Thursday, March 31, 2011

Fred Karger Wins Saint Anselm Straw Poll

Fred Karger has apparently won the Saint Anselm College 2012 Republican Straw Poll, beating out current New Hampshire Primary frontrunner Mitt Romney by 5 votes. As the only presidential candidate who accepted students' invitation to the event, he deserves it.


"Results of a New Hampshire straw poll to be conducted by Saint Anselm College March 31 will be watched closely," the Boston Herald reported a few days back. Be interesting to see how much play this story gets in the media now that the only openly gay presidential candidate to ever run under the banner of a major political party in the the U.S. has emerged as the winner. 


Complete results (number of votes)


Fred Karger 79
Mitt Romney 74
Donald Trump 26
Tim Pawlenty 24
Ron Paul 24
Rudy Giuliani 22
Rick Santorum 20
Sarah Palin 9
Herman Cain 8
Gary Johnson 8
Mike Huckabee 8
Newt Gingrich 7
Haley Barbour 3
Rand Paul 1
Other 6

2012 Presidential Candidates On Collective Bargaining

Thousands of voters turned out in Concord today for a protest that is being described as the largest rally at the State House in decades, possibly ever. They came to oppose a controversial budget plan cobbled together by NH House Republicans, which included a last minute amendment designed to eliminate collective bargaining rights for New Hampshire's 70,000+ state workers - a group that includes firefighters, policemen, and teachers.


tumblr_lixtldjdQz1qgpbgbo1_1280.jpg

Judging by this picture and a YouTube video posted by a disgruntled Tea Party activist,  demonstrators began showing up in force long before the official 12:00 PM start time for the Rally for New Hampshire:



Demonstrators also posted updates from the rally live on Twitter: #Rally4NH

With less than a year to go before the New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary, voters may be wondering where the presidential candidates stand on the key issue of collective bargaining. Here's a look at what they have to say:

Michele Bachmann: 


File:Bachmann2010.jpg
The leader of the House Tea Party Caucus has defended Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's plan to eliminate collective bargaining for public employees. 

Unlike some Republicans, Bachmann chose to refrain from demonizing public employees and union members, at least initially:


"It isn't that these unions are bad or evil, it's just that we've got to get real about what we can and cannot afford." 


Haley Barbour: 

File:Haley Barbour by Gage Skidmore.jpgThe Governor of Mississippi, a state where public employees have no collective bargaining rights, has called Scott Walker's plan "realistic".

That's no too surprising given that Barbour traveled to Wisconsin last October to campaign for Walker.




Photo by Gage Skidmore


Herman Cain: 


The former CEO of Godfather Pizza spoke in Tea Party love fest for Scott Walker in Madison in February:




Newt Gingrich: 


File:Gingrich1.jpg
The former Speaker of the House actively campaigned for Scott Walker during the 2010 election.

In February, Gingrich sent out a newsletter urging supporters to back Walker's plan to take collective bargaining rights away from public employees. 





Mike Huckabee: 


File:Mike Huckabee's band at the Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines.jpg
In February, the FOX News talk show host and 2008 presidential candidate urged Scott Walker to "Stay firm, hang in there."









Gary Johnson: 

The former Governor of New Mexico said he is completely in support of what Scott Walker is doing in Wisconsin during an interview filmed earlier this month:



Sarah Palin: 


File:Sarahpalin.jpg
The former Governor of Alaska and 2008 Vice Presidential candidate turned reality TV star has suggested that the hundreds of thousands of voters who have taken to the streets in Madison to oppose Scott Walker's assault on public employees need to stop kowtowing to "union bosses". After all, her "unions brothers and sisters" should be kowtowing to Sarah Palin. Eye roll!






Ron Paul: 


Asked if he supports Governor Scott Walker's bill to limit collective bargaining for public employees, Ron Paul said, "Yes, I do."


Tim Pawlenty: 


File:TPawlenty.jpg
The former Governor of Minnesota has posted a "Stand with Governor Scott Walker" petition on the website of his presidential exploratory committee.

It's just another instance of Tim Pawlenty kowtowing to Americans for Prosperity, the Koch founded and funded group that initiated the original "Stand With Walker" astroturf campaign in late February.






Rick Santorum: 


File:Rick Santorum by Gage Skidmore.jpg
The former Senator from Pennsylvania has offered "strong support" for Scott Walker's policies in Wisconsin.

He's even compared voters who oppose Walker's controversial labor bill to drug addicts.






Donald Trump: 


File:DonaldTrumpFeb09.jpg
"... collective bargaining doesn't bother me much," Trump said in a March 14th interview with Human Events.

But in February he was signing a different tune, saying he supported Scott Walker.








Mitt Romney:


File:Mitt Romney Steve Pearce event 056.jpg
The former Governor of Massachusetts and 2008 presidential candidate is so head over heals over Scott Walker that he recently donated the maximum amount allowable under law to the Wisconsin GOP. 









Sounds like supporters of teachers and other public employees better get ready to make their voices heard on the presidential campaign trail!


Blog post ©2011 David Anderson for New Hampshire Primary 2012. For reprint information, contact davewanderson@care2.com

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

President Barack Obama's Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future

President Barack Obama provided an overview of his administration's new Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future during a speech today at Georgetown University.

Let's start with a quick word count. In his speech, the President mentioned the following terms:

Greenhouse gas: 0 times

Coal: 1 time

Carbon: 2 times

Climate change: 4 times

Solar: 5 times

Wind: 5 times

Natural gas: 9 times

Nuclear: 10 times

Efficient: 11 times

Clean energy: 16 times

Efficiency: 22 times

Oil: 54 times

And the winner is... Oil!

Just a guess, but President Obama's sudden obsession with oil might have something to do with the fact that the current slate of 2012 GOP presidential candidates has rediscovered the slogan "Drill Baby Drill!" Literally.

Newt Gingrich's American Solutions recently re-launched its Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less campaign, which first made headlines in 2008 - the last time gas prices skyrocketed and sank America's economy. This time, the premise is simple. If we'd just forget about that pesky BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and increase offshore drilling, oil prices would plummet back to affordability:




Here's how Obama addressed the issue:

I don’t think anybody here has forgotten what happened last year, where we had to deal with the largest oil spill in [our] history. I know some of the fishermen down in the Gulf Coast haven’t forgotten it.  And what we learned from that disaster helped us put in place smarter standards of safety and responsibility.  For example, if you’re going to drill in deepwater, you’ve got to prove before you start drilling that you can actually contain an underwater spill.  That’s just common sense.  And lately, we’ve been hearing folks saying, well, the Obama administration, they put restrictions on how oil companies operate offshore.  Well, yes, because we just spent all that time, energy and money trying to clean up a big mess.  And I don't know about you, but I don't have amnesia.  I remember these things.   And I think it was important for us to make sure that we prevent something like that from happening again. 


Not good enough for Sarah Palin, who had this to say about Obama's energy policies on Facebook today:


His war on domestic oil and gas exploration and production has caused us pain at the pump, endangered our already sluggish economic recovery, and threatened our national security. 


She actually refers to Obama at one point as "he who is manipulating the U.S. energy supply," as if the President suddenly morphed into "He who cannot be named" - the evil Lord Voldemort of Harry Potter fame. 


The funny thing is that domestic oil production actually reached its highest level since 2003 last year, despite the oil spill.


Since that isn't good enough for Republicans who want to replace Obama in the White House, the President has put a new offer on the table:


Increase domestic oil production 


AND 


cut our oil dependence (the amount of oil we import from abroad) by a third 


Still not good enough for everyone's favorite reality TV star and former governor from Alaska. Of course, Sarah Palin might not be the most reliable source of information about domestic oil production. In today's posting on Facebook, she mentions something about a moratorium on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, but makes no mention of the oil spill that took place in 2010. Maybe she didn't hear about that one way up there in Alaska, eh?


Let's face it. There's no pleasing the "Drill Baby Drill!" camp because they already know that no amount of domestic drilling will ever make oil prices less volatile. They just don't want the rest of us to know that. President Obama should get back to what he's good at: making the case for clean energy solutions and more green jobs for America.

Tim Pawlenty and Climate Change: Just Say No To Koch

It seems like yesterday that Tim Pawlenty was calling on Congress to “Cap greenhouse gas pollution now!” As governor of Minnesotta, Pawlenty proudly boasted of his record on issues like “green jobs” and “renewable energy”:



But Pawlenty didn’t just talk the talk when it came to climate change. He walked the walk. In 2007, T-Paw signed Minnesota’s Next Generation Act into law, requiring the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent by 2015 and 80 percent by 2050. He also was a leading proponent of the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (MGGRA).

Today, Pawlenty is singing a very different tune. “I think cap-and-trade would be a ham-fisted, unhelpful, damaging thing to the economy," he told conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham on Monday.

So why has T-Paw flip-flopped on climate change? The answer may lie in the well-oiled political machine maintained by billionaire oil tycoons like Charles and David Koch. The brothers behind Koch Industries tied for 18th place in the latest edition of Forbes Billionaires List. Their combined net worth of $44 billion comes close to rivaling that of Warren Buffet, who ranked #3 on the list at $50 billion. These days the duo isn't shy about using Koch money to influence politics. In fact, they boast about it on the front page of Koch Industries’ website.

Tim Pawlenty has been actively wooing Koch-funded groups since 2008, when he spoke at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s 35th Annual Meeting in Chicago. T-Paw has also been cozying up to Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the 501(c)(4) founded and funded in part by David Koch. It’s a relationship that’s starting to bear fruit here in New Hampshire, where Pawlenty will headline two AFP events in April alone. He’ll be at the group’s Tax Day Tea Party in Concord on the 15th and its’ Presidential Summit on Spending and Job Creation in Manchester on the 29th.

ALEC and AFP are behind the current GOP drive to end New Hampshire’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), as documented in my recent article for Grist.org. The two groups are also targeting MGGRA, the same regional cap-and-trade initiative Pawlenty embraced as governor of Minnesota.

If Tim Pawlenty really has sold out on climate change, it is easy to understand why. Just watch the ads AFP aired in New Hampshire in 2010 to punish Democrats who supported cap and trade:

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter – NH 1st Congressional District



Her vote for new energy taxes could hurt New Hampshire families and small businesses.

That’s Koch-speak for cap and trade.

After serving two terms in Congress, Shea-Porter was defeated by Republican Frank Guinta by a blowout margin of 54 to 42 percent. To win the Koch-money that helped bring his opponent down, Guinta had to pull a major flip-flop on cap and trade:

2007: As Mayor of Manchester, Guinta signed onto the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to “urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.”

2010: “Frank Guinta opposes the 'cap-and-trade' scheme that will destroy jobs and raise prices for gas, electricity and other sources of energy.” Source: TeamGuinta.com.

Ann Kuster – NH 2nd Congressional District



And Kuster supports the kind of higher energy costs that could hurt New Hampshire’s jobs and economy.

Again, Koch-code for cap trade.

A first time candidate for Congress, Ann Kuster went on to lose the race to Republican rerun Charlie Bass by the oh-so narrow margin of 3,500 votes. Despite being dubbed a “cap and trade Republican” by National Review at one point in his career, moderate Bass was willing go along with the Koch-line on cap and trade in order to defeat his opponent:

“Anne Kuster: Supports Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade that will impose taxes on businesses and cost NH more than 6,000 jobs annually.” Source: VoteBass.com

The ads cost AFP around $75,000 a piece, paid to Mentzer Media Services. AFP is based out of Washington, D.C. Mentzer is located in Towson, Maryland. Regardless, a blog posting announcing the anti-Kuster ad bore the misleading title, “Tell Kuster to Support New Hampshire, not Washington”.

Of course, these ads are kids stuff compared to the virulent TV spots aired in the Granite State by the American Action Network (AAN), a shadowy conservative group run by GOP insiders with close ties to Karl Rove. AAN spent close to $15 million influencing the 2010 election, $1.75 million of it in New Hampshire. We still don’t know where all that money came from, thanks to a legal loophole designed to protect donors’ secret identities. What we do know is that a lot of AAN's money was spent trying to scare voters into opposing cap and trade:



AAN spent a mind-boggling $875,000 airing this ad accusing Democratic Senate candidate Paul Hodes of wanting to kill granny, all because he voted for climate legislation as a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives. It worked. Hodes suffered a landslide 60-37 percent defeat to Republican Kelly Ayotte. Like Guinta and Bass, Ayotte had to pull a major flip-flop on climate change to win the support of outside spenders:

2005: As Attorney General for the State of New Hampshire, Ayotte signed onto a letter opposing the Clean Skies Act because it failed to address global warming.

2011: “Passing a massive cap-and-trade bill that would increase taxes, raise energy costs, and redistribute wealth - all without impacting the overall level of global greenhouse gases - is the wrong approach,” Senator Ayotte wrote in a recent letter to constituents.

By now, you are probably getting the gist of what Republican presidential candidates will be forced to say if they want to stay on the right side of Big Oil’s political machine in 2012:

Cap and trade will drive up energy costs, hurt the economy, eliminate jobs, and, of course, kill granny.

To debunk these claims, one only needs to look at New Hampshire’s real world cap and trade experience under RGGI. For one thing, RGGI is super cheap. It only costs the average residential ratepayer in New Hampshire somewhere between 6.5 and 36 cents per month. Furthermore, the benefits of the program far outweigh the costs. By July of 2010, RGGI had provided $17.7 million in funding to 30 projects designed to improve energy efficiency, support energy education and outreach, and provide energy efficiency job training to workers across New Hampshire. In addition to creating jobs, these projects are expected to reduce consumer energy costs by $60.6 million. Not a bad deal for just pennies a month.

It is up to voters to tell Tim Pawlenty and every other presidential candidate to stand up for the people of New Hampshire, not for special interests in Washington, D.C.

Tim Pawlenty is making it easy for voters to do just that. Visit TimPawlenty.com today and tell him to stand strong and defend his record as a champion of clean energy solutions to climate change and a creator of green jobs for America.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Full Video of Ron Paul's Speech at the University of New Hampshire

Durham, NH - Here is the full video of Congressman Ron Paul's March 24, 2011 speech at the University of New Hampshire. Around 616 voters of all ages packed into the Granite State room for the event, according to The New Hampshire. It was Paul's first trip to the Granite State since the 2008 election.

Intro


Republican State Senator Jim Forsythe introduces Ron Paul.

"Another thing that's interesting about Dr. Paul... is he did start the Tea Party movement," according to Forsythe.






Part 1: 


Ron Paul introduces the subject of his speech: Liberty.





Part 2


Ron Paul begins what would turn out to be a long tirade against the Federal Reserve.



Part 3


Paul continues his discussion of the Federal Reserve, while also voicing his opposition to the federal bailout of Wall Street:

"Sure, if we wouldn't have bailed out there would've been a Depression... but guess for whom? It would have been the people on Wall Street and the people who deserved bankruptcy..."



Part 4


Paul delves deeper into the details of his case against the Federal Reserve:



Part 5

Ron Paul discusses foreign policy, sharing his thoughts on the ongoing U.S. interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Pakistan - and the common tie than binds them all: oil.

"They were really pretty strict on the idea of militarism," Paul says while talking about the views held by America's founding fathers. "They actually had this belief that you shouldn't even have a standing army."



Part 6


Shifting his focus to U.S. troops stationed around the globe, from Germany to North Korea, Paul continues his discussion of foreign policy. He even calls for the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations:

"We have like 780 bases around the world," Paul estimates. "Then we say we are not an imperialistic nation."



Part 7


Ron Paul talks state rights and the movement to "nullify" Obamacare:



Part 8


Ron Paul begins his rapid fire grand finale, hitting upon topics ranging from gold currency to the second amendment:



Conclusion






New Hampshire Primary 2012: Green is committed to providing voters with complete video and transcript of speeches by presidential candidates.



Saint Anselm College 2012 Republican Presidential Straw Poll

New Hampshire voters will get another chance to weigh in on the growing crowd of presidential candidates-in-waiting on Thursday, when Saint Anselm College will hold its 2012 Republican Presidential Straw Poll. They'll also get a chance to meet Fred Karger, who became the first official presidential candidate of the 2012 election cycle last week.

Invited guest include all 18 Republicans who are currently considering making a run for the White House in 2012. So far, Karger is the only one to confirm. He's been campaigning on college campuses across the Granite State for months now, defending students' right to vote and calling for a Constitutional Amendment to lower the voting age to 16 or 17.

Meanwhile, local lawmakers from his own party have be trying to strip many college students of the right to vote in New Hampshire. NH House Speaker William O'Brien, a Republican, was recently caught on video calling student voters "foolish" for voting "liberal". The video quickly went viral, casting the spotlight on a GOP sponsored bill that would have prevented most college students from voting in the community where they attend school - even if they live there year round.  Thankfully, that bill was struck down in committee.

Hopefully other Republicans will emulate Fred Karger's commitment to students by turning out for Thursday's event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Here are the details:

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2011

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 PM

Location:

Saint Anselm College - New Hampshire Institute of Politics
100 Saint Anselm Dr.
Manchester, NH 03102



Monday, March 28, 2011

Fred Karger's 13th Trip To New Hampshire (Press Release)

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NEWS ADVISORY                                                                Contact: Rina Shah
                                                                                         304-237-6489
                                                                                         rina@fredkarger.com


St. Anselm College Republicans Straw Poll This Week

First Official Measure of New Hampshire GOP Presidential Primary


MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Voting will take place all this week, culminating on Thursday night March 31st with speeches and the results at the famous New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  CLICK HERE  for information.

All 17 major candidates and prospective candidates are in the poll including front runners Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin.  CLICK HERE

Contact:  Brock Weber  republicans@Anselm.Edu  (860) 878-4350

Fred Karger will be campaigning and speaking at St. A’s during the week as part of his jam-packed 13th visit to the Granite State (see his schedule below).


Fred Karger’s Schedule - New Hampshire & Nevada


March 27 - April 3, 2011 

First full week as declared candidate for President


Sunday, March 27:
-    Karger arrives.  Overnight in Manchester.

Monday, March 28:
-    10am: House viewing
-    12pm: St. Anselm College
-    4pm: Greater Manchester AIDS Project
-    6pm: Meet and Greet with St. Anselm Students
-    7pm: St. Anselm College
-    9pm: Manchester Dinner with volunteers
-    10pm: OUTspoken Radio Interview

Tuesday, March 29:
-    10am: Interview with Hippo Press
-    3pm: Private Meetings in Manchester
-    5:30pm: NH GOP First in the Nation Reception, Grappone Center, Concord, NH
-    6:30pm: NH GOP First in the Nation Dinner - With Special Guest 
Chairman Reince Priebus, Republican National Committee
-    9pm: St. Anselm Pub Trivia 


Wednesday, March 30:
-    9am: Meeting with Pro-choice New Hampshire
-    11:30am:  Guest Lecture at St. Anselm’s Presidential History class
-    3pm: Private Meetings in Concord
-    8pm: Speech to Keene State Political Science Club

Thursday, March 31:
-    12pm: St. Anselm Straw Poll
-    1pm: Private Meeting
-    3pm: Private Meetings in Manchester
-    7pm to 9pm:  St. Anselm Straw Poll

Friday, April 1:
-    Karger departs New Hampshire

April 1 – April 3, 2011
-    Republican Jewish Coalition Winter Meeting, Las Vegas, NV



  
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Friday, March 25, 2011

Buddy Roemer in New Hampshire Today

When Buddy Roemer announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee on March 3, the general reaction among political junkies was, "Who the hell is Buddy Roemer?" It is easy to see why. The former governor and congressman from Louisiana quit politics for the private sector back in the early 1990's. Now Buddy's back with a pretty unique campaign message.

It starts with a question - "Do you want a president who is free to lead?" - and ends with a pledge to accept no contribution greater than $100. The result would be a president free from any obligation to special interests. It's a pledge that sets Roemer apart from every other potential candidate for president, Democrat or Republican.

Buddy brought his "Free to lead" message to New Hampshire today, where he posted the following Tweets:

Limited enthusiasm in NH from Party officials for our $100 limit. But every citizen I met today loved it. Go figure. Live free or die.

Jim runs a coffee shop on the "main" street in Concord, NH. He shook my hand as I left his shop this morning saying 'Give em hell Buddy'.

Is it just me, or is this exactly the kind of mavericky straight talk that John McCain used to win Granite Staters' hearts in 2000 and 2008?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Ron Paul: Libya Another War For Oil (Video)

Durham, NH - In this video shot at the University of New Hampshire earlier today, Ron Paul discusses the founding father's aversion to foreign intervention. He also describes the current intervention in Libya as yet another in a string of wars for oil.

Ron Paul talks hemp ethanol in NH (Video)

Durham, NH - In this video, Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) extolls the virtues of hemp while delivering a March 24, 2011 speech to students at the University of New Hampshire. Hemp can be used as a substitute for corn in ethanol production, according to Paul.



Turns out Ron Paul isn't just reading too many old issues of High Times while lounging beside his pool back in Texas. Legendary car marker Henry Ford experimented with using hemp to build and power cars. There's an interesting clip about it on YouTube:

Ron Paul on Funding NPR, Afghanistan (Video)

Durham, NH - Earlier today, Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) told students at the University of Hampshire that federal government funding for NPR is unconstitutional. At the same time, Paul took conservative Republicans in Congress to task for focusing too heavily on the few million spent on public radio while ignoring the billions of dollars being poured into the war in Afghanistan each year.

Watch video of Paul's comments:

Ron Paul at UNH Today - Live Blog

Ron Paul kicks off a two day visit to New Hampshire today with an appearance at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Doors open at 3:00 PM at the Memorial Union Building, Granite State Room. The event is being hosted by the Young Americans for Liberty at UNH. More information is available on Facebook

This is a great opportunity for any New Hampshire citizen to make their voice heard! Attend this event and ask Ron Paul to weigh in on the issues that matter most to you.

I'll be posting live from this event later today... Stay tuned!

Update

354 people have signed up on Facebook to attend Ron Paul's speech in Durham today. Recommend arriving early to get a good place in line!

Update 1:30 PM


Scratch that. Just arrived outside the Granite State Room - no line. In fact, there is no one here at all. A student sitting at a table outside the door laughed when I asked if he was manning the Ron Paul event and remarked, "I'm just doing homework." Keep your nose in the books my friend!

Not too surprising given that Ron Paul has yet too officially launch his presidential campaign, meaning no infrastructure is in place to rally supporters. I just found out about the event today.

Still, I'm reminded of Barack Obama's early visit to the University of New Hampshire back in January of 2007, which I covered for Gather.com. Students were lined up outside the Field House two hours before the door opened. Apparently Ron Paul hasn't attained that kind of rock star status.

Update 1:45 PM

A little background. This is Ron Paul's first visit to New Hampshire since 2008, according to CNN. That year, he finished 5th place with 8 percent of the vote in the Granite State's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. It was not his best showing of the election. He won 24 percent of the vote in Idaho and broke the 10% mark in a number of other states.

Update 2:08 PM 


A few folks have lined up outside the door of the Granite State room, awaiting Ron Paul's speech at 3:00.

Update 2:15 PM


I'm interested to see what Ron Paul has to say about key issues like education and collective bargaining. You've probably been hearing some Tea Party enthusiasts calling for the abolition of the Department of Education. It's an idea that can be traced directly back to Paul.

In Iowa yesterday, the Texas Congressman took the DOE to task for indoctrinating kids instead of educating them. He basically dodged a question about the issue of collective bargaining during a recent interview with radio talk show host Rebecca Costa.

Just yesterday, the Republican-dominated Finance Committee of the New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a budget amendment that would kill collective bargaining rights for 70,000 public employees, including firefighters and teachers. In a move reminiscent of the secret committee vote that enabled passage of union busting legislation in Wisconsin, the amendment was introduced without prior notice by Rep. Neal
Kurk late last night and voted on without any public comment period or hearing.

While Concord probably won't become the next Madison, there have been a number of well attended rallies in solidarity with Wisconsin workers in the Granite State. The progressive movement that helped President Barack Obama win here in 2008 is waking up to the harsh realities of Republican rule. Activists will likely be attending GOP campaign events, confronting GOP presidential candidates with tough questions about issues like collective bargaining. Not exactly the kind of political climate the GOP was hoping for in 2012.

Update 3:09 PM


I was just handed an invite to "Porc Fest 2011", a Free State Project sponsored event that sounds kind of like Woodstock for Libertarians. Check it out at www.porcfest.com

... not to be confused with the Live Free or Die Rally, another event being promoted by flier here today.

Update 3:17 PM


Still no Ron Paul, but the room is now close to capacity. I'd estimate around 200 people gathered here today. Maybe he is a rock star? Worth noting that I overheard one student on a cell phone say, "I'm waiting to hear Ron Paul. He's running for president. I think he's a Democrat!" In other words, crowd size should not be used as a measure of support.

Update 8:00 PM


Got some great video at today's event and will be posting here at newhampshireprimary.blogspot.com ASAP.

Fred Karger Announces Candidacy For President (Video)

Fred Karger became the first Republican to officially declare his candidacy for President of the United States yesterday. In fact, he's the only candidate who has filed the paperwork necessary to run for president with the Federal Election Commission to date.

Watch video Fred announcing his candidacy on CBS News:

Fred Karger: First Presidential Candidate of 2012 Election

NEWS RELEASE                                                                              Contact: Rina Shah
March 23, 2010                                                                              304-237-6489                                                                                                            rina@fredkarger.com


Fred Karger First to File for President
at FEC in Washington, DC

Statement by Fred Karger

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today is a very significant day for my community and me.  I have just submitted my papers to the Federal Election Commission, making me the first candidate to file for the 2012 Republican nomination for President.

I am also the first openly gay person, in a major political party, to ever run for President of the United States.

After spending 35 years in politics behind the scenes, I want to be a participant and help shape the debate in the Republican Party and our nation.

While I intend to talk about many important issues, I dedicate today to the 6 teenagers who took their lives this past fall because they were bullied for who they were.  They could not go on living for even one more day.

There is no place for hatred and bigotry in this country.  We must all learn to respect each other and our differences.

I began this journey 13 months ago when I traveled from my home in California to Washington, DC, New York and then up to New Hampshire.  It has been a whirlwind. I have traveled to 19 states, including 12 trips to New Hampshire and 6 to Iowa.  I have talked to thousands of people, and I have been encouraged to take this to the next level.

During the months ahead, I will propose some bold new ideas on a wide array of issues, and I want to help bring back optimism like my old boss Ronald Reagan did 30 years ago.

I know that I will not be invited to participate in some of the debates and forums that will be held during the next year.  Some will not include me because I am an outsider, others because I am gay.  I will fight to get into each and every debate, so that my ideas and my voice may be heard.

I want to send a loud and clear message to anyone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer, that you can do anything you want to do in this country.  You can even run for President of the United States.



Please help us continue to get our message out.  It is making a difference.  Send in a contribution today by clicking on the red button below.  Thank you for your support!



  
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Monday, March 21, 2011

Tim Pawlenty's Facebook Special Message (Video)

Likely 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is planning to send a "special message" to supporters on Facebook today at 3:00 PM ET.

Spoiler alert: Pawlenty will not officially announce his candidacy for president today. Instead, he announce the formation of a presidential exploratory committee, just like Newt Gingrich did during his "big announcement" on March 3.

If nothing else, the move should help to boost the former Minnesota governor's following on Facebook. To take part in today's big announcement, supporters have to hit the "Like" the button on Tim Pawlenty's Facebook page.

Update:


The countdown ticker on Tim Pawlenty's Facebook page struck zero at exactly 3:00 PM ET. And then.... nothing happened. After staring at a clock reading 00:00:00 for about half a minute, I refreshed the page and was treated to the following video:

2012 Presidential Candidates Debate Libya

With less than one year to go before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary, President Barack Obama's decision to use military force against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is refocusing voters' attention on foreign policy.

So where do the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates stand on Libya?

Michele Bachmann: The leader of the House Tea Party Caucus is opposed to U.S. military involvement in Libya. Bachmann claims too little is known about the rebel forces opposing Gaddafi.

Haley Barbour: The Governor of Mississippi is calling for a cautious approach to Libya, while also expressing concerns about nation building.

Herman Cain: The former CEO of Godfather Pizza supports "covert" action on behalf of the Libyan opposition.

Newt Gingrich: The former House Speaker describes President Obama's approach to Libya as indecisive, but stops short of voicing support or opposition for military intervention.

Mike Huckabee: The FOX News host does not want to see U.S. troops on the ground in Libya.

Gary Johnson: The former Governor of New Mexico has voiced concerns about U.S. military intervention in Libya.

Andy Martin: The self described founder of the Birther Movement says "... the 'shame' of Obama's  dilly-dallying as helpless Libyan patriots are slaughtered confirms Obama's 'policy" is to render the United States 'neutered' in foreign policy."

Sarah Palin: "NATO and our allies should look at establishing a no-fly zone so Libyan air forces cannot continue slaughtering the Libyan people," Palin wrote on Facebook back in February. She reiterated her support for the no-fly zone over Libya in India on Sunday.

Ron Paul: The Texas Congressman and two time presidential candidate is calling President Obama's decision to impose a no-fly zone over Libya unconstitutional:



Tim Pawlenty: No word yet on Pawlenty's view of the situation in Libya. Apparently he's the silent type.

Buddy Roemer: The former Governor of Louisianna supports the no-fly zone over Libya, but thinks it should have happened sooner.

Rick Santorum: The former Senator from Pennsylvania has called for regime change in Libya.

Donald Trump: He's calling for a surgical strike to assassinate Gaddafi.

Mitt Romney: So far, the former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 presidential candidate has remained silent on Libya.

Blog post ©2011 David Anderson for New Hampshire Primary 2012. For reprint information, contact davewanderson@care2.com

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Herman Cain Hires Staff in New Hampshire (Press Release)

Friends of Herman Cain, Inc. Hires New Hampshire Operative
Presidential Exploratory Committee Signs Matt Murphy for Granite State Efforts

CONTACT: Ellen Carmichael 
(678) 601-2772, media@hermancain.com

STOCKBRIDGE, GA - Friends of Herman Cain, Inc. announced today the addition of Matt Murphy to the exploratory committee staff as its New Hampshire operations director.
Murphy brings to Friends of Herman Cain, Inc. vast political experience, distinguished military service and in-depth knowledge of Granite State grassroots and coalitions.

“We are delighted that Matt Murphy has joined the staff at Friends of Herman Cain,” Chief of Staff Mark Block said. “While Mr. Cain prayerfully considers a run for the White House, we have bolstered our efforts in early primary and caucus states, such as New Hampshire, to gauge interest on the ground for his potential candidacy. Matt’s efforts are imperative to our continued success in the Granite State.”

Murphy’s political background includes local and presidential campaigns, including Giuliani for President during the 2008 election cycle. He also served as a New Hampshire field representative for the National Rifle Association during the 2010 midterm elections, as well as the director of governmental affairs for Whitefield & Burke. Additionally, Murphy served as the executive director of the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, a non-profit focused on grassroots legislative action.

Murphy graduated from Concordia University of Montreal, Quebec and the U.S. Army Armor Reconnaissance School in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He also served as an armored reconnaissance specialist in the U.S. Army.

“I am honored to join the Friends of Herman Cain team and look forward to helping Mr. Cain in his decision-making process,” Murphy said. “He has been well-received in my home state of New Hampshire, and I am confident that with even more exposure, Granite Staters will gravitate towards his message of free market principles and common sense solutions.”

Herman Cain has visited New Hampshire five times since June 2010.

Herman Cain is a corporate executive, radio talk show host and syndicated columnist from Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Cain previously served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve of Kansas City and as the President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. He is known especially for his role in economic policymaking and as a leader in the conservative grassroots movement. In January 2011, Mr. Cain established a presidential exploratory committee.

For more information, visit http://www.hermancain.com, http://www.facebook.com/THEHermanCain and http://www.twitter.com/THEHermanCain.

Rudy Giuliani Insults Barack Obama (Video)

This week, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made his first trip to New Hampshire of the 2012 election cycle. During the visit, Giuliani made some rather below the belt remarks about President Barack Obama.

"The president of the United States had no qualifications for this job... and we elected him anyway," he claimed. "He really seems like he doesn't know what he's doing."

Giuliani is currently considering launching what would be his second consecutive presidential campaign in 2012.

Watch NECN's video of Rudy Giuliani's remarks in New Hampshire:

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Michele Bachmann Tea Bags New Hampshire (Video)



Granitegrok posted this video of Rep. Michele Bachmann addressing a GOP fundraiser in Nashua, NH on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Bachmann is not only the leader of the House Tea Party Caucus, she is also openly considering running for president in 2012.

The Minnesota Congresswoman also made stops in Manchester and Barrington.

"I brought a tea bag today and wondered if anyone cared for tea," Bachmann joked at Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC fundraiser in Barrington, while holding a tea bag out in front of the crowd.

Meanwhile, a major gaffe Bachmann made during her trip to the Granite State has left her political opponents in stitches.

"What I love about New Hampshire and what we have in common is our extreme love for liberty," she said. "Your the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord."

Bachmann was apparently referring to the Battle of Concord and Lexington, which marked the start of the Revolutionary War. This battle actually took place in Massachusetts, a fact taught at every elementary school in New England. The gaffe is making headlines on news sites across the web today, from Real Clear Politics to The Economist.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Michele Bachmann in New Hampshire Today

Votes in New Hampshire will have a number of chances to see Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in action today. The leader of the House Tea Party Caucus and potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate will crisscross the Granite State today.

Here is Michele Bachmann's full schedule for Saturday, March 12, 2011:


Liberty Harbor Academy and Republican Liberty Caucus Legislative Coffee
Time: 8:30 am – 9:30am
This event, by special invitation only, is co-sponsored by the Republican Liberty Caucus and Liberty Harbor Academy. The audience will be comprised of members of the Republican Liberty Caucus of the NH State Legislature, and students and faculty of Liberty Harbor Academy. The event will be held at Liberty Harbor Academy, 215 Canal St., Manchester, NH. Press should contact (and pre-register with) Dr. Julianne Cooper (Liberty Harbor Academy) at 603-716-1997.

New Hampshire GOP Brunch with Congresswoman Bachmann
Main Event – 11:00am – 12:00pm /VIP Reception at 10:15am.
Note: Live stream of Bachmann's speech will be available on Facebook at 11:25 AM
Please join the Republican State Committee for brunch featuring Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-MN, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, 220 Southwood Drive, Nashua, NH. General admission is $35.00, VIP admission with reception and reserved seating is $100.00. Online registration or RSVP required. Contact Ellen Christo, NH-GOP, for more information at Ellen@nhgop.org or 603-225-9341.
NH Speaker of the House Bill O’Brien and NH GOP Chairman Jack Kimball will host the event.
The press must pre-register with the NH GOP. Contact Christine Baratta, Communications Director NH- GOP,christine@nhgop.org/603-828-8026 (cell) or 603-225-9341 (office).

Granite State Patriots Liberty Gathering
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-MN, is the guest of honor for one of the largest gatherings of pro-liberty groups from throughout the region. The event will be held at Turbocam International, Rte 125, Barrington, NH, starting at 1:30PM, and is open to any member of a pro-liberty group (Tea Party, 9-12, etc). General admission is $35.00, couples general admission is $60.00, student admission is $15.00, and VIP couples admission is $100.00, which includes a photo with Congresswoman Bachmann.
Hosted by Jerry DeLemus and the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC, the event will also feature NH State Senator Fenton Groen, NH State Representative Warren Groen, and Marian Noronha (Founder, Chairman and President – Turbocam International). WRKO radio personality Todd Feinburg (of Tom and Todd in the Morning) will emcee the event.
For more information, contact GSPL_PAC@yahoo.com or 603.834.2529. Press should contact (and pre-register with) with Jerry DeLemus at 603.834.2529

Press Contact while in New Hampshire
For GOP events, contact Christine Baratta, Communications Director for the NH-GOP, atchristine@nhgop.org/603-828-8026 (cell) or 603-225-9341(office).
For general media questions and non-GOP events throughout the visit, contact Jeff Chidester at JeffChidester@gmail.com/603.969.0436.