Ayotte Would Break Promise to Gov with a Senate Run

Consequences? (4.00 / 3)

Nice scoop by Pindell. That's bigger breaking political news imo than John E. & Merrill.

Does this news make anyone else wonder if Ayotte breaks her word to the Governor and runs a Senate campaign, how loud will be the calls for her to resign as A.G.?

New Hampshire cannot afford a part-time/no-time head of state law enforcement in the post 9/11 era.

- CHANGE City Hall -

Candidate, Manchester Ward 6 Alderman


President, NH Young Democrats

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by: Garth Corriveau @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 10:38:48 AM CDT

she a-ought to resign n/t (4.00 / 4)

If the kids can't bop to it, it's bombsville.

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by: JonnyBBad @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 10:53:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Forget part time/no time (4.00 / 4)

In New Hampshire, the Attorney General is not an elected position.  Nobody should be running for anything while in that job.

--
New Hampshire's stimulus: a train to Boston.
Visit NHBTI.org to learn about the NH Capitol Corridor project.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:25:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly. (0.00 / 0)

The AG role is an executive job, like heading any executive department in our state government. You want to go audition for a new job? Fine, but do it on your dime, not the state's. In frugal NH, we don't have the luxury over-staffing so department heads can run for office.

Even the execrable John Stephen resigned from HHS before running for Congress

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by: Michael Marsh @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 16:15:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's not about the money. (0.00 / 0)

It's about the integrity of the process.  The state's chief law enforcement official, in a state where that isn't an elected position, should not be engaged in partisan politics, especially not as a candidate.  That's almost as crazy as having the state's chief election official be an elected office.

(and yes, that was a Katherine Harris reference)

--
New Hampshire's stimulus: a train to Boston.
Visit NHBTI.org to learn about the NH Capitol Corridor project.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 17:34:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So sad (4.00 / 1)

This is all bad for the formerly-grand Old Party.

As if her credibility wasn't already shot by her insistence that, science be damned, one marijuana plant could produce 30 lbs!

What little bench they had is shrinking fast. It is a group w bench indeed.

They may yet plead for Judd to do what he does so well: change his mind.

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 10:45:17 AM CDT

Where is Hodes? (0.00 / 0)

Hodes is well aware that the U.S. Attorney's Office has claimed to have called off an investigation of the Attorney General's Office for obstruction of justice. I received the following cryptic message on June 17th:

Mr. Coltin:

   When we spoke by telephone many months ago, I told you that the U.S. Attorney's Office would NOT conduct a criminal investigations of your allegations.  Accordingly, I do not have any information about Mary Knecht to provide to you.

Bob Kinsella

Assistant U.S. Attorney

The fact is, the investigation was not called off, but that is beside the point.  What the Office has done, in effect, is to say that the
Attorney General's Office is off limits. Or, in other words, Kelly Ayotte is above the law.

Paul Hodes has been appraised of the full matter.
He needs to come forward and demand that the case be reopened on the basis that no one is above the law.  Any ambitions that Ayotte has
will dissipate in the winds.

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by: davecoltin @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:04:38 AM CDT

Character Flaws (4.00 / 2)

If she runs, it isn't just breaking a promise; it  would be a somewhat surprising public display of character flaws - disloyalty, putting personal ambition ahead of her word, etc. I understand the seductiveness of getting phone calls from United States Senators telling you how great you are, but giving up your character for a risky senate campaign, when you have a lot of years and a lot of career possibilities ahead of you, would be very sad.

I'm not surprised that Governor Lynch's office is speaking out. Governor Lynch went out on a limb to re-appoint her. Not the first time, that time the Executive Council would not approve anyone else. This time, he did not have to do it. He was loyal to her; if she does not return the same loyalty and respect to him by keeping her word, well, what an ingrate she would be.  

And this is a governor who still has 63% approval, according to the latest UNH poll, despite the economy. Not someone to be taken lightly, at all.

"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 @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:53:34 AM CDT

Political naivete? Or worse? (0.00 / 0)

"At the time of her appointment she told the Governor that was her intention."

Sure she did. And you believed her?  

I'm not saying that Ayotte is any more mendacious than the average politician -- but she's not any less, either. It's perfectly routine for an officeholder (or a college football coach, for that matter) to disclaim any ambition to leave his/her current job for a better one. It's generally understood that this is a, well, a lie.

When Lynch reappointed Ayotte, he allowed a young, promising Republican to retain a high-visibility position. If she runs for Senate and somehow wins, that will be part of John Lynch's legacy to his party. The only thing he can do to salvage the situation is to accuse Ayotte of breaking a promise.

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by: jvwalt @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 11:57:06 AM CDT

Wrong (4.00 / 3)

She was not a politician. She is the chief law enforcement official in the state - someone who is supposed to keep her word - who was being reappointed to that position. But, more importantly, no, it is not generally understood that it is a lie. I have seen people make promises about not running for this or for that and living up to them.

But if you want to give a potential Republican senate candidate a pass for breaking her promise (if she does) just because you are looking for an excuse to criticize the Governor, that's your legacy.


"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 @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:07:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Wrong 2.0 (4.00 / 1)

As a political tourist, let me offer:
NH is not a place where your word is arbitrary. Inside the beltway, or even in The Hub, the pond is big enough that promises are made and inferred to a varied set of constituents.

What I see in this case is a simple handshake. Two professionals entered into terms. Ayotte would be foolish to break such a significant deal.

My father told me, listen to people as they tell you how they "got over" on others. They are telling you what lays ahead for you, if you give them the chance.  

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:37:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good advice from Dad n/t (4.00 / 2)

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by: JimC @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:49:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ahem. (4.00 / 2)

Two professional entered into terms.

That can only be true if the Executive Council is a completely useless branch of government, never exerci -

I withdraw my objection.

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by: elwood @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 18:37:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

She's a lawyer, and the chief legal official of a US State. (0.00 / 0)

She can be expected to know the difference between "I will not run" and "I have no intention to run at this time".

--
New Hampshire's stimulus: a train to Boston.
Visit NHBTI.org to learn about the NH Capitol Corridor project.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 16:29:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Were you in the room, Doug? (0.00 / 0)

Really? She answered the Governor with weasel words?

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by: elwood @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 05:42:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not defending her. (0.00 / 0)

I'm saying that she cannot argue that "I will not run" MEANS "I have no intention to run at this time" BECAUSE someone in her position can be expected to think of that in the first place and be clear about it, assuming honest intentions.

--
New Hampshire's stimulus: a train to Boston.
Visit NHBTI.org to learn about the NH Capitol Corridor project.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 10:56:02 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I wasn't either but (0.00 / 0)

it is pretty clear that this was not a "Got other plans?" "Not now." conversation.

It was a "The Republicans want you to run for Governor or Senator. Are you going to serve a full term or run for something?" discussion.

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by: elwood @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 18:04:41 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm agreeing with you. (4.00 / 1)

Both the Governor and the Attorney General are lawyers.  Part of being a lawyer is being seeing loopholes (or the need for one) from a mile away.  I can't imagine their was any ambiguity on this point--and Ayotte has no business claiming she deserves wiggle room when she should have forseen the need to leave some.  There's a difference between not intending to run and making a commitment not to, and it isn't believable that she doesn't see the difference.  There can be no "I changed my mind" excuse--it's breaking her word.

--
New Hampshire's stimulus: a train to Boston.
Visit NHBTI.org to learn about the NH Capitol Corridor project.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 19:01:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

*there (0.00 / 0)

--
New Hampshire's stimulus: a train to Boston.
Visit NHBTI.org to learn about the NH Capitol Corridor project.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 19:02:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Republicans never break their word (4.00 / 3)

just ask Mrs. Sanford or Mrs. Ensign.  

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by: susanthe @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:04:53 PM CDT

Kudos to the Governor (4.00 / 2)

I criticized the reappointment, but I'm glad to see her calling on her to stick to the agreement.

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by: JimC @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:48:48 PM CDT

Him calling on her (4.00 / 1)

You knew that.

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by: JimC @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 12:53:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

my bet... (0.00 / 0)

My hunch is that if Ayotte runs she counters this by saying she took Lynch's request that she not run for any state office (i.e., against him) and this is different.

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by: HoldenDC @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 13:52:19 PM CDT

IDTS (4.00 / 2)

I Don't Think So!

The premise of your speculation is that Lynch cut a deal to protect his own ass. I'm not buying that. Besides, regardless of UNH's hokey poll why would Lynch flynch at the sight of Ayotte.

Don't add up.


www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 15:28:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Disagree (4.00 / 1)

She has to know that if she runs, she'll have him actively campaigning against her, and she doesn't have the credibility to make such a weak defense stand up against his large reserves of believability. If a wildly popular governor says "You promised me you only wanted to do good work for the people of New Hampshire and you're breaking that promise," she's not going to come out against that successfully by trying to weasel out of it with caveats.

IT for John Lynch '04 and NHDP '08 - I'm liking my track record so far!

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by: RealNRH @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 23:04:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was going to make the point on the Palin thread that (4.00 / 1)

Republicans seem to have a problem with meeting their obligations.  Perhaps they don't even know what that word means.  After all, even their understanding of responsibility is rather tenuous, since "personal responsibility" refers to a failure that can't be avoided.

I haven't paid sufficient attention to register if Mark Sanford has take personal responsibility for his "fling."  Probably, since that's the lesser peccadillo, compared to having been AWOL from his office.

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by: hannah @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 18:31:39 PM CDT

AWOL Ayotte for AWOL Judd's seat! n/t (4.00 / 2)

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by: elwood @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 18:38:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

AWOL seems to be a Republican theme these days.(n/t) (4.00 / 2)

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 18:45:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Maybe, maybe not (4.00 / 1)

Sorry some people didn't like my previous comment. The heart of my argument is the phrase "that was her intention."

Now, I don't know exactly what she said in that conversation with the Governor. But in Manning's statement, I don't see a firm agreement that she would refrain from seeking public office during her new term as AG. I don't even see a handshake deal.

How often have you heard someone say, when denying a rumor, something like "it is not my intention at this time..."? It's routinely understood as a non-denial denial. Not only in politics, but in just about any line of work. Including the noble, nonpolitical office of Attorney General.

As for why Lynch would flinch at the sight of Ayotte, I'm not saying he would. I'm not even claiming that Ayotte is a political juggernaut in the making. What she is, is the only Republican I know with a statewide profile who isn't a retread or a tired old face. And the only one I know who might  -- might -- be a strong candidate in the future. And Lynch kept her in a high-profile spot.  

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by: jvwalt @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 07:37:27 AM CDT

Political Dalit (0.00 / 0)

On this, I fully agree:
What she is, is the only Republican I know with a statewide profile who isn't a retread or a tired old face. And the only one I know who might  -- might -- be a strong candidate in the future.

But, her undoing should be this:
And Lynch kept her in a high-profile spot.

To the conservative purists, The Wendelboians, the slighest scent of moderate bipartisanship should reek to high heavens and make Ayotte an "untouchable".

Well, that is if you put any stock in their rhetoric. Which, of course, I don't. Plenty of slogans, either way!

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 11:28:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is foolish. (0.00 / 0)

She was asked in a private conversation whether she would serve a full term. We don't know what she said - but she wouldn't have used the artful weasel words that we hear in public pronouncements.

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by: elwood @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 05:45:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Built-in loophole (0.00 / 0)

Two, really, that I see.

1. It's the Senate. These opportunities don't come along often.

2. Her party needs her. It's not her fault a Democrat reappointed her. Yes, she committed to the full term, but this is for the good of the nation. Barack Obama served less than one Senate term. Hillary Clinton did not serve her full second term (after spending $10 million to win it).

I don't like them either, but my point is that there's always an excuse to be found. Who's knocking Sarah Palin for failing to finish her term? Democrats. Not Republicans.

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by: JimC @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 09:50:16 AM CDT

Palin? (0.00 / 0)

Republicans are all over Palin, too.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...


"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 @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 15:04:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Like those 'lected AGs of the Deep South... (0.00 / 0)

Kelly's big ace is her ardent support of the death penalty...The momentary appeal to our lower angels...

Putting to death that black man who shot the cop will work for Republican voters as well as more conservative Democrats and indies, Manchester and most policemen...

"Sweet deathshead" Kelly Ayotte will play that trump card if given a chance... And degrade us all as a whole if she succeeds (sigh)in her short-term political ambitions.

--SWL

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by: TaxiManSteve @ Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 15:42:18 PM CDT

Sorry but (0.00 / 0)

didn't Lynch break a similar promise to Benson back in 2004? I could be wrong, but I remember hearing this.

I'm certainly not defending her, and I think the biggest argument to make is that the AG position in New Hampshire is not an elected one, so you owe a bit more of yourself to the position than in some other states. And having a politically active chief law enforcement officer is clearly a conflict of interest.

However, I think this argument that she's breaking her word is a little silly. I hate to say it, but in statewide and certainly national politics, even in New Hampshire, a politician's word is not her bond in situations like this. At best, Lynch made no such promise five years ago and this refrain sounds silly, shallow and like an avoidance of the issues, on which we can beat her. At worst, Lynch did make a similar promise, all the above applies, and we all sound like hypocrites. Kelly Ayotte's views are far to the right of the public in New Hampshire; we should run against her on that, not something she once said.

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 11:31:29 AM CDT