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The thing I love about Carol's campaigns - it happens every cycle - is the way she is so frugal with her spending and activity at first, to the point of people wondering where the campaign is, and then all of a sudden there is this exponentially blossoming number of items that appear as you get closer to the general election. She has her own tempo for running a race, and by the metrics of the permanent nature of campaigning it shouldn't work. But it does work, and it works exceedingly well.
Because it has been a day full of items from CSP both on the campaign and in Congress, I am just going to paste the various press releases below the fold for your viewing pleasure.
Frank Guinta is whining about Carol Shea-Porter characterizing his positions as extreme, but that's certainly the right word. He tries to pour honey over them with a kind of oblique wording and tone, but it's hard to mistake the reality.
Here, cross-posted after the jump, is an oped I did in last Sunday's Portsmouth Herald that amplify's just that point.
Frank Guinta is out with yet another blatant, black-is-white lie.
Guinta:
Just last week, Shea-Porter signed on to a letter with more than thirty of her far-left colleagues. The letter desperately begged Speaker Pelosi to not hold a vote on the tax cut extension.
Shea-Porter (in the letter to Speaker Pelosi):
As the Bush tax cuts are set to expire, we respectfully urge you to bring to the floor, before Congress adjourns in October, a vote on President Obama's recently proposed tax plan: permanent tax cuts for the middle-class.
If this were an isolated incident, I'd be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Candidates occasionally misspeak. But coming on the heels of his student loan "misstatement", and the "inadvertent oversight” of a mystery bank account, and "forgetting" he signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and denying his record as mayor accepting federal stimulus funds and earmarks, the pattern is clear.
On a day when it's hard not to wonder aloud "What on earth are they thinking!" it's worth noting that when it comes to the Bush tax giveaways for the wealthiest, Carol Shea-Porter is right on the policy, and right on the politics.
Rep. Shea-Porter is a signatory of the notable Kilroy-Grayson-Grijalva House Dem letter, in part:
We must show the American people that our Democratic Majority stands for them -- people who have worked hard, played by the rules and depend on these tax breaks to make ends meet. We also need to get serious about cutting our budget deficit by allowing the Bush tax cuts for the rich to expire.
Some have argued that the Bush tax cuts help to stimulate the economy, or that allowing these cuts to expire would hurt our nation's small businesses. This is flat out wrong. According to a recent report by the Center for American Progress, the economy boasted 132 million jobs in June 2001, the month that the first of the Bush tax cuts was signed into law. By June 2004, there were just 131.4 million jobs -- a decrease of 600,000 jobs. Furthermore, a recent report from the Tax Policy Center states that, "Roughly 97 percent of small businesses would not be affected at all by increases in the top two tax rates."
For the Rest of Us. For Carol Shea-Porter, it is always more than an easy slogan.
Speaking of small biz, and Carol Shea-Porter's priorities like ending the tax giveaways for the wealthy, see the chart that explodes the lie the GOP is peddling on the issue.
Someone named "500kFrank," who is clearly not in any way connected to Sean Mahoney's crowd, started following me and a bunch of other Dems on Twitter a few weeks ago. Here's one of his/her tweets:
I admit I am embarrassed not to have seen this important topic brought up before now. Indeed - could this be the biggest campaign finance scandal in Granite State history?
I'm gonna retweet it, just to make sure we spread the word. Maybe you should too. Speaking of which, have you signed the petition yet? And speaking of Sean Mahoney, a message from Team CSP (email):
[Campaign Manager] Rob Moller's statement was released following the announcement that Sean Mahoney will serve as a Co-Chair of Guinta's campaign.
"Sean Mahoney spent almost $1 million raising what he called "ethical questions" about Frank Guinta. At the WMUR debate Mahoney stated, "I think it's absolutely vital that the party put up a candidate free of ethical clouds." Mahoney went on to say that "The reality is, ethics do matter. Public office is a high public trust."
We agreed with Sean Mahoney then, and we agree with him now."
The Memorial Bridge connects Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine and is the only crossing available for pedestrians and cyclists. It has a life expectancy of only 2 to 5 more years and is at the top of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation's "Red List" of bridges needing repair. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named it one of the nation's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
Monday, in a display of bipartisan unity, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, along with Maine's Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Chellie Pingree, sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressing their support for a TIGER II federal grant to replace the bridge. (Sen. Judd Gregg sent his letter of support previously).
"The bridge is a necessary and valuable point of crossing for our states and if it is not repaired, marine, vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be disrupted. ... Replacing the Memorial Bridge is critical to maintaining regional economic growth and vitality and preserving an essential crossing between our states."
Frank Guinta expressed his opposition.
Asked about whether he would support earmarks for replacement of the Memorial Bridge, [Guinta] said he's taken "a no-earmark pledge." As such, he said, if a project is not a "federal responsibility, other funds than federal funds are going to have to be found. It's a tough stance, and it doesn't mean the project's not worthy. But the budget is $1.3 trillion out of balance. We have to bring the budget into balance."
HuffPo notices what we have seen in Carol Shea-Porter all along. Being proud of one's progressive values, being straightforward with your constitutents, and having a reputation for working hard, produce positive results:
Tom Perriello in Virginia, Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire, Alan Grayson in Florida, Mary Jo Kilroy in Ohio and John Hall in New York all represent swing districts and have cast votes that Washington consultants label "tough." Those tough votes, though, are paying off in unexpected ways: By bucking the conventional wisdom, the progressive Democrats have locked down support among their base and are winning over independents, while Blue Dogs face a dispirited electorate unsure what they stand for.
...Elected and re-elected in progressive election cycles, Shea-Porter hasn't succumbed to pressure to move to the center, focusing intensely on constituent service and articulating the principles that underlie her votes. Shea-Porter is known as one of the hardest workers in the House, a thread that connects her to Grayson and Perriello, who also work overtime to respond to constituent requests, a key to winning support from voters who may disagree politically.
...A Democratic source who's seen internal polls says that Shea-Porter is leading slightly against both leading Republican candidates, Sean Mahoney and Frank Guinta, but has a bigger lead over Guinta.
Carol is uncontested in her primary, and hasn't been getting a lot of attention of late.
But let me be crystal clear: keeping that seat in the hands of one of the most genuine people I have ever met is perhaps my top priority moving into the general election season. This is a winnable race, and as worthy an incumbent as you will find in any house district in the country. Shame on us if we don't do everything we can to stand up for someone who always stands up for the rest of us.
Bonus: click here for pix of CSP's event with Vicki Kennedy in Bedford.
The scene: A bunker deep below the streets of Washington. A bare light bulb covered by a green shade hangs from the ceiling. It swings back and forth casting shadows in the gloomy room. Republican operatives, Secret Agents G, O, and P, huddle over a table below the light.
"We're in trouble. Big, big trouble," says Agent G. "Word of Republican Congressman Paul Ryan's 'Roadmap for America' has leaked. News is spreading about Ryan's plan for Medicare and Social Security that he wants to become law after the November election. The public will be shocked if it finds out about his plan."
"Well, just what's so terrible about Ryan's plan?" says Agent O.
"Just listen," replies Agent G. "Here's what Ezra Klein writes in the Washington Post. 'To move us into surpluses, Ryan's budget proposes reforms that are nothing short of violent. Medicare is privatized. Seniors get a voucher to buy private insurance, and the voucher's growth is far slower than the expected growth of health care costs. Medicaid is also privatized . . . And beyond health care, Social Security gets guaranteed private accounts that CBO (Congressional Budget Office) says will actually cost more than the present arrangement, . . ."
" . . . The money seniors would get to buy their own policies would grow more slowly than their health-care costs, and more slowly than their expected Medicare benefits, which means that they'd need to either cut back on how comprehensive their insurance is or how much health-care they purchase ."
"And here," continues Agent G, "is what Frank Rich writes in the New York Times. 'His (Ryan's) much publicized Roadmap for America's Future . . . not only revives the failed Bush proposal of partially privatizing Social Security but tops him by replacing Medicare with a voucher system that, like Ryan's skewed tax cuts, would benefit the superrich while raising taxes and medical costs for everyone else."
"Well, if Ryan's plan is so bad," says Agent P. "Let's just run from it. Pretend that it isn't a Republican plan."
"We can't do that," replies Agent G. "Too many Republicans have endorsed it. Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy, Pennsylvania senatorial candidate Pat Toomey, Indiana Senate candidate Dan Coats, and Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul all favor Ryan's privatization of Social Security. Do you realize that seniors would have lost trillions during the recession had Social Security been privatized? Because Social Security was government-run and not tied to the plunging stock market, no one lost a penny."
"Okay," says Agent P, "we'll try something else. Let's say that the plan is pie-in-the sky; that Ryan is a nobody so nothing will come from his plan."
"But Ryan isn't a nobody," responds Agent G. "He's very influential. Here's what Frank Rich wrote about Ryan in the Times, 'Take Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who has been relentlessly promoted by the right as the intellectual golden boy of the G.O.P. and who would be elevated to chairman of the powerful budget committee in a Republican House.' After the election, Ryan will be in a great position to put his plan into effect. But we've got to stop voters from finding out about his plan before the election, or they'll be very upset."
"What's the opposition saying about Social Security," says Agent O.
"Democratic congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter signed a letter to the President which reads in part, "We oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age. . . . We also oppose any effort to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part . . . if any of the Commission's recommendations cut or diminish Social Security in any way, we will stand firmly against them." (Barker, Blue Hampshire).
"The voters will like what she said" blurts Agent G, "We're in trouble. Big, big trouble. We can only hope voters don't find out about Ryan's plan before the November election. Just keep your fingers crossed."
This column appeared first in The Forum. It appears here with the permission of The Forum
It's happening. Well, not yet. But a federal court has ruled Don't Ask Don't Tell is a crazy concept and the United States Senate may well be voting on its repeal soon. Of course, we know that Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congresspeople Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes are leading the fight on this cause on behalf of equality and justice.
The Human Rights Campaign and other equality organizations are encouraging calls to our Senators during the next few days. Please, if you support repeal of DADT, and who in their balanced and equalized mind doesn't, make a call.
Senator Judd Gregg can be reached at (202) 224-3324. Senator Jeanne Shaheen's number is (202) 224-2841.
A nice staffer will likely answer, and tell them that you're calling to ask the Senator to push for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
To be successful in the fight against terrorism and the Taliban insurgency, we must create a coherent strategy that works with and not against Afghanistan's tribal structures. I believe this means using a strategy with a light footprint, one that actually succeeded at the beginning of our engagement in Afghanistan, when relatively small numbers of Special Operations forces worked with Afghan tribal militias to throw the Taliban from power and literally chase them from Afghanistan. I support shifting our resources to such a strategy-which I think is likely to be more successful than one with a heavier footprint. An approach with 35,000 additional US and allied troops will not only be costly, in lives and in treasure, but I fear it will be counterproductive. If Afghans resent our increased presence, as can easily happen with the heavy footprint approach, they will be even more inclined to support the Taliban insurgency.
Less than a month ago, 63% of Americans polled by CNN/Opinion research said they opposed the war.
"I'm worried about people who sign the back of the paycheck," countered former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, who touted his efforts to cut taxes during his years in office. "(I'm worried about) the rest of us."
Sorry, Frank. It doesn't work that way.
When you want to bring back pre-existing conditions, re-open the prescription drug donut hole, and privatize Social Security, the last claim you can make is that you're out there for "the rest of us."
Stop borrowing from Carol's success and find some other slogan.
("A loving relationship between two people, entailing rights and responsibilities recognized by the state." No charge, Sean. - promoted by elwood)
I kind of like Sean Mahoney, personally. We've only talked a couple of brief times, but I've followed his career and the things he's done, and I think he's an okay guy. Of course, it takes a lot for me not to like someone because I appreciate most people. I wouldn't vote for him for Congress -- certainly not against Carol Shea-Porter -- but wouldn't mind seeing him on something, like, perhaps Portsmouth City Council someday. Maybe.
I did like his father a lot, who I would talk with frequently about business matters when I was in the NH State Senate. I forget exactly what specific issue it was that we first discussed, but I remember we disagreed rather heavily. But after that we teamed up frequently on some things, and had three or four lunches -- he paid, in those days I didn't have to fill out any forms about who took me to lunch. He was a pleasant fellow who was widely respected.
I've disagreed with Sean Mahoney on many of his views, which I find kind of poll-oriented in his effort to get elected to something. I mean, he has all this money in his bank account, but he probably feels a little unfulfilled at this point of his life, so he wants to get a new title. So, he's hired his pollsters, some staff, filed a few forms, put a lot of ads on TV and radio, and now he stands a chance to join the Washington Republican Club. That would be even better than owning a golf course for young up-and-coming millionaires.
"It is phenomenal . . . I've never seen this type of assistance from any other Congressional leader in the past."
Those were the words of Rochester Police Chief David Dubois in recognizing Rep. Carol Shea-Porter for her work in helping to secure well over $500,000 in funding grants for the Rochester police department.
That funding has allowed the city to purchase a state-of-the-art crime van, laser-guided measurement tools for accident reconstruction and crime scene investigation, laptops and more. Officers have also received training on the new technology thanks to the Congresswoman's office, Dubois said.
Perhaps you saw this ray of light against Alan Simpson and his Catfood Commission yesterday?
Democrats led by Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Raul Grijalva are drawing a line in the sand before the White House's fiscal commission: If your report recommends cuts or other changes to Social Security, they will say, you'll lose our support.
..."We oppose any cuts to Social Security benefits, including raising the retirement age," the letter reads. "We also oppose any effort to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part.... If any of the Commission's recommendations cut or diminish Social Security in any way, we will stand firmly against them."
So I contacted Shea-Porter's office to see if she had heard about the letter and whether or not she is on board with it.
Today I heard back: she is a co-signer of it.
One more reason out of so many to be proud of Carol Shea-Porter and her work in Congress on behalf of the rest of us. Please thank her yourself.
And adding: There are opportunities, some of them widely popular with the public at large, on which to run to the left of the President this fall. This is clearly one of them. The other major one, imo, is getting out of Afghanistan.
Adding-er: Full text of the letter below the fold.
It occurred to me, while reading yet another expose of how absurdly phony Sarah Palin is, just how lucky we are to have Carol Shea-Porter in office.
You can agree with Carol or disagree with her. But there isn't a mountain of gold high enough that can purchase the kind of credibility she has.
Even the wingnuts who plot day and night to come up with phony hit jobs on her know this.
Adding: Politics, of course, is the art of the possible, and compromises and calculations are inevitable even among those candidates one admires. Still, the degree to which Carol has steered clear of that in her two terms is remarkable.
Democrat Carol Shea Porter, the first district incumbent issued a brief statement that tries to put the issue in the past. She says she believes this is a local decision and the city of New York has decided.
Ask Democratic Congressman and senate candidate Paul Hodes about the matter and he'll spend most of his time attacking Republicans for having stirred up a divisive issue but he shies away from endorsing the project.
HODES: I personally think it more appropriate not to have any single religious place of worship built there but I suggest there be an interfaith chapel.
(Oops - meant to promote this yesterday. - promoted by Dean Barker)
What IS it with election time that brings out the worst in politicians? What is it that we want to sound either so fluffy and puffy that we don't say anything that we believe, or we want to appeal to the lowest common denominator so we take "positions" and use "buzz words" that our pollsters say we should emphasize in order to get votes?
Bill Binnie, who if you don't have a television or a Republican mailbox you might not know is running for United States Senate, is saying don't believe the facts about his business career which indicate that he has found a step-by-step way to become wealthy in the global market: 1, move your businesses over the border, 2, pay less for less, 3, and since you don't have to deal with big bad unions or pay those horrible American wages, you can increase your profit margin on what you sell and make more money. Then you can pay for full page ads calling The Union Leader unfactual in reporting the facts. Follow all that? It's Binnie Business 101, and he's trying to get permission to offer a startup class beginning in January.
Then there's this former Manchester mayor guy, who explains that he just forgot his $250,000 bank account. Yep, I understand. But for me, if I misplace a $20 bill I fret about it all day. Was it in that pocket, or this one, or did I leave it in that draw, or in my glove compartment? I guess though if you've got a lot of money and don't live paycheck to paycheck like regular folk, you can misplace and forget about a quarter of a mill. I'm still looking for that $20. If I see the mayor dude I'll ask where his favorite hiding spots are, and that might give me a clue where to look.
This is really one of those click the link and read the whole thing pieces, but in case you were wondering: Carol Shea-Porter is firmly against raising the retirement age on Social Security:
"If you started working at 18 and worked 50 years, you might be a little tired," Shea-Porter said. "That's no time to say 'Oh, by the way, we want you to keep working another five years.'"
Take that, Catfood Commission:
Currently, taxpayers pay into Social Security on each dollar they earn up to $106,800. Shea-Porter suggested, however, that the cap be removed and taxpayers who earn more than that amount continue to pay into the program on earnings above $106,800.
..."If we did that, we could fix a huge part of this problem," Shea-Porter said.
And in case you missed it, btw, this article is a must read for the prevailing SS myths out there.
Of course, if we don't fight hard for Carol, we could have any number of SS privateers waiting to represent the first district.
