Wall Street Just Doesn't Get IT

by: johndejoie

Tue Jan 12, 2010 at 09:01:53 AM EST

What question is Karen Testerman the answer to?

by: Peter Sullivan

Wed Dec 09, 2009 at 16:31:22 PM EST

If anybody can figure out how a Testerman gubernatorial candidacy improves New Hampshire's civic life, I'd love to hear the rationale.

In the mean time, here's some hot cowpunk for a chilly evening...

Ayotte Brings Establishment Friends To New Hampshire To Promote "Kellycare"

by: EBrowne

Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 15:49:58 PM EST

CONCORD - Tonight, House Republican Leader John Boehner, one of Kelly Ayotte's DC establishment friends, will be attending an NHGOP fundraiser in Concord. Both Ayotte and Boehner support a risky healthcare plan that would eliminate protections for New Hampshire families and empower big insurance companies.

"KellyCare" - Ayotte's plan to take control over healthcare away from Granite Staters and put it squarely in the hands of insurance giants - was manufactured by Boehner and the Republican establishment in Washington. By eliminating essential state-level protections that require insurance companies to remain accountable to the consumers they serve, "KellyCare" lets insurance bureaucracies decide what they will or will not cover. Without these crucial safeguards, insurance companies are free to cover only the most profitable services for themselves, leaving women, children and those with pre-existing medical conditions particularly at risk.

"Kelly is calling in her establishment friends to do the dirty work she keeps avoiding - defending and discussing her disastrous plan," said Emily Browne, Press Secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "New Hampshire has created rock-solid consumer protections to ensure that no insurance bureaucracy can choose not to cover something just to protect its own profit. To do away with these would not only threaten the ability of Granite Staters to keep their families healthy, but would allow insurance bureaucrats to deny New Hampshire its right to decide how to care for its residents. 'KellyCare' lets insurance companies call the shots - and leaves New Hampshire families in the dust."

Earlier this month, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that "KellyCare" would leave 53 million Americans without healthcare. When pushed about this massive shortfall, Boehner said: "What we do is try to make the current system work better...We do not attempt to cover 46 million more Americans" [Roll Call, 11/2/09, CNN, 11/1/09; CBO Analysis, 11/4/09].

The New York Times said that the Ayotte-Boehner plan would "do almost nothing to reduce the scandalously high number of Americans who have no insurance...and isn't health care reform." (New York Times 11/6/09)

# # #  

Rip Van Sununu's 2010 Strategy: Taking a Page Out of Louis XIV's Playbook

by: DRicher

Wed Sep 30, 2009 at 15:40:49 PM EDT

Rip Van Sununu's 2010 Strategy: Taking a Page Out of Louis XIV's Playbook

Disgruntled former governor and state party chairman embraces angering the radical right

Foster's Daily Democrat provided further confirmation today that John "Rip Van" Sununu is living in the past and is completely disconnected with reality.

In an interview with the paper's editorial board, the Republican state committee chairman and former governor said the inspiration for the GOP's 2010 strategy is Louis XIV.  The goal: to make the extreme right wing of the republican party as angry possible.  

When asked if his strategy would backfire, Sununu actually said,

"You know, I think one of the last things Louis XIV kept telling his people was that the anger of the people will turn the people toward us."

"John H. Sununu has completely lost touch with reality," said Derek Richer press secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "You don't win elections by angering voters; you do it by offering ideas.  At this point, all we've heard from John H. Sununu is that he hates New Hampshire."

Not only has John H. Sununu embraced this "Louis XIV" strategy, but many of the candidates he has recruited to run for office in 2010 have as well.  In fact, the GOP's candidate for Governor, Jack Kimball, is a leader of the "Tea Party" protesters - a group that has been angrily disrupting town hall meetings across the state.

But John H. Sununu isn't just out of touch, he needs a history lesson.  King Louis XIV is known for bankrupting the state of France, raising taxes, and oppressing the people.

"It's crazy that Sununu is talking about 18th century France instead of the challenges facing New Hampshire," continued Richer.  "But then again, when he was governor, Sununu virtually bankrupted our state - just like Louis the XIV did in France.  Under Sununu's watch, spending was completely out of control, taxes were increased, and our budget was left in deficit."

(Posted by Derek Richer, Press Secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party)

The NRSC's Secret Plan to Help Kelly Ayotte

by: VABBY

Mon Sep 21, 2009 at 16:49:33 PM EDT

NRSC boss, John Cornyn claims that he has not endorsed Kelly Ayotte but his actions say otherwise.   He has publicly referred to her as one of his top recruits, organized large-scale fundraisers for her in Washington and dispatched NRSC political operatives to her campaign.  It is clear Cornyn is working behind the scenes to help his handpicked candidate beat her primary challengers.  

Tomorrow, Ayotte will attend three fund-raisers in Washington. One of her fund-raisers will be hosted by Senators Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn at the NRSC Headquarters; another will be hosted by Washington-based lobbyist Rick Murphy, whose client list has included both the tobacco and pharmaceutical lobbies; and her third fund-raiser will be hosted by an unknown party at Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, the well-known hangout of K Street lobbyists and Washington's power elite.  As Cornyn's top recruit, Ayotte will undoubtedly rake in millions from these three events.  

The NRSC has also dispatched two of its top fundraising and political operatives to help the first time candidate out-raise her seasoned primary opponents.  Laura Van-Hove, a top fund-raiser for the NRSC who specializes in high-dollar event fundraising, was dispatched to help Ayotte fund-raise in Washington.  While Neva Foley, the former NRSC Associate Political Director, was sent to work as Ayotte's campaign Operations Director.  

Backdoor support from John Cornyn and the NRSC will allow Kelly Ayotte to raise millions from Washington special interest groups, say GOP sources.  One GOP activist told the Union Leader: "When Charlie Crist (of Florida) got into the Senate race with the NRSC's support earlier this summer, they raised $4.3 million in just 50 days. There is no reason why she'll be any different."

Week 1: K Street Kelly Emerges

by: VABBY

Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 11:51:26 AM EDT

CONCORD- Sources say Kelly Ayotte spent her first week as a U.S. Senate candidate meeting with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Cornyn and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Washington. Meanwhile back home in New Hampshire questions remain for Kelly about where she stands on the issues. Members of her own party aren't even sure where she stands.

NH Republican Strategist, Mark Sanborn told The Hill: "One of the big questions in the state right now is, where is Kelly Ayotte? Is [Lamontagne] going to be to the right of her by a couple of degrees, or is she going to be classified as a [Republican in name only]?"

In addition to the counsel of Cornyn and McConnell, Kelly has also tapped a K Street lobbyist to advise her U.S. Senate campaign.  This week, the Union Leader reported that Kelly's first staff hire is a registered lobbyist with a Washington-based Government Relations firm.  Tom Daffron, a current lobbyist with Jefferson Consulting, will act as a top advisor to Kelly in her bid for U.S. Senate.

"Kelly Ayotte was in a hurry to break her pledge to serve out her term as Attorney General but she is apparently in no rush to tell the public where she stands on the issues.  Why was her first move as a U.S. Senate candidate to meet with GOP power brokers rather than people of the Granite State?  Is she consulting Washington Republicans to decide what kind of candidate she wants to be?  New Hampshire needs leaders who will represent them in the Senate not do the bidding of Washington insiders," said Victoria Bonney, Communications Director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

(Posted by Victoria Bonney, Communications Director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party)

Kelly Ayotte, who are you and what do you stand for? [NHDP DEBUTS NEW WEB VIDEO]

by: VABBY

Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 11:47:26 AM EDT

On Monday, Kelly Ayotte released a statement announcing that she had filed the appropriate paperwork to run for U.S. Senate but neglected to tell anyone why she's running.   While it's clear she is interested in advancing her political career, it is very unclear why the people of New Hampshire should support her candidacy without knowing who she is or where she stands on the issues.

As Attorney General, Ayotte was a vocal supporter of President Obama's plan for economic recovery.  Just last week, Ayotte publicly endorsed a program to solve cold case crimes which is funded by money from the federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   In May, Ayotte also released this statement in support the Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

"in times of economic uncertainty and with the potential for increasing crime, we need to continue to support these programs."

As Attorney General, Ayotte used her role to argue against a woman's right to choose and marriage equality.   She took an assault on a woman's right to choose all the way to the Supreme Court and lost.  Will Ayotte stand behind her anti-choice past now?  Ayotte also filed a court brief to delay marriage equality in California.  With polls showing that a majority of Granite Staters support marriage equality, will Ayotte favor equality now?

(Posted by Victoria Bonney, Communications Director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party)

What They're Saying About Kelly Ayotte…

by: VABBY

Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 13:57:50 PM EDT

NH Political Report: "Before Democratic Gov. John Lynch re-appointed Republican Kelly Ayotte to a full second term as state Attorney General he had an understanding that she would serve the entire term, the governor's spokesman says."  (James Pindell, 7/3/09)

New Hampshire Union Leader: Kelly Ayotte: "Clearly the intent was to continue serving."  (Tom Fahey, 7/7/09)

Politico:  Ayotte "uninterested in running for public office."  (Politico, 2/3/09)

Nashua Telegraph:  "Ayotte said she never promised to serve out the full term, and alluded to the wild changes in New Hampshire politics in 2009."  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/8/09)

Concord Monitor: Executive Councilor Bev Hollingworth: "never entered my mind that she would be considering not staying.  I thought certainly she would be staying on. I'm sure (Gov. Lynch) asked. At least I'm pretty sure he asked what her intentions were."  (Lauren Dorgan, 7/12/09)

Concord Monitor: Councilor Deb Pignatelli of Nashua said that Ayotte's potential departure "occurred to me, but then we were reassured that she intended to fill out her term."  (Lauren Dorgan, 7/12/09)

Kelly Ayotte: untested, unproven, unprepared

The Hill: Former Republican National Committeeman Tom Rath: "There's always a question when you go from one role to another role.  It's never as smooth as people think, and politics is a rough business. ... Until you actually get out there, you just don't know."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

The Laconia Citizen: "Whether she will prevail in her bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, Kelly Ayotte is a powerful political force, say local observers who differ, however, on whether she has crossover appeal or is just a GOP "maverick" long on ambition but short on legislative experience."  (John Koziol, 7/8/09)

The Hill: "When it becomes official, Republicans will have a Senate candidate with no elective experience who has never run a campaign before. (In New Hampshire, attorneys general are appointed by the governor, not elected.)  That can be a blessing, or it can be a disaster. Only time will tell."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

The Hill: University of New Hampshire Survey Center Director Andrew Smith: "She's got very positive favorability numbers, but that's largely because if you're attorney general, you're arresting people and putting them in jail and not in a position to annoy people.  Her big potential negative is the fact that she hasn't run before."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

Kelly Ayotte: faces prospect of bitter, contentious primary

The Hill: "GOPers not yielding to Ayotte yet."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

Nashua Telegraph: University of New Hampshire Survey Center Director Andrew Smith: ""A lot remains to be seen, she certainly isn't a slam-dunk to winning that race."  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/8/09)

Nashua Telegraph: American Research Group President Dick Bennett: ""It may be a good year for Republicans, but this kind of race opens it up for primaries and I don't think she's strong enough to guarantee there won't be one."  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/8/09)

Nashua Telegraph: Doug Lambert: ""This could spell trouble in lost enthusiasm for a base seeing little difference between a squishy moderate in the mold of a Susan Collins versus a Paul Hodes.  I know I would rather vote for nobody, given that option. Why endure the heartache and heartburn of entrenching such a Republican empowered with incumbency status forever? Is it not better to work on the up-and-coming prospects for the next opportunity.''  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/12/09)

Wall Street Journal: Op-Ed from Brendan Miniter "Mr. Sununu has been mulling a run, as has been up-and-comer Kelly Ayotte, the state's attorney general. But the candidate making the most convincing effort to position himself for a race so far is the neophyte Mr. Tausch."  (Brendan Miniter, 6/30/09)

Washington Post: Chris Cillizza "Enter businessman Fred Tausch, who, as we wrote last week, is a near-lock to run."  (Chris Cillizza, 7/2/09)

Kelly Ayotte: hard-right candidate who opposes a woman's right to choose

Politico: New Hampshire GOP Party Chairman John Sununu: "I think she's much more conservative than the press has made her out to be. She's pretty conservative on the social issues, and she's extremely conservative on the fiscal issues," Sununu said in an interview with POLITICO...Asked if she opposed abortion rights, Sununu said: "I believe so. I don't think I've ever seen a formal statement on her part, but having known her over the years, that's my perception." (Josh Kraushaar, 7/13/09)

Ayotte+Palin=Big Mistake

by: StevenPlace

Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 14:46:41 PM EDT

Kelly Ayotte is a well educated, accomplished woman who is a formidable opponent--to treat her like anything else is a mistake we should not make. There are plenty of other thing to attack her about, but being like Sarah Palin is not one of them.

Rather than focusing on GOP-like attacks, we should move forward with a positive campaign of substance to ensure Paul Hodes' victory in 2010.

We can win with the issues and our activism.

Anything less than that does a disservice to our state's reputation for substantive political discourse.

Petty comparisons will only turn people away from our party and our message.  

UNH Poll: Ayotte 39% Hodes 35%

by: StevenPlace

Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 15:46:29 PM EDT

Hmmm this poll looks highly questionable. I also highly doubt that Tausch would get 25% in a Hodes match up and at the same time have 5/4 Fav/Unfav ratings. Does anyone really know who he is?

I hope this turns out to be inaccurate, but either way, I think this is a really good time to Act Blue.

More (Dean): Are you kidding me?  This is the sloppiest sample yet.  Check out the latest version of Cloud Hampshire's Hodes' v. Ayotte sample (from the .pdf):

Registered Democrat: 119
Registered Undeclared: 208
Registered Republican: 153

WWYD?

by: Mike Hoefer

Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 16:50:55 PM EDT

US Sen
US Rep (CD1)
US Rep (CD2)
Governor
5 Executive Council Races
24 NH Senate Races
400+ NH House Races

That's more than 133 races! If you only had $100 to allocate how would you do it and why? (Assume the $100 represents all expenditures in the race.)

Extra credit if you are able to advocate for a particular race to target for Exec. Council, Senate, House.

Talk About Not Getting It

by: BurtCohen

Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 14:04:04 PM EDT

It is with great sadness that I have to report that the legislature passed a gay marriage bill in New Hampshire.

Here's the most important thing you need to know about New Hampshire: It's not over.

The political establishment decided to pay attention to a well-financed base and to ignore the priorities of the people of New Hampshire.

As the Baptist Press News reported, "Flipping the governor's office and the legislature from Democrat to Republican in 2010 is a bold goal." But Kevin Smith, the able young activist who heads up the Cornerstone Policy Research, said, "I think we have a good chance of that happening, because I think people are so disgusted with what this legislature has done this year. The goal after that would be to repeal the law."

Bass Ackwards

by: GreyMike

Sat May 16, 2009 at 08:46:12 AM EDT

"I'm getting around and visiting, on a very informal basis, with my friends and supporters," Bass told The Sentinel earlier this week.

"It turns out there are a few of them left interested in talking with me. That's been very encouraging. Does that mean I'm a candidate? No, but I'm giving it some thought," he said.

Bold moves.

Mr. Smith Goes To... Florida?

by: RealNRH

Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 17:28:26 PM EDT

In 2002, we had Bob Smith disgracing our lovely state. One term of Sununu was enough to move from 'the most conservative Senator' all the way to Democratic control of the seat... and now there's a way he might be key to a Democrat retaking a Senate seat from Florida as well. Huzzah!

Help Wanted

by: Mike Hoefer

Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 09:16:17 AM EST

Help Wanted

Democrats of New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District seek a candidate for election to the United Sates House of RepresentativeS in 2010.

Successful candidates will embody the growing progressive nature of this district which includes Concord (State Capital) and the "liberal enclaves" of Keene and Hanover. Must be willing to raise (and spend) approximately 9 million dollars in pursuit of the job. Must enjoy travel to distant and sometimes dangerous lands.

Must be able to lift 50lbs and sit for extended periods of time. Tolerance for "Rubber Chicken" is a plus. Previous experience as an elected official is helpful, but not required.

Health, Dental, and Retirement benefits included. Company cafeteria and various other employee services available (Barber, Cleaners, etc.)  Annual salary is $169,000 and included an Annual Cost of Living increase.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Who's on your short list for NH02 candidates in 2010?

The Legislative Solution

by: RealNRH

Mon Feb 02, 2009 at 19:25:25 PM EST

Still, there are routes to improving the situation. In 2006, there was some discussion down in Connecticut that Joe Lieberman might resign his Senate seat and join Bush's cabinet, thereby handing Republican Governor Jodi Rell the power to appoint his replacement. This failed to inspire great fear, though, because the Connecticut legislature was dominated by Democrats, who made it known that they would immediately pass a bill to either eliminate gubernatorial appointments entirely, or require special elections within a short timeframe, limiting the governor's pick's influence.

Similar options are available in New Hampshire.

The Duration Question

by: RealNRH

Sun Feb 01, 2009 at 17:44:42 PM EST

As Commerce Secretary, Judd Gregg is more or less locked in for a maximum of eight years, possibly just four, and potentially even less than that - and all under the strict oversight of a Democratic White House. He has an entire executive department under his command with thirty-eight thousand employees, but no influence outside of his delineated realm. It's also possible he might just turn out to be a reasonably good manager of that department, and tame his ideological positions under that Democratic oversight. He also lends his stoutly Republican credentials to the Cabinet and might even be able to help persuade some recalcitrant Republican votes along the way.

Senator Bill Gardner?

by: RealNRH

Sat Jan 31, 2009 at 15:32:53 PM EST

First, he's popular around the state and not viewed as overly partisan. He's been supported by Democrats and Republicans alike to hold his current position, and as foremost defender of the New Hampshire Primary, he's got strong credibility as someone who will do what's right for New Hampshire.

Who wil throw their hat in the ring against Gregg?

by: Paradigm Shift

Mon Oct 27, 2008 at 12:29:56 PM EDT

Screenshot: Never Too Early to Think About 2010

by: Dean Barker

Sun Jun 01, 2008 at 07:02:11 AM EDT

Like this one I stumbled on the other day when I took a tour of Open Secrets:

That's a huge cash-on-hand head start for any race that might be out there for 2010.