Finally, it was time for the Rockingham County Republican Committee Washington / Lincoln / Reagan Dinner’s keynote Speaker: US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).  One of the youngest of the US Senators, he is rumored to be pondering a move to  become part of the 2016 Presidential Primary and Campaign.  Thus, he is in great demand all over the country.  Here, he speaks of his upbringing, the risks that his parents made in fleeing from Cuba and coming to this country, and the basis of American Exceptionalism that allowed the child of a bartender and a maid to become a US Senator – but that type of Opportunity may be getting submerged by the overarching Progressive style of government.

Part 1:

US Senator Marco Rubio

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As I said here, the Rockingham County Republicans held their annual Washington / Lincoln / Reagan Dinner at the gorgeously restored Wentworth By the Sea (a project that Bill Binnie undertook when everyone said couldn’t be done given the absolute state of disrepair it had become).  The big draw for the night was US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL); every much a notable in the US Senate and in the news often, it is rumored that he may insert himself into the 2016 Presidential fray.  I will have to admit, he gave a very power speech on the points of his background but that American Exceptionalism still stands tall – but given the Progressive assault on it, how much longer?

That said, a few items before he spoke:

• Introductory Ceremonies: Invocation, the Pledge, National Anthem, “Seat of Honor” winner, Introduction of “Notables”
• Opening speech by NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn (introduction by Rockingham County Republican Chair Regina Birdsell)

                Intro Ceremonies                                      NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn

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I am late on putting up the videos for the Belknap County Convention (Delegation) concerning its budget process (H/T: Rosemary!).  In the process of setting up and then uploading Part 3 (re: NH State Rep Dennis Fields has a meltdown at its end), I noticed the number views received by speakers and candidates on the video I took at the NH GOP Annual Meeting this past Saturday (posts linked after the jump) and I was surprised at who got the most views in each race.  So I figured that this “informal indirect polling” may be of interest to others, so here it is as of tonite (yes, I’ll wait a while and then put up any updated numbers).

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If there is a First Congressional District there has to be a Second District as well.  Continuing on with the candidate parade are the two folks running to unseat present US CongressCritter Annie Kuster:

• Marilinda Garcia:  Brain Drain problem, Innovation economy, high tech, regulatory reform in healthcare, fight back from Federal intrusions into NH
• Gary Lambert: All he knows is how to work hard, won’t take Congressional pension, Congressional subsidy for Obamacare, 6 years max in Congress, fight for opportunity, free market healthcare, and vets (as a retiring US Marine Col)

Marilinda Garcia                                               Gary Lambert

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Tucked into the Agenda were all of the reports that are presented at these types of affairs as well as service to the Party type awards

• Awards:
  • Norris Cotton Award – posthumously to Stretch Kennedy (accepted by his daughter, Mildred)
  • County / City level Norris Cotton Awards
  • Gov. Mel Thompson “Principle above Politics” Award
• Reports:
  • Federation of Republican Women
  • NH GOP Secretary
  • NH GOP Treasurer
  • NH GOP Chair

Awards                                                                    Reports

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At Party meetings, there are reports galore and this year’s NH GOP Annual Meeting was no different.  After hearing from NH’s RNC Committee folks, it was the turn of those in leadership in the NH State Senate and NH State House.  For the former, it was NH State Senate President Chuck Morse and because NH House Minority Gene Chandler had other priority event (grandson’s baseball game), NH State Rep Laurie Sanborn gave the report.

NH Senate President Chuck Morse                               NH State Rep Laurie Sanborn

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Next up at the NH GOP Annual Meeting was the “meet and greet” of the candidates for the top State and Federal offices.  NH GOP Vice-Chair JP Marzullo (and now candidate for the NH GOP nomination in NH State Senate District 8)

Walt Havenstein                                                Andrew Hemingway

• Havenstein pushed his Big Business expertise in being able to handle Big Government.
• Andrew pushed his entrepreneurship and its required nimbleness and also his ability to attract a following that is all but impossible for other Republicans to do – the youth.  Along with Jim Rubens, the top two speeches of the day.  It is clear from both the introductory applause as well as the applause afterwards that Andrew was the clear favorite of the activists present at the NH GOP Annual Meeting.

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From the Corner Office / NH Governor primary race, the next set of candidates to have their three minute speech to the Party faithful were the four vying to be the NH GOP nominee for the US Senate and retire the Federal Government’s Ambassador to NH, Jeanne Shaheen.  A couple of quick observations:

• Scott Brown – polite applause at introduction and ending.  Mostly railed against Shaheen vs telling folks what he is specifically for or what he will do in the policy arena – very open ended.  The only positive takeaway is that he would be the 51st Republican Senator (meaning that Republican would have the majority).  Did not say what would happen then,

Sidenote: Darn, I was so disappointed – not ONCE did he point at me like he did when he spoke at Mike’s house when talking about naysayers….and was up on the Press riser with my camera!

• Jim Rubens – A big contrast with Brown in that he filled his speech with stuff that he WOULD be doing when he goes down there as well as a litany of accomplishments that he had legislatively here in NH.  Along with Andrew Hemingway, the top two speeches of the day.
• Bob Smith: Slap at Brown for looking forward to debating the issues. Good defense of Principles that often times gets one “thrown into a corner somewhere, be quiet and shut up. That’s not right”. Who shows the clearest distinction – mentions other Conservative wing politicians: stand on Principles or lose. Urged folks to show the difference between them and us (another slap at Brown). Freedom! Republican are not always right – criticism is not negative, it is looking inward.
• Karen Testerman: we have walked away from the best guides for the best life: our Constitutions.

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And now onto the US House races.  As JP Marzullo (NH GOP Vice-Chair and now candidate for the NH GOP nomination in NH State Senate District 8) did the introductions, the US Congressional District One was the first up – two candidates at this time:

• Frank Guinta:  As a unified Party, we will restore the fundamental principles that we all stand for not just as Republicans but as Americans.
• Dan Innis: Two weeks after announcing to run against CSP, he got a letter from the IRS that he owes money.  Coincidence?  He knows how to get things done.

Frank Guinta                                                          Dan Innis

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There were two main keynote speakers at yesterday’s NH GOP Annual Meeting were US Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and former US Congressman (and current MSNBC host) Joe Scarborough).  Kelly talked about Obamacare and its effects on NH, tax code, foreign policy, the Benghazi coverup:

Note:  A lighter moment right at the beginning of her speech.   Heh!  I thought lawyers were taught to already ask questions (in court)  to which they knew the answer to in court – I guess she was out that day

“What I want to talk to you about today is what I’m hearing and I’m sure what you are hearing the same thing from the people of NH and why it is so important why we win in the elections this year. I know when I stood before you when I ran for office, in 2010, What was one of the main issues in that election?”

What was yelled out in response was not what was expected – and a bit embarrassing: “Immigration“.  She QUICKLY said “Obamacare” (and it seemed that the whole crowd laughed, recognizing the problem).   But the moment was set.

Joe Scarborough’s speech after the jump:

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