On Friday evening, I dragged my pal & fellow junkie Colleen out into the frigid night, to go to the Dover Dems' Second Annual FDR Dinner. I want to get more involved, but the real reason I wanted to go was to schmooze and hear the Judd Gregg possible Cabinet appointment gossip. Plus I learned that the guest speaker would be Dr. Jill Silos, whom I know from my days as Residence Hall Director at UNH when she was first working on her PhD. Well worth the $12.
It was a very small venue, and a small crowd. I'd say less than 50: a few UNH Dems, plus state reps, our State Senator Many Merrill, and other committee members. Colleen immediately spotted Senator Jeanne Shaheen chatting with old friends while her husband Billy was working on a plate of spaghetti. Senator Shaheen was wearing a very cool purplish suit and fabulous pointy-toes black boots. She was informal in the company of old friends; Dover is Bill's home turf. When she stepped up to give some quick remarks, she was still informal. She told stories about the Inauguration, and Senate Orientation, with Billy yelling from the back, "Tell them the story about the guy from Nigeria!"
The Shaheens didn't stick around after that, but the event was still wonderful. Jill was an appropriate mix of reverence & irreverence. But, there was no real gossip regarding Gregg to be had.
That is, until today (Sunday). It's looking more likely that Gregg will be nominated tomorrow. Blue Hampshire has been full of speculation and theories (will Gregg accept?? who will be appointed to replace him??), some lighthearted, some confused, and some angry. But today HuffPo has a story stating that NH Gov. Lynch is considering Bonnie Newman for a replacement senator. Wow.
Bonnie has a long & impressive resume. But one of the parts I like best is that she's the former Dean of Students at UNH, and was an interim president for us a few years back. She was a fabulous president--got along well with all constituents, was visible, got to know students, and also valued the staff (we are often 2nd fiddle to faculty). She'd be a friend to USNH and higher education in the Senate, and I really like that. She personally hired the woman who proceeded me in my job, and they remain good friends.
I do also like her personal qualities: a woman, and a MODERATE Republican. Obama is clearly making a place at the table for reasonable & smart moderate Republicans, and not the right-wing nut jobs. Lynch would follow suit. I like that a lot. I like the old NH-style repubs a whole lot more than I like the Sarah-Palin wingnut religious fanatical type.
Stay tuned; this could be interesting!
