Rep. Baldasaro Should Step Down After Troubling Comments About Those Serving the Nation

by: JeffBallardforSenate

Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 20:44:52 PM EDT

"Rep. Baldasaro should have immediately apologized for his shameful comments after the Republican Presidential Debate. As a veteran and a New Hampshire citizen, I found his applauding the booing of an Iraq War Veteran appalling. Rep. Baldasaro may have freedom of speech, but it exists because Stephen Hill, the veteran he called a 'disgrace,' risked his own life to protect it. It is no excuse for his inappropriate comments."

Rep. Baldasaro uses his credentials as a retired Marine Corps First Sargent to speak as a subject matter expert on Military Affairs. With such statements he is bringing discredit on our Military's Senior Non-Commissioned Officers whose role is not to make policy, but rather to enforce it and maintain order within the ranks. It is also the Senior NCO's role to protect soldiers like SGT Hill who is exercising his lawful right as an American Soldier. Rep Baldasaro's statements undermine his fellow Senior NCO's who are trying to maintain good order and military readiness during our ongoing hostilities in Afghanistan and contingency operations around the globe.

"Republican House Speaker Bill O'Brien should immediately call for him to resign and remove him as Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the State House. Rep. Baldasaro is clearly incapable of being an advocate for all veterans. Republican State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley should also call on Rep. Baldasaro to resign; he should make clear that this kind of language is not the official position of New Hampshire Republican Party."

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Call for Chairman Kimball to apologize

by: JeffBallardforSenate

Thu Aug 25, 2011 at 14:21:52 PM EDT

Today I am calling on Chairman Kimball to issue an official apology to the families of the 37 Granite Staters killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in the post 9/11 years. Contrary to Chairman Kimball's own believes of his own self worth, one of the most horrific things to happen to New Hampshire has been the loss of those lives and all of that potential. His departure could not even begin to hold a candle to the horrors of such loss. The fact the Mr. Kimball could even put himself in the same category as these warriors shows just how out of touch he has become since his own time in the Navy.

The next time a Granite Stater lays down his or her life for their country, that will be the most horrific thing for New Hampshire. If Mr. Kimball has any leadership abilities at all he will apologize for these selfish statements.

This is not the first time that Mr. Kimball has compared something as trivial as partisan politics to either the military or his own ego. In June Mr. Kimball said the following "Look at who we put in the White House. You think about that and we realize the profound responsibility that we have this time. In my view, if we re-elect this man, all that all of the people fought and died for is completely in vain."

As a veteran of Afghanistan I am deeply insulted that he would compare my Brothers and Sisters loss of life to his own position or to that of the Presidency. We need real leaders today, not more empty suits who can not value the sacrifice made by our lower and middle classes in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Aloha Blue Hampshire!

by: CarrollCountyDem

Mon Aug 22, 2011 at 10:40:11 AM EDT

While so many of you now know me, or have at least come to know of my postings as CarrollCountyDem, this will likely be my last posting as CarrollCountyDem for some time. I will soon be posting under the handle JeffBallardforSenate. So it is more of an Aloha!

I make this change as I kick off my campaign for the State Senate in SD-3.  I have known for some time that this change would come and I started laying the ground work for this in 2008. The 3 years since have flown by and now I am ready and fired up to go.

I don't have to rehash what 2010 brought us, but little did we know that we would so quickly have the momentum come back to us.  I spoke of the natural swing of the pendulum this spring at a Carroll County Democrats meeting and how happy I was that the NHGOP didn't just let the natural swing happen, but they have actually pushed the pendulum back towards us!

Today we are sadly witnessing the effects of the "Tea-Staters" and we are all feeling the effects. My employer, Wentworth Douglass Hospital recently announced 45 layoffs. One of my friends was impacted by that when she lost her long time job in a facility which she truly loved and put her heart into. Additionally many of my former coworkers at Rockingham Ambulance are losing their jobs at the end of September. This is happening at almost every hospital in the state.

Jeff Ballard's Memorial Day in Afghanistan

by: JonnyBBad

Wed Jun 02, 2010 at 08:39:45 AM EDT

Hello Friends!

I hope you all had a safe and happy Memorial Day!  Our Memorial day was pretty
uneventful which is a good way for us to spend it.  Our chow hall was decorated, and
the food was great.

So much has gone on since I last wrote to you all.

I first want to thank EVERYONE who have sent packages!  I have tried hand writing
letters to everyone, but I have become overwhelmed, so please consider this a thanks
and know that everything is very appreciated!

I have been very busy as of late.  The fighting season really kicked off about two
weeks ago.  If you have been watching the news, you saw the reports of the big
attack on Bagram Air Force Base.  The Vermont Guard was involved in that, and as you
could read on WCAX, 5 members were injured, but none life threatening.  While that
was going on, our area picked up a lot with attacks to the north and south of where
I am located.

While I was not involved with any of the initial attacks, I was able to be part of
the QRF (Quick Reaction Force) to one of the more serious ones.  By the time we
arrived it was over so luckily there was no excitement for me!

more below, along with a request for help with equipment