On my way to work this morning I noticed many campaign banners hanging on highway overpasses, but none was more striking than the one proudly displayed over 95S in the the North End of Providence. “Vote Black Power–It’s Time,” read the message on what, ironically, appeared to be a white sheet. At first I thought, well, there’s a strong statement. On momentary reflection, however, I began to think that in this primary season’s atmosphere of skewed racial politics, it was probably some shady Hillary operative, or at least some Hillary supporter gone way off the reservation, who put this up in order to scare white voters. I grew up in North Providence–not known as a bastion of racial enlightenment–and in my head I could hear many an NP voter seeing that and saying, “See, now why does he have to make it a black thing? That’s why I’m nervous about voting for him.” Brash display of black solidarity, or more passive-aggressive Clintonian chicanery? Sadly, we may never know for sure.

I’m feeling pretty pooped out on politics right now, but if you’re not, there’s some big stuff going on:

• Ted Kennedy, in support of Barack Obama, at URI at 12:30 today. (Remember to ask him why he’s trying to kill Cape Wind.)
• The Guild Follies, tonight at 7pm
• Barack Obama, on Saturday at noon, at RIC. (Yes, on the very same stage Hillary spoke from last week…)

‘The next meeting of the *new* Providence chapter of Drinking Liberally is TONIGHT, February 27th at 8pm at The Wild Colonial in Providence. Drinking Liberally is an informal, inclusive progressive social group that gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics over a beer.

Looking forward to seeing you there!’

I sit on two committees of the House of Representatives — Corporations, and Environment and Natural Resources. This is a recap of last night’s Corporations’ meeting — which hears bills related to licenses, banks, insurance, and utilities — with judgement reserved:First up was Bowser, of Sha-na-na’s fame, to testify in support of the “Truth in Music Act.” Basically, Bowser and his friends want to stop bands from touring under the names of famous acts, unless they own the rights to those names or were among the original members. (There’s a faux Drifters-Platters-Coasters combo that’s doing especially well for itself.)

That’s all well and good to me — especially as the Coasters and Drifters have variously been among my very favorite acts. Members were particularly charmed by Bowser’s sing-song testimony, including the closing, “Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom ba ba bom ba ba bom ba ba dang a dang dang Ba ba ding a dong ding THANK YOU…” (more…)

The Providence Newspaper Guild Follies are this Friday — and with Rhode Island politically relevant at the national level, there’s hardcore speculation about who the surprise special guest might be.

Making things even more intense — and making it even more likely that the presidential campaigns will be paying attention: The annual conference of the national Newspaper Guild will be in town this weekend. Meaning that reporters from all over the country will be descending upon Providence. And, in particular, they’re reporters who take their union memberships seriously, and therefore are likely to be especially attuned to politics, and happenings on the Democratic side of the presidential race.

May or may not be too late to get tickets — give the Guild a ring over at (401) 421-9466.

For a different take on Castro’s resignation, one that the mainstream press can’t really offer, check out this tidbit from the folks over at History is a Weapon:

We hang with the anarchists, we’ve got a whole stack of Spanish Civil War books on the shelf and are quick to argue the possibility and beauty in an anarchist world. Occasionally, we drink with the liberals and we hang with every sect of lefty faction, including the world renowned communist factionalist league. But some of them anarchists grit their teeth when they hear us talk about Cuba. We love Cuba. A quick sail from the deepest south, a plantation society was overthrown.

(more…)

This is a big deal. Though that it is a big deal is somewhat contradictory: Either Castro was the titular head of a movement, or he wasn’t. If he was, he mattered in that he was a function of his popular support. If he wasn’t, then he was a straight-up despot with no legitimacy.

Cuba does have relatively good health care system and such-and-such. But Castro was a murderous leader who used state violence to stymie political dissent.

It would be amazing — and unexpected — if his successor could maintain the good, and shun the bad.

Projo’s got it:

PROVIDENCE — The Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. Library and Research Center Inc. does not have any bookshelves, computers or even a front door.

But it has at least $383,539.97 in the bank, thanks to political donations that gathered interest over the four years and six months Cianci was in federal prison. The former Providence mayor transferred the vast majority of his campaign funds last fall to the nonprofit foundation that has largely existed only on paper since it was created a decade ago.

(more…)

Matt covers them here. Interesting results, not all of them expected.

Clinton’s still up over Obama, but not by much anymore.

Carcieri and Cicilline saw significant drops in their approval ratings. Rhode Islanders generally support taxing the wealthy and maintaining or increasing education funding. But they’re split on raising the capital gains tax (which overwhelmingly benefits the rich) back to its historic level of 5%.

Linc Chafee and James Green introduce it in the Projo, with a great op-ed:

Although mostly it is the presidents of each country that garner media attention — particularly Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales — there is much more to the picture than presidents. In the 10 years of the Chávez government in Venezuela, literacy has increased from 85 percent of the population to 99 percent. Health clinics now appear in even the poorest neighborhoods, granting access to free treatment. While these programs are not perfect, they represent a return to focus on social development, rather than exclusively economic development, a trend that is becoming increasingly popular in the region.

Explaining these trends as authoritarian populism, as some critics do, is insufficient, and it suggests that Venezuelan and Bolivian voters are unsophisticated dupes. American editorialists and political leaders too often fail to take seriously Bolivians’ and Venezuelans’ criticisms and deep frustration with the failed economic and social policies that have put their countries under stress and deepened inequality. The current governments are offering an alternative, whether we agree or not with the form it takes.

There’s info on the conference here.

Agitators from blackboxvoting.org say the NH recount was marred by chain of custody issues. Thoughts? (more…)

More press for FairvoteRI, via the Phoenix:

With the General Assembly’s 2008 session underway, FairVote Rhode Island (fairvote.org/ri), a non-partisan organization that promotes civic engagement and election reform, has resumed the fight for the main issue on its agenda: advance voter registration for 16- and 17-year-olds.

A national nonprofit operating out of Washington since 1992, FairVote established its Rhode Island chapter last summer under the leadership of Providence native Ari Savitsky, 24.

Stay tuned for news about Fairvote’s coming-out party/fundraiser in early Feb.

Would be, say, to bribe Saddam Hussein.

I can be incredibly cynical about the political process, but even I naively thought that there’d be unanimity about the above. Apparently not, per some of the comments over at RIFuture.

So while members of the Assembly will introduce resolutions congratulating basketball teams and marching bands, or designating Del’s and/or coffee milk the official drink of the state, with nary a peep from the right wing, I’m catching a ton of crap for introducing a resolution admonishing Textron FOR BRIBING SADDAM HUSSEIN’S REGIME!!! Such are the politics of our time.

The resolution condemns Textron’s payment of $650k in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime from 2001-2003 under the United Nations Oil for Food Program. For their actions, Textron was fined $4.7 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2007. (Textron is headquartered in downtown Providence.)

It calls on Textron to issue a public apology to “the people of Rhode Island, the people of Iraq, and the people of the world for its payment of such kickbacks.” It’s co-sponsored by Republicans Victor Moffitt, Joe Amaral and Democrats Al Gemma and Anastasia Williams.

Matt has the info on the mechanisms by which Rhode Island’s delegates to the Democratic Convention will be determined. 40% of the delegates needed to win the Dem nomination aren’t a function of primaries, but are so-called ’super delegates’ — elected officials and party officers and such. It’s a firewall for the party establishment.

In RI and every state, the remainder break down proportionally, based on how many votes candidates receive in the party primaries.

At the Wild Colonial on Weds, Jan 23 @ 8pm

Drinking Liberally (or DL) is a an informal, inclusive progressive social group that gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics over a beer. Come by for a casual drink and stay for the good people and good conversation.

This is the 1st meeting of the new Providence Chapter of Drinking Liberally! This is a great opportunity to strengthen the network of the Rhode Island liberal community. Join us every 4th Wednesday at the same time and place.

Got News If You Want It

• Bush begs for the oils, H-Clint: “Pathetic…”
• McCain v. Romney= much bitchslappery.
• Rush Limbaugh deftly incorporates the words ’spade’ and ‘hoe’ into discussion about Obama and Clinton. Stay classy Rush!
• Those damn gay hackers!
• Actor Brad Renfro dead at 25