My How Times Have Changed

by: Dean Barker

Fri Oct 14, 2011 at 19:01:35 PM EDT

"This is a very volatile environment," he said. "House Republicans have to go back to their districts and defend the indefensible, trying to terminate Medicare in order to fund tax cuts for big oil companies. The more they have to defend that, the greater our districts of winning in states across the country."

...Next year's crop will include several former members of Congress who lost last year as GOP-aligned groups were "stealing elections with nefarious stealth advertising," Israel said.

"We will not allow that to happen again. And so you are talking about different terrain, different environment," he said. "In a presidential election there will be a surge of younger voters that goes to the benefit of Democrats like (former New York Rep.) Dan Maffei, like (former New Hampshire Rep.) Carol Shea-Porter, and goes to the benefit of Democrats throughout the country."

Frank Guinta, meanwhile, has distinguished himself for campaigning on the abolition of Social Security, voting in office for the abolition of Medicare, and, most recently, letting pregnant women die.

I should also add that Carol Shea-Porter's campaign theme of working for "the other 99 percent" is currently experiencing a rebirth in the rapidly growing We Are the 99% movement.

(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)

Quote of the Day: So Much More to Do

by: William Tucker

Sun Sep 25, 2011 at 08:22:45 AM EDT

Today I went to the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention, and hope was soaring in the room! The DNC Chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, spoke eloquently about the work the Democrats did for all Americans, and I was proud that I was part of that historic Congress.

Remember? We passed the Health Care Bill, which, among other things, allowed young people to stay on a parent's plan until age 26 and stopped treating women as a "pre-existing condition." We ended "Too Big to Fail" on Wall Street, passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act, tackled the Iraq War, voted for Credit Card Reform, and kept America from falling into a Depression after the October, 2008 Wall Street disaster. It was the most productive Congress since Roosevelt!

There is so much more to do...

Frank Guinta's Top Priority: Defeating the President

by: Dean Barker

Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 19:14:27 PM EDT

During these tough economic times, the last thing Congress needs to do is place more burden on individuals and small businesses. Providing small businesses tax incentives will allow them to increase their workforce, invest and create jobs.

The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple:  ...it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business.  

...Pass this jobs bill -- pass this jobs bill, and starting tomorrow, small businesses will get a tax cut if they hire new workers or if they raise workers' wages.  Pass this jobs bill, and all small business owners will also see their payroll taxes cut in half next year.  (Applause.)  If you have 50 employees -- if you have 50 employees making an average salary, that's an $80,000 tax cut.  And all businesses will be able to continue writing off the investments they make in 2012.  

Americans were looking to the President for leadership and to chart a new path to lower unemployment tonight.  Instead, they got more failed policy and empty eloquence.

"After spending his whole vacation insisting that he was so bipartisan now that he was friends with Barney Frank, it did not take our current Congressman, Frank Guinta, a New York minute to condemn President Obama's Jobs Program.  One of the top Republican leaders, Rep Eric Cantor, said,  'But there are some things that we can do if we transcend those differences and stick to what the mission here is,' but Frank simply refused to be bipartisan at all, flatly stating, 'they got more failed policy and empty eloquence.'  New Hampshire's First District needs someone who has experience working across the aisle, and I will continue to do just that when I return to Congress."

I think I know why.

(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)

Oh, no, there are no U.S. military burn pits in Afghanistan

by: hannah

Sat Aug 27, 2011 at 10:19:31 AM EDT

The burning of trash has been contracted out to a Texas company.

You may recall this was a priority issue for Congresswoman Shea-Porter. That may account for why there are only twenty burn pits left in Iraq.

But, there are 114 in Afghanistan and no-one to keep records of how many cancers or lung disease the toxins in the smoke produce.

http://www.guernicamag.com/fea...

Perhaps we might get a count of how many veterans in New Hampshire are still being tortured by respiratory constriction.

"We Need Leaders Who Encourage Progress, Not Defeat, and Confidence, Not Despair"

by: William Tucker

Wed Aug 24, 2011 at 06:00:00 AM EDT

While political discourse has taken a dive in terms of civility and substance, actually something far more sinister and frightening is occurring. There are people who are attacking the basic structure of our government and our faith in it.

The attacks are damaging an already fragile trust, and many Americans and the world have responded by becoming increasingly convinced that America's best days are behind us. Confidence and faith in our ability to solve problems are absolutely essential if we are to move forward, but we have irresponsible politicians ... tearing at that faith and trust.

How can this great country recover and grow with this kind of attitude? ... We the people have to keep striving, but we need leaders who encourage progress, not defeat, and confidence, not despair.

NHYD BBQ with CSP, Young Dems National Convention Delegate Selection

by: Douglas E. Lindner

Wed Jul 06, 2011 at 12:17:31 PM EDT

ONE

Come hang out with us this Saturday, July 9th, at our Summer BBQ in Nashua with special guests, former Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and NH Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley! Click here to RSVP on Facebook and here to buy tickets, sponsor, or donate at ActBlue. Tickets are $10 online, $15 at the door.

As always, Young Democrats and young-at-heart Democrats are more than welcome.

TWO

The biennial Young Democrats of America National Convention will take place July 27-30, 2011, in Louisville, Kentucky.  New Hampshire Democrats under 36 are eligible to serve as Delegates. If you're interested, here's what you need to do:

1. If you're not a registered member of the New Hampshire Young Democrats (or not sure), click here and sign up. It's free and instantaneous.
   
2. Fill out the short delegate application form here.

That's it!

The application deadline is July 18th. The Delegation slate will be voted on by the NHYD Executive Board on July 19th, and those selected will be notified as soon as possible. Just keep in mind that Delegates will be responsible for their own travel, hotel, and conference registration; NHYD may or may not reimburse delegates for any or part of those costs.  If you have any questions, I'm serving as Delegation Chair and you can reach me at dlindner@nhyoungdemocrats.org.

(Posted by Doug Lindner, Vice President of Public Affairs, New Hampshire Young Democrats)

Joanne Dowdell vs, Carol-Shea Porter: The Primary

by: Chaz Proulx

Wed Jun 29, 2011 at 22:28:36 PM EDT

With the FEC filing period ending in two days we'll soon have a little idea of the impact  this primary will have on fundraising.

Don't forget, raising money in a primary divides the pot, but that's only half the story.

When the primary goes into high gear, valuable funds ( that should be aimed at Frank Guinta ) are depleted big time.

So is a lot of grassroot energy.

You're thoughts?

Pataki, Meet Kettle

by: Dean Barker

Sat Jun 11, 2011 at 11:46:42 AM EDT

Monday night, I'll be watching to see which candidates have the courage to go beyond focus group-tested sound bites and the fortitude to address the debt in something other than politically safe rhetoric. I'll be listening for specifics.

No American Debt, the organization I launched recently to confront America's debt crisis and hold this President and the candidates accountable, will be comparing debt reduction plans to see who is serious and willing to lead.

...Merely attacking the other candidates won't do either. Unfortunately, early attempts to tackle the debt have been met with hostility and trivial political attacks.

A conservative group led by former New York Gov. George Pataki has launched two nearly identical ads criticizing Democratic Reps. Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire and John Hall of New York for voting for the new health care law. Pataki said the group, called Revere America, would target 10 other Democrats. The ad makes several false and unsubstantiated claims:

       * It claims that the law creates "longer waits in doctors' offices" and that "your right to keep your own doctor may be taken away." The group says those claims are about a Medicare payment program that the law calls for establishing. But it points to an opinion piece that doesn't make those claims at all. The author tells us it's "bogus" to cite his article as support for the ad.

       * The ad falsely calls the health care law "government-run health care." The truth is that - while the legislation will expand regulation of the insurance industry - it builds on our current private health care system and expands business for private insurers.

       * The ad claims "costs will go up," when, in fact, premium costs for most Americans are predicted to stay the same or decrease slightly from where they normally would be. And for many others, federal subsidies will offset premium increases.

First Medicare. Now, Social Security

by: Dean Barker

Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 06:03:09 AM EDT

Interestingly, the head of the NRCC, Rep. Pete Sessions, is now going further.  He wants to destroy Social Security by "reforming" it:

House Republicans on Friday introduced legislation that would allow workers to partially opt out of Social Security immediately, and fully opt out after 15 years.

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, and several other Republicans introduced the Savings Account for Every American (SAFE) Act. Under the bill, workers would immediately have 6.2 percent of their wages sent to a "SAFE" account each year.

That would take the place of the 6.2 percent the workers now contributed to Social Security.

As many will remember, Medicare foe Paul Ryan tried something similar with John E. Sununu and George W. Bush back in 2005; popular opposition to the privatization scheme was widespread and contributed significantly to the Democrats' electoral advantage in 2006.

But I am curious how this plays out for Frank Guinta, who clearly needs the NRCC's help, and who - very clearly - has expressed his desire for the abolition of America's most trusted safety net for seniors:

Adding: an eagle-eyed reader alerts me to the dangers already lurking (.pdf) in the Ryan plan on Social Security.  So one way or another, the push to dismantling the middle class is on.

(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)

Debunking the Latest Carol Shea-Porter Smear

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 20:18:44 PM EDT

Before she was voted out of the first Congressional district in 2010 elections Rep. Carol Shea-Porter formed the self-styled "Middle Class Working Group" with Weiner and the two reportedly were good friends in Washington.

Of course, this guilt by association nonsense is exactly that, nonsense.  But given the lack of credibility of Hynes' past attacks on Shea-Porter, I thought I would reach out to her anyway for an on-the-record comment as to whether there was any truth to the allegations that she and Weiner were "good friends."

Carol responded simply "No, not true. Never socialized."

I think the takeaway from all this is that the right is (correctly) worried about Frank Guinta's re-election prospects now that he's voted to end Medicare, and so any distraction, however untrue, is going to be pounced on.

UPDATE: Hynes follows up with plenty of vapor, yet unable to prove claim that Shea-Porter and Weiner "were good friends."

(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)

"For the Rest of Us" No Empty Slogan

by: Dean Barker

Sat May 28, 2011 at 07:37:03 AM EDT

Here's one fundamental reason, perhaps THE reason:

In an election year where more congressional incumbents were ousted from power than any time since 1948, political action committees were quick to switch allegiances from one party to the other in the aftermath of the historic Democratic losses.

A total of 352 PACs in 53 U.S. House races and two U.S. Senate races gave money to incumbents prior to Election Day only to begin funding the winning challengers immediately after their preferred candidates went down to defeat, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.

That's double the number of PACs that flipped support following the 2008 election.

New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, where Republican Frank Guinta defeated Democratic incumbent Carol Shea-Porter, ranks as the only House district where an incumbent was unseated where no PAC that supported Shea-Porter has since invested in Guinta, according to the Center's research.

Too bad one half of New Hampshire is now represented by Frank Guinta, who gladly takes business PAC money like the rest of the Washington establishment.

Done right, this information could be the basis for a remarkably effective 30-second TeeVee ad.

(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)

Don't Mess with Mother

by: Dean Barker

Mon May 16, 2011 at 05:31:46 AM EDT

What are these men so frightened of?  Mothers.

Carol Shea-Porter, (campaign email):

I spent Mother's Day with my 87 year-old mom. I told her how lucky I was to still have her, and asked her if she was surprised by how long she has lived.  She laughed and replied that she never expected to live this long.  My mother's generation clearly benefited from the best medical care in our history, thanks to Medicare.   Medicare works!

My 87-year-old mother-in-law lives on her own in a small apartment on a widow's pension and her Social Security. A few weeks ago, she was hospitalized for a few days with pneumonia, and her hospital stay was covered by Medicare.

In 2008, more than 200,000 people in our state received benefits from Medicare, which is why I am so disturbed that our congressman and his colleagues voted to jeopardize the health and well being of future retirees.

Offering An Assessment Of Possible Gubernatorial Candidates

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sat Apr 23, 2011 at 11:21:21 AM EDT

Since November, 2012 is just 563 days from now, or just over 80 weeks, it's not too early to consider their strengths or lack thereof.  Here are some of my initial thoughts, in no specific order:

1.  John Lynch. John Lynch should run for a 5th term.  While I didn't support his first race for the nomination -- I supported a lifelong friend, two-time Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Paul McEachern in 2004, Lynch has impressed me greatly.  McEachern didn't win in 2004, but I think he made John Lynch a better candidate, who went on to smash then-Governor Craig .... I forget his name.

Last November was John Lynch's toughest election, but he won, and he won well, and he won with class.  And thank goodness.  Can you imagine today, with this right-wing Legislature, if it was "Governor Stephen" or "Governor Kimball?"  John Lynch saved us from all that.  And his vetoes of horrible bills during the next few months, and next year too, will protect the lives of real people who would otherwise be hurt by some horrible legislation.  By those vetoes, Lynch will feel a renewed spirit of purpose and need.  He can win big in November, 2012.  Let's draft him.

Remembering Frank Guinta: "I'm For It, Although I Voted Against It."

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Tue Feb 22, 2011 at 18:33:07 PM EST

It's amusing -- at least it would be if it wasn't so hypocritical -- to see New Hampshire's other member of Congress, Charlie Bass, also try to make it sound like he's for it although he votes against it.  These two don't think much of us if they think we're going to fall for that pork.  I mean, baloney.  

They both voted last week to gut the $20 million federal funds that we've been planning on to rebuild our bridge.  That money will create jobs and save jobs.  I thought that's what they ran on last year.  Day by day we're learning that it was just a slogan for them to get elected.

At least they could start being honest with us now.  Either they're for us, or they're not.  Either they have to vote to fund it, or they won't.   They can't have it both ways.  They're trying to play to the far right-wingers who want to gut government, but we're seeing that their votes have real-life consequences.  

Those of us who regularly travel over that bridge and the many business owners and other working men and women who rely on that bridge, will know who to thank in November, 2012.  Fortunately for us, Senator Jeanne Shaheen might be able to save the funding, and she proves once again how lucky we are to have her.  Ohh how we miss Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes.

We'll remember Frank Guinta, and his political playmate, Charlie Bass.  There are only 623 days until we can vote to replace them.  It could have been just 622 days, but next year is a leap year so we have to wait one more day.    

Metal Detectors Cost Shea-Porter the Election

by: Dean Barker

Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 20:07:28 PM EST

In 2009, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., also received threats. She responded by holding constituent meetings in federal buildings. People had to pass through metal detectors to get in, and armed officers were present in the rooms and hallways. When people got angry at her because they perceived she wasn't listening, she literally erected barriers between herself and the people. A year later, she lost re-election.

Despite candidate Frank Guinta's attempts to profit off of her legitimate safety concerns.

Political Violence In NH ( The UL Op ed that wasn't)

by: Chaz Proulx

Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 19:04:54 PM EST

Political Violence in HH

Recently the Union Leader, Portsmouth Herald and Nashua Telegraph ran editorials with a similiar complaint--they took Carol Shea-Porter to task for not holding live town meetings during the August Congressional recess. Two of these editorials made reference to the days when an unknown Carol Shea-Porter earned a reputation by asking then-sitting Representative Jeb Bradley very tough questions at live meetings.

I'm an activist-Democrat but I think that all three papers bring up legitimate points about live town hall meetings. But I'm afraid that there is a glaring omission in each editorial.

It's this: All three editorials fail to mention the very real and growing probability of political violence in NH.

Put another way--Jeb Bradley faced Carol Shea-Porter armed with tough relevant questions while Representative Shea-Porter and her followers and the public
are facing armed, viciously angry and anonymous people.

What evidence do I have? Plenty--some firsthand. I've been threatened with death myself. What brought on the threat? I was wearing a Carol Shea-Porter hat at the recent Obama town hall meeting in Portsmouth. A protester and I had a few words, then he urged me to throw the first punch even though I had my hands behind my back. He followed by repeating, "I want to kill you." I believed him.

That incident is anecdotal--more revealing evidence is just a mouse click away.

As some readers may know I wrote a column for three years at NH INSIDER a predominately conservative web site. I was a "voice of the left" so to speak. Over the years I engaged in hundreds of debates in the comments section.

Richard Barnes, a conservative colleague at NH INSIDER has written extensively about gun rights and constitutional issues. Richard's column is widely read--last week he was rated fifth in NH web traffic by Blog Net News.

Following the reports of guns at the recent Obama event in Portsmouth, Richard wrote a series of artivles on the subject including  Democrats Fear of Open Carry ( 1 and 2) and Guns Around Obama.

I engaged Richard in the comments section of his blog about this. We had a long discussion with many revelations, but it all boiled down to my last question and Richard's answer.

My question:  "Have we reached the point where armed patriots are going to go beyond threats?"

Richard's answer: "It wouldn't shock me if we had. People can only be pushed so far before they push back."

Richard also believes that a number of people are carrying hidden weapons. He writes," I'm aware of at least one person who went to both the Republican and Democratic debates during the election who concealed-carried."

A commentator to Richard's column went even further stating: BTW, for anyone confused, there may have been hundreds of people carrying guns at the event. If you don't think so, spend some more time thinking about it."

At least one prominent conservative shares my alarm and has the back bone to confront an ugly trend. David Frum, the former (GW) Bush speechwriter and Republican strategist wrote a telling piece that appeared on August 13, inThe Week.

In Frum's words: "Nobody has been hurt so far. We can all hope that nobody will be. But firearms and politics never mix well. They mix especially badly with a third ingredient--the increasingly angry tone of incitement being heard from right-of-center broadcasters."

Frum sites many examples including this: "Just yesterday, the radio host Sean Hannity openly contemplated violence--and primly tut-tutted that if it occurs, the President will only have himself to blame."

All of this is only the tip of the iceberg of course. The evidence is all around us. Militia groups are on the rise and with a black President, racists are spreading their resentments on fertile ground.

Lastly this: Political murder happens. A year ago on August 13, 2008, Bill Gwatney, the Chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party, was gunned down in his office by a disgruntled man with a gun. No solid motive was ever reported.

I guess the man "snapped."

Will someone "snap" here? The odds are rising every day.

The Top Ten Bogus Attacks Against Carol Shea-Porter

by: Dean Barker

Sun Jan 02, 2011 at 11:08:49 AM EST

Representing a top swing district in the country, Representative Shea-Porter never accepted business PAC money in her fundraising, and never deviated in her words or actions from her core principle of serving "the rest of us" during her time in public office.

Below are the top ten bogus charges made against her in the 2010 cycle by right-wing old and new media, sloppy journalists, Republican candidates, and professional GOP operatives.

Coming soon is a top ten list of Shea-Porter's legislative accomplishments.

Happy New Year, from Carol Shea-Porter

by: Dean Barker

Fri Dec 31, 2010 at 22:39:11 PM EST

Senior citizens -- a demographic that's skeptical of the bill -- will see real benefits. In 2011, the law will begin to close the Medicare Part D coverage gap -- the infamous "donut hole." Seniors who reach the donut hole will now receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs, the first step in a 10 year plan to fill the hole completely. Seniors will also now receive free annual checkups, screenings and other preventive care.

Union Leader Ignores WMUR, Loses Credibility

by: Dean Barker

Thu Dec 30, 2010 at 07:22:17 AM EST

She's right that she didn't specifically say that the Chinese cost her the election. But she's wrong that it was only "right-wing bloggers" (another liberal Bogey Man) who made that connection. The respected Capitol Hill newspaper "The Hill" did, too.

Or that WMUR's News9 team confirmed that the original NHJournal piece was bogus.

But the vast majority of Union Leader readers will never know this.

I think this is a good time to front page this comment:

Only a Matter of Time...  (4.00 / 5)  

The Union Leader's decision to drop the AP may be the latest step in the slow demise of New Hampshire's only statewide newspaper.

As previously noted here, the paper's circulation has dropped from around 100,000 in 1990 to just under 50,000 in 2010. The paper took steps to further limit circulation last spring by combining its Friday and Saturday editions outside the greater Manchester area.

I expect to see the Union Leader continue to pull back from the borders of the state and focus on the compact, affluent and easier-to-cover greater Manchester market management is already selling to advertisers - from Derry and Merrimack north to Goffstown and Hookett. The switch from AP to the Reuters/McClatchy tag team will save money but will inevitably leave the UL unprotected on breaking local news stories around the state, the kind of local news that motivates casual readers on the Seacoast, in the Upper Valley, in Keene and Conway to grab a copy of the UL off the rack at their local store.

Dead trees, ink and the fuel and personnel costs of reporting the news and distributing the paper across the state are becoming more unsustainable every month. The Union Leader, like papers everywhere, knows the future is digital - but has no idea how to monetize its electronic incarnation.

So what we have here is a race between the business and editorial elements of the paper - will there be any journalism left to sell by the time the Union Leader figures out how to sell it?
by: Tim Ashwell @ Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 09:25:51 AM EST

WMUR Fact Checks NHJournal's Shea-Porter Fable

by: Dean Barker

Wed Dec 29, 2010 at 19:37:35 PM EST

This is how NHJournal's Shawn Millerick presented the ABC interview:

Shea-Porter implies Chinese cost her election, helped Guinta

Outgoing Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter implied the Chinese cost her re-election in November and secretly funneled money to help her Republican opponent Frank Guinta during a post-election interview with ABC News.

News 9 watched the roundtable interview, and the host's question and Shea-Porter's lead-up to that statement never mentioned her election loss or her opponent, Frank Guinta.

But bloggers used that quote and others from different parts of the interview to claim Shea-Porter was blaming anonymous Chinese donations to Guinta for her loss.

The Hill, the Wall St. Journal, Politics Daily, and Real Clear Politics have all since altered their headlines or contents of this upon learning the truth.

Had they taken some very simple steps in standard practice journalism, or exhibited basic critical thinking for that matter, such as watching the short interview for themselves, or contacting the Congresswoman to confirm, these allegedly reputable news sources would not have egg on their faces right now.