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October 2011 Member Posts (26)

The Week in Review for Oct. 29: Hassan in for governor

Maggie Hassan on Wednesday became the first Democrat to announce a candidacy for governor.

Hassan, 53, of Exeter -- who served three terms in the Senate, her last as majority leader -- joins Republican Ovide Lamontagne as the candidates thus far who have announced their intent to succeed Gov. John Lynch. Others are expected.

"Together, I believe we can create right here in New Hampshire the best work force in America. We can innovate, both in the private sector and how we… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on October 29, 2011 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

The Real American Middle Class the 26-74'ers

Just who are the “We are the 99”, well the Wall Street Journal stated that the “We are the 99” is any household that earns less than $506,000 in income per year. The US Census recently stated that the median household income level is $43,000. Just think someone with household income in the $250,000 or higher range could easily be earning more money in unearned income; such as bonds, stocks, or other investment than 50% of all American households. Time for a reality check, there is no common…

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Added by Kris E Roberts on October 27, 2011 at 8:51pm — No Comments

These candidates want to fleece you

With winter poised to barrel its way into our day-to-day existence like Tenth Amendment-flouting federal agents at a medical marijuana dispensary, at least two candidates in the…

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Added by John F.J. Sullivan on October 27, 2011 at 10:47am — No Comments

Social Security

Claims that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme are just part of a continuing right-wing campaign to smear our most successful, and most popular, government program.

Social Security was created in 1935 to solve a problem: millions of Americans were living in poverty due to retirement or the death of the family breadwinner.

The solution was simple: a system where every worker pays in, and in return is guaranteed a retirement income. Benefits for widows, orphans and the…

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Added by Mark Fernald on October 26, 2011 at 9:16pm — 1 Comment

Lamontagne, Hassan, Smith, who?

Ovide Lamontagne is in. So is Maggie Hassan.

But a lot of folks might be asking: Who are these people who want to succeed John Lynch as New Hampshire governor?

The politicos -- the people who eat politics for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- know.

But the voters who make the ultimate decision are hard pressed to know at this stage who the candidates are, much less what they stand for.

A lot of the early work of the campaigns of Republican Lamontagne and… Continue

Added by Paul Briand on October 26, 2011 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Former Congressman Perkins Bass dies

PETERBOROUGH, NH – The Office of New Hampshire 2nd District Congressman Charles F. Bass, a Live Free or Die Alliance member, shared the following obituary for former Congressman Perkins Bass today. Our thoughts are with Congressman Bass and the family and friends the elder Congressman Bass leaves behind.

Former New Hampshire Congressman Perkins Bass, 99, died peacefully of old age on October 25, 2011, at his home in Peterborough, NH.

The oldest son of Governor Robert P.…

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Added by LFDA Editor on October 26, 2011 at 2:48pm — No Comments

Sen. Ayotte talks debt, tax reform at Nashua Town Hall

As a resident of Nashua, I received a personal invitation (bulk mail postcard) to Senator Kelly Ayotte's Town Hall Meeting.

Not one to pass up a political event in my backyard, I ventured south (a few Everett Turnpike exits) earlier tonight and arrived at the Bicentennial Elementary School. As I…

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Added by Chuck McKenney on October 25, 2011 at 10:00pm — No Comments

UPDATED: The Week in Review for Oct. 22: Nevada bows to GOP pressure

UPDATE: Nevada blinked.

Republicans in the Silver State decided today to move their caucus to from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4.

As a result, according to media reports, New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner is expected to establish Jan. 10 as the date for the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary.

The news out of Nevada this week, and whether it would change its…

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Added by LFDA Editor on October 22, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Will NH reward Huntsman for his dedication?

Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman couldn’t be more dedicated to New Hampshire than he is right now.

He’s boycotting tonight’s GOP debate in Nevada; indeed, he’s cancelled his entire campaign in Nevada as a show of solidarity to the Granite State and its first-in-the-nation primary tradition.

The question is: Will N.H. reward Huntsman, the former Utah governor and China ambassador, for his solidarity?

Most eyes tonight will be on former Massachusetts Gov.… Continue

Added by Paul Briand on October 18, 2011 at 4:28pm — No Comments

Polling and Strategies at NHIOP

Yesterday night, three national experts (Jefrey Pollock, Whit Ayres and Tom Jensen) reunited at the auditorium of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in order to analyze some perspectives about polling and its role in preparing strategies for the presidential race.

Moderated by Patrick Griffin, the first question of the night was how polls help in terms of strategy:

- Jeff Pollock: “much of what we do you will never see.”

- Whit Ayres: “this profession… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on October 18, 2011 at 7:42am — No Comments

The Week in Review for Oct. 15: Raising Cain

The debate Tuesday evening at Dartmouth College helped continued solidify Mitt Romney at the top of the Republican heap, but it raised the profile of businessman Herman Cain.

While Romney took the usual shots from opponents and didn’t do himself any damage, an enormous amount of attention was paid to Cain, in particular over his 9-9-9 economic plan of a 9 percent corporate tax and a 9 percent national sales… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on October 15, 2011 at 9:32am — No Comments

Spoiler alert: Romney can't lose

Amid all the Sturm und Drang surrounding the primary shuffle scuffle, one fact is inescapable: The New Hampshire primary isn't Mitt Romney's to lose ... because he can't possibly lose it.

There, I said it. Mitt Romney may or may not be the eventual Republican nominee (he will be), but he is definitely going to carry the Granite State come Pearl Harbor Day, Christmas, Saturnalia -- whenever this contest…

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Added by John F.J. Sullivan on October 14, 2011 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Republican Perspectives on Fiscal Policy

According to Stanley Fish, speech always takes place in an environment of convictions, assumptions, and perceptions i.e., within the confines of a structured world. Yesterday at the NHIOP auditorium of Saint Anselm College a rather thought-provoking set of assumptions was being discussed: the morose panorama of current US fiscal policy. One of the most recurrent issues addressed by speakers during the afternoon was hyper-partisanship.

Former N.J. Gov. Christie Todd Whitman started…

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Added by LFDA Editor on October 14, 2011 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Just one in four supports same-sex marriage repeal

A new WMUR Granite State poll shows that nearly 75 percent of people support allowing same-sex marriage to continue in New Hampshire, the television station reports.

Republicans in the state Legislature are scheduled to take up the issue of same-sex marriage when they reconvene in January. Same-sex marriage was passed in 2009, and a poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center shows strong… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on October 13, 2011 at 5:30pm — No Comments

No. 2 in NH, they try harder and fall faster

First it was Rudy Giuliani. Then it was Michele Bachmann. Then it was Rick Perry. Now it’s Herman Cain.

What they have in common is being a No. 2 pick behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney among likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary.

And what’s become of each?

Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, is out. Minnesota congresswoman Bachmann is hanging on to dimming hope that a good finish in Iowa will change her diminishing… Continue

Added by Paul Briand on October 13, 2011 at 9:51am — No Comments

First-in-the-nation primary could precede Pearl Harbor Day

Secretary of State William Gardner issued a statement Wednesday that floats the possibility that, depending on what Nevada decides, New Hampshire's presidential primary could occur as early as Dec. 6.

"It's really up to Nevada," Gardner wrote, after explaining that New Hampshire state law requires the Granite State to hold the nation's first primary in presidential election years. "If Nevada does not accept a date of Tuesday, January 17th or later for its caucus, it leaves New…

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Added by LFDA Editor on October 12, 2011 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Romney creed: Do no harm

At tonight’s GOP presidential debate at Dartmouth College, Mitt Romney held to the creed of “do no harm.”

He’s no physician … that title goes to Texas congressman Ron Paul.

But not harming himself during the debate with Paul and other fellow Republican presidential aspirants was the goal of the evening as the New Hampshire primary starts to rev up to take-off speed.

The debate, which focused on the economy, featured (in order of their introduction) former Utah Gov.… Continue

Added by Paul Briand on October 11, 2011 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Collapsed NH primary calendar forcing GOP to fall in line

It is said of Republicans they don’t fall in love, they fall in line.

And the collapsing presidential primary calendar is forcing them to fall in line sooner than later.

And in New Hampshire, they’ll fall in line behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Nothing has kept Romney from his appointed rounds as leader of the GOP pack since the University of New Hampshire Survey Center… Continue

Added by Paul Briand on October 9, 2011 at 4:27pm — No Comments

The Week in Review for Oct. 8: High court vacancy

Now that he’s officially a lame-duck governor, John Lynch’s future moves will be cast in a different political light.

An important one will be who he chooses to fill the vacancy created by the retirement this week of New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice James Duggan.

In a letter to Lynch, Duggan noted that under the state constitution, his term expires in August 2012, when he turns 70. He said that for personal reasons, he and his family decided over the summer that he would… Continue

Added by LFDA Editor on October 8, 2011 at 8:40am — No Comments

Palin out of the hunt

In a message sent Wednesday evening from SarahPAC, half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she won't be running for president in 2012.

"After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for president of the United States," Palin's announcement reads. "As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put…

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Added by LFDA Editor on October 7, 2011 at 2:50pm — 1 Comment