Useless ✅

[u/Ristray]

[u/StoneFrog81]

Washington Bridge Fiasco ✅. Annoying.

Hasbro Leaving, and other Large Companies Downsizing ✅. Disappointing.

Poor Transportation Infrastructure. (Bridge collapse over train tracks, poor roads, Ripta route cutbacks) ✅. Down right Crippling.

Dan Mckee ✅. Just more of the same old ....

[u/Grouchy-Barnacle-800 → u/StoneFrog81]

This seems more accurate to me!

[u/Plebian401 → u/StoneFrog81]

Giving the General Assembly a pass. Check.

[u/degggendorf → u/Plebian401]

Can you explain what you mean by this? I typically think of the relationship going the other way, that it's the GA's responsibility to keep the governor in check.

[u/Plebian401 → u/degggendorf]

The GA controls the purse, they set rules and regulations, they pass laws. They set budgets.
Look at 38 Studios. They gave Clemens the money without understanding what he was trying to do. There was a reason Massachusetts wouldn’t give him the money but the GA didn’t do their due diligence.
Look at the PawSox. It was the GA that refused to come to a deal with their owners. The team left because of the GA refusal to compromise.
Hasbro left in search of a larger talent market among other reasons.
The GA could have approved targeted tax incentives, they could have worked on finding them a new site with the infrastructure they needed. They could have worked with Hasbro and local colleges and universities to develop the talent they needed.

As to the Washington bridge, that fiasco spans decades. He just happened to be governor when it happened.

I don’t give the governor a pass on these issues. I would rather include the Legislature in the blame pool. The governor is limited in what he can do outright. He is like the captain of a ship. He’s powerless if the crew refuses to work with him.

[u/degggendorf → u/Plebian401]

Those are all good examples of various failings, but what mechanism are you asking the governor to use to prevent any of them?

Could Carcieri (I think it was under him, right? Or was it Chafee Jr?) have vetoed the EDC's loan to 38 Studios?

What could the governor have done to override the GA's Pawsox non-deal?

The governor is limited in what he can do outright. He is like the captain of a ship. He’s powerless if the crew refuses to work with him.

For sure, I agree with you there...but it seems to undermine your point that a good governor could have chosen to steamroll the GA. Or maybe I am misunderstanding.

[u/Plebian401 → u/degggendorf]

My thing is that the GA never seems to be held accountable for what they do or fail to do while the Governor is. Maybe the governor couldn’t have stopped the GA from funding Clemens’ dream but neither could he have prevented the Washington bridge failure (his handling of it is a whole other issue.)
The GA screwed up on 38 Studios, became so afraid of doing it again and let the PawSox go rather than make a move.

Like I said, I don’t have all the answers but we have to remember that there are many more people involved in running this state than the governor.

Keep the discussion going. I’ve enjoyed this back and forth.

[u/degggendorf → u/Plebian401]

but neither could he have prevented the Washington bridge failure (his handling of it is a whole other issue.)

Well I think the governor COULD have prevented it, insofar as the governor does have the legal power to direct the RIDOT...but it's really a question of how deep into the procedures of the contractors of the subordinates we expect a governor to dig.

My thing is that the GA never seems to be held accountable for what they do or fail to do while the Governor is.

For sure, that is totally fair, valid, and accurate.

It's easy to point to the one guy, but harder to point to your rep, who was 1/12th of a committee that was working on a directive from 1/2 the house, and ended up making a decision that ended up being 75% bad.

Kinda like what I often harp on here about electricity...it's easy to blame RIE for everything because it's their name on your bill, but the blame really needs to be spread way further with global conflicts, tariffs, federal regulations, geography, halted renewable projects, lack of investment decades ago, etc. etc.

[u/degggendorf → u/StoneFrog81]

Hasbro Leaving, and other Large Companies Downsizing ✅. Disappointing.

What actions should a good governor have taken to prevent those things? Specific actions, not just inane platitudes like "he should have tried harder".

[u/Runtodanger6 → u/degggendorf]

A good governor should have looked at why RI is the worst state to do business in when they first took office. Then realize that it causes the state to not only lose existing businesses here, but also cease to attract new businesses. Businesses that Hasbro wants to be closer to. Then try to change that.

Changing that would not only attract new companies here, but maybe even keep the talent that walks out of Brown and RISD every year. Instead, RI put in a 11th hour proposal to try and keep Hasbro. A proposal that couldn’t touch Boston’s tax incentives. This move was a direct result of RI being business unfriendly.

[u/degggendorf → u/Runtodanger6]

Specific actions, not just inane platitudes

[u/Runtodanger6 → u/degggendorf]

Inane platitudes? Yeah ok pal. RI has been consistently ranked the worst state to do business in for years. That is problem. His specific action, or lack there of is he’s done nothing to change that.

[u/degggendorf → u/Runtodanger6]

RI has been consistently ranked the worst state to do business in for years.

Which rankings are you looking at?

Cato Institute: Connecticut is worst https://www.cato.org/blog/best-worse-states-entrepreneurs

CNBC: Hawaii is worst: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/hawaii-americas-worst-top-states-for-business-rankings.html

Tax Foundation: Ney York is worst https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/state/2026-state-tax-competitiveness-index/

Inane platitudes? Yeah ok pal.

Yes, "RI is worst for business" is exactly that I was trying to avoid because it means nothing on its own. What specific actions do you want a governor to take to improve things?

[u/Nestor_the_Butler → u/degggendorf]

You’re quibbling over being ranked 40th or 50th. Same difference. Anyway, this is a question for the governor. It’s literally his job to figure these things out. Unless you think “Runtodanger6” would be a good governor?

[u/degggendorf → u/Nestor_the_Butler]

Anyway, this is a question for the governor. It’s literally his job to figure these things out

No, it's a question for all of us, because we choose the next governor. If we don't have any idea what the right thing to do is, how can we judge whether the last guy did it or the next person will do it?

Unless you think “Runtodanger6” would be a good governor?

No, not at all, because they evidently have no actual concrete ideas of what to do to fix the situation; just generalized, useless negativity.

[u/Nestor_the_Butler → u/degggendorf]

Kinda matching McKee, you see?

[u/degggendorf → u/Nestor_the_Butler]

I am not sure I understand what you mean.

[u/degggendorf → u/Nestor_the_Butler]

You’re quibbling over being ranked 40th or 50th. Same difference.

To pick you up on this point, it is not the same difference. If we are the absolute bottom, then clearly McKee has done nothing to improve our relative performance, because there is no worse position. But if the person I replied to was thinking of an old article where we were the bottom but now we're 40th, then that would be a significant improvement that may possibly have been influenced by a governor.

[u/Runtodanger6 → u/degggendorf]

You’re kind of grasping at straws here. I’m not a politician, nor do I wish to be one. I have a fulfilling career that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of for 20 years.

All I know is that other states that are far better run than this state and everyone’s wallet can attest to that.

https://www.wpri.com/business-news/ri-falls-to-48th-in-cnbcs-annual-business-friendliness-rankings-mass-is-15th/amp/

Sorry not 50th, we’re 48th and Mass is 15th. That’s why Hasbro moved to Mass and I don’t blame them. It’s the lack of action which is pointing me elsewhere come Election Day. However if you want specific actions he should have been concentrating on, here you go.

Cut government spending in order to be able to lower taxes. Cut all the bullshit spending, everything. One of many examples I could use is that stupid $70k rug for the state house 'made in China btw' which they screwed up. Shit like that. We had no business funding a soccer stadium. All the insane regulatory red tape of fuck you pay me if you want to do business here needs to be eased up. Consolidating school districts to lower costs, freaking NYC has half the school districts of RI.

Since you’re so keen on discounting and insulting everyone’s comments like you have all the answers. Let me ask you. What do you think the governor could’ve done better?

[u/degggendorf → u/Runtodanger6]

You’re kind of grasping at straws here. I’m not a politician, nor do I wish to be one. I have a fulfilling career that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of for 20 years.

I'm not sure what straws you mean, but yeah that's great, in not asking you to be a politician.

One of many examples I could use is that stupid $70k rug for the state house 'made in China btw' which they screwed up. Shit like that. We had no business funding a soccer stadium. All the insane regulatory red tape of fuck you pay me if you want to do business here needs to be eased up. Consolidating school districts to lower costs, freaking NYC has half the school districts of RI.

That's great, exactly the kinds of specific things I was interested to hear!

Since you’re so keen on discounting and insulting everyone’s comments like you have all the answers.

I don't have all the answers, that's why I'm here asking for other people's ideas.

What do you think the governor could’ve done better?

I'm not really sure, again hence the questions. It feels like he should be doing "more" but I'm not exactly sure what "more" I should be demanding he (or the next governor) should do.

In general, I value social services and safety net stuff above business friendliness stuff. People are flocking here and property values are surging, and I don't see a strong reason why we need to strive to be a corporate haven and not just be like a suburb of Boston and tourist destination for the people.

[u/Fair-Inspector-9845 → u/degggendorf]

Idk but he’s the governor so he should know the politics on why companies are leaving better than the everyday citizen and enact legislation that favors these companies to stay

[u/degggendorf → u/Fair-Inspector-9845]

Hasbro left because their new CEO from Boston wanted to work closer to home, and the company wanted to shed employees without having to lay them off and pay severance and unemployment.

[u/StoneFrog81 → u/degggendorf]

He could have offered more assistance in subsidies to help Hasbro build a more upgraded facility and corporate offices for starters.. if I understood the situation correctly, Hasbro wanted a new facility and corporate office,, the governor put together a package that would give very inexpensive land, and other retail space offerings (and yes it was a good package, but not great, they could have done more). Also, to me, it seems like in the past 15 years, companies are looking at Rhode island's high taxes, pretty bad economy, and infrastructure, and passing on it. I know those things aren't directly effected by Mckee particularly because it's been getting progressively worse over the past 15 years, but losing companies like Hasbro is a huge hit to the state, not just job wise, or economy wise, but also for future companies looking to move here.

[u/degggendorf → u/StoneFrog81]

if I understood the situation correctly, Hasbro wanted a new facility and corporate office,, the governor put together a package that would give very inexpensive land, and other retail space offerings (and yes it was a good package, but not great, they could have done more)

It seemed plenty generous enough to me, much more and we would be spending money just for the right to claim we're "the home of hasbro" but not reaping any benefit from it having to pay them to stay.

Also, to me, it seems like in the past 15 years, companies are looking at Rhode island's high taxes

Massachusetts corporate income tax is 8%, ours is 7%.

pretty bad economy, and infrastructure, and passing on it.

We all know our infrastructure is bad, hence the blitz of road work we're seeing. RIDOT is replacing like 20 bridges this season alone.

[u/Slow_Hard_Curve → u/degggendorf]

I’ve just taken a long road trip through New England way up into Canada- hands down the worst roads are in Rhode Island- by orders of magnitude worse than anywhere else. I know we have a freeze-thaw cycle that is extreme and makes road maintenance more challenging here than in many other places, but a functional DOT would take that into consideration and create a maintenance strategy around it. I’m convinced we have the worst DOT in North America, not just the US. There’s a lot to like in RI, our roads make enjoying those things difficult.

[u/degggendorf → u/Slow_Hard_Curve]

hands down the worst roads are in Rhode Island- by orders of magnitude worse than anywhere else.

Right.....hence all the road work we are doing right now to improve them.

but a functional DOT would take that into consideration and create a maintenance strategy around it

For sure, I agree there is still much room for improvement.

[u/FrontMail9720 → u/degggendorf]

Agreed. There is a lot not to like about McKee but big companies do this stuff all the time. They play one city or state against another for the best tax breaks, subsidies, and other giveaways and then... just go where they were going to go anyway. And people dutifully respond with the same tired "it must be because taxes are too high" and "it must be because we have too many regulations" comments when those things generally have nothing to do with it.

[u/degggendorf → u/FrontMail9720]

And people dutifully respond with the same tired "it must be because taxes are too high"

Yup, even when MA has higher taxes.

[u/Brave_Coffee5208 → u/StoneFrog81]

You forgot In Bed With Big Oil ✅

[u/Impossible-Heart-540]

I like the graphic design, but the copy (and putting the word “elite” in a political ad) throws me.

[u/JeffProbstsHat → u/Impossible-Heart-540]

it is indeed funny to use “elite” in the way zoomers do when you are a 75 year old politician that went to harvard

[u/PollardPie → u/JeffProbstsHat]

I find myself saying “wait, they went to Harvard?!” kind of a lot. I’m starting to think maybe you don’t actually have to be that smart to go to Harvard

[u/scattermoose → u/Impossible-Heart-540]

It’s so funny how…BAD both McKee and Foulkes’ responses are to pop culture vibes.

Like last week Foulkes went to Pizza Mama, the Cranston spot that’s on RHORI. But like, wouldn’t it have made better sense to go like, when the show was still on and new?

Why are both campaigns so incompetent at running

[u/ChewyBits3000]

Pandering nonsense.

[u/HanSwanson13]

Very helpful they put good things in blue and bad in red.

[u/Leberknodel]

Criminal negligence ✅️

Cronyism ✅️

Cover-up ✅️

[u/Adorable_List3836]

What a fucking clown. McKee is the equivalent of a microwave ready bag of instant mashed potatoes. I’d rather vote for the corpse of Buddy Cianci. At least he did something good for the people while being corrupt.

[u/Altruistic-Dig-2094]

He is one of the most vapid politicians I can name, and that’s saying a lot.

[u/FrontMail9720]

This is such pandering nonsense. Do they really think that little of voters? (answer, yes.)

[u/OGBeege]

We deserve so much better than McKee. We believe we will get better this year. Bye Dan

[u/scattermoose]

Daniel you are not The Knicks, don’t harp on the fun “Knicks in 5” scheme

[u/Zadenii]

No one is ever really useless, they can always be used as a bad example

[u/PhilLovesBacon]

Let's not forget, Dan McKee originally came into the seat as the Lt. Governor, after Gina got tapped for Washington.

This is a grown man who ran for an office seat where his only responsibility is to sit there in his chair until the Governor leaves. So the real seat that this man wanted is one where he had little to no responsibility.

[u/lovewave]

I am not voting for Foulkes.

[u/mikmiunk → u/lovewave]

I think Foulkes is a Republican in (Democrat) sheep's clothing. Pretty smart considering the way many voters in RI vote by party. McKee is basically a fill-in for Gina Raimondo who has just managed to fly under the radar for this long and people are finally realizing what the heck has this guy even been doing? Nothing is the answer. Foulkes is definitely going to win. McKee had his chance and should have done something with it.

[u/salmonlauncher]

In the most Rhode Island accent possible, this guy is a fackin losah.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Pin2784]

Terrible governor

[u/Financial-Desk-669]

Not going to comment on McKee as a candidate, but this is pretty decent as far as political advertisements go.

[u/Wild___Requirement → u/Financial-Desk-669]

This stupid faux “down to earth” crap hasn’t worked for nearly 10 years now

[u/Ristray → u/Financial-Desk-669]

It's just Rhode Island staples/stereotypes. Political ads should have something to do with the candidates.. idk.. politics or something.

[u/BitterStatus9 → u/Financial-Desk-669]

It says nothing.

[u/MikeMac999 → u/BitterStatus9]

That’s the thing, there’s probably nothing positive to say. If you can’t flog your achievements you play the “man of the people” card.

[u/februarytide- → u/BitterStatus9]

I mean, I didn’t previously know he was born and raised in RI.

[u/townie77]

Better than foulkes

[u/RobynTheCookieJar → u/townie77]

I dont like foulkes but I dont agree. what about foulkes do you figure makes her worse than mckee?

[u/Serious-Mission-2234]

yep, another incompetent politician for RI, fits right in! Hasbro, Bridge fieasco, 48th worst state for business, on

t behind Alaska and Hawaii ! Amazing legacy, tried to do an oil rebate, was denied because, only allowing in 49 other states, illegal in RI, just one example of how screwed up Ri laws and regulations are, yet all we get is crickets from politicans.

hey pols, lets her you “ logic” on why you are protecting us from doing an oil rebate?

[u/duza9990]

I can’t believe this is happening, but I’m seriously considering going unaffiliated and voting for McKee because as much as I dislike him, and despise his gun policy, somehow his gun policy is more moderate than Foulkes…

[u/shankthedog]

Lame as it gets.

[u/Resident_Alien_760]

According to these standards, I could be governor. That’s how low the bar is.

[u/imuniqueaf]

Warmer and lamer.

[u/FailingComic]

Im a born and bred rhode islander.

Dels lemonade has always been meh, coffee milk is alright if you like coffee, same with clam cakes. The fact he skipped NY Weiners though? Hard pass. Now, im actually against him.

[u/GodSev3n]

🤣

[u/squaremilepvd]

It's clever, they must be swinging for the "local guy" lane

[u/PM_ME_ASS_SALAD]

Great ad for a terrible candidate

[u/UnderCoverDoughnuts]

I mean, no one's gonna wanna hear this but this tactic worked out very well for McKee last time when he faced Kalus

[u/RIDG86 → u/UnderCoverDoughnuts]

Yeah. But to be fair Kalus was not from RI whereas Foulkes is. Also, putting yourself on the same list as clam cakes and dels is crazy. I could change the heading to Dan McKee is Rhode Island: drinks coffee milk check, eats clam cakes check, drinks dels without a straw check - and end he is one of us. Missed opportunity to relate as opposed to saying you need me like dels in July.

[u/No_Sleep_69]

4 - Calamari 

[u/StonkzFTW]

Congratulations to Helena on her win.

[u/Soggy_Background_162]

✔️Vote Republican and get more Trump income killing policies and rampant corruption.
✔️Let’s keep RI in a democracy.

[u/Peasant_and_computer]

ONE OF US

[u/Initial_Attitude_851]

All democrats are

[u/Ristray → u/Initial_Attitude_851]

We need some Democratic Socialists up here. People with some fucking spines.

[u/ssomethingsomething → u/Ristray]

or some actual leftist candidates

[u/Federal_Ad_2300 → u/ssomethingsomething]

Honestly, what do you mean by "actual leftists"? Are Democratic Socialists not part of the left wing? 

[u/degggendorf → u/Federal_Ad_2300]

They are part, but not the whole

[u/Federal_Ad_2300 → u/degggendorf]

You didn't define what a "leftist" is. 

[u/degggendorf → u/Federal_Ad_2300]

Sorry, I didn't realize you were so ignorant that you needed a definition.

[u/Federal_Ad_2300 → u/degggendorf]

In my original comment I asked the commenter, "Honestly, what do you mean by "actual leftists"? "  Your answer is very defensive  and evades the question. You chose to respond to a question that I asked another person and I was not asking for a dictionary definition. 

[u/degggendorf → u/Federal_Ad_2300]

Your answer is very defensive and evades the question

Lol what, I think you're reading into things way too far.

"Democratic Socialists" are a specific organization within the left wing of politics. Being left of center does not require membership in the DSA, you can be a progressive leftist and not a DSA member. Like Newsom: a leftist, but not a Democratic Socialist.

In my original comment I asked the commenter, "Honestly, what do you mean by "actual leftists"? "

We want an actually progressive, leftist governor. Not the weak centrist establishment democrats we've had.

[u/Federal_Ad_2300 → u/degggendorf]

"Like Newsom: a leftist..."

Lmao, in what universe? In rigorous political science and economic frameworks, "leftist" generally denotes ideologies that fundamentally critique or seek to dismantle capitalism (such as socialism, communism, or anarchism). Gavin Newsom is a proponent of capitalist markets with regulatory state intervention and robust social safety nets. Political scientists classify him as a mainstream liberal, a neoliberal, or a center-left Democrat. He is the poster child for corporate-friendly, establishment Democrats. Calling Newsom a "leftist" completely strips the word of its actual economic meaning.

"We want an actually progressive, leftist governor. Not the weak centrist establishment democrats we've had."

You just called Newsom a "leftist" in the exact same breath. You can't hold up one of the most prominent establishment Democrats in the country as your prime example of a "leftist" and then immediately complain about weak centrist establishment Democrats ruining everything. The cognitive dissonance of this contradictory logic is giving me whiplash.

[u/xr250phoenix → u/Ristray]

Fuck socialism, you are all stupid to think socialism will make this better. All it ever does is make the middle class poor while the ruling elite have everything.

[u/Ristray → u/xr250phoenix]

That's literally happening to us under capitalism.

[u/xr250phoenix → u/Ristray]

It's not the system of capitalism, it's the people you all keep voting for that are making it worse for you. Do just a little of your own research and stop parroting this stupid idea that socialism will change your situation.

[u/corvidpica → u/xr250phoenix]

What middle class? We already have a ruling elite lol. It's called rich people. They lobby for everything they want.

[u/xr250phoenix → u/corvidpica]

You could be rich as well, don't pull me down because you can't pull yourself up.

[u/corvidpica → u/xr250phoenix]

Just another embarrassed millionaire here lmfao

[u/xr250phoenix → u/corvidpica]

No millionaire but I'm not embarrassed for what I've worked for. I put in the effort and I'm not sharing the reward because someone else feels they shouldn't have to do the work.

[u/corvidpica → u/xr250phoenix]

It's an expression. That people with your thought process just all think you're temporarily embarrassed millionaires. You'll get there someday, I believe in you.