We will not let them steal away the future from our children

by: Dean Barker

Sun Sep 14, 2008 at 08:56:14 AM EDT

Attention Obama Fans!

by: Dean Barker

Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 08:49:49 AM EDT

Almost a year ago, when there were seven contenders vying for the Democratic nomination, when Hillary Clinton was ahead in the polls, and when much of the state political establishment was behind her, freshman Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, who had previously been neutral, surprised everyone and endorsed Barack Obama.

Carol Shea-Porter was there for Obama when he needed her the most. And now it's time for Obama and his army of fired up Granite Staters to be there for her.

You see, since her victory in 2006 is defined as something of a surprise fluke  - the truth is actually the opposite - the Republican party, debased nationally, feels as if this is one of the few races they have a shot at taking back.

In her short time in Congress, Carol Shea-Porter has been the consistent voice for change that Obama will herald in a new presidency. Just imagine a House and Senate and White House united to undo the damage done these past eight years.

So, fans of Obama, if you are at today's mega-rally in Manchester, consider stopping by to see Carol Shea-Porter, who is kicking off her re-election effort today. It's within walking distance of the rally.

CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 AT 2PM
CONGRESSWOMAN CAROL SHEA-PORTER at THE CHATEAU RESTAURANT
201 HANOVER ST. MANCHESTER
WWW.SHEAPORTER.COM
for more information call 603-397-3190

Update: CSP, from the kickoff:

"I have kept my promise to you - to stand up against special interests and represent the rest of us," said Shea-Porter. "I am fighting for better veterans care, energy independence and jobs and healthcare for the middle class. Our future requires vision and boldness. We can't go back to the days of rubber stamping failed policies and with your help, we won't. "

And this is brilliant. Courtesy the 'Ticker:

"John Stephen and I disagree on a lot of things, but we agree on one thing and that's Jeb Bradley is [per the vid] was what's wrong with Washington," Shea-Porter told supporters at Chateau restaurant.

More People Voted for Shea-Porter than Bradley in Primary

by: Dean Barker

Fri Sep 12, 2008 at 06:09:43 AM EDT

Jeb Bradley beat John Stephen 18,559 to 16,766 in the Republican 1st District Congressional race. Geoff Michael received 534 votes and Dave Jarvis 414. Running unopposed, Democratic incumbent Carol Shea-Porter received 20,989 votes.

But when Carol Shea-Porter, unopposed, can match roughly 2/3rd of the total of all the GOP candidates in a competitive primary, that speaks loud and clear.

This race is a top priority.  Carol is as genuine as they come, and as progressive as they come.  We owe it to her to work our hearts out. Donate, volunteer, canvass, phonebank, visibility, rinse and repeat.  

CSP - in touch with NH priorities

by: susanthe

Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 16:10:29 PM EDT

The Bradley camp has said many times that Bradley lost because of the strong anti-war sentiment/anti-Bush sentiment that saw many Republicans lose seats all over the country. It's a neat little justification, and one that avoids having to face the truth.

In 2006 Jeb Bradley was out of touch with the priorities of NH voters. Bradley was the only member of the entire New England Congressional delegation who voted in favor of amending the US Constitution to forbid same gender marriage.  Bradley consistently fought against increasing the minimum wage. He voted for the REAL ID Act. Since Bradley was fired, NH has passed a Civil Unions bill, increased the minimum wage, and voted against taking part in REAL ID.

Most egregious of all was Bradley's stance on Social Security. He campaigned in 2002 saying that he was against privatizing Social Security. By 2005, he'd begun saying that we "needed to explore all the options." It's certainly a coincidence that he changed his tune after President Bush visited NH.  NH residents were strongly against destroying  (privatizing) Social Security, yet Bradley refused to show leadership and take a stand right up to the bitter end. On election day in 2006, he was on The Exchange refusing to take a stand.

Jeb's been out of work for a couple of years now. There's no sign that he's learned from his mistakes, no sign that he's any more in touch with NH priorities than he was in 2006.
Carol Shea-Porter knows the priorities of NH voters. She's working to ensure that we don't freeze to death in our homes this winter. She knows that we need to protect and preserve Social Security. Jeb's always done his best to represent the top 1%.  Carol has made good on her promise to represent the bottom 99% of us.  We must ensure that Jeb stays unemployed. He can afford it. We can't afford him.

cross posted at kos

Open Thread: Carol at the Labor Day Breakfast

by: Dean Barker

Mon Sep 08, 2008 at 15:34:29 PM EDT

The Education of Shea-Porter

by: susanthe

Sun Aug 24, 2008 at 10:24:42 AM EDT

I've talked to a lot of candidates and politicians in my life (this being NH and all) but most of the time there's a gulf between us. They're nice, they're enthusiastic - but they don't know what people's lives are really like. Carol does. There is no gulf. She really is representing the bottom 99% of us - she is one of us.
(Don't forget that pretty yellow button on the left side of the page.)

Carol Campaigns to Save the Country

by: Bill Duncan

Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 09:45:26 AM EDT

It's all driven by her famous post card strategy.  People get together and address post cards to their neighbors inviting them to the house party to meet Carol.  Then they do the party.  Then they follow up.  Then the elect Carol.

There were vets, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers (at least one, "JJ", who said how much they appreciated Carol's support), and folks of every description.  Connie Margowsky, Chair of the Somersworth Town Democratic Committee, gave a warm introduction and Carol started off at a run.

I've seen a lot of Carol speeches now and they all start at full tilt, as if you've come into the room in the midst of an intense conversation.  And it is a conversation.  It's never the same twice.  You hear some of the same stories and themes, but it's like a musician responding to the audience.  You get what's on her mind for this group, right now.

She doesn't talk about herself so much as you learn about her by the stories she tells about what's going on down in Washington out of public view.  You might hear about getting better medical services for New Hampshire veterans or emergency LIHEAP funding for this winter or children's health or biofuels.  It might be about the venality of people - just some people in Washington.  But somehow its never about partisanship.  Republicans, Independents, Democrats, those in the top 1% - they can all be bad or good in the Shea-Porter lexicon.  It just depends on whether they are actually doing the people's work or are working for the special interests and cynically covering their tracks.
 

Carol Shea-Porter Makes Tracks in Congress

by: Bill Duncan

Wed Aug 20, 2008 at 09:23:52 AM EDT

What can a freshman in Congress really do?  Shea-Porter has already passed 3 bills that she wrote and introduced and she has many more in the pipeline.  Jeb Bradley, on the other hand, never in four years got a bill out of committee.

Carol Shea-Porter's legislation is varied and illustrates her campaign theme - working "for the rest of us."  Her "Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act" (HR 5155) requires that the VA forgive the debt of service members who die in combat (they had been chasing down their surviving family members!).  Then, when UNH alerted her to the attempt by the Bush administration to shut down Upward Bound, a great program that helps poor kids attend college, she wrote HR 2700, and got it passed, to save the program.

Her biofuels research bill (HR 3101) became part of the Farm Bill this year. It helps local farmers and others develop biofuels to combat the rising costs of home heating oil.

This is above and beyond a wide range of other important work.  She has strengthened the long term prospects of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard by bringing almost $12 million in investment in new facilities.  She just introduced a bill that would, on an emergency basis, triple the funding for home heating oil assistance for low income people this winter.

And she's on a tear now to improve medical care for New Hampshire veterans.  She's just introduced "The Veterans Equity Health Act" (HR 6620) that would require that the VA expand the Medical Center in Manchester or provide comparable services by contracting with local New Hampshire hospitals.

Jeb Bradley spent four years in Congress and left no tracks.  Carol Shea-Porter thought she was sent there to do the people's work and has set a new standard for how effective a freshman can be.

Sneak Peek: Carol's First TeeVee Ad

by: Dean Barker

Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 06:27:17 AM EDT

btw, I heard one of Freedom's Watch's craptastic slime ads on the radio yesterday. Don't let these shadow GOTV groups win - give early and often to Carol through our ActBlue Hampshire page.  

Carol Shea-Porter in Manchester: "There is no excuse"

by: mbair

Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 14:19:33 PM EDT

On Sunday I attended a Vets BBQ at the Sweeney VFW post in Manchester, NH to support the re-election of Carol-Shea Porter (D-NH) to the US Congress from the first district. An overflow crowd, they even ran out of hamburgers, greeted CSP and her guest in NH that day, Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX) from the 17th district which includes the village of Crawford which is currently missing the idiot that is currently and woefully living in the White House, most woefully.

The two have become fast friends in DC as Congressman Edwards, Carol's new BFF down there, is the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and VA (MILCON/VA). He came to NH to see what's up first hand. He was impressed with the turnout at the event, so was I.

Carol's remarks were brief and focused on the outrage that NH is currently the only state in America that does not have a full service VA hospital. Follow me below the fold for all the remarks because as Carol told us all in attendance: "There is no excuse."

Veterans Turn Out for Carol Shea-Porter

by: Bill Duncan

Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 12:55:57 PM EDT

Of course, politicians often campaign for each other to support the party and gather chits, but it's clear that Shea-Porter and the powerful Edwards, who's been in Congress for 18 years and controls the VA budget, are actually close working allies.  He's never campaigned for another Member of Congress like this before.  Carol told the story of how she arrived in Congress concerned that New Hampshire was the only state without a full service VA hospital and wondering why our Congressional delegation had never worked on it.  Seeing Edwards as part of the solution, she introduced herself to him and said, "You're going to be my new best friend."  

That's what seems to have happened.  They tell stories about battles waged.  Carol took him on a tour of the VA Medical Center in Manchester and organized a meeting there with 30 vets, including VFW, American Legion and AmVets representatives, wounded vets from Vietnam and Iraq, veterans advocates and others to tell him how important expanded medical services are.  More on that in another post.

But the highlight of the day was the barbecue at the Sweeney Post.  More on this, and pics, after the jump.

Why I Want Jeb Bradley to be the Nominee

by: Dean Barker

Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 12:43:19 PM EDT

First up, there's Carol Shea-Porter, who gives a genuine libertarian answer, a reality at complete odds with the nonsense big-government brush the GOP paints her with:

"I believe that the federal government should stay out of people's private lives as well as respect the laws and desires of each state in our country. For that reason, I do not support the federal government legislating on the topic of marriage."

Next up, John Stephen, who pays lip service to libertarianism, but is incapable of letting go of some red meat homophobia:

"Gay couples should be given the opportunity to enter into contractual arrangements as anyone. However, the federal government should not be forced to recognize civil unions that are attempts at marriage by another name."

And finally, Bush League Bradley, who's got voting record baggage standing in polar opposition to the Live Free or Die state:

"While states have historically set the rules regarding marriage, I believe that marriage is a union of a woman and a man. Due to my beliefs about marriage, as a member of Congress I voted for the constitutional amendment that protects marriage as a union of a woman and a man."

Update: In a non-partisan way, James Pindell is getting at the same point here.

Shea-Porter Calls for Congressional Review of UBS

by: Dean Barker

Thu Aug 14, 2008 at 21:46:07 PM EDT

In a lawsuit against UBS Financial Services Inc., the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation alleged today that the Swiss bank misled a nonprofit New Hampshire student loan agency about the auction-rate market. UBS violated its fiduciary duty to the lender, a longtime client, the bureau alleged, by encouraging it to continue to issue debt through the auction market when UBS knew the market was on the verge of collapse.

Carol Shea-Porter isn't amused either. She's calling for a Congressional review of UBS. And this is from her statement (via email):

"The allegations that UBS has defrauded New Hampshire students and families are deeply disturbing.  As the mother of two, I know the difficulties families face in paying for college.  NHHELCO's services affect nearly 85% of New Hampshire student loans.  If these allegations are true, UBS's action could have potentially cost NHHELCO millions of dollars and resulted in NHHELCO being less able to meet the loan demands of New Hampshire students.

Congress must immediately investigate this matter.  I have asked Chairman George Miller of the House Education and Labor Committee and Chairman Barney Frank of the House Committee on Financial Services to jointly investigate these allegations and the impact this potential fraud could have on New Hampshire students."

LCV to Endorse Carol Shea-Porter

by: Dean Barker

Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 23:09:41 PM EDT

On Wednesday, August 13, the League of Conservation Voters, which works to turn environmental values into national priorities, will announce its endorsement of Representative Carol Shea-Porter. LCV President Gene Karpinski will join Representative Shea-Porter at a press conference in Prescott Park.

Bush League Bradley, on the other hand, failed miserably in his first term on environmental issues, garnering a 42% LCV rating.

Of course, once he realized his seat might be in danger, he pulled an all-nighter and got all the way up to 83% for his second term.

But when it comes to the climate crisis, we really don't have time for a Congressman who requires a two year learning curve to get a "just okay" grade.  We need someone ready on the first day.

Unity, Up and Down the Ticket

by: Dean Barker

Tue Aug 12, 2008 at 08:00:04 AM EDT

I'm going to be honest with you. On my personal list of the most critical challenges for this election, foremost is marrying the the enthusiasm and energy and new blood of the Obama crowd with the hard working, experienced activists of everyone who's involved in the down ticket races.

For example, I think Barack Obama and Carol Shea-Porter are wonderfully complementary.  The more we can bring those two names together for New Hampshire voters, the better.

And besides, both of them have to fight against, nationally and locally, the moronic media spin that they are somehow "elitist." So they might as well fight that battle together.

DCCC Hits Bush League Bradley in Radio Ad

by: Dean Barker

Mon Aug 11, 2008 at 21:06:23 PM EDT

Well, the ad is out and here it is.

And relatedly: tracking these groups will be key this cycle.  The NRCC, like the NRSC and the NHGOP (and increasingly the NRC) are getting spanked in their fundraising efforts compared to what Democrats are raising.  So that's why we have an abundance of these shadow GOTV groups coming out of the woodwork: to prop up the unenthusiastic GOP base with lies and smears and sloganistic referenda.

A Proud Veteran on Carol Shea-Porter and Veterans

by: Dean Barker

Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 05:51:54 AM EDT

Ron Lyon of Dover knows it. He went to Vietnam as a first lieutenant nurse in the "doctors' draft" of 1967. By the mid-1970s, he'd been diagnosed with diabetes from Agent Orange exposure. Twenty years later, he asked the doctor to amputate his right leg to end the unbelievable pain, and he'll lose the other leg soon. When he finally sought disability compensation, the VA said no. They said his diabetes was a pre-existing condition.

A friend of Lyon told Rep. Shea-Porter's office about it, and three months later, Ron received his first disability check. Ron says, with wonder in his voice, "I'm a lifelong Republican, but I'm sure going to vote for Carol Shea-Porter this year. When it comes to constituent services, she's on a whole different level."

It's ironic that Jeb Bradley, who beat the draft with a college deferment and gets a 20 percent rating from the Disabled Veterans of America, would be running for Congress as "the man from the VFW." We need to send Carol Shea-Porter back to Congress to work for veterans.

p.s. On a different note, Lyon's case is an interesting example, because that seems just the sort of situation that McCain would wipe the VA's hands clean from in his Administration.

Elite Punditosophistry Not Particularly Appealing to Reality

by: Dean Barker

Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 01:00:00 AM EDT

"Democrats in the state, by and large, are upper-income, high-education, liberal. What you'd think of as elite Democrats, not blue-collar folks," said Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire's Survey Center.

...Smith said one of Shea-Porter's biggest "problems" as she seeks a second term is essentially that "she's just a Democrat in what's still a largely Republican district."

"She is not particularly appealing to blue-collar Democrats, " Smith said.

But Ray Buckley, state Democratic Party chair, contends that Shea-Porter's House votes have been in the "mainstream of New Hampshire values."

It totally makes sense why she's unappealing to blue-collar folks.  After all, Carol Shea-Porter was raised in an elite military family, went to elite public schools - such as Andy Smith's elite UNH - and, prior to becoming a Congresswoman, paid the bills by staying far away from regular folks through her job as an elite social worker.

And just take a look at some of Shea-Porter's work in Congress in the past month.  The woman is totally out of touch with the working class:

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Secures Critical Funding for Shipyard
Friday August 01, 2008
Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, helped pass legislation which will provide vital resources to our nation's veterans, as well as secured important funding for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Shea-Porter Continues to Stand Up for Military Families, Introduces Critical Veterans Bill
Friday August 01, 2008
On the day before the start of the Annual District Work Period, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter used her time in Washington to stand up for our nation's military families and veterans.

Shea-Porter Scores Legislative Victory for New Hampshire Students
Thursday July 31, 2008
Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter voted in favor of legislation which will address the mounting cost of education and help remove barriers that prevent qualified students from attending college.

Shea-Porter Supports Bill to Restrain Energy Speculation
Wednesday July 30, 2008
Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter voted in favor of the Commodity Market Transparency and Accountability Act (H.R. 6604), a bill which would reduce gas prices by preventing excessive speculation and energy market manipulation.

Congresswoman Shea-Porter To Introduce Legislation Requiring New Hampshire Has Full Service VA Hospital
Monday July 28, 2008
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter continued to demonstrate her unwavering support for veterans by announcing she will introduce legislation requiring the Veterans Administration to provide New Hampshire veterans with the same services veterans in other states receive at their full service hospitals.

Shea-Porter Announces HHS Grant to Ensure Access to Health Care Coverage
Thursday July 24, 2008
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter announced today that New Hampshire has been awarded a nearly $900,000 federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Introduces Home Heating Assistance Bill
Thursday July 17, 2008
Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter introduced legislation to provide emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The legislation, the Home Energy Assistance through Emergency Relief Act, would increase funding for LIHEAP by $9 billion.

p.s. Some more fun: which Hamster can come up with the most succinct datum to counter the broad-brush nonsense of calling NH-01 "still a largely Republican district"?

Recruiting Veterans and Military Families for Carol Shea-Porter

by: Bill Duncan

Thu Jul 31, 2008 at 12:20:26 PM EDT

Veterans and Military Families for Carol Shea-Porter is signing up fellow veterans and military family members to help put Carol over the top this November. Twenty five percent of our voters in the first district are veterans or their families, so vets can make a big difference in Carol's effort to push back against Republican targeting and send her back to Congress.  Here's how you can help right now:

• If you're a veteran: Please click here and take a moment to complete the form. A Carol Shea-Porter campaign organizer will be in touch with you shortly.
• If you know a veteran or military family: Please link this post to any veterans you know and urge them to sign up here .
• If you don't live in Carol's district: Still feel free to sign up here saying who you support or share this note with veterans in your area, and we'll get the information to the right organizers.

Carol believes we need to undo the damage that President Bush has done to our foreign policy and change our strategy in the fight against terrorism.  This means increasing our efforts in Afghanistan, ending George Bush's failed policy in Iraq, and engaging the entire Middle east diplomatically, economically, politically, and, where necessary, militarily to do what George Bush has not done: focus on Afghanistan where the terrorists came from and bring real stability to the broader Middle East. Beyond all that, we know we can trust her to represent us.

"Carol is a true American patriot fighting for veterans and their families.  I'm proud to have her representing me in Washington." - Terence M. O'Rourke, Assistant Rockingham County Attorney, former Captain, US Army, Field Artillery, operations officer for a Military Transition Team embedded with the Iraq Army in Ramadi and Taji, Iraq, June 2006 to June 2007

Help reach out to our vets.  Pass it on!  

The VA: Carol Shea-Porter vs. John McCain

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 09:54:04 AM EDT

WASHINGTON-New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter is introducing a bill that would require states to have access to at least one full-service veterans hospital or receive comparable services through other health-care providers.

...Shea-Porter says although there are about 130,000 veterans living in New Hampshire, many are forced to travel out of state for medical care, including cancer treatment.

...She said the bill would ensure that the ability of the VA to provide enhanced care to veterans out-of-state will not be restricted. It simply makes sure that they have access to services in-state. It also requires the Secretary of the VA to report to Congress on the effect implementing these measures has on the veterans quality of care.

Now here's what privateer John McCain, new standard bearer of the Republican party, stated just the day before about VA hospitals:

The Veterans Administration should concentrate on treating soldiers with serious injuries and get out of the business of routine health care, John McCain said today.

"We have got to spend more effort and devote more time to the treatment of the battle wounds both seen and unseen," McCain said, appearing via satellite at National Forum on Disability Issues. "I believe we need to relieve the burden on the VA from routine health care, put more of our assets in the unique capabilities of the VA for the treatment of combat wounds, both seen and unseen."

With John McCain as president, not so much.

The example of cancer in the first blockquote is an interesting one.  Because it's not like cancer could come from playing around with uranium-charged ammunition in a war zone, or anything.  And call me cynical, but I highly doubt a cancer diagnosis from an Iraq war vet a decade down the road would be labelled a "combat wound" under the McCain vision of the VA.

If you like what you are reading on Blue Hampshire, please consider making a secure contribution to our first ever Blograiser to help send Mike and Laura to the DNC convention.  Look for the yellow "Donate" button just below our logo.