A Brunelle brouhaha!

I think I can tell what Rep. Gonzales is writing... (0.00 / 0)

You will not run for state rep ever, ever, again.

Over and over and over

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by: Mike Emm @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 11:52:06 AM UTC

Get me out of here.. (0.00 / 0)

before I slit my wrists!

""Hope is the dream of a soul awake.""

/French Proverb quotes.

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by: susaninrindge @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 12:46:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I know that feeling (0.00 / 0)

I have felt that way several times already this session, and it's only Feb. 28th!

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 02:15:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rep.Garcia (0.00 / 0)

is an up and coming star of the pachyderm party...she kept coming back to(paraphrase) "well we really should see Rep Brunelle's employment contract so we know what his duties are, and what he is paid to do, and how much" and another man wanted to see the contributions from special interest groups to the NHDP so they, the committee, can judge what Brunelle does in direct response to money given to the party. Never mind that OUR donations are ALL reported, as to amounts, and donors names and occupations, the Rep could save us all some time and money by just looking it up himself...

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 13:13:13 PM UTC

One aspect of this not much, if at all, discussed (4.00 / 1)

in press or in new media is the stringing-it-along factor.

A state rep is being held in limbo by this kangaroo court.

His constituents are not being represented.

I think we are in a full-blown abuse-of-government situation here.

I don't know what legal or constitutional recourse Brunelle's constituents have, but I do hope they pursue it vigorously.

The last thing NH needs is to spend taxpayer money defending its reps in court, paying damages, etc...

But if this abusive nonsense goes on unchecked it will set a dangerous precedent.  No amount of money is too small to keep government clean of this perversion of its responsibilities.

So I guess that's my way of saying that I hope Mirski, Greazzo and company pay dearly - even if it is on Granite Staters' dime - for preventing Brunelle's constituents from representation.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 13:29:29 PM UTC

Brunelle is representing his constituents (4.00 / 1)

at least, if the House's roll card vote record is to be believed. So at least there's that piece of good news in this sorry little circus.

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by: Mike Emm @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 13:45:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Good! Thanks for the correction. (0.00 / 0)

I was under the impression he's had to recuse himself during this witch hunt.

So let me correct the above to:

But if this abusive nonsense goes on unchecked it will set a dangerous precedent.  No amount of money is too small to keep government clean of this perversion of its responsibilities.

So I guess that's my way of saying that I hope Mirski, Greazzo and company pay dearly - even if it is on Granite Staters' dime - for preventing Brunelle's constituents from representation. damaging the honor and reputation of an elected member of the house with phony accusations.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 13:51:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Brunelle & O'Brien (0.00 / 0)

The Speaker is having it both ways.  On the one hand, O'Bill is letting this pointless inquisition continue---on the other hand, he appointed Brunelle to the redistricting committee (which is chaired by Mirski.)  He also appointed Brunelle to the Election Law Committee.  

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 14:58:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Quite funny (0.00 / 0)

Good commentary, no matter what side you are on, is still good commentary.  I'm not sure this was good, but it was humorous.

BH's token Republican / Libertarian / TeaPartier / Free Stater, courtesy of a Federal Affirmative Action grant, despite many of his comments being marked down and hidden.

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by: SethCohn @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 13:42:17 PM UTC

This Is About More Than Mike Brunelle. (4.00 / 4)

Unfortunately, those Republicans in power who are going after Mike Brunelle are using him as an example -- as a way to intimidate others.  That's what I think all of this is most about, and will be the long-lasting residue.  

Message:  go along with us (those in power) or face a lingering investigation.  You'll have to get an attorney, we'll insult you, we'll give you months of stress, we'll try to embarrass you.  

That's a frightening message to not just other Legislators, but to the staff and state employees at all levels.  "Play ball with us, or we'll play with your lives and reputation."

Quite sad, really.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 13:54:28 PM UTC

When you can't win on the merits (0.00 / 0)

of your platform, I guess this is the way to go.  

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 14:07:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes. Bullies Work That Way... (4.00 / 2)

...That's how they get others to give them their lunch money.  Mike is standing up to them, and they probably didn't expect that.  But they'll still get the lunch money from some of the weaker ones.  That's what's really sad.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 14:33:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It may just be preemptive, an effort to negate afore hand (0.00 / 0)

the Democrats' inclination to request that those who earn their living as insurance agents, or realators or teachers or any other regulated profession should recuse themselves from promoting legislation that privileges their cohorts.
In point of fact, whenever there's a down-turn in the economy, there's an increased interest on the part of a variety of failed businessmen in gaining access to the public teat and score subsidies for themselves.
Keep in mind that the effort to impeach Clinton for nothing effectively precluded that remedy from being used when there was cause.
"The best defense is a good offense."  So, whenever Conservatives are being gratuitously offensive, I think it's worth asking what they are trying to hide or distract us from.

Slyness and deception are expressions of basic instinct.

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by: hannah @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 17:24:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sorry to have missed it (4.00 / 4)

I missed this episode of The Unconstitutional Effort To Oust Mike Brunelle due to a vacation, but will be in attendance at the next, which is this coming Thursday at 2 p.m.

I have been asking myself this same queston,

"Why can't those men just admit they were wrong and say they're sorry?"

Why spend so much of the state's resources trying to boot someone who has done nothing wrong?  Speaker O'Brien is paying $75,000 a year in taxpayer money to a "policy" advisor whose job includes, according to GOP chair Jack Kimball, coordinating the message between the speaker's office and the state Republican Party.  Maybe Rep. Garcia should be asking to see that job description, and asking why our taxpayers dollars are being spent on (a) a partisan witchhunt against Mike Brunelle and (b) paying a legislative employee to advise the Republican Party.        



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 14:31:38 PM UTC

I spent a few moments this weekend goggling Rep. Garcia and two other members of the committee. (4.00 / 3)

I found out that:

1. Aside from her legislative work, Rep. Garcia is a very talented and accomplished young woman, and

2. Looking at each of their political associations, donors lists and bills filed, I could easily engage in a witch hunt, based on nothing more than cheap innuendo, asking questions that darkly suggest malfeasance without any basis whatsoever.

But I wont because:

It's not right.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 16:34:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

goggling? (0.00 / 0)

Rep. Garcia is an attractive young woman, but you still shouldn't be goggling her covertly.  Oh, you meant 'googling'.  Never mind.

BH's token Republican / Libertarian / TeaPartier / Free Stater, courtesy of a Federal Affirmative Action grant, despite many of his comments being marked down and hidden.

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by: SethCohn @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 01:59:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I just watched this entire clip (4.00 / 2)

Mind numbing. But witch hunts are mind numbing by nature.

To me the most telling moments was Mirski's response to "What is Mike Brunelle accused of?

He rambled for at least five minutes without anything approaching a concise answer.  

Let's see. Murderers are accused of killing such and such a person(s)

Arsonists are accused of setting fires to such and such building,

Bank robbers are accused of robbing such and such banks.

A corrupt public servant is accused of taking bribes,

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by: Chaz Proulx @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 16:26:57 PM UTC

about the other Tim C (0.00 / 0)

Every Batman has his Robin, every Green Hornet -- or Clouseau -- his Kato, every Indy his Short Round (well, in the tragic Temple of Doom, at least -- ugh), every Putin his Medvedev, every George Michael his that other guy in Wham!, every Billy-O his D.J., and Chairman Paul Mirski has his Vice-Chair Tim Comerford

Correction: this is Tim Comerford's second term.  We sat next to each other in committee last session when we were both on Election Law.  We were way down at the end, by the front door and we had a good time up there.

I would like to add a pair to that list, BTW:

Every Obama has his Biden.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Mon Feb 28, 2011 at 21:55:19 PM UTC

Fixed. (0.00 / 0)

As is Tom Tancredo's state of return, if he hasn't headed to the backwoods of Idaho yet.

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by: Tim C. @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 01:55:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Very funny... (4.00 / 2)

Can "Mirski, the Musical" be far behind?

whp

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by: whp @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 01:57:59 AM UTC

For the click averse (from above), (4.00 / 1)

Here is Rep. Comerford's thank you note to Birther Queen Orly Taitz:

Dear Orly,

I am extremely excited and proud of your efforts!! You are tireless, determined, and won't stop fighting for anything. I regret that I could not be there to witness this myself; I should be well in a few days after my round of antibiotics. I would definitely want to go for the trial. Hopefully I could also get Rep. Rappaport as well.

Thanks so much for all you do!

Tim

Relatedly: Still the press in NH has not delved into why a local GOP committee invited a birther POTUS candidate in the first place.  I'd love some hard data or even anecdotes on the percentage of birthers in the statehouse, registered GOP voters in NH, etc...

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 02:00:18 AM UTC

Here's more than anecdotes on a couple (4.00 / 1)

In September 2008, New Hampshire State Rep. Laurence Rappaport and ... Rep. Carol Vita, brought a complaint of possible election fraud to the New Hampshire Secretary of State,  Mr. William Gardner, stating that Barack Hussein Obama's name had been placed on the state ballot despite evidence which cast doubt on his constitutional eligibility to serve as president

.

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by: Mike Emm @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 02:12:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Time to draw the line (4.00 / 4)

Although this has been moved off the front pages due to other matters, in many respects the effort to expel Brunelle is the most serious of the reckless and irresponsible acts of the legislature. When leadership tries to expel a duly elected member without any constitutional basis, our representative form of government and our institutions of government are at risk.

The Constitution says what it says, and the intent of the provision, as given to us by  former Speaker William Plumer (the drafter of the article) in his memoirs, and by historians, such as Lynn Warren Turner in her definitive work, The Ninth State , is plain. It applied to lawyers acting as both advocates and judges in the General Court. Rep. Greazzo misread the provision (and I will stipulate that he did so in good faith); then, people who should have known better, i.e., O'Brien, Bettencourt and Mirski, grabbed the opportunity for political purposes.  This trio is supposedly strict constructionist and original intent minded, but this sorry escapade has shown that they only talk the talk, they do not walk the walk. In my opinion.

The people elected Rep. Brunelle. O'Brien may not like him, Bettencourt may have thought this was a fun way to bully the Democrats and independent minded Republicans, and Mirski may be living in another reality, but none of those factors are reasons to overturn the results of an election.    




"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Tue Mar 01, 2011 at 13:44:55 PM UTC