SITTING BEHIND THE KEYBOARD this morning trying to figure out what is the actual top story of the week. Do I dare say it is the “tree controversy”?  Actually, because we are exhausted from the pension reform saga and because we are in what is a normal (?) local news cycle once more, a host of events could be deemed the “top story.” But I will indulge the “tree” first.

THIS IS ANOTHER CASE of Governor Chafee exercising his perverse pleasure in being a contrarian. And everybody bit.

So the invitation goes out for the “holiday tree lighting” next Tuesday.  No additional mention of Christmas itself. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess that a lot of people will find this offensive. He knows it going in. Talk show fodder because it’s easy to harness the people’s anger about a lot of things running through their subconscious systems into a “battle for Christmas.”

Bishop Tobin gets into the mix. He complains about the secular sweep in society. Legitimate point.

Then the diocese marches out a fleet of priests for the interviews. And St. Patricks on Smith Hill becomes the competitor Tuesday with its own “Christmas tree lighting” ceremony complete with the bishop’s attendance.  Over the top.

Why is the diocese conceding to state government the symbolic kick off advent? Since when as a church do we “compete” for Christmas respect? If ever there was a case for asking “what would Jesus do?” this is it.

So, the circus will be in town next week and we’ve been winding everyone up for it for days.  And all the while Governor Chafee insists this is about Roger Williams, tolerance, diversity, a changing society and the separation of church and state. (By the way, the “state” negotiates contracts that offer “Christmas” as a specific holiday). But what he truly is saying is that it’s just plain fun for him to antagonize everyone for reason that only explained by his shrink.

You want proof? He hasn’t mentioned once that part of the state house display is a crèche designed by a local Guatamalan group and that “Feliz Navidad” is on a tree from a Puerto Rican organization as well.

Something the diocese should note and pause over before they decide to pursue this anti secular exercise of protest.

MEANWHILE….

PROVIDENCE HAS TWO MAJOR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THIS WEEK…the PROCAP federal investigation and the PEPD loan debacle. Two agencies that use federal money like its Halloween candy.

THE RIGOP loses its chairman Ken McKay. He resigns this non- paid position to take a professional advisory job for a Wisconsin U.S. Senator. Don’t blame him. Good guy who was all revved up to start, raised a little money for the party, did what he could. The party here better figure out that the model they use is broken. They need a fulltime well paid executive to work full time on fund raising and party building.

BARNEY FRANK IS RETIRING. Something tells me he’ll still be spraying spit on theissues anyway.

HERMAN CAIN has a highly publicized meeting with his wife today. Think about that.

AND NEWT GINGRICH IS STARTING TO PULL AWAY. This will be fun.

BREASTFEEDING is now a “ no- no”  and you can’t even get free formula when you leave the maternity hospital anymore.  That’s militant, isn’t it?

BOBBY VALENTINE CRIES AT HIS INTRODUCTION. Moving moment.  There will be more crying I’m guessing, one way or the other.

BROWN BEATS URI in men’s basketball this week. The Rams are young and the Bears are good.

HEADED TO NJ FOR GIANTS AND PACKERS. Yikes. Feels like a long ride to watch a train wreck.

AND THE NBA IS BACK.  Wake up. I said the NBA is back.

Have a great weekend.