WHEN IS DUMB REALLY DUMB???

 

Dumb is really dumb when a state rep goes before the Exeter Board of Selectman to do a legislative update and does not know about the legislation that they are supposed to be briefing on. 

Now really dumb is going before a legislative committee and make comments on how she isn’t sorry that other state reps didn’t win their elections.  What part of any legislative testimony is that?

The person that told me about this asked if there was any way we could give our Democrat State Reps an IQ test before we elected them to weed out the dumb ones.  I explained that would happen the same time we gave our Republican State Rep candidates a psychological test to make sure they weren’t nuts.

DID GOVERNOR MAGGIE WANT SPEAKER TERRY AS SPEAKER???

During the last speaker’s race there were a number of democrats loyal to Terry and friendly to Maggie that claimed they were not going to vote for Terry for speaker.  In my opinion, and knowing how the inside politics is played, it does not look like Maggie wanted Terry.

Dave Campbell got about 70 votes for speaker, which is about 30 or so more than most expectations.  It would have taken a little horse power to push more democrats into his camp; this certainly is an interesting discussion.

WHAT AN EMBARRASSMENT!!!

The recent deliberative session for the Town of Exeter is usually an informative cordial event; but this past Saturday it was anything but.  We have seen, over the past few years, a subterranean political agenda in Exeter; but, this last meeting not only proved it and showed who is behind it.

I ask everyone to go to the town website and review the meeting to get a flavor of the brain trust that is causing the turmoil and the behind the scenes back room politics/antics that spilled out at a public meeting.

They appear to be the self proclaimed Republican leadership for Exeter; but, after talking to some Republicans that were there it was agreed upon that don’t represent any Republicans that we know.

This group of political misfits added about 2-3 hours of debate that need not happen and angered a lot of people.  As Dorie and I were leaving someone asked me “what is wrong with those people” and the only answer I could give was, “I don’t think the psychology books have found a name for it yet”.

The crowning touch of this meeting was when a selectman, Frank Ferraro, got into a verbal argument with Fire Chief Brian Comeau about the ladder truck that is on this year’s warrant; I don’t know how I am going to vote on this issue, but it won’t be based on Frank’s argument.  It seemed to boil down to an issue of credibility between the two.  It is certainly my opinion that in a credibility issue, Frank and his little band of merry men are going to lose every time and I think they did.  Congratulations to the chief for maintaining his cool.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLITICIANS TALK A LOT; BUT DON’T LISTEN???

I think it was about six years ago the Democrats beat on George Bush and were swept into office.  They really didn’t know how that happened and started pushing a liberal agenda thinking that was what the voters really wanted.  So the state went through raising and spending about a billion dollars in fees and various increases; some of the funnier ones was the rooms and meal taxes on campgrounds (yes that is where you bring your living accommodations, your food, etc and we will tax you on that).  Then the disastrous LLC Tax and so on and so on.

Then two years later they beat up poor old GW again and won.  The voters caught up to them, threw them out and elected a very Republican/Free State legislature who cut back most of the liberal spending agenda, then went too far on many of the social issues and got thrown out on another voter sweep.  Now the liberals are back in power and doing the same thing all over again.

The battle cry in the last election was jobs, jobs, and more jobs; not repealing gun laws, having an anti bullying day and pushing another liberal agenda.  If this keeps up they will get thrown out again and the cycle will start all over.  I think the only phrase to describe this is “politically unstable environment”.

Let’s take a look at one issue that is taking center stage and that is gun control.  This has been on the liberals agenda for decades.  There is nothing wrong in having a crazy political agenda, we all live in America and it is our right; but, to not understand it and not understand the issue is sad.

I am not a constitutionalist and I do not know all the ins and outs; but I had to study it in High School and in college.  The Second Amendment does not guarantee me the right to go rabbit hunting; but to allow me to have firearms.  I believe the founding fathers put that in place to guarantee firearms ownership to defend against government.  If you can understand that then you can understand the fight against gun control.  What you are doing is fighting over an argument that is truly embedded in our Constitution and I don’t know how far the constitutionalist can be pushed on this issue.

THERE ARE DEMOCRATS AND THERE ARE REPUBLICANS:

The new style of politics isn’t over political issues it is all about image.  When the Republicans were in power they wanted to be perceived as conservative oriented and fiscally and socially restrained.  They believed in life of the unborn, the second Amendment and you shouldn’t vote in NH if you don’t live in NH.  The democrats believe in gun control (although they claim it is only on certain weapons); they claim they want to protect children while advocating for abortion as a women’s reproductive health issue.  The name for what really is happening on this issue is changed to take out the end of life issue for life that is in its earliest state.  Abortion is not a super issue with me, I support the exceptions to protect the mother’s health; but, that is the extent that I would argue.

Now the Democrats are claiming how they want to work in a bi-partisan manner while promoting their old and tired agenda of more government (which in their opinion knows better than you), more spending and anyone can vote even if they are not NH citizens; both of these observations are limited because of the extensiveness of the issues.

The Republicans in the last session did not want to work with the Democrats because they had enough votes to push through what they thought was the Republican agenda.  This year the Democrats do not want to work with Republicans because they have the votes.  During the last election the Democrats were trying to convince the voters that they wanted to reach across the aisle to work with Republicans.  Well they lied, they don’t and won’t unless they really need a few extra votes.

The best advice you can give anyone in politics is watch what the Democrats do and don’t pay attention to what they say; because the two doesn’t always go together.

I have been talking to democrats and republicans who care about doing the right thing in Concord.  Most believe those that know Maggie, believe she is over her head politically.  Like many I know Maggie is using this governor’s election as a stepping stone for Maggie to go to Washington.

At first glance, Maggie wants to be everything to everyone.  Her couple of years as governor could very well be, “promise them everything, give them nothing and tell them how they have it”.  Time is going to tell and I hope I’m wrong, and if I am I will be the first to admit it. Maggie and the Democrats can, when all else fails, blame it on George Bush.

THERE IS NO LAW IN BEING CRAZY: ONLY ACTING CRAZY

 

There has been so much going on whenever I sit down to write something else happens.  Let’s start with the cohesive Republican agenda:  The former speaker, O’Brien, has put in another right to work bill.  What he says is that it is to find out who votes against it so they can be targeted in the next election.  What he is really saying is let’s find what Republicans won’t support it so the fringe groups can attack them in the next election. 

It was pretty plain to see that O’Brien brought down the whole Republican agenda in the last election and now he’s looking at finishing off the survivors.  So let me see, by some standards, that is cohesiveness, and the so called big tent. Wake me up; this nightmare has to end sometime.

The Democrats are reveling in their last election victories, and they should.  While the Republican train derailed and turned into a brawl the Democrats just had to promote themselves and they did that very well.

The Freestaters, some of whom, ran as Democrats in Democratic Districts and Republicans in Republican districts are still sensitive about being told they will do or say whatever it takes to win; OK, whatever.  We can all say they will not do or say whatever it takes to win; WINK, WINK.

There is sadness in the air and we all feel it for the kids killed in CT.  Kids who were so happy during the holiday season, presents under the Christmas Tree, parades to go see, houses decorated with all their beautiful Christmas lights and loving parents who kissed them goodbye when they sent them off to school that morning with the last words spoken were, “I love you and have fun in school today”.  The horror will live with us for a long time to come.  Kids, whether your kids, my kids, the kids next door are still kids and in a certain way belong to all of us so we all felt the loss and feel the mourning.  I guess it is OK for a man to cry sometimes.

It wasn’t the guns that killed the children anymore than it was the car the shooter drove to get him to the school.  It appears this young man had some serious mental health issues with warnings that he should never be alone; it has been my experience that people like that should be institutionalized.

Another point of discussion is the slow moral decay that has been taking place in our country since the 60’s.  The attitude of “if it feels good do it” and “what’s in it for me”, is the permeating feeling in our society.  Add that to the fact that most of these problems kids, or adults, come from split homes with no positive role models and we are starting to see the problems arise.  The new computer games are violent, bloody and de-sensitizing to killing and other people, same with TV.  What I’m trying to say is we need to revaluate ourselves, our society and the direction of our country.

This is not just in the “other guys” neighborhoods, it is right here in Exeter.  I know people who are politically active and I believe are crazier than an outhouse mouse; that is not illegal, only when they act crazy, then they cross the line.

I CALLED IT SO RIGHT IT SCARED EVEN ME!!!

Almost two years ago I gave a warning to the house Republicans that if they persisted in these attacks on Unions and Union Republicans it would cost the Republicans between 85-125 Republican seats in the next election.  Since many were first termers, and some nuttier than a fruit cake and part of the O’Brien cult, they didn’t listen; now many,  are on the outside looking in.  For me I’m happy and feel relieved that, what felt like, the weight of the world is off my shoulders.

Ovide was warned about his right to work stance and losing the union republicans, most of which are conservatives.  So let’s take a quick look at what don’t you get issues; absolutely don’t attack women, don’t attack working class people on non issues, like right to work, don’t attack gays and lesbians and don’t call the Catholic Bishop a pedophile pimp, and above all don’t act stupid.  So much for my advice to the new legislature.

Many people are blaming O’Brien as the architect of the stunning Democratic sweep and talk about the past two years of his leadership; I look ahead of the pending 10 years of his asinine redistricting plan.  The redistricting, although vehemently denied, took into consideration who disagreed with him and “screw your enemies while trying to protect your friends”.  The plan was to redistrict out people while trying to protect others (his supporters).  I always thought when you redistricted you tried to be fair and if you can’t be fair, stick it to the other party.  Well they out did themselves, by making, or trying to make smaller districts, they wiped out the Republican base; talk about the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.  Seeing this convoluted plan early on I was one of the people who brought suit to stop it and send it back to the drawing boards.  O’Brien sent an early shot across the bow of the Supreme Court that he was having second thoughts about supporting the courts coveted reorganization plan.  When the court sustained the plan part of the decision stated that the court needed to tread lightly on anything political; I’m of the opinion they were intimidated by the legislature.

Now on to the Democrats, in my opinion which this blog is, left to their own devices have a tendency to screw up worse than the Republicans.  I have the greatest respect for them and how they won this election; but, they don’t have time to gloat with another pending fiscal crisis coming and the needs of the state becoming to the forefront even more than in the past in its multiple needs.  I suspect the democrats will embark on raising revenues and we’ll get ready for another political swing.

The future of the state rests with the legislature and they are now as out of balance as when the Republicans were in charge.  The new speaker of the house will set the tone and direction the legislature will take in addressing the problems.  Right now for the Democrats the choice is either Dave Campbell out of Nashua, a moderate or Terri Norelli from Portsmouth, a liberal.  Many Republicans are going with Campbell; the liberals will go with Norelli.  What has not been approached is who the union supporters will go with.  They can make the difference; but someone has to ask them.

Republicans are dragging out the same old faces and names for minority leader.  Gene Chandler co-chairman of the O’Brien’s reelection for speaker committee.  Laurie Sanborn has no real chance and not all that popular or respected.  Pam Tucker=O’Brien and always claimed when, as Deputy Speaker, never knew what was going on.  When confronted with decisions the speaker made would always say, “They never talked to me about that”.

We need new faces, new ideas and a new direction for the Republicans in the house and the current candidates do not fit the bill.

CONGRATULATIONS TO PATRICK ABRAMI!!!

We need to congratulate Patrick Abrami for getting the coveted Bill O’Brien endorsement for State Rep, in fact O’Brien’s Committee sent out at least two expensive mailings in support of Abrami.  Even though Abrami’s disingenuous attempt at hiding his loyalty  towards O’Brien at the last Stratham candidates forum was transparent at best with Abrami trying to talk his way out of the question about supporting O’Brien I was surprised it would become so apparent before the elections.  I think the last person to get this endorsement was Newt Gingrich whose numbers were at about 25% and a week later after the endorsement was around 12%. 

 In the last election, two years ago, it was reported to me that Patrick was going door to door bad mouthing Matt and me.  I called him on it, he denied it; in my opinion when you catch a liar lying they will try to lie their way out of it.  I didn’t pursue it and let it drop.  Then in this primary it was reported back that he was up to his old tricks again denying any support for O’Brien and lying about Tim Copeland.

 The sad truth is there is not much to pick from running in Stratham for the Stratham district, you have Tim Copeland who shines, and that is about it.

 Tim, Matt and I are the only Republican candidates that I found that were not endorsed by the NH Republican Liberty Caucus.  From what I’ve seen this group is the crazy wing of the Free Stater’s and their plan to take over NH and turn it into an anarchist’s utopia of non government.

 In my opinion, in politics you only have your word, your reputation for honesty and your ability to tell the truth.  If you lose these then the only thing you can fall back on is your loyalty for Speaker O’Brien.