Young James O'Keefe, disciple of the late, unlamented Andrew Brietbart is still trying to fake up some voter fraud. His latest attempt is in North Carolina, where he highlighted furriner Zbigniew Gorzkowski. Trouble is, Gorzkowski is a US citizen. From Think Progress:
ThinkProgress spoke with Gorzkowski this morning. He verified that this information was indeed correct and he had been an American citizen since the late 1980s. Therefore, his votes in the 2008 and 2010 elections were not only perfectly legal, but encouraged as a civic duty.
In other words, the one instance in the video where O'Keefe purports to show that a non-citizen had actually voted, in fact shows that a citizen voted.
Absolutely amazing. These guys want everyone to be carrying several guns at a time, but words and gestures get them all upset?
The GOP sure does hate that pesky FIRST Amendment.
Bob Mead, a state employee in the House Majority Office, was reimbursed by taxpayers for traveling to Republican events where he sought to recruit House candidates for this year's elections.
So, while state reps from the north country were denied mileage by the O'Brien junta, partisan state employee Bob Mead was reimbursed by taxpayers while he was out trolling for new Freebaglican candidates.
There really aren't a lot of good mother songs. I discussed that after church this morning with musician Seth Austin. So, everyone, what are your favorite mother songs or videos? For me, no mother song list would be complete without this Merle Haggard song:
(Yes We Can! Thanks Carol! - promoted by Mike Hoefer)
When I was growing up in the 1950's and 1960's, I would listen to my parents' conversations with their friends. While I cannot remember every conversation, I remember the general theme of their conversations-indeed, the theme of their lives. Optimism. A sense of confidence that we were Americans, and Americans were problem solvers. Whether they were talking politics, education, health, or other current issues of the time, they sounded more optimistic as a generation then we do today. They looked towards the future with hope and a certainty that they could face the danger and the challenges, and triumph over adversity. Today, we still have the danger and challenges, but many Americans are losing optimism. After being knocked around by a bad economy and some bad actors and events, many are short on faith in both government and private institutions. Can we as a nation find that optimism again, and if so, how?
Teacher Appreciation Week ends today. All week my kids have been bringing in Fruit or Flowers into school for their teachers. Despite these "grassroots" efforts, teachers (and education) are not very appreciated in our state. The O'Brien Era has tried to insert phony science in to the state curriculum and attempted to siphon money from the public education.
Bill Duncan at has been fighting the good fight and documenting the assault at http://www.dnhpe.org/. How bad is it in Concord? Looks like he had to add "F-" to the Legislator scorecard to grade them all. Thank you for your efforts Bill.
Every night, first hand, I see how hard teachers who are dedicated to making a difference in children's lives work.
If I could be so bold I'd like to offer you an "Appreciation Challenge". Send a teacher that made a difference in your life a quick note today letting them know that they did.
How has a teacher made a difference in your life? Let us know in the thread.
New Hampshire historian Leon Anderson writes in To This Day that the purple lilac was first imported from England and planted at the Portsmouth home of Governor Benning Wentworth in 1750. It was adopted as our state's flower in 1919. That year bills and amendments were introduced promoting the apple blossom, purple aster, wood lily, Mayflower, goldenrod, wild pasture rose, evening primrose and buttercup as the state flower. A long and lively debate followed regarding the relative merits of each flower. The purple lilac was ultimately chosen, according to Anderson in New Hampshire's Flower -- Tree -- Bird because it "is symbolic of that hardy character of the men and women of the Granite State."
What "Hardy Characters" have you been witnessing these days? I'm pretty impressed by the Democratic candidates that are stepping up the the plate. It will take some hardy work but I think November is going to be good for Dems.
Obama has finally said the words, "I support same sex marriage.'" It's an historic, exciting, wonderful, poignant day for all of us, gay and straight.
The network I was watching during this announcement showed a clip of Romney during the Primary this year answering the question as to whether or not he supports gay marriage. His answer was "I don't support gay marriage or civil unions."
When Romney was Governor of Massachusetts and running against Ted Kennedy for U.S. Senate, he said he did support gay marriage.
So, I now envision this scenario... let's say, with the news correspondent of your choice (e.g. David Gregory?):
David Gregory:Governor Romney, do you support gay marriage?
Gov. Romney: No, David, I do not support 2 people of the same gender being able to get married. I think marriage is a sacred vow between a man and a woman.
David Gregory:Well, Governor Romney, when you ran against Ted Kennedy for the Senate seat in 19-whatever, you said you were in favor of gay marriage. Why are you against it now?
(Do you know a young person that would be interested in this opportunity? Pass this along. - promoted by Mike Hoefer)
Application
The Nat Bresler Summer Intern Scholarship will be awarded to (1) or (2) young Democrats for 8 weeks of work in the summer of 2012, based on submission of the following application. The work will be paid at 300./wk, duties to be determined by the NHDP. A Committee made up of Officers of the NHDP and one designee of the Bresler family will review the applications and choose the recipient. Announcement made at the State party Convention. Nat believed strongly that unless and until we address issues of social inequality in America, we will never successfully address the income inequalities in our society. He worked specifically on fair housing, worker's rights, gender equality, racial equality, and equality in environmental outcomes.
What thing in your life leads you to understand the connection between income inequality and social justice?
How will working on a political campaign bring about the change you would like to see in the world?
What connections do you see between social inequality and economic justice, and how have personal experience and observations shaped your understanding of the connection? What do you see as the main connection ?
List 3-4 issues you would like to see addressed in a social justice agenda. Pick one and describe in 50 words or less why it is important.
What do you hope to gain working on a political campaign?
If selected, how will you hope to use this experience in your future life's work?
email your application to sdoyle@nhdp.org
All applications should be received no later than 5/15/2012.
Winner will be notified in advance.
I guess we need to add another entry for the definition of "The NH Advantage".
- A. No Sales or Income Tax
- B. A beautiful state that combines the excitement and diversity of the city with bucolic rural areas and a geography that ranges from tidal pools at sea level to alpine tundra 6,288 feet higher
- C. Members of the GOP attempting to be the top lawmakers in the state attend a function with entertainment from a fugitive of the law without media attention or repercussion.
* No mention I can see on WMUR online
* No mention I can see on Union Leader online
* No mention I can see on NHPR
* Concord Monitor has a piece on the outlaw, but does not seem to mind that the folks that would hope to be Governor of this fine state did nothing to object to this entertainment.
One does not have to think to hard how the UL would be treating this if Maggie Hassan, Jackie Cilley, and Jeanne Shaheen were attending such an event...
(This deserves serious discussion, part moved below the fold - promoted by William Tucker)
The public displayed many emotions following the tragic shooting of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney and four fellow officers- grief, respect, love, empathy, concern and compassion. Signs up and down Route 1, as well as those further inland, bore messages honoring Maloney. Thousands turned out for Maloney's memorial service at Winnacunnet High School to pay their respects. Thousands more ran a 5.6 mile race which raised $45,000 for Maloney's family. All these feelings and actions were appropriate and well deserved. Chief Maloney and his comrades are heroes to us all.
However, one emotion commonly expressed seemed out of place - surprise. We were surprised that such a violent event could occur here in tranquil New Hampshire. Upon reflection, we shouldn't have been surprised. The storm clouds preceding the deluge of violence have been gathering here for quite some time. And when the clouds broke, it rained violence for days.
My philosophy on money, material goods and personal responsibility were somewhat like O'Brien's until my son, while in college, was diagnosed with a mental illness.
It brought me into a whole new world of individuals who espouse personal responsibility but need support and assistance to achieve that status.
Eliminating or reducing the programs that provide this support and assistance, in order to put more money into the pockets of people, is disturbing and simply wrong.
State Rep. Jerry Bergevin (R-Manchester) is the poster child for the ideologically extreme House GOP. He sponsored legislation proclaiming March 31 as a day to remember Terri Schiavo, requiring the teaching of evolution as a theory in our public schools and legalizing discrimination by those providing wedding services.
Bergevin blamed the horrors of the Columbine school shooting and the atrocities of Nazi Germany on teaching the theory of evolution. And after the House and Senate approved a bill legalizing home cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes, he sent this inflammatory email to every House representative.
Social liberalism Tim etc...
As one who has suffered from intense pain from health problems I
never once resorted to Alcohol or Pot when all medicine
prescription and over the counter failed, therefore I am not for
the absolute insanity of legalizing street drugs and calling it
medicine.
The word Potheads that's you in the house and senate that just
legalized the rectum as a sexual organ and now you Potheads you
in the house and senate whom I am referring to as Potheads even
if use it or not you are Potheads in your ridiculous attempt to
legalize it as medicine and sell it to those with major health
problems . Shame on every dam one of you who voted for this
pathos for your attempt at such exploitation of the sick.
I just wish I could sell this to SNL and start something new like
the cone heads after all its not called DOPE for nothing
RHINO republicans Hunting season is about to begin and I Love
hunting for these its going to be a Great Kill this year !
JB
The always informative email update from Bill Duncan at Defending New Hampshire Public Education has the latest details on the New Hampshire GOP's War on Education. Here are some excerpts. If you care about the future of public education in the state, I strongly recommend you read the entire report and subscribe to the updates.
CACR 12 — The education funding amendment gets (secret) new language
You may have read about the new language House Republican leadership is circulating. Here is Saturday's Union Leader report on it. This language is just as bad as all the previous attempts, if not worse. This new proposed amendment gives the Legislature sole discretion over all funding and how it will be raised — effectively taking the Courts out of protecting the rights of every child. The New Hampshire Constitution promises to educate every child. This amendment breaks the promise of public education to all our children.
(Thank you, Jay! Resized image - promoted by William Tucker)
The First Draft of the 2012 New Hampshire Democratic Party Platform
I am proud to present the first draft of the 2012 New Hampshire Democratic Party Platform.
This draft is the result of ten hearings across the state where we heard – and responded to – the comments of hundreds of people who are concerned about the direction of our State.
This draft incorporates the many recurring comments we heard in Mont Vernon, Tamworth, Dover, Manchester, Concord, Newport, Keene, Hampton, Hanover, and Laconia. We also recieved many e-mails with suggestions, all of which the Committee studied very carefully.
We also received thoughtful input from all three Democratic candidates for Governor: former Senators Jackie Cilley and Maggie Hassan, and, Bill Kennedy.
Tomorrow morning at 11 AM we will be in Gorham for a final hearing, which will mean we have consulted with folks in every County. Two years ago we kicked off our listening tour in Berlin. This year we give the North Country the first crack at proposing any amendments that will only make this draft stronger.
The draft is now open for amendments for exactly seven days - the amendment period closes at 5 PM on May 11th.
The 2012 Platform Committee has worked very hard to present a consensus set of principles that our candidates can run on from the Southern tier to the North Country.
We look forward to hearing from you.
With respect,
Jay Surdukowski Co-Chair, New Hampshire Democratic Party Platform Committee
