Interview – Andy and Laurie Sanborn (NH Senate & NH House) – Part 1

Normally, the ‘Grok interviews have been "micro" – a couple of questions and up to 5 minutes.  Given this election cycle, given this time in that cycle, we’re switching a couple of gears.

I got to know Andy a couple of years ago and have categorized him as gentle giant of a man – and a Happy Warrior style campaigner.  Stolidly conservative, he is running for the NH Senate in District 7.  His wife, Laurie, is also of the conservative persuasion.  Together, they are small (serial) business owners that understand all too well how NH Government has become something out of control under the Progressive / Democrat control of the House, the Senate, the Governorship, and the Executive Council.

In this clip, we ask

Question 1:

Why are you both running?

Over the next few days, we’ll have a bunch more of these as we ask more and more questions.

But for tonight, we have one additional question and answer after the jump (and yes, one of the Groksters decided to practice with his new camera..):

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Got a Dollar…er Peso, Bill?

Most everyone has heard the rumor that, while CEO of Carlisle Plastics, Bill Binnie authorized the closing of a clothes-hanger manufacturing facility in California, and had it shipped to Mexico – along with 450 American jobs.   Well, he denied this last week (in a full-page Union Leader ad).  But after researching the SEC filing documents, … Read more

Let’s play catch up, Part 1 – Alton Old Home Day Parade

I’ve a bit to catching up to do on posting up videos here on the ‘Grok.  A lot of it is that unlike most bloggers, the ‘Grok gets out to a lot of events to either cover them or to support good candidates, or both!  We just don’t blog – we activate! "Old Home Day" … Read more

Hmm, conventional wisdom says it is the desperate one….

… that demands a debate when it concerns political campaigning.  Here in NH Senate District 2, Fran Wendelboe, the long term political insider in the House for the last 9 years, may be showing signs of angst:  "Voters have the right to see the two of us together in a public format and be able … Read more

In case you missed this endorsement…

In case you missed it earlier this year, Laura Ingraham endorsed Ovide Lamontagne for US Senate from NH, on her nationally syndicated radio show. Pass this on, to those who may never have know that this took place.

Micro-Interview: Jim Forsythe (NH Senate District 4)

While at the Frank Guinta event, I also saw the Republican candidates for NH Senate District 4 – George Hurt and Jim Forsythe.  Well, after the event was over, only Jim had stayed to the end – so he knew what to expect and I did not disappoint – camera held in front of face … Read more

We made another campaign mailer! Sweet!

And we are proud to support Jeanie (and her wonderful cocker spaniels – I’ll tell you, MY two dogs were absolutely befuddled after TMEW and I met up with them – who ARE these other dogs we smell???).  I guess Jeanie was kinda happy with the ‘Grok as well!

Jeanie Forrester mailer

Sure, I spotted our endorsement of Jeanie (kinda hard not too, that’s me in the hat) – as well as the others – and then it struck me:

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Great Medical system, eh? Big Government OK?

There’s always a but, isn’t there?"

Well, it seems that NH State Senator Jackie Cilley (D – District 6 from Barrington)  went on a junket to our neighbors to the North…and that’s fine. The resulting puff piece in Fosters had a couple of things in it that caught my eye:

"The near universal feedback was they see government as an important institution in their lives," Cilley said, explaining the only dissenting opinion was that of a sailor. Canadians she spoke to were even OK with taxation between 33 and 44 percent of income, she said.

"They all seemed to be aware that they pay a high level of taxes … and only one sailor complained about that. To a person, everyone else that I asked about this had a clear understanding and appreciation of what they receive for those taxes," Cilley said.

Yeah, just the way that Big Government people like to see their subjects – compliant, docile, and willing to accept diktats from above.  But apparently, she a member in good standing of the Political Class (love of government vs the independence of the citizen).

Yeah, just like that half million that the American taxpayers just spent for new windows for the Mt. St. Helens observatory – that has been closed for the last two years with no plans to re-open.  I’m quite sure you can tell MY level of appreciation for the

The problem here, unlike the Candian system, is that the American tradition is ANTI-Big Government; at least that was the way it was until the Progressive movement here in the United States started ramping up in the latter part of the 1800s.  Frankly, Americans aren’t exactly anti-government, they just want to govern THEMSELVES!  No, I don’t mean just electing their own to govern them, but that they want to be left alone to decide…

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Blame Congress

As we consider the economic and political situation some folks are clinging to the ‘Blame Bush’ rhetoric while others are focusing on blaming Obama.  While there is blame aplenty in varying amounts, the one consistent factor they share is the one we have the best opportunity to resove in November. They Both shared a democrat … Read more

Micro-Interview: Jim Luther, NH Senate Candidate (D12)

I was able to hook up with Mr. Jim Luther, from Hollis, who is a candidate for the NH Senate in District 12 (Hollis, Brookline, Mason, Nashua Wards 1,2,5,9).  You can check out Jim on Facebook, here. Jim has a contested primary and hopes to unseat the liberal-Democrat incumbent, Peggy Gilmour, in November. Apologies for the … Read more

Hodes Anoints

Back in April Paul Hodes took the original tack of reminding us that Kelly Ayotte was ‘picked’ by the GOP establishment.  It’s a common theme played up by the left so Hodes was just being a good democrat an repeating what he’d been told. I don’t know what Ms. Ayotte, who was essentially picked by … Read more

Good Ol’ Two Face

  June 24th 2010  Today, Paul Hodes fought to end the influence that corporate and foreign special interests have in American elections by supporting the DISCLOSE Act. July 13th 2010 Paul Hodes’ Senate campaign confirmed that "yes, Paul did attend" the weekend fundraiser hosted by trial lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia. June 24th 2010 "New Hampshire’s … Read more

Gordon Humphrey Endorses Ovide Lamontagne…

According to this release, Senator Gordon Humphrey has fully endorsed Ovide Lamontagne for US Senate. Senator Humphrey is the only person to serve in the US Senate, then return to NH and serve as a State Senator.  It is also notable that he voted against the Federal Budget every time, during his US Senate service, … Read more

Why Did They Donate To Paul Hodes?

  Why would an engineering firm from Colorado employed to help clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Katrina be donating money to Paul Hodes 2010 campaign?  MWH America is, in their own words, a global leader in wet infrastructure, but MWH has recently been charged with poor invoicing practices and even overcharging the city of … Read more

Ovide Lamontagne house event – the talk

As I said here, house events are an absolute necessary activity if you wish to gain political office here in NH – the old saw hangs true: "whatdoya think about so-and-so?  Dunno, only met’im twice". I also mentioned that Blip.TV was having a hissy fit – let’s see if it will play the video of … Read more

Sugar Daddy

Paul Hodes has a dirty little secret.  His ‘commitment’ to green energy has strings attached that lead directly to the sugar industry and a significant campaign cash “Thank You.”  Back in 2007 and 2008 Congress waged an epic battle over the Farm Bill.  They didn’t call it the farm bill they called it the Food … Read more

Ayotte’s New Fan Page On Facebook

There’s a new facebook page up with the unoriginal goal of making Kelly Ayotte look goofy.  It’s called Kelly Ayatch.  The page features a rather unflattering picture of Kelly Ayotte with an angry look.  And Kelly’s favorite television show…Rachel Maddow.  And this may come as a surprise but several of the four Kelly Ayatch friends, like Barack Obama.  The page’s first friend … Read more

The Peoples Republic of Hodesistan

  In the People’s Republic of Hodesistan (PRH) unemployment always hovers around 9-10%.  That’s the new normal.  And it has to be.  No matter how many bail outs and prop ups and incentives Mr. Hodes conceives to redistribute your earnings, there is never enough of other peoples money.  As the tax dollar pool from which his … Read more

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