2016.
the same time, small wonder that national politicos have ignored or written off
the most Democratic state in the union and all of its four electoral votes.
Until now, that is. From unprecedented pension reforms (Central Falls fell on
hard times, scalped public sector pensions), to Rhode Map RI (a backdoor effort
through President Barack Obama’s Department of Housing and Urban Development to
implement UN style housing policies), and a tech administrator’s frustrated
attempt to run for US Senate, now for the first time, a Rhode Island native son
is running for President now Presidential Election 2016.
Former Republican US Senator, then Independent Governor
Lincoln Chafee entered Election 2016 as a Democrat. He stumbled into full
campaign mode, despite his initial announcement for an exploratory committee. Common
Sense RI openly mocked his presidential ambitions with a loud retort: “Are you
kidding me?” MSNBC took him seriously enough, asked him serious questions, and
Chafee already looked like a deer in headlights. Joining the repeal of Glass-Steagal,
Chafee admits that he voted for something he didn’t read. At least he admitted
smoking and inhaling controlled substances.
Lincoln Chafee entered Election 2016 as a Democrat. He stumbled into full
campaign mode, despite his initial announcement for an exploratory committee. Common
Sense RI openly mocked his presidential ambitions with a loud retort: “Are you
kidding me?” MSNBC took him seriously enough, asked him serious questions, and
Chafee already looked like a deer in headlights. Joining the repeal of Glass-Steagal,
Chafee admits that he voted for something he didn’t read. At least he admitted
smoking and inhaling controlled substances.
Yet Washington Post columnist George
Will gave him some gravitas (compared to his savagely witty send-up of
Independent Democratic “socialist” Bernie Sanders). An implausible candidate,
GOP Senator Chafee bucked his party on the Iraq War, voted against the rush to
pass a Constitutional Amendment to ban flag burning. He pushed away the Bush
label more than Hillary Clinton in 2006, yet lost to Climate Change advocate
Sheldon Whitehouse. He rightly calls Hillary Clinton “a war hawk” and holds her
responsible for the chaotic cauldron of multiple Islamic extremist interests
destroying each other and threatening Israel in the Middle East.
Will gave him some gravitas (compared to his savagely witty send-up of
Independent Democratic “socialist” Bernie Sanders). An implausible candidate,
GOP Senator Chafee bucked his party on the Iraq War, voted against the rush to
pass a Constitutional Amendment to ban flag burning. He pushed away the Bush
label more than Hillary Clinton in 2006, yet lost to Climate Change advocate
Sheldon Whitehouse. He rightly calls Hillary Clinton “a war hawk” and holds her
responsible for the chaotic cauldron of multiple Islamic extremist interests
destroying each other and threatening Israel in the Middle East.
Chafee also met with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and called
the thankfully deceased Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez a wannabe-friend of the
USA. His naïve idealism, plus his plainspoken honesty, would merit embrace if
not for his laughable praise for President Obama, and his dangerously blind
foreign policy. “Make more friends and fewer enemies” makes as much sense as
“don’t do stupid stuff” and “What difference does it make?”
the thankfully deceased Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez a wannabe-friend of the
USA. His naïve idealism, plus his plainspoken honesty, would merit embrace if
not for his laughable praise for President Obama, and his dangerously blind
foreign policy. “Make more friends and fewer enemies” makes as much sense as
“don’t do stupid stuff” and “What difference does it make?”
I mentioned Rhode Island’s unique history. Littly Rhody has
some interesting cuisine, too. From pizza strips and Johnny cakes, to Del’s
Lemonade and clam bakes, the more I know, the more I hope to go. In sharp
contrast, the more that the country learns about Chafee’s record (or lack
thereof) and his abortive Presidential aspirations, the less they want to know.
During his
opening campaign announcement, he advocated for adoption
of . . . the metric system. Missed me by a mile (or meter). He also wants
to bring Edward Snowden home without punishment or conviction. Wikileaks, OK.
Weak foreign policy creds, not OK. Ouch!
some interesting cuisine, too. From pizza strips and Johnny cakes, to Del’s
Lemonade and clam bakes, the more I know, the more I hope to go. In sharp
contrast, the more that the country learns about Chafee’s record (or lack
thereof) and his abortive Presidential aspirations, the less they want to know.
During his
opening campaign announcement, he advocated for adoption
of . . . the metric system. Missed me by a mile (or meter). He also wants
to bring Edward Snowden home without punishment or conviction. Wikileaks, OK.
Weak foreign policy creds, not OK. Ouch!
!["File:RI]("https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/RI_governor_Lincoln_Chafee_in_2007.jpg") |
| Lincoln Chafee: Just Awful (Kenneth C. Zirkel) |
Something else in Rhode Island eateries may help us better
understand this Chafee bid. Another unique confection from the Ocean State best
defines Chaffee’s bid: The Awful-Awful.
understand this Chafee bid. Another unique confection from the Ocean State best
defines Chaffee’s bid: The Awful-Awful.
SoRhodeIsland
descibes this sweet treat:
descibes this sweet treat:
Not quite a milkshake,
definitely not a frappe, this creamy creation has delighted Rhode Island kids
and adults for decades. When Newport Creamery opened its initial location in
Middletown in 1940, they used this name for their drinkable ice cream treat,
but it wasn’t until the ‘70s that they officially owned the “Awful Awful”
brand. Whatever your flavor preference (vanilla, chocolate, coffee, mocha,
strawberry, chocolate mint, cookies and cream), it’s going to be “awful big,
awful good.” But hey, even if you don’t want something awful big, Newport
Creamery’s Jr. sizes are still awful tasty.
definitely not a frappe, this creamy creation has delighted Rhode Island kids
and adults for decades. When Newport Creamery opened its initial location in
Middletown in 1940, they used this name for their drinkable ice cream treat,
but it wasn’t until the ‘70s that they officially owned the “Awful Awful”
brand. Whatever your flavor preference (vanilla, chocolate, coffee, mocha,
strawberry, chocolate mint, cookies and cream), it’s going to be “awful big,
awful good.” But hey, even if you don’t want something awful big, Newport
Creamery’s Jr. sizes are still awful tasty.
Chafee falls this description in unique fashion. His
lamentably liberal views would fit very well in the 1970s, during the economic
and foreign policy malaise of Jimmy Carter. He has become a different flavor of
the month, from his Republican tenure in the US Senate, to his liberal
Independent status in the Smith Hill Governor’s mansion, then his final year
and Presidential aspirations as a Democrat.
lamentably liberal views would fit very well in the 1970s, during the economic
and foreign policy malaise of Jimmy Carter. He has become a different flavor of
the month, from his Republican tenure in the US Senate, to his liberal
Independent status in the Smith Hill Governor’s mansion, then his final year
and Presidential aspirations as a Democrat.
Not quite a milkshake or a frappe, his policy views are as
lukewarm as they get. Nothing solid or certain, tasty at first to an
uber-leftwing partisan, Chafee is the light and airy after meal retreat, but will
not whet the American appetite for real leadership looking to right a ship
sinking under heavy regulations, economic job growth, and diminished prestige
on the global stage. He
can’t even raise money, and has registers so low in Democratic Presidential
polling, he could sit in a room with his wife and siblings, and ask: “Who voted
against me?”
lukewarm as they get. Nothing solid or certain, tasty at first to an
uber-leftwing partisan, Chafee is the light and airy after meal retreat, but will
not whet the American appetite for real leadership looking to right a ship
sinking under heavy regulations, economic job growth, and diminished prestige
on the global stage. He
can’t even raise money, and has registers so low in Democratic Presidential
polling, he could sit in a room with his wife and siblings, and ask: “Who voted
against me?”
To sum up Rhode Island Chafee’s chances: “Awful bad; awful sad.”
For this California Conservative, I am awful glad. He is a not-so-guilty pleasure, for Chafee’s bald
leftism, from gay marriage to Obamacare, from repealing E-verify to endorsing
unflinching environmentalism and war on the Christmas Tree, will give this
country a real picture of how extreme the Big Blue Bug Democratic Party has become.
leftism, from gay marriage to Obamacare, from repealing E-verify to endorsing
unflinching environmentalism and war on the Christmas Tree, will give this
country a real picture of how extreme the Big Blue Bug Democratic Party has become.