We have hard work to do in this life, and it can get very discouraging. It is hard work, loving each other, helping each other, protecting the people and the ideas we care about, preserving nature, helping the millions of people who need our help, taking care of our own needs. It is hard work. Let us meet from time to time under Elijah's old tree and rest our bones. God will give us what we need to carry on.
I've met both Kuster and Swett and heard each of them speak on several occasions in various settings. I've had the chance to ask questions. I think they're both smart and they're both good people, they both have supporters who I like and respect as people and as activists, and I'll be happy to support either one in the general election. In the spirit of party unity and because I live in the 1st District, I haven't publicly supported either candidate.
Sources say a recent automated poll from Magellan Strategies, which had Ayotte up 34 percent to 21 percent on Lamontagne, is pretty close to reality. And Lamontagne's campaign is set to release an internal poll this afternoon that shows him down 34 percent to 24 percent (two other candidates are at 12).
And yet another newspaper, the Laconia Citizen, demurs on Ayotte, giving the nod to Bender. The field is absurdly diluted at this point, and the only one trending up is Lamontagne.
As the Fix notes, and as Jim Splaine noted before that, Ovide could pull this off with 30% of the vote.
The Hill mentions that Obama has scheduled "at least" four stops, which seems to leave open the possibility that there could be more...
The president has scheduled at least four stops: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Nevada. All are home to House and Senate races that could determine control of those chambers, in addition to gubernatorial contests.
With the very real possibility that all of the folks running for federal seats were stong Obama endorsers/supporters during Primary Season do you think there is a chance we will see Obama here in the Granite State before the elections?
I think it would be a great way to build some enthusiasm and could have a real impact on close races up and down the ticket.
To be successful in the fight against terrorism and the Taliban insurgency, we must create a coherent strategy that works with and not against Afghanistan's tribal structures. I believe this means using a strategy with a light footprint, one that actually succeeded at the beginning of our engagement in Afghanistan, when relatively small numbers of Special Operations forces worked with Afghan tribal militias to throw the Taliban from power and literally chase them from Afghanistan. I support shifting our resources to such a strategy-which I think is likely to be more successful than one with a heavier footprint. An approach with 35,000 additional US and allied troops will not only be costly, in lives and in treasure, but I fear it will be counterproductive. If Afghans resent our increased presence, as can easily happen with the heavy footprint approach, they will be even more inclined to support the Taliban insurgency.
It's not impossible to envision a Lamontagne win next Tuesday. With Ayotte and Binnie sniping at each other (and Binnie pouring even more money into his self-funded campaign this week), Lamontagne may start to look more appealing to the electorate. And Ayotte, who has positioned herself as a pro-lifer, is suddenly taking heat for the revelation that she approved a $300,000 taxpayer-funded settlement with Planned Parenthood last year. Plus, the Union Leader is hardly done pleading his case; when the paper endorses a candidate, it tends to follow up several times before Election Day.
Katrina Swett, at tonight's debate (any errors in transcription mine):
"Annie, you have cast yourself as the very, very progressive candidate, and have been warmly supported by the far left progressive movement. You policy positions bear this out. Your strong opposition to nuclear power as part of our energy future. Your insistence that President Obama withdraw American troops from Afghanistan immediately. Your support, as we've just talked about, for higher taxes, for example, a state income tax here in New Hampshire. I know these are sincere and deeply held beliefs, but they are out of step with the majority of voters. In a year when everyone understands that the country's moving back toward the center, and away from the more left, progressive point of view, if you were to become the nominee, would you try to distance yourself from your own positions, or are you hoping that your Republican opponent and perhaps the voters would simply overlook them?"
Between the UL piece, the Pledge Politicking that came out of nowhere, and this quote, the strategy going into the final days of the primary is in clearer focus.
Morning Update: I'm not the only one who noticed that Swett's 11th hour plan is to attract undeclareds by beating up on the left. And adding: It's taken Glenn Beck and Co. two years of language framing to try to turn "progressive" into the dirty word that the right has made out of "liberal," but last night was the first time, in NH or elsewhere, I've seen a Democrat employ that strategy in a Democratic primary. Note the careful repetition from her statement: "the very, very progressive candidate," "the far left progressive movement," "the more left, progressive point of view."
The fallout continues from the revelation that Kelly Ayotte quietly paid Planned Parenthood $300,000 of Granite State money to settle the legal fees from the case Sarah Palin claims she "won". Former US Senator Gordon Humphrey on the Laura Ingraham show:
Laura Ingraham: ...There was a case-parental notification. It went all the way to the Supreme Court. She was not obligated in her role as attorney general to authorize a payout of $300,000 in legal fees to Planned Parenthood. Am I getting anything wrong there?
Sen. Humphrey: No, that is correct. That is absolutely correct. I'm not an attorney, but I've been advised by one of the most imminent attorneys in the state, that she could have rejected the judges' ruling, she could have appealed the judges' ruling that the state pay the defense costs for Planned Parenthood. She did not appeal it, she did not dig in her heels. In fact the whole thing was rather, um, quietly pushed under the rug...
And the UL is unrelenting, today with a guest cloumn:
Sarah Palin may know her Alaskan grizzly bears, but she got a bit confused here in New Hampshire, where we have only black bears. If Palin cares about the Constitution and the conservative values that prompted her ill-advised "mama grizzly" movement, she should admit her mistake and rescind her endorsement of Kelly Ayotte.
"We will see if Democrats, whatever the deepest feelings of their hearts may be, decide to nominate somebody who has that ability to appeal to a wide range of voters in what is going to be a very tough year for Democrats," Swett said, "or whether there is going to be an ideological purity test."
Annie Kuster is also opposed to extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest. Less than a month ago, 56% of Americans polled by CBS News said the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest should expire.
In 2008 a federal grand jury began an inquiry of Arpaio for abuse of power, in connection with an FBI investigation.[55][56] Arpaio is being investigated for politically motivated and "bogus" prosecutions, which a former US Attorney called "utterly unacceptable".[55][56] Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon has called Arpaio's "long list" of questionable prosecutions "a reign of terror".[56]
"I'm worried about people who sign the back of the paycheck," countered former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, who touted his efforts to cut taxes during his years in office. "(I'm worried about) the rest of us."
Sorry, Frank. It doesn't work that way.
When you want to bring back pre-existing conditions, re-open the prescription drug donut hole, and privatize Social Security, the last claim you can make is that you're out there for "the rest of us."
Stop borrowing from Carol's success and find some other slogan.
("A loving relationship between two people, entailing rights and responsibilities recognized by the state." No charge, Sean. - promoted by elwood)
I kind of like Sean Mahoney, personally. We've only talked a couple of brief times, but I've followed his career and the things he's done, and I think he's an okay guy. Of course, it takes a lot for me not to like someone because I appreciate most people. I wouldn't vote for him for Congress -- certainly not against Carol Shea-Porter -- but wouldn't mind seeing him on something, like, perhaps Portsmouth City Council someday. Maybe.
I did like his father a lot, who I would talk with frequently about business matters when I was in the NH State Senate. I forget exactly what specific issue it was that we first discussed, but I remember we disagreed rather heavily. But after that we teamed up frequently on some things, and had three or four lunches -- he paid, in those days I didn't have to fill out any forms about who took me to lunch. He was a pleasant fellow who was widely respected.
I've disagreed with Sean Mahoney on many of his views, which I find kind of poll-oriented in his effort to get elected to something. I mean, he has all this money in his bank account, but he probably feels a little unfulfilled at this point of his life, so he wants to get a new title. So, he's hired his pollsters, some staff, filed a few forms, put a lot of ads on TV and radio, and now he stands a chance to join the Washington Republican Club. That would be even better than owning a golf course for young up-and-coming millionaires.
"The threats against Mr. Binnie and his family are absolutely appalling, and have no place in our politics," said Paul Hodes. "His Republican opponents should denounce these hateful acts and reaffirm their support for a political process in which ideas are debated with respect and tolerance. While Mr. Binnie and I disagree on many issues, I strongly condemn those individuals who wish to harm him or his family based on his political views."
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Binnie tells the Conway Daily Sun this morning that he and his father have both received death threats over his pro-choice position and that no one answers their home phone anymore.
No one hates war more then a veteran. As a Vietnam veteran I want to see our troops brought home from Afghanistan as soon as practical. Annie is a strong supporter of the war on terrorism but doesn't want America to lose sight of its mission by getting bogged down in prolonged war in Afghanistan.
