Tying Up Loose Ends

First Up: Another lost & found NH JRE staffer! OK I think this is probably the last one. Out of respect for his privacy, I won't give his name. But he has happily landed in Washington DC, employed as a researcher for Hildebrand Tewes. Impressive!

Second: JRE himself has been in the news a bit lately, and that always makes me happy. Yesterday everyone kept emailing me links about his & Elizabeth's disagreement over endorsing. It seems like the disagreement between them is exactly the disagreement going on in my own head! (I don't so much support Obama as I am not interested in reliving the Clinton years. To me, there's a bit difference.) George McGoverned bailed on HRC yesterday. And today, JRE's campaign manager David Bonior endorsed Obama. Seems like the tide is shifting. Oh...this just in...rumor has it that John Edwards is going to be on the TODAY show tomorrow. Hmmm...

Third: Looks like Senator Sununu will be speaking in POLT 403 sooner rather than later (um, classes end on Monday, I believe). If my humble little blog had something to do with that, well, shucks folks, I'm speechless. ;-) Just doing my part to promote an awesome professor and his top-notch students.

Still Up Front!

It's been a while, but today I managed another unexpected front row seat! Hamilton Smith room 127, to be exact.

I was scheduled to do a 3-5 minute information session on my programs at the university (Prelaw Advising, National Student Exchange, and The Washington Center for Internships), for Prof. Chris Reardon's POLT 403 class, US in World Affairs. When I arrived before class, who was standing in the halls of Hamilton Smith Hall with Chris other than former NH Gov. Jeanne Shaheen! She was the guest lecturer for the class for the day, rather unexpectedly. Handshake & introduction...by the way, we'll get you some UNH interns when you are in Congress. Embarrassingly, I did succumb to name drop, and the Gov responded with "Oh, actually, today is Susie's birthday?" So, I was happily bumped to the end of the class, and went back to my office.

Then I realized that it would be beneficial to hear her lecture so I can make direct connections to TWC and my pitch for students. Back I went, and snuck into the class, sitting next to Prof. Reardon on the side of the classroom by the door.

The lecture seemed mostly to focus on US foreign policy in the middle east and the war in Iraq. The question & answer period, however, was all over the place. The students did not disappoint, asking questions on everything from the price of gasoline to decriminalizing marijuana. She gave a great answer to the questions about marijuana, using storytelling about a colleague (when she was in Mississippi) who did research of the effects of smoking pot. No condescension, no defensiveness, just how the scientist/friend had convincingly shared his scientific conclusions with her. Lots of environmental/energy questions as well.

She's also good at knowing when not to elaborate: "Are you endorsing anyone in the current Presidential Primary?" "No."

She is a very comfortable speaker, and obviously at home in the classroom, asking questions here & there instead of just lecturing. She knew what the professor had been teaching all semester and worked that into her lecture and examples. And, she lives right down the street (in Madbury NH) and worked that in easily as well.

Of course, I had to admire her great navy blue suit--fitting perfectly and actually looking comfortable--and her sensible yet stylish flatish blue shoes. It reminded me of all the times I spent staring at the backside of John Edwards and the frayed cuffs of his blue jeans.

In the wrap up and thank you, Prof. Reardon was quick to add that Senator Sununu will be extended the same invitation, "as soon as he has a re-election campaign in place." That made me chuckle.

Chris needed to walk Gov. Shaheen out and as he did he said to the class: "you heard from a real politician, now you'll hear from someone who can help you become one." Well, maybe not exactly, but if you are a student at UNH who needs an internship, let's talk!

BTW: as I type this, my nine current UNH TWC interns are at Rep. Carol Shea-Porter's office in DC, getting their own meet & greet that I arranged with the Congresswoman (and hopefully a picture for my website), and tour of the Capitol. I feel so well-connected!

Shaheen Scoops Up The Best of The Best! (IMHO)

More stalking to report: Another Edwards Staffer gets hired by Team Jeanne Shaheen.

PolitickerNH reports today that Caitlin Legacki is taking over as Press Secretary for Jeanne Shaheen's Senatorial Campaign. Legacki worked in the Edwards campaign press shop during the Iowa caucuses.

The best part of Brian Lawson's short article, to me, is the last line:

"We're thrilled to have her!," Kate Bedingfield (former Edwards NH staffer
and), Shaheen communications director, said.

My First Widget

So, what do you think of my new HRC Deathwatch Widget? I found it from a link on NPR to Slate.com. I always wanted a widget, and I like saying the word. In fact, I like it so much I also added it to my Facebook Profile. ;-)

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!