By Ron Dupuis
Dear Diary;
I realize that it’s been a few months since making my last entry, however I’m sure you understand that I turn to you, Dear Diary, in order to vent when troubled and concerned. Unlike some of my Democratic friends, you never judge me or criticize my way of thinking. By exposing your blank pages and allowing me to enter my inner most thoughts and feelings, you provide a therapeutic release that I fail to find in any other venue. In addition to that, Dear, Dear Diary, you provide some inane, innocuous, literary foam peanut filler, for a column that I find difficult to compose at this particular moment in time. For that, I thank you.
Trouble and Concerns.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is the prime sponsor of legislation meant to pull the wool over the electorate’s eyes. Introducing an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would grant amnesty for millions of illegal aliens is the most arrogant form of chicanery ever designed to sneak pass an unsuspecting public. Granted, this is a scaled down version of the good Senators original “Dream Act” legislation that was defeated back in 2003, however, it still grants green card status to millions of illegal students AND their parents. Attaching it as an amendment to the important defense authorization legislation is a transparent maneuver often used by House and Senate members that really don’t care, or are unaware of the American public’s desires. Most Americans, both for and against amnesty feel that in order to resolve this issue the borders must be, first and foremost, controlled. Then, and only then, should the Senate and House discuss the possibility of amnesty.
More Trouble and Concerns.
I made a trip to the State House this week to visit some friends that I had served with in the Legislature and to get a feeling as to what was going on. I wasn’t surprised to learn that the buzz words of the day were “parental notification”.
As you know Dear Diary, I make no secret about being pro-life. Abortion, to me, is a despicable, barbaric procedure that stops a heart beat and ends a life. That being said, I feel it is necessary to keep the word “abortion” out of any discussion concerning parental notification.
I try to convince abortion proponents to imagine their fourteen year old daughter entering an emergency room or clinic and asking for an appendectomy, or a tonsillectomy. Better still, imagine that same off-spring going in and asking for a simple flue shot, or just a band-aid. There isn’t a hospital, a doctor or a nurse in the country that would accommodate her because of the age factor. Why is it suddenly different with a young pregnant girl?
Abortion proponents will tell you that by opposing parental notification they are protecting an assault on Roe vs. Wade and a women’s right to choose. In addition to that they will have you believe that most parental notification legislation passed in this country leaves out a “health of the Mother exception”. All that means is that a physician would be allowed to perform an invasive, dangerous procedure on a minor child without first notifying the parents if in fact that minor child says the right things (I’ll kill myself if I give birth to this baby). On both counts abortion proponents are wrong. Parental notification is not an assault on Roe v Wade, but instead a defense for an assault on parental rights. As far as a “health of the Mother exception” I challenge everyone to seek out a hospital or physician that would allow a young patient to die because they could not reach a parent or guardian. I know I couldn’t.
Well Dear Diary, that’s it for now. I hope that the next entry I feel necessary to make will be somewhat lighter and a little more humorous. Till then, I thank you for your time, patience, and understanding.
Sincerely
Ron, (I’m secure enough in my masculinity to keep a DIARY) Dupuis
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
9.30.2007
9.25.2007
GOVERNMENT ON THE SNEAK
By Dave Buhlman
When a government is operating in the shadows to institute dramatic changes in government activity and structure, it is time to accept that the American people are simply no longer an important part of the equation in decision making.
In early September, the first Mexican truck rolled over the border en route to North Carolina. The permission for this was given by an obscure federal bureaucracy based on alleged agreements in the 1993 law (not treaty) known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) signed by President Bill Clinton. NAFTA was the source of Ross Perot’s “giant sucking sound” comment during the 1992 presidential campaign. Perot rightly predicted that NAFTA would cause a major loss of American jobs. A US senator has put in an amendment to end this practice because Mexican trucks and drivers are not subjected to anywhere near what is require for America-based trucks and truck drivers. That’s good news, and it might pass. But the Mex-truck pushers will be back another day. They never give up.
Back in June, the amnesty bill supported by President Bush, Senators McCain and Kennedy, and other proponents of illegal immigration, such as the racist La Raza, was defeated in the Senate after a major effort by regular Americans, led by pro-law groups such as ALIPAC. American citizens were forced to call, fax, beg and plead with their US Senators not to condone this lawbreaking. But now the DREAM amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill
seeks to institute what they could not get in June via the back door, sneaky maneuver of a non-germane amendment. Big business wants amnesty and the Senate is being bent and twisted again to get it for them. The DREAM amendment may be defeated, but the forces of lawlessness will be back again to institute amnesty for illegal immigrants, with no shame.
In mid-September, President Bush was asked a question about the setting up of the Security and Prosperity Partnership/North American Union. He ridiculed the “conspiracy” mongers who believe in this, while his administration is going full bore to implement it. There have been numerous meetings of bureaucrats from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, for the purpose of streamlining the thousands of bureaucratic rules of the three countries in order to make melding them together and erasing the borders easier. Maybe President Bush also still believes that mountains of WMDs were found in Iraq.
About six months ago, congressional hearings were held to uncover the predatory lending procedures put in place by most banks. This is where, based on the gift Congress gave to the financial emperors a couple of years ago in the Bankruptcy reform bill, banks are allowed to charge usurious interest rates on credit cards. These rates can kick in even if the borrower’s record with that particular institution is flawless. The banks are allowed (encouraged?) to forage through our financial records for some minor failure, somewhere, with someone and use this as a basis to boost the rates to twenty to thirty percent or more. When loan sharks do this they are prosecuted for charging high rates known as vigorish (the vig). Too bad loan sharks don’t have better lobbyists in Congress. There was supposed to be a bill put in to get the greedy lenders under control, but that hasn’t quite happened yet. Maybe after Congress gets finished selling us out to amnesty, they’ll get this bill done and signed into law. Or, maybe not.
Dave Buhlman is a published author, a former N.H. State Rep. and a Weekly contributer to IMHO-NH
When a government is operating in the shadows to institute dramatic changes in government activity and structure, it is time to accept that the American people are simply no longer an important part of the equation in decision making.
In early September, the first Mexican truck rolled over the border en route to North Carolina. The permission for this was given by an obscure federal bureaucracy based on alleged agreements in the 1993 law (not treaty) known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) signed by President Bill Clinton. NAFTA was the source of Ross Perot’s “giant sucking sound” comment during the 1992 presidential campaign. Perot rightly predicted that NAFTA would cause a major loss of American jobs. A US senator has put in an amendment to end this practice because Mexican trucks and drivers are not subjected to anywhere near what is require for America-based trucks and truck drivers. That’s good news, and it might pass. But the Mex-truck pushers will be back another day. They never give up.
Back in June, the amnesty bill supported by President Bush, Senators McCain and Kennedy, and other proponents of illegal immigration, such as the racist La Raza, was defeated in the Senate after a major effort by regular Americans, led by pro-law groups such as ALIPAC. American citizens were forced to call, fax, beg and plead with their US Senators not to condone this lawbreaking. But now the DREAM amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill
seeks to institute what they could not get in June via the back door, sneaky maneuver of a non-germane amendment. Big business wants amnesty and the Senate is being bent and twisted again to get it for them. The DREAM amendment may be defeated, but the forces of lawlessness will be back again to institute amnesty for illegal immigrants, with no shame.
In mid-September, President Bush was asked a question about the setting up of the Security and Prosperity Partnership/North American Union. He ridiculed the “conspiracy” mongers who believe in this, while his administration is going full bore to implement it. There have been numerous meetings of bureaucrats from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, for the purpose of streamlining the thousands of bureaucratic rules of the three countries in order to make melding them together and erasing the borders easier. Maybe President Bush also still believes that mountains of WMDs were found in Iraq.
About six months ago, congressional hearings were held to uncover the predatory lending procedures put in place by most banks. This is where, based on the gift Congress gave to the financial emperors a couple of years ago in the Bankruptcy reform bill, banks are allowed to charge usurious interest rates on credit cards. These rates can kick in even if the borrower’s record with that particular institution is flawless. The banks are allowed (encouraged?) to forage through our financial records for some minor failure, somewhere, with someone and use this as a basis to boost the rates to twenty to thirty percent or more. When loan sharks do this they are prosecuted for charging high rates known as vigorish (the vig). Too bad loan sharks don’t have better lobbyists in Congress. There was supposed to be a bill put in to get the greedy lenders under control, but that hasn’t quite happened yet. Maybe after Congress gets finished selling us out to amnesty, they’ll get this bill done and signed into law. Or, maybe not.
Dave Buhlman is a published author, a former N.H. State Rep. and a Weekly contributer to IMHO-NH
9.21.2007
Tech-savy daughter trumps woes
By Ron Dupuis
Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything that is expensive to replace or repair breaks down? The Dupuis household has not been a very happy place for the last few days and the cause, in my humble opinion, is that some time in the past I upset the deity of modern mechanical wonders and he is attacking me with a vengeance that only my cardiologist and pharmacist can appreciate.
I had just written a check to my daughters’ orthodontist for what surely must be the first year’s college tuition for his offspring. Needless to say my mood was somewhat somber when I answered the phone. My wife has a cell that only relays what information it wants so we have learned to speak in short informative laden code.
“Blowout, all o.k., repaired, $212, heading home”, click.
Great! That cost and the price of a sorely needed new cell phone for my wife would bring the total to about $300. I decided to ingest two “happy pills” so graciously prescribed for such situations by my doctor.
Two days later I found myself in the basement trying to resolve the mystery of cold water showers. After a cursory glance at all the electrical connections and gauges, and having no knowledge what so ever of hot water heaters, I determined it would be best to make an appointment with a plumber. Notice I said “make an appointment.” You don’t just call a plumber; you “make an appointment” as if he were a lawyer or doctor. Better still, an orthodontist. When paying the final plumbing bill, I was not surprised to learn that he had a son who attended the same Ivy League collage as the offspring of my daughter’s aforementioned orthodontist.
Go figure!!
The final piece de resistance.
The rest of the week was spent fiddling with a spare refrigerator that refused to keep anything cold, tinkering with a cd player that decided to no longer play music, and probing a lawn tractor that emitted so much smoke that the neighbors thought I was spraying for mosquitoes.
A few “happy pills” later and I was ready to sit at my computer in order to catch up on some research and write my column. Unfortunately the Gods of modern mechanical wonders had a different plan.
Computers are a marvelous invention. They take us places we have never been, teach us things we never would have dreamed of learning, and allow us to expand our universe in such a way as to give us the tools to achieve goals far beyond our wildest imagination. That is, computers owned and operated by any one other than me.
“Casey” I hollered.
“Casey” I shouted again. “My computer won’t turn on.”
“Do you mean it won’t boot up” she asked?
“Yes, that’s what I mean” I said meekly.
“Be right there Dad” my thirteen year old responded. “As soon as I finish fixing this cd player.”
After a few queries as to what happened prior to the malfunction and a few seconds of dancing fingers across the keyboard she was ready for the prognosis.
“Well it seems not to be a backlight failure, and if it was just the TFT’s we would be seeing something.” “I’m pretty sure the on board processor is unable to parse the RGB correctly.”
“Speak English please” I moaned.
“Your monitor is broken” was the response.
“Please don’t say that. I have things to do. Hillary is introducing her new health care plan today. The Fed is adjusting interest rates. “What will happen if I don’t get to read Drudge before noon?”
“Or check out the Red Sox home page” she interjected.
“Don’t be fresh.” “I need my computer, and I need it now” I whined.
Telling me that this may be a good time to take one of my happy pills my daughter slipped into the basement only to return in less that a minute with an old computer monitor of a bygone era..
She declared “This will work” and within a couple of minutes I was back in business.
The Gods are no longer harassing me. Hillary’s health care plan is a bomb, interest rates are coming down, and Drudge is running is running an expose on fund raising. Coupled with the Red Sox starting to win again and me having the most wonderful, understanding, talented, loving daughter in the entire world, I can truly say that life is good again.
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
Have you ever had one of those weeks where everything that is expensive to replace or repair breaks down? The Dupuis household has not been a very happy place for the last few days and the cause, in my humble opinion, is that some time in the past I upset the deity of modern mechanical wonders and he is attacking me with a vengeance that only my cardiologist and pharmacist can appreciate.
I had just written a check to my daughters’ orthodontist for what surely must be the first year’s college tuition for his offspring. Needless to say my mood was somewhat somber when I answered the phone. My wife has a cell that only relays what information it wants so we have learned to speak in short informative laden code.
“Blowout, all o.k., repaired, $212, heading home”, click.
Great! That cost and the price of a sorely needed new cell phone for my wife would bring the total to about $300. I decided to ingest two “happy pills” so graciously prescribed for such situations by my doctor.
Two days later I found myself in the basement trying to resolve the mystery of cold water showers. After a cursory glance at all the electrical connections and gauges, and having no knowledge what so ever of hot water heaters, I determined it would be best to make an appointment with a plumber. Notice I said “make an appointment.” You don’t just call a plumber; you “make an appointment” as if he were a lawyer or doctor. Better still, an orthodontist. When paying the final plumbing bill, I was not surprised to learn that he had a son who attended the same Ivy League collage as the offspring of my daughter’s aforementioned orthodontist.
Go figure!!
The final piece de resistance.
The rest of the week was spent fiddling with a spare refrigerator that refused to keep anything cold, tinkering with a cd player that decided to no longer play music, and probing a lawn tractor that emitted so much smoke that the neighbors thought I was spraying for mosquitoes.
A few “happy pills” later and I was ready to sit at my computer in order to catch up on some research and write my column. Unfortunately the Gods of modern mechanical wonders had a different plan.
Computers are a marvelous invention. They take us places we have never been, teach us things we never would have dreamed of learning, and allow us to expand our universe in such a way as to give us the tools to achieve goals far beyond our wildest imagination. That is, computers owned and operated by any one other than me.
“Casey” I hollered.
“Casey” I shouted again. “My computer won’t turn on.”
“Do you mean it won’t boot up” she asked?
“Yes, that’s what I mean” I said meekly.
“Be right there Dad” my thirteen year old responded. “As soon as I finish fixing this cd player.”
After a few queries as to what happened prior to the malfunction and a few seconds of dancing fingers across the keyboard she was ready for the prognosis.
“Well it seems not to be a backlight failure, and if it was just the TFT’s we would be seeing something.” “I’m pretty sure the on board processor is unable to parse the RGB correctly.”
“Speak English please” I moaned.
“Your monitor is broken” was the response.
“Please don’t say that. I have things to do. Hillary is introducing her new health care plan today. The Fed is adjusting interest rates. “What will happen if I don’t get to read Drudge before noon?”
“Or check out the Red Sox home page” she interjected.
“Don’t be fresh.” “I need my computer, and I need it now” I whined.
Telling me that this may be a good time to take one of my happy pills my daughter slipped into the basement only to return in less that a minute with an old computer monitor of a bygone era..
She declared “This will work” and within a couple of minutes I was back in business.
The Gods are no longer harassing me. Hillary’s health care plan is a bomb, interest rates are coming down, and Drudge is running is running an expose on fund raising. Coupled with the Red Sox starting to win again and me having the most wonderful, understanding, talented, loving daughter in the entire world, I can truly say that life is good again.
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
9.18.2007
LEGITIMACY??
By Dave Buhlman
The popularity ratings for both President Bush and the US Congress among Americans are at near record lows. With these low numbers, it's reasonable to question the legitimacy of the politicians in Washington, DC to govern us.
When things get this bad in a parliamentary system, such as in England, there would be a no confidence vote in Parliament and, if successful, new elections would be called. We don't have a parliamentary system here so that won't happen, nor should it. The system set up in the Constitution is the best form of government, although it's too often ignored by our Solons on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. We could improve it by rescinding the Seventeenth Amendment that allowed for the popular election of US Senators. Before the elite-dominated push for this amendment, US Senators were appointed by the state legislatures, which conferred significant power in the hands of elected state officials who are much closer to the people they serve. With the passage of the Seventeenth, power began to move from the state legislatures to the federal government, and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments became largely ignored. These amendments made clear that the sovereign states retained all of the powers not delegated to the federal government in the Constitution. Now there's virtually nothing that does not involve some type of federal help/intrusion.
Congress is now trying to pass an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants, funding for the Department of Defense, a bill that would prevent employers from not hiring/firing homosexuals, handing over the oceans to the control of the nutty United Nations, and other issues that have significant implications for life in America. But with poll ratings this low, the legitimacy of this government to pass additional rules on the rest of us is severely compromised.
So, although Congress and the president can't be replaced via a new vote by the people, they ought to at least restrain themselves from doing more damage. What they should be concentrating on under these circumstances is combing through all of the thousands of laws now on the books and voting to rescind many of them. They could give a thorough look also at dismantling much of the federal bureaucracy. These would be most worthwhile endeavors, which would benefit Americans, so, of course, they will never happen.
The popularity ratings for both President Bush and the US Congress among Americans are at near record lows. With these low numbers, it's reasonable to question the legitimacy of the politicians in Washington, DC to govern us.
When things get this bad in a parliamentary system, such as in England, there would be a no confidence vote in Parliament and, if successful, new elections would be called. We don't have a parliamentary system here so that won't happen, nor should it. The system set up in the Constitution is the best form of government, although it's too often ignored by our Solons on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. We could improve it by rescinding the Seventeenth Amendment that allowed for the popular election of US Senators. Before the elite-dominated push for this amendment, US Senators were appointed by the state legislatures, which conferred significant power in the hands of elected state officials who are much closer to the people they serve. With the passage of the Seventeenth, power began to move from the state legislatures to the federal government, and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments became largely ignored. These amendments made clear that the sovereign states retained all of the powers not delegated to the federal government in the Constitution. Now there's virtually nothing that does not involve some type of federal help/intrusion.
Congress is now trying to pass an amnesty bill for illegal immigrants, funding for the Department of Defense, a bill that would prevent employers from not hiring/firing homosexuals, handing over the oceans to the control of the nutty United Nations, and other issues that have significant implications for life in America. But with poll ratings this low, the legitimacy of this government to pass additional rules on the rest of us is severely compromised.
So, although Congress and the president can't be replaced via a new vote by the people, they ought to at least restrain themselves from doing more damage. What they should be concentrating on under these circumstances is combing through all of the thousands of laws now on the books and voting to rescind many of them. They could give a thorough look also at dismantling much of the federal bureaucracy. These would be most worthwhile endeavors, which would benefit Americans, so, of course, they will never happen.
9.14.2007
Bad Dreams
By Ron Dupuis
I love chili. I love it with beef, I love it with chicken, I love it with beans, I love it with any other exotic ingredient that would compliment the robust flavor of four or five delicately prepared chili pods. I once enjoyed a delicious pungent bowl made with BEAR meat. It’s no wonder that for the last several years I have attended the annual Seacoast Republican Woman’s Chile Feast held at the home of our local first family of politics, Stella and Doug Scamman.
I enjoyed my first serving standing under the big tent set up with about twenty picnic tables “out by the barn.” Early guest began to arrive consisting of Republican Party officials and major candidate’s supporters and handlers. Everyone was “glad-handing” each other and declaring how great it was to be a Republican. For some, I could see that, despite the smiles, their heart was just not in it. The Party, both locally and nationally, has been fractured. Although on the road to repair, some members feel, metaphorically, it is, at the very least “still in a cast.”
It began to rain so I moved inside the serving barn and enjoyed my second helping while sharing conversation with another local columnist of a competing publication. We resolved that both of us are under appreciated, under paid, and over edited by shadowy figures in the hierarchy of our individual “prints.”
I’m not sure if it was the particularly hot third bowl I was enjoying, or that God felt like a Democrat at that moment but suddenly the rain increased to what could only be described as a burst, followed by a wind so intense as to knock down a few trees and the dining tent as well. Chili was flying in all directions as people ran for the more secure permanent shelters. When the weather subsided to a more tolerable level, guests emerged to the outside and begin to attend to the business of the day, politics.
Senator Judd Greg gave a speech, as did Senator Sanunu. Gubernatorial candidate Senator Joe Kenney spoke for a few minutes, as did Jeb Bradley and John Stephens. Even Presidential hopeful and late comer Fred Thompson arrived and made a few promises. The subject matter was the same; “It is great being a Republican” and “Vote for me.” All the while I was enjoying my fourth and fifth bowl of chili.
I didn’t sleep very well that evening.
I dreamt that the Republican Party never recovered and that Hillary Clinton became President.
It was a nightmare.
After choosing Barack Obama as her Vice President which propelled her to the Oval Office, she quickly dispatched him to some meaningless task in order to project the image that she, and she alone is in charge.
I dreamt that her first appointment was naming A.C.L.U. President Nadine Strossen as Attorney General. “We need someone to protect the rule of law and the rights of terrorist here and all over the world.” “Nadine has the experience to accomplish just that.”
I dreamt that she appointed George Soros of “Move On” fame as Secretary or State. “We need a rational, unbiased person in that position” was her statement.
I dreamt that she appointed actors Tim Robbins and current companion Susan Sarandon as Ambassadors to Iran and Iraq respectively. “They’d represent the average Americans opinion and beside they make a cute couple.”
Finally I dreamt that President Hillary appointed screaming Howard Dean as Secretary of Health and Human Service’s. She stated “we need more family planning clinics, and Howard is just the man to accomplish the task.”
I woke up in a cold sweat with two thoughts running through my head; the Republican Party is still fractured and better get its collective act together or my dreams may come true, AND the Seacoast Republican Women with Doug and Stella should consider some other kind of event next year.
Perhaps an “Oatmeal Festival.”
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
I love chili. I love it with beef, I love it with chicken, I love it with beans, I love it with any other exotic ingredient that would compliment the robust flavor of four or five delicately prepared chili pods. I once enjoyed a delicious pungent bowl made with BEAR meat. It’s no wonder that for the last several years I have attended the annual Seacoast Republican Woman’s Chile Feast held at the home of our local first family of politics, Stella and Doug Scamman.
I enjoyed my first serving standing under the big tent set up with about twenty picnic tables “out by the barn.” Early guest began to arrive consisting of Republican Party officials and major candidate’s supporters and handlers. Everyone was “glad-handing” each other and declaring how great it was to be a Republican. For some, I could see that, despite the smiles, their heart was just not in it. The Party, both locally and nationally, has been fractured. Although on the road to repair, some members feel, metaphorically, it is, at the very least “still in a cast.”
It began to rain so I moved inside the serving barn and enjoyed my second helping while sharing conversation with another local columnist of a competing publication. We resolved that both of us are under appreciated, under paid, and over edited by shadowy figures in the hierarchy of our individual “prints.”
I’m not sure if it was the particularly hot third bowl I was enjoying, or that God felt like a Democrat at that moment but suddenly the rain increased to what could only be described as a burst, followed by a wind so intense as to knock down a few trees and the dining tent as well. Chili was flying in all directions as people ran for the more secure permanent shelters. When the weather subsided to a more tolerable level, guests emerged to the outside and begin to attend to the business of the day, politics.
Senator Judd Greg gave a speech, as did Senator Sanunu. Gubernatorial candidate Senator Joe Kenney spoke for a few minutes, as did Jeb Bradley and John Stephens. Even Presidential hopeful and late comer Fred Thompson arrived and made a few promises. The subject matter was the same; “It is great being a Republican” and “Vote for me.” All the while I was enjoying my fourth and fifth bowl of chili.
I didn’t sleep very well that evening.
I dreamt that the Republican Party never recovered and that Hillary Clinton became President.
It was a nightmare.
After choosing Barack Obama as her Vice President which propelled her to the Oval Office, she quickly dispatched him to some meaningless task in order to project the image that she, and she alone is in charge.
I dreamt that her first appointment was naming A.C.L.U. President Nadine Strossen as Attorney General. “We need someone to protect the rule of law and the rights of terrorist here and all over the world.” “Nadine has the experience to accomplish just that.”
I dreamt that she appointed George Soros of “Move On” fame as Secretary or State. “We need a rational, unbiased person in that position” was her statement.
I dreamt that she appointed actors Tim Robbins and current companion Susan Sarandon as Ambassadors to Iran and Iraq respectively. “They’d represent the average Americans opinion and beside they make a cute couple.”
Finally I dreamt that President Hillary appointed screaming Howard Dean as Secretary of Health and Human Service’s. She stated “we need more family planning clinics, and Howard is just the man to accomplish the task.”
I woke up in a cold sweat with two thoughts running through my head; the Republican Party is still fractured and better get its collective act together or my dreams may come true, AND the Seacoast Republican Women with Doug and Stella should consider some other kind of event next year.
Perhaps an “Oatmeal Festival.”
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
9.11.2007
Balancing memory and future
---by Micheal
On this sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we're approaching a post-tragedy turning point. Most people don't live in their grief forever. Some take an unhealthy turn, becoming absorbed by the grief. The tragedy defines them, becomes them.
I know a couple of divorced women. They talk about their divorced situations a lot, and about their ex-husbands more than any other person in their lives. Divorce defines them. Years ago, I worked with a young jewish guy for whom the Holocaust was THE defining moment. To be a Jew, for him, was to be a victim, even though he was two generations too young for that. Never mind about being God's chosen people. Holocaust was all. Similarly, there are Afro-Americans who still see themselves primarily as former slaves.
It's just not healthy to surrender your future -- to define yourself by a past event. I wondered if America (collectively) was going to become the perpetual terrorist sufferer. America: Land of the victim.
Happily, it doesn't seem so. This year, we're past that psychologically weightier 5th anniversary mark. People seem ready to look towards the future. They're not forgetting, like a toddler with a short attention span, but they're not wallowing in it either.
America has been subtly changed by the event. We're not simply lapsing back into exactly what we were on September 10th 2001. Terror attacks have become accepted as a perpetual possibility. We've moved beyond the jittery Chicken Little phase. Even that silly publicity stunt gone awry in Boston last year showed that we've determined to go on working, building, producing rather than run screaming.
If this 6th anniversary of 9/11 seems less intense, it's not that we're forgetting. We're getting stronger.
On this sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we're approaching a post-tragedy turning point. Most people don't live in their grief forever. Some take an unhealthy turn, becoming absorbed by the grief. The tragedy defines them, becomes them.
I know a couple of divorced women. They talk about their divorced situations a lot, and about their ex-husbands more than any other person in their lives. Divorce defines them. Years ago, I worked with a young jewish guy for whom the Holocaust was THE defining moment. To be a Jew, for him, was to be a victim, even though he was two generations too young for that. Never mind about being God's chosen people. Holocaust was all. Similarly, there are Afro-Americans who still see themselves primarily as former slaves.
It's just not healthy to surrender your future -- to define yourself by a past event. I wondered if America (collectively) was going to become the perpetual terrorist sufferer. America: Land of the victim.
Happily, it doesn't seem so. This year, we're past that psychologically weightier 5th anniversary mark. People seem ready to look towards the future. They're not forgetting, like a toddler with a short attention span, but they're not wallowing in it either.
America has been subtly changed by the event. We're not simply lapsing back into exactly what we were on September 10th 2001. Terror attacks have become accepted as a perpetual possibility. We've moved beyond the jittery Chicken Little phase. Even that silly publicity stunt gone awry in Boston last year showed that we've determined to go on working, building, producing rather than run screaming.
If this 6th anniversary of 9/11 seems less intense, it's not that we're forgetting. We're getting stronger.
9.07.2007
Meet the Republicans
By Ron Dupuis
For those of you who feel that this column is written by a totally right winged, biased radical Republican, let me open this week using the same exact paragraph as last time, with one small exception; the word DEMOCRAT has been replaced by the word REPUBLICAN.
“They’re everywhere. Like a mosquito buzzing around your head before landing and draining the life sustaining blood from your body. Don’t get me wrong. It is not only a boon to our economy but also a tremendous honor for New Hampshire to be first in the nation when it comes to the process of electing a President. Most of our million or so residents take it very, very seriously. It’s just that there comes a point in time when men and women with inflated egos from all over America come here, in the beginning, merely to introduce themselves and ask us what we are looking for in a candidate. They then suddenly morph into a pushy, pandering politician, willing to say and do anything to get your vote. That “point in time” is quickly approaching. Let me give you the IMHO opinion on some of the boot licking glade-handers that may be the next President of the United States. This week, the REPUBLICANS.”
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas; A hard working professional politician who’s expertise seems to be in the farming and agricultural field. He may be an excellent choice for someone as Vice President, however his chances of winning the primary here in New Hampshire are next too nothing.
Congressmen Tom Tancredo of Colorado; Despite all of us owing a debt of gratitude for bringing the immigration issue to the forefront of the primary debate, Tancredo remains a one issue candidate and will drop out around mid February.
Duncan Hunter, Congressmen from California; A popular man by all standards and a great friend of the military. Hunter just does not seem strong enough here in the east. Again, a drop out by mid February.
Cong. Ron Paul; Not a real Republican but instead a Libertarian who has been elected from Texas ten different times .Congressman Paul is an isolationist in the Pat Buchanan sense of the word and despite his cult like following will never be elected to serve in the oval office.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona; If you look up the word “pandering” in the dictionary there should be a picture of Sen. McCain. The campaign is essentially over here in New Hampshire for the good Senator.
America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani; If there wasn’t a picture of McCain when you looked up pandering, there must have been a picture of “America’s mayor”. He has a glad handed, “How ya’ doin’, self promoting, arrogant style that’s beginning to wear a little thin according to most of the undecided voters I’ve spoken with. If indeed he ever captures the Republican nomination, and his chances are pretty fair that he could, and if by chance Sen. Clinton and her husband are his opponents, he will be trounced in the Fritz Mondale fashion.
Gov. Mitt Romney; The former Governor of the Republic of Massachusetts by most standards could be a very attractive national candidate. In New Hampshire he does however have some problems. His patrician persona seems to disconnect with New Hampshire’s predominantly blue collar electorate. In addition to that, his perceived flip flop, whether real or not, on major issues will cost him a number of votes in our state.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas; is an unassuming man of humble roots. A successful Republican Governor in a predominately Democratic state, Gov Huckabee is perhaps the most engaging, articulate, down to earth candidate out of the whole bunch and by far and away my favorite contender. If voters made a list, as they should do, of all their concerns and issues, they will find that Mike Huckabee has a clear and concise thought as to how he would address each and every one of them. And besides, how can you not love a candidate who picks up a guitar and plays old time rock and roll at his rallies?
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
For those of you who feel that this column is written by a totally right winged, biased radical Republican, let me open this week using the same exact paragraph as last time, with one small exception; the word DEMOCRAT has been replaced by the word REPUBLICAN.
“They’re everywhere. Like a mosquito buzzing around your head before landing and draining the life sustaining blood from your body. Don’t get me wrong. It is not only a boon to our economy but also a tremendous honor for New Hampshire to be first in the nation when it comes to the process of electing a President. Most of our million or so residents take it very, very seriously. It’s just that there comes a point in time when men and women with inflated egos from all over America come here, in the beginning, merely to introduce themselves and ask us what we are looking for in a candidate. They then suddenly morph into a pushy, pandering politician, willing to say and do anything to get your vote. That “point in time” is quickly approaching. Let me give you the IMHO opinion on some of the boot licking glade-handers that may be the next President of the United States. This week, the REPUBLICANS.”
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas; A hard working professional politician who’s expertise seems to be in the farming and agricultural field. He may be an excellent choice for someone as Vice President, however his chances of winning the primary here in New Hampshire are next too nothing.
Congressmen Tom Tancredo of Colorado; Despite all of us owing a debt of gratitude for bringing the immigration issue to the forefront of the primary debate, Tancredo remains a one issue candidate and will drop out around mid February.
Duncan Hunter, Congressmen from California; A popular man by all standards and a great friend of the military. Hunter just does not seem strong enough here in the east. Again, a drop out by mid February.
Cong. Ron Paul; Not a real Republican but instead a Libertarian who has been elected from Texas ten different times .Congressman Paul is an isolationist in the Pat Buchanan sense of the word and despite his cult like following will never be elected to serve in the oval office.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona; If you look up the word “pandering” in the dictionary there should be a picture of Sen. McCain. The campaign is essentially over here in New Hampshire for the good Senator.
America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani; If there wasn’t a picture of McCain when you looked up pandering, there must have been a picture of “America’s mayor”. He has a glad handed, “How ya’ doin’, self promoting, arrogant style that’s beginning to wear a little thin according to most of the undecided voters I’ve spoken with. If indeed he ever captures the Republican nomination, and his chances are pretty fair that he could, and if by chance Sen. Clinton and her husband are his opponents, he will be trounced in the Fritz Mondale fashion.
Gov. Mitt Romney; The former Governor of the Republic of Massachusetts by most standards could be a very attractive national candidate. In New Hampshire he does however have some problems. His patrician persona seems to disconnect with New Hampshire’s predominantly blue collar electorate. In addition to that, his perceived flip flop, whether real or not, on major issues will cost him a number of votes in our state.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas; is an unassuming man of humble roots. A successful Republican Governor in a predominately Democratic state, Gov Huckabee is perhaps the most engaging, articulate, down to earth candidate out of the whole bunch and by far and away my favorite contender. If voters made a list, as they should do, of all their concerns and issues, they will find that Mike Huckabee has a clear and concise thought as to how he would address each and every one of them. And besides, how can you not love a candidate who picks up a guitar and plays old time rock and roll at his rallies?
Ron Dupuis is a long time New Hampshire resident, a former State Representative, and a freelance writer. His e-mail is drcdupuis@comcast.net and his blog where you can view other writings may be found at www.imho-nh.blogspot.com
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