Shea-Porter Will Not Run for Senate

A Great Friend to Veterans (4.00 / 5)

This is excellent news!

www.KusterforCongress.com - www.paulhodesforsenate.com

www.nikitsongas.com - www.devalpatrick.com

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 12:45:39 PM CDT

Bumped because of AIG spangles (0.00 / 0)

Not that the uproar over the AIG bonuses wasn't due, but sometimes important things get pushed aside in the news cycle. What makes pols like CSP special, is that they don't lose track of critical issues, like veterans and military families, because of shiny news stories.

The increases in the VA budget that President Obama and Secretary Shinseki have proposed will help U.S. Reps provide more care and services to their constituents.

Today President Obama helped mark the 20th anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Cabinet-level agency with remarks in Washington, DC.
-snip

The President also expressed full support of Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, who is one of our nation's finest veterans -- having served a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army. Under the leadership of Secretary Shinseki the Department of Veterans Affairs will be transformed for the 21st century.

Over the next five years, the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs will increase by over $25 billion (pdf). These funds will be used to expand the VA health care program so that in can serve an additional 500,000 veterans by 2013; to implement a GI Bill for the 21st century; to provide better health care; and to dramatically improve services related to mental health and injuries like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. The funds will also be used for technology that will ease the transition from active duty to home for our nation's service members.

www.KusterforCongress.com - www.paulhodesforsenate.com

www.nikitsongas.com - www.devalpatrick.com

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 21:21:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's also good to know... (4.00 / 7)

That a lot us won't have to choose between two excellent candidates who both are doing a great job in Washington for the people of NH.

This hurts the Republicans - big time.    



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 12:50:34 PM CDT

Is that the whole statement? n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: JimC @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 13:15:11 PM CDT

yep (4.00 / 1)

Brevity is the soul of a press release.  

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by: susanthe @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 14:32:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

OK thanks (0.00 / 0)

I find it somewhat terse, not that anyone asked.

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by: JimC @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 14:36:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is why Carol Shea Porter has earned our trust. (4.00 / 6)

She takes seriously her role as our representative and puts our interests above her own.

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by: Ron Tunning @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 13:16:07 PM CDT

Congratulations to Carol! (4.00 / 3)

As of 2011, Carol will be the senior member of our Congressional delegation.

That's excellent news.

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by: IrregardlessNH @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 13:38:32 PM CDT

Glad We'll Still Have Carol Shea-Porter (4.00 / 4)

I'm glad we'll still have Carol Shea-Porter in Congress.  She would make a great United States Senator, as Paul Hodes will -- and perhaps there's another Democrat who will run for Senate and I wouldn't be worried if we do have a primary race there as long as it's a positive one.  A good clean race can get our eventual nominee into fighting shape -- it sure worked for Barack Obama.

But I'm glad we'll have Carol here.  November, 2010 might be a very tough one for us -- and not a spitting image of 2006 or 2008.  If so, Carol Shea-Porter is a proven vote-getter.  She's been one of our best Congresspeople of the stripes of Dick Swett and Norm D'Amours.  Besides, she's just genuinely a good person!

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 14:10:20 PM CDT

News cycle (4.00 / 7)

I wonder what will be reported today, that Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter won't be seeking the United States Senate seat.

Or that Ex-Congressmen Jeb Bradley filed to run for the State Senate special election today.

Thanks Carol for cutting into Jeb's news cycle! :)

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by: sdoyle @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 14:35:36 PM CDT

just FYI (4.00 / 4)

The FEC reporting quarter ends March 31. There's still time to send a contribution, which sends a message - we're going to send Carol back to Congress next year.

Remember, Carol doesn't take money from lobbyists... and that means that we the people have to cough up a little more.  

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by: susanthe @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 14:37:06 PM CDT

Phew! (4.00 / 1)

Carol and Paul would both make fantastic Senators, but I wasn't looking forward to the idea of having to defend two open seats in the House at once! I think primaries are healthy at times, but in the current situation, increasing the risk level for both seats would have been a net negative.

IT for John Lynch '04 and NHDP '08 - I'm liking my track record so far!

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by: RealNRH @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 14:40:08 PM CDT

Sununu is so sad (4.00 / 14)

John H. Sununu is really flailing; here is his press commentary on CSP:

"Although she is putting on a positive public face," Sununu said, "I know that she must be very disappointed at having been forced out of a primary contest with Paul Hodes, especially since she probably would have beaten him."    

Since John H. is out of touch with what has been happening in New Hampshire over the last few years, he may not know that CSP is not someone who is forced out of anything - he probably doesn't know about '06 and the DCCC! But this is the same guy who said he supported the 18 year old dropout age bill - a year after it already passed....

If anyone is putting on a positive public face to hide disappointment, it is John H. - he has no candidates yet for governor, US Senate or congress, and his hopes for an open seat in the first and an open seat in the second, with a Democratic primary bloodbath in the senate race, have just disappeared.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 15:07:07 PM CDT

And had Hodes and Shea-Porter reversed roles ... (4.00 / 7)

.... might this have been his pronouncement?

"Although he is putting on a positive public face," Sununu said, "I know that he must be very disappointed at having been forced out of a primary contest with Carol Shea-Porter, especially since he probably would have beaten her."  

 

 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."

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by: Ed Tracey @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 15:29:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So much fun (4.00 / 1)

Won't it be great to beat Sununu again?!

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 18:30:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sad, because she would have been a great ..... (4.00 / 1)

.... primary candidate, and the Democratic voters of this state would have had one whale of a choice. Not all primaries are circular-firing-squads; often they bring-out-the-best in people and would have made the winner a prohibitively strong candidate, indeed.

 Nonetheless, I am happy for Paul (my representative) and if a good candidate to succeed him can be located - yes, it might be the best of all worlds.

 P.S. - reading all of the previous messages saying "great news" or "thanks to Carol", etc. - what a change it is to no longer have to read "This is excellent news for President Bush" anymore, huh?

 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."

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by: Ed Tracey @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 15:20:27 PM CDT

What a luxurious mix of feelings ! (4.00 / 6)

• Some disappointment - Carol would be an excellent Senator
• But some rebelling at the very idea that moving from the People's Chamber to the Clubhouse is a promotion!
• Some relief at not seeing a primary between Hodes and Shea Porter, with the need to find Important Differences where none exist ('I was disappointed that my opponent missed the third roll call vote on recommitment of the...")
• And eager anticipation of the Hodes campaign and victory!
• Then the "luxury" part. I'm a New Hampshire voter, and I'm watching the determination to see which of our two Democratic Representatives (!) gets to run as the favorite (!!) to succeed the discredited Judd Gregg (!).
• And later I'll luxuriate in our wealth of possible NH-02 candidates to humiliate Jennifer Horn again.

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by: elwood @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 18:31:15 PM CDT

Your second point is a big one (4.00 / 4)

It seems to be in the American nature to rank things. I am not one that believes that the House is a lesser body.

My firm belief is that CSP will go on to become a peer among the great Representatives that have served this nation well. She will do so by being a strong advocate for the people of CD-1. And in doing so, she will be a strong advocate for the people of NH, New England and America.

www.KusterforCongress.com - www.paulhodesforsenate.com

www.nikitsongas.com - www.devalpatrick.com

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 19:50:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

-1 (0.00 / 0)

Then the "luxury" part. I'm a New Hampshire voter, and I'm watching the determination to see which of our two Democratic Representatives (!) gets to run as the favorite (!!) to succeed the discredited Judd Gregg (!).

What exactly were you watching....

State Democratic Chairman Raymond Buckley said, "Certainly, this was the congresswoman's decision to make, and for her to have made it this early certainly is helpful to Congressman Hodes." Shea-Porter made her announcement two weeks after Buckley visited both House members in Washington, a visit Buckley downplayed as routine.

Democratic National Committeewoman Kathy Sullivan said that with Shea-Porter and Gov. John Lynch now out of contention, "I don't see anyone in the New Hampshire Democratic Party who has the potential to mount a serious challenge to Paul Hodes."

I'll quote you....

" I don't want ANYBODY anointing candidates.

I want candidates to present their views and credentials to the voters, and have a campaign for the voters' choice.

J

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by: Gearfish @ Mon Mar 16, 2009 at 23:08:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Personally, and (4.00 / 3)

with all due respect to Ray's prodigious organizing talent, I think CSP would put as much weight into what the NHDP Chair said to her about whether or not to run as she would the NHGOP Chair.  

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 05:19:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ahem. (4.00 / 1)

You're taking my words from the state Senate races, when party leaders publicly endorsed candidates and even a full statewide slate before the filing deadline ended. And you're applying them to this situation, with dark suggestions that Carol was indeed "forced out."

With all respect to Ray, I don't believe he could  have muscled Carol aside if he had wanted to.

Your insinuations smear Carol just as much as they smear the Party. That's why John H. Sununu spreads this crap.

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by: elwood @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 05:41:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Do yoiu want me to fib? (4.00 / 1)

If the state party chairman goes to Washington for meetings, of course he is going to stop by and visit the delegattion. Reading something sinister into that is just plain silly.

As for my comment, do you want me to lie and say, "Oh, this is a wide open primary, there are several people out there who could jump in and give Hodes a run for his money, I would encourage whoever wants to run to get out there and start campaigning because they would have an excellent chance of winning?" I'm giving my honest opinion, and if you think that means I'm trying to anoint Paul Hodes the candidate, you're wrong. I'm just looking at the state of the race and any other potential candidates, and I don't see anyone out there who has the capacity to mount a serious challenge to Paul Hodes.    



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 07:25:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]