Update: RI GOP top unchanged as Carcieri cheers / Audio
6:14 PM Fri, Mar 20, 2009 | Permalink
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By Steve Peoples CRANSTON, R.I. -- Rhode Island's Republican Party has no where to go but up. That was the message Thursday night at the party's annual convention at the Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, where Governor Carcieri led a pep rally of sorts, encouraging Rhode Island's beleaguered Grand Old Party to move past a dismal November election, fundraising problems, and an apparent identity crisis. While his approval numbers were reported last month at 34 percent, the lowest level for any governor in 15 years, it was clear that Carcieri was among friends at the Rhodes. Listen: "We've got an administration that's taking this country in a direction, God, that we've never seen..." Related post in Projo Politics Blog: RI Democratic chief hits back at Carcieri for slap at Obama administration Carcieri was greeted by a standing ovation, before opening his remarks this way: "Now I've got a question. Are you ready for a fight? Are you ready for a battle?" the crowd of around 200 cheered wildly. "All right. I am. That's what I'm doing every day. I want you to know -- yeah we had a tough November. I'm not discouraged at all. I'm not." The party faithful responded by re-electing chairman Giovanni Cicione for another two-year term. He ran unopposed. Listen: Gov. Carcieri urges Republicans never to give up. Cicione stood at the head of the room as Carcieri spoke, flanked by former representative and National Committee woman Carol Mumford and Rep. Joseph Trillo, the only Republican to have already announced a gubernatorial bid for 2010. Neither former Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, nor recently-hired Republican National Committee executive director Ken McKay attended the event. Notable attendees included Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Cranston Mayor Alan Fung, former Carcieri staffer J.R. Pagliarini, and Rep. John Loughlin, who was the butt of a few jokes for his moderate position on public pensions. In his 24-minute speech, Carcieri seized on President Obama's economic stimulus plans as a rallying point for Rhode Island Republicans. "Right now we've got an administration that's taking this country in a direction, God, that we've never seen. And it's going to bankrupt this nation. It's disgraceful what's going on," the governor said. "It's going to be proven a dismal failure, a dismal failure, so the opportunity is here for us, I believe, I really do." There was little business conducted at the convention aside from the election of party officers. The group did not address whether to close their primary elections to only registered Republicans, as had been suggested by some members. And erring on the side of inclusiveness, they quickly shot down a proposal to require a membership fee of 30 cents a day to help fill the party's struggling bank account. The convention did, however, overwhelmingly endorse a resolution condemning a plan to use federal stimulus funds to build a skate park in Pawtucket. The resolution acknowledges Vice President Joseph Biden's warnings that federal funds shouldn't be used for frivolous projects: "We the members of the Rhode Island Republican Party do hereby extend an invitation to the Vice President to come to the City of Pawtucket at his earliest convenience and show that he is a man of his word, that his threats are not idle, and declare to the American public that expending $550,000 of stimulus funds on a skateboard park and renovations to tennis and basketball courts is a "stupid idea." This entry was first posted at 4 p.m. 
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I can't believe that the Screaming Mimi - Joe Trillo - will be running for governor. You republicans must be in pretty bad shape if that's the best you can do.
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Screaming Mimi or not, Mr. Trillo has a lot to say and most of what he says is true and he's not afraid to say it. Good for him. If he runs and wins the governorship, the Democrats and the unions and the media will do a hatchet job on him just like they are doing on Governor Carcieri.
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Pretty good that our excuse for a governor is putting down Obama but certainly takes all the money he can get his hands on. Obama has more brains in his left toe than don has in his excuse for a brain. Certainly the worst governor ever....he is worse than Diprete...the worst governor ever....a mini buuuuushhhhhh....good job brownie!!!!
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Cheap shots are abundent these days. They don't help anyone.
The comment that Rep Trillo tells it like it is will draw the err from those who can't draw the fortitude too.
To suggest that this State is in the mess it is because of the Governor and the minority in the House is truly denying reality of their decision to support the status quo.
It explains why we are in the State that were in and judging from the majority of the comments here, as they say IT AIN'T GONNA GET BETTER SOON. IF EVER.....
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Is Carcieri kidding? We've just come through the worst eight years in the history of the Republic, under a president who should go down in history as the nation's worst and most incompetent chief executive, and Gov. Befuddled is saying that Obama is leading the nation down the wrong path? Is Carcieri in full possession of his faculties? No one, but no one, totally out of touch, delusional and not dealing with reality would utter such nonsense. It is the Republican Party and its ridiculous policies that's brought our nation to its knees, and that even 200 people crowded the room to cheer wildly for Gov. Befuddled and the Republican brand, leads me to the obvious conclusion that there's at least 201 Rhode Islanders out there who seriously need their heads examined.
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Ha! The Charge of the Lightweight Brigade.
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Trillo is a big mouth who acts just like Carcieri. Let's give refunds to the wealthy, so that more businesses come to RI - then we end up with the worst unemployment rate in the country; while Trillo and Carcieri's friends get refunds. They then blame unions, the poor, etc....It's never their fault!! More of the same, except Trillo CLEARLY has no brians; while Carcieri can fake it from time to time. Heaven help this state.
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despite being a good man, the gov support mostly through silence of every bad apple in North Kingstown has hurt our town for years to come. if the corrupt, and downright mean NK so-called republicans are what this governor brings to the table with him, then I'll take democrats any day as painful as that is, he makes dems look downright peachy.
for example, disgraced superintendent halley who misappropriated a quarter million in SPECIAL NEEDS FUNDS for such things as steak lobster and booze getaways, has been showing up with nk republican pols to meetings and even attended their recent town republican meeting. the gov never said one word when all this misappropriating and much other stuff was going on, but he supported it by proxy by supporting people who now sit next to the removed superintendent halley in school meetings! thank you "governor ethics". if thats the best you can do in your own town, then please go away.
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