The Saturday Morning Post: Quick hits on politics & more in RI
May 19th, 2012 at 5:00 am by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site, The Saturday Morning Post
I’ve got good news and bad news this Saturday here in my weekly column. The good news is I think WPRI 12 did a pretty solid job keeping you informed about the 38 Studios imbroglio this past week. The bad news is I ran out of time to do a full column, so this is going to be an abbreviated edition. As always, though, keep sending your takes, tips and trial balloons to tnesi (at) wpri (dot) com and I may include them.
1. This was the first week since he took office that I could imagine Governor Chafee winning reelection. Even some of his most implacable opponents are acknowledging he’s handled this situation surprisingly well, nor is there any doubt about whether he would have gotten the state into the situation. This is a case where people are less worried about flashy leadership and more worried about the actual policy decisions made at the State House, and that’s served Chafee well.
2. On the flip side, except for Keith Stokes and Curt Schilling did anyone have a worse week than Donald Carcieri? The Boston Globe labeled his two terms in office “mostly unmemorable,” but the memory of 38 Studios won’t fade anytime soon; his fellow Republican Barry Hinckley calls it “Rhode Island’s own Solyndra.” Yet Carcieri has ducked reporters all week, refusing to defend his decision two short years ago – which is the worst defense of all. It’s a bit reminiscent, on a vastly smaller scale, of how Ed DiPrete left the ticking time bomb of the credit unions for Bruce Sundlun. “This is not the Rhode Island Enron, and Schill is not Jeffrey Skilling,” Dan Shaughnessy writes, “but it is bad, and it was avoidable if not for public officials losing all common sense in the aura of a baseball player who delivered on a promise to bring us a championship” – particularly since the risks inherent in the deal were abundantly clear at the time.
3. Among the undiscussed consequences of the 38 Studios mess is that so much time is being spent on something that has relatively little long-term upside for the state (other than limiting its losses).
4. If you’re still confused about 38 Studios’ actual business, my 2010 WPRI.com story “Long odds for RI-backed Schilling game” actually holds up pretty well in terms of explaining why this is such a difficult market to crack. If you want to catch up on what happened this week, start with the big wrap-up story from Monday and then read Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
5. I’m a little surprised nobody has mentioned that one of Treasurer Gina Raimondo’s senior aides, Deputy Treasurer Josh Brumberger, took the stand this week in the high-profile trial of disgraced Democrat John Edwards. The former presidential candidate allegedly threatened Brumberger, who was Edwards’ senior aide, during a fight they had over Edwards’ affair with Rielle Hunter.
6. State Sen. Frank Ciccone of Ruggerio DUI fame made the surprising strategic decision this week to take the lead in pushing the General Assembly to overturn Governor Chafee’s executive order on same-sex marriage. (“You think you got same-sex marriage problems now?”) Now Marriage Equality Rhode Island’s Ray Sullivan says his group will make Ciccone a prime target for defeat in this fall’s elections. Assuming Ciccone files to run, it’s hard not to think more than a few others on Smith Hill will be – quietly – cheering MERI’s effort on.
7. Did you know the 1996 law that lets U.S. officials block people from entering the U.S. if they renounce citizenship for tax reasons is known as “the Reed amendment” for Rhode Island’s own U.S. Sen. Jack Reed? Looks like he won’t be getting a campaign contribution from Facebook’s Eduardo Saverin anytime soon.
8. For regular Nesi’s Notes readers (God bless you!), note that I’ll be away on Monday and won’t be posting. Regular blogging will resume Tuesday.
9. This week on “Newsmakers” – the Cook Political Report’s Jennifer Duffy and WPRI 12 political analyst Joe Fleming. Watch Sunday at 10 a.m. on Fox Providence. See you back here next Saturday morning.
Ted Nesi ( tnesi@wpri.com ) covers politics and the economy for WPRI.com and writes the Nesi’s Notes blog. Follow him on Twitter: @tednesi
Tags: saturday quick hits
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
Excellent work this week Mr. Nesi. You provided timely, comprehensive and accurate coverage of the 38 Studios story.
Great job this week. Thanks for all the digging and analysis that provided a full picture of the situation. Not sure I like that you’ll be away on Monday!
I would echo Jake’s comment above but you do excellent work every week, often giving your readers info that (sadly for Rhode Islanders) cannot be found in other local media sources. On a number of occasions, I have been surprised that some items you have reported are not picked up by others and more widely publicized.
The “You think you got same-sex marriage problems now?” line was a bit inside baseball, but also hysterical. I suppose it’s also appropriate since your readers (myself included) appreciate that insider perspective you provide. And I’ll echo the comments above, your 38 Studios coverage was excellent this week. Well, done, Ted.
Ted the only one hotter then you at WPRI is Susan Roberts….lol…… Good work this week.
you gave chafee too much credit. he reviewed EDC when he first got into office. He should have suggested that they have more oversight on this project if he was so against it originally. he trusted keith stokes. Does Stokes have any business experience of his own on his resume? (clearly Mr. Chafee’s business experience is limited).
First, you did a fantastic job reporting this story Ted, especially rooting the untapped source. I agree with you about Chafee. Even though I disagree about the muni package and his betrayal on pension reform, I believe he is sincerely trying to improve the State. He has shown himself to be compassionate, fair-minded, and is content to play the part of the peace-maker and stay out of the limelight.
Well it has taken two years but Josh Brumberger’s name has finally surfaced in the media. Who is Josh Brumberger you ask? Why he is Treasurer Raimondo’s Executive Director for Financial Empowerment. What is an Executive Director for Financial Empowerment? Beats me. This position was created by the Treasurer after her election (no such position existed in previous Treasurers’ offices) and was given a salary that is now aproximately $135,000 annually. The position was then filled by Mr. Brumberger a national Democrat political operative. My question is what has Mr. Brumberger been doing all this time besides empowering himself financially? And why has the media not once looked into this hire? I suppose they were too busy fawning over Treasurer Raimondo.
The usual fluff “news”. How about some “reporting” that gets us back to the premises of why government should even be in the “business” of economic development? Why does anyone believe fifth rate political hacks and career politicians should and can pick “winners”? Come to think of it, why little or no reporting about the so called growing “free” surplus at the state level?about how this surplus might be used. For example, whether its the Legislature or what passes for a chief executive, are no questions raised about their priorities. How about surveying the public about what it believes should happen to any surplus? Let me guess, these matters won’t be raised in any manner other than satisfying the predispositions of what passes for a media and the political hack class that makes this state such a sick joke.
Ted, try not to dislocate your shoulder with all this patting yourself on the back. I’ve found the mainstream media’s coverage of the 38 Studios story to be short on depth and facts while long on sensational rushes to judgement.
You’re making references to the banking crisis?? What?? You are out of control Teddy. Try not to be too disappoited when 38 Studios actually survives this turmoil.
Ted why would you cite the words of Boston sportwriter Dan Shaughnessy without informing your audience of the near decade long nasty and personal rift between Shaughnessy and Schilling?? And with many many media outlets have written stories on this you only cite the Boston – MSNBC of New England newspapers – Globe’s shots at Don Carcieri??
Strong smell of liberal media agenda wafting throught his blog Teddy.
What a surprise!
BTW I have no doubt both Carcieri and Schilling will talk to the citizens of this state on the 38 Studios issue but it won’t be through your mainstream media dog and pony show Ted. Keep listening to the radio. It’s the only unedited media form there is.
Linc Chafee’s “handling” of this 38 Studios has him re-electable to you Ted?
Chafee’s most ardent critics are praising him? Like who??
Exactly what has Chafee done that has been example of leadership??
The man can’t answer the most elementary of questions related to 38 Studios, be it the original deal or what’s going on now.
Chafee made his opposition to the 38 Studios deal a major issue in his campaign
Ted have you asked Chafee what actions he took once he became Governor a year and a half ago that strengthened the oversight on 38????
I didn’t think so.
“Keep listening to the radio. It’s the only unedited media form there is.”
Wow. That is crazy, scary crazy.