Howdy, Strangers! Have you been wondering where I went? Well, nowhere, but I'm back.
Like everyone, ordinary folks in NH were happy to take a year off from heavy duty state politics for 2009, but that doesn't mean anyone has been asleep at the wheel, by any means. The state is getting used to its new declaration as "solidly blue," and candidates are exploring and filing, one by one. Like everywhere else, the state GOP is rutterless and idealess, but the Dems are organized and ready for the next campaign.
Things are already heating up here for 2010, and by extension, 2012.
A few weeks ago, my Primary Pal Laurie McCray invited me to a small fundraiser for Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter. It was held in Laurie's gorgeous home in Portsmouth, NH, and was just a little coffee and muffin get-together with Carol, with a special plea for donations. Her new opponent is the current Mayor of Mancherster NH, but the bigger worry is really Sununu the Elder who using what connections he has from his past to smear Carol whenever he can. That plus our own fair share of right wing nut jobs & so-called Tea Baggers are making things a bit challenging these days for the rational, reasonable person.
In case I have never made it clear: My Congresswoman is amazing. I don't expect to agree 100% with any elected official, and I pick the ones I want to support based not only on how close they get to 100%, but also on their personalities & style. She scores pretty darn close to 100% all the time. She's darn near perfect for me: supports a public option for health care, wants to repeal DOMA, believes in choice. She's a dream come true for those of us who suffered under Jeb for too long! And she's so gosh darn real. I will be working very hard this election cycle to make sure Carol still represents me and CD#1 in the future.
Some fun things are coming up in the near future, too. First is a family/work trip to Washington DC. I am attending the Liaison Advisory Board meeting of The Washington Center, and plan to do a site visits of my awesome UNH students now interning in DC. But before that, we've got some family fun planned at the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
In the distant future--well, December--I have tickets for the NHDP Jefferson/Jackson Dinner, which is featuring a keynote by President Bill Clinton! My polical junkie pal Colleen and I are going together, and I can't wait. Maybe I will get to see some of the Blue Hampshire folks whom I know by screenname only, in person. In my head, this will be the kick-off, rally the troops event for the 2010 cycle. Bring it on!
