The "Big Difference" is It will be "Fact-Based"

by: Dean Barker

Thu Nov 18, 2010 at 05:44:14 AM EST

[Kathy] Sullivan told the Status she will formally announce the formation of a 501(c)(4) issues group, which, she said, will be up and running by the end of the year.

"The big difference is that this will be a fact-based group," she said. "I look at this as pragmatic and progressive, which is the New Hampshire way."

There may also be a "think-tank" arm, a counterpart to the conservative Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy.

Adding: interestingly, at RootsCampNH last weekend I co-led a session on how to respond to Citizens United.  Despite the presence of a number of fierce campaign finance reform advocates in the room, and given the tsunami of cash that will inevitably roll our way in pro-GOP ads for 2012, the reaction to the question "Do we fight fire with fire?" was largely met with approval.

The NHDP, 2012, Ray, Kathy, Terie, Etc.

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Thu Nov 11, 2010 at 00:05:37 AM EST

I'm a bit depressed still, as I'm sure all Democrats are.  Even though last June I wrote a column with my early-warning projections that we'd have 250 House Republicans and 16 Republicans in the Senate after November 2nd, and called all the other races as they turned out -- and I got blasted by some of my colleagues for saying so -- I was still unprepared for the depth of our losses.  

Many good friends, many hard-working Democrats are being replaced by Republicans who have a view of government that most people really don't share -- but people voted for them anyway.  

Government should work for people, and there is a role for government in finding solutions to our problems.  From the post-election interviews, it's clear that too many of the newly-elected Republicans think government is itself the problem, and they want to use it for their own purposes.
 

Former NH Attorney General Kelly Ayotte

by: Dean Barker

Fri Mar 19, 2010 at 21:07:17 PM EDT

Predictably, the response from DeMaura was to go on the attack (in part):

"If nothing else this shows why we need real tort reform in this country so hack attorneys cannot file frivolous complaints without recourse."

"All he has to do is file a three page form and pay a small fee like every other company doing business in NH!...  The time it took Demaura to have his temper tantrum is about the time it would take to file and write a check," she said.

I wrote this post because AJS attacked Craig Benson protege and former attorney general Kelly Ayotte.

Yet Craig Benson protege and former New Hampshire attorney general Kelly Ayotte didn't think to file a complaint over AJS's adherence to New Hampshire state law in her response to this attack.

Sullivan on Gatsas' Solution for the Wrong Problem

by: Dean Barker

Thu Dec 03, 2009 at 19:14:19 PM EST

The Gatsas plan is based on the faulty premise that Manchester's high schools have too many students. As Memorial High School Principal Arthur Adamakos points out, each of the three high schools is designed to hold 2,500 students. Currently, none is at capacity.

There is a significant overcrowding problem in the classrooms, however, because of a lack of teachers. This problem is the result of the budget Ted Gatsas wrote with Alderman Mike Lopez. That budget's flawed math resulted in teacher layoffs, which in turn caused too many students in classes. It is a little unsettling that an incumbent alderman who is about to become the city's mayor is confusing building capacity with classroom capacity.

According to school board member Arthur Beaudry, the one group of Manchester schools that does have capacity issues is the elementary schools. They cannot absorb the city's sixth-graders. The Gatsas plan would solve the nonexisting capacity problem in the high schools by exacerbating the very real capacity problem in the elementary schools.

Kathy Webster v. Kelly Calhoun

by: Dean Barker

Tue Sep 22, 2009 at 20:17:45 PM EDT

The victory of union over secessionism in the Civil War consigned nullification to history's dustbin, but now an extremist few are trying to resurrect the theory. Sadly, some of them are in New Hampshire, a state that sent many soldiers to fight and die to uphold the Union and our constitutional form of government.

What is even sadder is seeing Republican senatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte pander to the misguided few. At a meeting of the Belknap County Republican Committee, she was asked if she approved of a resolution supporting nullification. Instead of taking a firm stand rejecting this nonsense, Ayotte waffled. She said she had not read the full text, adding "States' rights need to be respected. That is a very important issue to me."

Ayotte's flirtation with extreme silliness was on display at another Republican town committee meeting in Milford. She was asked if the democratically elected President of the United States was trying to turn our country into a socialist state. Again, Ayotte had the opportunity to take a firm stand against this kind of rhetoric, just as John McCain did recently when telling a town hall audience that President Obama respects the Constitution. Ayotte blew the chance to give a straight answer; instead, she said she saw "a shift in attitude." That answer can only be read to mean that she either agreed with the questioner or did not disagree.

NH-Sen: 20 Questions

by: Dean Barker

Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 08:10:19 AM EDT

I hope Ayotte and Lamontagne will start talking soon, in detail, about what issues matter to them, and what it is that is prompting them to run. People should want to serve in the U.S. Senate because they can make a difference on substantive policy issues, not because it seems like a nifty career move...

1. Do you believe American troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan?

2. Should the United States recognize Cuba?

3. Should Roe v. Wade be overturned?

4. Name two federal agencies, departments or programs you would eliminate.

5. Do you believe global warming is a serious problem, or do you, like state Republican Party Chairman John H. Sununu, believe it is based on junk science?

6. Would you have voted to end the F-22 fighter program?

7. Would you have voted with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to oppose the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?

8. Would you vote to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military?

9. Would you have voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court? (Lamontagne already has said he would not have voted for her.)

10. Did George H.W. Bush make a mistake when he appointed David Souter to the Supreme Court?

11. Should the federal government continue to engage in stimulus spending in an effort to lower unemployment?

12. If elected, what is the first bill you would want to introduce?

13. Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States?

14. Do you believe that background checks should be required before gun purchases?

15. Should U.S. senators be subject to term limits?

16. Do you support private school vouchers?

17. Would you vote to amend the Defense of Marriage Act to permit same-sex married couples to have the same federal tax treatment as other married couples?

18. Do you support federal legislation that gives states the option to adopt medical marijuana programs?

19. Do you agree with state Sen. Peter Bragdon and Republican Party Chairman John Sununu that the proposed use of the surplus from the JUA to help balance New Hampshire's budget was an attempted theft?

20. Did you vote for John Lynch or Joe Kenney in the 2008 gubernatorial election?

And question #10 is my favorite, for so many intersecting reasons I'm not sure I can even articulate why.

NHDP Chairs Past and Present Dress Down Sununu

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jul 28, 2009 at 22:07:33 PM EDT

Ray (Monitor):

What did Sununu and Republican leaders do during the budget process? They called for unspecified cuts at the 11th hour, which would have shifted costs to municipalities and increased local property taxes by over $100 million dollars. This kind of irresponsible behavior should come as no surprise from Sununu's party - after all, he raised taxes significantly during his tenure as governor to pay for a 27.5 percent increase in state spending.

There also is a significant difference in attitude on issues relating to the environment. Mr. Sununu is still arguing that climate change is a "phony crisis" based on bad science. Jeanne Shaheen signed the Clean Power Act, requiring reductions in pollutants, such as mercury and carbon dioxide. John Lynch worked to ban the burning of toxic construction debris in our state and to increase the use of renewable energy sources to 25 percent by 2025.

But on balance - there's no question which party moved our state forward in recent history. I mean, the other team offered us Craig Benson.

Kathy Sullivan Punctures Ayotte Balloon

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jul 14, 2009 at 07:07:05 AM EDT

We can argue about whether anyone should be held to a commitment to serve a full term. But the question asked of the attorney general in March was not academic. It was made against the backdrop of considerable speculation about potential Kelly Ayotte candidacies, whether for the Senate or House in 2010 or for governor in 2012. Gov. Lynch expended a significant amount of political capital in reappointing her, upsetting many Democrats who preferred someone other than Craig Benson's former legal counsel. What could have been the beginning of a smooth Ayotte rollout instead handed Democrats the opportunity to question her sincerity. The shaky start left the door wide open for other potential candidates such as Ovide Lamontagne, Charlie Bass and Fred Tausch to continue their own explorations of possible runs.

It will not get any easier for the attorney general. She will have to answer even tougher questions on the issues and her resume. The first question, and one that will be of great interest to potential Lamontagne supporters, is her position on abortion.

There also will be questions about her role in the controversies that overwhelmed former Gov. Craig Benson's administration. Did she approve the use of "volunteers" such as Linda Pepin, who had to resign over payments she received relating to a state insurance contract? Was Gov. Benson following Kelly Ayotte's advice when he refused requests from the Concord Monitor for information about the qualifications of another volunteer, Angela Blaisdell, to serve as his liaison to the state's emergency management team?

Republicans Obsessed with Gay Marriage

by: Dean Barker

Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 05:26:40 AM EDT

That same April 2007 news release complained that the civil unions bill really was the equivalent of a same-sex marriage bill. Sen. Robert Letourneau was quite direct on that point, saying, "Let's just call it what it really is, no sugarcoating ... This creates same-sex marriage."

If they really thought that was the case, then why all the fuss this year? Why waste precious time forcing unnecessary debate over marriage equality? Why not move on to another issue? But same-gender marriage seems to be all the Republican leadership is interested in. I took a quick look at the state Republican Party Web site. Of the five most recent items listed under "Headlines," four had to do with marriage equality and one with a special election. Not one was about the state budget.

Statements Of Support For HB 436 And The Governor's Language

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:10:52 AM EDT

Governor John Lynch took a big step last week in coming down on the side of marriage equality.  He will sign House Bill 436 if we put into another part of state law an additional and clearer protection of the independence and freedom of religious organizations and Churches.  His language follows some wording of Connecticut's marriage equality legislation, as well as Vermont.  

The language will appear as an amendment onto House Bill 73, which will come in from the Senate.  We'll see it in final form after the Senate Judiciary Committee considers it tomorrow, but it follows the wording that the Governor requested last week.  I have included his news release, and the draft language being offered by Senator Deb Reynolds.  

I have added comments about HB 436, and the Governor's requested language, from our friends of marriage equality.  We can put this issue behind us, successfully, by supporting HB 73 as amended.  This is about, and for, our young people of New Hampshire -- for our future.

House Bill 436: The Governor's Language -- And Keep Calling!

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sun May 17, 2009 at 21:29:12 PM EDT

I have seen considerable dialogue, and numerous questions, on www.BlueHampshire.com during the past couple of days, and I've noticed some excellent responses by Kathy Sullivan, Dean Barker, and Brian Rater, as well as others.  I think those questions have been accurately answered, and I'll be giving more streamlined details in the next day or so about the Governor's language to House and Senate members.  I'll post those on www.BlueHampshire.com too.

Governor John Lynch, to his credit, sees that his job is to provide protections for everyone in the state.  That is why he wants the even clearer, more specific language for religious freedom/independence.   During the past few days, as I researched the marriage equality discussions leading to the final versions of legislation in Vermont, Connecticut, and Maine, it's clear that their legislatures and governors went through a similar process.  

The Governor's proposed language covers two core elements:

Raymond Buckley could tip the scales toward HB 436 (marriage equality)

by: Putney Swope

Sun Apr 12, 2009 at 22:42:46 PM EDT

I would like to thank many contributors of BH for supporting and leading the charge, in particular former State Chair Kathy Sullivan for her many supportive postings. I would also like to congratulate State Senate candidate Bud Martin for his comments in Foster's in favor of this bill. http://www.fosters.com/apps/pb...

Kevin Landrigan in today's Nashua Telegraph writes that "Same-sex marriage remains a toss-up, with all 10 Senate Republicans against it, half a dozen Senate Democrats for it and the other six or seven Democrats withholding even private judgment." http://www.nashuatelegraph.com...

NHDP Chair Raymond Buckley could tip the scales toward House Bill 436 by coming out strongly in favor of the bill now -- now is the time to fight for marriage equality.  It's important for so many people, and we're almost there.  As Party Chair Raymond has a strong voice that people will listen to. There are many things Raymond can do to support the bill:  he could call John Lynch and tell him this is the thing to do now, talk with the State Senators -- we may have 15 Democrats in the Senate soon, and he can testify in favor of the bill at the Senate hearings. Kathy Sullivan made a difference in the House, and Raymond could make a difference in the Senate.

Women and Granite State Government

by: Dean Barker

Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:50:48 AM EST

"It's great," said Kathy Sullivan, the state's Democratic national committeewoman. "But nobody's like, 'Oh my God, this is so revolutionary.' It's sort of matter of fact."

Democratic women will hold four of the top seven offices in the Granite State...Today, roughly 150 of the state's 424 legislators are women, putting it about 10 percentage points ahead of the 24 percent of state lawmakers nationwide who are female

26 years ago, Republican Senate president Vesta Roy briefly served as acting governor after Hugh Gallen fell ill and died, making her the country's first GOP female chief executive

To me, this history, combined with how little fuss the civil unions bill caused after it became law, speaks volumes about the socially libertarian spirit in our state.  

And it also has me wondering what major office Kelly Ayotte will run for next cycle.

BINGO: Kathy Sullivan's Description Of New Hampshire Politics 2008

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sun Nov 09, 2008 at 10:55:13 AM EST

Bingo.  It's not about colors, it's not about ideology, it's not about party majority (yet), it's not about coattails, it's that Democrats are holding together, and we're picking up lots of Democrat-leaning Independents.  You see it by looking toward the bottom of the ballot, where Republicans did pick up some Legislative seats in some parts of the state, and held on to a core of lower-level county positions.

Nashua Telegraph Political Reporter Kevin Landrigan also hit the nail on the head, I think, when he observed that Democrats gained from the momentum of a long election season.  He explained that the excitement of volunteers for Democrats was high, and we can see that in the tremendous enthusiasm by supporters of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama leading up to the New Hampshire First-In-The-Nation Presidential Primary on January 8th.  That WAS a long season.  In a very real way, Barack Obama and his supporters can thank Hillary Clinton and her supporters for his success.  We were all in this together.

Going into 2010, we might not have a year and more of enthusiasm and excitement among volunteers.  We're hoping for some great things by Barack Obama, but still I think we have to be concerned with what I call the "pendulum of politics."  People often vote for "change," but change is a two-way street -- wait a moment and it happens.  Sometimes if you like chicken but you have chicken several times for a week, you'd prefer pizza for your next meal.  

Even a victory of 55% to 45%, while it sounds good, isn't secure nor permanent in the world of politics.  That margin of victory means that 55 voters of every 100 voted for the winner, while 45 voters of every 100 voted for the lower.  If just 6 out of every 100 voters who supported the victor changes his or her mind, the result is different.  Sometimes we change our mind as to what we'll have for dinner at a restaurant the moment we sit down and look at the menu.

In other words, we can't assume that New Hampshire Democrats are in a permanent majority position -- far from it.  If we want to see continued majorities in the NH House and Senate in 2010, and Democratic Party dominance in other statewide elections, I think Democrats have to act like Democrats these next two years statewide and nationally and do what voters expect us to do.

The dialogue of the next several months and the good part of the next two years will be for us to define what "Democrats acting like Democrats" means.  I think nationally it means having some real health care, being sure we're essentially out of Iraq, addressing poverty in ways we haven't begun, and having an economy on the rebound.  Statewide, it's solving educational inequalities, getting that dropout rate way down, and opening the dialogue about fairer taxation to fund education -- not passing a new tax, but being brave enough to talk about our options, and how to lower property taxes.  

By the way, am I the only one who has wondered why Kathy Sullivan hasn't run for a political office yet, and that it's about time she does?  

NHDP: GOP should reveal ties to secret out of state funders

by: Ray Buckley

Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 12:20:12 PM EDT

(Manchester) - New Hampshire Democrats renewed their calls for GOP leaders to urge the secretive New Hampshire Advantage Coalition to reveal the sources of its funding on the day arguments were being held in Hillsborough County Superior Court to determine whether a NHAC-promoted tax cap question would be placed on the November ballot in Manchester.

Calling the coalition "a front for the Republican Party and its candidates," Kathy Sullivan, a senior adviser to the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said state GOP leaders should admit that NHAC is a partisan political committee and disclose where its money is coming from.  In particular, she called on Sen. Joe Kenney, the Republican gubernatorial nominee who has participated in NHAC-sponsored events, and Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, the group's most vocal supporter, to demand that the group reveal its funders.

"NHAC is a partisan political organization involved in partisan political activities.  But it claims nonprofit status as if it is a charitable organization in order to hide its donor list," Sullivan said. "What are they hiding? Why won't NHAC admit who is paying the bills? What is the reason for all the secrecy?"  

Sullivan cited media reports that suggest that NHAC openly promoted itself as a political organization before seeking nonprofit status.

The NH Advantage Coalition, according to press reports, was founded to focus on "raising money to support candidates" [Portsmouth Herald, 11/26/06]. In an op-ed authored by Mike Biundo, the organization's chairman, Biundo is described as the "Chairman of the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, an organization... with the underlying goal of local control, no sales tax, and electing representatives of the people" [NH Insider, 2/15/08]

NH Advantage Coalition was formed as a political action committee, but it has not filed any required financial disclosure with the New Hampshire secretary of state. New Hampshire law requires reporting by political committees that raise or spend more than $500 in support of a political candidate or measure.  NHAC apparently claims that it did not raise or spend more than $500 as a political committee; however, during the four months it existed prior to filing for non-profit status, it employed an executive director, posted a web site, and actively solicited donations, Sullivan said.

After starting as a political action committee, the group quietly filed as a "nonprofit" group. Under IRS regulations, non-profits such as NHAC cannot directly or indirectly promote candidates or their campaigns.  But the group's executive director, Tammy Simmons, and chairman, Mike Biundo, are candidates for the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and the group spends significant time and resources pushing their message and candidacies around the state under its nonprofit label.

Sullivan also accused the group of being "part and parcel of a radical Republican effort out of Washington, DC to influence New Hampshire's election," citing the fact that the group's incorporators were lawyers or employees of a Washington law firm.

"NHAC was incorporated by employees of a Washington law. Not one is a New Hampshire resident. Not one of them has a clue about issues impacting the state's working families," Sullivan said. "Why did a Washington law firm form a secretive group that refuses to disclose its donors, an organization which is trying to influence our New Hampshire elections?"

"varying degrees of bluntness."

by: JonnyBBad

Sun Jun 15, 2008 at 12:28:14 PM EDT

This reminds me of the Dartmouth Graduation I attended in 2002, with Mr. Rogers the main speaker. He said to the graduation class, "It's all about you." I guess they grew up with him, so they got it. Here's a diversion..a clip of Fred Rogers learning to breakdance.(skip it and come back). It won't save the world, or the Primary for that matter, but the kid is cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
4:56

http://www.boston.com/news/loc...
Reid says primary calendar is flawed, seeks changes
By Ken Thomas
Associated Press Writer / June 12, 2008

I saw this first in the UL and googled the story.
There are a few differing perspectives of course.

http://www.unionleader.com/art...
snip-
Granite State Democratic leaders reacted with varying degrees of bluntness.

Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H., sent us a prepared statement calling Reid a "great leader in the Senate," but added, "This is one area where I think he's just plain wrong."

State Democratic Chair Ray Buckley said he took Reid's comments "with a grain of salt."

Buckley said Reid was a leader in the four-state (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina) effort last year to have presidential candidates pledge not to campaign or participate in renegade states -- such as Michigan -- that jumped up in the primary calendar without Democratic National Committee authorization.

"Actions speak louder than words," said Buckley. "He's trying to elect as many Democrats as possible. He found himself in a state with a senator up for reelection (Levin) who bungled this. I'm willing to give him a pass. What else could he do when he was in a room full of people who wanted to hear him say, 'You guys are right.'?"

Former party chair Kathy Sullivan said, "What I find interesting is that Senator Reid says the system is flawed -- except for Nevada's role. I would put this in the "It's all about me" category!"

Gambler's Fallacy and Government Spending

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 06:32:59 AM EDT

Be it Texas Hold 'Em, Razz, Omaha or one of poker's many other variations, more than a few members of Congress are players. Some other rounders are Democratic Reps. Linda T. Sanchez of California, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ed Perlmutter of Colorado and Republican Sens. John Ensign of Nevada and John Sununu of New Hampshire.

While it would be fun to imagine any number of scenarios of John E. gambling his TV ad buys away against the NRSC chair Ensign, I think it might be more useful to point out here that poker playing Sununu is opposed to Native American casinos.

I really hope John E. is a better card player than a money manager.  From a must-read UL editorial op-ed from Kathy Sullivan on Sununu's supposed fiscal conservatism:

Sununu claims to be a fiscal conservative because he voted against the farm bill, yet he has voted six times to lift the debt ceiling, voted for budgets that have exploded the deficit, and supports spending $343 million a day in Iraq.

The two biggest drivers of the exploding national debt are the Bush tax cuts for multimillionaires and the war in Iraq -- both of which Sununu supports. Voting against one bill that would have helped New Hampshire's families, but continuing to support George W. Bush's economic irresponsibility, is not fiscal conservatism.

The reckless fiscal policies that John E. Sununu has supported have put our country on the brink of recession and mortgaged our children's future to China.

The Clash:Should I stay or should I go ?

by: JonnyBBad

Sat May 10, 2008 at 09:04:46 AM EDT

"NH pols differ on Clinton staying in race for President"
http://www.unionleader.com/art...

Kathy Sullivan on Morning Edition this morning

by: Kelly Nordstrom

Fri May 02, 2008 at 07:42:16 AM EDT

update: here's the link Who Are Unpledged Add-On Delegates?
I heard her at about 6:30 AM, the links not up on NPR yet (won't be up until tomorrow), they were doing a story on not only super delegates but add-on delegates.  They interviewed 2 people, one was Kathy.

Brava!

Saturday's Delegate Selection and State Committee Meeting

by: Douglas E. Lindner

Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 23:21:34 PM EDT

Congratulations to the new delegates and DNC members (and to both of the new DNC members, who were each chosen to be a delegate today as well), and don't forget to pre-register for the State Democratic Convention, coming up on May 17.

Nice to meet those of you I saw today, and sorry to those I saw and didn't get to introduce myself to--I'm sure everyone here is looking forward to next Saturday.

Edit: I had forgotten to reflect that Sen. Burling, too, was chosen to be both a DNC member AND a delegate today--I fixed it after being reminded by the Chairman's comment below.