JIM: THIS WEEK, ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER $3000 BONUS FOR ANOTHER GROUP OF STATE WORKERS.

A BACKTRACK BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE REASON WHY.

RHODE ISLANDERS ARE ASKED TO CHOOSE A NEW LICENSE PLATE DESIGN.

WE WILL SEE WHAT THE PANEL LIKES.

ANNOUNCER "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" : IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THEIR PERSPECTIVE, POLITICAL STRATEGIST ROB HOROWITZ.

SUE CIENKI, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IN CONTRIBUTOR DON ROACH.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS WEEK.

IF YOU WANTED TO TEACH A PUBLIC RELATIONS SEMINAR ON HOW NOT TO ROLL OUT POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM, THE MICKEY ADMINISTRATION'S AWARDING OVER $3000 BONUS TO STATE EMPLOYEES MIGHT BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

THE GOVERNOR CHANGED HIS TUNE ON THE REASON THE $3000 BONUSES ARE BEING AWARDED.

THIS TIME TO STATE TROOPERS.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS WE HAVE GOTTEN THIS AND THEN THE BACKTRACK.

WITH -- THE VACCINATION BONUS BOTHER PEOPLE BUT THIS IS BECOMING COMICAL.

SUE: HE HAS BECOME THE OPRAH OF THE RHODE ISLAND GOVERNMENT.

YOU GET A BONUS, YOU GET A BONUS.

I WOULD LIKE TO TELL HIM HE NEEDS A CRISIS COMMUNICATION TEAM TO GET HIS ACT TOGETHER.

HIS INITIAL -- YOU GET A VACCINE BONUS, THEN YOU GET ONE FOR WEARING A CAMERA FOR STATE POLICE OFFICERS.

THIS HAS TO STOP.

JIM: WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED, LAST WEEKEND, HE SAID I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE ONE HAND IS TALKING TO THE OTHER.

SUE: HE NEEDS A CRISIS COMMUNICATION TEAM TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT TO THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHY HE IS GIVING THESE BONUSES.

JIM: YOU HAVE WHO HAS DONE THAT?

THE GUY SITTING TO THE RIGHT OF YOU.

SUE: YOU SHOULD HIRE ROB.

ROB: THERE IS A REASON TO GIVE BONUSES INSTEAD OF PAY RAISES.

THEY DON'T GET BAKED INTO THE PAY RAISES OVER TIME.

THAT MIGHT BE A PRETTY GOOD MOVE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GETTING 2% OR 3% INCREASES.

JIM: IT DOES NOT FACTOR INTO YOUR PENSION OVER THE LONG RUN.

ROB: IT IS MORE COST-EFFECTIVE.

THE MESSAGING IS PROBLEMATIC.

THE FIRST TIME -- I LIKE WHEN POLITICIANS ADMIT MISTAKES.

HE SAID IT WAS A MISTAKE TO CALL IT -- TO TIGHT TO THE VACCINE.

YOU KNOW THE BONUSES ARE GOING TO BE AN ISSUE GOING FORWARD, IF THEY ARE A BONUS IN ANOTHER CONTRACT AND YOU HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON IT, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS.

COMPLETELY INDEFENSIBLE TO SAY IT IS TIED TO WEARING BODY CAMERAS.

THE PROBLEM IS MIXED MESSAGES.

JIM: THE SECOND ONE WAS FOR THE JUDGES.

AGAIN, NOT DIRECTLY UNDER HIS CONTROL BUT A RETENTION BONUS FOR PEOPLE WITH LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS.

DAN: IT MAKES SENSE TO GIVE RETENTION BONUSES NOW.

YOU SEE IN THEEMPLOYEES.

EMPLOYERS AREPEOPLE ARE NOT APPS AS THEY DID IN THE PRE-PANDEMIC ERA.

I AGREE THE COMMUNICATION IS A LITTLE BIT SUSPECT.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF GIVING THESE BONUSES.

HE SHOULD NOT TIE IT TO WEARING BODY CAMERAS.

WEARING BODY CAMERAS SHOULD BE JUST PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

I BELIEVE MANY EMPLOYEES NEED THOSE RETENTION BONUSES.

SUE: I WOULD NOT GIVE A RETENTION BONUS TO A JUDGE.

THAT IS A PLUM APPOINTMENT TO GET.

JIM: DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE REWOUND THIS AND HE WOULD NOT HAVE TIED TO ANYTHING.

LOOK, WE WANT TO REWARD PEOPLE.

ANOTHER THING THAT STICKS IS NO STATE WORKER TOOK ANY FURLOUGH OR LAYOFF.

THERE ARE PEOPLE KILLING THEMSELVES, WORKING IN THE TRENCHES WHO COULD HAVE USED IT.

OTHER PEOPLE WERE NOT PUTTING IN SO MUCH WORK.

LET'S GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S LARGER RACE.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD ONE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE FIELD.

HOW DO THE OTHER CANDIDATES BEGIN TO BREAK THROUGH?

ROB: IT IS TRICKY.

IT'S A MULTICANDIDATE FIELD AND BECAUSE THINGS ARE IMPROVING AND RHODE ISLAND.

THEY ARE IMPROVING EVERYWHERE SOMEWHAT.

THE GOVERNOR PROBABLY CAN WIN THIS WITH 35% OF THE VOTE AND A MULTICANDIDATE FIELD DOESN'T BENEFIT FROM BEING THE PERSON WHO ATTACKS HIM NECESSARILY.

THE VOTES CAN GO OTHER PLACES.

I WOULD CHECK TO SEE HELENA FOX GO UP EARLY ON TELEVISION AND TRY TO TURN THIS INTO A TWO-WAY RACE.

I WOULD SEE SOMEONE WITH HER KINDS OF RESOURCES.

I DON'T KNOW THIS.

SHE WILL BE ON THE AIR SOON WITH THE SATURATION LEVEL BUY.

SHE CAN DEFINE HERSELF AS OUTSIDE THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

AS A BUSINESSWOMAN AND NEWCOMER.

DAN: -- DON: I HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THE RACE THIS YEAR.

I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT ALLAN FUNG RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

JIM: WHICH WE WILL GET TO MOMENTARILY.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TYPICAL OF A LOT OF PEOPLE?

THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED YET.

DON: I THINK I MAY BE TYPICAL OF A LOT OF FOLKS.

THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING.

WE ARE IN THE THROES OF THE PANDEMIC.

HOPEFULLY THERE IS NO NEW VARIANT COMING OUT.

INFLATION.

DIFFERENT ISSUES RELATED TO THAT ARE TOP OF MIND.

FOR ME AS A LONGTIME SUPPORTER, MY FOCUS IS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE.

I AM UNSURE OF A REPUBLICAN BEING ABLE TO WIN THIS YEAR.

JIM: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT YOU THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON THE SHOW WE WERE ON THE VERGE OF HAVING A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

WHERE ARE WE FOR GOVERNOR?

SUE: PROBABLY BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH THERE WILL BE A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

JIM: WILL I BE THE FIRST TO KNOW?

WHAT YOU GIVE ME THE TEXT IT IS COMING?

SUE: YOU ARE TYPICAL OF MANY REPORTERS THAT WANT THAT SCOOP.

JIM: WE HEARD THE NAME ASHLEY CALLIS.

SUE: I ANTICIPATE THEY WILL BE A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ASHLEY.

JIM: HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

SHE IS NOT REALLY FROM HERE BUT SHE HAS SOMETIMES.

SUE: SHE GREW UP IN SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.

HER HUSBAND ATTENDED BROWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL.

THEY LIVED IN RHODE ISLAND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

TYPICAL WITH MANY STUDENTS, THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE OR A PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL AND HAVE MASSIVE STUDENT LOANS.

THE JOBS JUST WERE NOT HERE FOR HIM WHEN HE GRADUATED.

THEY HAD TO LEAVE.

THE INTENTION WAS TO ALWAYS COME BACK AND RAISE THEIR FAMILY HERE.

AN OPPORTUNITY CAME WITH COVID.

THEY MOVED BACK.

SHE CONTACTED ME PROBABLY MORE THAN 18 MONTHS AGO INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR SOME RACE BASED UPON WHAT SHE SAW IN THE STATE.

HOW BUSINESS WAS RUN, WHAT WAS HAPPENING, PARTICULARLY IN HER AREA OF BUSINESS.

WE HAD A DISCUSSION.

FOR MANY PEOPLE SHE HAD TALKED TO, THEY SAID YOU SHOULD RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

I DO AGREE WITH DON.

WHEN THE RACE OPENED UP AND BECAME A HOT RACE AND THE GOVERNORS RACE TO THE BACK SEAT.

I BELIEVE THE INCUMBENT, DAN MCKEE, CERTAINLY HE HAS THE OFFICE NOW.

IT IS HIS TO LOSE ON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SIDE.

JIM: I'M INTERESTED WHAT YOU THINK, ROB.

REPUBLICANS HAVEDONE WELL IN THE GOVERNOR'S SEAT.

EDDIE DUPREE.

THE THINKING WAS THE DEMOCRATS BEAT THEMSELVES UP AND THAT MIGHT OPEN FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

THE CANDIDATE IS NOT KNOWN AT ALL IN RHODE ISLAND.

THAT IS CHALLENGING FOR HER.

DON: -- ROB: THE GOVERNOR'S RACES HERE ARE POTENTIALLY COMPETITIVE.

I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT ASHLEY TO MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT HER.

ALLAN FUNG WAS A PARTICULARLY POOR EDITORIAL CANDIDATE.

PERHAPS HE WILL BE A BETTER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE.

IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE LOST TWICE.

IF SHE DOESN'T TRY TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE -- GET CHALLENGE FROM THE RIGHT, SHE HAS THAT TIME TO DEFINE HERSELF.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS BEAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

IT SHOULD BE MORE FAVORABLE CLIMATE THAN USUAL FOR REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY.

IT WILL BE A COMPETITIVE RACE.

JIM: HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANYONE COMING IN FROM THE RIGHT?

YOU ARE HAVING A HELL OF A TIME GETTING ONE CANDIDATE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CD2.

ROB SAID HE LOST TWICE FOR GOVERNOR.

WHY IS HE BETTER POSITIONED IN CD2.

EIGHT CANDIDATES ON THE DEMO AT EXCITED.

JESSICA DE LA CRUZ MADE HER ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

BOB GLANCY HE RAN LAST TIME IS IN.

ALLAN FUNG VESELY HAS THE NAME -- OBVIOUSLY HAS THE NAME.

DON: HE WILL BE A BETTER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN COMING FROM HIM, TALKING ABOUT NOT WANTING TO BE HYPER-PARTISAN.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE RESPONSES ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCEMENTS, IT IS ALL PARTISAN.

TRUMP.

REPUBLICANS WILL DO THIS.

SCARE TACTICS.

ALLEN WAS ABLE TO CROSS PARTY LINES, GET A LOT OF DEMOCRATS BEHIND HIM BECAUSE HE IS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.

I THINK HIS VALUES AND THE ISSUES HE FINDS IMPORTANT ALIGN WITH THE REGULAR RHODE ISLAND VOTER.

YOU CAN SAY, WHY DIDN'T HE WHEN THE GOVERNORS RACE IF THAT'S THE CASE?

I THINK HOW HE RAN HIS CAMPAIGNS WERE DIFFERENT THAN HOW HE SERVED AS MAYOR.

SUE: I JUST EXCITED WE HAVE THREE CANDIDATES THAT ARE WILLING TO STEP OUT.

IT IS GREAT.

I AM VERY EXCITED WE HAVE THREE VERY COMPETENT PEOPLE AND THE PRIMARY VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHO OUR CANDIDATE IS.

VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

JIM: WILL YOU MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT BEFORE THE PRIMARY?

SUE: THAT'S UP TO THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE IN JUNE.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO LET THE PRIMARY VOTERS DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE ULTIMATE CANDIDATE.

JIM: HE LOCKS A VERY FINE LINE.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE RIGHT.

IT IS POLITICS.

YOU GO TO THE RIGHT IN THE PRIMARY.

THE PICTURE WITH THE TRUMP HAT ON.

WHAT PATH EASY FOR HIM?

ROB: IT IS POTENTIALLY TRICKY.

IT COULD BE AS FEW AS -- LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF VOTES.

20,000 VOTES, 25,000 VOTES.

CAN JESSICA DE LA CRUZ GET 10,000 VOTES?

THAT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

HIS CHALLENGE WILL BE FROM HER.

ALSO TO BE DEALING WITH REAL POLITICS HE HAS MOVED RIGHT, BACK CENTER, OR MOVED INTO THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM NOT PEOPLE HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

I DON'T KNOW HE HAS A STRONG, FIRM CONVICTION.

THE FUNG WHO WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT CANDIDATE IS HIS WIFE.

IS POTENTIALLY A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE.

HE IS A NICE GUY.

HE MAY HAVE LEARNED THINGS.

HE'S BEEN THROUGH A FEW RACES.

I THINK HE HAS A TRICKY PATH AHEAD.

DON: I THINK THE CRITICISM IS A LITTLE HARSH IN TERMS OF FUNG NOT HAVING CONVICTIONS.

ONE OF HIS MAIN CONVICTIONS IS HE DOES WANT TO LISTEN TO ALL PEOPLE.

IF THAT IS A PROBLEM, THAT IS PROBABLY WHY YOU DON'T HAVE POLITICIANS IN OFFICE WHO ARE CROSS PARTY LINES.

I FEEL FUNG IS THE CANDIDATE THAT WILL HELP US.

I GUESS I'M NOT AS NONCOMMITTAL AS SUE.

JIM: YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES.

SUE: I AM SWITZERLAND.

DON: GOING TO JOIN NATO.

I HOPE HIS MESSAGE AND HOW HE SERVED CRANSTON COMES THROUGH.

I HOPE THE STATE PARTY DOES ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES ENDORSING CANDIDATES, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT SENDS A MESSAGE OF THIS IS THE PERSON WE SUPPORT.

IT IS OK IF THAT PERSON DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE PRIMARY.

THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE AND WE WILL GET BEHIND THE CANDIDATE WHO DOES COME OUT OF THE PRIMARY.

I THINK IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE.

ROB: HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

HE WILL ENTER A PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU HAVE KEVIN MCCARTHY.

TRUMP IS NOT JUSTICE SCARE TACTIC.

HE IS LOOKING TO RUN IT CAN.

KEVIN MCCARTHY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE ALIGNED WITH HIM.

ALLAN FUNG WILL GO DOWN THERE AND THE LIBBY HE CAN SPEAK TO ALL PEOPLE IS TO SHOW A BACKBONE.

THAT BACKBONE HAS NOT BEEN EVIDENT.

MAYBE IT WASN'T CRANSTON BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN EVIDENT IN THESE RACES.

IF YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT BACKBONE AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

JIM: WHAT SAY YOU TO THAT?

DON: I WOULD SAY HOW HE IS COMING OUT NOW IS SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO BE A PARTISAN PERSON.

ROB, I AGREE WITH YOU.

POLITICS ARE VERY PARTISAN TODAY.

WE SHOULD -- SHOULD NOT ELECT PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY WILL BE ONE VOICE AMONG MANY.

WE NEED TO SHAKE THE WHOLE THING UP AND ELECT OFFICIALS WHO WILL DO THAT.

ROB: I AGREE WITH THAT.

ALLAN FUNG FROM HIS TRACK RECORD SANKEY E DOES NOT WANT TO BE PARTISAN RIGHT NOW, THE ABSENCE OF BACKBONE IS FAIRLY EVIDENT.

CAN HE WALK THE WALK?

I AGREE.

IF I OBSERVE HIM IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT -- I MAY BE HARSH -- I WOULD SAY GREAT.

I WOULD STILL BE FOR THE DEMOCRAT IN THE PRIMARY.

I HAD NOT SEEN THAT.

MAYBE WE WILL SEE THAT THIS TIME.

SUE: THERE ARE EIGHT OF THEM OF THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

ROB: YOU SAW YET SET MAGAZINE.

ROB, YOU SHOULD JUMP IN.

JIM: IT IMMEDIATELY WENT JESSICA DE LA CRUZ.

IT IS TIRED TALKING POINTS ABOUT THE JANUARY 6 -- THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS TO RHODE ISLAND.

SUE: POLITICS IS THE FUTURE.

HE SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT ALLAN FUNG AS HE DID FOR JESSICA DE LA CRUZ.

HE DID NOT SAY THAT HE RECYCLE THE SAME THING.

DON: ALLAN FUNG HAS HIS PRIMARY POLITICS.

THOSE COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE PRIMARY AUDIENCE MAY NOT APPEAL TO EVERYBODY BUT THEY ARE NOT TERRIBLE MISTAKES EITHER.

ROB: I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY WROTE IT FOR HIM AND HE DECIDED THAT WAS OK.

THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO ALLAN FUNG, HE MADE A CRITICAL MISTAKE FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AS A REPORTER.

KEY DID NOTHING BEFORE THE PRIMARY WHEN HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR THE SECOND TIME.

HE BASICALLY WAS TOLD TO CLAM UP UNTIL AFTER THE PRIMARY.

I THINK THAT PUT HIM AT A DISADVANTAGE.

HE ONLY HAD EIGHT WEEKS LEFT TO GO AND I THINK HE STARTED -- THIS IS MY OBSERVATION.

I THOUGHT HIS SECOND CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR WAS ACTUALLY NOT AS GOOD AS HIS FIRST ONE.

SUE: IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE A LOT OF POLITICIANS NOW NOT MAKING FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY ARE RUNNING.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

HELENA DID A VIDEO.

YOU ARE NOT ACCESSING YOURSELF TO THE PRESS.

WHEN SETH WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, HE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND TOOK NO QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS AND HE RAN AWAY AND LEFT.

THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE.

JIM: JESSICA DE LA CRUZ, THERE IS.

THE BALLOONS, THE FAMILY.

SUE: YOU NEED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PRESS.

IF YOU BECOME THE CONGRESSMAN OR THE GOVERNOR, YOU HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

JIM: IT IS RHODE ISLAND.

PLEASE EXPECT THEM TO BE BACK HERE FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

YOU CAN GO YEARS WITHOUT SEEING A CONGRESSIONAL PERSON IN TEXAS OR CALIFORNIA.

DON: I ALSO THINK THAT FOR ME ONE OF ALLAN'S STRENGTHS IS TALKING TO REGULAR PEOPLE.

I HAVE CAMPAIGNED WITH HIM.

HE WAS LIKE A ROCK STAR IN THE CITY OF CRANSTON.

I THINK HE CAN DO THAT IN RHODE ISLAND AS WELL AS HE GOES OUT.

I WILL ADMIT WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY SEEN THAT ALLAN IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACES.

ROB: CAN YOU WILL GET HIS WIFE THIS TIME AND VICE VERSA.

JIM: LET'S GET TO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.

GOVERNORS HAVE AVOIDED THIS FOR 25 YEARS.

CHANGING OUR LICENSE PLATES.

WE KNOW HOW OBSESSED WE ARE WITH LICENSE PLATES.

THESE ARE THE FIVE FINALISTS FROM MORE THAN 900 SUBMISSIONS.

I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, I'M NOT SURE WHAT I DID NOT GO TO THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR TESTED NOT TO STEP IN IT.

THESE ARE OK.

IN MY MIND THEY ARE OK BUT NOTHING STANDS OUT THAT SAYS WOW.

DON, LET'S PULL UP THE ONE YOU LIKE AND TELL ME WHY.

DON: I LIKE THE RHODE ISLAND IN CURSIVE.

WE ALL LEARNED IN SCHOOL BUT WE DON'T USE IT TODAY.

I LOVE THE BRIDGE IN THE BACKGROUND.

AND NOTHING WAS STANDING OUT OF THE FINALISTS.

THIS ONE STOOD OUT TO ME.

JIM: NEWPORT BRIDGE WHICH IS VERY RHODE ISLAND.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY TIME THAT ROB AND SUE WILL AGREE ON ANYTHING.

I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU.

LET'S PULL UP THE ONE WE ALL AGREE ON.

SUE: BASICALLY I LOOKED AT ALL FIVE OF THEM AND WENT, EH.

I WAS NOT THAT ENTHUSED.

THIS ONE WAS A CLEAN DESIGN.

I WISH THEY HAD ANCHORS ON BOTH SIDES TO BALANCE IT OUT.

I DID LIKE THE BLUE BORDER ACROSS THE TOP.

I THOUGHT IT MADE IT POSSIBLE LITTLE BIT.

-- POP A LITTLE BIT.

I WISH THEY HAD A TAGLINE ON THE BOTTOM THAT SAID PLEASE LOWER OUR TAXES.

JIM: FUN SIZED.

ROB?

ROB: IT IS GREAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON COMMON GROUND.

CANDIDATES OR SOLUTIONS FOR THE COUNTRY, BUT THE CRITICAL ISSUE IS THE RHODE ISLAND LICENSE PLATE.

IF WE SAY OCEAN STATE, I THOUGHT THE DESIGN WAS NICE.

THE DESIGNS ARE ALL FAIRLY SIMILAR.

DIFFER GOING TO SAY OCEAN STATE, I LIKE THE VISUAL DOES DEMONSTRATE OCEAN STATE.

NOT JUST THE BRIDGE BUT A LITTLE WATER AND THE SAILBOAT.

JIM: WE WILL PULL THEM UP.

IT IS THE WAVE.

I HEARD ONE GUY ON THE RADIO THIS WEEK.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FINALISTS.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY CHOSE HIS OR NOT.

HE'S A GRAPHIC DESIGNER.

IT'S ONLY ON TALK RADIO.

I'M JASON AND I DID WHATEVER.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?

ABOUT AN HOUR.

WHAT IF WE SPEND ON COOLER AND WARMER?

I THOUGHT IT WAS $500,000.

SUE: THE WHOLE COOLER AND WARMER INITIATIVE WAS ABOUT $5 MILLION.

JIM: WE WILL SEE.

TWO WEEKS OF VOTE ON THAT, LESS THAN THAT NOW.

THERE IS NO TRUTH THAT DEAD PEOPLE CAN VOTE AS THEY DO IN THE REGULAR ELECTIONS THE LICENSE PLATES.

GO ONLINE AND FIND OUT.

THE OTHER ISSUE, HUGE ISSUE, ARE WE GOING TO KEEP DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME?

A QUICK POLL.

WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT KIDS IN THE DARK.

THE PRACTICAL EFFECT WOULD BE THE DARKEST OF WINTER, THE SUN WOULD NOT COME UP UNTIL 8:15.

BUT IT'S UP UNTIL 5:15.

ARE YOU AMBIVALENT ABOUT THIS?

SUE: I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON.

IT IS DARK AND I CAN SLEEP IN AND THAT WORKS FOR ME.

JIM: YOUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL IN THE DARK.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

DON: I'M OK WITH THAT WHAT I LIKE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

I LIKE WHEN IT GETS DARK EARLIER.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

JIM: KIND OF A WINTER THING.

DON: WINTER IS COMING.

I WOULD PROBABLY PREFER IT IS DARKER IN THE AFTERNOON THAN THE MORNING.

ROB: I'M KIND OF MILDLY FOR IT.

I'M ALSO AMBIVALENT ON IT.

I THINK IT IS THE ONE DOWNSIDE.

THERE ARE SOME UPSIDES IN TERMS OF BEING LIGHT LATER.

THERE ARE ENERGY SAVINGS.

OVERALL FORWARD BUT IS NOT MY TOP 150 ISSUES.

JIM: THE STUNNING THING IS THE SETTING.

SUE: IT IS BIPARTISAN.

JIM: I'M SURPRISED SHELDON WHITEHOUSE DID NOT FIND SOME CLIMATE CHANGE ANGLE.

WERE YOU STUNNED?

SUE: I WAS THEY GOT EVERYONE TO AGREE.

JIM: MARCO RUBIO SAID SOMETHING RIGHT.

SUE: IT WAS MARCO RUBIO AND SHELDON WHITEHOUSE SAID THEY WERE THE COSPONSORS.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PUSHED THIS.

IT IS NICE TO SEE THEY FOUND COMMON GROUND, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

JIM: SHELDON -- SENATOR WHITEHOUSE DID THAT THING ABOUT HAVING THE VOLUME COME DOWN IN THE COMMERCIALS.

I WAS WATCHING THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

AT&T IS BLARING.

WE SHOULD HOLD THE SEND TO HIS PROMISE ON THAT.

-- SENATOR TO HIS PROMISE ON THAT.

OUTRAGEOUS OR KUDOS.

ROB: I HAVE AN OUTRAGE.

IT TAKES AN AMOUNT OF SKILL TO BE SHOWN 24/7 ON STATE TV, AND TUCKER CROSSAN HAS A COMPOST THAT.

IT IS NOT FROM A PRINCIPLED -- THERE IS A WAY TO SAY THERE IS TOO MUCH CONSENSUS ON UKRAINE.

THERE ARE OTHER LEGITIMATE FOREIGN POLICY VIEWS.

HE'S DOING A FIRE HOOD OF FALSE PROPAGANDA, EQUATING ZELENSKYY AND PUTIN TO TYRANTS.

EQUATING UKRAINE AS A BORDER DISPUTE.

THE SAME AS OUR BORDER.

I THINK IT'S DISGRACEFUL.

I AM ALL FOR DIFFERENT OPINIONS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S DOING.

HE IS SERVING -- HE IS SERVING AS A USEFUL IDIOT FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE RUSSIAN INVASION.

DON: MY OUTRAGE AND KUDOS IS RELATED TO UKRAINE.

I AM OUTRAGED -- WHEN I THINK BACK OF ANOTHER COUNTRY INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY IN RECENT HISTORY, I THINK ABOUT KUWAIT AND HOW WE ADDRESSED IRAQ.

IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE DOING THINGS DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO HAS THE STICK HAS A BIGGER STICK THAN THE ONE IRAQ HAD.

IT JUST BOTHERS ME SEEING ALL THE IMAGES ON TV, CIVILIAN TO HER BEING KILLED -- CIVILIANS WHO ARE BEING KILLED.

THE KUDOS FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND HOW THEY ARE FIGHTING BACK.

IT IS REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE BUT ALSO JUST VERY SAD TO SEE ALL THE DEATH HAPPENING OVER THERE.

JIM: I THINK PUTIN MISJUDGED THE RESULT -- RESOLVE.

SUE: I'M SO HAPPY PEOPLE KNOW WHERE UKRAINE IS NOW.

CIENKI IS A UKRAINIAN NAME.

I WILL LIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND GIVE KUDOS TO BOTH THE PROVIDENCE BASKETBALL TEAM AND BRIAN FOR MAKING THE BIG DANCE.

CERTAINLY FOR ED COOLEY AND HIS TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST GAME.

I'M A BIG MARCH MADNESS CRAZED PERSON THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, ALL THINK -- ALTHOUGH I THINK SOME OF THEM BLEW MY BRACKET LAST NIGHT.

JIM: I MADE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO FILM LIVELY.

THREE WEEKENDS I'M OUT.

DON'T EVEN BOTHER UNTIL APRIL.

LET'S GO BACK BRIEFLY.

WE HAVE THREE MINUTES ON UKRAINE WHAT'S GOING ON.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE STICK.

THE CONCERN IS ON NO-FLY ZONES.

LOOK, WE CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE BUT DO WE WANT THIS TO BECOME WORLD WAR III?

THE PRESIDENT GOT SOME CRITICISM.

YOU WILL PROBABLY DISAGREE ON THAT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL AND HOW HE HAS HANDLED IT?

DON: I FEEL HE HAS HANDLED IT SUPERBLY.

THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE RELEASING EVERY THING THE RUSSIANS WERE GOING TO DO BEFORE THEY DID IT AS A WAY TO UNIFY WORLD OPINION.

HE HAD TO BRING NATO ALONG, BRING EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHO HAVE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH RUSSIA.

HE HAS MUSTERED THE BEST COALITION SINCE GEORGE HWB BUSH PUT TOGETHER THE COALITION THAT KICKED THE IRAQIS OUT OF KUWAIT.

I THINK HE STRUCK THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN GETTING UKRAINE -- MOST OF THE ARMS IT NEEDS BUT NOT DOING THINGS THAT ARE RISKY IN TERMS OF A DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH THE RUSSIANS.

SUE: I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB.

THIS WAS A CRISIS EVERYBODY COULD FORESEE.

THIS WAS A GREAT POSSIBILITY THAT WAS HAPPENING.

I DON'T THINK THE RUSSIANS ANTICIPATED THE UKRAINIAN RESOLVE.

THERE PRESIDENT REALLY HAS COME FORWARD AND SHOWN TRUE LEADERSHIP.

I THINK THE NO-FLY ZONE, WE SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN THAT BUT I AGREE WE SHOULD GIVE THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO FIGHT AGAINST THE RUSSIANS.

JIM: IF YOU BELIEVE THE ESTIMATES, TENS OF THOUSANDS -- MORE THAN 10,000 RUSSIAN SOLDIERS AND PARENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW AND WERE NOT TOLD WHY THE CHILDREN WENT.

DON: I ACTUALLY THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE A FINE JOB IN HANDLING THE SITUATION.

WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING TO ME IS THAT I DO BELIEVE IF TRUMP AIDE WON THE PRESIDENCY, I DON'T THINK RUSSIA DOES THIS.

I THINK THE RELATIONSHIP TRUMP HAS WITH PRUDENT -- PUTIN WOULD HAVE LED TO A DIFFERENT OUTCOME IN THIS SITUATION.

WHAT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER IN TERMS OF AVOIDING WORLD WAR III, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN NOTHING ANYONE COULD HAVE DONE TO AVOID WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.

WE CANNOT DISCOUNT THE FACT THAT TRUMP HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH PUTIN, BUT I DON'T THINK BIDEN HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG IN THE SITUATION.

ROB: TRUMP GAVE PUTIN EVERYTHING HE WANTED AND UNDERMINING NATO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PUTIN WOULD HAVE DONE.

I WOULD SAY THERE WAS NO WAY TRUMP COULD HAVE MUSTERED THE NATO ALLIANCE.

SUE: I DON'T THINK HE UNDERMINED NATO.

I THINK YOU TOLD THE NATIONS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND START CONTRIBUTING.

WE WILL NOT PAY FOR YOU ANYMORE.

JIM: WISH WE HAD MORE TIME.

ROB AND SUE AND DON, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US EVERY WEEK.

COME BACK NEXT WEEK AS "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" CONTINUES.

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VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪ ANNOUNCER "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" : IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- JOHN: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.