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Username:
sdoyle
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Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 00:00:20 AM EST
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Sean from Manchester NH. Worked for Bill Richardson greatest time of my life.
Well I just got back from a great event tonight hosted by the Dublin, Jaffrey and Rindge Democrats.
We had a fundraiser for those groups, and the headliners were Congressman Hodes, and Gov. Shaheen.
We had an amazing turnout, nearly filled the room, I would guess about 180-200 people were there (in the middle of Jaffrey no less!)
I sat with State Rep. Steve Spratt, who is running for State Senate in that district, he gave a wonderful speech about the up coming election.
Gov. Shaheen also had a great speech about her campaign and her plans for unseating Sununu, really cannot wait to see her in office.
Congressman Hodes was absolutely amazing. The last time I saw him he was running for Congress in 06, he stopped by Franklin Pierce for an event. He gave an amazing speech. He was funny, engaged the audience, talked about his work, and I figured he would talk about things he was doing for the Southern Half of his district, but he really surprised me when he talked about how much the NoCo needs help, and talked about it for awhile. I am very glad we have him in the Congress, CD2 is very lucky, please do everything you can to get him re-elected.
It was a great fundraiser. If 200 people can show up in Jaffrey for a fundraiser 6 months from election day we are looking good in NH.
Thanks to all the people who put it together, and to the campaigns for making the time to come out and support the groups!
Thanks to everyone that came and special thanks to Sen. Molly Kelly, Executive Councilwoman Debra Pignatelli, Dan Eaton, State Rep. Bonnie Mitchell, Gov. Shaheen, Congressman Hodes, and State Rep. Spratt!
Hey everybody, I have been helping out the Rindge, Jaffrey and Dublin Democrats the past month or so.
They are putting on a fundraiser in May to benefit their growing groups. The fundraiser is a spaghetti dinner.
(flyer http://img180.imageshack.us/im... )
The fundraiser will feature, Gov. Shaheen, Congressmen Hodes, and State Rep Steve Spratt (Who is running for the State Senate seat)
I hope you all decide to come; here are some details
Date: May 9th, 2008
Location: Jaffrey VFW Post (Rte 202)
When: 6PM-7PM Cash bar and snacks, 7PM on is dinner
Price: $15 per person, $20 @ the door
All profit goes to the Rindge, Jaffrey, and Dublin Democrats (not to the campaigns) I know that some of that money will go towards paying for the new NHDP Field Office in Peterborough which will benefit the surrounding areas.
For more information or to reserve a place, or table of 8, please call
Carol Bramblett in Rindge 899-9783
Tickets may also be picked up at Hampsey and Grenier's 11 North St, Jaffrey 532-4336. Make checks out to the "Jaffrey Democrats"
Saddened to see this in the UnionLeader today about the historic Merrimack Restaurant in Manchester.
MANCHESTER - The building housing the Merrimack Restaurant, a downtown landmark famous for hosting presidential candidates during primary season, is in danger of being foreclosed, according to a public notice.
The notice, from James R. St. Jean Auctioneers, said the property will be auctioned on Thursday, April 17, at 11 a.m. However, there was hope the property could be saved before the auction date.
As I said before, I am related to the owners and I have been going there forever. Koni and Maria have been running this place themselves for the past 25+ years and have served Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Governors, Senators, Congressmen. You could not run for President and not stop at the restaurant, I was lucky enough to get tips on times to come see politicians over the years.
I went there one night in May or April, and was eating dinner, and Mike Huckabee walked in.
The restaurant has been featured on every major news network, was a question on Jeopardy, was on international news organizations, powerful figures in media ate there and then did their shows from the blue room.
Joe Lieberman even filmed a campaign ad there in 04 (my cousin was in the background serving coffee).
I have heard Koni tell me time and time again her favorite politician to come through was Gary Hart, he rented the office space above the restaurant and was always coming down for food and to talk to voters. She was lucky to have Dennis Kucinich rent the office space above, and he came down a lot for food and to talk to the voters.
Well I will miss it when it goes someday, I hope whoever buys it up knows what a treasure they have and continue to operate the restaurant. (Here's hoping the beautiful mural outside stays..)
If not, it deserves a special place of honor, in the NH Political Library in Concord.
WASHINGTON, April 4 (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have made $109 million since 2000, including $51 million in speech income for Bill Clinton, according to eight years of tax information released on Friday.
The couple paid taxes of more than $33 million and gave more than $10 million to charity between 2000 -- their last year in the White House -- and 2007, tax records released by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign showed.
$109 Million...screw being President, buy your own island somewhere.
Well I was really really surprised to read about this on PolitickerNH
Shaheen joins forces with Levin, DSCC
By Brian Lawson
Tags: New Hampshire Primary, Jeanne Shaheen, fundraising, DSCC, Democratic Victory 2008, Carl Levin
Senatorial candidate Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) has created a joint political action committee with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
The PAC is called Democratic Victory 2008 and was formed on March 28th.
Levin has been a vocal opponent of the New Hampshire primary and threatened to hold Michigan's primary the same day as New Hampshire's.
At the time of this posting, the Shaheen campaign had not returned an e-mail requesting comment.
I am waiting for that reply from the Shaheen campaign too, not going to help her any with a PAC with Levin. I understand raising money, and the DSCC is involved, but working with Levin after his comments and actions against the NH Primary.. not really a good move.
Pig Book: New Hampshire ranks 28th in pork barrel spending
By Jamie Klatell
Tags: Pig Book, Judd Gregg, John Sununu
$42,159,826: That's total value of the 72 pork barrel projects secured from the federal government by New Hampshire's Congressional delegation, according to the 2008 Pig Book.
It's a small number compared to the $17.2 billion national total that Citizens Against Government Waste found in FY 2008's 12 appropriation bills.
New Hampshire ranks 28th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with $32.04 of pork per capita.
You can search the Pig Book database here, but below are some highlights from New Hampshire's elected officials in Washington.
* Smallest project: $50,000 for the "Town of Epsom (FEMA Predisaster Mitigation)"
* Largest project: $8,900,000 for the "Wing headquarters operations and training facility, Pease Air National Guard Base (Air National Guard)"
Well I have a lot of family in Ireland, including a member in the Irish Parliament (He is a Teachta Dála for Dublin North, a TD is in the lower house of the Dail), but I have been following this story for awhile now and it took an interesting turn, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is going to resign on May 6th, due to some shady dealings with a business man and some gifts and cash, and him not reporting it properly, huge ethics investigation.
But besides that I think this AP article outlines that when a politician resigns in a scandal, they are usually left with that mark on them for the rest of history, but I do think this is an exception.
He turned Ireland around and revived the economy, brought Ireland into the EU, and helped broker a peace deal with Northern Ireland and the British.
He is still going to come and speak before the US Congress on April 30th, I will be tuning in.
Irish PM Bertie Ahern to Resign May 6
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK - 1 hour ago
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) - Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland but couldn't survive a scandal over his collection of cash from businessmen, announced Wednesday he will resign.
Ahern said at a surprise news conference he would step down May 6 after 11 years as Ireland's leader. He denied ever receiving a corrupt payment, but conceded that 18 months of growing criticism of his financial ethics had taken a toll on the effectiveness of his government.
"Never, in all the time I've served in public life, have I put my personal interests ahead of the public good," the 56-year-old Ahern said, flanked by senior Cabinet ministers during a 10-minute statement during which his voice frequently wavered with emotion.
He said Ireland faced important challenges, including an expected June referendum on the European Union's next treaty, and the government must "not be constantly deflected by the minutiae of my life, my lifestyle and my finances."
"I have never received a corrupt payment, and I've never done anything to dishonor any office I have held. ... I know in my heart of hearts I've done no wrong and wronged no one," he said.
Ahern said he also planned to resign May 6 as leader of Fianna Fail, Ireland's dominant political party, which he has led since 1994. He vowed to continue fighting the accusations against him, and predicted the corruption investigation would conclude "that I have not acted improperly in any way."
Ahern's terms in office have been marked by unprecedented economic success at home and peace in the neighboring British territory of Northern Ireland.
Tributes on his exceptional record of achievement flowed in, including from his most likely successor as both government and party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Brian Cowen. He praised Ahern as "a remarkable man who has achieved remarkable things for his country."
President Mary McAleese, Ireland's Belfast-born head of state, also lauded Ahern.
"His contributions to our thriving economy and to peace in Northern Ireland were hugely important and he deserves every credit for the work he has done," she said.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who built a close friendship with Ahern as they jointly oversaw several summits on Northern Ireland, said Ahern should be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland.
He said Ahern should also be remembered for "transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic, and for presiding over a sustained period of economic and social advance in Ireland."
But Ahern's hold on power has been steadily weakening since investigators discovered cash payments he secretly received from businessmen in the mid-1990s.
Ahern initially claimed to have received just two major payments from personal friends. But the investigation since has uncovered about a dozen undocumented cash deposits in 1994 to Ahern, who is due to resume testimony next month.
Ahern said he intended to remain in office until he delivers a speech April 30 to the joint houses of Congress in Washington. He said that speech would be "one of the proudest moments of my political career."
Cowen said he hoped Ireland would laud, not lampoon, Ahern in the coming days. He suggested that Ahern would be in line for a higher-profile job on the international stage.
"His application, his political judgment, his determination and his conciliatory manner are among the special characteristics that helped him to shape the Ireland we live in today," Cowen said.
Looking on Politicker I found this great article about a press release battle going on between the NHGOP and NHDP regarding witty comments due to the fact its April Fools Day
NHGOP Release
"April Fools Day is a good time to consider a bizarre fact held in common by the winters of 1873-74 and 2007-08. Can you guess what it is?," the release states. "Not only do you have to go back to 1873-74 to find a winter with more snow than this year, but that was also the last time New Hampshire Democrats held the governor's office and majorities in both houses of the state legislature at the same time."
"the priorities of the extreme left wing that dominates the New Hampshire Democratic Party."
* Legalizing pot
* $250 fines for the release of helium balloons
* Wasting time debating impeachment resolutions instead of dealing with serious issues like Gov. Lynch's growing budget deficit created by Lynch's 17.5% increase in state spending; education funding; and the ed funding constitutional amendment
* Mandating the use of seatbelts
* Mandating smoking policies in private businesses instead of letting the free market decide
* Mandating the cooking policies of private restaurants instead of trusting individuals to make up their own minds about whether they need that hamburger
NHDP Response
"Let me get this straight...Instead of admitting that John Sununu and the NH Republican Party have lost touch with Granite Staters, Fergus is blaming his demise on the weather? What's next? The dog ate his FEC filing?," responded New Hampshire Democratic Party spokeswoman Pia Carusone.
1. No one has introduced or voted to legalize pot.
2. A Republican sponsored the Helium Balloon Bill was killed by the Democratic Senate.
3. A Republican has introduced a frivolous impeachment for our member of congress.
4. Governor Lynch has acted boldly to reacted to the Bush downtown in the economy.
5. The budget increase was 3% when you take out non-discretionary spending like retiree's healthcare.
6. Republicans killed the constitutional amendment in 2007 and every time before, they need to put people above politics.
7. The Democratic Senate killed the seat belt law.
8. 79% of Granite Staters support the restaurant smoking ban.
9. Huh?
I love politics... Now lets just sit and wait for Shaheen, Hodes, CSP, Gregg, Lynch, and Sununu to jump in :)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson said three American hostages being held by rebel forces in Colombia appear to be in deteriorating health.
Richardson, who has been a freelance diplomatic troubleshooter on several occasions, returned Friday from Bogota where he met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and others to evaluate the chances that the men would be released.
"When you get involved in these negotiations, it's critically important to get to know the principals and gain their trust," Richardson said. "While I believe this initial trip was successful, the process of freeing the hostages won't happen quickly."
Three U.S. defense contractors - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - have been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for five years. They were captured when their plane went down in rebel-held jungles in February 2003.
The rebels want to exchange the U.S. hostages for members of their group who are jailed by the Colombian government.
The families of the hostages had requested Richardson's help, and the governor coordinated the trip with the U.S. Department of State and the Colombian government. His trip was paid for in part by the Santa Fe Council on International Relations, said Allan Oliver, a spokesman for Richardson.
Richardson, who is in his second term, is a former congressman and U.S. energy secretary. He ended his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination last month.
In 2006, he persuaded Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to free Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist Paul Salopek. A decade earlier, he helped get three Red Cross workers released from Marxist rebels in Sudan.
He also has traveled to Iraq, North Korea and Cuba to gain the release of Americans held prisoner.
Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel announced on Wednesday that he is folding his hapless campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and running for the Libertarian Party nod instead.
Gravel's cranky uncle demeanor enlivened some of the early Democratic candidate forums, but his shoestring campaign never made an impact.
"The fact is, the Democratic Party is no longer the party of FDR," Gravel said in a letter to supporters. "It is a party that continues to sustain war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism -- all of which I find anathema to my views."
"I look forward to advancing my presidential candidacy within the Libertarian Party, which is considerably closer to my values, my foreign policy views and my domestic views," he added.
Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta has decided not to run for governor, PolitickerNH.com has confirmed.
The news was first reported by The Union Leader.
"Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta has decided not to run for governor, believing that his duties as the city's chief executive should be his top priority," the article states.
Reacting to the news, New Hampshire Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen said Guinta has a "bright political future."
"Frank has a bright political future, but let's not forget the bright political present," Cullen said.
"He's doing a good job at controlling spending," he added. "He has a formidable challenge in running the city of Manchester."
Manchester Democratic Chairman Chris Pappas applauded the step, but said Guinta needs to focus on the city.
"I applaud him for the step but he has a long way to go to fix the problems that Manchester faces," Pappas said.
Pappas cited the press release the group sent out this morning has an example of the problems that Manchester must deal with.
"Our Absentee Mayor should get back to the city and start serving the people who elected him rather than trying to chase down his political pipedreams," Pappas said in the press release.
"Governor Lynch is focused on producing real results for the people of New Hampshire," said Raymond Buckley, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman.
Buckley added, "from building the economy, expanding access to healthcare, improving our schools and protecting our environment, Governor Lynch has dedicated himself to improving the lives of Granite Staters."
State Rep. Steve Spratt from Greenville NH is going to run for the State Senate seat held by Republican Bragdon in District 11. Rep. Spratt formed his PAC today according to PolitickerNH
http://www.politickernh.com/sp...
(Steve and his wife outside the Merrimack Restaurant in Manchester on Primary Day with their dog Apollo)
Rep. Spratt is a great guy, he was on the steering committee for the Richardson campaign and was always on top of things, very dedicated, member of the School Board in Greenville if I am not mistaken as well.
A day after his predecessor's sex scandal propelled him into office, Gov. David Paterson revealed Tuesday that he had affairs with a "number of women," including a state employee, but said that does not affect his ability to lead.
Paterson had admitted one affair in a newspaper interview hours after taking office Monday, but gave a fuller accounting at a news conference with his wife at his side.
"Several years ago, there were a number of women," Paterson said. "The public wants to know who its elected officials are and sometimes, even though you are human, and you are someone who just has feelings and has faults, there comes a time, perhaps, when you have to tell the public."
Paterson said that the affairs happened during a rough patch in his marriage, and that the employee did not work for him. He insisted that he did not advance her career, and that no campaign or state money was spent on the affairs.
Gonna be tough fight ahead for him in NY... If he did things that warrant a criminal investigation or charges its gonna really hurt the state party. Especially if Hillary gets the nomination.
He is a super delegate (and she is going to need every last one of them), and he gets to pick her replacement if she wins the White House. If he resigns before she wins the White House I would think there would be a special election held, where a Republican might win and appoint a Republican to her sit if she takes the White House...
So much for AG Sptizer, those stories are gonna surely end now..
So I was going around Facebook and noticed that John Sununu now has a Politicians profile, where people can sign up as Supporters (he only has 2 so far, while Shaheen has 330.)
But listed as his website as http://sununu.senate.gov/ (and didn't list his campaign website)
And it has to be the worst website I have ever seen in a design and functional standpoint. CSP, PH, and even Gregg's websites are decent, they flow, they have a theme, and a style.
Which lead me to a question, who pays for the official House and Senate webpages? Is it in their office operating budget to hire a webmaster, if so where did Sununu's money go to, certainly not to anyone who should be calling themselves a web developer.
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