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Bar Brawls, Budgets, Burn Pits

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 20:16:50 PM EDT

In a just world, the national press would have zeroed in on the NH-01 race when the Mayor of Manchester happily presided over a budget that will force public school students to pay to be part of for-credit music courses.

But we live in the world of Politico and Washington Whispers.

And in a juster world, the national press would zero in on the NH-01 race every time Carol Shea-Porter defies the dirty hippie stereotype the NHGOP pins on her by sticking up for our nation's men and women in uniform, as recently with her effort to scrutinize military burn pits.

But let me hasten to add: none of that takes away from the legitimate strangeness of the Mayor's barroom adventure, and Kathy, in my view, is justified in bringing some attention to it. To an outsider with no interest in the soap opera of Manchester politics, it sure looks like he wanted to high tail it out of there so that he would not be associated with what went down. Not exactly conduct becoming of a public servant who wishes to represent a whole lot more than Manchester.

Adding: Crisitunity from SSP wins the prize for best meme:

Frank Guinta is due for the Bad Samaritan Award

Dean Barker :: Bar Brawls, Budgets, Burn Pits

Tags: media, Carol Shea-Porter, Frank Guinta, NH-01, (All Tags)

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Bar Brawls, Budgets, Burn Pits | 7 comments

First-graders walk up to 2 miles to school. (0.00 / 0)

This is a bit off-topic, but... while pay-to-play has gotten a lot of press attention, and a lot of attendance at meetings by committed parents, there are a lot worse things in the school budget.

For instance, there is no busing for elementary students who live within 2 miles of school. Imagine first-graders walking 2 miles to school. There isn't even a pay-to-ride option - nothing. Two miles is the maximum allowed by state law.

by: The Money Magician @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 20:39:04 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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I don't understand Manchester (0.00 / 0)

but whaa??

How can you build a bus route consisting of only outliers and save money?

by: elwood @ Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 20:52:00 PM CDT

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by: you @ soon

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Fewer buses and drivers and buses that are actually full, is my guess. n/t (0.00 / 0)

by: hannah @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 03:17:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

When you write "defies ... the stereotype" you're actually (4.00 / 1)

buying into the frame (inadvertently, no doubt), which is the intent of the strategy. It's impossible for someone to refute, what they are not, with any logical argument. Consequently, the strategy puts them at a disadvantage and we don't want to help that along.

Perhaps better to point out that Republicans make a habit of talking about things and people they know nothing about, since the gossip is designed to give their supporters the impress that they are "in the know" because they have privileged information, which they don't.

by: hannah @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 03:30:24 AM CDT

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Frank Guinta's Bad Press Getting Worse (4.00 / 1)

http://www.unionleader.com/art...

There are about 15 new questions raised by this story.

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

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 08:16:04 AM CDT

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Frank's Excellent Adventure... (4.00 / 1)

...keeps getting better and better! Can't wait for the sequel. You can't make this stuff up.

by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 08:45:07 AM CDT

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Huffington Post has it (0.00 / 0)

Now Frank and Mike's Excellent Adventure is featured in an article on Huffington Post Politics page, right at the top in prime position. It links to this morning's Union Leader article.

"GOP Congressional Candidate Implicated in Drunken Bar Fight" is the title.

I wish I could come up with something witty to comment on this, but it really does speak for itself.

by: Hope Not Fear @ Wed Jul 01, 2009 at 09:23:50 AM CDT

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Bar Brawls, Budgets, Burn Pits | 7 comments

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