Cruel and Unusual Punishment

And on our own dime too! (0.00 / 0)

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.  (John Morley, 1838-1923)

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by: Marjorie Porter @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 00:16:21 AM UTC

maybe... (0.00 / 0)

Maybe he will run for President himself :-)

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 00:48:09 AM UTC

Wouldn't that (4.00 / 1)

make it just such a perfect world!

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.  (John Morley, 1838-1923)

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by: Marjorie Porter @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 00:49:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am trying to remember if a Presidential candidate (0.00 / 0)

was invited to speak to the House during the time I have been there.  I started in 2007, and I do not recall such a blatantly political move having been made under Terie Norelli's leadership.  I am wondering if Jim Splaine, or Ray Buckley or others who have far deeper institutional memory than I, could shed some light on whether this was the practice of the House in years gone by.  

The only time I remember it happening was earlier this year, when Speaker O'Brien asked Newt Gingrich to come down from the gallery and sit behind the podium while the House proceedings went on.  On that occasion, some of the newest Rs chose that moment to act out a bit, which must have embarrassed the Speaker.  I wonder if the Speaker isn't using this method to ensure that does not happen again.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. --Marcus Aurelius, courtesy of Paul Berch

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by: Lucy Weber @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 02:57:24 AM UTC

Through The Years... (4.00 / 5)

...is has been usual, not a "tradition" but usual that during Presidential Primary election time candidates have been offered a chance to talk to the House or Senate -- if it conveniently fits into the legislature's schedule.  

I think it's fine.  One of the several ways that New Hampshire's First-In-The-Nation Primary remains relevant (we WILL be "first" because of our state law guaranteeing our lead-off status -- we pay for it so we can hold it whenever we wish -- but getting candidates to want to come here keeps us "relevant) is to seriously welcome the candidates -- all the candidates, of any party.  

I've seen in past years that if legislators don't particularly care for one candidate or another, they use that time to catch up on their bathroom or reading duties elsewhere.  The Chamber usually insn't full unless it's an already-elected President making the appearance, of whom we've had a few.

We need to treat all the candidates like they're welcome in New Hampshire.  We can choose, however, whether to pay attention to their agendas with our ears or our votes.  That's how a democracy works best; not by exclusion.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 12:35:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks, Jim. (4.00 / 1)

Always good to have the benefit of the long view.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. --Marcus Aurelius, courtesy of Paul Berch

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by: Lucy Weber @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 12:37:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jim is correct (0.00 / 0)

This tradition goes back many years.  I have a great photo of Governor Jimmy Carter sitting in seat 2-2 engrossed in conversation with House Democratic Leader Chris Spirou sitting in his seat 2-1.

When President George HW Bush addressed the legislature the two state party chairs were also invited to sit and sat together on the Floor of the House as well.

Anyone in the House in February 1992 remembers Governor Bill Clintons note-less 45 minute speech about the relationships between federal, state and local governments. One of the best ever given in Reps Hall.  It was also notable because Hillary was with him and it was the day the Gennifer Flowers accusations became public. With all that chaos, two weeks before the Primary Bill gave an astoundingly great speech.

Because of the dramatic moving forward of our Primary, it has been tradition that has been lost in recent years.

I would encourage all House Democrats to attend, sit in their seats and be respectful - it will be a stark contrast to the wild behavior of O'Brien's Circus acts.  The hooting, hollering, booing, cheering that goes on regularly in O'Brien's Circus is more suited for a British Soccer game.

I would hope that the Republican candidates show  respect to the institution of the NH House of Representatives by not getting into O'Brien-style attacks and ugly comments while speaking on the Floor of the House.  That would be a disgrace.  In the past 40 years only Newt Gingrich has sullied the House with his hypocritical smears.

Have you told a stranger today about Bill O'Brien and his Tea Party agenda? The people of NH deserve to hear about O'Brien  and his majority committed to destroying New Hampshire and remaking it into a armed survivalist preserve.  

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by: Ray Buckley @ Sat Oct 08, 2011 at 20:09:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I hope the people of NH (4.00 / 2)

are enjoying having our legislature owned by O'Brien.  It's his stage, he is producing his show, and I bet Frank Guinta is so jealous smoke is coming out of his ears.  Frank was supposed to be THE guy for the presidential candidates, but O'Brien has stolen his show.

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 11:27:44 AM UTC

They probably don't want to touch Frank - too risky, if FEC acts. n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: The Money Magician @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 13:59:55 PM UTC

Oh, I'm sure, (0.00 / 0)

but Frank was only doing what he was told by the party to do when he ran for office, so I bet he doesn't think it's fair at all!  Why does that other jerk get so much attention, here I am lying to my constituents, voting against them in DC, doing all the stuff a Republican congressman is supposed to be doing these days, and they ignore me.  

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by: Lucy Edwards @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 15:52:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

When Pat Buchanan was running for President he addressed the House. (0.00 / 0)

One of his remarks was that we needed to get back to traditional values-like changing President's Day back to Washington's Birthday because, after all, why do we need a day to celebrate presidents like Frnaklin Pierce?

SO if you really listen to these folks they can and often do say some very interesting stuff.  

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by: foodnetwork @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 14:39:11 PM UTC

Interestingly... (0.00 / 0)

None of those candidates listed have any chance of winning the nomination.

Aaron / Deering. Kuster 2012: http://www.kusterforcongress.com/

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by: nhveedub @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 20:32:24 PM UTC

I love the title of this diary. (0.00 / 0)

little camera girl

Zandra Rice Hawkins (Granite State Progress)

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by: Zandra Rice Hawkins @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 23:05:35 PM UTC

;>) (0.00 / 0)

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.  (John Morley, 1838-1923)

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by: Marjorie Porter @ Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 23:21:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]