WMUR's John Stephen Show -- Endless Loop

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sun Feb 28, 2010 at 10:44:44 AM EST

There was something wrong with my reception, and all I got was an endless loop of the same minute of play -- he was introduced for 45 seconds and then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

Then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

Then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

Then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

Then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

Then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

Then he was asked about his pending candidacy for Governor, and he said John Lynch was a nice man and that we have a spending problem not a revenue problem, but he offered no solutions.

At the End of the Day, Former NHYD Prez to Run for Gov

by: Dean Barker

Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 21:10:11 PM EST

John Stephen to run for governor

CONCORD - Updated, 7:53 p.m. Confirming earlier reports in the New Hampshire Union Leader and on UnionLeader.com, the lifelong Manchester resident and former state health and human services commissioner said he'll become a candidate next week

Someday, I hope that yet another former NHYD President will run for governor, too.  But I strongly suspect that if Garth or Jim runs, they'll do it as Democrats.

*Adding: lolz- actually earlier in the day for WMUR, who actually broke the news.

Shorter Republican Status (02/25/10)

by: Dean Barker

Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 07:47:51 AM EST

I double-dutch promise you, with cherry on top: there will be a GOPer to go up against Gov. Lynch who isn't named Jack Kimball or Karen Testerman. Just be patient already!

John Stephen's flawed take on Democrats, by Peter Burling

by: DRicher

Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 08:41:26 AM EST

Recently, John Stephen has been very public and very vocal. It is obvious he is considering a run for public office - again. But his outlandish claims and partisan attacks serve as a quick reminder as to why so many were thankful when he left state government and why voters within his own party have time and again rejected him at the polls.

During his years of government service, many considered John Stephen the most untrustworthy person in state government. You could never trust whether he was giving you true information or trying to advance his own narrow personal agenda. Unfortunately, most of the time it was the latter.

John Stephen was a disaster as Health and Human Services commissioner, doing nothing to better deliver services or lower his department's cost structure and bottom line. Instead, he added layers of bureaucracy and made the organization top heavy. HHS is going through a major reorganization right now as a result. In fact, as Commissioner of Health and Human Services, he asked for $428 million - or 13 percent increase - in his budget. He claimed those were just his "maintenance" costs.

As it was with his tenure at HHS, Stephen is not only misguided in his attacks on state Democratic leaders, he is also just plain wrong. He offers nothing more than tired partisan rhetoric and again fails to offer any constructive, innovative or realistic ideas to promote meaningful reform or economic development.

Contrast that to the work of Gov. John Lynch and Democrats in the legislature. Over the last 18 months, our state has been battered by the worst recession since the Great Depression. As a result, families and businesses have struggled as the unemployment rate has steadily increased.

Yet, look around. New Hampshire's unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the region, not to mention the entire country. Economists point out that New Hampshire has weathered this recession better than the surrounding New England states and will likely lead the region in recovery.

Gov. Lynch and the Democrats cut state spending in this current budget, and balanced it without major new taxes - despite the fact that baseline revenues were projected to be at 2004 levels and demands for services were growing.

Gov. Lynch and the Democrats in the Legislature passed a research-and-development tax credit to help nurture innovative new businesses. They created a Job Training Fund that is helping thousands of workers and companies across the state. They lowered the insurance premium tax to bring new businesses and jobs to New Hampshire.

Under Governor Lynch and the Democrats, New Hampshire has worked to help address the high cost of health care for small businesses. New Hampshire HealthFirst, which launched Oct. 1st, is offering small New Hampshire businesses a more affordable health insurance option. It is a comprehensive health plan that is on average 15 to percent less expensive than comparable plans.

Gov. Lynch and the Democratic legislature have worked to help businesses thrive and grow in New Hampshire, have continued to foster a business friendly environment that will help attract new companies and emerging industries.

But for some reason John Stephen thinks Gov. Lynch and the Democrats aren't focused on economic growth. How could that be when the evidence proves the contrary?

What Stephen and Republicans seem to ignore is that this country is reeling from a recession that began under the leadership of a Republican president and a Republican Congress. They like to pretend it's not happening and blame Democrats for these difficult financial times. Stephen and his cronies are taking that same bury-your-head-in-the-sand mentality that got us into this mess in the first place.

Of course, it would be too much to ask of him to be able to recognize real leadership.

Peter Burling of Cornish is a former state senator and current Democratic National Committeeman.

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

NH-Gov: Retread Follies

by: Dean Barker

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 19:24:02 PM EST

Former state Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen met with the Republican Governor's Association at their Washington office this Tuesday, an encouraging sign for some Republicans who have been urging him to challenge Democratic Gov. John Lynch next year.

Now What Is John Stephen Running For?

by: BurtCohen

Wed Oct 07, 2009 at 15:34:16 PM EDT

Who's the featured speaker? That "champion of Granite Care," John Stephen!

Hoo boy, now what's he running for?

Stephen on Capitol Hill

by: Jennifer Daler

Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 06:53:54 AM EDT

Speaking of health care, former state health and human services commissioner John Stephen is working with Republican Sen. John Cornyn's staff on Capitol Hill in offering "real time" reviews of and reports on the ever-changing "Obamacare" plan. This puts Stephen in the middle of Senate Finance Committee deliberations on the issue.

He's also been busy advising the Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, a Democrat, on Medicaid issues. Hopefully it goes better  than it did in Rhode Island.

Will Crabgate Block Johnny Stephen/John E. Sununu Candidacies?

by: Kathy Sullivan 2

Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 11:53:14 AM EST

A friend just reminded me of this prior post from Dean about Todd Boulanger and Johnny Stephen:

Republican 1st District U.S. House candidate John Stephen will meet potential Washington-based supporters at a meet-and-greet in the nation's capital tonight.
Invitations sent by lobbyist Todd Boulanger, a former associate of Jack Abramoff, say, "Come hear first-hand why John will be the winner of the September 9 primary and go on to defeat Porter (sic)," referring to Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.

http://www.bluehampshire.com/s...  

So, out of curiouso, I checked Boulanger's 2008 cycle contributions on opensecrets, and guess what:

BOULANGER, TODD A
WASHINGTON,DC 20003 CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES/SENIOR VICE PR 5/9/07 $500 Sununu, John E (R)
BOULANGER, TODD A
WASHINGTON,DC 20003 CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES/SENIOR VICE PR 6/18/08 $500 Sununu, John E (R)
BOULANGER, TODD A
WASHINGTON,DC 20003 CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES/SENIOR VICE PR 2/1/08 $500 Sununu, John E (R)

Since John E. has money left in his campaign account, maybe he should give the money to charity?

But really, why were these guys taking money from someone so closely linked to Jack Abramoff?  
 

The Ghost Of John Stephen

by: Dean Barker

Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 21:36:14 PM EDT

First District GOP Debate, Conveniently Summarized

by: Dean Barker

Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 06:19:28 AM EDT

Bush League Bradley:  I was asleep at the wheel and lost my job.  Due to my strong Republican belief in personal accountability, I deserve to get it back.

DHHS Disaster Stephen: Federal earmarks are bad, bad, bad.  (Please pay no attention to Mayor Mooseburger, the Queen of Pork at the top of my ticket.)

The Education of Shea-Porter

by: susanthe

Sun Aug 24, 2008 at 10:24:42 AM EDT

I've talked to a lot of candidates and politicians in my life (this being NH and all) but most of the time there's a gulf between us. They're nice, they're enthusiastic - but they don't know what people's lives are really like. Carol does. There is no gulf. She really is representing the bottom 99% of us - she is one of us.
(Don't forget that pretty yellow button on the left side of the page.)

NH-01 Republicans go negative -- on each other

by: Laura Clawson

Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 15:06:37 PM EDT

In addition to the ads, the candidates took turns bashing each other about the head at a debate last night.

Union Leader:

At one point, Bradley asked Stephen how he would handle a request from a soldier for equipment.

Stephen said he would talk to fellow congressmen and push through emergency legislation, but do so with transparency, not as an earmark.

"You're more concerned, commissioner, with the political process than with saving the lives of the men and women who serve this country," Bradley said. The line drew loudest response of cheers and boos from the crowd.

Stephen criticized Bradley for voting against oil exploration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the coastal United States. Stephen stressed that he favored ANWR in 2002, when both were also battling in the Republican congressional primary.

"You've waited too long. You failed us when you had the chance," Stephen said.

Concord Monitor:

Stephen also criticized Bradley for sponsoring the Real ID Act to create a national identification card, a move that the Legislature banned. Bradley said Stephen cost the people of New Hampshire millions of dollars by shifting the state's burden of paying for poor nursing home patients onto county taxpayers.

Normally this is where I'd quote PolitickerNH, but for some reason Brian Lawson chose to focus on the fact that, surprisingly enough, each of the candidates felt himself most likely to be able to beat Carol Shea-Porter. As opposed to the many primary candidates who stand up in a debate and say "the other guy is more likely to win the general, but nonetheless you should vote for me."

Why I Want Jeb Bradley to be the Nominee

by: Dean Barker

Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 12:43:19 PM EDT

First up, there's Carol Shea-Porter, who gives a genuine libertarian answer, a reality at complete odds with the nonsense big-government brush the GOP paints her with:

"I believe that the federal government should stay out of people's private lives as well as respect the laws and desires of each state in our country. For that reason, I do not support the federal government legislating on the topic of marriage."

Next up, John Stephen, who pays lip service to libertarianism, but is incapable of letting go of some red meat homophobia:

"Gay couples should be given the opportunity to enter into contractual arrangements as anyone. However, the federal government should not be forced to recognize civil unions that are attempts at marriage by another name."

And finally, Bush League Bradley, who's got voting record baggage standing in polar opposition to the Live Free or Die state:

"While states have historically set the rules regarding marriage, I believe that marriage is a union of a woman and a man. Due to my beliefs about marriage, as a member of Congress I voted for the constitutional amendment that protects marriage as a union of a woman and a man."

Update: In a non-partisan way, James Pindell is getting at the same point here.

Union Leader Endorses Dukakis Supporter John Stephen

by: Dean Barker

Sun Aug 10, 2008 at 13:27:22 PM EDT

In 1988, Stephen worked for the Demcoratic Party Cordinated Campaign. Johnny absolutely loved Michael Dukakis - idolized him. I remember him leading a motorcade the weekend before the election, playing that dreadful Dukakis campaign song by Neil Diamond over and over. I remember him talking about how the Dukakis immigrant family story was so similar to his, and how inspiring Dukakis was to him.

When he ran for congress in 2002, he denied his support for Dukakis.  That is absolute baloney - I was there in 1988. I understand that people change their political positions, and don't have a problem with that, as long as they are honest about it.  He wasn't honest. He did not say, "I changed my mind about my politics." Instead, he denied it, and refused to admit he had been a big Dukakis supporter.

That really bothers me about John Stephen.

Soon after taking the helm of the department, Stephen proposed restricting eligibility for the "Katie Beckett" Medicaid program, which assists children with severe disabilities. That plan was later scuttled amid outcry from disabilities rights activists.

Stephen's cost-cutting efforts continued. He ended the state's contract with Merrimack County's two support centers for people with disabilities. He proposed drastic changes to the state's Medicaid program, such as reducing the state's nursing home enrollment and directing money to home- and community-based care centers.

In 2004, Stephen announced plans to reduce the number of agencies that provide services to residents with developmental disabilities. His plan involved merging four of the state's 12 agencies into two, cutting the total number of agencies to 10. The decision sparked fear in the state's disabilities community, with many worrying that Stephen was moving too fast.

"What I've seen is an open hostility on the part of the commissioner to the health institutions," said Sen. Peter Burling, a Cornish Democrat, in reference to hospitals in his district. "The commissioner just seemed to think that these were worthy targets for whatever gouging he felt was appropriate at that given moment."

Some Bradley/Stephen observations

by: Bill Duncan

Sat Jul 19, 2008 at 11:20:08 AM EDT

Over 100 people attended the forum.  Stephen had the front row filled with his wife, family and supporters and got the most audience support throughout the evening.  Bradley looked as if he'd come down alone from Wolfeboro.  (A third candidate, Geoff Michael was there too.)

Stephen gives off a whole different intensity than Bradley, who's just sitting there like a good enough guy waiting his turn..  Part of the Stephen thing is the right wing fervor.  And partly it's his physical look - he's trim, tight, short hair, intense.  When he's answering, he's clear and fervent.  In between, he's like a boxer waiting to be let out of his corner.  His body is curled; he's focused inward, not looking around at all.  Just very intense.

But he doesn't have much to say.  It's all right wing, freedom, patriotic platitudes.  His platform amounts to getting back to the Contract with America.  That's it.  It's hard to see how he reaches out beyond the hard core.  

And Stephen comes across to me more like a true believer than a politician.  In fact, neither Stephen nor Bradley worked the room before the event the way Carol would have.  They just waited by their chairs, Stephen sometimes talking with a retainer.

Certainly, they both mis-characterize Carol's positions, but Jeb Bradley is much more serious about it.  He's got his points and he repeats them often.  In the general, while Stephen would run against Washington (and Carol), Bradley would run against Carol.

In both cases, they stick to the time worn nostrums and simple Republican applause lines, especially about the First and Second Amendments.  Steven would definitely be the conservative movement candidate and member of congress going down to Washington, fire in his eye, to straighten every one out about how to get right with the Contract for America.  Bradley would again be the conventional conservative soldier with the sleepy office where not much is happening beyond opening leadership emails about how to vote.

'Course, we'll never know.  Jeb blew his best chance when he had a novice to run against in 2006.  Now he's got a real politician on his hands.  Carol gives a great speech, raises lots of money (!), works for her constituency, introduces relevant, carefully constructed legislation, takes principled stands and educates her constituency about them.....  No wonder the Republican party's geared up against her.

In case you had any doubt about Republican rhetoric for the fall, here after the jump is the form it took the other night (these are my summaries, not exact quotes):

Tainted Lobbyists, Part Two: John Stephen

by: Dean Barker

Thu May 15, 2008 at 06:46:05 AM EDT

Former NH Republican Senator Warren Rudman has said this about Mr. Norquist:  "Americans for Tax Reform is a wonderful-sounding name. As far as I'm concerned, it's a front organization for Grover Norquist' lobbying activities."

Republican 1st District U.S. House candidate John Stephen will meet potential Washington-based supporters at a meet-and-greet in the nation's capital tonight.

Invitations sent by lobbyist Todd Boulanger, a former associate of Jack Abramoff, say, "Come hear first-hand why John will be the winner of the September 9 primary and go on to defeat Porter (sic)," referring to Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.

The "small, informal gathering" will be held at Shelly's Back Room, which calls itself "A Civilized Cigar Parlor."

About once a month since 2001, Grover Norquist has invited a top Bush administration official or a Republican congressional leader to dine with him and some 20 or 30 corporate lobbyists who help subsidize Americans for Tax Reform, the anti-tax group that Norquist heads.

The dinners at Norquist's Washington, D.C., home aren't cheap: The lobbyists pay ATR between $10,000 and $25,000 a year for the privilege of attending several of the intimate get-togethers, which have featured the likes of White House political guru Karl Rove and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, according to several lobbyists who have attended.

From time to time over the years, the K Street crowd has been joined at the dinners by other ATR supporters, including the leaders of some casino-owning Indian tribes who were top clients of one of Norquist's oldest friends, former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Representatives of the Saginaw Chippewas of Michigan, the Louisiana Coushattas, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians were among those who either attended or helped to finance some of the Norquist-hosted soirees that were advertised as tax policy events. Moreover, some of these same tribal representatives also attended brief meetings at the White House with President Bush that Norquist has organized annually since 2001 for dozens of state legislators who have pushed anti-tax measures or signed anti-tax pledges.

A John Stephen Surprise? Whoopee Golly Gee Gosh

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sat May 10, 2008 at 20:50:10 PM EDT

Seeing him standing next to that great defender of American working men and women, ATR boss Grover Norquist, made for a beautiful picture.  A proud John Stephen trying to get a leg up, or whatever, over former Congressperson Jeb Bradley by showing he's even more conservative.  Brave man this Stephen guy is, willing to sign this "pledge" not to raise any taxes, ever.  Seeing how honest Republicans have been in recent years, one does have to wonder about the value of a signature anyway...

...And anyway, John Stephen was quoted as saying, "The tax cuts of the past decade are absolutely critical to the long-term success of our economy and our growth."  Read that to say that if we let the wealthy keep more of their money, they'll make more low-paying jobs for some of us so they can make even more money, as if the incentive isn't there for them to do that already.  (For those of us who remember, President Ronald Reagan put a term to it -- the "trickle-down theory," where us peeons got wet having the economy drip down on us.  Any questions?)

John Stephen is a funny guy.  

"Economy" and "growth?"  Tell that to many Americans -- the 99 percent of us who don't happen to be in the top one percent of the "wealthy millionaire class," many of whom never worked a day at one of the Walmarts or McDonalds or gas stations they own or hold stock in.

With people really hurting, and a winter coming in a few months when people won't be able to pay their heating bill, and kids not getting the education they need to compete in a 21st Century world with kids from other nations, and the need for investing in alternative energy to get off the reliance on Bush's oil friends, it's interesting to see Republicans like John Stephen stumbling over one another to show how "conservative" they are so that government will spend less so that the rich can get richer and keep all their money, and the poor will get poorer.

Corporate America underpays those who work for them, and the CEOs of those corporations get their multi-million dollar golden parachutes, and the Republicans are their servants.  A lot of Republicans seem to want to hold a yard sale for our government and have it just go out of business.  They want to stay in Iraq, they want to attack Iran, they want a 12 foot wall from the Gulf to the Pacific, and they want to have government peering into our library books, listening to our telephone calls, and checking into our bedroom activities.  But they just don't want to pay for it.  

Isn't it neat the way "politics" works among the Republicans?  One hand washes the other.  Fortunately for New Hampshire right now, Carol Shea-Porter, who has an eye out of "the rest of us" 99%, and Paul Hodes, who stands up for people who need help, will be re-elected this November because we need them more than ever.

Yes, John Stephen is a funny guy.  But governing is serious business, and people's families and lives and futures are at stake.  Carol Shea-Porter knows that, and will be re-elected over a John Stephen or Jeb Bradley or whomever because New Hampshire voters aren't going to be laughing this November.  

Oh, John F. Kennedy said it all when he challenged us to do what we can do for our country, and by that he meant for one another.  Lots'o Republicans want to take all they can from this country, and keep it all for themselves.  

John Stephen's Jarring Contradictions

by: Chaz Proulx

Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 20:32:54 PM EDT

With friends we usually zip our lips and absorb those tingles of anxiety. Scratching a friends psyche that deeply invites all sorts of pain and doubt.

But politicians have to face up to our doubts-we demand it.  

A case in point is John Stephen's bewildering contradictions on deficits, the Iraq war and the Bush tax breaks.

Here's a quote from  an op-ed written by Mr. Stephen. This appeared in the Union Leader on Friday October 19, 2007.

"We have seen record spending increases and deficits in Washington...

It's time for us to get back to New Hampshire values."

What are Washington values? Over the last five years, we have seen $1.5 trillion in deficit spending."

The op-ed, titled "In The Past Five Years, Congress has Lost Its Way", was an attack on Congress for running up deficits, but failed to mention fellow Republican George Bush and Iraq.

Now we see that John Stephen wants us to elect him to Congress to make the Bush tax cuts permanent even though they contribute mightily to our huge deficits.

And on Iraq's price tag Mr. Stephen is still keeping us in suspense.

Something just doesn't square here.

Its time to force John Stephen to reconcile his most jarring contradictions.

Republican Disarray in the Congressional Races?

by: Dean Barker

Mon Apr 07, 2008 at 19:51:17 PM EDT

But what's so striking is how the daggers have come out so quickly, and how much of it revolves around NH GOP Chairs past, present, and possible.

In a (subscription only, sorry) article from Roll Call a few days ago, I saw this interesting admission:

In the 2nd district race, Horn was strongly encouraged to run by state and national Republicans in part because voters might view her as a political outsider.

"It's no secret that we encouraged her to take a look at the race," New Hampshire GOP Chairman Fergus Cullen said. "We did that at a time when there were no other announced candidates. The party is naturally part of the process, and we're excited that we have more than one quality candidate in the race."

"Fergus knew I was going to run. Everybody knew I was going run," Clegg said.

"I was not selected by the state or national party," Horn said. "They were encouraging, but I reached out to them."

She added, "I absolutely do not feel as though I've gotten preferential treatment from anybody. I've never been part of any party politicking and I have no interest in it now."

To which Clegg is ready with a (really kind of bizarre) response:

Clegg said that while Horn has been calling him a "party insider," that she, in fact, is the "candidate of the party insiders. She's there to maintain the good old boy network."

"Bob Clegg had made it very clear that he was seriously considering the race, and Fergus was just discounting it like it didn't really exist," Wendelboe said. "I would have thought that had been the first phone call."

What does this all mean?  I think, in broad terms, that more attention will be given to these races, which is actually a good thing for the candidates and their name recognition.  On the other hand, Horn has had no problem going negative right out of the gate, and Clegg more and more responds in kind.  This, obviously, is to our benefit.  Moreover, as they attempt to define each other, it becomes very hard to figure out what "kind" of Republican each of them represents.  I don't think they're doing a great job of staking out their respective places in Reaganland, on top of which there are two more candidates in Bosse and Steiner.

There's a helpful way and an unhelpful way to have a contested congressional primary.  And right now I'd say, courtesy of Cullen and his intra-party enemies, it's helping Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter.

Candidates, Incumbents on Iraq War Anniversary

by: Dean Barker

Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 19:25:06 PM EDT

"First and foremost, today we remember the fallen heroes of our armed services and their families.  We pray for the men and women serving our country and we honor the veterans who have sacrificed so much for all of us.

"Today, we are five years into a war we were told would last a matter of weeks, five years into a war that has taken almost 4,000 American lives and is costing us $12 billion a month, five years into a war that has diverted our military focus from pursuing terrorist threats around the world.  This morning, President Bush asserted once again that the war in Iraq has made America safer, while our intelligence agencies tell us that exactly the opposite is true - we are more vulnerable to terrorist threats now than we have been at any time since 2001.

"To defeat al Qaeda and make America safer, to return our focus to winning the fight against the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan who attacked us, and to address our economic challenges at home, we must begin the responsible redeployment of our troops immediately.

"American men and women are in the middle of a civil war in Iraq.  There is no military solution - the Iraqis must come to a political solution and that's not something we can do for them.  Our troops have performed exceptionally and they have done everything that has been asked of them.  It is time to bring them home."

John Sununu (R, Senate):

Carol Shea-Porter (D, NH-01):

Washington, DC - As the war in Iraq enters its sixth year, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter is in Iraq today visiting with American troops and commanders. This is Congresswoman Shea-Porter's second trip to Iraq as a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Shea-Porter previously traveled to Iraq in March of 2007. During her visit to Iraq last year, Congresswoman Shea-Porter met with senior military leaders on the ground, including General David Petraeus, to discuss the situation in Iraq as well as the President's newly-announced 'surge' strategy.

Details of Shea-Porter's current trip to Iraq have not yet been made public due to security considerations.

Jeb Bradley (R, NH-01 Candidate):

John Stephen (R, NH-01 Candidate):

Paul Hodes (D, NH-02):

"Today marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq. For five years, our service members have served on the front lines, and their families have stood by them with patience and strength.  Our young men and women in uniform have given their all with dedication and distinction. We honor our fallen men and women, their comrades who have returned home, and those who continue to serve in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other parts of the world.

They have performed their duties bravely, and many have sacrificed beyond measure.

The cost of the war is more than the billions of dollars spent but has a true human cost as well, with more than 4,000 American lives lost and tens of thousands injured many of them permanently.

We must also recognize that the war in Iraq has become a growing threat to our fragile economy, with its colossal cost to taxpayers taking us ever more deeply into debt while millions of Americans are left without adequate health care, good job opportunities or a chance at an affordable education.

I had the opportunity to visit Iraq last month, and what I saw first-hand strengthened my resolve to ensure that we take care of our returning veterans and find a sequence that gets the Iraqis to step up to their responsibilities and allows us to redeploy from there - because we can't keep having our soldiers shoulder this burden indefinitely. This is the only way that we can get the Iraqis to embrace a political solution.  And a political solution, not a military one, is the only solution in Iraq, as even General Petraeus said to me personally.

On the fifth year anniversary, we honor those who served and are still serving, and we must resolve to create a new direction that will get the Iraqis to step up, and allow us to bring our men and women home as quickly as possible."

Grant Bosse (R, NH-02 Candidate):

Bob Clegg (R, NH-02 Candidate):

Jennifer Horn (R, NH-02 Candidate):

Jim Steiner (R, NH-02 Candidate):