Political Junkie

Surprisingly, the Rhode Island Senate race could get interesting this year.   Former Senator and Governor Lincoln Chafee has announced that he will “very likely” challenge incumbent Senator Sheldon Whitehouse in the Democratic Primary as he seeks a third term this fall.     Chafee began his career as a Republican, serving as mayor of Warwick , Rhode Island ’s second most populous city.   Chafee’s tenure in the Senate began in 1999, following the death of his father, John Chafee.   Chafee voted against confirming Sam Alito to the Supreme Court, the only Senate Republican to do so.   Whitehouse unseated Chafee in 2006, pulling off a narrow victory by racking up a huge margin in Providence .   Had Chafee won, he almost certainly would have pulled a Jim Jeffords and switched his party affiliation to Independent; which would have altered the balance of power in the Senate.   Republicans lost a total of six seats in the 2006 midterm elections, bri...

Shockwaves erupted Friday night as President Trump issued a Presidential Pardon for Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio; also known as “America’s toughest sheriff.”   President Trump issued the pardon on Twitter, saying “I am pleased to inform you that I have just granted a full Pardon to 85 year old American patriot Sheriff Joe Arpaio.   He kept Arizona safe!”   In addition, the White House released a statement saying “Throughout his time as Sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration.   Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now eighty-five years old, and after more than fifty years of admirable service to our Nation, he is a worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon.”   While his loyal base absolutely loved it, the mainstream media angrily accused the President of trying to hide his pardon behind the media’s extensive coverage of Hurricane Harvey; which has brought catastrophic flooding to the...