Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - November 11, 2022

HOT

The Greatest Predictor of Political Campaigns

It is better than polling, trendspotting, or artificial intelligence.

The front lawn of Providence businessman Ray Mathieu's house is currently the greatest predictor of election results.

He posted lawn signs for a series of candidates that he supported this election cycle, which included Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and progressives.

The list of candidates he supported in 2022 included:

Nirva LaFortune (D)

Helena Foulkes (D)

Deb Ruggerio (D)

Ashley Kalus (R)

Aaron Guckian (R)

James Lathrop (R)

What is the connection between all of these candidates? Views on abortion, policing? No.

Tax policy? Nope.

The ties that bind...are that they all lost.

Mathieu's lawn is affectionately known as the "loser lawn."

HOT

Big Blue Wave in RI

Democrats didn't only win...they steamrolled the GOP, winning seven critical races - both Congressional seats and all five general offices.

The Rhode Island moderate Republicans in the 1980s controlled two of the Congressional seats and three of five general offices.

Maybe the extreme strategy is not working too well.

Biggest Win in 30 Years 

Democrat Dan McKee ran over Republican Ashley Kalus and her big blue bus in his path to victory.

McKee also beat the pollsters and the prognosticators as well Tuesday night.

The week before the election, Kalus' confidants were spreading the word that she was running just 4% down in her campaign’s internal polling.

But Tuesday was all McKee.

He finished with a 58% to 39% drubbing in the biggest margin of victory for a Rhode Island governor since 1990.

30 Years Ago

McKee’s win was the biggest margin in 30 years.

In 1992, then-Governor Bruce Sundlun beat Republican Betty Leonard, 62% to 34%.

HOT

Speaker of the House 

Joe Shekarchi's Democrats in the House faced progressive competitors, and then a significant number of GOP challengers.

Shekarchi's team in the House swatted away both the progressives, only losing Rep. Jean Philippe Barros, who was defeated by Jennifer Stewart.

Then the Democrats swept away the GOP. The Republicans lost a net of one seat -  leader Blake Filippi to retirement and Rep. Jason Price, who was defeated by Democrat Megan Cotter in District 39.

And the GOP's Brian Rea in District 53 was victorious over Democrat Bernie Hawkins.

NOT

We Pay the Price

Just weeks after a series of Providence Streets were paved, Rhode Island Energy crews are back on site, poised to tear up both North Main Street and Meeting Street.

While the asphalt is barely dry, crews were covering North Main Street and the side street, Meeting Street, with spray paint on the new blacktop. An excavator is now onsite to begin to tear up the two streets. 

A crew of approximately ten have been at work each day, and two Providence Police detail offers have spent the past two days gearing up to rip it up all over again.

NOT

A Day Late and a Newspaper Short

Election Night is the Super Bowl for news organizations. There is tremendous pressure to get it right -- and get it first.

On Tuesday night, GoLocal was the first to call both of the key races -- the race for governor and the second congressional district.

On Wednesday morning, the Providence Journal still did not have the results for the all-important CD2 race. GoLocal called Seth Magaziner the winner at 9:41 PM on Tuesday night. 

Projo subscribers woke up after Election Day to hours-old "news" -- that was dated by the time it left the presses, never mind their lawns Wednesday morning. 

NOT

Time for Some People to Drift Away

This election cycle unveiled that some candidates and consultants may need to find new vocations.

Matt Brown: A millionaire progressive, his political "cooperative" was a drag on some very strong progressive candidates.

Luis Daniel Muñoz: The candidate with no discernable strategy or supporters has now run twice for governor.

Patrick Sweeney: The GOP consultant who spearheaded Ashley Kalus' campaign has previously run numerous Republican campaigns -- and has a remarkably low batting average.

Allan Fung: Three big races and three straight losses. The affable Fung takes on the biggest challenges but has never been able to get over the hump.

NOT

Boston Bruins Massive Failure... to be Decent

The disgusting behavior of hockey player Mitchell Miller should disqualify him from being a professional athlete that anyone would cheer for. He, as a teenager, relentlessly bullied a fellow student.

In a statement, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers alleged that Miller would spit in his face and call him the N-word. “He threw food in my face. I was called ‘n—–’ every day,” the statement said.

Miller was convicted at 14 years old of a bullying incident in which he and another teenager were accused of tricking Meyers-Crothers into eating candy that had been placed in a urinal, according to a report from The Arizona Republic.

Meyer-Crothers' mother says the young man has been suicidal since the bullying.

Shame on the Bruins -- a spectacular start to the season has been marred. 

NOT

Citizens Bank’s Political Donations to Extremist Candidates

Citizens Bank donated thousands of dollars to two GOP election deniers. These members of Congress are among the most extreme.

Citizens is not the only Rhode Island corporation to donate to election deniers, but it is the only consumer-focused company to donate.

The bank has donated $8,500 via its political action committee to two sitting members of Congress who refuted valid elections. They are: 

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer MO-3 $7,500

Rep. Virginia Foxx NC-5 $1,000

READ MORE

NOT

Facebook

Meta Platforms Inc. announced it is cutting more than 11,000 workers or 13% of the workforce.

It is the parent company of Facebook.

This is the first time the company has made significant layoffs.

The stock has fallen 72% from the 52-week high.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced via Instagram that the staff cuts would hit all segments of its businesses. The company had already 

“This is a sad moment, and there’s no way around that,” Zuckerberg posted, adding that he had been wrong in assuming that an increase in online activity during the pandemic would continue. “I got this wrong and I take responsibility for that.”