Craig Benson to Raise Serious Money for Kelly Ayotte

silent alarms are going off all over Bridges House n/t (4.00 / 7)

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

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by: JonnyBBad @ Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 22:37:25 PM CDT

Craig Benson as fundraiser (4.00 / 2)

This will be interesting.

Years ago Benson's Cabletron co-founder Bob Levine became a political fundraiser for state Senator Dupont. Benson and Levine were both still leading Cabletron at the time. He sent out invitations to fundraisers on his yacht to Cabletron's suppliers: banks, subcontractors, etc. Levine went on to say that, if the invitee didn't show up, he would wonder if that supplier cared about NH as much as Bob himself did. He hinted broadly that this disappointing lack of civic commitment would make him re-consider the business relationship.

This became a bit of a scandal.

It will be interesting to see how well Benson can raise money in his retirement, without that ability to blackmail trade favors.

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by: elwood @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 05:12:07 AM CDT

But it's (4.00 / 1)

sexist to bring up a former Governor with a shady financial history as being a fund raiser for a woman candidate!

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 05:46:49 AM CDT

And to compare her (4.00 / 1)

potential bid to an attempt to bring a little of the Benson-era to DC!

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 05:48:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just what D.C. needs now that Bush II has been retired. (0.00 / 0)

What I think this should tell us is that Bush/Cheney was in no way an aberration or even the culmination of an odious era.  It was an ideal achieved, the heyday of our leisured elites that, like the Reagan era, will need to be restored.

Crony politics can honestly claim to be free of bias against any "protected class" since the only criterion is subservience to the party's ideology (rulers on top, ruled down below and opportunity for all to reverse the flow).

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by: hannah @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 06:51:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fighting over the girl? (4.00 / 1)

Benson's dollars would certainly help, but his presence near an Ayotte campaign will detract from her value as a tabula rasa, as depicted by DiStaso. Between this Benson move, and "Judd Gregg's creation," and Sununu the Elder trying to characterize Ayotte as a strong conservative, we seem to have the heartwarming spectacle of the boys battling for the attentions of the hot chick.

BTW, can someone explain to Pindell the difference between "council" and "counsel"?  

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by: jvwalt @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 06:10:42 AM CDT

Well, at the moment, they're succeeding in getting attention (0.00 / 0)

paid to the "hot chick" without having to spend a buck.

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by: hannah @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 06:53:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Please stop it (4.00 / 1)

I don't think this appropriate.
 

"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 06:55:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's a bit over the top (4.00 / 2)

And that is coming from someone who is known to go over the top.  

"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 06:54:45 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Explanation required (from one or both of us) (0.00 / 0)

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "over the top." And I hope you don't think I'm belittling Ayotte or women in general. I'm just commenting on what seems to be a junior-high-school dynamic among these Republican men. I don't actually think of Kelly Ayotte as a chick. It's the Republicans who objectify women -- including their own.

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by: jvwalt @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 07:57:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Explanation (4.00 / 4)

I don't think it is appropriate to refer to a woman in this context like that. I understand the point you were trying to make, the Republicans all trying to take credit for the candidate, but you could have made it differently.  

There is a fine line to walk when discussing candidates, and a lot of the determination over what is or is not over the line is a matter of intinct and personal reaction. My instinct and reaction as a 55 year old female is that it was not appropriate, and I am someone pre-disposed to be critical of Republicans.  If I feel that way, how will other middle aged women - a pretty significant voting demographic - going to react? It doesn't matter if you are being sarcastic or trying to use an analogy.


"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 08:49:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

A related question is (4.00 / 1)

where are the Republican women leaders in all this? They have been very, very quiet as of late. Will they support Ayotte in the primary, or are they waiting to see who else runs?

It is peculiar to see any candidate, male or female, surrounded by a group of men. (although I agree the characterization above is inappropriate.)

Women are much more present on our side, as candidates, advisors, fund raisers, etc. That shows something right there.

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 08:59:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

My Thought About Ageism, Sexism, Etc. (4.00 / 1)

I certainly can't speak for Kathy -- I wouldn't want to, and she surely wouldn't want me to -- but in my view we should keep sexism and ageism as well as racism and religion, etc., out of the realm of political candidate bashing.  

There are PLENTY of issues to discuss.  Plenty.  Sexism and ageism, etc., detract from the issues.  

I'm about at Social Security age -- I'll be 62 next month.  I was young for so long that getting "old(er)," while it doesn't bother me because the alternative is worse and I'm a survivor every day I do get older, isn't something I'd prefer to do if I had better choices.  I accept reality, and in a sense it's almost a bit of fun to see what I can't do next.

At least I don't care hearing people say that the 60s or even 70s is "over the hill" politically -- in part because I don't see that as true.  A while ago I didn't care for the characterization of John Pa Sununu as too old.  He's out of touch, and lost in the wilderness, but that's not because he's too old.  The most I do is refer to him as "Pa" or "Dad," and there are teenagers who are "Pa" or "Dad" so it's meant just to separate him from "Son."

It is belittling to me, and I think to other older people, when people attack a candidate as being "too old."  Just as for so long it bothered me that people would criticize me for being "too young."  (In 1969 I was the youngest NH House member out of 400; in 1979 the youngest Senate member at 31.)

So, to use the word "chick" in political connotation, though not perhaps intentionally, demeans women, and creates an element of sexism.  And it's just unnecessary.  It might generate some laughter on Comedy Central -- though it would also result in some audience boos too -- but doesn't belong as part our reasoned political discourse.  

At least, that's my opinion.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 08:50:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I could have been clearer (0.00 / 0)

I think the "hot chick" analogy is apt, in reference to how  Republicans are trying to adapt to an age of equality: by promoting women as decorative objects. And, in this case, how top Republicans seem to be elbowing each other aside to be Ayotte's, ahem, "sugar daddy."  I saw sexism at work in the GOP, I tried to point it out, and apparently I wasn't clear enough.

I don't feel that way myself about women in general, or even Kelly Ayotte specifically. I suspect that she's got enough brains and ambition to stand on her own, and that she may turn out to be a formidable candidate. (She might even start telling her would-be amanuenses to shut up and go away.) She might even turn out to be more formidable than many on this site seem to believe.

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by: jvwalt @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 09:25:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

A tough line to walk (0.00 / 0)

I hear what you're saying, and I certainly understand the urge to comment on it (I think I have). But it's high risk, low reward, in my opinion.

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by: JimC @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 09:09:32 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Reminds me of the N-word (0.00 / 0)

OK for some, not for others.  

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 12:39:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Another Early Ayotte Stumble (4.00 / 2)

I'm always more interested in the practical politics of campaigns than the policy issues, and this news about Benson strikes me as another example of a nascent campaign that does not know what it is doing (despite the big names who are "helping" the AG).  

So that is why today I am thinking, what the heck were they thinking that someone or someones who are Ayotte supporters went out of their way to tell both John DiStaso and James Pindell that Craig Benson was going to be heavily involved in her campaign? Are they crazy?  The animus toward Craig Benson even among the Republicans is still so great that no one has even formed a committee to get his protrait painted for the State House.

If they thought that the news that Benson would get money from heavy hitters would frighten anyone, well, no.  All it does is make the Democrats, and other Republicans thinking of running, say, "Benson's back and Ayotte's got him!"   (bonus point to anyone who can identify where I stole that line from) Excellent!

"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 10:47:13 AM CDT

James Bond (0.00 / 0)

"Bond is back and Blu-Ray's got him!"  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 12:23:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nope n/t (0.00 / 0)

"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 12:24:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Benson nad Hedges ? n/t (4.00 / 1)

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

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by: JonnyBBad @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 12:43:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Where's Elwood? (0.00 / 0)

I think Elwood would know this, he has an eclectic knowledge base and like films.

"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 16:41:33 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Garson's back - (0.00 / 0)

and Gibson's got her!

That's what I recall - Henry Gibson on Laugh-In referring to the reclusive Greer Garson.

But the line sounded like a reference to a still older line?  

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by: elwood @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 17:13:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Jack's back? (0.00 / 0)

Referring to Jack Paar, maybe? Jack Benny?

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by: JimC @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 18:51:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think the template is (0.00 / 0)

"A is back and B has got him/her".

B might be a network or studio or advertiser, I suppose. But my bid is Garson/Gibson.

(I'm a bit older than Kathy, so if she comes up with something from the 40s she's got some splainin  to do.)

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by: elwood @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 19:00:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Rickets? (4.00 / 1)

Rickets is back and we've got it!

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by: JimC @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 19:05:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Elwood!!!!I (4.00 / 3)

I'm shocked!  The line was, Gable's back and Garson's got him, referring to Clark Gable's first film after he returned from his WW II service.

Not to pull a Bresler, but my mother met Gable at an officer's club in Fort Bliss, Texas. She said Gable looked very sad, everyone knew he was devastated over Carole Lombard's death, and tried to leave him alone.    

"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 @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 20:06:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Things fall into place. (4.00 / 1)

I knew Henry Gibson was echoing something. Forty years later I find out what.

We rented It Happened One Night this year. I finally saw Gable in a role besides Rhett Butler - and started to understand the appeal.  

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by: elwood @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 20:18:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh Kathy! (0.00 / 0)

How exciting!I never heard that story.

Doing my best to elect NH Democrats since 1968 and getting better at it every year!

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by: Ray Buckley @ Sat Jul 18, 2009 at 06:47:34 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Portrait painted? (4.00 / 2)

Benson commissioned his own portrait during his first term. From a professional portrait artist in Keene who shared his politics.

But then Benson stiffed the guy for the $20-$30K they had agreed upon, after Benson lost and the painting was completed.

So, even if his fans can chip up a new fund, the artist community may want payment in advance.

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by: elwood @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 20:03:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I guess I will have to locate one of the old bumper stickers... (4.00 / 2)

Governor Hummer is a bummer"

Doing my best to elect NH Democrats since 1968 and getting better at it every year!

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by: Ray Buckley @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 14:38:14 PM CDT

RE:Guv Hummer! (0.00 / 0)

Raymond,
There's one on the UL box in front of the Epping McDonalds for you to enjoy.

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by: mrollo @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 14:57:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Seriously? LOL! n/t (0.00 / 0)

Doing my best to elect NH Democrats since 1968 and getting better at it every year!

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by: Ray Buckley @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 15:53:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

True story: (4.00 / 2)

I got onto I-89 South from West Lebanon or Hanover once and soon after merging onto the highway a black hummer with gov't plates and a state vehicle went flying by at what must have been 90+ MPH.

My civic experience with Governor Hummer!  Better than the virtual Easter Egg hunt, imo.

Of course, that was at the height of the Hummer disdain, where it was common to extend a certain finger when seeing one...

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 19:16:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]