Say NO to Grinches

--- by Micheal

Seems everywhere you turn, someone is trying to make you feel bad about being happy at Christmas.

All the decorations, music and the lights, make you feel cheerful. You offer a cheerful "Merry Christmas" to total strangers. Some politically-correct Grinch nags that you shouldn't specify a Christian holiday. It might offend someone. (Cheerfulness offends?)

You found the perfect gift for your spouse or child and feel excited. You just know they'll love it. Some Grinch harangues you about how Christmas has gotten over-commercialized and merchandized.

You feel warm inside at the prospect of spending some quality time with your family -- who, you have to admit, you really do love after all. Some other Grinch feels the need to point out that thousands spend Christmas alone. How dare you feel disproportionate joy.

For every happy Christmas moment or thought, there's a Grinch trying to take it away. Sure, some people are happy at this time of year, a bit like second-hand smoke, they feel a sort of second-hand joy. They're happy, mostly because others around them are, but have no real idea why.

The source of the first-hand joy can be found in the third verse of the traditional Christmas carol, Joy to the World. "No more let sins and sorrows grow..." The birth of The Savior marks the beginning of mankind's escape from "the curse" of sin and sorrow. Furthermore, no Grinch can take that away. That is something to feel very joyful about.

Go ahead. Feel the joy.

HB 515 & Health Insurance

---By Representative Lee Quandt

HB 515 reference health insurance purchasing alliances was introduced as a two-paragraph bill to allow groups to band together to purchase insurance. The bill had a public hearing before the Commerce Committee and assigned a sub committee to look into it more in depth. This is customary on bills like this. Somewhere in the process, a 12-page amendment was used to wipe out the two paragraph original bill. Although the new “hijacked” bill had a couple of sub committee hearings the bill was not allowed a full public hearing to obtain as much information as possible before the committee voted on it. In fact, a committee member took HB515 to several business organizations for presentations before some members of the sub committee saw the pirated version and well before the full committee saw the bill.

Matt and I worked hard to get SB110 replaced with a more workable insurance bill. The selling points for the new plan are that “it will dovetail with SB125, allow groups to band together to purchase lower priced health insurance”. As did the selling points of SB110 sound good so does HB 515; like buying a new car, once you drive it off the lot the car does not quite live up to the sales pitch.

There is no other state in the Union that has gone in the direction that HB515 wants to take us. We cannot pick up the phone and call Idaho, Wyoming, Minnesota or any state to ask, “What problems did you run into with this”? Secondly, at the full Commerce Committee briefing, not hearing we had a one-hour briefing from the insurance dept on this bill, I asked a simple question, “How many groups or associations are there in NH and how many might want to join this”? The next question was, to the insurance dept, “how do the insurance carriers feel about this”? The answer to both questions was they did not know nor could anyone else in the hearing answer. Why would we, as a legislature, push through another insurance re-organization before the first has taken affect? How can we accept the “dovetail” argument when we do not know what the problems might be with SB125? We do not know what problems we are going to run into with SB125; but are committed to move quickly to fix any that may arise. We are not going to let it go for 18 months to damage the small group market and small businesses as SB 110 did.

Some of the same group of brokers that supported SB110, as well as, legislators that supported SB110 is supporting HB 515. This includes the house leadership, who did not support SB125, and the governor who supports 515 and in my opinion, does not understand this bill. To us the warning signs are there and caution would be the prudent course of action. We feel that we owe it to the business groups/associations that are interested in this concept to give them the best bill we can, that is our job.

We feel that it is better to retain and study HB515 this year and bring back a “clean” bill next session for full hearings with maximum input from brokers, insurance carriers and business. When a bill circumvents the system there is usually something shady going on behind the scenes.

The way this bill was handled to date just does not pass the smell test; no matter how good the sales job sounds.

Scott Speaks

---By David Scott

For your information regarding the attempt of the Dover City Manager to harass me. He is resentful because I forced him with a 91A right to know request reveal the extraordinary salaries he is responsible for paying Dover Municipal employees. Dover's new city manager Mike Joyal has already spent over $10,000 of Dover taxpayer money in his wild goose chase, losing a battle in Strafford County Superior Court, trying to try keep me out of office. This may be the case in other New Hampshire Communities where a strong City Manager believes he is the king of the community and is not subject to the same laws as the homeowners in his town. A few letters to the editor in newspapers around the state to highlight this extraodinary situation may help to prevent it happening in other towns. The result of 5 years of arrogant and spendthrift municipal management in Dover produced a rise in Real Estate taxes of about 50% which compares with an increase in inflation of less than 15% over the same period of time. A growing number of senior citizens fear they will be forced to sell their homes if this rate of tax increase continues. The problem is that the Dover City Manager had inverted the relationship and many of the elected Dover City councilors had the impression that they reported to the City Manager and not vica versa.
Dave Scott
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Scott
General Certified Commercial Appraiser
Licensed in New Hampshire & Massachusetts
220 Back Road, Dover New Hampshire
December 12, 2005
Mr. William Gardner - Secretary of State of New Hampshire
107 North Main Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301

Dear Bill:

Following our discussion on the topic of the Dover Election Ordinance, enclosed are copies of the Current Dover Ordinance regarding political contributions and expenditures.
Enclosed are also copies of the complaint against me by former State Rep Bill McCann
and current State Rep Peter Schmidt. Neither of these gentlemen live in Ward 3.

For your information Ben King of the Charles Douglas law firm is my attorney. I have already sent a retainer to the Charles Douglas law firm to represent me to assure that I am seated and sworn in as a member of the Dover City Council on January 3 and that the voters of Ward 3 are not disenfranchised. It is unfortunate that I have to spend money to assure that the will of 58% of the voters in ward 3 is followed. My opponent Matt Mayberry was quoted in the local paper as saying he lost because I spent $143.50 more than the Dover ordinance allowed and it was not a level playing field. Had he known one could spend more than the limit established in the ordinance he may have spent more. His financial disclosure indicated that he spent about $500 less than the ordinance allows.

It is unfortunate that Dover City Manager Mike Joyal has instructed his newly hired City attorney to pursue my violation of the Dover election ordinance as his first order of business upon being hired. It is obvious that the City Manager is using the power of his office to prevent a duly elected candidate from taking his seat at the Dover City Council.

This action of the Dover City Manager is improper because his boss, the Dover City Council, has stated that no action should be taken on this issue, due to the fact that the existing Dover City Ordinance does not conform to the United States Supreme Court ruling of Buckley V Valeo of 1976.

Sincerely Yours,
David Scott

Smart Growth Questions

---By Representative Cliff Newton-Rochester

Much is said about high property taxes. As painful as it is, paying a property tax is a constant reminder of the cost of government. Some say a new income tax would ease property tax burdens. Yet no new tax has ever decreased the total tax burden. Always remember, an income tax in good times, gives government more money to spend without asking for it. Most Americans now donate 50 cents of every dollar they earn to taxes and costs incurred by government regulations. Do we really want to add to that burden?

There is the alarm being sounded on the perceived shortage of workforce housing. Smart growth policies, which grew nationwide in the 1990's, encouraged regulations designed to reduce suburban sprawl and control growth. Not surprisingly, housing costs grew as well. Its time to ask if there is a direct correlation between huge increases in housing costs and increased land use restrictions, zoning ordinances and restrictive building codes. And what role should planners play in all this? Wendell Cox said it well: "We need planners who don't aspire to socially engineering our futures. We need planners who help us reach destinations we choose and live in homes of our choosing.

Is the land for private home ownership disappearing in the name of conservation? Conservation easement brokers readily admit that they are no longer interested in swamps or land unsuitable for building homes. Their goal is to get permanent restrictions on as much prime land as possible. The only land that will have value in the future, land that could be developed and where homes of future generations would surely have been built. Think about it. Will this practice of removing property rights forever, or dead-handing, increase or decrease the cost of home ownership?

Will those trusted with finding a solution to affordable home ownership have the political courage to remove obstructions and challenge current politically correct practices?

Too much "nice" stifles Christmas

---by Micheal

Too much of a "good thing" has turned Christmas into a time of great stress instead of great joy. Our nation's founding fathers' forefathers -- the Puritans -- frowned on Christmas festivity and merrymaking. They didn't object to marking the birth of Christ so much as they objected to the pagan "saturnalia" traditions of much food, cavorting and revelry. Puritans thought the focus should be on the birth of mankind's savior, not parties.

Ultimately, the Puritans lost that battle. By the mid 1800s even respectable Christmas celebrations were very merry. There was feasting, decorations and carols, but celebrating the birth of Christ was still the focus. "Joy to the world, the Lord is come..." In our era, however, it seems like the joy of Christmas is getting shoved aside.

The culprit, I think, is that we are trying to pack too much "nice" into Christmas. Our excess didn't happen all at once. We added "nice" things one at a time. Decorating our houses was a "nice" thing, so we did that. Hosting festive parties was a "nice" thing, so held parties. Buying a gift for a loved one was "nice", so we added gifts. Family gatherings were a "nice", so we added travel to reunite our dispersed families for the holiday. Sending cards was a "nice" thing, so we started sending cards.

The trouble (perhaps more so for Americans) was that we couldn't scale anything back. We added more "nice" but never dropped anything. On top of that, we tend to push each "nice" to the max. Every nook and cranny of our houses simply had to be decked. Yards fill up with inflatable or electric effigies. We rush around to buy multiple gifts for just about everyone we know and some we don't. One woman was stressing over having to buy a gift for her boss's dog! We write out cards to everyone who is already on our gift list. We plan lavish parties. We traffic-manage and juggle schedules to get family members together. Busy busy busy.

There's so much "nice" stuff being done, that few have any time to really celebrate that "the Lord is come." It's hard to feel real joy when your cards aren't done yet, the extra bedroom isn't ready for guests, the cookies aren't baked, you can't find a gift for your boss's dog and people are expecting you to drop everything and attend their party. Aaarrrgg!

Have we forever ruined Christmas by over stuffing it with "nice"? Are we doomed to endure joyless Christmases? No, not if we're willing to scale back. I know it goes against the American grain, but it can be done. Do it to reclaim the joy.

The remedy comes in three parts. Do less. Expect less. Celebrate.

Phase One: Don't decorate every square inch. Try buying just one gift for immediate family members only. (i.e. Don't shop for your boss's dog.) Mail cards to only distant loved ones you won't see for six months or so. Don't plan a lavish party.

Phase Two: Don't expect "nice" stuff. Don't get all hurt if you don't get a card from your boss's dog. Don't feel disappointed if you get only one gift. Don't book travel. Don't feel unloved because a family member is spending Christmas elsewhere. You're not a bad person if you don't hold a party.

Phase Three: Instead, leave time to sing carols with your locally available family and/or friends. Visit a neighbor. Read the Christmas story in Luke 2. Have time to attend someone else's party. Reflect on the joy inherent in "...the Lord is come".

Maybe the Puritans weren't so far off base. Preoccupation with party can kill the real joy.

Signs of excess disposable income

---by Micheal

A surefire early sign that Christmas is coming is that every day, your mailbox is filled with stacks of mail-order catalogs. This year, the influx of catalogs seems thicker than before. Only a few of them have familiar names. Most of them look pretty much alike -- all colorful and slick, with an affected air of sophistication. What they all have in common, is that they are all trying to entice me into buying this gizmo or that bauble.

After leafing through dozens and dozens of this year's full color enticements, a couple of conclusions emerged.

Conclusion Number One: Our industrial base is far too busy building totally pointless and painfully useless products. One catalog proudly offered a life-size animatronic chimpanzee head. It would make different facial expressions and utter four different chimp calls. Only 150 bucks! Another catalog advertised a whole product line of robot dogs that would move about and do tricks. They ranged from $50 to $2,000. Obviously, the more you paid, the more tricks you'd get. Are real dogs not subservient enough?

13-in-1 multi tools. A butter dish that will heat or cool your butter to its optimal spreading temperature for a mere $60. T-shirts with some smart-alecky phrase on it, which if you'd uttered in front of your father, you'd have gotten smacked. Who in blazes "needs" this stuff? Why are factories producing this stuff? Who goes home from a hard day at the factory and proudly says, "Well, honey, I made sixty two boxes of pointless expensive junk today. Let's celebrate!"

Conclusion Number Two: Americans have far too much disposable income. At least, the catalog marketers think we do. Who do you know, that would say to you, "You know, I think I need me one of them two thousand dollar robot dogs."? Or, would say, "My life is just a living hell because my butter is too hard to spread on my toast."

I'm not turning into some closet Marxist or anything, but doesn't it strike you as just a little bit indecent that there are people out there (such as those formerly from New Orleans) who have next to nothing, but there's an army of marketers out there trying to coax us into buying a two thousand dollar robot dog, an animated chimp head, or a heated butter dish? Do we have that much, too much, money?

The Balkanization of America

---by Micheal

Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, agreed to sell cheap(er) heating oil to Massachusetts. US Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass) took a high profile pose for having brokered the deal, but Venezuelan officials say the deal was already in the works before American politicians got into the limelight.

Bush folks brand the move as a ploy to try and embarrass the Bush administration. Those of a more Democrat leaning (who leap at opportunities to complain about the Bush administration) insist that Chavez is making a purely humanitarian gesture.

Maybe, but I doubt it. Outspoken statesmen have a pretty poor track record of doing things for purely altruistic motives. There's always a self-serving angle.

At first blush, the Venezuela-Massachusetts oil deal looks a positive example of "states rights" in action. Looking a bit further down the road, it looks like the beginning of the Balkanization of America.

In the world arena of nation-states, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or any of the 50 states, are pretty puny stuff. Does anyone think Chavez would care two-hoots about the oil needs of 40,000 poor folks in some backwater third world nation? It's only because of the clout of Washington (i.e. the UNITED states) that he bothered.

If foreign powers can reduce America to a collection of dependent consumer zones, they'll have succeeded in doing the opposite of what the EU has been trying to do in Europe. They'll reduce America to a patchwork of powerless provinces.

United we stand. Divided we'll fall.

Ayotte vrs. Planned Parenthood

---by Phyllis Woods

On Wednesday, November 30, 2005, the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the New Hampshire parental notification law which requires that at least one parent or guardian be told when their minor child is going to have an abortion. This law, passed by the legislature in 2003 and signed by Governor Craig Benson, was never allowed to go into effect as Planned Parenthood filed a complaint with the US District Court who ruled it was unconstitutional. The state then appealed that ruling to the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston which upheld the ruling of the first court. NH Attorney General Kelly Ayotte appealed the lower court ruling to the US Supreme Court which agreed to hear the case. The bill voted on by the legislature establishing this law, articulates the following reason for enacting such a law:

"It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this parental notification provision to further the important and compelling state interests of protecting minors against their own immaturity, fostering the family structure and preserving it as a viable social unit, and protecting the rights of parents to rear children who are members of their household."

The main argument of the laws opponents, both in the legislature at the time and in the media recently, center around whether the act is constitutional with its medical emergency provision and without a specific exemption for the health of the mother.

Our law was modeled after the Minnesota law which has an identical emergency exemption and which was upheld by the US Supreme Court. Both states waive parental notice when the girl’s life is threatened and both purposely do not waive notice for what is known as the "health loophole." Opponents would like a health exception clause wherein "health" would be so broadly interpreted that every case could claim the need. However, in more than twenty years since the Minnesota law has been in effect, there have been no reported cases of medical emergencies related to abortion. Furthermore, in the very unlikely eventuality of a real health emergency of a young girl it would seem to be even more critical that parents be allowed to exercise their right to be involved on their daughter’s behalf.

A judicial "bypass" was also included, where a girl could bypass her parents by going before a judge. This was to make allowance for the exceptional case in which a girl is determined to be mature and well-informed enough to make a decision about her unplanned pregnancy alone, or in which involvement of a parent is not in her best interest. The general intent of the law, however, is parental notification, not judicial notification. It is a rare situation where a young girl is better off making such a serious decision without the involvement of a parent. A judicial bypass is required by the US Supreme Court and all other states who have enacted parental involvement laws have included a bypass with wording similar to ours.

We should be mindful that the only ones who will benefit if our law is struck down or repealed are the abortion providers who will be free of the responsibility of notifying a parent or guardian and will be accountable to no one.

Those who will be harmed, however, are the young girls who will be deprived of a parent’s support and counsel when making a difficult decision, a complete medical history, careful attention for any post-abortion complications, and relief from the unnecessary and overwhelming burden of keeping a secret they would otherwise be carrying when returning to their families.

The state does, and should, have a compelling interest in fostering the family structure and protecting the rights of parents to rear their children. When abortions are done on young girls in secret it promotes deception and tears apart the fabric of parent-child relations and parental responsibility thereby harming the family unit. Besides undermining the authority of parents and putting the government and the abortion provider between parent and child, it works against the best interest of the child. We need a parental notification law to protect both children and families.

Phyllis Woods
Dover, NH 03820

Holiday Suggestions

…By Ron Dupuis

For Senators Reid, Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, and Biden; Take some time off over the holidays, take a deep breath and think about what you have said about the President over the past year. If President Bush truly “lied while people died” then tell us specifics not opinions. Show the American people proof that you received different intelligence than the White House. If President Bush is just another Hitler and our military is setting up Nazi style concentration camps, as many of you have suggested, then back up the charges with facts instead of jaded opinions.
While I have your attention Senator Kennedy , don’t forget to send the Kopeknes a Christmas card.

For Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic Party; Stop taking what was once the proud party of America’s working class to the extreme left. Your hateful rhetoric and delusional concept of being the “heart and soul” of America is what lost the last election and will continue to stifle your parties chances of ever recovering. Try to be more like Senator Clinton and pretend to move to the center.
By the way, you should probably check your medication.

For Michael “I don’t own a single share of stock” Moore; Take all the shares of stock you “don’t own” and all the profits you have received from those “don’t own” shares and donate the entire portfolio to the Republican Party. You got caught. Take your medicine like a man.

For Kathy (ethics are important) Sullivan; You’ve run your mouth for years. Now you’re a involved in your own illegal ethics violation. Plead guilty and save the taxpayers the expense of a trial. Perhaps the judge will allow you to share a cell with Chuck McGee.
You got caught. Take your medicine like a man

For Governor Lynch; Try to remember the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If Commissioner Curry has the State Employees Association angry at him that possibly means he is doing a good job watching out for the tax payer’s dollars.
I’m sure Chief Wrenn is a fine police officer. I just don’t understand how being the Chief of a small New Hampshire community qualifies him to run a multi-faceted warehouse with a number of different locations. Being a jailer has nothing to do with law enforcement.

For anyone who greets me in the next thirty days; Its not “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” or even “Happy” Christmas. Its “Merry Christmas.” Do you understand that you PC pains. MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I’m an American Christian and I celebrate not only the birth of the leader of my church over two thousand years ago, but also the holiday tradition the founding fathers honored over two hundred years ago. I will honor my Jewish friends with a cheerful “Happy Chanukah”, and my black friends, who happen to celebrate it, a “Happy Kwanza.” Please to greet me with good wishes this season, it’s “Merry Christmas.”

For all people that do their shopping on T.V.; This is the time of year when every other commercial ends with “Not sold in stores,” “Order now.” Don’t believe it for a minute. All that junk can be found in stores throughout the country. Gonzsu knives, Popile pocket fisherman, and even old Andy Williams/ Osmond Brothers Christmas albums. All sold in stores so there is no need to “have your credit card handy and call today.”

For the brave men and women volunteers in today’s Armed Forces; Keep alert, stay safe, and remember, despite what you may read in the liberal press, more Americans are behind you and your efforts to keep us safe here at home. I, as most Americans, will pray for you each and every day until your mission is complete and you return to the arms of your families and loved ones. God bless you all.

Hospital Acquired Infections Legislation

...By State Rep. Howie Lund, Derry

There were a number of pieces of legislation filed this fall dealing with the issue of hospital-acquired infections. It was felt that the public should be able to access information by hospital. This will help the citizens of the state make more informed decisions as to where to send loved ones when important medical procedures are needed. It was decided by the legislators involved to consolidate their efforts into one piece of legislation that they would all get behind and support. The six legislators involved are Rep. Leo Pepino (Manchester), Rep Howie Lund (Derry), Rep Dave Hess (Hooksett), Rep Rogers Johnson (Stratham), Rep James Powers (Portsmouth) and Rep Robert Giuda (Warren) .

Latest estimates show that 90,000 patients a year die from hospital acquired infections. That is more than die per year from auto accidents and breast cancer combined. It is more than died in the Vietnam War (58,000), which lasted for nearly ten years. Were we to look at the length of the Vietnam War and put the same number of years on hospital acquired infection deaths, we would be looking at nearly million (1,000,000) deaths. This legislation is not intended to diminish the positive contributions made by the hospitals of our state but rather to bring the issue into the light of day, which should accomplish two things. First is to provide the public with information to make informed decisions on the most important issues in their lives. Second, to bring about improvement in hospital procedures that will reduce the loss of life and the unnecessary suffering related to hospital acquired infections.

The human costs are foremost but there is another important issue and that is financial. Just imagine what the costs are associated with repeated admittance to the hospital for hospital-acquired infection. Our insurance rates increase, our state Health and Human Services bill escalates (Medicare). Presently 29% of our state budget is spent on HHS. In states, such as Penn., that have implemented this type of legislation they are already experiencing a reduction in hospital-acquired infection. We expect to experience the same type of positive results with our legislation hear in New Hampshire.

American Ingenuity

--- by Ed Naile

I was reading on Drudge about the 80 kilometer benzene slick in China flowing down the Songhua River to the northern city of Harbin. Harbin is a provincial capital up near Russia and almost dead west of Sapporo Japan.

The pollution slick has people fleeing the city of nine million by all means possible. The trains are full, planes booked solid, and roads choked full of people leaving. If you have ever been to China you would note that is what traffic looks like on a good day, after you throw in a few million overloaded bicycles.

The benzene slick is 100 times higher than the national safety standard - the Chinese National Safety Standard where people weld without goggles and jack-hammer in shorts and sandals.

The Financial Times article I read had quotes such as this one from a local guy:

“I am fleeing,” said Pang Shijun, a 50-year-old man among the crowds at the central railway station. He said his wife had already left the night before to go to the nearby city of Jixi. “I just do not trust the government to provide true information on this.”

The situation was magnified by the contradictory news releases issued by the city government and the plant owner, PetroChina, which stalled evacuation efforts. The city also turned off water supplies in anticipation of the ecological disaster, creating a water buying panic..

But! Wouldn't you know it there is an American beer plant in Harbin. Here is part of what they had to say.

“Anheuser-Busch, the US brewer which has a plant in the city, issued a statement saying the water shutdown had “not significantly affected” its beer production in Harbin.”

At least they have everything in perspective.

Fat is declared contagious

---by Micheal

They say there is an "Obesity Pandemic."

The 18th International Congress on Nutrition stated that the world is getting fatter, that obesity is now a "pandemic." They're not the only ones using the word pandemic. Various doctors and experts have been using the term "obesity pandemic" for several years now.

These days the media is abuzz with our latest panic d'jour -- a bird flu pandemic. That's what pandemic means to lay folk -- a worldwide contagion.

The 1918 flu pandemic, which killed over 20 million people around the world, was a real pandemic. That flu was highly contagious. People would feel fine for a couple days after becoming infected, spreading the virus to three or more people, before falling very ill. Many died within days of showing first symptoms.

So when doctors and health officials claim there is an "obesity pandemic", they're playing semantic tricks to grab headlines by implying that fat is a highly contagious disease.

Skinny people get fat because they were exposed to fat people? Give me a break. Obesity is not a virus. It's not catching. Cheeseburgers don't leap off of fat people and force their way down skinny victims' throats. People get fat when they eat too much. Treating obesity like a flu virus is doomed to failure.

If it's not a virus, then what's the cause of this obesity "pandemic"? Professor Nestle, of New York University (one of those health officials) says cheaper farm goods, and western-style prosperity are to blame.

How's that again? People are getting fatter around the world because they are getting more prosperous and food is getting cheaper? Does this mean that the solution to world obesity is to reduce prosperity and make food more expensive? I guess that would work, but it sounds cruel. "Sure, I know you're poor and hungry, but don't complain. At least your'e not fat."

Overeating is not a virus you can catch. It's not the government's fault for making food cheaper, or your boss's fault for giving you a raise. We need to take responsibility for what we push into our mouths, and stop looking for someone or something else to blame.

Welcome to ManchPostal

--- by Ed Naile

Welcome to Manchester politics. The stuff you are not supposed to hear has arrived.

Enter Joe Kelly Levasseur and his attempt to mail his Manchester City Council election material through the Manchester Post Office like any other Manchester candidate would be able to do. For that matter, any candidates for office in America would be able mail their glossies out before election day wouldn't you say?

But this is Manchester, New Hampshire and it depends on who you are.

The facts:

Today, just hours after being contacted by the USPS in Manchester, Joe Kelly Levasseur received an official $975.00 check.

The check is a remuneration the Manchester USPS felt obligated to give him for NOT delivering his mailers BEFORE November 8.

Happens all the time, right? Political mailers just sit in bags off to the side at the end of the day and when the post office workers get around to it they trundle the bundles off with their little golf cart mail-mobiles.

And this must be a big story since everyone wants an unbiased, efficient post office. Who would believe it was a mistake. It was probably just an oversight.

How often then does the US Post Office pay a candidate back for NOT mailing political materials before an election? (This is the part where you hear cricket noises.)

Love him or hate him Joe is no punching bag. Let me re-phrase. This punching bag punches back!

Joe Kelly has offered a $25,000 reward to the first postal worker who comes forward to testify about what happened.

USPS punches back!

“No Mr. Kelly,” the USPS lawyer in Connecticut tells Joe, “We do not allow employees to take rewards.” (Surprise! How would this scam work if they did that?)

Does anyone think this story will make the “Manchester Paper” like the Chuck McGee scandal did? Remember Chuck? He should be home soon for the holidays after sitting in a federal prison for doing a lot less than this. Chuck will be front page again when he is released. Then the local papers will investigate “Postalgate,” right?

Not if “John DiStaso (D) Union Leader” has anything to do with it. The stolen sign story failed to make his weekly “insider” article twice after the Mayor Baines loss (popularity poll 65%) to Frank Guinta. All DiStaso managed to do was re-re-re-repeat the list of Republican scandals Governor Not Benson campaigned on. What a coincidence.

So stay tuned for more info on this story and our upcoming “Readers Contest” which is a fabulous grand prize (made of wood) for the first person who can guess how long it will be until The UL is printing LESS than 50,000 papers a day. (Hint 53,000 now). Phone in your guess at 1-800-BAD-PULP.

Sane Eminent Domain

---by Rep. Maureen Mooney, Merrimack

The NH House and Senate have been working overtime on tightening up the statutes regarding eminent domain in light of the Kelo decision. After a joint meeting on October 11, 2005 with the Senate and House Task Forces on Eminent Domain, it is clear that the majority wants to define the term "public use" in the RSA's. At the same time, we want to ensure that private economic development is never a reason for a taking.

The term "public use" will serve as the basis for all necessary eminent domain takings. The definition will explicitly define what constitutes public use (e.g., possession by the general public or removal of structures unfit for human habitation) and what does not constitute a public use (e.g., an increase in tax revenue or employment).

In addition to statutory changes, a group of representatives and senators have been working on a constitutional amendment. The amendment will codify in Part I, Article 12 that the power of eminent domain shall not be used to transfer property for private use or economic development. The amendment will complement the statutory changes therein.

While New Hampshire already has existing safeguards to protect property rights, both the statutory change and constitutional amendment will further protect the fundamental constitutional right to own property here in New Hampshire.

Hon. Maureen Mooney Hillsboro District 19

2 Arrests For Violating Dogma

---by Micheal

Two men were arrested recently, in different countries, but for the same crime: speaking against a culturally accepted dogma.

The first "criminal" was Al-Harbi, a Saudi teacher. He was arrested and charged with discussing the Bible with his students, defending the Jews and "ridiculing Islam." Al-Harbi denies the charges, but is still in prison. Whether guilty or not, he is charged with not (sufficiently?) toeing the Islamic dogma line that Christians are infidels and Israel should be destroyed.

Is this an outrageous violation of a human right to express an opinion? Before you say yes, consider our second criminal.

David Irving, the controversial British "historian" was arrested in Vienna. His crime? Irving was charged with denying the Holocaust. Are you quietly thinking to yourself that this was a good thing? Jewish groups in several countries were voicing their approval.

Excuse me? It can be a crime to not accept history? Since when does history become dogma with legal penalties? If someone said that George Washington was a British sympathizer, or that the Texans actually won the Alamo, they should be imprisoned? It looks as if the Holocaust has moved beyond being historical facts, and has moved into the realm of sacred dogma -- with legal punishments.

If you catch yourself feeling any outrage that it sounds like I'm defending Irving, then you may have succumbed to history-as-sacred-dogma too. Just for the record, I think Irving is wrong, but his arrest worries me as much as Al-Harbi's.

When it becomes a state's job to enforce historical (or "scientific") views, then we're all in a heap of hot water.

Fox News Story on Saudi Teacher Imprisoned

Fox News Story on David Irving Arrested

The Same Intelligence

---By Ron Dupuis

Since all, or at least most of Washington’s democrats are claiming President Bush lied when it came to weapons of mass destruction in order to invade Iraq, I thought I’d post a few comments from the Democrats who received the same intelligence.

“In My Humble Opinion” Democrats are not concerned with the war at all, but instead are more concerned with building a case to discredit or even impeach Bush because of the Clinton/Lewinski scandal and impeachment.

Nancy Pelosi- December 16,1998
“Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.”

John Kerry- October 9, 2002
“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force if necessary to disarm Saddam because I believe a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.”

Ted Kennedy- September 27.2002
“We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein has been seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.”

Senator Chuck Schumer- October 10, 2002
“It is Hussein’s vigorous pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and his present and future potential support for terrorist act and organizations that make him a danger to the people of the United States.”

October 19, 1999 Letter to president Clinton signed by Senators Levin, Liberman, Lautenberg, Dodd, Kerry, Feinstein, Mikulski, Daschle, Breaux, Kerry,-All Democrats.
“We urge you, after consulting with Congress and consistent with the U.S. Constitution
and laws, to take necessary action, including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on
suspected Iraqi sites to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq’s refusal to end
its weapons of mass destruction programs.”

Bill Clinton- December 17, 1998
“Earlier today, I ordered America’s armed forces to strike military and security targets in
Iraq… Their mission is to attack Iraq’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors.”

Hear it from their own lips Click here then click on the "play video" button. Prepare to be amazed.

Where are iPods for other art?

---by Micheal

iPods and mp3 players are everywhere! After work, while I stood at the street corner awaiting my ride home, I couldn't help but notice how many of the hundreds of commuters hurrying towards North Station had ear-buds or headphones.

Now, I realize that music is an art form, and people appreciate art. But, what is it about music that all those people can't live without it for even ten minutes? A culture so 24/7 obsessed with an art form struck me as a little bit odd.

Imagine, if instead of music, the art form was sculpture. What if there were huge corporations out there marketing re-releases of Michaelangelo "greatest hits" collections to millions of "Mikey" fans? Talent scouts scouring trendy New York sculpture-bars looking for fresh young talent. Famous sculptors filling the couches on talk shows, or endorsing lines of clothing. A hit TV show -- "American Chiseler" -- giving hopeful artists their big break into sculpture stardom.

Automobiles would all have a sculpture-viewer mounted in the center of their dashboards. Doctors' offices would display bland remakes of popular statues for patients to enjoy while they wait. Urban punks would bring their big spiky metal sculptures on the bus with them, mostly to annoy the other riders.

Millions of youngsters would log onto Apple's iSculpt online store to download 3D images of the latest in modern statuary for only 99 cents each! They would fill up their iPods with all their favorite statues. That way, they can eye the latest inner-city impressionist abstract forms or perhaps groove out on oldies classics (such as, Mother and Child, or End of the Trail) just like their parents used to groove to back in the 80s.

Hundreds of work-weary commuters would strap on their iPods for the trip home. With a narrowly glazed focus, they would trudge towards the trains, oblivious to the throng around them. They'd stare at their iPods, studying the subtle nuances of polished italian marble or perhaps jammin' to the rough and edgy look of jack-hammered granite.

If we had a culture spending billions of dollars annually on personal copies of sculpture, and obsessed with viewing as much sculpture as possible -- while driving, at work, while jogging, or actually during nearly every waking moment -- wouldn't you think that culture was a little odd?

Why is it okay when it's music?

It must have been the Sausages

---By Ron Dupuis

Whenever something concerns me, really concerns me, I tend to think about it for a few days, so much so that eventually it affects my dreams. So it was with the recent Supreme Court decision on eminent domain.
The weekend last summer when the Supreme Court handed down the now famous “Eminent Domain” decision, the Dupuis residence was filled with good friends, family, and a barbecue grill filled with hot dogs, hamburgers, and my personal favorite, sausages and kielbasa. It must have been the sausages I ate that brought out the strange cast of characters that appeared right after I retired that night.

First there was Larry the Liberal, a mixture of every liberal politician I've ever met. Because it was a dream I knew he was against the war in Iraq, for better treatment for the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and, of course, voted for Kerry in the last election. He looked an awful lot like Howard Dean.
Standing beside him was Chris the right-wing conservative. Chris wanted to nuke Baghdad in the early nineties, torture all the prisoners at Gitmo and voted for Bush, father and son. He looked eerily like Dick Nixon.
"Embrace it man." Larry said. "We could build a so much better world."
"Embrace what" I asked?
"The Supreme Court's decision, man. They're so much wiser than us and just want to help build a better world."
"I can't believe I'm agreeing with a liberal, but I quite agree," said the Nixon-clone conservative. "Seize the moment. We could affect a lot of changes for the betterment of the public welfare."
You mean to say that you guys agree with the recent decision that states that municipalities can take your homes and sell them to private companies for the betterment of the community at large?
"Of course man," exclaimed Larry. "We could take all the factories that are polluting our air and killing the innocent flowers and build parks. Take all these yuppie mansions poorer New Hampshire residents have been complaining about and grow trees to help us breathe better. Open spaces for all to enjoy."
"I don't know about growing trees," the Nixon look-a-like said. "Besides, taking the homes of hard working people is a bit drastic. Especially if they are expensively landscaped."
"Why don't we use this opportunity to help the less fortunate? We could go down to the other side of the tracks, you know, where all those people with the funny sounding names live. Help them move to better neighborhoods, tear down their homes, and sell the property to developers who will build job-producing shopping malls and modern factories."
"Parks and trees" Larry shouted.
"Malls and factories" Chris retorted.
"Parks and trees."
"Malls and factories."
I awoke in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, in the real world, the court's extension of government's ability to take private property for loosely defined economic development reasons has struck fear into the hearts of liberal and conservative alike.
Justice Stevens in his majority opinion wrote that "local governments should be given broader latitude in determining whether their citizens would be best served by condemning private property, especially where it is part of a broader scheme for redevelopment."
In my eyes, this completely invalidates the Fifth Amendment to our Constitution which states "no private property shall be taken for public use without just compensation." Taking my land or home and selling it to a private corporation for redevelopment into a hotel or shopping mall is by no stretch of the imagination "public use."
And when has anyone whose private property was taken ever been "justly compensated"? What generally happens is that the owners are paid the assessed value rather than the appraised rate.
I've spoken with both conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats in the New Hampshire House and all have promised to do something to protect property owners in this state by the next session.
It will be nice to see both sides of the aisle galvanized and working together for a common cause, for once.

Techno-progress hits human wall

---by Micheal

You don't have to be a Luddite to be tired of software upgrades. Just when you've learned a program, the maker releases an upgrade. The perfect scheme for a guaranteed revenue stream -- perpetual ugrades.

The hitch with their perfect plan was us -- humans. We are becoming increasingly slow about jumping on the upgrade bandwagon. A case in point: Microsoft's over-hyped next upgrade of Windows: Vista. Bill's boys have been trying to whip up excitement for Vista, but the response has been tepid at best. Users are taking a cautious wait-and-see approach. (see CNET article on Vista woes) Some feel it's too much, and too late. (see eWeek's Is Windows Vista Out of Sync? )

One trouble (for Bill) is that many users are still using Windows 95 or 2000 or NT. They haven't even moved to XP yet. Why bother about Vista? That vast crowd of 800 million Windows users are proving very conservative. After all, upgrading is usually a royal pain. Will the next new widget be worth the pain? Perhaps not.

The old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" seems to be kicking in. If Word 95 is working just fine for you, why upgrade? British futurist Ian Pearson said, "We've done 20 years of adding functionality, and 99 percent of that functionality isn't needed." Most people use only a tiny fraction of Microsoft Word's gazillion features. Why buy more features you probably won't use either?

One of the trends that futurists see is Simplicity (see Wired.com article on future tech trends) People are showing a growing fondness for simple devices that do well that one or two things they want done, without being encumbered with dozens of additional features they didn't want, or a fat obtuse user manual. A phone that makes calls. A calculator that does numbers. A music player that plays music. A camera that takes pictures.

Trouble is, the usual multi-use wonder-widgets seldom do all their functions very well. The latest wonder-phones take so-so pictures, play only a little music, make difficult calculators, etc. etc. Anyone who uses hand tools can tell you: a plain old screwdriver works far better than the screwdriver flip-out thingy in that 20-in-One multi-tool you got for Father's Day.

We're starting to realize that the same thing applies to computers and software. Simpler can be better. Less is more. This bodes ill for Bill's perpetual revenue scheme, of course, but that's not our problem.

The bottom line? Don't feel guilty about not upgrading. Just say 'no' to the lemming call for the next box of bloatware. Hundreds of thousands of Windows users are saying "no thanks" too.

Judge Alito?

--- by Ed Naile

Now we have a new “ultra conservative” potential victim of the Supreme Court nomination process.

With Bush on the ropes will this be the chance for McCain to hold “court” with is band of 14 and begin his presidential campaign by scuttling an “extremist” nominee ?

We just might be back in fillibusterville.

Rons Ruminations

…By Ron Dupuis

I was walking through the park the other day and thought about the old saying “Sometimes you’re the pigeon, and sometimes you’re the statue.” Today I’m the pigeon.

I was looking at the stock market and the national debt the other day and wondered if anyone knew what comes after a TRILLION? If your answer is 100,000,000,001 then you’re an addle minded dolt who is just trying to spoil my day.

If school officials believe that children under the age of 18 are not responsible enough to make their own choices when it comes to snacks in a vending machine, how can they be responsible enough to make their own choices when it comes to an abortion?

If you were accused of a crime that you were innocent of but could not remember where you were, would you lie? Could you be prosecuted for not remembering?

If Congress wants to keep God out of the workplace, why do they begin each session with a prayer?

Now that we have done away with Santa Clause in most schools, shouldn’t we do away with Christmas vacation?

When school children are given a winter vacation in February is it to give them a break or to meet the demands of the teacher’s contract?

If we leave Iraq tomorrow will Osama bin Laden promise not to finance another World Trade Center attack?

After reviewing some past decisions, do we really need another Ivy League pinhead on the Supreme Court?

Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg one of the ugliest people in the world?

Are the people who support abortion the same ones who want to delete the word “GOD” from the English language?

Are John Kerry and “Ted” Kennedy good Catholics?

Did I just stop being the pigeon and now become the statue?

Out of Her Ivy League!

--- by Ed Naile

Sorry readers. I missed Part II Article II of the US Constitution during my first read but upon further review, and I apologize again, as it clearly states in part as follows:

The president shall have the power to appoint members to the Supreme Court with the advice and consent of any interest group able to force a nominee to withdraw before a hearing can be held on said nominee......

So the check and balance in this case is the threat of having your name dragged through the mud, family ridiculed, credit and loan records revealed and video rental history made public – before the nominee can respond at a Senate hearing - just as the founders intended.

The follow-up check on the Executive branch is the added protection of the nominee absolutely having to have an Ivy League education so that “conservative” commentators and Senators have cover to support a liberal when the time comes, as it more often than not does.

Ed Naile, Chair CNHT
http://www.nhtaxpayerradio.com/

Halloween Innocence Lost

---by Micheal

Time marches on. The innocence of childhood becomes irretrievably lost. Take Halloween as an example. It is, today, barely a ghost of its former self. Before the day had been co-opted by cultists and whacko types and marketing hucksters, it had been a fairly innocent kid day.

As school kids, we would cut out pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper, or bats or spiders from black paper. We weren't worshipping any deviant demon or dwelling on death and decay. We were celebrating simple childhood fear. Bats were scary. Spiders were scary. As a kid, even just a dark room was really really scary. Halloween was a day to face the fact that some things in life were scary. Without all the psycho-babble, it was a chance to face those fears (in construction paper form) and not be afraid.

Trick or Treat was not a destructive descent into barbarism or worship Satan. It was a chance to dress up (like actors) in a costume. A pirate, a princess, a bear or in my little brother's case: Tweety Bird. No occult undertones or hidden agenda.

We traveled from house to house in little knots, clustered close together for mutual moral support. No parents chaperoned us. They were home answering the door for the other kids. Being outdoors after dark without our parents was part of the facing-our-fears ritual. We knew every corner of our neighborhood, since we played in it every day. But after dark? It was transformed. The familiar old cowboys-and-indians junipers became mysterious and shadowy. That narrow space between the Wilson's garage and the Biedermeyer's house was a spooky black canyon. Monsters could dwell in there.

Candy was our primary motivator, of course. A bag full of candy was unimaginable wealth back then. So much so, that we'd brave the dark and scary bushes to get it. None of us were worshipping any old Celtic gods, or death or whatever. It was just candy and we were conquering our childish fears to get it. We felt brave.

The neighborhood too, was a community. Most houses had a porch light on, and a jack-o-lantern on the steps to invite trick or treaters. Even the old couple in the dark green house at the end of the street participated. We were always a little afraid of them. They pretended to be scared of us when they answered their door. It was a subtle ritual way of assuring each other that we and they weren't not so bad after all. On that night, the whole neighborhood played the same costumes and candy game. It was great.

Now? New Age variants have seized the day as a soap-box opportunity to flip off Christianity. Blood n'gore-fixated people openly revel in the disgusting, like a dog rolls in road-kill. Young anarchists take it as a night of license to destroy. The truly bad side of humanity oozes to the surface. Adults are frightened.

Towns react to all this real human badness by organizing safe days and safe zones, thoroughly managing all the variables to make sure halloween is "safe". Worried moms take their pirates and princesses to these cordoned off bubbles of safety to trick or treat indoors, in full daylight, or illuminated by the headlights of multiple minivans. No scary bushes. No monster canyons. It's not a construction paper and Tweety Bird halloween anymore.

Instead of bats and spiders, we have abductors, molesters and satanists. We have marketing hype and gore. Instead of an innocent day for kids to face being afraid of spiders or bats, halloween has become just another day to live in real fear -- fear of the world we've made for ourselves.

Time marches on. The old innocence of halloween is lost.

Hello, I'm Jerry Curran, and I'm a Republican

--- by Ed Naile

If there is one gimmick that is really getting tired it is the “I'm a Republican who hates everything about Republicans” scam.

Lefties pretending to be Republicans is fast becoming an overused, boring, infantile, and weak exercise that is easily exposed!

Take the publicity stunt at the Congressman Bass office last week performed by Moveon.org, ACT (Americans Coming Together), The Sierra Club, NHPR, and a few other questionable groups I blogged about recently.

Not only were about three of the seven “protesters” posing as NH media, two claimed to be Republican constituents of Congressman Bass.

So excuse me Jerry Curran. I know Republicans – and you're no Republican.

But here is what the obliging press wrote - remember they are in campaign mode.

From the Manchester paper:

“Jerry Curran, a Republican from Amherst, said he has voted for Bass in the past but won't again unless Bass returns the money. He urged Bass to reject the "scandal, corruption and abuse of power" exhibited by leading Republicans.

"This is part of a culture of corruption in the Republican Party leadership," he said. "We are calling on Congressman Bass to demonstrate that he works for the voters of New Hampshire, not DeLay's corporate cronies."

So what was Republican Jerry Curran doing on election day November 2, 2004 you might ask.

Our sweet, thoughtful Republican Jerry Curran was the Sierra Club contact for the ACT “Get Out The Vote” bus tour. (Stay tuned this gets better.)

Here is some of ACT's description of itself – its long, tentacled, invasive, money-burning self:

America Coming Together (ACT) is dedicated to energizing the electorate to achieve crucial changes – the mobilization of millions of people to register and vote around the critical issues facing our country, the defeat of George W. Bush and his Republican allies, and the election of progressives in vitally important state, local, and federal contests. We are outraged at the policies and abuses of the past four years: the jobs lost, lives wasted, health care denied, air and water fouled, and rights abridged.

Our Founders

Grassroots and political leaders who share a vision of a progressive (SOCIALIST ed.) America and are committed to help defeat George W. Bush, elect progressives (MORE SOCIALISTS ed.) up and down the ticket, and mobilize millions of people to register and vote around the critical issues facing our country started America Coming Together (ACT).

(ACT's list of distinguished fellows/founders/fellow-travelers)

Ellen R. Malcolm, President of ACT, is the founder and president of EMILY’s List – a political action committee that supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates.

Steve Rosenthal , Chief Executive Officer of ACT, was Political Director of the AFL-CIO from 1996-2002,...

Minyon Moore heads Dewey Square’s state and local practice. She was formerly Chief Operations Officer of the Democratic National Committee and before that Assistant to the President of the United States and Director of White House Political Affairs.

Gina Glantz has a distinguished 30-year career in campaigns and grassroots organizing. She was National Campaign Manager for the Bill Bradley for President campaign.

Carl Pope, Treasurer, is Executive Director of the Sierra Club, an organization of 700,000 environmental activists.

Cecile Richards is President of America Votes, a coalition of almost 30 national organizations working together to educate and mobilize voters in the 2004 elections on a broad range of issues including the environment, civil and human rights, women’s rights, choice, education and labor.

There's a crop of Jerry Curran Republicans for ya!

Jerry's favorite group was formed in 2003 with the goal of electing liberal congressional candidates and a liberal president in 2004. Financiers George Soros and Peter Lewis kicked in more than $38 million to get ACT, along with its sister group the Media Fund, up and running. ACT managed to blow through about $200 million during its brief existence. The cash ran out in August of 2004 that is why Jerry and his troupe of thespians were taking up congressman Bass's staffers time with street theater designed to highlight dirty money in politics. (And relieve a little of that loser stress)

The Moveon.org/ACT motto now is: After you piss away the 20 million Soros gave you “Move on and ACT like a Republican.” It is an old NH tradition anyway!!

There is more! ACT, MoveOn.org, and The Sierra Club are aligned with: America Votes!

America Votes is a coalition of many of the largest membership-based groups in the country, who have come together to increase voter registration, education and participation in electoral politics. With more than thirty organizations representing a wide range of issues including worker’s rights, choice, the environment, education, civil rights and social justice, the America Votes Coalition includes the largest and most trusted leaders in the progressive movement.

America Votes participating groups include:

ACORN _ AFL-CIO _ AFSCME _ Alliance for Retired Americans _ America Coming Together (ACT) _ American Federation of Teachers _ Association of Trial Lawyers of America _ Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence United with the Million Mom March _ Clean Water Action _ Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund _ Democracy for America _ EMILY's List _ The Human Rights Campaign _ League of Conservation Voters _ The Media Fund _ MoveOn.org PAC _ Music for America _ NAACP National Voter Fund _ NARAL Pro-Choice America _ NDN _ National Education Association _ National Jewish Democratic Council _ National Treasury Employees Union _ Partnership for America’s Families _ Planned Parenthood Action Fund _ SEIU _ Sierra Club _ USAction _ Voices for Working Families _ Young Democrats of America _ 21st Century Democrats _

So not only is our buddy Jerry Curran a self-proclaimed registered Republican, he has a lot of other “friends” we see. But there is some bad news besides the loss of all that pristine Soros cash according to some news clips listed below.

June 23, 2004
More Bad Press for Americans Coming Together
A.P. offers Felons Paid in Voter Registration Drive. The lead: "A Democratic group crucial to John Kerry's presidential campaign has paid felons - some convicted of sex offenses, assault and burglary - to conduct door-to-door voter registration drives in at least three election swing states." A key sentence: "Felons on probation or parole are ineligible to vote in many states. Doug Lewis, executive director of the Election Center, which represents election officials, said he is unaware of any laws against felons registering other people to vote."

Lets imagine together...

“Hi! I'm Rocko and I'm from Americans Coming Together collecting information about your family when I'm not out doing street theater on behalf of MoveOn.org. Say, how old is that daughter of yours?”

Remember the incident involving allegations of Democratic operatives caught slashing the tires of Republican get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee? Here are the actual indictments in the case:

The following is a list of the individuals charged with slashing tires on the morning of November 2, 2004, and their connections to the Democrat campaign in 2004:

Michael J. Pratt
* Paid $7,965.53 by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in 2004
* Pratt’s father is former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt, who chaired the Kerry-Edwards campaign in Milwaukee

Sowande Ajumoke Omodunde (a.k.a “Supreme Solar Allah”)
* Paid $6,059.83 by Gwen Moore for Congress and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in 2004
* Son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Lewis Gibson Caldwell, III
* Paid $4,639.09 by Gwen Moore for Congress and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in 2004

Lavelle Mohammad
* Paid $8,858.50 by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and America Coming Together ($966 for canvassing work in June and July) in 2004

Justin J. Howell
Paid $2,550.29 in 2004 by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (62)

More MoveOn.org shenanigans gleaned from court documents and the press:


* Court Orders MoveOn.org To Cease Voter Intimidation And Harassment In Ohio

On Election Day, individuals in Franklin County, Ohio, were threatened and harassed at their polling places by agents of MoveOn.org after being asked about their voting preference and revealing their intention to vote Republican. Similar situations are alleged to have occurred elsewhere around the state and prompted a lawsuit filed in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Voters were intimidated by MoveOn.org in an attempt to dissuade them from voting for George W. Bush or in an attempt to harass them after they voted. (84) (Exhibit K)

Ohio voters who had identified themselves as Republicans received telephone calls telling them that the election was to be held a day later than Election Day, that their polling locations had been changed and that they could only vote if they brought four separate pieces of identification to the poll. This information was intentionally deceptive and intended to direct voters to a polling place where they would not be able to cast a ballot.

The Marion County Common Pleas Court issued a temporary restraining order against the Marion and Greene County Democratic Parties, the Ohio Democratic Party and America Coming Together (ACT) enjoining them from making inaccurate and deceptive phone calls to targeted voters. The judge originally assigned to the case recused himself because he had “personally received a phone call” like the one described by the plaintiff in which incorrect information about date of the election and polling place was given, a point he noted in the Judgment Entry he signed effectuating his recusal. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed a visiting judge to hear the case who then issued a temporary restraining order against the county and state Democrat parties and against ACT.

Bought and paid for in part by billionaire George Soros; threats, fraud, tire slashing, and my personal favorite – illegal phone calls to deceive potential voters.

My advice to Congressman Bass's office staff: The next time this bunch elbows their way into your office tell them the Starbucks at Shaw’s Plaza is giving away tofu lattes. Then when they dive out the door - lock it behind them.

Health vs. Life

---By Ron Dupuis

A fifteen year old girl is injured while playing soccer. She is taken to the emergency room. She is told that her injury is not life threatening, however she may need some minor surgery to correct a problem that could plague her sports activity for the rest of her life. Both parents are out of town and unavailable. Sports being important to the young lady, she tells the doctor to go ahead with the procedure.
The question: is there any state in the union that would allow the physician to continue treatment with any kind of “minor surgical” procedure?
The answer: of course there isn’t. Not without some sort of parental consent.

The same girl, with the same unavailable parents is taken to the same doctor, only this time the injury is a little different. Several small blood clots have formed around the injury and could possibly threaten her life by moving to the heart and causing a fatal attack
The question this time is whether the doctor has the right to continue treatment in order to save the life of the child without parental consent.
The answer is of course he does have every right to continue treatment. With or without parental consent, the life of his patient is primary.
****************************
Pro abortion advocates are screaming to high heaven (oxymoron?) that New Hampshire’s Parental Notification Law is un-constitutional because it does not make an exception for the “health” of the Mother. On this point they are right. Legislators who helped draft the law tell me that if the word “health” where used it would simply be too ambiguous and allow abortion providers to bypass its intent. Instead of using the word “health”, Parental Notification supporters added the following exception:
I. No notice shall be required under RSA 132:25 if:
(a) The attending abortion provider certifies in the pregnant minor's medical record that the abortion is necessary to prevent the minor's death and there is insufficient time to provide the required notice.

In My Humble Opinion New Hampshire’s Parental Notification law is good legislation, passed by clear thinking people who do not want some unknown Physician usurping our rights as a parent. The word “health” would simply allow abortionist to bypass any parental notification and continue to influence our minor children into making catastrophic decisions which possibly could impact their emotional well being for the rest of their lives. All without the parents knowing.

Hope you get better and don't die

---By Rep. Matt Quandt

One of the strangest bills to come before us on the Commerce Committee is House Bill 37. It deals with dependant children who are full time college students and on a family plan for health insurance. This issue arose last year when a sweet, kind and super young woman was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was a student at Plymouth State College while her mother is a schoolteacher in Pembroke, NH. The mother’s family insurance is self funded and administered to by a HMO insurance company. Keep in mind that self-funded insurance programs do not fall under the NH Insurance Department for regulation they fall under the department of labor.

When Michelle was diagnosed with cancer the insurance administrator made a decision that since Michelle was having such medical problems she could not continue with school because of the extensive medical treatment required and would have to drop out. The plan administrator contacted the mother and told her that they were going to drop Michelle because she could no longer be a student. Michelle was still in school then, fighting not only to keep up with her academics but also her life in her valiant fight to live. The mother contacted the New Hampshire Insurance Department who could not help and told her to contact the NH Legislature since we make the laws.

The battle began. To my surprise our own leadership was not supportive of this legislation. They seemed to have the votes to kill this bill in committee. One opposing member argued that insurance companies cover collage students on a voluntary basis and if we mandated any coverage they could refuse to accept college-age people.

From two seats down came the response, “That is a red herring and bogus argument, I have two college age kids, both on my family plan for $600 per month and neither kid has used a $100 worth of health care a year since they have been on the plan. That means in 4 years I have paid about $30,000 for about $400 in health care delivery, economics dictates that the insurance companies will continue to insure their healthiest population and their biggest moneymaker. I have had relatives die of cancer, I have been around people who were dying, and they all wanted to live. Part of a successful cancer treatment program is to have hope. If you are young, maybe to finish college, get married, and have kids. If you are older to watch your grandchildren grow up. I am not going to look into this girl’s eyes and tell her I will not give her hope."

You might have guessed that two seats down to my left is where my father sits.

After this, the committee did not have the votes to ITL the bill and the bill was retained for further study and review. I am on the sub-committee studying this and we are still working to get a ”clean” bill out, that is one without any amendments. As best as we could figure the administrator for the mother’s insurance program wanted to get Michelle off the program because of the added expense that would be generated by her extensive treatment. There is no way to prove that was their motivation; but that is the way the issue appears to have come up, since this bill only affects about six students statewide.

On a very sad note after recently talking to the mother, Michelle is in rapid regression and is back in the hospital. There is doubt that Michelle will be with us at Christmas but if that is God's will it is God’s will. We will do everything we can to see that “Michelle’s Bill”, making sure college students can stay on health insurance coverage when situations like this happen, will live on.

Matt Quandt
State Representative
Exeter-Stratham-North Hampton.

Scott Gets The Backhand

--- by Ed Naile

Former State Rep. David Scott of Dover had to go to Superior court to win public documents from the city. Judge Peter Fauver ruled the city must turn over the material. As of today from speaking to parties in Dover the town is still mulling its options.

Dave Scott was asking under, RSA 91-A The Right to Know Law, for the names and salaries of public employees making $60,000 or more. This same information about public employees salaries is published in town reports all over NH and has been for as long as town reports have been printed.

Now for some insider information as to what the real story is.

The Dover officials who denied the documents are doing so in hopes the court will rule in their favor. Because our NH court system is so bad they had good reason to believe they may prevail. That says something about our courts. Want proof?

Why did it take six weeks for the court to rule in Scott’s favor? A Superior Court judge has a responsibility to keep courts from spending time on frivolous cases. This should have been over with before it even had a hearing. It doesn't take a jury to hear a simple equity case involving citizens long held rights.

Dover officials know, as all officials in NH, do that RSA 91-A is one of the most powerful tools the public has to control their spending and behavior.

So how does NH press fit in? Here is a Nashua Telegraph editorial take on Scott:

“Scott, a former state representative, may be a gadfly, even a pest, to some in city government who are at the receiving end of his requests for information. But trying to finesse the Right-To-Know Law to make it tough to get information isn’t the way to go.”

Here is the Union Leader editorial description of Scott:

“IN DOVER, former Rep. David Scott surely is not popular in certain circles — namely those that operate the city. Scott is something of a gadfly, constantly pestering the government. And we are glad he is. In his latest venture he has defeated the city in its attempt to keep some important information from becoming public.”

And the Union Leader reason for this happening:

“It is a shame that citizens have to resort to lawsuits to access information that is rightfully theirs. But alas, that is the nature of government.”

It’s the nature of New Hampshire government alright!

The Portsmouth Herald boldly editorialized that people should consider changing the guard at City Hall. Impressive!

At least The Portsmouth Herald did not refer to Mr. Scott as a “gadfly.” Big of them.

No, the overall tone of the media has been, “Wow, too bad the gadfly has come up against the powerful city council. Lucky our system works and we have justice after all.”

Mr. Scott has not received the cost of bringing the case to court, something that should be guaranteed in the law along with misdemeanor charges for repeat violations and an automatic injunction against further violations by officials.

Dave Scott is a friend of mine and the best friend taxpayers in Dover could have. The resistance these officials have shown is part of the overall arrogance of many public officials these days as is theft of public funds by public employees.

Let's hope the people in Dover remember who, by withholding documents, the city council was protecting when they vote next time. And they should call their local papers and ask why the whole story isn't in the news before they take out an ad or buy another paper.

Just as you have a right to public documents you have a right to all the news.

Brief Friend

---by Ron Dupuis

Last week New Hampshire House Speaker Doug Scamman stated his intent to sign an Amicus Brief to be filed by pro-abortionist with the Supreme Court of the United States concerning “Parental Notification.” This law passed by the New Hampshire legislature in 2003 required un-emancipated minor girls to notify a parent before getting an abortion. The lack of exemption to protect the life of the Mother was Speaker Scamman’s reason for throwing the weight of his office behind the “Friend of the Court” opinion.
“I’ve always been pro choice so there is no reason to beat me up on this” the Speaker stated.
We’ll see Mr. Speaker. Fast forward a few days.

Speaker Scamman announced he will NOT lend his name to the brief opposing the Parental Notification law. He said he had not seen the brief and now it was too late to analyze it.
“I’m going to have people on two sides upset with me” was the Speakers statement.
You’ve got that right Mr. Speaker.

In My Humble Opinion, Doug Scamman, as an individual, and as a Representative, has every right to his position as a “pro choice” advocate, or as I prefer to call it, a “pro abortion” advocate. (I have my right to call it what ever I want). The problem is that SPEAKER Scamman has no right to throw the power and prestige of his office behind a move to undermine a law that was approved by the proper House committee and passed by a vote in both the House and Senate. Approved, I might add, during a period when the Speaker was neither Speaker nor even a Representative.

I seem to remember when Representative Scamman was running for the Speakers position he promised to allow the committees to “do their job” and the House to “do its job” without interference from the Speakers office. For him to even consider interfering with legislation passed by the New Hampshire over two years ago is an embarrassment. So much for campaign promises.

MoveOver.loser

--- by Ed Naile


Today I was provided by chance the privilege to be involved in a little bitter street theater at the Congressman Bass HQ in Concord.

The players:

1 - Lefty MoveOn.soros actors pretending to be Republicans, presenting a torn up wad of poster material to Bass staffers.

2 - NHPR “investigative reporter” Josh Rodgers, who is by the way not afraid to carry a man-purse and wear sneakers while plying his trade. For the uninitiated, this is what is known in the industry as “protest by wardrobe.” Josh telegraphs his desire to let you know he is not kow-towing to “the Man” by wearing anything other than his “funky” wardrobe.

Mommy may have given Josh his inside info from the NH Insurance Commission but she certainly doesn't dress him. He does that himself - politically.

The Play:

When I entered the Bass office the soft-socialists mouthing the Soros line were admonishing Bass staffers about some conspiracy theory they have regarding The Evil Tom Delay being involved with dirty campaign contributions to Bass.

They must have had some sort of temper tantrum on the way to the office with young Josh and some other “reporters” in tow because the over sized poster-check they made up was crumpled beyond repair. The Bass people couldn't read it, let alone cash it at the “giant” bank.

Now I know any liberal worth his tofu can cook up a 10 foot papier mache head for a street protest in a wink of an eye so I wonder about the abilities of this NH contingent of Sorosites.

Could it be that the lack of funding since the withdraw of the Soros millions a few months ago has affected the ability of our angry thespians to express themselves with anything other than crepe paper, paste, and glitter?

I mentioned my dismay about the loss of the Soros troubadour money to the young lady with the Annie Hall hat as I left the office. She agreed. (I'm an actor as well!)

For more about MoveOn.loser check out their web site where they get angry, mind-numb liberals to send Letters to the Editor to local papers. You may have noticed the shift in decency lately in such letters - Bush is a war criminal type stuff. This is part of the MoveOn.loser's plan to “take back” NH and America.

That and the help of Josh Rodgers from NHPR.

The Seductive Short War Myth

---by Micheal

Middle East insurgents boast openly that they plan to win by simply outlasting western forces (i.e. America). It's not that they have deeper pockets or larger stockpiles of goods. What they're openly banking on, is America's lack of resolve. They're banking on Afghanistan and Iraq becoming "another Vietnam" in which America loses heart and bails out.

FoxNews just released a story about a letter from Aymen al-Zawahiri to his top deputy in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (FoxNews story) "The aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam — and how they ran and left their agents — is noteworthy. ... We must be ready starting now."

The insurgents are counting on American culture not having the fortitude to stay and finish what they started. America has developed a taste for short, flashy "wars" with gizmo bombs and few casualties. The seductive myth of the short war isn't new, nor does America alone suffer from it. Europe is equally seduced.

The Short War Myth arose in the late 1800s, shortly after Prussia kicked France's backside (Franco-Prussian War) in a matter of weeks. This, the pundits imagined, was how wars will be from now on: Short, hot, not-too-disruptive. The destructive power of (then) new techno-weapons, like the machine gun, airplane and submarine were thought to frighten nations into only fighting short wars, low-destruction, wars.

World War One proved the Short War Myth to be very wrong. Nations did employ their techno-killing-machines on each other and they did it for four long years, killing millions. World War Two was no smaller, nor shorter. But did anyone learn from them?

Apparently not. Some "peace activists" are clamoring that America should pull out of Iraq -- primarily because it's going on too long. The seductive lie of the Short War Myth is very much alive and well.

Did Bush lie to get us in? Maybe. Is the world better without Saddam? Seems so. We can argue about many aspects of the war, but to argue for its end on the grounds that it's gone on too long, is the Myth talking.

Schafly on Immigration

--- imho-nh

No one has a better understanding of the immigration problem facing this country then syndicated columnist Phyllis Schafly. Please read her thoughts on the 14th amendment and encourage your congressman to take the appropriate action.

Click here to review “American Citizenship is Precious.”

Katrina chaos: Seeing what you want to

--- by Micheal Shackelford:

Shortly after Katrina hit New Orleans, reports and TV footage painted a nightmare picture of lawlessness. Rapes, murders, and looting were rampant, they said. Stories spread like wildfire of shots being fired at rescue boats and helicopters. New Orleans after Katrina, seemed to reveal a disturbingly dark side of America.

Later on, things were not turning out as savage as they said. (Fear Exceeded Crime's Reality in New Orleans, Jim Dwyer, NYT Sept. 29: Up for Grabs, Christopher Shea, Boston Globe, Sept. 11)

State officials later report that 10 peopled died at the Superdome. 4 died inside the Convention Center, with 20 dying nearby. New Orleans' police superintendent (who has since resigned) said, "We don't have any substantiated rapes." The police were also backpedaling on the murders, saying that no victims of foul play were found either. Many died, but not all of foul play. Looting for food and water is different than stealing TVs. But in the media melee, it all looked the same.

Therein lies the danger. People tended to see what they expected to see in the images of post-Katrina. Elitists see a proof that the lower classes are dregs little better than animals. Those who inwardly fear the poor see a proof of what will happen when (their) civilization breaks down.

Those who favor large centralized government see a proof that government should do more. Those who favor government-sponsored abolishment of poverty use the images to further their agenda. Republicans see proof of local Democratic failures. Democrats see a proof of federal Republican failures.

Even the recent cover of news magazine read: "Who Screwed Up?" which presumes that it is someone's job to making sure our everyday lives are never disrupted. Whose job is it to see that huge natural forces are rendered powerless? (and once you find the guy with that much power, why do you think he should listen to you ?)

The big trouble in post-Katrina, is seeing what you expected, or what you want to see. If you find yourself thinking that Katrina proves that you were right all along, you may be falling victim to your own expectations and not seeing what's really there. We can't fix the real problems if we're really focused on old agendas.

Chips, Cheetos, Chocolate Cookies

Or; Prodigious Porkers Prevent Pleasurable Pause
--- By Ron Dupuis

“Hi Mom” said little Suzie upon her return home from 3rd grade. “We have to go shopping” she added instantly.
“Well, how was your day and why is that” Mom asked?
“The teacher said I was too fat “was the reply of the tiny eight year old.
“Suzie, you weigh less than forty pounds.” “You are by no means fat.”
“Ya, but the teacher says that a lot of us are “a beast” and we have to start eating better.” “C’mon, we have to go shopping?”
“I think she might have said “obese” and sweetheart, you are by no means obese.” “What do we have to go shopping for?”
“Snack food” was the reply. “The teacher says that the snack food you give me will make me “a beast” and that you should do a better job of feeding me.” “C’mon Mom, let’s go” the child added hurriedly.
“What exactly did Ms. Craig say I should feed you” Mom asked?
The child responded ”Rice cakes.” “C’mon Mom, lets get going.”
“Hold on Suzie Q” Mom said. “Your teacher feels that I should do a better job of feeding you and that I should send rice cakes as a mid morning snack for an eight year old third grader?” “I’m going to write her a note.” “What is your teachers’ first name again?”
“Jenny” she replied. “C’mon Mom.” “Let’s go shopping.”

*************
Scenes like this are taking place all over the country. Educators, in order to comply with federal guidelines, are removing all food of minimal nutritional value or so called “junk food” from school menus and snack carts. The new guidelines call for healthier foods with less than 250 calories with no more than sixty grams of fat in order to combat childhood obesity. This, on the surface, can be a good thing. Many of our children are unable to make the proper choices. It is estimated that 15% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight.

The problem here is that some educators are telling parents that these guidelines will apply to children’s lunches and snacks sent from home. This, “In My Humble Opinion”, is a little over the line, and dangerous for a couple of reasons. First of all, children should have choices. Instead of removing ALL temptation why not encourage the overweight 15% (or Prodigious Porkers as I will be calling them in future articles) to make the proper decisions. It seems that by removing ALL snack foods of questionable “nutritional value” penalize the remaining 85% and indicates that our educators are throwing in the towel when it comes to teaching life skills.

More importantly, educators who feel that they have the authority to restrict parental rights to make decisions as to what they may or may not feed their children is just plain dangerous. In our household our daughter is fed what we feel is best for her and if my wife and I feel she deserves an Oreo or Chocolate chip cookie from time to time, she’ll get it. Even in her school lunch bag.

Bill eyes illegals and helpers

--- by Rep. Dave Buhlman:

Please do be aware that there have been several bills being introduced by your state representatives that aim to be a big bother to illegal immigrants and those who support them.

Judge Runyon and AG Ayotte, who failed in their mission to support law enforcement and protect NH citizens, have the warm safety of not having to report directly to the people, like State Reps do. And the people are clearly with us on this, and with the brave police chiefs (Gendron of Hudson and Chamberlain of New Ipswich) who lead the way. We gave both of them Commendations from the NH House Republican Immigration Reform Caucus.

And Governor Lynch - AWOL on this issue.

These bills have been introduced by Renzullo, Ulery, and Buhlman, all from District 27 - Hudson, Pelham, Litchfield.

Viva America!!

How about Executive Councilor Ray Burton employing a convicted child molester for years? He's been getting off the hook, especially from the leaders we send to Washington City. Could it be because of his special orientation?

Liberal Fundamentalists Preaching

--- by Micheal Shackelford:

What stood out as noteworthy in the otherwise over-scripted confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts, was how often the word "fundamental" was being uttered by Democratic Senators.

Senator Biden (D-DE) repeatedly agonized about a citizen's "fundamental right to die." Senator Leahy (D-VT) spoke proudly of being "protective of our fundamental rights and liberties," as well as fundamental rights of all Americans. Senator Durbin (D-IL) also spoke of an unalterable "fundamental right of privacy".

Nowadays, "fundamentalism" is touted as a bad thing (from the left's point of view). Fundamentalists are cultists, extremists and bombers. Yet why were so many Democratic Senators preaching to Judge Roberts about the need for standing firm on fundamentals?

The term "fundamentalism" began in the early 20th century as a reaction against liberal modernism in churches, which allowed just about any teaching as true. For instance, that Jesus might not have really existed, but was just a spiritual mythic character, that the Bible was just moral stories, that the real center of the universe was to be found "within", etc. A segment of Christendom rebelled against the modernist slide into relativism and drew a line in the sand. They stated that some things could not be watered down and redefined to suit a whim de jour. Things like: Jesus did live, was born of a virgin, performed real miracles, died and rose again, were not negotiable. They were "fundamental" beliefs. Hence, a fundamental Christian was not a cultist, or an extremist, but one who held to those fundamental beliefs.

From their recent heavy use of the word, the many Democratic Senators do clearly understand the original meaning of the word fundamental. They are worrying out loud about the possible erosion of liberalism's fundamental doctrinal points -- espeically the sovereignty of Self. They were demanding liberal fundamentalism of Judge Roberts.

Apparently it's not so bad to be a fundamentalist, as long as you're the kind they like.

Democrats House Divided

--- by Micheal Shackelford:

The recent split in the AFL-CIO had Democratic pundits agonizing about how such a labor split hurts the traditional Democratic (labor) base. How can they hope to win the White House when their own house is divided? What the noisier Dems fail to see, is that they've been a house divided for a long long time.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeny said, "...at a time when our corporate and conservative adversaries have created the most powerful anti-worker political machine in the history of our country, a divided movement hurts the hopes of working families for a better life." Sweeny speaks in predictable terms of working families vs. corporate adversaries, but his insertion of the word "conservative" is telling. Can't a working family be conservative?

Back in the heat of the 2004 Presidential campaigns, liberal author Thomas Frank wrote a book entitled "What's wrong with Kansas?" In it, Frank is befuddled over why Kansas, a state with much farm and labor interest, would repeatedly vote Republican. "Why would voters not support the party (Democrats) who are trying to help them?" Frank's own puzzlement stems from the fact that the Democratic Party has suffered from a multiple personality disorder since the 60s and 70s.

When the Democratic Party decided to make itself the champion of liberal modernism issues, they gave themselves multiple agenda, which do not necessarily mesh. The high-profile Democrats have been most vocal over advocating Gay Rights, Affirmative Action and Abortion. This is what they most often want to be seen as. The Democratic Party likes to tout themselves as the environmental watchdogs and advocates for global peace (even if Chamberlainesque), not to mention the zeal for removing all religion from the state.

Their trouble was (is) that they assumed that farmers and working families HAD to share those new liberal agendas. The past two Presidential elections have suggested otherwise. A working man might feel that gay marriage undercuts traditional marriage. He might be a devout church goer. A working woman could well be pro-life. A working family might feel that "tree-huggers" are making more trouble than they're helping. Working families, especially those with soldier sons and daughters in Iraq, just might feel the war needs to be fought.

But, the Democrat leadership continues to beat their liberal agenda drums very loudly. The whole tempest over Supreme Court nominee Roberts is centered around whether he'll be pro-Abortion or not. The drum for workers' rights is conspicuously silent.

Maybe there isn't anything "wrong" with Kansas. Perhaps the 'something wrong' is that the Democratic Party has (for too long) presumed that laboring folks must be social liberals too. 2004 strongly suggested that they might not.

The Purple Myth

--- by Micheal Shackelford:
The 2004 Presidential election revealed that the 50-50 divide of the nation into Red America and Blue America was still there. Zero "healing" had taken place since 2000. Some, eager to try and show that the split was not real, but some media myth, substituted the now-familiar red-blue map with one composed of shades of purple. (such as this one: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/countymaplinearlarge.png)

The attempt to show America as one "purple" nation was a nice try, but only a hopeful myth. America does not have a continuum of political parties from Far Right, through Medium Right, Partially Left to Hard Left. We have only two real political parties. Only one person wins the presidency. The parties themselves do not seek accommodation or reconcilliation, but only hegonomy.

The split is not confined to party hacks. Angry Blue citizens threatened to move to Canada or France rather than live in "Bush's" America -- as if it were a distinct and separate country from their vision of a Blue America. Angry Blues growl about "Emperor Bush" and bombast about "Criminal Bush" needing to be thrown in jail, for just about any policy they dislike.

It doesn't appear that the Blue half has been too interested in healing. With the Supreme Court nomination hearings for Judge Roberts, we see the same Red/Blue split being acted out in carefully written speeches. Zero healing is evident. Both the Red and Blue continue to push for all-or-nothing total control. Blue champions like Senators Kennedy and Feinstein worry aloud that Roberts might damage their (blue) America. Perhaps they are quietly admitting that judicial activism is about the only tool left to the Democrats, since they've lost the congress and whitehouse. Their dramatic angst over judicial precedent reads as little but angst over the precedents that support Blue America.

There is little sign of true purple. Red and Blue are as pure and strong and divided as ever. The rhetoric for 2008 is already cranking up. The nation is headed for a repeat of the divisive battles of 2000 and 2004. Since no one is offering a middle ground -- a purple -- we're stuck with red, blue, anger and division.