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July 2011

I knew I should have paid more attention. But the question remains: Did he mention windmills? or at least "wind energy"?...

Last year I documented the saga of the city of Central Falls, Rhode Island, which went into state receivership only to be "rescued" by a new state law which prohibited municipalities from using traditional court receiverships in favor of a new state takeover mechanism. Central Falls became a model of...

Now I can't say bumper stickers never taught me anything. I spotted this bumper sticker in Providence last night, near Thayer Street and Brown University: My first impression was that this was some sort of political statement, but thanks to the miracle of Google, I learned that...

... The only way for Obama to stimulate the enormous private sector job growth needed to ensure Obama's reelection is for Obama to announce he is not running for reelection, which would unleash a wave of investment and economic activity not seen since the Great Depression....

There are two candidates still waiting, either of whom could shake up the Republican primaries big time. It's impossible to read the tea leaves on whether Sarah Palin is running, but it seems increasingly likely that Rick Perry is running. How much longer can they wait? Bonus question:  If...

Edward Larkin, a professor of German at the public University of New Hampshire, plead guilty in November 2009 to charges accusing him of exposing himself to a 17 year old girl and her mother earlier that year. Despite this, he is still fully employed at...

I've written many times about Rhode Island's public sector pension problem, which is like an albatross hung around the necks of taxpayers.  Although some reforms have been made, retiring at a relatively early age on full or near full salary forevever has created an absurd situation...

It's all about the message: Top Obama adviser says unemployment won't be key in 2012 President Obama’s senior political adviser David Plouffe said Wednesday that people won’t vote in 2012 based on the unemployment rate. Well no, of course it will not be about unemployment, considering the numbers...

As mentioned yesterday, the upcoming recall elections om Wisconsin have been mostly under the national radar, but not for the national unions which are pouring millions of dollars into the races by creating and funding groups with false names such as "We Are Wisconsin." As reported by Christian...

Right now, every American taxpayer owes $129,630 as their share of the national debt. By the time you read this, it’ll probably be higher. (I don’t know about you, but I need to ask for a raise.) We’re suffering from unemployment over 9%, a government that...

Thanks to a reader for forwarding this op-ed by Paul Ibbetson, former Chief of Police of Cherryvale, Kansas, regarding bumper stickers and the people who wear them (embedded links added by me): First, remove all past Election Day stickers. Nothing says “denial” more than an old, crinkled,...

Democrats, from the top politicians on down to their messaging drones at Think Progress, have targeted the Koch brothers, as documented here many times. So good for Koch Industries for sending this letter to Sen. Patty Murray in response to a "request" for a sizable donation to...

That's my wif'e's reaction to the Casey Anthony verdict.  That and spitting mad. I've noticed something in the reactions, admittedly anecdotal.  The reaction from mothers seems to be at a different level than the rest of us. Am I right about that?...

Other than the possible fisticuffs and chokeholds at the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Wisconsin politics has faded from the national headlines. But Wisconsin isn't over folks.  Democrats challenging Republicans in recall elections are doing better at fundraising, and Nancy Pelosi is headlining a fundraiser as well. One of...

The (bad) news recently reminds me of a flock of birds. I can't seem to focus on any one of them....

That's my impression of the "drama" unfolding in the budget talks.  Obama now is the one purporting to demand bigger cuts, a more long term agreement, and so on and so on, provided there also are commensurate tax increases. It's an interesting ploy, and tied solely...

Freedom? Spotted by reader Scott in Asheville, NC, on July 4th: ...