603 Forward

by: Garth Corriveau

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 13:53:12 PM EDT

The NHYDs have committed to promoting and supporting these candidates this fall politically and financially. We're online, working together, at www.NHYOUNGDEMOCRATS.ORG  and the social networking sites. We're already raising money on the "603 Forward" Act Blue page, with 100% of all contributions going to NHYD state rep candidates.

Not only are we active with the netroots though, we're active with the grassroots. NHYD's statewide canvassing efforts will encourage NH's young adults to vote all the way down the ballot, especially for our young state rep candidates. Young voters have a choice in November - not just between left and right, Democrat and Republican, but between the past and the future. The 31 candidates below represent the future.

Something is happening in New Hampshire. As the Republican party looks backward, with the same old candidates talking about the same old failed policies, New Hampshire's young voters, who accounted for over 16 percent of the vote in January's presidential primary, are looking forward. That's why we named our campaign "603 Forward."

NH's Young Democrats are organized, united and ready for change because no generation has more at stake in this election than today's young adults. NHYD is committed to bringing fresh, new, progressive perspectives and judgment to Concord in 2009, focusing on local issues and the significant,unique challenges facing New Hampshire's young adult population.

The change generating such enthusiasm with NH's young adults - change that grows our economy, provides healthcare for all and cleans our environment, change that doesn't divide us but rather unites us - that change starts with electing Young Democrats to office this November. I know they will appreciate Blue Hampshire's support. Thanks Hamsters!

Dennis Kucinich Locked Out of ABC/Facebook Debate

by: mountainboy

Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 08:18:59 AM EST

According to the Kucinich campaign, ABC would not allow the progressive Congressman to debate because he did not place fourth place or better in the Iowa Caucus. Kucinich emphasized the point that his campaign had decided to bypass Iowa, spending the majority of its resources in the Granite State.

The ABC lock out is particularly harmful to the Kucinich campaign in that it will leave New Hampshire voters with the false impression that their candidate has dropped out of the race. Kucinich was not the only candidate effected by ABC's decision making process. Had Joe Biden and Chris Dodd remained in the race they would have been denied a place in the debate as well. It is entirely possible that the fact they would be excluded made the decision to withdraw from the race a little easier for the veteran senators.

ABC used two other criteria in "narrowing the field" for the debate. Candidates had to have reached the 5 percent mark in at least 4 major surveys of New Hampshire voters. They had to reach the same mark in one of the last four major national surveys as well.

Voters should ask themselves why ABC should have the right to decide the criteria for "narrowing the field". That is the job of voters, not television network executives.

ABC has published a story about the events involving Kucinich and the debate on its website. I encourage readers to leave comments there:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics...

You can also lobby a general complaint with ABC here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Site/pag...

America's Future ....... Can we afford much more?

by: Granitdamit

Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 19:23:43 PM EST

Here are the 5 top items I see that cloud our future as a nation.

1.)We (the U.S) are disliked in most nations. because of our Police actions world wide.
2.)Our borders are open and unprotected.and our laws are ignored unlike any foreign country on earth.
3.) American's have lost job's since 1980. Anti Unionization, globalization policy.
4.)America's manufacturing is now non existant.
5.)American's lost lives while standing guard with out bullets in our guns. (Beirut)

We have been a strong nation in the past, but have reached a cross roads.
With the loss of good jobs for our citizens over the years, how long can we continue to pay in money and life lost for the aid in the world.
How long can we continue to write blank checks to those who hate us and our culture?

The next President, be it Obama, Edwards, or any other Democratic candidate will have their hands full at home as well as all over the world.
 They may need to revamp government programs that are not, or have not been working like the  war on drugs, welfare, department of homeland security and education for example.
They will need to look at what a budget really is and do some reorganization.
We may see another Great Society program, and replace dated ineffective programs.

I would like to hear from everyone on these issues... and read the words to the song "MONSTER"
which I have included below, does it reflect America as it is now?  

New Tom Donovan Youtube Video

by: danKennedy

Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 16:59:10 PM EDT

http://youtube.com/w...

Residual Forces

by: LLewis198

Wed Jul 11, 2007 at 20:24:49 PM EDT

"Without a major U.S. combat effort to keep the violence down, the American training effort would face challenges even bigger than those our troops are confronting today. An ineffective training effort would leave tens of thousands of American trainers, advisers and supporting troops exposed to that violence in the meantime. The net result is likely to be continued U.S. casualties with little positive effect on Iraq's ongoing civil war."

Mr. Biddle concludes that partial withdrawal measures will contribute to a "vicious cycle" of violence and political failure.  I have a hard time distinguishing the types of operations that Mr. Biddle criticizes from those proposed by Senators Obama, Clinton, and Edwards.

Flynt Leverett, a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, has seconded this conclusion.  He writes:

"Keeping ground forces in Iraq gives the U.S. military no meaningful increase in its operational options against terrorists or other threats to regional stability. It will only perpetuate the enormous human costs, be a boon to jihadist recruitment, and further erode American standing in the world's most critical region."

You can read the rest of Mr. Leverett's comments in a thoughtful debate at The American Prospect (http://www.prospect.....) and evaluate the strategic merits of residual forces for yourself.

Youth and Hope Meet Obama at UNH

by: mountainboy

Wed Feb 14, 2007 at 18:37:10 PM EST

  "Torn and not as torn," were the words the pair used to describe their preferences in the race. Grandmaison said she could support either Mr. Obama or his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, because both have taken positions against the war. Grandmaison was also concerned about the high cost of college tuition and the availability of financial aid for students.  High tuition rates had forced her to leave her first college and she had spent a few months out school and living without health insurance. Schultz said that he had been a fan of Hillary Clinton since the 2004 campaign and would likely support her in the primary, but that as a responsible voter he would listen to all of the candidates before making up his mind.

  The faces outside the Field House were predominantly under 30, with about a third of those gathered hailing from older generations. Carrie Black, a 27 year old from Vermont and a graduate student studying nursing at UNH, had already knew which candidate she would support. "Obama. Absolutely." Black worried about the rising costs of health care and the increasing number of uninsured Americans. The war also stood out among her top issues. In the last election Black supported Howard Dean in the primaries and voted for John Kerry in the general election.

  Plymouth State University student Matt Balf also voiced support for Mr. Obama and stated that his relative inexperience in Washington was an asset. Balf went on to compare Obama's candidacy to that of Robert Kennedy in the 1960's. He cited Mr. Obama's youth, fluency, vision, and charisma as characteristics shared by the Kennedy during his tragically abbreviated bid for the presidency. Stacey Johnsons, a 29 year old New Hampshire based web designer, chimed in to compliment Mr. Obama for his honesty, "He is an open book." Johnson felt Obama also resembled a 1992 style Bill Clinton in his ability to inspire hope among younger voters. Allison Schmidt, a 24-year-old teacher from the Granite State, also supports Mr. Obama. "I support the fact he talks about people making sacrifices. Sometimes you just have to suck it up. It won't change without  actions."

  Nearby, John Thing of New Hampshire for Healthcare stood outside handing out signs and stickers reading, "I am a Healthcare Voter". New Hampshire for Healthcare is affiliated with the Service Employees International Unions and currently claims to have collected around 60,000 signatures in the state. Signers pledge to only support candidates who will work to increase access to affordable, quality healthcare. The group did not endorse a candidate during the last presidential primary, and Thing did not think they would this time around either.

  When the doors were finally opened a capacity crowd slowly filled the gymnasium, where the size-able press entourage currently tailing Barack Obama had already set up shop. In timely fashion Mr. Obama took his place on the stage to overwhelming applause and a frenzy of campaign signs and American flags."Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when given the chance," stated the confidently poised candidate. "That is one of the founding principles of our democracy." Obama launched into a typically fluent speech, stating that the high cost of healthcare in America today threatens the potential of everyday families, small businesses, and even the well being of the biggest corporations. He talked about education, stating that schools in America would improve when the nation invests in more teachers, and pays them more. He also proposed that the nation's current energy policy was the equivalent of "funding both sides in the war on terror" and called for increased investment in alternative fuels like ethanol. Closing his brief introductory statements he said,"I hope this campaign becomes a vehicle for your hopes and dreams."

  Turning to the crowd he fielded a question from a member of Priorities New Hampshire. The group is part of a broader "Priorities" movement that has called for reduced spending on defense. Cuts in funding would target obsolete Cold War era programs and the money saved would then be used to fund increases in social spending on health care and education. "Federal budgets are all about our priorities," Barack commented. "They reflect our values." But Obama iterated his belief that it would be necessary to increase spending on the military first, in order to bring it back to its pre-war levels of excellence. Mr. Obama stated that America will have to rebuild the National Guard, which has lost equipment and soldiers overseas. He emphasized the Guard's role in disaster relief, stating that failure to act would only lead to another crisis on par with the one currently being experienced in New Orleans. But he added that a well-reasoned re-allocation of funding from non-vital to vital areas of the budget was necessary, a statement which drew applause from efficiency hungry voters.

  Another question from the audience pointed out Mr. Obama's relative lack of experience in Washington. Obama seized on the opportunity to point out the advantage this lack of experience gives him over other candidates. "I have been in Washington for two years. I have been in Washington for long enough to know that Washington needs to change." He also pointed to his 10 years of experience as a professor of constitutional law as an asset, saying that he knows the constitution has been ignored for the past six years. Obama also pointed to his experiences as an activist, a teacher, and his service as a state senator for seven years in Illinois as evidence that he is well prepared to understand the problems facing America today.

  Asked about gay marriage, Barack Obama told the crowd that his opinion on the matter is informed by his experience as the son of a mixed-race couple. While it may not be possible to legalize gay marriage, it would be possible - and right - to grant gays and lesbians all of the benefits enjoyed by married couples through civil unions. "We can grant all the same civil liberties to gays and lesbians who love each other and want to get married," he said.

  A UNH freshman prodded Mr. Obama for policy details and the candidate responded eagerly, focusing on environmental issues. He called for a rigorous cap and trade system to reduce industrial emissions that pollute the atmosphere and stated that there is no reason every American built car cannot get 40 miles per gallon. Pointing to Brazil, where he claims that 70% of vehicles are powers by alternative fuels, Mr. Obama called for investment in ethanol, stating, "If Brazil can do it, so can we."

  On immigration, Mr. Obama did not hesitate to voice his opinion. "We are a nation of immigrants. That has been the beauty of this country." He pointed to immigrants as a source of renewal, calling them "strivers" who have reinvigorated the American economy time and time again. But he tempered his support for illegal immigrants by differentiating between plans calling for "amnesty" and his own plan, which calls for heavy fines against illegal aliens while still opening the doors to eventual citizenship. Obama stated that the United States is in no position to be rounding up the estimated 12 million illegals currently residing within our borders. He also called for the creation of a national database, which would allow employers to verify that their employees can legally work in the U.S.

  Mr. Obama fielded a final question about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina before heading off to meet his political destiny, whatever it may be. Katrina reminded Americans that having a good government matters, Obama remarked. "There was a disaster going on before Katrina hit," pointing to the high murder rates, rampant poverty, and detiorating education system that already existed in New Orleans. Calling for a "living wage" and renewal in cities and poor rural communities, Barack Obama told the crowd that hard work and ingenuity would recreate America. Mr. Obama claimed that his only opponent in this race is cynicism. Judging from the positive reponse he recieved from young New Hampshire voters last night, Mr. Obama may be well on his way towards beating that particular opponent.

The author, David W. Anderson, resides in New Hampshire. He is a 27 year old graduate student studying Political Science at the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Anderson has spent several years working with political campaigns and organizations in New Hampshire.

You can read his column, "Live From New Hampshire" at American Public Media's Gather.com:

http://www.gather.co...

Invitation to write letters to the editor in support of Dennis Kucinich

by: mountainboy

Thu Feb 08, 2007 at 07:31:44 AM EST

I am organizing a letter to the editor writing campaign for progressive candidate Dennis Kucinich. If you are interested, drop me a line at dwa@unh.edu

Vote peace in the primaries!

David

Peace for President? Dennis Kucinich Kicks Off NH Campaign

by: mountainboy

Wed Feb 07, 2007 at 15:44:51 PM EST

Congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is an intriguing character and a rare breed in politics today. With 40 years of political experience and 35 elections under his belt, he proudly claims to remain independent of any corporate interests. Pure enough to pursue "real change".  Despite only recieving around one percent of the vote in the New Hampshire in 2004, he stands confidently before the small group of voter and tells them that, with their help, "We can win". He jokes that "The media has already chosen who the president will be, which is a comfort because now none of us will have to vote." With beaming eyes and a wide smile, Kucinich launches into one of the most unique stump speeches seen in American politics in recent times.

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