Ayotte resigns to explore U.S. Senate seat

Funny, I didn't notice (4.00 / 3)

the now former AG mention in her "non-partisan" press release announcing her resignation anything about her potentially blowing a $110 million hole in this years state budget. Or her opposition to reproductive rights for women. She does tout her standing strong with law enforcement and being tough on crime. Oh I'm sorry Kell, you're not tough on anything...you enforce the laws we make in the legislature, nothing more. Let's all keep one thing in mind... this person used to be Craig Benson's legal counsel. Let's keep reminding people of that!

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by: mrollo @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:34:48 AM CDT

she also was instrument in... (4.00 / 4)

The AG was a key player in the inexplicable demise of the seatbelt bill, which cost the state over $3M in federal aid and untold millions more in extra medical costs.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:38:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I didn't know that... (4.00 / 1)

this person used to be Craig Benson's legal counsel

That's three-strikes-your-out all by itself.

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by: Michael Marsh @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 14:04:31 PM CDT

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Does this mean that now we'll have an AG (4.00 / 4)

instead of an AG-enda?

A refreshing thought.

I am delighted that she's running, especially with Benson hanging around her neck like a mugshot sign.

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by: GreyMike @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:41:18 AM CDT

Benson! (4.00 / 3)

She was his comm. dir. for a few months, I believe.

That'll make for some good times in oppo.

I wasn't much interested in Ayotte before, but now that she's taken the plunge, it will be fun times writing about her and Ovide and Bass and Tausch.

That should be a fun primary.  Have fun raising money for it, everybody!

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:46:09 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

out from under a rock (0.00 / 0)

The same day Kelly Ayotte announced her resignation, Craig Benson crawled out from the rock he has been hiding under to do an interview for EWeeek magazine's streaming video channel.  He tells some guy with a microphone that he is in favor of innovation and against bureaucracy and that he is worried about Obama's stimulus program creating more bureaucracy and stifling innovation:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Ma...

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 15:43:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Absolutely. Bureaucrats keep records and records are (4.00 / 5)

anathema to crooks.

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by: hannah @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 16:43:01 PM CDT

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Comment of the week? n/t (4.00 / 1)

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 18:02:02 PM CDT

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Never indicted !! (0.00 / 0)

Further proof, if any is needed, that miracles do happen.

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by: Michael Marsh @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 18:10:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

in related news... (4.00 / 3)

The Governor has been coy about signing the medical marijuana bill--- which is just now on its way to his desk.  He has threatened to veto the bill in the past.  However, the final version included a lot of changes which he and/or general Ayotte suggested.

If he does veto it, he will get some trouble from his own side.  This is a popular bill which got bipartisan support.  (Indeed, in the House, the conference committee report passed by a veto-proof margin--- although the Senate vote was only 14-10.)

There is also a lot of annoyance amongst  Democrats that he re-appointed a Republican AG (albeit a popular and competent one), and it is even more annoying that she resigned a few months into her new term to run for the US Senate as (presumably) a Republican.

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 11:51:41 AM CDT

Some examples of competence might be nice. n/t (4.00 / 1)

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by: hannah @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 14:15:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

My two cents (4.00 / 2)

I think we have to give her some credit for resigning. She could have kept the job and had easy access to free press whenever she wanted it.

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by: JimC @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:12:52 PM CDT

Well, maybe. (0.00 / 0)

It's certainly a good thing that she is resigning rather than campaigning from the office.

But that might have been too obvious for even a friendly press.

Landrigan's column Sunday was soooo complimentary to her, I can only assume it was in preparation for some serious journalism.

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by: elwood @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 20:31:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Our long New Hampshire nightmare (4.00 / 3)

is nearly over. Perhaps Lynch will think twice next time he decides to nominate a Republican. Hopefully he'll pick a solid progressive. To her credit, and this is as far as commendation I'll ever give her, she is resigning rather than using her position (henceforth at least) as a campaign tool.

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:19:05 PM CDT

Barbara Keshen or Jim Normand? (0.00 / 0)

How about Barbara Keshen, who is NHACLU Executive Director?  Or Attorney Jim Normand of Manchester, a former NH Governor's Councilor and State Representative?  There are lots of good choices in addition to the obvious more public names.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 14:15:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I second the nomination of Barbara Keshen (4.00 / 1)

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by: Putney Swope @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 17:11:35 PM CDT

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Not Too Likely (0.00 / 0)

The governor supports the death penalty. Keshen headed up the opposition.
He'd sure go a long way toward redeeming his reputation with Democrats, but by now it's pretty clear he does not care about that.  

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 19:37:43 PM CDT

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Hazy Logic (0.00 / 0)

Ayotte was appointed by Republican Gov. Craig Benson and then reappointed by Lynch despite her political affiliation and despite having opposed Lynch on the parental notification law.

How litmusy of you.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 10:12:02 AM CDT

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Inertia has its role. (0.00 / 0)

She was not 'appointed' by Lynch, either time. She was re-appointed.

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by: elwood @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 20:32:27 PM CDT

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Sweet ol' Deathshead is on the hustings! (0.00 / 0)

Expect pressure to mount for expanding NH's limited death penalty...This is Sweet Kelly "deathshead" Ayotte's trumpt card.

Don't think she won't gin people up over this!

---SWL

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by: TaxiManSteve @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:40:56 PM CDT

At least the Democratic Governor gave her a nice parting gift. (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 @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 12:57:58 PM CDT

I don't know how (4.00 / 1)

Kelly or Ovide or John E. for that matter can win this seat with such prominent anti-choice positions.

I've long felt New Hampshire to be a pro-choice state, even among a good measure of Republicans, and probably most of independents.

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 13:28:16 PM CDT

Making women's medical problems a political issue is (0.00 / 0)

simply an example of an agenda that's designed to fail so the politician can "try and try again."  Crime, by the way, is another one.  Except for the crimes that they themselves do or do not commit, crime is not something that politicians can control.
The criminal is self-centered.  Why we think that other people's experiences in the judicial system is going to affect him one way or another is a puzzlement.  

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by: hannah @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 14:10:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Speaking of Senators, Congressional Quarterly has done (0.00 / 0)

an analysis of roll call votes and determined that, despite the Republicans' sound and fury, when it comes to voting, they're quite supportive of the President's agenda, if that's what you want to call it.  (I'd be more inclined to conclude that they simply respond well to strong direction).

However, while Gregg's votes are right there with the rest, his participation leaves something to be desired.  Only Kennedy, who's been ill, and Jay Rockefeller have a worse participation record.  Even Senator Byrd, who's also been ill, voted more often.  So, it seems that Gregg, who's announced that he's quitting, is also a slacker. Now Republicans are going to have an opportunity to replace him with a person who's also not particularly keen on fulfilling her obligations.

I suppose that one advantage of considering a public office an honor or a source of power is that declining the honor can be considered a sign of modesty.  When it's a job you're quitting, it doesn't look so good.

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by: hannah @ Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 14:41:31 PM CDT