Chris Christie's $400 Haircut

by: JimC

Wed Jun 01, 2011 at 12:02:35 PM EDT

Right before the lineup cards were being exchanged on the field, a noise from above distracted the spectators as the 55-foot long helicopter buzzed over trees in left field, circled the outfield and landed in an adjacent football field. Christie disembarked from the helicopter and got into a black car with tinted windows that drove him about a 100 yards to the baseball field.

During the 5th inning, Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie got into the car, rode back to the helicopter and left the game. During a pitching change, play was stopped for a couple of minutes while the helicopter took off.

The game was being held at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale in Bergen County. Christie watched the game from the stands, flanked by State Police security guards.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...

As a reminder, former Mass. Governor Jane Swift got in big trouble (political trouble anyway) for using a helicopter to go home and babysit her infant twins.

Say goodbye to your VP slot, Gov. Christie, if the press pays attention to this.

Right to Work for Less - This week

by: susanthe

Sun May 22, 2011 at 09:59:25 AM EDT

On the topic of this week's right to work vote:

Democrats and unions are fighting hard to keep people in line to back the veto. Republicans and conservatives are trying to pull enough votes over to their side. By O'Brien's reckoning, he needs to persuade about 15 people to reach the two-thirds majority it would take to override the veto.

Those Republicans who won't come along are being asked to "take a walk" when the vote is taken. The more lawmakers who wander away during the vote, the fewer votes O'Brien needs to get to two-thirds.

In other words, the O'Brien junta is (instructing..oops)  asking those GOP caucus members who won't toe the line to take a walk, rather than represent the voters they were elected to represent.

Fahey goes on to mention our own Jennifer Daler's election, and points out that she'll be sworn in in time to vote - meaning O'Brien has to (make more threats..oops)  find more votes.

Fahey spoke to some Nashua reps on the topic of the newly elected Rep. Daler:

Sen. Jim Luther and Sen. Gary Lambert, both of Nashua, said they felt voters were sending a message to throttle back on extraneous issues and focus on taxes and the economy.

"We've had a lot of discussion about it," Luther said. "You've got to have the sense that something is going on out there. And right in Bill O'Brien's back yard? That's an issue."

Dean's been asking when the House Republicans would realize they have an O'Brien problem. It sounds as if they're starting to.  

Rachel Maddow covers NH voter fraud

by: susanthe

Wed May 18, 2011 at 23:21:27 PM EDT

After the show she tweeted:

maddow Rachel Maddow MSNBC
Credit to Blue Hampshire@bh  for the illegal "must show photo ID" sign we showed tonight at NH polling place:

That's right - she mentioned and linked to BH. You'll have to take my word for it, but she linked to Harrell Kirstein's blog yesterday about the incident in New Boston. I just couldn't make her link work with our software, and I finally got too irritated by it and gave up.

But anyhow - Rachel Maddow tweeted about BH! w00t!  

When You Don't Know Who You're Voting For

by: susanthe

Wed May 11, 2011 at 21:16:37 PM EDT

Similar to the Martin Harty fiasco, Mrs. Kenney was voted in because she was a Republican. She wasn't well known, and she didn't do well at voter forums - but she had an R next to her name. Sadly for the county, she replaced Chip Albee, who was regarded by folks from both parties as an exemplary commissioner.

I'm shocked at Asha Kenney's behavior at this meeting. She's openly rude and hostile to constituents,  and clearly has no clue about the position she was elected to.

.  

The Birthers are Coming to Town

by: susanthe

Thu Apr 21, 2011 at 10:29:38 AM EDT

On his first visit to the state next week, Trump will be involved in a series of meetings with key Granite Staters, including NHGOP Chairman Jack Kimball.

It will be interesting to see how Jack Kimball deals with the birther issue, since it seems to be the sole plank in Trump's platform.  

Is This What You Voted For? Part 2

by: susanthe

Fri Apr 15, 2011 at 17:36:42 PM EDT

The current NH legislature has a GOP majority, comprised of a few old-school Republicans, mixed in with Free Staters (who moved to NH with the stated goal of dismantling our state government), Tea Partiers, and John Birchers. Thus far, they've caused our state more negative national attention than we've gotten since Pat Buchanan won the NH primary.

Bass Snagged in Jefferson

by: susanthe

Wed Mar 23, 2011 at 05:00:00 AM EDT

Charlie began by telling us he'd been worried that people would be fearful of coming to town hall meetings after the shooting of Gabrielle Gifford. He isn't afraid, and he's sure we're safe, but just in case, the sheriff is in the back of the hall. Seeing as how everyone else knows it's not open season on Republicans, no one seemed concerned.  

Dizzying Costs

by: Jennifer Daler

Thu Mar 03, 2011 at 17:31:42 PM EST

The House is priding itself on its fiscal conservatism, but many of the bills that are going through (or are they? Are they being retained? recommitted?)will cost the state millions of dollars. Just where that money is supposed to come from is a question we should all be asking, especially since services for the elderly, disabled, young children, the mentally ill are being eviscerated.

But we do have money to end our participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which will not lower anybody's electric bill, but would cost the state $12 million in revenue.

The new parental notification bill will cost the state $200,000 a year in judicial by-pass hearings according to NHCLU executive director Clare Ebel. That doesn't count the cost to the state of defending the bill in court when the inevitable lawsuit comes. The last one cost the state $300k in a payout to Planned Parenthood, not counting the hours the AG's office spent defending it all the way to the US Supreme Court.

The bill to demand food stamp recipients be urine tested will cost between $3,526,380 and $7,411,140 annually according to the fiscal note on the bill. The fiscal note also says "catching" people will not save the state one penny because food stamps are a federally funded program.

Then we have to bill to force Attorney General Michael Delaney to join a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. That will also wind up in court if it passes, as will the case against Manchester Democratic State Rep Michael Brunelle.

HB176, the bill to disenfranchise student voters will also wind up in court if it passes, as will many, many more.

HB590 is a study bill, however, it would say the NH House declares federal grants to be unconstitutional and a committee would be set up to study this and make further recommendations. I suppose it doesn't occur to the new majority that NH taxpayers are also US taxpayers and are due some benefits from that.

The irony is that while Speaker O'Brien is saying we have to cut $50 million immediately from the budget, all these expenditures are okay with him. As long as no public money goes to the health, education or welfare of citizens, no amount is too much for the new majority.  

Guinta: Protecting his Constituency

by: susanthe

Wed Mar 02, 2011 at 11:22:58 AM EST

I will work tirelessly to find places to cut the budget and implement savings; I have outlined many specific proposals during the campaign. I do not feel, however, that LIHEAP's New Hampshire program, which served over 35,000 households last year, is an appropriate place to cut."

Frank's no dummy,  he knows that letting poor folks freeze to death isn't a good re-election strategy. He voted against funding Planned Parenthood, because women should be forced to serve as incubators in Frankworld. And if some of them get ovarian cancer - oh well. There are plenty more women around. They're the disposable gender. Plus it'll save taxpayers some $363 million! Those kinds of savings are worth cutting off cancer, HIV, and STD  testing, and contraception for low income women.

Frank showed he has what it takes to be tough on low income women, but he's a marshmallow when it comes to Big Oil. He voted AGAINST cutting taxpayer subsidies to oil companies - along with all of his fellow Republicans.

For the typical American, I suspect this will seem hard to understand. In the face of fiscal challenges, Republicans are ready to slash funding in education, health care, job training, and national security, but they're not willing to end taxpayer subsidies -- our money -- for the oil industry? An industry that's already enjoying extraordinary profits?

Also note, ending the subsidies would save the federal government tens of billions of dollars, making a significant dent in the deficit-reduction campaign that Republicans pretend to care about. It's a reminder that the GOP's commitment to fiscal responsibility is shaped in large part by who'll suffer as a result of the cuts -- working families can feel the brunt of the budget ax, under the GOP vision, but ExxonMobil can't.

Every time Americans go to the pump -- which is becoming more painful all the time -- Democrats want consumers to remember, "You're not only paying higher prices for gas, your tax dollars, thanks to Republicans, are also subsidizing the oil companies themselves."

For the record, ending those subsidies would be a savings of $40 billion.

Here's the roll call The Bass master also voted to continue socialist subsidies for Big Oil.

After all, it's Big Oil and the rest of their pals in big biz that'll be ponying up the big bucks for their reelection campaigns. Corporate America is their real constituency.  

Walker's Roadmap

by: Jennifer Daler

Fri Feb 25, 2011 at 17:20:05 PM EST

h/t Joan McCarter

Getting Rid of the Democratic Party?

by: Jennifer Daler

Sat Feb 19, 2011 at 07:21:17 AM EST

This is long but worth watching.

Back home in New Hampshire, we are being bombarded by a blitzkreig of crazy. From defunding Planned Parenthood, and  NHPTV, to taking away civil rights from a group of people (or better yet, taking marriage away from everybody), taking NH out of the Regional Greehouse Gas Initiative, attempting to remove a sitting Rep for no reason, starting a state militia. The list is seemingly endless.

Here is a list of bills affecting NH election law.  The main goal is to disenfranchise potential Democratic voters.

We need to be awake to this now and resist this attempt to turn us into a one party system.

Oh, and why is it that when the Democrats are in power, there is endless talk of "bipartisanship", "working together" and "agreeing to disagree", and  when the Republicans win, they apply their steel toed jack-boots to  the Democrats' collective jugular and press down? And the press calls it the "normal strategy" of the winners.

Next Up: Disenfranchising Young Adults

by: Jennifer Daler

Fri Feb 18, 2011 at 08:43:34 AM EST

HB 176 would take away the right of students, military personnel and others to vote in the town in which they reside for school or duty unless they can prove they have lived there prior to study or service and plan to continue living there.

This bill was filed ostensibly to prevent voter fraud, which recent investigations by the Secretary of State's office have shown to be close to non-existent. Could the real reason be this little slip of the lip by Speaker O'Brien?

He said students in college towns register to vote on Election Day "and are basically doing what I did when I was a kid and foolish, voting as a liberal.

"That's what kids do," he said. "They don't have life experience and they just vote their feelings. And they've taken away the town's ability to govern themselves. It's not fair."

This bill is really about disenfranchising potential Democratic voters, nothing more. Often elderly parents of NH residents are moved to NH nursing homes from out of state. Should they lose the right to vote? Should renters lose the right to vote? They may not be planning to stay in a town or city long enough to appease the new Republican majority.

Back in the real world, the town administrator of Rindge, home to Franklin Pierce University, had this to say (quotes from The Monadnock Ledger, 2/10/11):

" It is hard to deny the fact that students represent a major portion of our population."

"Their presence here in town has been a contributing factor for retailers to locate or expand here."

The presence of the university and its students helps Rindge economically. Disenfranchising them would negatively affect the local economy.

Focused like a laser on jobs or on killing the Democratic Party?

The hearing on HB176 will be held Thursday, February 24 at 2pm in Reps Hall. This is not only about disenfranchising students and military personnel. Our two party system is at stake.

Death Cab for Elmo

by: Jennifer Daler

Wed Feb 16, 2011 at 15:00:00 PM EST

HB 113, prohibiting the university system of New Hampshire from using state appropriations to fund public television.  OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT.

Rep. Karen C Umberger for Finance:  This bill with amendment eliminates any state general funds from being provided to  New Hampshire Public Television.  The university system had been providing general fund money to support New Hampshire Public Television.  The committee believed this was not the proper way to spend taxpayer dollars.  Vote 19-6.

How did your rep vote ?

Pedalling Backwards, Part 2

by: Jennifer Daler

Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 09:09:14 AM EST

The latest is the withdrawal of Lars Christiansen's (R-Hudson) petition on behalf of a convicted child rapist. The petition was pulled late Friday, according to Fahey's column. But the more interesting bit is what happened earlier on Friday.

O'Brien said early Friday he had reviewed the petition and found "nothing scandalous in it" and let it proceed. He said the grievance process is guaranteed under the state constitution.

So the Speaker of the NH House had no problem with that until his Majority Leader spoke against it.

O'Brien had approved the Dupont petition for further action. After Bettencourt spoke up, O'Brien backed off.

The motion to remove Rep. Mike Brunelle (D-Manchester) has been put on hold again

The informational session with constitutional scholars, which developed out of a Republican attempt to oust Democratic Manchester Rep. Mike Brunelle from office on constitutional grounds, has been postponed from Jan. 27.

Meanwhile, after the unpopular reception the Brunelle issue got, Democrats were trying to keep it in the news last week. Deputy House Democratic Leader Mary Jane Wallner asked Republican leaders to sign an "open government pledge." Among the items: "Members of the Legislature will not attempt to remove other elected members of the General Court simply for offering a different viewpoint" - which is what Democrats contend Republicans did to Brunelle.

And last, but not least,  repeal of marriage equality has supposedly been placed on the back burner.

Same-sex marriage remains a deeply controversial issue,'' Bettencourt said. "This assault on our agenda has the potential to take important focus and energy away from our focus on the budget.

"Therefore, it is my belief that the same-sex marriage repeal must be retained in the Judiciary Committee this year so that our full and undivided attention is focused on New Hampshire's outstanding financial issues."

I guess they're putting it off to leave themselves some "wiggle room" on the subject. But will NOM  stand for it?

Focused Like a Laser

by: susanthe

Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 16:58:33 PM EST

The new, GOP dominated NH legislature has been sworn in, and begun to act. As you will recall, they campaigned on "cut spending, cut taxes, jobs, jobs, jobs." These newly minted legislators intended to focus "like a laser" on spending cuts and job creation. A look at the priorities thus far could give one the impression that they need a new laser. For those readers who are musically inclined, it would not be inappropriate to sing, "Send in the Clowns" as you read.  

Open Thread: The Budget Beast

by: Jennifer Daler

Wed Jan 19, 2011 at 08:35:11 AM EST

a number he likes because, as the "mark of the beast," it is symbolic of the deficit devil New Hampshire faces. Republicans also say they intend to eliminate or reduce taxes and fees.

So now we're using imagery from Revelation as part of our public policy debate? Well, as the Monitor says, the result of eliminating revenue streams will

make the budget beast even bigger and more fearsome.

If the budget deficit is huge, nothing short of eviscerating state government will spare cities and towns cuts in state aid. Municipalities are also likely to see increased local welfare costs as a result of cuts in state social programs.

It's downshifting on the local property tax payer yet again. Stay tuned for a return to "lowballed" agency budgets and visits to the fiscal committee for some off-line supplemental funding.

This is an open thread.
h/t Dean

How Far We Have Come

by: GreyMike

Sun Dec 19, 2010 at 17:47:54 PM EST

Here are a couple of passages that stood out for me.

First, at Scrooge and Marley's, two gentlemen enter (boldface mine):

`Scrooge and Marley's, I believe,' said one of the gentlemen, referring to his list. `Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?'

`Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years,' Scrooge replied. `He died seven years ago, this very night.'

`We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner,' said the gentleman, presenting his credentials.

It certainly was; for they had been two kindred spirits. At the ominous word `liberality,' Scrooge frowned, and shook his head, and handed the credentials back.

`At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, `it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.'

`Are there no prisons?' asked Scrooge.

`Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

`And the Union workhouses?' demanded Scrooge. `Are they still in operation?'

`They are. Still,' returned the gentleman, `I wish I could say they were not.'

`The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?' said Scrooge.

`Both very busy, sir.'

`Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,' said Scrooge. `I'm very glad to hear it.'

`Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,' returned the gentleman, `a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink. and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?'

`Nothing!' Scrooge replied.

`You wish to be anonymous?'

`I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. `Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.'

`Many can't go there; and many would rather die.'

`If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, `they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that.'

`But you might know it,' observed the gentleman.

`It's not my business,' Scrooge returned. `It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!'

Sometime later, Scrooge is confronted with the two grotesque children concealed beneath the Second Spirit's robe:

This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. `Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end.'

`Have they no refuge or resource.' cried Scrooge.

`Are there no prisons.' said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. `Are there no workhouses.' The bell struck twelve.

This holiday season, I wish similar portentous dreams be visited upon members of the party of Me; even Scrooge was capable of redemption in the end.

I am also most afraid of that doom-browed boy. Somehow that writing keeps reappearing.

Eye on Marriage

by: Jennifer Daler

Sat Dec 18, 2010 at 18:55:23 PM EST

Joe Solomonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC, had an op-ed in today's Concord Monitor. In it he stated that voters care about jobs and the economy, not about repealing same sex marriage. But

Nonetheless, the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for Marriage, the nation's leading anti-gay organization, is lobbying the State House to support repeal legislation in January. NOM's president has declared, after spending nearly $1 million in an unsuccessful push to defeat Gov. John Lynch, "We will now fight for a vote on a constitutional amendment and a repeal of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire."

Peter Cassels of Edge on the Net, had this to say back in November (bold mine):

"In New Hampshire, we flipped the state Legislature," boasted NOM President Brian Brown in a blog post. "And not only flipped it, but it now looks like we have veto-proof majorities in both legislative houses. We will now fight for a vote on a constitutional amendment and a repeal of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. And we look forward to the Legislature overriding any veto that John Lynch might attempt."

Apparently, NOM is taking credit for the Republican victories in New Hampshire.

The state's Republican legislative candidates had campaigned on a platform of addressing the budget deficit and creating jobs. They downplayed their social agenda.

According to Elwood's social issues LSR diary, there are four potential bills dealing with this subject.

It will be interesting to see whether the Republican majority is representing the citizens of New Hampshire or out of state hate group NOM. Time will tell.  

Apropos of Not Much

by: StraffordDem

Fri Dec 17, 2010 at 14:58:40 PM EST

It is almost inevitable that we will face state and municipal budget cuts and contractionary measures, but is this part of the GOP secret plan to destroy public unions?  I thought I was worried about the BAB program - James Pethokoukis of Reuters takes it to a new level with solid analysis.

There are many liberal economists who think that untethering SS from the regressive payroll tax would make it easier to protect the program from demagogery and be a boost to the economy.  It's a new way of thinking for me, and I'm trying to keep an open mind while digesting the info.  Marshall Auerbach and Randall Wray explain.  

I need to learn more about the Fed and monetary issues.  James K. Galbraith thinks this short book by Warren Mosler is a good place to start.  Freebie, but PDF warning.

During the 1936 presidential campaign, the swamp creatures were out in full force, striking fear into the hearts of citizens that FDR and his band of socialists were re-branding America.  Social Security, according to these conservative stalwarts, was a hoax, and that Americans would be forced to wear dog tags so that the government could keep track of the program.  Why am I telling you this?  Because the chairman of the Social Security Board, John G. Winant retired from his position to engage the fear mongers and refute the GOP charges.  Winant was a very popular Republican former Governor of the Granite State.  Those were the days, my friends.

Finally, my Don Quixote La Strafford boycott on the Festival of Consumption continues.  It's difficult to stand apart within your family as celebrations evolve around wrapped gifts.  On the other hand, within the past three days, I've had four people tell me that they are completely stressed out about gifts and people.  The countdown has begun.  My stress is different - becoming comfortable with the uneasiness that a conscientious objector can bring to a gathering.  

This traditional Ode to Christmas on NPR always makes me feel a little better.  Maybe you heard it this a.m.

Are There No Workhouses?

by: susanthe

Fri Dec 03, 2010 at 05:50:07 AM EST

Tara Reardon, commissioner of the state's Department of Employment Security, said 4,700 people in New Hampshire have already exhausted all eligibility for unemployment compensation. Now that the program has expired, by the end of the year an additional 3,000 will be left without unemployment benefits and 9,000 more will lose benefits by April if the program is not reinstated by then, Reardon said.

The fastest growing segment of the homeless population is women over 50. A long term (over 6 months) unemployed person over the age of 50 may never find another job.

Here's what a NH Republican has to say:

Grant Bosse, a lead investigator with the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a New Hampshire free-market think tank, said the government should find places to cut spending if it's going to extend unemployment benefits.

I'd sure like to hear him explain that to Karen Morgan. These are real lives being hurt by the Party of No. Every newspaper in the country should be telling these stories, every single day.