BREAKING NEWS: As I predicted, House Republicans ousted Rep. Bob "Dude" Watson as their minority leader just one week after giving him their unanimous support.
Watson's truly entertaining defense was that he did have marijuana on him because he uses it to treat a medical condition. He claimed he didn't smoke it before being pulled over at a checkpoint and failing the field sobriety test. He said the East Haven police had "targeted" him because he is a legislator and that the police report about his red, glassy eyes and slurred speech was totally false. He said he wished the East Haven police cars had video because that would have vindicated him. He also explained that while he needed the pot for medical reasons, and had done so on medical advice, he was not registered under RI's medical marijuana program because he was afraid his identity would be leaked and people might get the wrong idea.
For this speech, Watson won a standing ovation from all his Republican colleagues and a few Democrats (whether they did so because they were gullible or cynical, I can't say).
My favorite Tea Party legislator Rep. Doreen Costa said of Watson "We're not friends, we're family and family sticks together.''
Until it's time to throw him under the bus. It's times like these that renew my faith in the political process.
Author: Will Collette
Geeze - congratulations on all my fellow Democrats working so effectively to push Watson out as GOP House Leader.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think his Democratic colleagues gave him a standing ovation? They would rather keep a wounded Watson as Minority Leader than let someone without his baggage take over.
Apparently none of the folks at the Town Committee level can figure out that elementary strategy and kept the heat on Watson until his caucus got a clue and pulled the plug.
Now, rather than a wounded Watson who's never done anything to help the GOP we've got a new minority leader with much less baggage.
Congratulations EG and Charlestown Democrats - the Republicans now have a better leader thanks to you.
The great thing about politics is that there will always be more scandals and more issues. The bad thing about politics is that scandals and issues get stale VERY fast. I'm of the school of thought that you should seize opportunities when they present themselves, unless there is a compelling reason otherwise.
ReplyDeleteBrian Newberry is a quiet, less obnoxious guy than Watson. That means he'll be almost invisible - which is fine with me. Watson was quick with the nasty soundbite and thus got a lot more airtime than he deserved, and was a hero to the talk radio crowd. Newberry might be a better leader, but he's got nothing to lead. The GOP needed a loud mouth more than a leader, IMO.
But never fear, I am certain Joe Trillo will fill in the obnoxious jerk ecological niche.
As for the Dems who applauded Watson on the floor, Donna Walsh did not join in and shakes her head at her colleagues that did.