Remember to Vote Nov. 4th!

Do me a favor. Follow this link and spend 30 minutes watching the full speech. In 1956 I voted in my first presidential election, for Dwight Eisenhower. This is the first time since then that I will be voting FOR a candidate for president rather than the better of two choices. Then watch the short clip with James Taylor and look at the size of the crowd. Be sure to vote Nov. 4th. God willing, I will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X3eE18dfmE (full speech)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk6a2wrIC-I (James Taylor)

It's been a while since I've had a chance to write anything here, even tho I'm linked here from forumhome.org on a paid ad button. I wanted to put these thoughts down today, before we hear the results of what I believe is the most important election in my lifetime. I was born into the Great Depression, raised by the Greatest Generation and educated in a different time. Paul Newman is quoted as saying that it was a better time. Better or worse is an individual statement of past experiences, but it was certainly a different time. Today we are again reminded what the effects are of allowing arrogance, greed and selfishness to run rampant. My sense is that the Republican candidates will pay dearly in this election for the arrogance, greed and selfishness of a significant number of the members of their party. Pray that those of us that are not members of that party understand that arrogance, greed and selfishness are individual human characteristics, not organizational attributes and that some part of any success we achieve in this election is the result of human failures of the other party. Let us remember that we are all first Americans, second representatives of the people and finally, free and independent members of a Democratic Party. Let us learn from history and try to remember that evolution and revolution differ by only one letter, but the effects on the people are significantly different. Most importantly, let's get to work making this a better world for all, not just some.

This is a cute picture of a small young deer bonding with the horses. I wanted to test a new blogwriter applications ability to upload pictures. Enjoy!

Well, I'm back... It's been almost exactly 7 months since I last had time to visit with you. The first year of the legislative biennium is almost complete. One more week, one more session day, the budget bills, the definition of educational adequacy to satisfy the court, and all the bills agreed to by the committees of conference. It's been an interesting, educational, enlightening experience. Frustrating sometimes, too. With the sea change in leadership in the House, Senate and Governor's Council, things ran for most of the session in a truely non-partisan mode and was very productive (a subjective opinion, I understand, but then, nobody reads these things anyway). Towards the end of the session, partisan politics returned as the parties settled into their new roles and realized that (oh-my-god) elections are only 18 months away! The interesting thing was the number of legislators that don't seem to really care about the politics, that just want to get things done. I've now got a voting record, I worked hard, I attended every session, all the committee and subcommittee meetings I had to and many that I wanted to, and managed to influence some legislation, consistent with what I told you I'd try to do. Keep in touch, I'll write some specifics soon.

Busy, Busy, Busy... You have NO idea of the amount of change that takes place when you actually are elected! Blizzards of paperwork, action items, places to go, people to meet... An exciting, interesting, intellectually stimulating learning experience. And all around you, the sounds of silence. Everybody else has already moved on with their lives.

And, the questions I have! What do I do now? How can I effectively manage to actually accomplish things? How do I work this into my schedule? How do I keep the people informed? What resources are available to help me? Being a State Representative in NH isn't something you do for the money. You get a small stipend ($100/year?), mileage reimbursement and free passage thru the toll booths. I ran on a platform of neither asking for nor accepting donations. I was true to that pledge. Now that I'm elected, I want to keep the people informed. How do I keep this blog available? It costs me money for a button on the local media website. Is this still considered political advertising? Should I bother? Does anyone actually read this?

Want to know the biggest concern I had before I was elected? Would I have to wear a "uniform"? I haven't worn a suit since I got married almost 50 years ago. I quit wearing ties in 1974 when the oil embargo hit and the company let us stop wearing ties because the air conditioning was being turned up. They never rescinded the edict and I never put one on again. Now, however, it's clear to me that there is a "uniform"... At least there is if you want to be an effective legisalator. So, if you happen to see me in a suit and tie, you'll know why. The things that I do for you...

Comments to this blog are welcomed, but I believe that you have to first establish a username before you can post them. Then, because I use the blog's preview option, I get an email that the comment was written and I either approve the posting of the comment or delete it. Not censorship, just not interested in having people reading obscene material. And yes, I understand that obscenity is in the eye of the beholder. That would be me, in this case. So, post away if you choose to. It may just take a little while for me to get it out there.

CNN is predicting that Carol Shea-Porter will be the winner in the NH First Congressional District race, beating incumbent Republican Jeb Bradley. You may (or may not) hear about this as a significant historic event. From my (very personal) perspective, it is. I'm in that district. I've watched Carol grow and mature as a candidate for national office over the last six months, becoming convinced that not only was she a good choice, but that she had a chance to win. She was worth helping. Apparently a lot of other people also felt the same way. She managed to win the primary election with little money and little "establishment" support or encouragement. Carol worked hard. Her supporters won it for her with their hard work and gusto. She was given little chance by the pundits to win the general election, running against a well financed incumbent. Again, compared to those campaigns considered "winnable" by the establishment, she received little monetary support or encouragement. They, all of them, underestimated the power of her supporters. Carol worked harder. So did her supporters, more and more of them. Again, they won it for her. Big Time!

So, what's historic about that? Simple... Those of us that live in this district now have a Congresswoman that can go to Washington owing nobody, except us. Not "Big Money". Not the Party Apparatus. Us... The "other 99%". Only time will tell what she can, or will, make of this opportunity, but, for now, enjoy. God Speed, Carol. We'll be watching (and watching out for) you. Keep in touch...

It's just past 9:30 PM on a chilly fall evening. I've just finished a full day of visiting with voters in the four towns that I'm campaigning in. I held signs in Deerfield on a frosty early morning, dropped off a sign in Northwood midmorning, spent the midday hours in Nottingham holding signs with some of Carol Shea Porter's ardent supporters and finished off the day holding signs and greeting friends in Candia. I would suggest that we all owe a debt of gratitude to the many, many dedicated volunteers who care enough about our country to get involved in the political process and make our elections possible. Party affiliation aside, there is a large pool of smart, talented, caring people out there who understand the importance of free and fair elections. They, like I do, want their vote to not only count, but to be counted, honestly, openly and fairly. It's essential that we, as a country, ensure that this happens.

The votes are in, they're being counted, the results will become available. The talking heads will now be ready to tell us what it all meant. Would that they really knew... Thanks to everybody that voted for me, special thanks to those that actively supported me. Whatever the results, with friends like you, I'm proud to be a part of this wonderful country we live in.

Election Time is almost here. The mood on the street is ugly... I've been attending local events to meet people and get "visibility". Why, I don't know, but that's another story. Three "Old Home Day" events and the local Fair. There were 57,000 people on the grounds on a beautiful fall day and a significant number of them went by the booth that our local Democratic group organized and staffed. A really enlightening experience for me. I spent four days, literally dawn to dusk, watching people, chatting with them and getting lectured on the sad state of politics today. I had the opportunity to meet a number of candidates, from Governor on down, both parties. Even got my picture taken with John Lynch, our current (and future, for a long time I think) Governor. For your enjoyment....

What's wrong with Grass and Trees? Something a friend asked me the other day when we were discussing a proposed development in town, with the underlying theme that there had to be a better place for the development then here. Newsweek, in their latest edition has an article on the decline in the housing market highlighting how restrictive zoning ordinances raise the costs of housing (raise the value of your property, raise your property taxes). Does anyone out there know of a place that has prevented development with restrictive zoning?

Signs, Signs and more signs... As a candidate, I've resisted the urge to put up signs trumpeting my candidacy. I'm well aware that the political axiom is that "the candidate with the most signs wins". If that's true, and I don't believe it is, then getting elected should be easy. All it takes is money. "Money is the root of all evil", right? It's also said that "A picture is worth a thousand words". Here's 3000 words about not littering the landscape, an anonymous comment (No, I didn't put it up!) on political signs and a somewhat humorous and probably unintended consequence of sign placement that I saw on the internet. Enjoy!

Here's who I run for...
I spent a wonderful day at Nottingham Day Saturday. Here's a picture of some of the young people that I want to represent. Education, health care, the environment. What kind of a world do we want to leave for them?

Hunters, Shooters and Sportsmen... John Harrigan is one of my favorite writers. Here's his latest take on part of the equation.
http://www.unionleader.com/columns.aspx/Opinion?channel=c385ca6f-fb9a-4c7b-9b39-899062752a63

John writes that he doesn't think of hunting as a sport. This creates a real problem for me. By his own words, he's a hunter and I need a special word for him, like sportsman, that allows me to describe him as better than average, in much the same manner that I would call him a gentleman or a scholar. Most of us know the difference between good, bad and evil. We need short, simple words that will allow us to easily communicate our impressions of actions observed. John is one of the good guys. He's a hunter and a sportsman. Live with it, John.

Now, shooters, and worse, far worse, killers, are a different story. John offers explanations, not judgments, about the shooters. I'm a gun owner, I've hunted in the past and would again if it was the difference between eating and not eating. I remember reading about a young boy who was forced by his father to eat an eagle that he'd shot, as a lesson learned. Sportsmen, and hunters, eat what they kill. Shooters? It's like taking your .22 to the dump in the old days to shoot rats. I can offer explanations and rationalize it, I won't pass judgment on it, but it does raise questions in my mind. With killers, those who enjoy killing, judgment is clear. I know it as evil...

This Guy explains it better than I can... http://www.kabc.com/mcintyre/listingsEntry.asp?ID=432586&PT=McIntyre+in+the+Morning

The bottom line is simple. You get what you pay for! Government, for all its faults, beats not having one. Ask the Native Americans. How different would this country be today if they'd had an immigration service and run all of us thru Ellis Island? I've ALWAYS voted the person, not the party. Voting a straight party ticket gets you elected officials like the guy from the Nashua area that got elected to the State Legislature before people found out that he had a website that advocated shooting cops. I wonder how the voters of his district felt when they heard that? And, did I hear he's back again? Running for the State Senate this time? Bet you don't vote in the Primary Elections, do you? Surprise! That's how people get on the November General Election ballot. Know what date they are? "Primary Election: September 12, 2006"... (copied directly from the Secretary of State's website - ever visited it? Fascinating place!)

My name will be on the Rockingham District One (Candia, Deerfield, Northwood, Nottingham) ballots for State Representative in that election. I'd appreciate your vote.

If I had a magic wand.... (With apologies to Doonesbury for copying their image - I don't have a direct link to them).