New Hampshire has perhaps the most patriotic and meaningful state motto. But do they still really live by those words Live Free or Die?
Until recently New Hampshire was the lone voice of reason in ultra-liberal New England. But recently elections have proven that New Hampshire has shifted almost as far left as its leftist neighbors Vermont and Massachusetts. These days New Hampshire's motto would be more accurate if where Taxation or Die.
In the 1990's and early 2000's New Hampshire voted for candidates like Judd Gregg and John Sununnu to the U.S. Senate, Jeb Bradley and Charlie Bass to Congress and George W. Bush to the Presidency. All candidates who stand for the freedoms that New Hampshire is (or was) all about. They wanted to cut taxes not raise them for all people, they supported the right to bear arms, which is a major issue for the residents of New Hampshire, they wanted to give the people of New Hampshire all of the freedoms they deserve and the freedoms this country was founded on.
In 2004 New Hampshire voted for John Kerry for President, now this could be because he is from the neighboring commonwealth of Massachusetts or it could be because this was the beginning the shift from a Live Free or Die New Hampshire to a Taxation or Die New Hampshire.
In 2006 Republicans were not very popular nationwide and this was the case as well in New Hampshire when they elected two, tax and spend, anti-gun liberals to congress with Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes.
2008 proved no different when they re-elected Shea-Porter and Hodes, as well a voting out John Sununu who along with Senator Gregg was the last politician in New Hampshire that actually wanted less government, and more freedoms, who could actually say that he governed and lived by the motto Live Free or Die. Instead they got former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, she is famous for what else but, raising taxes. Shaheen became the first Governor to be elected in New Hampshire in the last 38 years that did not sign the no new taxes pledge. She tried to institute a sales tax that failed so she then tried to institute an income tax which failed as well.
But worst of all in 2008 a candidate for president pledged to "spread the wealth" and his vice presidential running-mate said that paying more taxes is "patriotic." Ten years ago this style of European socialism would have surely failed in New Hampshire as well as the rest of the country for that matter. But the people of New Hampshire elected these "spread the wealth" candidates, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
New Hampshire has turned drastically from their days of reason; less taxes, the right to bare arms, more personal freedoms, victory in the Global War on Terror. Today New Hampshire's lone voice of reason is Senator Judd Gregg. Senator Gregg is not only one of the strongest Republicans in the Senate but he is the last statewide politician left in New Hampshire who is not going to raise taxes or ''spread the wealth'' his leadership and voting record is what the motto Live Free or Die is all about.
Just last week, President Barack Obama asked Senator Gregg to be his Secretary of Commerce. Gregg of course was worried about the balance of the senate his departure could give the democrats the filibuster prove 60 senator super-majority. The Democratic Governor of New Hampshire John Lynch will get to nominate a new senator in the case of Gregg's departure. After talks with the Governor, Senate Republican Leadership, and President Obama, Gregg said he would not take the seat if Lynch were to nominate a Democrat, after which Lynch agreed to nominate a Republican. Governor Lynch's presumed nominee is Bonnie Newman who is Senator Gregg's former Chief of Staff and former Assistant Secretary of Commerce under the first President Bush.
After Senator Gregg's talk with the Governor, Gregg accepted President Obama's nomination to serve as Commerce Secretary. If Bonnie Newman is in fact nominated by Governor Lynch she will serve the reminder of Gregg's term which ends in 2010 then either, Newman should she decide to run for the seat or another republican will have to battle for the Senate seat in the new left leaning political climate of New Hampshire without having the experience and the leadership of a three term incumbent such as Judd Gregg. Republicans may hold the seat until 2010 but it will be tough to win the seat in 2010 with out Senator Gregg in the race.
Should Senator Gregg who is a fiscal conservative be confirmed as Commerce Secretary by the Senate which is likely, New Hampshire may have lost their last voice of reason but the Obama administration will gain their first.
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Bwaaaahahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteSo let me get this straight:
ReplyDeleteJudd Gregg is a "fiscal conservative" yet he presided over the Budget Committee during the largest expansion of the budget deficit in history.
New Hampshire is the land of "Taxation or Die" despite having the second lowest overall tax burden in the country (second only to Alaska, which is paid for by oil revenues.)
"Shaheen became the first Governor in New Hampshire history to institute an income tax" -- simply false. There is no income tax in NH, even now despite these Evil Democrats(tm).
People like you are the reason your party is in disarray. When people see this kind of advocacy for the Republican brand -- citing clearly and provably inaccurate facts -- they recognize that maybe the GOP isn't as smart as they say they are.
Keep up the good work. :D
No matter how fiscally conservative Gregg or isn't, he is better on taxes than the politicians elected in New Hampshire in recent years, and though the tax burden may currently still be low in New Hampshire compared to other states it certainly won't stay that way if they continue on the direction they are headed.
ReplyDeleteI was mistaken about Shaheen instituting an income tax, but that doesn't mean she didn't try, According to a 02/10/2002 report by the Concord Monitor she tried to institute a "2.5 percent sales tax, After the sales tax failed, she agreed to sign an income tax, which failed as well.”
I am not saying the "The Republican Brand" is perfect but it is better than the alternative.
New Hampshire's shift to the left, could be attributed to many differant thing, some say it is because people are moving in from Massachusetts and Vermont and bring their liberal idealology with them, it could be because of the anti-republican sediment in recent years nation-wide but I doubt it is simply that they want to give up their guns and pay more taxes all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE (02/13/09): Judd Gregg Removes Name From Nommination to Commerce Secretary Due to Major Policy Differences With the Administration.
ReplyDeleteThough, I think Senator Gregg would have done a good job as Commerce Secretary, I am glad
Gregg stood up to the Administration when it became clear he had major disagreements with Obama on the stimulus package and on the census. Though he will have a tough time ahead of him, I hope decides to run for reelection in 2010.