In a March 30 Journal column entitled “Carcieri: Amazing shrinking governor,” M. Charles Bakst describes Governor Carcieri’s personality as charming but pathetic. The governor is a retired successful business executive and is using those skills to try to balance a deficit. Not a word of praise in this regard. In fact, there is not a positive sentiment in the following seven columns. The governor’s performance as a politician may be questioned, but then who wants to be called “a good politician”? Holding the line on taxes does sound a little foreign: This is Rhode Island, so taxing away the deficit will certainly prevail. I don’t need seven columns to observe that what could have been constructive criticism turned out to be a cheap shot. I expect better from Mr. Bakst.

ROGER BERTRAND

West Warwick