Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
I turned 39 (2014)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

John Stephen for U.S. Congress? Is he a BUREAUCRAT or a FINANCIAL WATCHDOG?

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JOHN STEPHEN for U.S. Congress
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www.johnstephen.com
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"Stephen in the 1st: Finally, a fiscal conservative"
The New Hampshire Union Leader, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008

In the 1st Congressional District, there is one clear choice for Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who want a representative in Washington they can trust to vote for lower spending, lower taxes, sound economic policy and a strong defense. His name is John Stephen.

Everyone likes former 1st District Rep. Jeb Bradley, who was beaten in 2006 by newcomer Carol Shea-Porter. We like Bradley, too. But two years after his defeat by a fringe liberal, Bradley still doesn't understand why he lost. He thinks it was only because of Iraq. It was because of spending, too.

During his four years in Washington, Bradley had four opportunities to vote for alternative, fiscally conservative budgets offered by conservative Republican backbenchers who were fed up with their party's embrace of big government. He voted against all of them.

John Stephen offers Republicans the chance to send a true fiscal conservative to Washington. If you want to see John Stephen get excited, ask him about wasteful government spending. He hates it the way most Red Sox fans hate the Yankees -- with a genuine passion. He is the type of Republican who goes out of his way to criticize Republican leaders in Washington, not just Democrats, for their irresponsible use of our tax dollars.

That's the kind of voice the 1st District needs in Congress.

As secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, Stephen showed his commitment to responsible spending. He consistently sought to do more with less, and he succeeded. He actually returned money legislators tried to give him, saying he would find ways to spend less. How many government department heads have you ever heard of who asked that their budget be cut, not increased? Stephen did that.

Stephen also supports a multi-faceted energy plan that includes drilling in currently restricted areas offshore; winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; increasing border security; reforming runaway entitlement programs; and cutting taxes.

In John Stephen, supporters of low taxes and limited government have a candidate they can whole-heartedly support. If they want to send a message to Washington that the Republican Party needs to return to Ronald Reagan conservatism, they should vote for John Stephen in the Republican primary Sept. 9, 2008.

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Readers' COMMENTS:

John Stephen doesn't just stand on some soap box, grand standing issues. He rolls up his sleeves and does the hard work to attain his goals.

In a Congress where it's been go along to get along, spanning control of both Parties, John Stephen has the courage of his conviction, and he has the courage to stand up and make compelling arguments that maximizes the amount of his conviction that becomes implemented.

John Stephen is one of the most promising public servants to run for federal office in a very long time.
- Bob Jean, Northwood, NH

To Rick of Nottingham, in order for you to be correct you have to willfully ignore dozens of examples of fiscal and policy reform that John Stephen acheived while at HHS.

John is clearly the better cadidate to send to Washington. Jeb had his chance but instead became a rubber stamp for the most corrupt and wasteful congress in decades. For that Jeb Bradley was run out of office in 2006.

Anyone who thinks that it is a good idea to send up as our candidate a big spending, anti-drilling former member of the Bush congress is being delusional.
- Dennis Acton, Fremont

Geez, Rick, what lobbying client came out on the short end of a budget bill? Care to elaborate for the rest of us readers?

Personally, I believe the expenditure of taxes in best for taxpayers if control is at the local level.
- Jim DeStefano, Manchester

Republicans aren't "conservatives." They are "corporatists."

Conservatives believe in zero deficits (Bush has the largest ever, most borrowing & poorest tax fairness,) zero foreign intervention unless warranted by national security (ahem... Bush in Iraq is the opposite,) and personal privacy (not domestic surveillance.) So if you want a conservative you should have supported Ron Paul.

The UL is a good local paper for low taxes. It is useless on national issues, where it's pro-corporate and 50's social agendas force it's hand.
- Jo M, Manchester

His tenure at Health and Human Services was one of a rob Peter to pay Paul era. Mr. Stephen did not demonstrate any fiscal conservative traits, only the ability to shift cost from one taxpayer to another.

It is true that Commissioner {not secretary] Stephen reduced some state spending. However he simply shifted the cost of that savings to small businesses and property tax payers.

For instance his solution for the high cost of prescription drugs to the Medicaid program was to cut the reimbursement to small independent pharmacies in NH. He never even attempted to take on the big drug companies. He just shifted the cost of his "savings" to the small businesses. He also shifted other "savings" costs to Counties which get paid by property tax payers.

A taxpayer is a taxpayer, saving us money on state taxes by increasing property taxes is not saving us money. The fact that Mr. Stephen thinks otherwise shows me he is no fiscal conservative.
- Rick Newman, Nottingham

Glad to see the Union Leader is willing to back somebody who takes on other Republicans to fight for conservative ideals. It's the only way that the GOP is going to become a majority party again. They have to remember that it was the fiscal conservatism that won the House and Senate in 1994.
- Glen, Manchester

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JEB BRADLEY for U.S. Congress
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"Bradley: Stephen hiked taxes by shifting costs"
By TOM FAHEY, State House Bureau Chief
August 12, 2008

CONCORD – Congressional candidate Jeb Bradley yesterday accused his Republican rival for the 1st District nomination, John Stephen, of boosting property tax rates by shifting the state's nursing home costs onto them.

Bradley, a former congressman, was surrounded by state lawmakers and county officials as he challenged Stephen's claims to have reduced costs during his four years as commissioner of Health and Human Services.

Bradley argued that although Stephen claimed to have found savings on the cost of Medicaid patients in nursing homes, he really moved costs onto the counties, which cover their costs through property taxes.

Calculations of nursing home payments are one of the more complex issues legislators have to deal with in state budgets. Bradley said the roughly 40 people standing with him understand the issue well.

"All these folks are here today to testify that there wasn't a savings, that in fact it was a simple pass-through, robbing Peter to pay Paul," he said.

A Stephen aide denied Bradley's claims, saying the state increased payments. Spokesman Gregory Moore said that reimbursements to county nursing homes went up by $15 million during Stephen's tenure even though the number of people in nursing homes was falling. Stephen emphasized keeping the elderly in their homes through community care, he said, a move that kept costs from climbing faster.

He said Stephen saved the state $143 million in areas like HHS personnel costs, pharmacy benefits for Medicaid patients, and consulting contracts.

"Jeb Bradley should spend more time doing his homework and getting his facts right," Moore said.

"Over his four years in office, John engaged in significant cost controls and they resulted in significant savings. He's more than happy to put results out there."

Bradley's campaign provided figures the New Hampshire Association of Counties calculated, which show that HHS cuts cost the counties a total of $21 million in 2006 alone.

Lawmakers said they depended on Stephen to provide them with accurate figures about costs, patient numbers and reimbursements. Rep. Fran Wendelboe, R-New Hampton, was one of the committee members who dealt with the budget.

"There was a real problem getting straight numbers out of that department under his leadership," she said.

Former state Sen. Chuck Morse of Salem, former Senate Finance Committee chair, is now chairman of Stephen's campaign. He credited Stephen with producing significant savings for the state.

"The reality is that John is a conservative and he helped me create a balanced budget package," Morse said. "We did have savings, and they were substantial. I honestly believe he knows how to run government," he said.

Frustrations with nursing home costs led the state to pass a budget law in 2007 that put the entire cost of nursing homes and community-based care on the counties, in exchange for assuming all costs associated with juvenile justice and other children's services.

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"Budget Deficit soars to $102.8 Billion in July"
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 12, 2008; 2:05 PM

WASHINGTON -- The government says the federal budget deficit soared in July, pushed higher by economic stimulus payments and $15 billion in outlays to protect depositors at failed banks.

The Treasury Department reported Tuesday that the deficit for July totaled $102.8 billion, nearly triple the $36.4 billion deficit recorded in July 2007.

The deficit beats the $97 billion gap that Wall Street economists had been expecting for July.

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"Budget deficit soars to $102.8B"
The Associated Press
Wednesday, August 13, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal budget deficit soared in July, pushed higher by economic stimulus payments and $15 billion in outlays to protect depositors at failed banks.

The Treasury Department reported that the deficit for July totaled $102.8 billion, nearly triple the $36.4 billion deficit recorded in July 2007.

The deficit outstripped the $97 billion gap that Wall Street economists had been expecting for July.

The Treasury said outlays were pushed up by $15 billion because of payments the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. made to depositors at failed banks. The Treasury report did not identify the banks but federal regulators seized the assets of California-based IndyMac Bank, the largest regulated thrift to fail in U.S. history.

The FDIC is expected to be successful in recovering much of its outlays for failed banks, in part by selling the assets of seized institutions. The FDIC has also raised the possibility that it will increase insurance premiums on healthy banks to cover the cost of what are expected to be rising bank failures as the current credit crisis unfolds.

Besides the payouts by the FDIC, government outlays were increased by the final bulk mailings of government stimulus payments in July. The July deficit also looked worse than the July 2007 deficit because last year's figure was artificially deflated by timing issues that shifted about $19 billion in normal outlays into the prior month.

So far this year, the budget deficit totals $371.4 billion, more than double last year's deficit through the same time period of $157.4 billion.

The Bush administration recently revised its forecast for this year's deficit, lowering it from an estimate of $410 billion, down to $389 billion. However, the Congressional Budget Office is more pessimistic, projecting the deficit for this year will total $400 billion when the current budget year wraps up on Sept. 30.

For the 2009 budget year, which begins Oct. 1, the administration is now projecting a deficit of $482 billion, which would be the highest in dollar terms in history, surpassing the old mark of $413 billion set in 2004.

Through July, government revenues total $2.094 trillion, down 1 percent from the same period a year ago. Revenues have been weaker this year, reflecting the sharp slowdown in the overall economy.

Government spending so far this budget year totals $2.466 trillion, 8.5 percent higher than a year ago. That's in part due to the $168 billion stimulus package Congress passed at the beginning of the year in an effort to keep the country out of a deep recession and because of increased spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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"Guinta backing Stephen in congressional primary"
The New Hampshire Union Leader (Online), August 27, 2008, (posted) 1:30 P.M.

Manchester – Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta today endorsed the congressional candidacy of John Stephen.

Stephen, also of Manchester, is battling with Jeb Bradley for the GOP nomination. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter upset Bradley in 2006.

“I’ve been friends with Jeb Bradley for a long time, so this was a tough decision,” Guinta said in a press release. “However, the recent ad I saw from Jeb went way too far. Suggesting that John Stephen is not a fiscal conservative is absurd."

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"Guinta backs Stephen over his former boss, Jeb Bradley"
By Daniel Trudeau, PolitickerNH.com

Congressional candidate John Stephen got the nod from the mayor of New Hampshire’s biggest city and one of his opponent's former top advisors Wednesday.

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta -- who worked on former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley's congressional staff from 2003 to 2005 -- released a statement Wednesday saying he is backing Stephen in the 1st Congressional District, calling the former state Health and Human Services director the “true fiscal conservative in this race.”

Stephen is running against Bradley for the chance to take on Democratic incumbent Carol Shea-Porter. On Wednesday Guinta said that, while he considers Bradley a friend, he disagreed with the implications coming out of Bradley’s campaign that Stephen is not a real conservative.

"I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, and I feel that John Stephen is the one candidate who can best protect the taxpayers of Manchester and New Hampshire," said Guinta. "He's the true fiscal conservative in this race. I know that John will do the hard work to keep taxes low and has the discipline to say no to new spending. He also is totally focused on finding solutions, not continuing the bickering we see in Congress. That's just what we need right now in Washington."

In a statement, Stephen lauded Guinta’s record on cutting taxes and welcomed his endorsement as a major development in the race.

"Mayor Guinta has changed the culture in Manchester politics," added Stephen. "He has taken what was an annual discussion about how big the tax increases would be to a focus on ways of cutting spending and bringing efficiency while delivering results. That's the type of approach that I will bring to Washington. I am thrilled to have the Mayor's support and look forward to working with him in Congress."

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"Bradley ‘optimistic’ about race", politickernh.com, By Brian Lawson, September 8, 2008 - 4:11pm

MANCHESTER-- A day before Tuesday's primary, former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) was on the phone rallying voters and asking key supporters for any last-minute assistance they could offer to help him clinch the GOP nomination in the 1st Congressional District.

Bradley also spent the day in Manchester meeting voters at diners and going door-to-door.

"I'm optimistic about tomorrow we're getting a great response," Bradley told PolitickerNH.com.

Bradley is running against former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester) for the opportunity to face U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester), who Bradley lost to in 2006.

Bradley also reacted to Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta's endorsement of Stephen. Guinta is a former staffer of Bradley's.

"Mayor Guinta is a friend and someone I respect," Bradley said. "I was disappointed but this is America and people can endorse whoever they want to."

Bradley called the primary race "tough" and "feisty" but said that his campaign did not set the primary's negative tone.

"This has been tough it has been feisty but we responded to the tone that was set at the beginning; we did not set the tone."

When asked how voters are reacting to his candidacy, Bradley said, "excellent, excellent and more excellent."
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Send tips to: brian.lawson@politickernh.com
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"Bradley wins race in 1st District"
By DAN TUOHY, NH Union Leader Staff, 9/10/2008
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With 11 precincts still not reporting this morning, Jeb Bradley has 16,923 votes (51%), followed by John Stephen with 15,482 (47%), Geoff Michael with 503 (2%) and Dave Jarvis with 383 (1%).
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Same characters, different plot.

Minutes after winning a rematch with the Democrat who bounced him out of office two years ago, Republican Jeb Bradley fired away at her congressional record.

"Carol Shea-Porter now has a record and her voting record is not at all consistent with our state," he said after defeating John Stephen yesterday in the GOP primary for the 1st District.

"Her votes on taxes. Her votes on spending. Her votes on immigration," Bradley said. "She"s an example of the wrong kind of change for New Hampshire."

Only minutes before blasting his new rival, the congresswoman had called him to congratulate Bradley on his victory and the two had a pleasant chat.

The niceties are over.

New Hampshire cannot afford to send a "Bush congressman" back to Washington, Shea-Porter said in a telephone interview last night. She welcomed the debate and review of her record.

"I have kept my promises," she said. "I said I would speak up for the bottom 99 percent of us who were not represented by the Bush administration and Jeb Bradley.

Shea-Porter said she would continue to work for veterans, job creation, lowering the cost of school loans, and solutions to heating and energy crunches.

The race will be a fight for the middle class, both candidates said.

The GOP race was dominated by fiscal and social conservative issues and riddled by negative campaign ads. Bradley insisted he would make good on the promise he made when he lost Nov. 7, 2006:

"We will be back."

He never really stopped campaigning for the 1st District, which stretches along the eastern half of the state from the entirety of Carroll County in the north to most of Rockingham County in the south.

Stephen conceded the race shortly before 11 p.m.

Shea-Porter, the first woman from New Hampshire elected to Congress, surfed an anti-war swell in upsetting Bradley two years ago. She did not have a primary this year.

Bradley supporters said the 2006 election was an aberration and a result of the unpopularity of the war in Iraq and the Bush administration.

"That was a fluke," said Fred Bramante, a Republican from Durham. "There was a Democratic tide that swept the country and Jeb got caught up in it."

Bradley, 55, ran on a platform of limited government, low taxes and individual liberties. He served the 1st District from 2003 to 2006, in which time he helped defend the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from a Pentagon closure review.

The Wolfeboro Republican is a former 12-year member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and small businessman.

Stephen, 45, is a former prosecutor and state health commissioner. Republicans Dave Jarvis of Hooksett and Geoff Michael of Merrimack also sought their party"s nomination for the 1st District, which includes Bedford, Derry, Goffstown, Manchester and Merrimack.

Shea-Porter, 55, a former social worker and teacher from Rochester, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Education and Labor.

Regardless of the GOP primary outcome, Shea-Porter faced a tough fight for the Nov. 4 election, said Dante Scala, a political science professor at the University of New Hampshire.

"Carol Shea-Porter makes the top 10 list of vulnerable Democratic incumbents for the Republican Party," Scala said. "And it happens in a year when Republicans don"t have that many targets to shoot at. Shea-Porter is seen as an anomaly this year in terms of having a vulnerable Democratic incumbent."

Scala said candidates will have a harder time getting voters' attention on the road to Nov. 4 because New Hampshire is shaping up to be another presidential battleground state.

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"GOP holds unity breakfast"
By Brian Lawson, politickernh.com, September 12, 2008 - 12:05pm

MANCHESTER--Republican candidates, and their supporters, who were once rivals gathered to unite under the Republican ticket.

All the candidates stressed the importance of working for the Republican presidential ticket and the Republicans down the ballot.

Former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) paid homage to his primary rival, former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester).

"I'm here to tell you that we should be saluting his service to the state and I'm sure we'll be hearing from him in the future," Bradley told 200 Republicans at The Yard restaurant.

Mayor Frank Guinta (R-Manchester) threw his full support behind Bradley; Guinta endorsed Stephen during the primary.

"I am unequivocally, 100 percent, behind my friend, our friend Jeb Bradley," Guinta said.

Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass (R-Peterborough) introduced 2nd Congressional District Republican nominee Jennifer Horn (R-Nashua).

"New Hampshire is going to be represented by a female and that female isn't coming from the first district, it's coming from the second," Bass said.

The fiercest speech of the morning came from state Sen. Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield), who is running for governor against Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton).

"You can't run away from this Marine governor," Kenney said. "I'm going after you."

Kenney also said that he will attack Lynch's record on state spending.

"This guy, Joe Kenney, is going to go after you on the budget," Kenney said referring to himself in the third person.

Republicans also heard from former congressional candidates' state Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) and Grant Bosse (R-Hillsboro). A staffer from Stephen's campaign said Stephen missed the breakfast because he had a family commitment he did not want to break and Jim Steiner (R-Concord) left the breakfast because of work obligations.

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"State GOP candidates hold unity session"
By GARRY RAYNO, New Hampshire Union Leader Staff, September 13, 2008

MANCHESTER – A standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 Republicans came together yesterday to mend fences after several bruising primaries.

Party officials and Republican Unity Breakfast organizers praised the crowd's enthusiasm, while several candidates said energy has flowed back into the party since Presidential nominee John McCain tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

The Republican nominees for major office at the event, including Joe Kenney for governor and the two House of Representatives candidates Jeb Bradley and Jennifer Horn, all predicted significant party gains in the November elections after a staggering defeat two years ago that put Democrats in control of all elected branches of state government.

State Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen said after the event, "The energy level is the highest we've seen since 2000." He said Palin can relate to everyday Americans in a way the Democratic nominees and even McCain cannot.

Bradley and others predicted "we're going to take back the Legislature, the state Senate and the Executive Council. Joe Kenney is going to make us proud. We're going to have a Marine in the corner office."

Bradley's opponent, former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen, was not at the event, although several speakers said Stephen wanted to be there but agreed to take his family on vacation after the primary.

Bradley praised Stephen saying, "A lot of people who want to improve our great state were not successful Tuesday, and one of them was John Stephen."

He praised Stephen's passion, commitment and work ethic and said the two agree on one thing: "sending (Democratic incumbent) Carol Shea-Porter on permanent vacation," referring to Congress' vote to go on vacation this summer instead of acting on an energy bill.

In the 2nd Congressional District, losing candidates Bob Clegg, Jim Steiner and Grant Bosse were at the event but left before the event finished.

Introducing Horn, former 2nd District Congressman Charlie Bass compared Horn to Palin as both being mothers of five children who know what the country needs.

Horn blasted Democratic incumbent Paul Hodes for his record in Washington and for failing to live up to the promises he made two years ago when he defeated Bass.

"Paul Hodes promised to take a backbone to Washington, but he must of left his in his suitcase," Horn said.

Kenney told the crowd, "My job at the top of the ticket is to work hard for the party by going after (Democratic Gov.) John Lynch. I will not let you down."

He criticized Lynch and the Democratic-controlled Legislature for repealing the state's parental notification law, for joining the regional greenhouse gas initiative and for passing the "evergreen law" that allows public labor contract provisions to remain in place after the contract expires.

Kenney particularly focused on the state budget and increased spending during the last two years. "You can't run away from this Marine governor, because I'm coming after you," he said.

Just before the event began, state Democratic Party executive director David Scannell was asked to leave as he set up a video camera. Scannell said he was going to film the event for his MCAM (Manchester Community Access Media) show, but when they found out he worked for the Democratic Party, they asked him to leave.

"When they said I could leave on my own or they could move me out, I decided to leave on my own," he said.

Rockingham County Republican chair Greg Carson said Scannell was removed because he did not tell the truth about filming for his MCAM show instead of the state party. Carson said two other trackers video taping the event for the Jeanne Shaheen campaign and for the National Democratic Committee were allowed to stay because they admitted their affiliations.

Scannell said he wasn't surprised by the Republicans' prediction of success in November, but noted, "Looking at the energy, initiative and what we see on the ground, we have a formidable effort going on out there. We're pretty sure in November, we'll be in the position we want to be in."
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READERS' COMMENTS:

John Stephen's no show at the unity breakfast shows him clearly to be a sore loser plain and simple.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

Governor Palin is a true person of passion. After watching her interviews on Nightline I became interested in hearing more on the very same topics we here in New Hampshire are concerned about. As for Mr. Scannel, he's a nice guy and has a good demeanor. One thing does make me wonder though? Why does he have a office at MCAM where other producers may not? Guess it doesn't matter. Maybe Mr. Scannel should of asked for permission to tape the breakfast or better still, just let the Republicans celebrate and get ready for defeat in November. It's time to return the state government back to the people of New Hampshire.

Robert M Tarr
Candidate for State Representative
District 12, Ward 5, Manchester
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

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"Ex-congressman endorsed for NH Senate seat"
By TRAVIS ANDERSEN, Associated Press Writer

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Former Congressman Jeb Bradley isn't saying yet whether he plans to run in a special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat, but on Friday he was endorsed by two fellow Republicans who had considered running.

Joe Kenney said he isn't running for the seat he once held because he will be deployed to Afghanistan next week. Kenney has served in both Iraq wars with the Marines. He said at a news conference that Bradley could bring a strong voice to the Senate.

"(Republicans) need to get behind one person," Kenney said. "If that person is Jeb Bradley I will support him."

Bradley attended the news conference but did not declare his candidacy. He said he'll make an announcement soon.

"Today is Joe Kenney's day, as far as I'm concerned," Bradley said.

Afterward, former state GOP chairman Fergus Cullen said he will defer to Bradley.

"Jeb is well-known, is obviously qualified to serve, and has an existing organization and fundraising base," Cullen said. "I think Jeb is our best candidate in this special election, and I support him."

Bradley served two terms in the U.S. House before losing to Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in 2006. He lost a rematch with Shea-Porter in November.

Kenney spent 14 years in the Legislature, serving four terms in the House and three in the Senate. He decided not to run for re-election to the Senate last year and ran for governor instead, but lost to incumbent John Lynch.

Whoever wins the special election will replace first-term Republican William Denley, who resigned last month after his third drunken driving arrest. The vacancy gives Democrats a 14-9 majority.

The special election for the District 3 seat will be held April 21 if only one candidate from each party files nominating papers with the state. If multiple candidates file, a primary election will take place April 21 and a general election May 26. Candidates can file between March 9 and March 16.

Raymond Buckley, chair of the state Democratic Party, said Bud Martin will announce his candidacy next week. Martin, a Democrat and retired judge, lost to Denley by about 500 votes in November.

Buckley said he likes Martin's chances this time around.

"I don't think the people of District 3 have any interest in sending somebody (to Concord) who spent four years in Washington voting for the Bush economy, the Bush war and the Bush deficit," Buckley said.

Kenney said last year's Democratic-controlled Legislature deserved some of the blame for New Hampshire's budget woes.

"This is an important time for our state, which is feeling the results both of the economy and the overspending that took place last year," he said.

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"Bradley for Senate: This Bud's not for you"
The New Hampshire Union Leader Online, Editorial, Tuesday, April 14, 2009

No wonder Democratic state Senate candidate Willard "Bud" Martin was so reluctant to reveal his political views. They're radical in the extreme.

Martin is the Democrats' nominee in a special election to fill the vacant seat in state Senate District 3, which covers Strafford and Carroll counties from Conway to Center Sandwich to Farmington. For weeks, he refused to tell voters what he thought about hot-button topics such as same-sex marriage, taxes, transgender rights, state spending, a seatbelt mandate and the death penalty. These are issues he probably would have to vote on right away if elected.

After criticism from Republicans, Martin finally started talking.

Oops.

Turns out Martin is for same-sex marriage, higher state spending, a seatbelt mandate and allowing transgendered people and cross-dressers to have legal protections based on those specific traits and behaviors. He's against the death penalty, and he says the state needs to consider revamping its entire revenue system. That's liberal code for "I want a sales or income tax -- or both."

Thankfully for voters in District 3 and residents statewide, Martin is running against former Republican U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley. On all of the issues mentioned above, Bradley and Martin disagree. Bradley is for cutting spending, keeping taxes in check and executing our worst murderers. He is against same-sex marriage, a needless seatbelt mandate, letting spending dictate tax rates and granting legal protections to men who dress in drag.

Jeb Bradley is a good fit for District 3. Voters would do themselves and the rest of us a favor by picking Bradley over Martin next Tuesday, April 21.

READERS' COMMENTS:

Dick from Gilmanton, if you think that it will only be $200k+ earners paying more and more in the coming years, think again. You have drank to much of the Kool Aid!!!!
- Jim, Londonderry

Okay Brent and you keep laying your liberties down to the all mighty savior, government. Oh and Brent, will it be cool when homeless people are allowed to legally squat in your Bedford home? Got a few extra bedrooms there buddy?

You make a good point, I guess we shouldn't stand up for anything, or have any beliefs or convictions.

Sorry Brent, I'd rather not be an automaton slave, but hey thanks anyway!

Oh and real quick, you know Brent, every time the topic of gay marriage (since you used that one as an example) comes up for the people, voters, to decide it gets voted down by a large margin. But you probably already knew that.
- Craig D, Manchester

Richard, you're joking right? How many elections does Jeb Bradley have to lose before he gets the message and goes out to find a job in the private sector?
- Bob V, Manchester

I'd love to meet this ignorant editorial writer who is trying to protray the transgendered population (who are deserving of eual rights like every other citizen in the great country) as men who dress in drag. There is a huge difference between the two and it is ignorant writers like this who stigmatize minority groups such as this who face a lifetime of discrimination where ever they go. If the Union Leader has any intergrity, it would not allow people to go off on ignorant tirades that influence real political challenges/decisions our state is faced with.
- Matt, Manchester

Robert of Deerfield and his radical leftist wife from Massachusetts who is now a NH state rep have moved their brand of cultural suicide north of the border. Let's hope the good people of Deerfield come to their senses next year and remove her from office. Vote smart people.....vote ! Or this is the type of government we are going to get.
- Jay Collins, Laconia

I love it when conservatives refer to increasingly mainstream things (like gay marriage ) as "radical" or "extreme". I'm not saying you should stop. Keep yelling those unpopular opinions and you'll see your party get pushed further and further out of the mainstream.
- Brent Fisher, Bedford, NH

Robert, Deerfield: How can you even say that with a strait face after the massive spending increase that the Obama administration and democrats have signed into law - something like a total of $5+ trillion dollars in 3 months! No doubt about Bush's out control spending as well, but those in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

Dan, Manchester: Apparently you're person who cares to throw stone in glass houses. Where is your liberal outrage over the Obama administration continuing the Bush era warrantless wiretapping of Americans? Wasn't that one of Obama's central campaign themes, to gut the unconstitutional Patriot Act?

And notice your buddy Barry is supporting the Real ID Act as well.

Or what about the recent report leaked about how the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama administration has been become an instrument of oppression of opposing points of view. So, if you disagree with Obama on amnesty for illegals or stand up for the Second Amendment, you are branded a "rightwing extremist" by the Department of Homeland Security and become the subject of scrutiny by some 850,000 local and state law enforcement personnel. Most disgusting of all, it targets veterans for increased law enforcement scrutiny.
- Mac Wade, Newmarket

But Mike from Manchester aren't the Democrats seeking to establish a new moral code? Pull your head out of the sand. For those who value the tradtions of this great country of ours preserving stability and structure to the traditional family and protecting this class of citizens ousting the liberal morality mindset is of utmost importance.
- Cathy, Manchester

I am continuously appalled at how the republicans in the "Live Free or Die" state can support the suppression of civil liberties for minorities.

Fiscal conservatism is an admirable platform but until republicans stop legislating morality they will continue to be marginalized in this state and in this country.

We tossed Jeb Bradley out for a reason. I hope he stays on the street and out of our government.
- Mike, Manchester

The cut and paste neo-marxist Robert is at it again! Like Bud Martins past rulings, I guess Robert supports the actions of sex criminals.
- Alex K., Deering, NH

Bradley should ge the same route as Smith. Leave for Florida.
- Bill, Tuftonboro

Bob V. If Jeb Bradley is a retread what would you call Bud Martin? Didn't he run for this office before and lose? I would say that if I were still a resident of that district I would put my money on a retread that has layed his cards right out there for all to see and Jeb had done that Bud Martin has tried to use stealth method of running and the voters of that district will not buy his slinking in unoticed.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

Robert from Deerfield's posts always amuse me. He & his wife (an extremely liberal NH State legislator) escape north from Mass just a handful of years ago, and are now trying to do everything possible to make NH the mirror image of the State they couldn't live in anymore! But back to the subject at hand, has anyone recommended poor Bud to a decent barber? If not, perhaps I should send him a bag a cheap combs!
- Thomas Thorpe, Portsmouth, NH

Since assuming the majority in 2006 the NH Democrats have been very busy serving their own quasi-religious agenda: killing any hope of energy independence for NH, ending the death penalty, stealing parental rights, fixing elections by allowing out of state students to vote, pushing gay marraige, mandating "transgendered bathrooms", higher spending, higher taxes on retirees and citizens, and oh yes, don't forget, passing resolutions to gut the US military. Strap yourself into your government mandated seatbelt, fellow NH taxpayers, you're being taken for a ride.
- Mae, Plaistow

Funny to see the Union Leader try to paint Bud Martin's positions as "radical in the extreme."

Oppose the death penalty??? You're as radical and extreme 14 states and the rest of the civilized world!

Support equal marriage rights??? You're as radical and extreme as the rest of New England! You're even as radical and extreme as Iowa!

Support seat belt mandates??? You're as radical and extreme as the other 49 states in America!

Oppose discrimination based on gender identity??? You're as radical and extreme as 13 states and countless American businesses!

Support the spending and policy decisions of the Bush Administration??? You're as radical and extreme as Jeb Bradley!
- Dan, Manchester

Bud Martin is a joke. He went on WMUR and thought he could get away without telling the public where he stood on any important issues. The UL is right.....he should have kept his mouth shut. He's a typical liberal that Sullivan & Buckley can control if he gets to Concord.
- Jay collins, Laconia

What a surprise, the UL would pick Retread Jeb! Where in the world is the republican new blood?
- Bob V, Manchester

If you liked the four trillion that Bush added to the national debt and all the trillions that we are now going to have to spend to encourage fat cats to go back to getting money for nothing through no bid contracts, wars, deficit spending - Bradley is your man, or any one's who is willing to spend enough. If you want someone who will protect you from government interference in your life as much as is possible, will help get jobs back to New Hampshire, take part in regulating what has become a Republican gift horse to the rich, try Bud Martin. What a change to have people in government who are actually your friends, can speak in complete sentences, have worked for a living, made good decisions. Or you can vote to go back to the smoke filled rooms and hidden party manipulations. Your choice, unless you have Diebold voting machines.
- Robert, Deerfield

The sad fact is, it is Bardley who will have an uphill battle with his record. NH has taken a hard turn to the left in two short years....without even so much as a peep from the Republican party. This is not my Father's NH anymore.
- Jay Tiffany, Warner NH

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BRADLEY
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"Jeb Bradley wins state Senate contest"
By MARK HAYWARD, New Hampshire Union Leader, 4/22/2009

Former Republican congressman Jeb Bradley revived his political career yesterday by winning an open seat to the New Hampshire Senate in a special election.

The victory also provided a morale boost for Republicans, who campaigned hard to keep the seat in the Republican column and grab a win after last year's defeat in state and national elections.

Bradley, a Wolfeboro resident, defeated retired Judge Bud Martin 61 to 39 percent, according to numbers supplied by state Republicans.

The tally was 5,996 to 3,789, with Martin only winning two towns: Tamworth and his hometown of Sandwich. Bradley proved a strong contender. In Chatham, Freedom, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro, Wakefield and his hometown of Wolfeboro, Bradley won by a 2-to-1 margin or more.

"The people are saying enough is enough," Bradley said. "They've seen the new spending, they've seen the new taxes, they've seen the extraordinary lurch to the left and said enough's enough."

He said the House-backed increase in the rooms and meals tax would hurt Conway and other towns dependent on the hospitality industry.

In a statement read to a reporter, the Martin campaign said the candidate was proud of the positive campaign he waged and the support he drew. The campaign "started a meaningful dialogue about how to turn the economy around," the Martin campaign said.

Bradley was ousted from Congress in 2006 and lost a bid to regain his seat last year. Supported by state Republicans, he ran a campaign that initially focused on taxes and the state budget but veered into social issues such as gay marriage and the transgender discrimination bill.

Democrat Martin, of Sandwich, supported deep but targeted spending cuts, but said the state cannot balance the budget on the backs of its neediest residents. He said he supported gay marriage but indicated that he opposed the transgender bill as written.

State Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley said the seat has always been held by a Republican, and just a few years ago, Democrats didn't even run a candidate for the seat.

"I don't think it's a referendum on anything, other than his (Bradley's) greater name recognition," Buckley said.

The election does not change the makeup of the Senate; Democrats continue to hold 14 of the 24 Senate seats. Bradley said he hopes to be sworn in today.

The election is the first test for former Gov. John H. Sununu, who took over control of the state GOP earlier this year. He said the race energized Republicans. Activists from across the state volunteered on the campaign.

"As nice as the win was, the campaign was even better," Sununu said.

Sununu agreed that the results can't be seen as referendum, noting the Republican tilt of the district.

He said Bradley's election actually helps Democratic Gov. John Lynch. Bradley could be counted on to sustain a Lynch veto of the gay marriage and transgender discrimination legislation, "if he (Lynch) finds the strength to veto that garbage," Sununu said.

Buckley said it's "silly talk" to suggest what bills Lynch will veto.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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MARTIN
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READERS' COMMENTS:

Eh. Take your victories where you can get them. At least Bathroom Bud didn't get in.
- Rowland, Fremont

LJC

You don't understand many things...and some of us don't understand why people vote to give money to people who can work and don't. What's the reason for that? Oh wait...they're poor or poverty stricken right? Nope..sorry, not all of them. And its the ones who aren't that are reaping all the benefits and the middle class struggles even more due to it.
- L.A., Derry

I gotta love (or laugh at) those statements that we somehow take money from the middle class to give to the "very wealthy". Maybe if you take your nose out of the Pelosi Handbook of Things To Say for a couple minutes and used the time to read a newspaper, you might notice that the wealthy aren't being handed over gobs of hard-earned middle class cash.

Taxpayers in the group that includes only the top 1% of adjusted gross income filers pay 39.9% of the income taxes paid by all individual taxpayers and taxpayers in the top 5% pay 60.1% of the income taxes paid by all individual taxpayers.

Those "very wealthy" are helping float your boat, Bucko. The latest numbers I could find (that's called "research") show that in 2007, the federal gov't spent $2.8 trillion. There were 138 million individual taxpayers back then. If you use a nifty thing I like to call "arithmetic" that averages to a little over $20,000 per taxpayer. Did *you* pay $20K in taxes? I sure didn't, and I have an upper-range, but hardly wealthy, salary. If not, then somebody paid the rest. And outside of individual taxes, things like corporate taxes, estate, gift, etc. are usually paid by those "very wealthy".

Or maybe you're referring to the recent corporate bailouts, where some truly wealthy people got some truly healthy bonuses. In that case, I agree that it's just wrong to take my hard-earned taxes to pay for some failed executive's penthouse condo.

*** However, which is the party that's been handing out this cash and promising more to come? ***
- Marc, Derry

Congrats to Jeb. If NH Democrats had governed these past several years like traditional conservtive NH Democrats of the past they might have had a chance of staying in power......there is no chance of that now. They will be slaughtered in 2010. This is the largest collection of fools, radicals, and clueless people I have ever seen in government. Someone out here pointed out that most of these people never thought they would get elected in the first place, and only got to Concord on the Bush backlash. What a toxix mix this crew is, and then you add in someone like Ray Buckley and you have a clown-show in Concord.
- Jay Collins, Laconia

My last post on this subject. But where is Ray Buckley and his acid tongue today? How many times has he poked his head into these discussion boards to either gloat or demonize the Republican party? Sory Ray, reality is but a cold slap in the face, isn't it?
- Thomas Thorpe, Portsmouth, NH

hey LJC from Manchester!
you just can't understand why people would vote for a party that 'takes' money from middle class and gives it to the rich? i don't know how it works where you live but alot of people are looking for work right now and i don't see any poor people hiring. i don't say give the bank away but trickle down from the rich is the only way it has ever worked. bubble up from the poor just don't cut it.
john
- john, bow

Regardless of party affiliation, Jeb is a great guy and is not a lawyer, but a businessman! That is enough for me!
- Gary Hoffman, Bedford

Congratulations Jeb from all of us in Nottingham! Great Job!
- Brian S., Nottingham

No one heard of Bud Martin?

If they haven't heard of Bud Martin then they shouldn't be voting. I've heard of him and I'm not even in his district.

No one initially heard of Barack Obama, John Lynch, or several elected House Representives either, and they won, as Democrats. So I'm not buying the arguement that Martin didn't win b/c of name recognition.

Quit making excuses.
- Tim, Amherst

Bud Martin not only did not take the taxpayer Pledge but I read that he never even responded to the group who keeps track of that stuff. So much for accessibility. Plus I guess people don't want the focus to be on any more 'silly' legislation while spending is going out of control so they voted for someone with fiscal common sense. Let's hope this is a pattern all over NH as people realize they have been burned by the Democrats.

Americans are being looted at every turn and have been burned by the new president. A $400 tax cut is not going to make up for the horrendously expensive policies of this administration and one can't help but realize that Obama is likely bankrupting the country on purpose on behalf of his foreign banker backers. During the presidential campaign Obama said his energy policies would cause energy prices to skyrocket and would bankrupt coal plants. And idiots still voted for him. Cap and trade, based on phony 'climate change' is about to come down on us... after that there are draconian laws to control food and medicine and the control of the sheep in this country will be complete.
- Sue, Manchester

Good month for the NH GOP. First Lynch sides with them on the definition of marraige, and now Jeb Bradley.

Working to take back the House and then working with a moderate Lynch is a good step for NH.

Now if we can only get the Obama Administration to pay their taxes we'll be all set. Like Joe Biden says, it's the Patriotic thing to do.
- Mark, Manchester

I love the excuses being made by the partisan left on here. If the district hs never won by a Democrat and you insinuate that name recognition never gave the Democrat candidate a chance....

... then why even vote? Why wasn't anyone saying this leading up to the election? Have you no faith in the electoral process?

Anyway, the district went back to a GOP candidate and that is significant in a cycle that was HUGELY anti-GOP for alot of good reasons. However, many are begining to switch back.

Bradely won fair and square on being the better candidate. This is not Minnesota where Al Franken's campaign supervisors magically finds more ballots in a voting machine 1-month later or finds ballots in the trunk of his car 2- months after the election. It's a convincing and legit victory.

The GOP won this race, and congrats to them. Their efforts beat the Democrats, and fundraising on local, state, and federal levels is beating the Democrats. A storm could be brewing...

...now back to the future.
- Ben, Concord, NH

Martin was very well known in the district. Aside from being the Democratic nominee and almost winning in 2008 he was a judge for many years and a community activist. He is a good person who everyone knew.
- Nick, Wolfeboro

Thomas Thorpe: we liberals don't "dumb down" the electorate when Republicans win. But I for one do not understand why middle class people would vote for a party dedicated to taking their money and giving it to the very wealthy. It just makes no sense.
- LJC, Manchester

"Peggy Gilmour (D), proceeded to spend about 12 of her 15 minutes telling all the 4th graders that 13 out of 24 Senators are female, and isn't that great, how much fun they have, and we really run the place now"

I am so glad to hear us women are out of the kitchen. One day I hope my daughters can be whom ever they want to be. Thanks to Peggy Gilmour leading the path for them! Peggy your running the place into the ground! Peggy needs to go!

Tommy from Hollis , how did you keep a serious face during that pep talk of hers?!
- EV, Hillsborough

Buckley can't spin this one away, it was a spanking. By a man written off for dead by Democrats and some Republicans, too. You can't keep a good man down.

There'll be a lot more where that came from. Congratulations to Bradley and new GOP leader, Governor Sununu.
- Steve, Manch

Wait a minute "Jack" from Somersworth and the rest of you liberals crying in your granola this morning. What is this claim that Jeb won because no one knew his opponent? Martin just came off running for the same seat in a previous election just a matter of months ago. Of course people know who Bud Martin is, that's why his losses continue to get deeper with each election! Why, when you liberals lose, do you always have to dumb down the voters?
- Thomas Thorpe, Portsmouth, NH

Republican candidate heavily promoted by the Union Leader wins in a heavily Republican district against a virtual unknown. Yawn.
- LJC, Manchester

Big congrats! It's wonderful to see that common sense won out over a well-funded smear campaign. Hopefully this will be the beginning of something much bigger!
- Margo, Moultonborough

You're right, Tommy... totally tangential.

Congrats, Jeb. Now play nice.
- Mathias, Manchester

I deal with politicians on both sides of the aisle. Only one, sitting, United States Congressmen ever handed me a business card with a phone number that he, himself answered: Jeb Bradley (it was his cell).
Jeb is a salt-of-the-Earth guy who cares deeply, about the great state of New Hampshire. We need more of those. Congrats Jeb.
-Jude
- Jude Augusta, Hampton Falls, NH

There was no loud and clear message here! Only a little more than 10% of the voters in the district voted for Bradley.

The only message here was of voter apathy and voters being sick and tired of outside sources getting involved on both side of the isle.

Had this been a local election with true local grassroots efforts you would have seen a bigger turn out and would have a better idea of what the voters are thinking.

I would like to call on both Chairman to stay out of local races like this in the future. My friends who live in the district were very turned off by the mudslinging on both sides and I know many voters did not vote because of it.

So Congrats to Mr. Bradley. We can only hope that we see the Jeb Bradley of his early days in the NH House before he got the Washington Bug. Please stand up to your party and vote how you feel, not how Papa Sununu tells you to.

Oh, by the way, the joke will be on you who did think Jeb had any interest in being your State Senator. This race was a stepping stone and he will be working on his race for Gov, US Senator, or US Congressman and will quickly lose interest in the people of District 3.

You could tell that from his signs. If he had any interest at all in being a State Senator he would have made signs that did not include the date of the Special Election.

Judge Martin however was very serious about being a State Senator and his signs proved it, they did not have any special wording on them, so like the Frugal Yankee he is, they could have been used next year, too bad Mr Bradley will only be a place holder and not a serious Senator!
- Robert, Dover, NH

I wonder what the outcome would have been if the Dems ran someone who people had heard of before?
- Jack, Somersworth

Way to go, Jeb!! Congratulations
- Jayne, Goffstown

Here is a bit of tangential evidence why Jeb Bradley was successful.
Last week I chaperoned a 4th grade visit to the State House. Naturally the schedule was tight with only about 15 minutes spent our elected officials in the House and Senate Chambers. Peggy Gilmour (D), proceeded to spend about 12 of her 15 minutes telling all the 4th graders that 13 out of 24 Senators are female, and isn't that great, how much fun they have, and we really run the place now.
I felt bad for my Son, and embarrassed for her. At least she didn't talk about how great the "Bathroom" bill is!
- Tommy A, Hollis

Jeb's win reflects voter sentiment in his District that he is capable and hard working and cares very much about the future of our state. Congratulations!
- Mike, Newmarket

Congratulations Senator Bradley. Now, get to work!!
- gr chase, Exeter

"State Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley said the seat has always been held by a Republican, and just a few years ago, Democrats didn't even run a candidate for the seat."
Buckley may want to revisit this statement. He seems to have forgotten about George Cleveland who came within 500 votes of winning.
- Mark Hounsell, Conway

Welcome back, Jeb. Congratulations! We know you will do a great job for us all.
- Jackie Atkinson, Litchfield, NH

Nice. The people in this district clearly are impressed with the Democrats idea of "change", so they go back to the tried-and-true. More to come.
- Tom, Campton

The good news is this District has been Republican for years and tonight it remains in the Republican column.
The Democrat was definitely a LIBERAL and that is where the GOP needs to go with future victories.
Obama will lose his popularity as the electorate learn more about where the Democrats want to take us.
The NH Liberal Democrats need to be replaced with principled conservatives.
Take the fight right to the Democrats - beginning with Ray Buckley who is just down right insulting to the good people of NH!
Chairman Ray and Obama have a very low opinion of any who differ with them.
bnyoung@metrocast.net
- Niel Young, Laconia

Hey Bill in Amherst - didn't we proud NH folk tell you to move to Mass a few days ago???

Congrats to Bradley!

Democrats - your chairman seems oblivious to the obvious - the Conservative Revolution has started and will not stop until the White House is back in sane hands in 2012!
- Marc, Weare

Hooray Bradley won!!!

A commment for the editor--if you are really wondering why your readership is down please read this story over again and ask yourself where is the news? The first two paragraphs are just plain negative. Revived his political career? Gimmee it a break, it wasn't dead just because he lost close elections.
Moral Boost? Maybe but this piece reads like it is for Dems to enjoy even though they lost.
According to numbers supplied by the Republicans? Gimme another break...I bet the Dems had the numbers too if you couldn't get your own people out there to gather the numbers. Are you trying to cast doubt?
Try hiring a few reporters who aren't Dem activists.
- Annie, Henniker

This is just the start. People realize they got hood winked by the Democrats. They made big promises and dekivered nothing. Buckley is a "silly" man who is helping the Republicans every time he is opening his mouth.
- Ted, Mnachester

Well done! The time is right in New Hampshire for political leaders with a fiscal moral compass. JEB's election is a step in the right direction. Expect to see him stand firm against the rising tide of irresponsible spending schemes that are the bread and butter of those who currently have Concord in a hammer lock.
- Wes Shuler, East Kingston, NH

No big deal? Then I assume all the money that the Democrats spent on this race just to see their 2008 candidate loss by 22 points was just for the heck of it. Spin this all you want, this was a bad loss for Bud Martin and the Democrats.
- Ryan, Hooksett

Bill In Amherst it is news for many reasons. There has been a democratic shift in this state going on for a few years. The democrats spent a lot of money and used any tactic they could to get their guy elected. The news is that hopefully the voters are waking up and seeing the reality of what is happening now in our state government. One can only hope this is only a stepping stone to get those who do not vote for the residents of this state, those who propose useless legislation when none is needed out of office. Time to take our state out of the hands of those who are there for special interests and not for those that elected them!
- Bill B., Pelham

Congratulations to Jeb Bradley for his election as a State Senator, he really put it to the Democrats and it's nice to see him politically active again. The Voters of his district chose wisely, I only wished I had been living in his district and had cast a vote for him but what the heck I will celebrate anyway from afar.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

Bill, Amherst,
The district did vote democratic in November. It does not take too long for people to realize the direction dems will take in NH.
Bathroom bill, genderless marriage, etc . . .
This has to stop.
- Rich R, Farmington

If Jeb Bradley's election was such a slam dunk for Republicans, per John and Bill,
then why did the Democrat leadership spent so much time and money... and
get so vicious in their attacks? Their actions before the election don't match their comments after the election. Today they sound like sour losers.
- Sally Humphries, Hooksett

I wonder how much Ray Buckley is going to have to pay George W Bush to come up here and campaign for Republicans. I bet it won't be cheap.
- Chris, Merrimack

"Revived his political career" with a NH senate seat? Not exactly.
- Ann Hebert, Dover

The first of many Republican wins.

People have come to realize that the big-government Democrats are destroying the country.
- Bill Howard, Exeter

So, Ray Buckley just wants to sweep this one under the rug. Sorry Ray, after the tens of thousands of dollars and countless last minute attack ads you launched on Jeb, you don't simply get a pass on you or your party's despicable conduct. I do hope you have enjoyed the ride. It has always been known in NH that in the end, Democrats do not know how to handle power. The tide is turning. A bright new day dawned this morning for those who believe in fiscal responsibility and moral common sense. Thank you Jeb & your supporters for helping this party, the true party of the people, turn an important corner!
- Thomas Thorpe, Portsmouth, NH

It's a referendum on what voter's think of the garbage that the Democrats are presenting as legislation!
- Bill, Whitefield

Congratulations to Mr. Bradley.

The fact that a former US Congressman winning a state senate election in a solid Republican district is a "morale boost" for the GOP speaks volumes.

And before anyone crowns Bradley as the watch dog of spending remember he voted in favor of the Medicare Modernization Act (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2003-669).

You know, the bill that cost 100 billion more in the first year alone than was stated. And also the same bill that created more than $10 trillion in unfunded liabilities.

Anyone care to defend his support of that bill?
- John R, Keene

A former 2 term Republican Congressman with much greater name recognition than the Democratic candidate wins in a district that has NEVER voted for a Democrat. This is not news!
- Bill, Amherst

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Jeb Bradley: "Let's table same-sex marriage and fix our state budget"
NH Union Leader, Op-Ed, By JEB BRADLEY, May 29, 2009

American icon Yogi Berra once said, "it's like deja vu all over again." For New Hampshire legislators and voters overwhelmed with the ongoing debate over same-sex marriage, Yogi's words ring true.

Two years ago, New Hampshire approved civil unions, which were designed to ensure that same-sex couples had the same rights and obligations as heterosexual couples under New Hampshire law. Supporters of civil unions (the ardent proponents of same-sex marriage today) claimed then that civil unions would resolve discrimination issues for same-sex couples. Fast forward to this legislative session.

Same-sex marriage legislation was introduced in the House, and initially defeated by one vote, then reconsidered and passed by seven votes. In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee recommended killing the bill. But after an amendment was introduced at the last minute, a senator changed position, and suddenly it passed 13-11. Had the vote been 12-12 as expected, same-sex marriage would have failed. For the record, I voted in opposition to same-sex marriage.

Nail-biting votes are only the beginning of this legislation's problems. Now the actual wording has become a huge issue. First, an amendment was added (without a public hearing) to unrelated legislation to protect religious institutions unwilling to marry same-sex couples from lawsuits claiming discrimination. That did not satisfy Gov. John Lynch. He proposed further language to protect individuals associated with those religious institutions. That language was added to yet a third piece of legislation, again without a public hearing. This sailed through the Senate 14-10, but faltered in the House, losing by two votes, 186-188.

Even veteran observers in Concord are shaking their heads about this chaotic and unprecedented legislative process. Get a block away from the State House and people's heads are spinning over legislative maneuvering, endless votes and the Legislature hijacked by one issue.

Meanwhile, for most New Hampshire citizens, Rome is burning. I recently had an extensive conversation with voters during the special election in my Senate district. Whether in their yards, on their back porches or seated at their kitchen tables, voters told me repeatedly they lay awake at night worried about finding a job, keeping a job, providing for their families and paying their mortgages.

They are further terrified about budget deficits -- deficits of trillions of dollars as far as the eye can see in Washington and hundreds of millions of dollars in Concord. And people are fearful that with these budget deficits only one thing can happen -- taxes will soar.

While the Legislature is distracted by divisive issues, such as same-sex marriage, New Hampshire's unemployment rate has climbed to 6.3 percent, which means nearly 20,000 of our friends and neighbors have lost their jobs in the last year. The national unemployment rate of 8.9 percent is even bleaker.

Can 8.9 percent unemployment happen here? Perhaps. A respected economist predicted that 13,000 more people will lose jobs in New Hampshire before the economy begins to turn around. That's dire for people already worried.

One reason New Hampshire has fared better than other states so far is our perceived low-tax status -- in particular our lack of general income or sales taxes. Unfortunately, that low-tax status is about to change.

While the media spotlight has focused on social issues, such as same-sex marriage, the House budget has proposed new and higher taxes and a multitude of new and increased fees. Most notably, the House budget creates a new capital gains tax (cost $75 million) and a new death tax (cost $10 million), increases the hospitality tax (cost $39 million), the tobacco taxes for the fourth time in five years (cost $57 million) and nearly doubles the gas tax (cost $76 million). All these new taxes and fees will be used to fund increased spending over and above the current budget's spending increase of 17.5 percent. If that were not enough, the House budget fails to fund $133 million of revenue sharing for towns and cities. That means property taxes will soar, especially in communities such as Conway, Exeter, Manchester and Nashua. Are income or sales taxes next?

Here is an idea. Let's put aside the debate on same-sex marriage, as the Legislature is hopelessly divided. Let's focus on our economy and getting people back to work. That must begin with balancing our budget without new and higher taxes on New Hampshire's struggling families and businesses.
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Jeb Bradley is a Republican state senator from Wolfeboro. He represented New Hampshire's 1st District in Congress from 2003-2007.
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READERS' COMMENTS:

It is very important to conservative Republicanics that these socially disruptive issues be saved without solutions so that they can be brought up again and again to distract from the usual blarney they produce about tax cutting to fix anything from hang nails to gun control. The evidence, no matter what has been presented in the past, is that people whose main interest is in money cause huge deficits, wars, economic collapse, and corruption. Reagan ran the deficit from one to four trillion, Bush II from four to eight nine or ten so far. Reagan raised taxes 3.1%. Read it. Learn it. That is not the way to either fix our problems or improve the economy. Average workers have lost ground as the top 10% have garnered 90% of America's wealth. Rich people get free money from the government as it is. How about some for those people who work for a living?
- Robert, Deerfield

Pass the marrage bill and be done with it. I agree that protections for those who have religous objections need to be in place but this has really become a distraction from fixing the rest of the states needs.
- Jeff, Goffstown

I agree. Let's concentrate on matters that affect all instead of spending so much time on a trivial subject. Gay rights are a waste of time.
- Jim H, Manchester

Jeb, even better, lets just let homosexuals marry each other, hope that their marriages are at least as successful as heterosexual marriages (50%, a failing grade in NH school systems), and concentrate on things that effect gays, straights, single people, married couples, blacks and whites: our finances.

I like that idea. Let's "table it" by way of "not giving a damn" and truly be "free".
- mike, manchester, nh

Jeb for Governor in 2010!!
- Timothy Moore, Gilmanton Iron Works

I couldn't disagree more. Civil rights should not be pushed aside. The legislature should be perfectly capable of dealing with more than one issues at one time. If some legislators cannot walk and chew gum, maybe they should find another profession.
- Brian Slater, San Diego, CA

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About Me

My photo
Amherst, NH, United States
I am a citizen defending the people against corrupt Pols who only serve their Corporate Elite masters, not the people! / My 2 political enemies are Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., nicknamed "Luciforo" and former Berkshire County Sheriff Carmen C. Massimiano, Jr. / I have also pasted many of my political essays on "The Berkshire Blog": berkshireeagle.blogspot.com / I AM THE ANTI-FRANK GUINTA! / Please contact me at jonathan_a_melle@yahoo.com

50th Anniversary - 2009

50th Anniversary - 2009
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Columbus Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Pittsfield Politics: Capitanio, Mazzeo agree on budget cuts, public safety

Pittsfield Politics: Capitanio, Mazzeo agree on budget cuts, public safety
Paul Capitanio, left, speaks during Monday night's Ward 3 City Council debate with fellow candidate Melissa Mazzeo at Pittsfield Community Television's studio. The special election (3/31/2009) will be held a week from today (3/24/2009). The local issues ranged from economic development and cleaning up blighted areas in Ward 3 to public education and the continued remediation of PCB's.

Red Sox v Yankees

Red Sox v Yankees
Go Red Sox!

Outrage swells in Congress!

Outrage swells in Congress!
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., left, and the committee's ranking Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., listen during a hearing on modernizing insurance regulations, Tuesday, March 17, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh). - http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090318/pl_politico/30833

Beacon Hill's $pecial Interest Tax Raisers & $PENDERS!

Beacon Hill's $pecial Interest Tax Raisers & $PENDERS!
Photo Gallery: www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/15/St_Patricks_Day_Boston/

The path away from Wall Street ...

The path away from Wall Street ...
...Employers in the finance sector - traditionally a prime landing spot for college seniors, particularly in the Northeast - expect to have 71 percent fewer jobs to offer this year's (2009) graduates.

Economic collapse puts graduates on unforeseen paths: Enrollment in public service jobs rising...

Economic collapse puts graduates on unforeseen paths: Enrollment in public service jobs rising...
www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/14/economic_collapse_puts_graduates_on_unforeseen_paths/

Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis

Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis
Should he be fired? As Bank of America's Stock Plummets, CEO Resists Some Calls That He Step Down.

Hookers for Jesus

Hookers for Jesus
Annie Lobert is the founder of "Hookers for Jesus" - www.hookersforjesus.net/home.cfm - Saving Sin City: Las Vegas, Nevada?

Forever personalized stamped envelope

Forever personalized stamped envelope
The Forever stamp will continue to cover the price of a first-class letter. The USPS will also introduce Forever personalized, stamped envelopes. The envelopes will be preprinted with a Forever stamp, the sender's name and return address, and an optional personal message.

Purple Heart

Purple Heart
First issued in 2003, the Purple heart stamp will continue to honor the men and women wounded while serving in the US military. The Purple Heart stamp covers the cost of 44 cents for first-class, one-ounce mail.

Dolphin

Dolphin
The bottlenose is just one of the new animals set to appear on the price-change stamps. It will serve as a 64-cent stamp for odd shaped envelopes.

2009 price-change stamps

2009 price-change stamps
www.boston.com/business/gallery/2009pircechangestamps/ -&- www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/27/new_stamps_set_for_rate_increase_in_may/

Red Sox v Yankees

Red Sox v Yankees
Go Red Sox!

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama
AP photo v Shepard Fairey

Rush Limbaugh lackeys

Rush Limbaugh lackeys
Posted by Dan Wasserman of the Boston Globe on March 3, 2009.

Honest Abe

Honest Abe
A 2007 US Penny

Dog race

Dog race
Sledding for dogs

The Capital of the Constitution State

The Capital of the Constitution State
Hartford, once the wealthiest city in the United States but now the poorest in Connecticut, is facing an uphill battle.

Brady, Bundchen married

Brady, Bundchen married
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and model Gisele Bundchen wed Feb. 26, 2009 in a Catholic ceremony in Los Angeles. www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/gallery/tom_gisele/

Mayor Jimmy Ruberto

Mayor Jimmy Ruberto
Tanked Pittsfield's local economy while helping his fellow insider political hacks and business campaign contributors!

Journalist Andrew Manuse

Journalist Andrew Manuse
www.manuse.com

New Hampshire Supreme Court Building

New Hampshire Supreme Court Building
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Supreme_Court

Economic State of the Union

Economic State of the Union
A look at some of the economic conditions the Obama administration faces and what resources have already been pledged to help. 2/24/2009

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama
The president addresses the nation's governors during a dinner in the State Dinning Room, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari).

The Oscars - 2/22/2009.

The Oscars - 2/22/2009.
Hugh Jackman and Beyoncé Knowles teamed up for a musical medley during the show.

The 81st Academy Awards - Oscars - 2009

The 81st Academy Awards - Oscars - 2009
Hugh Jackman pulled actress Anne Hathaway on stage to accompany him during his opening musical number.

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow
A Progressive News Commentator

$500,000 per year

$500,000 per year
That is chump change for the corporate elite!

THE CORPORATE ELITE...

THE CORPORATE ELITE...
Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and chief executive of General Electric

The Presidents' Club

The Presidents' Club
Bush, Obama, Bush Jr, Clinton & Carter.

5 Presidents: Bush, Obama, Bush Jr, Clinton, & Carter!

5 Presidents: Bush, Obama, Bush Jr, Clinton, & Carter!
White House Event: January 7, 2009.

Bank Bailout!

Bank Bailout!
v taxpayer

Actress Elizabeth Banks

Actress Elizabeth Banks
She will present an award to her hometown (Pittsfield) at the Massachusetts State House next month (1/2009). She recently starred in "W" and "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," and just signed a $1 million annual contract to be a spokesmodel for Paris.

Joanna Lipper

Joanna Lipper
Her award-winning 1999 documentary, "Growing Up Fast," about teenaged mothers in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Happy Holidays...

Happy Holidays...
...from "Star Wars"

Massachusetts "poor" economy

Massachusetts "poor" economy
Massachusetts is one of the wealthiest states, but it is also very inequitable. For example, it boasts the nation's most lucrative lottery, which is just a system of regressive taxation so that the corporate elite get to pay less in taxes!

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon
Hollywood Actress

Peter G. Arlos.

Peter G. Arlos.
Arlos is shown in his Pittsfield office in early 2000.

Turnpike OK's hefty toll hikes

Turnpike OK's hefty toll hikes
Big Dig - East-west commuters take hit; Fees at tunnels would double. 11/15/2008.

The Pink Panther 2

The Pink Panther 2
Starring Steve Martin

Police ABUSE

Police ABUSE
I was a victim of Manchester Police Officer John Cunningham's ILLEGAL USES of FORCE! John Cunningham was reprimanded by the Chief of Police for disrespecting me. John Cunningham yelled at a witness: "I don't care if he (Jonathan Melle) is disabled!"

Barack Obama

Barack Obama
The 44th US President!

Vote

Vote
Elections

The Bailout & the economic stimulus check

The Bailout & the economic stimulus check
A political cartoon by Dan Wasserman

A rainbow over Boston

A rainbow over Boston
"Rainbows galore" 10/2/2008

Our nation's leaders!

Our nation's leaders!
President Bush with both John McCain & Barack Obama - 9/25/2008.

Massachusetts & Big Dig: Big hike in tolls for Pike looming (9/26/2008).

Massachusetts & Big Dig: Big hike in tolls for Pike looming (9/26/2008).
$5 rise at tunnels is one possibility $1 jump posed for elsewhere.

Mary E Carey

Mary E Carey
My FAVORITE Journalist EVER!

9/11/2008 - A Show of Unity!

9/11/2008 - A Show of Unity!
John McCain and Barack Obama appeared together at ground zero in New York City - September 11, 2008.

John McCain...

John McCain...
...has all but abandoned the positions on taxes, torture and immigration. (A cartoon by Dan Wasserman. September 2008).

Dan Wasserman

Dan Wasserman
The deregulated chickens come home to roost... in all our pocketbooks. September 2008.

Sarah Palin's phobia

Sarah Palin's phobia
A scripted candidate! (A cartoon by Dan Wasserman).

Dan Wasserman

Dan Wasserman
Family FInances - September, 2008.

Mark E. Roy

Mark E. Roy
Ward 1 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Theodore “Ted” L. Gatsas

Theodore “Ted” L. Gatsas
Ward 2 Alderman (& NH State Senator) for Manchester, NH (2008).

Peter M. Sullivan

Peter M. Sullivan
Ward 3 (downtown) Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Jim Roy

Jim Roy
Ward 4 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Ed Osborne

Ed Osborne
Ward 5 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Real R. Pinard

Real R. Pinard
Ward 6 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

William P. Shea

William P. Shea
Ward 7 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Betsi DeVries

Betsi DeVries
Ward 8 Alder-woman (& NH State Senator) for Manchester, NH (2008).

Michael Garrity

Michael Garrity
Ward 9 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

George Smith

George Smith
Ward 10 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Russ Ouellette

Russ Ouellette
Ward 11 Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Kelleigh (Domaingue) Murphy

Kelleigh (Domaingue) Murphy
Ward 12 Alder-woman for Manchester, NH (2008).

“Mike” Lopez

“Mike” Lopez
At-Large Alderman for Manchester, NH. (2008).

Daniel P. O’Neil

Daniel P. O’Neil
At-Large Alderman for Manchester, NH (2008).

Sarah Palin for Vice President.

Sarah Palin for Vice President.
Republican John McCain made the surprise pick of Alaska's governor Sarah Palin as his running mate today, August 29, 2008.

U.S. Representative John Olver, D-Amherst, Massachusetts.

U.S. Representative John Olver, D-Amherst, Massachusetts.
Congressman Olver said the country has spent well over a half-trillion dollars on the war in Iraq while the situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate. 8/25/08.

Ed O'Reilly for US Senate in Massachusetts!

Ed O'Reilly for US Senate in Massachusetts!
John Kerry's 9/2008 challenger in the Democratic Primary.

Shays' Rebellion

Shays' Rebellion
In a tax revolt, Massachusetts farmers fought back during Shays' Rebellion in the mid-1780s after The American Revolutionary War.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore
Actress. "The Big Lebowski" is one of my favorite movies. I also like "The Fugitive", too.

Rinaldo Del Gallo III & "Superman"

Rinaldo Del Gallo III & "Superman"
Go to: http://www.berkshirefatherhood.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=699&cntnt01returnid=69

"Income chasm widening in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts"

"Income chasm widening in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts"
The gap between rich and poor has widened substantially in Massachusetts over the past two decades. (8/15/2008).

Dan "Bureaucrat" Bosley

Dan "Bureaucrat" Bosley
"The Bosley Amendment": To create tax loopholes for the wealthiest corporate interests in Massachusetts!

John Edwards and...

John Edwards and...
...Rielle Hunter. WHO CARES?!

Rep. Edward J. Markey

Rep. Edward J. Markey
He wants online-privacy legislation. Some Web Firms Say They Track Behavior Without Explicit Consent.

Cindy Sheehan

Cindy Sheehan
She gained fame with her antiwar vigil outside the Bush ranch.

Olympics kick off in Beijing

Olympics kick off in Beijing
Go USA!

Exxon Mobil 2Q profit sets US record, shares fall

Exxon Mobil 2Q profit sets US record, shares fall
In this May 1, 2008, file photo, a customer pumps gas at an Exxon station in Middleton, Mass. Exxon Mobil Corp. reported second-quarter earnings of $11.68 billion Thursday, July 31, the biggest quarterly profit ever by any U.S. corporation, but the results were well short of Wall Street expectations and its shares fell as markets opened. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, File) 7/31/2008.

Onota Lake 'Sea Serpent'

Onota Lake 'Sea Serpent'
Some kind of monster on Onota Lake. Five-year-old Tyler Smith rides a 'sea serpent' on Onota Lake in Pittsfield, Mass. The 'monster,' fashioned by Smith's grandfather, first appeared over July 4 weekend. (Photo courtesy of Ron Smith). 7/30/2008.

Al Gore, Jr.

Al Gore, Jr.
Al Gore issues challenge on energy

The Norman Rockwell Museum

The Norman Rockwell Museum
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

"Big Dig"

"Big Dig"
Boston's financially wasteful pork barrel project!

"Big Dig"

"Big Dig"
Boston's pork barrel public works project cost 50 times more than the original price!

Mary E Carey

Mary E Carey
My favorite journalist EVER!

U.S. Rep. John Olver, state Sen. Stan Rosenberg and Selectwomen Stephanie O'Keeffe and Alisa Brewer

U.S. Rep. John Olver, state Sen. Stan Rosenberg and Selectwomen Stephanie O'Keeffe and Alisa Brewer
Note: Photo from Mary E Carey's Blog.

Tanglewood

Tanglewood
Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine.

Google

Google
Chagall

Jimmy Ruberto

Jimmy Ruberto
Faces multiple persecutions under the Massachusetts "Ethics" conflict of interest laws.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama
Obama vows $500m in faith-based aid.

John McCain

John McCain
He is with his wife, Cindy, who were both met by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe (right) upon arriving in Cartagena.

Daniel Duquette

Daniel Duquette
Sold Mayor James M. Ruberto of Pittsfield two tickets to the 2004 World Series at face value.

Hillary & Barack in Unity, NH - 6/27/2008

Hillary & Barack in Unity, NH - 6/27/2008
Clinton tells Obama, crowd in Unity, N.H.: 'We are one party'

John Forbes Kerry

John Forbes Kerry
Wanna-be Prez?

WALL-E

WALL-E
"out of this World"

Crisis in the Congo - Ben Affleck

Crisis in the Congo - Ben Affleck
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/popup?id=5057139&contentIndex=1&page=1&start=false - http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=5234555&page=1

Jeanne Shaheen

Jeanne Shaheen
NH's Democratic returning candidate for U.S. Senate

"Wall-E"

"Wall-E"
a cool robot

Ed O'Reilly

Ed O'Reilly
www.edoreilly.com

Go Celtics!

Go Celtics!
World Champions - 2008

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
J.D. Drew gets the same welcome whenever he visits the City of Brotherly Love: "Booooooo!"; Drew has been vilified in Philadelphia since refusing to sign with the Phillies after they drafted him in 1997...

Joe Kelly Levasseur & Joe Briggs

Joe Kelly Levasseur & Joe Briggs
www.2joes.org

NH Union Leader

NH Union Leader
Editorial Cartoon

Celtics - World Champions!

Celtics - World Champions!
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/gallery/06_18_08_front_pages/ - www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/gallery/06_17_08_finals_game_6/ - www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/gallery/06_17_08_celebration/ - www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/gallery/06_15_08_celtics_championships/

"The Nation"

"The Nation"
A "Liberal" weekly political news magazine. Katrina vanden Heuvel.

TV - PBS: NOW

TV - PBS: NOW
http://www.pbs.org/now

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone
List of Twilight Zone episodes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Twilight_Zone_episodes

Equality for ALL Marriages

Equality for ALL Marriages
I, Jonathan Melle, am a supporter of same sex marriages.

Kobe Bryant leads his time to a Game 5 victory.

Kobe Bryant leads his time to a Game 5 victory.
L.A. Lakers holds on for the win to force Game 6 at Boston

Mohawk Trail

Mohawk Trail
The 'Hail to the Sunrise' statue in Charlemont is a well-known and easily recognized landmark on the Mohawk Trail. The trail once boasted several souvenir shops, some with motels and restaurants. Now only four remain. (Caroline Bonnivier / Berkshire Eagle Staff).

NASA - June 14, 2008

NASA - June 14, 2008
Space Shuttle Discovery returns to Earth.

Go Celtics! Game # 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

Go Celtics! Game # 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.
Boston took a 20-second timeout, and the Celtics ran off four more points (including this incredible Erving-esque layup from Ray Allen) to build the lead to five points with just 2:10 remaining. Reeling, the Lakers took a full timeout to try to regain their momentum.

Sal DiMasi

Sal DiMasi
Speaker of the Massachusetts State House of Representatives

Kelly Ayotte - Attorney General of New Hampshire

Kelly Ayotte - Attorney General of New Hampshire
http://doj.nh.gov/

John Kerry

John Kerry
He does not like grassroots democracy & being challenged in the 2008 Massachusetts Democratic Party Primary for re-election.

Tim Murray

Tim Murray
Corrupt Lt. Gov. of Massachusetts, 2007 - 2013.

North Adams, Massachusetts

North Adams, Massachusetts
downtown

Howie Carr

Howie Carr
Political Satirist on Massachusetts Corruption/Politics

Polar Bear

Polar Bear
Global Warming

Elizabeth Warren - Web-Site Links

Elizabeth Warren - Web-Site Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Warren & http://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/WarrenAuthor.html

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren
Consumer Crusader

Leon Powe

Leon Powe
Celtics forward Leon Powe finished a fast break with a dunk.

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett reacted during the game.

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo finished a first half fast break with a dunk.

Teamwork

Teamwork
Los Angeles Lakers teammates help Pau Gasol (16) from the floor in the second quarter.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant took a shot in the first half of Game 2.

Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins (right) backed down Lamar Odom (left) during first half action.

Go Celtics!

Go Celtics!
The Boston Symphony Orchestra performed the national anthem prior to Game 2.

K.G.!

K.G.!
Garnett reacted to a hard dunk in the first quarter.

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce reacted after hitting a three upon his return to the game since leaving with an injury.

Go Celtics!

Go Celtics!
Kobe Bryant (left) and Paul Pierce (right) squared off in the second half of the game.

James Taylor

James Taylor
Sings National Anthem at Celtics Game.

John Forbes Kerry & Deval Patrick

John Forbes Kerry & Deval Patrick
Attended Celtics Game.

Greats of the NBA: Dr. J, Bill Russell, & Kareem!

Greats of the NBA: Dr. J, Bill Russell, & Kareem!
Attend Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis
The actor (left) and his date were in the crowd before the Celtics game.

John Kerry

John Kerry
Golddigger attends Celtics game

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton
Ends her 2008 bid for Democratic Party nomination

Nonnie Burnes

Nonnie Burnes
Massachusetts Insurance Commish & former Judge

Jones Library

Jones Library
Amherst, Massachusetts

Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton

Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton
2008 Democratic Primary

"US vs Exxon and Halliburton"

"US vs Exxon and Halliburton"
U.S. Senator John Sununu took more than $220,000 from big oil.

Jeanne Shaheen

Jeanne Shaheen
4- U.S. Senate - 2008

William Pignatelli

William Pignatelli
Hack Rep. "Smitty" with Lynne Blake

Ben Bernanke

Ben Bernanke
Federal Reserve Chairman

Gazettenet.com

Gazettenet.com
www.gazettenet.com/beta/

Boys' & Girls' Club

Boys' & Girls' Club
Melville Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Denis Guyer

Denis Guyer
Dalton State Representative

The Berkshire Eagle

The Berkshire Eagle
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Carmen Massimiano

Carmen Massimiano
Williams College - May 2008

Larry Bird & Magic Johnson

Larry Bird & Magic Johnson
www.boston.com/lifestyle/gallery/when_the_celtics_were_cool/

Regressive Taxation! via State Lotteries

Regressive Taxation! via State Lotteries
New Massachusetts state lottery game hits $600 million in sales!

Andrea Nuciforo

Andrea Nuciforo
"Luciforo"

John Barrett III

John Barrett III
Long-time Mayor of North Adams Massachusetts

Shine On

Shine On

Elmo

Elmo
cool!

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce kissed the Eastern Conference trophy. 5/30/2008. AP Photo.

Kevin Garnett & Richard Hamilton

Kevin Garnett & Richard Hamilton
Kevin Garnett (left) talked to Pistons guard Richard Hamilton (right) after the Celtics' victory in Game 6. 5/30/2008. Reuters Photo.

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce showed his team colors as the Celtics closed out the Pistons in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. 5/30/2008. Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis.

Joseph Kelly Levasseur

Joseph Kelly Levasseur
One of my favorite politicians!

Mary E Carey

Mary E Carey
In the Big Apple: NYC! She is the coolest!

Guyer & Kerry

Guyer & Kerry
My 2nd least favorite picture EVER!

Mary Carey

Mary Carey
My favorite journalist EVER!

Nuciforo & Ruberto

Nuciforo & Ruberto
My least favorite picture EVER!

Jeanne Shaheen

Jeanne Shaheen
U.S. Senate - 2008

NH Fisher Cats

NH Fisher Cats
AA Baseball - Toronto Blue Jays affiliate

Manchester, NH

Manchester, NH
Police Patch

Michael Briggs

Michael Briggs
#83 - We will never forget

Michael "Stix" Addison

Michael "Stix" Addison
http://unionleader.com/channel.aspx/News?channel=2af17ff4-f73b-4c44-9f51-092e828e1131

Charlie Gibson

Charlie Gibson
ABC News anchor

Scott McClellan

Scott McClellan
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/scott_mcclellan/index.html?inline=nyt-per

Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho
Downtown Boise Idaho

John Forbes Kerry

John Forbes Kerry
Legislative Hearing in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, BCC, on Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson
My favorite classical U.S. President!

NH Governor John Lynch

NH Governor John Lynch
Higher Taxes, Higher Tolls

Paul Hodes

Paul Hodes
My favorite Congressman!

Portland Sea Dogs

Portland Sea Dogs
AA Red Sox

New York

New York
Magnet

Massachusetts

Massachusetts
Magnet

New Hampshire

New Hampshire
Magnet

New Hampshire

New Hampshire
Button

Carmen Massimiano

Carmen Massimiano
"Luciforo" tried to send me to Carmen's Jail during the Spring & Summer of 1998.

Kay Khan - Massachusetts State Representative

Kay Khan - Massachusetts State Representative
www.openmass.org/members/show/174

Luciforo

Luciforo
Andrea F Nuciforo II

B-Eagle

B-Eagle
Pittsfield's monopoly/only daily newspaper

Jon Lester - Go Red Sox!

Jon Lester - Go Red Sox!
A Red Sox No Hitter on 5/19/2008!

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
Dustin Pedroia & Manny Ramirez

U.S. Flag

U.S. Flag
God Bless America!

Jonathan Melle's Blog

Jonathan Melle's Blog
Hello, Everyone!

Molly Bish

Molly Bish
We will never forget!

Go Celtics!

Go Celtics!
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo listens to some advice from Celtics head coach Doc Rivers in the first half.

Go Celtics!

Go Celtics!
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett and Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace embrace at the end of the game.

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon calls for the ball as he charges toward first base. Papelbon made the out en route to picking up his 14th save of the season.

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka throws to Royals David DeJesus during the first inning.

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka delivers a pitch to Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek during the second inning.

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew is welcomed to home plate by teammates Mike Lowell (left), Kevin Youkilis (2nd left) and Manny Ramirez after he hit a grand slam in the second inning.

Go Red Sox!

Go Red Sox!
Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell crosses the plate after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning. Teammates Manny Ramirez and Jacoby Ellsbury scored on the play. The Red Sox went on to win 11-8 to complete a four-game sweep and perfect homestand.

JD Drew - Go Red Sox

JD Drew - Go Red Sox
www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/gallery/05_22_08_sox_royals/

Thank you for serving; God Bless America!

Thank you for serving; God Bless America!
Master Sgt. Kara B. Stackpole, of Westfield, holds her daughter, Samantha, upon her return today to Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. She is one of the 38 members of the 439th Aeromedical Staging Squadron who returned after a 4-month deployment in Iraq. Photo by Dave Roback / The Republican.

Kathi-Anne Reinstein

Kathi-Anne Reinstein
www.openmass.org/members/show/175

Ted Kennedy

Ted Kennedy
Tragic diagnosis: Get well Senator!

Google doodle - Jonathan Melle Internet search

Google doodle - Jonathan Melle Internet search
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&q=jonathan+melle+blogurl:http://jonathanmelleonpolitics.blogspot.com/&ie=UTF-8

John Forbes Kerry

John Forbes Kerry
Billionaire U.S. Senator gives address to MCLA graduates in North Adams, Massachusetts in mid-May 2008

Andrea Nuciforo

Andrea Nuciforo
"Luciforo"

A Red Sox Fan in Paris, France

A Red Sox Fan in Paris, France
Go Red Sox!

Rinaldo Del Gallo III

Rinaldo Del Gallo III
Interviewed on local TV

Andrea Nuciforo

Andrea Nuciforo
Luciforo!

John Adams

John Adams
#2 U.S. President

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
I stood under a tree on the afternoon of May 9, 2008, on the foregrounds of the NH State House - www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/nhinsider/vpost?id=2967773

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Inside the front lobby of the NH State House

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Bill Clinton campaign memorabilia

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Liberty Bell & NH State House

Jon Keller

Jon Keller
Boston based political analyst

Jon Keller

Jon Keller
Boston based political analyst

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Franklin Pierce Statue #14 U.S. President

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
NH State House

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Stop the War NOW!

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
"Mr. Melle, tear down this Blog!"

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
I stood next to a JFK photo

Jonathan Levine, Publisher

Jonathan Levine, Publisher
The Pittsfield Gazette Online

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
I made rabbit ears with John & George

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
I made antenna ears with John & George

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
I impersonated Howard Dean

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
mock-voting

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
pretty ladies -/- Go to: http://www.wgir.com/cc-common/cc_photopop20.html?eventID=28541&pagecontent=&pagenum=4 - Go to: http://current.com/items/88807921_veterans_should_come_first_not_last# - http://www.mcam23.com/cgi-bin/cutter.cgi?c_function=STREAM?c_feature=EDIT?dir_catagory=10MorningRadio?dir_folder=2JoesClips?dir_file=JonathanMelle-090308? -

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Go Red Sox! Me at Fenway Park

Mary E. Carey

Mary E. Carey
My favorite journalist! Her voice sings for the Voiceless. -/- Go to: http://aboutamherst.blogspot.com/search?q=melle -/- Go to: http://ongeicocaveman.blogspot.com/search?q=melle

Velvet Jesus

Velvet Jesus
Mary Carey blogs about my political writings. This is a picture of Jesus from her childhood home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. -//- "How Can I Keep From Singing" : My life goes on in endless song / Above Earth's lamentations, / I hear the real, though far-off hymn / That hails a new creation. / / Through all the tumult and the strife / I hear its music ringing, / It sounds an echo in my soul. / How can I keep from singing? / / Whey tyrants tremble in their fear / And hear their death knell ringing, / When friends rejoice both far and near / How can I keep from singing? / / In prison cell and dungeon vile / Our thoughts to them are winging / When friends by shame are undefiled / How can I keep from singing?

www.truthdig.com

www.truthdig.com
www.truthdig.com

Jonathan Melle

Jonathan Melle
Concord NH

The Huffington Post

The Huffington Post
http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=loc&newest=1&addr=&zip=01201&search=Search

Barack Obama

Barack Obama
smiles & beer

Jonathan Lothrop

Jonathan Lothrop
A Pittsfield City Councilor

Michael L. Ward

Michael L. Ward
A Pittsfield City Councilor

Peter Marchetti - Pittsfield's City Councilor at Large

Peter Marchetti - Pittsfield's City Councilor at Large
Pete always sides with the wealthy's political interests.

Gerald Lee - Pittsfield's City Council Prez

Gerald Lee - Pittsfield's City Council Prez
Gerald Lee told me that I am a Social Problem; Lee executes a top-down system of governance. R.I.P. Gerry Lee.

Matt Kerwood - Pittsfield's Councilor at Large

Matt Kerwood - Pittsfield's Councilor at Large
Kerwood poured coffee drinks for Jane Swift

Louis Costi

Louis Costi
Pittsfield City Councilor

Lewis Markham

Lewis Markham
Pittsfield City Councilor

Kevin Sherman - Pittsfield City Councilor

Kevin Sherman - Pittsfield City Councilor
Sherman ran for Southern Berkshire State Rep against Smitty Pignatelli; Sherman is a good guy.

Anthony Maffuccio

Anthony Maffuccio
Pittsfield City Councilor

Linda Tyer

Linda Tyer
Pittsfield City Councilor

Daniel Bianchi

Daniel Bianchi
A Pittsfield City Councilor

The Democratic Donkey

The Democratic Donkey
Democratic Party Symbol

Paramount

Paramount
What is Paramount to you?

NH's Congresswoman

NH's Congresswoman
Carol Shea-Porter, Democrat

Sam Adams Beer

Sam Adams Beer
Boston Lager

Ratatouille

Ratatouille
Disney Animation

Ruberto Details Plans for Success - January 07, 2008

Ruberto Details Plans for Success - January 07, 2008
"Luciforo" swears in Mayor Ruberto. Pittsfield Politics at its very worst: 2 INSIDER POWERBROKERS! Where is Carmen Massimiano? He must be off to the side.

Abe

Abe
Lincoln

Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime
Leader of the Autobots

Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime
1984 Autobot Transformer Leader

Cleanup Agreements - GE & Pittsfield's PCBs toxic waste sites

Cleanup Agreements - GE & Pittsfield's PCBs toxic waste sites
www.epa.gov/region1/ge/cleanupagreement.html

GE/Housatonic River Site: Introduction

GE/Housatonic River Site: Introduction
www.epa.gov/region1/ge/

GE/Housatonic River Site - Reports

GE/Housatonic River Site - Reports
www.epa.gov/region1/ge/thesite/opca-reports.html

US EPA - Contact - Pittsfield's PCBs toxic waste sites

US EPA - Contact -  Pittsfield's PCBs toxic waste sites
www.epa.gov/region1/ge/contactinfo.html

GE Corporate Logo - Pittsfield's PCBs toxic waste sites

GE Corporate Logo - Pittsfield's PCBs toxic waste sites
www.epa.gov/region1/ge/index.html

Commonwealth Connector

Commonwealth Connector
Commonwealth Care

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Healthcare Reform

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Healthcare Reform

Network Health Forward - A Commonwealth Care Plan

Network Health Forward - A Commonwealth Care Plan
Massachusetts Health Reform

Network Health Together: A MassHealth Plan - Commonwealth Care

Network Health Together: A MassHealth Plan - Commonwealth Care
Massachusetts Health Reform

www.network-health.org

www.network-health.org
Massachusetts Health Reform

Neighborhood Health Plan - Commonwealth Care

Neighborhood Health Plan - Commonwealth Care
Massachusetts Health Reform

Fallon Community Health Plan - Commonwealth Care

Fallon Community Health Plan - Commonwealth Care
Massachusetts Health Reform

BMC HealthNet Plan

BMC HealthNet Plan
Massachusetts Health Reform

Massachusetts Health Reform

Massachusetts Health Reform
Eligibility Chart: 2007

Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare

Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare
Massachusetts Health Reform

Business Peaks

Business Peaks
Voodoo Economics

Laffer Curve - Corporate Elite

Laffer Curve - Corporate Elite
Reagonomics: Supply Side

Corporate Elite Propaganda

Corporate Elite Propaganda
Mock Liberal Democratic Socialism Thinking

Real Estate Blues

Real Estate Blues
www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/2008/0316/

PEACE

PEACE
End ALL Wars!

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech
Norman Rockwell's World War II artwork depicting America's values

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln
A young Abe Lincoln

RACHEL KAPRIELIAN

RACHEL KAPRIELIAN
www.openmass.org/members/show/218 - www.rachelkaprielian.com

Jennifer M. Callahan - Massachusetts State Representative

Jennifer M. Callahan - Massachusetts State Representative
www.openmass.org/members/show/164 - www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/04/legislator_describes_threat_as_unnerving/

Human Rights for ALL Peoples!

Human Rights for ALL Peoples!
My #1 Political Belief!

Anne Frank

Anne Frank
Amsterdam, Netherlands, Europe

A young woman Hillary supporter

A young woman Hillary supporter
This excellent picture captures a youth's excitement

Hillary Clinton with Natalie Portman

Hillary Clinton with Natalie Portman
My favorite Actress!

Alan Chartock

Alan Chartock
WAMC public radio in Albany, NY; Political columnist who writes about Berkshire County area politics; Strong supporter for Human Rights for ALL Peoples

OpenCongress.Org

OpenCongress.Org
This web-site uses some of my Blog postings

OpenMass.org

OpenMass.org
This web-site uses some of my blog postings!

Shannon O'Brien

Shannon O'Brien
One of my favorite politicians! She stands for the People first!

The Massachusetts State House

The Massachusetts State House
"The Almighty Golden Dome" - www.masslegislature.tv -

Sara Hathaway

Sara Hathaway
Former Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.

Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.
A corrupt Pol who tried to put me in Jail

Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.

Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr.
Another view of Pittsfield's inbred, multigenerational political prince. Luciforo!

Luciforo

Luciforo
Nuciforo's nickname

"Andy" Nuciforo

"Andy" Nuciforo
Luciforo!

Carmen C. Massimiano, Jr., Berkshire County Sheriff (Jailer)

Carmen C. Massimiano, Jr., Berkshire County Sheriff (Jailer)
Nuciforo's henchman! Nuciforo tried to send me to Carmen's Jail

Andrea Nuciforo Jr

Andrea Nuciforo Jr
Shhh! Luciforo's other job is working as a private attorney defending wealthy Boston-area corporate insurance companies

Berkshire County Sheriff (Jailer) Carmen C. Massimiano, Jr.

Berkshire County Sheriff (Jailer) Carmen C. Massimiano, Jr.
Nuciforo tried to send me to Carmen's Jail! Carmen sits with the Congressman, John Olver

Congressman John Olver

Congressman John Olver
Nuciforo's envy

The Dome of the U.S. Capitol

The Dome of the U.S. Capitol
Our Beacon of American Democracy

Nuciforo's architect

Nuciforo's architect
Mary O'Brien in red with scarf

Sara Hathaway (www.brynmawr.edu)

Sara Hathaway (www.brynmawr.edu)
Former-Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Nuciforo intimidated her, along with another woman, from running in a democratic state election in the Spring of 2006!

Andrea F. Nuciforo II

Andrea F. Nuciforo II
Pittsfield Politics Pot $

Berkshire County Republican Association

Berkshire County Republican Association
Go to: www.fcgop.blogspot.com

Denis Guyer

Denis Guyer
Dalton State Representative

John Forbes Kerry & Denis Guyer

John Forbes Kerry & Denis Guyer
U.S. Senator & State Representative

John Kerry

John Kerry
Endorses Barack Obama for Prez then visits Berkshire County

Dan Bosley

Dan Bosley
A Bureaucrat impostoring as a Legislator!

Ben Downing

Ben Downing
Berkshire State Senator

Christopher N Speranzo

Christopher N Speranzo
Pittsfield's ANOINTED State Representative

Peter J. Larkin

Peter J. Larkin
Corrupt Lobbyist

GE - Peter Larkin's best friend!

GE - Peter Larkin's best friend!
GE's FRAUDULENT Consent Decree with Pittsfield, Massachusetts, will end up KILLING many innocent school children & other local residents!

GE's CEO Jack Welch

GE's CEO Jack Welch
The Corporate System's Corporate Elite's King

Economics: Where Supply meets Demand

Economics: Where Supply meets Demand
Equilibrium

GE & Pittsfield, Massachusetts

GE & Pittsfield, Massachusetts
In 2007, GE sold its Plastics Division to a Saudi company. Now all that is left over by GE are its toxic PCB pollutants that cause cancer in many Pittsfield residents.

Mayor James M Ruberto

Mayor James M Ruberto
A small-time pol chooses to serve the corporate elite & other elites over the people.

Governor Deval Patrick

Governor Deval Patrick
Deval shakes hands with Mayors in Berkshire County

Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick
Governor of Massachusetts

Pittsfield High School

Pittsfield High School
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Sara Hathaway

Sara Hathaway
Pittsfield's former Mayor

Rinaldo Del Gallo III

Rinaldo Del Gallo III
Pittsfield Attorney focusing on Father's Rights Probate Court Legal Issues, & Local Politician and Political Observer

Rinaldo Del Gallo III

Rinaldo Del Gallo III
Very Intelligent Political Activists in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Rinaldo Del Gallo, III, Esq. is the spokesperson of the Berkshire Fatherhood Coalition. He has been practicing family law and has been a member of the Massachusetts bar since 1996.

Mayor Ed Reilly

Mayor Ed Reilly
He supports Mayor Ruberto & works as a municipal Attorney. As Mayor, he backed Bill Weld for Governor in 1994, despite being a Democrat. He was joined by Carmen Massimiano & John Barrett III, the long-standing Mayor of North Adams.

Manchester, NH Mayor Frank Guinta

Manchester, NH Mayor Frank Guinta
Cuts Dental Care for Public School Children-in-Need

Manchester, NH City Hall

Manchester, NH City Hall
My new hometown - view from Hanover St. intersection with Elm St.

Manchester NH City Democrats

Manchester NH City Democrats
Go Dems!

2008 Democratic Candidates for U.S. Prez

2008 Democratic Candidates for U.S. Prez
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards

NH State House Dome

NH State House Dome
Concord, NH

Donna Walto

Donna Walto
Pittsfield Politician -- She strongly opposes Mayor Jim Ruberto's elitist tenure.

Elmo

Elmo
Who doesn't LOVE Elmo?

Hillary Clinton for U.S. President!

Hillary Clinton for U.S. President!
Hillary is for Children. She is my choice in 2008.

The White House in 1800

The White House in 1800
Home of our Presidents of the United States

John Adams

John Adams
2nd President of the USA

Hillary Clinton stands with John Edwards and Joe Biden

Hillary Clinton stands with John Edwards and Joe Biden
Hillary is my choice for U.S. President!

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton speaks at the Radisson in Manchester NH 11/16/2007

Barack Obama

Barack Obama
U.S. Senator & Candidate for President

Pittsfield's 3 Women City Councillors - 2004

Pittsfield's 3 Women City Councillors - 2004
Linda Tyer, Pam Malumphy, Tricia Farley-Bouvier

Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
My friend Brian Merzbach reviews baseball parks around the nation.

The Corporate Elite: Rational Incentives for only the wealthy

The Corporate Elite: Rational Incentives for only the wealthy
The Elites double their $ every 6 to 8 years, while the "have-nots" double their $ every generation (or 24 years). Good bye Middle Class!

George Will

George Will
The human satellite voice for the Corporate Elite

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren
The Anti-George Will; Harvard Law School Professor; The Corporate Elite's Worst Nightmare

The Flag of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Flag of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
I was born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

State Senator Stan Rosenberg

State Senator Stan Rosenberg
Democratic State Senator from Amherst, Massachusetts -/- Anti-Stan Rosenberg Blog: rosenbergwatch.blogspot.com

Ellen Story

Ellen Story
Amherst Massachusetts' State Representative

Teen Pregnancy in Pittsfield, Mass.

Teen Pregnancy in Pittsfield, Mass.
Books are being written on Pittsfield's high teen pregancy rates! What some intellectuals do NOT understand about the issue is that TEEN PREGNANCIES in Pittsfield double the statewide average by design - Perverse Incentives!

NH Governor John Lynch

NH Governor John Lynch
Supports $30 Scratch Tickets and other forms of regressive taxation. Another Pol that only serves his Corporate Elite Masters instead of the People!

U.S. Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter

U.S. Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter
The first woman whom the People of New Hampshire have voted in to serve in U.S. Congress

U.S. Congressman Paul Hodes

U.S. Congressman Paul Hodes
A good man who wants to bring progressive changes to Capitol Hill!

Paul Hodes for U.S. Congress

Paul Hodes for U.S. Congress
New Hampshire's finest!

Darth Vader

Darth Vader
Star Wars

Dick Cheney & George W. Bush

Dick Cheney & George W. Bush
The Gruesome Two-some! Stop the Neo-Cons' fascism! End the Iraq War NOW!

WAROPOLY

WAROPOLY
The Inequity of Globalism

Bushopoly!

Bushopoly!
The Corporate Elite have redesigned "The System" to enrich themselves at the expense of the people, masses, have-nots, poor & middle-class families

George W. Bush with Karl Rove

George W. Bush with Karl Rove
Rove was a political strategist with extraordinary influence within the Bush II White House

2008's Republican Prez-field

2008's Republican Prez-field
John McCain, Alan Keyes, Rudy Guiliani, Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, WILLARD Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul

Fall in New England

Fall in New England
Autumn is my favorite season

Picturing America

Picturing America
picturingamerica.neh.gov

Winter Weather Map

Winter Weather Map
3:45PM EST 3-Dec-07

Norman Rockwell Painting

Norman Rockwell Painting
Thanksgiving

Norman Rockwell Painting

Norman Rockwell Painting
Depiction of American Values in mid-20th Century America

Larry Bird #33

Larry Bird #33
My favorite basketball player of my childhood

Boston Celtics Basketball - 2007-2008

Boston Celtics Basketball - 2007-2008
Kevin Garnett hugs James Posey

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce
All heart! Awesome basketball star for The Boston Celtics.

Tom Brady

Tom Brady
Go Patriots!

Rupert Murdoch

Rupert Murdoch
Owner of Fox News - CORPORATE ELITE!

George Stephanopolous

George Stephanopolous
A Corporate Elite Political News Analyst

Robert Redford

Robert Redford
Starred in the movie "Lions for Lambs"

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
Plays a jaded journalist with integrity in the movie "Lions for Lambs"

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise plays the Neo-Con D.C. Pol purely indoctrinated by the Corporate Elite's political agenda in the Middle East

CHARLIZE THERON

CHARLIZE THERON
"I want to say I've never been surrounded by so many fake breasts, but I went to the Academy Awards."

Amherst Town Library

Amherst Town Library
Amherst, NH - www.amherstlibrary.org

Manchester NH Library

Manchester NH Library
I use the library's automated timed 1-hour-per-day Internet computers to post on my Blog - www.manchester.lib.nh.us

Manchester NH's Palace Theater

Manchester NH's Palace Theater
Manchester NH decided to restore its Palace Theater

Pittsfield's Palace Theater

Pittsfield's Palace Theater
Pittsfield tore down this landmark on North Street in favor of a parking lot

Pleasant Street Theater

Pleasant Street Theater
Amherst, Massachusetts

William "Shitty" Pignatelli

William "Shitty" Pignatelli
A top down & banal State House Pol from Lenox Massachusetts -- A GOOD MAN!

The CIA & Mind Control

The CIA & Mind Control
Did the CIA murder people by proxy assassins?

Skull & Bones

Skull & Bones
Yale's Elite

ImpeachBush.org

ImpeachBush.org
I believe President Bush should be IMPEACHED because he is waging an illegal and immoral war against Iraq!

Bob Feuer drumming for U.S. Congress v John Olver in 2008

Bob Feuer drumming for U.S. Congress v John Olver in 2008
www.blog.bobfeuer.us

Abe Lincoln

Abe Lincoln
The 16th President of the USA

Power

Power
Peace

Global Warming Mock Giant Thermometer

Global Warming Mock Giant Thermometer
A member of Green Peace activist sets up a giant thermometer as a symbol of global warming during their campaign in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007. World leaders launch marathon negotiations Monday on how to fight global warming, which left unchecked could cause devastating sea level rises, send millions further into poverty and lead to the mass extinction of plants and animals.

combat global warming...

combat global warming...
...or risk economic and environmental disaster caused by rising temperatures

www.climatecrisiscoalition.org

www.climatecrisiscoalition.org
P.O. Box 125, South Lee, MA 01260, (413) 243-5665, tstokes@kyotoandbeyond.org, www.kyotoandbeyond.org

3 Democratic presidentional candidates

3 Democratic presidentional candidates
Democratic presidential candidates former senator John Edwards (from right) and Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd before the National Public Radio debate yesterday (12/4/2007).

The UN Seal

The UN Seal
An archaic & bureaucratic post WW2 top-down, non-democratic institution that also stands for some good governance values

Superman

Superman
One of my favorite childhood heroes and movies

Web-Site on toxic toys

Web-Site on toxic toys
www.healthytoys.org

Batman

Batman
One of my favorite super-heroes

Deval Patrick & Denis Guyer

Deval Patrick & Denis Guyer
Massachusetts' Governor stands with Dalton's State Rep. Denis E. Guyer.

Bill Cosby & Denis Guyer

Bill Cosby & Denis Guyer
TV Star Bill Cosby stands with Denis E. Guyer

Denis Guyer with his supporters

Denis Guyer with his supporters
Dalton State Representative

Denis Guyer goes to college

Denis Guyer goes to college
Dalton State Representative

Peter Marchetti

Peter Marchetti
He is my second cousin. Pete Marchetti favors MONEY, not fairness!

Matt Barron & Denis Guyer with couple

Matt Barron & Denis Guyer with couple
Matt Barron plays DIRTY politics against his opponents!

Nat Karns

Nat Karns
Top-Down Executive Director of the ELITIST Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Human Rights for All Peoples & people

Human Rights for All Peoples & people
Stop Anti-Semitism

Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill

Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill
State House, Room 227, Boston, MA 02133, 617-367-6900, www.mass.gov/treasury/

Massachusetts State Attorney General Martha Coakley

Massachusetts State Attorney General Martha Coakley
1350 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103, 413-784-1240 / McCormick Building, One Asburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, 617-727-4765 / marthacoakley.com / www.ago.state.ma.us

Bush v. Gore: December 12, 2007, was the seventh anniversary, the 5-4 Supreme Court decision...

Bush v. Gore: December 12, 2007, was the seventh anniversary, the 5-4 Supreme Court decision...
www.takebackthecourt.org - A political billboard near my downtown apartment in Manchester, NH

Marc Murgo

Marc Murgo
An old friend of mine from Pittsfield

Downtown Manchester, NH

Downtown Manchester, NH
www.newhampshire.com/nh-towns/manchester.aspx

Marisa Tomei

Marisa Tomei
Movie Actress

Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities (MCHC)

Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities (MCHC)
www.masschc.org/issue.php

Mike Firestone & Anna Weisfeiler

Mike Firestone & Anna Weisfeiler
Mike Firestone works in Manchester NH for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign

James Pindell

James Pindell
Covers NH Primary Politcs for The Boston Globe

U.S. History - Declaration

U.S. History - Declaration
A 19th century engraving shows Benjamin Franklin, left, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman at work on the Declaration of Independence.

Boston Globe Photos of the Week - www.boston.com/bostonglobe/gallery/

Boston Globe Photos of the Week - www.boston.com/bostonglobe/gallery/
Sybregje Palenstijn (left), who plays Sarah Godbertson at Plimouth Plantation, taught visitors how to roast a turkey on a spit. The plantation often sees a large influx of visitors during the holiday season.

Chris Hodgkins

Chris Hodgkins
Another special interest Berkshire Pol who could not hold his "WATER" on Beacon Hill's State House!

The Big Dig - 15 tons of concrete fell from a tunnel ceiling onto Milena Del Valle's car.

The Big Dig - 15 tons of concrete fell from a tunnel ceiling onto Milena Del Valle's car.
Most of Boston's Big Dig highway remains closed, after a woman was crushed when 15 tons of concrete fell from a tunnel ceiling onto her car. (ABC News)

Jane Swift

Jane Swift
Former Acting Governor of Massachusetts & Berkshire State Senator

Paul Cellucci

Paul Cellucci
Former Massachusetts Governor

William Floyd Weld

William Floyd Weld
$80 Million Trust Fund Former Governor of Massachusetts

Mike Dukakis

Mike Dukakis
Former Governor of Massachusetts

Mary E. Carey

Mary E. Carey
Amherst, Massachusetts, Journalist and Blogger

Caveman

Caveman
www.ongeicocaveman.blogspot.com

Peter G. Arlos

Peter G. Arlos
"The biggest challenge Pittsfield faces is putting its fiscal house in order. The problem is that doing so requires structural changes in local government, many of which I have advocated for years, but which officials do not have the will to implement. Fiscal responsibility requires more than shifting funds from one department to another. Raising taxes and fees and cutting services are not the answer. Structural changes in the way services are delivered and greater productivity are the answer, and without these changes the city's fiscal crisis will not be solved."

James M. Ruberto

James M. Ruberto
"Pittsfield's biggest challenge is to find common ground for a better future. The city is at a crossroads. On one hand, our quality of life is challenged. On the other hand, some important building blocks are in place that could be a strong foundation for our community. Pittsfield needs to unite for the good of its future. The city needs an experienced businessman and a consensus builder who will invite the people to hold him accountable."

Matt Kerwood

Matt Kerwood
Pittsfield's Councilor-At-Large. Go to: extras.berkshireeagle.com/NeBe/profiles/12.htm

Gerald M. Lee

Gerald M. Lee
Pittsfield's City Council Prez. Top-down governance of the first order!

Mary Carey

Mary Carey
Mary with student

Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon celebrates with Jason Varitek

Free Bernard Baran!

Free Bernard Baran!
www.freebaran.org

Political Intelligence

Political Intelligence
Capitol Hill

Sherwood Guernsey II

Sherwood Guernsey II
Wealthy Williamstown Political Activist & Pittsfield Attorney

Mary Carey 2

Mary Carey 2
California Pol & porn star

Pittsfield's Good Old Boy Network - Political Machine!

Pittsfield's Good Old Boy Network - Political Machine!
Andy "Luciforo" swears in Jimmy Ruberto for the returning Mayor's 3rd term

Berkshire Grown

Berkshire Grown
www.berkshiregrown.org

Rambo

Rambo

The Mount was built in 1902 & was home to Edith Wharton (1862-1937) from 1903 to 1908.

The Mount was built in 1902 & was home to Edith Wharton (1862-1937) from 1903 to 1908.
The Mount, the historic home in Lenox of famed American novelist Edith Wharton, is facing foreclosure.

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