Rudy comes to Gilford, NH – blogging a town meeting

Rudy wows ‘em in Gilford

Once again, the ‘Grok crew is at a Rudy event….this time in our own backyard of Gilford.  Being held at the Margate on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee ("the Big Lake"), it’s nice to have an event that working folks can come to.  Due to kick off at 6pm EDT, both the TMEW and I are in the back row (where there was electricity for the early birds – the NYT reporter that just came in [I remember him from the Rudy event in Nashua] and is scurrying for an outlet).

Room is already 1/2 filled at 5:45.  Given that this is a resort / vacation destination at this time of year, not bad at all.

As with all other places where I live blog, these will be rough notes.  Pics will have to wait, as I forgot the trusty digital camera.

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9 x 14 gives me a head count of about  126.   Now it is filling up fast. 

I’ve spotted several people from Gilford here, local Republicans (Dave Horvath, Jim Fizgerald).  Other spottings include Wayne Semprini, former Senator Bill Zeliff (I met both outside).  Ray Wieczorek from Manchester is seated behind and to my left..  None of the "dias" is filled as of yet.  Our friend Ed Engler from the Laconia Daily sun is here.

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6:00 Almost full…I see the suits running around so it must be close to starting time.  I’ve noticed that a lot of the faces that I am seeing are not the usual ones that we have been seeing at these types of events.  Rudy seems to be drawing a different kind of crowd – that might portend well for both the primary and the general election.  New faces may not translate to new votes, but it does represent new interest. 

Certainly the workers (paid and volunteers) are almost ALL wearing suits.  Many in the crowd are business casual or resort / dressed (take your pick).  Dais is now filled (really, just a row of chairs that will be looking at Rudy’s back).  Hopefully, the will announce them and I’ll try to catch as many as I can (the slow typist that I am)(can you tell that I like)(side)(comments?).

6:10pm    Still waiting.  Just aw Richard Juve from Meredith talking with Bill Zeliff chatting as if they are old friends.  This place is now packed!  ANd getting hot now that they’ve turned on the lights for the cameras.  Oy!  Now they are starting in with standing room only…pretty much maxing out the room.

My friend, Kevin Conroy who is a paid staffer for Rudy here in NH (thanks to him and to Katie Harbath for getting us in on the press credentials!) is running around like a mad man 

 Cell phone announcement just went over the PA….time to get started at 6:15pm

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Jim Fitzgerald is now intro-ing Rudy!   Lots of clapping with a standing "O".  Cheers, whistling abound. Literally everyone is standing.

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Wants to spend most his time taking questions……silence……about the Yankees.  Notes that they are 8 games behind the Red Sox.  

He is running because he feels this country want strong leadership with an optimistic outlook.  This is a country built on personal responsibility and nowhere better said than in NH with "Live Free Or Die".  Contrast that with the Dems with pesimssion and where they want big government / socialism where everyone has to be taken care of.

Socialized medicine in France – Rudy is reading Sarkozy’s book where Sarkozy want to move away from socialism.  Contrasts that with Obama and Hillary. Sensing from Rudy – "Some decisions are too important for you to make them" – he attributes to Hillary.  Michael Moore wants even more  – go to Cuba!

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America is best when each generation does better than the previous one – and that is achieved when people have more and more power – not the government.  That’s why lowering taxes makes sense – Dems believe they can spend it more wisely than the taxpayers….and that’s why they are wrong.

35% – 36% income rate increase if Dems take over.  Edwards wants to raise capital rate from 15% to 28%.  These people just don’t understand how private economies work.  Last time that it was done, Feds lost $40 billion bucks per year.

 

Dems – none have a single day of executive experience – running something substantial like a state, city, big business, or group.  They don’t have the knowledge of what the ramifcations are.  Capital will flee the country and the poor will have MANY less jobs to have.  

If healthcare becomes free, you will see how expensive it will become.  And how bad it will become – lines waiting for service.  Let’s use American principles to fix it.  Look at hi tech stuff – very big consumer prices, now cheap – TVs, cell phones, computers.  Free market fixed the quality and prices and not government help to buy one.  There is no government mandate involved in setting the price.  Lower prices means more customers.  And that’s what we need in healthcare.

Talks about his $15K tax deduction for a policy, keeping the difference between that and an insurance policy.  HAVE to create a marketplace like this to save healthcare.  Prices will fall, as those buying at 15 will drive it to 12K, to 10K, et

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Starting to take questions

Missed the first question, but is about helping adoptions.  He increased adoptions in NYC 135% by adjusting courts system, getting lawyers to do pro bono, did adoption fairs, did advertising via radio, tv, print.  Arranged for help for adopting families

 

Of all of the Repubs running – why you?

He has the most executive experience than ANY one else.  The job is beyond anyone…and if you think not, you don’t have enough humility.  He has more in the biggest than anyone and in difficult circumstances (like the day he took over) with 2000 murders a year, 1.1 mill welfar, slashed taxes by 25%, 60% wanted to leave.

He has been tested.  He was also an AG with a history going after corporate and drug crime.  Served as #3 in Reagan’s administration

He has the longest record – lots of wins but also some failures, which teaches humility.

He can also compete in every state…he is viable.

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Take on radical Islam, Iran, Iraq, and if Israel cede terrority to Palestinians?

Dems haven’t even mentioned radical Islam or other some such.  At one point, Dems said that N. Korea was number one threat, yet Islamic terrorists have killed people twice in NYC.  This is our number one enemy.  Not saying so is political correctness gone mad.  You have to name the enemy and you have to be on offense as they take advantage of a show of weakness.

Israel – the burden is ont he side of the Palestinians.  They ahve to show that they can control terrorism, that Israel has the right to exists, and tha tthe PA on the West Bank (Gaza is under Hamas) can move forward to be peaceful.  Israel is one of our 3 or 4 biggest friends in the world.  But we have to wait for that to happen, or we are back to Arafat days.

Obama missed the word "pre-condition" when he gave his answer.  Rudy said he studied history, and saw that meetings were cancelled when preconditions were not met.  Reagan, called them the Evil Empire,

 

China – has $400 billion in our bonds and a large trade deficit.

Rudy – to correct the balance was to sell them more things.  Not as worried about what we are buying  – we reap the benefits of low prices.  If we were more energy independant, we could sell them that (France is 80% nuke, we are 20% – we have coal and have better).  We could sell windmills to China at 2.5 mil each.  India is the same thing.

Both are at a lower of development than we are, but they want to reach our level.  We have what they need to get to us.  Let’s sell it – food efficient, acquiducts, sanitation.  DOn’t think of just "they are more than us" – think of how to sell higher priced stuff.  We are Americans – act

Next to last – our all voluhteer army is doig great – but getting over extended…. how fix, and what about a draft and include women.

He prefers volunteer and history shows we can have more.  After Vietnam was a draw down.  We should have 20 – 40,000 quickly and then expand now.  The Clinton cut armed forces and intelligence by 25% and it was a TERRIBLE mistake.  We have not rebuilt our forces.  Bush started but not completed

Given the nature of the threat, their job is much more complex – have to win a war and then win a peace in cultures that are not like those we have fought before.  He met with some in Iraq….how do you keep your moral up.  The answer is that we volunteer, and nobody’s forces us to be here.  We know why we hare here.  This is NOT Viet Nam 

We decided in the 90s that the world was peaceful and the military was not needed….just like after WWI, and WWII

 

A threat from within – both political parties are getting more extreme and politicians are egging each other on.  An executive leads, so how can you make it better?

I do not come from Washington.  He ran a gov’t that was 45 Dems and 6 Repubs.  He is a tough and determined guy, but he learned how to compromise to get compromise.  His model was Reagan – not ideological, but practical.  If he can get 60%, its a win.  80% a home run.

Example:  proposed 54….got 23. Horsetraded to give away to get the important ones.  Getting all your way will never happen.  How to give up so they get somehing to get what we want.  We need to get out of the personality conflicts.  Tax policy – it is not personal.  He wants parents to have vouchers, Dems want centralized gov’t schools.  He wants lower taxes, Dems want higher.  Hamilton and Burr didn’t do it any better.  Hamilton and Jefferson, not good – learn your history!