Greener Pastures?

You may know by now that I am sorta obsessed with the next phase of the New Hampshire primary. No, not so much the national nomination process (I'm bored with that). But rather, what happens to everyone who invaded my state, or those locals who seem to put their lives on hold or their political (or academic) careers on the line for a candidate, party, or press.

First I watched the invaders, mostly through Facebook stalking, I'm afraid. A bunch of them went on to other campaigns for US Congress, mostly. Some went on to Washington DC where I hope to visit them soon. A few are traveling, taking time to reevaluate, or just catching up on sleep. Some went back to their parents' home.

Now, I'm on to the Granite Staters. Looks like the thing to do around here for the natives is to start your own political consulting firm.

First that I was aware of was Steve Marchand, former Mayor of Portsmouth who was a Richardson supporter. He was going to run for US Senate, but he dropped out when Jeanne Shaheen jumped in. And he threw himself behind her & her campaign, and is working for her now while starting up his new firm, The Marchand Group.

Just this week, WMUR's Scott Spradling did the same thing. Spradling was the station's Political Director. As reported on PolitickerNH:

As the station's political director he has moderated political debates at every
level including nationally televised presidential debates. He was also granted
the first oval office interview with George W. Bush. In a state were a political
press secretary's day can be defined on whether or not WMUR covered their event,
it was Spradling call whether to send a camera.

But I think the biggest success story is Brian Lawson, the Saint Anselm College student who founded & ran NH Prez Watch from his dorm room. He's made a name for himself in the state, and is now a full-fledged political journalist at PolitickerNH. His story is every college career counselor's dream--do what you love, network, play nice, and you can make it happen.

So, this is what I learned: you make the inroads, get to know the movers & shakers in your own backyard (or adopted state). Then you sell out or cash in as the case may be, and hang out your own shingle.

First AND Last in The Nation

New Hampshire can be hard to pin down, and that's one of the things I like about living here. We've got only nine (?--I am trying to verify) cities (the rest are towns or unincorporated places) but we are, on average wealthy & wired. We've got a reputation as a conservative state with a libertarian leaning, but there's definitely movement toward blue, and not just because former Massholes (like me) are moving across the border. We eschew taxes but love our larger than life state legislature.

Live Free or Die, man, that's what it's all about! No pigeonholes here, thank you.

And so, it is that time of year again, apparently, when lists of state virtues are published. Rankings of the 50 US States, to be specific. Here are a few of those lists and how the Granite State fared. And, true to form, it's seemingly contradictory:

• First Place: Most Livable State
• First Place: Safest State
• Second Place: Healthiest State
• Last Place: State Government Efficiency!

No middle ground for us. My way or the highway! You can't call us wishy-washy, that's for sure. I like that NH isn't buying into things like the Real ID program. I think it's kinda funny that we can pass civil unions into law but can't make seat belts mandatory, but it makes perfect sense to me.

What doesn't make sense to me, however, is how such a state can allow some people to ban clotheslines. Live Free and Dry!

PS (dated 4/03/08):
Uncharacteristically, here's something we are rated as smack dab in the middle: Pork! How odd, to be average.

No Whining!

My intolerance of Hillary Clinton and her surrogates is reaching new heights. I think the Anna Quindlen's piece in Newsweek was the final straw. People don't call Hillary calculating because she's a woman in a man's world. They call her calculating because she doesn't answer questions head-on. She dances around them; you can see her gears turning. She seems robotic and impersonal, and she has no charisma. To me, that's not sexism. That's fact, to borrow from Geraldine.

And speaking of, is Obama where he is today because he's black (or, more accurately, biracial). Maybe but frankly I don't care. I'm sure we've all had benefits and detriments attributed to us because we are who we (or our parents or husbands) are--gay, straight, white, black, rich, poor, or anything in between. When someone doesn't like me, I never assume it's because I'm a woman or a lesbian. Give me a break. There are people you connect with and those you don't in all walks of life. Get over it.

On Blue Hampshire, we have a rule: attack the message, not the messenger. I don't like the condescending tone HRC's camp has taken. Obama appears gifted at some things that the country is particularly looking for right now, and I am tired of Hillary & her supporters crying sexism & favoritism. Quit whining. It's so unbecoming of a public servant.

So, yesterday, my primary pal Jessica was back in town doing what she does: following McCain around. This time he was on a thank you tour in NH, at the town hall in Exeter. Several folks I know were there, most were not there in support of McBush. Jess & I had hot cocoa and caught up on who's now working for whom, what John Edwards should do next, the Shaheen campaign, and all things political. I don't think I've had a conversation like that in a month. Gosh I miss the NH Primary!