Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

While NH Dem Chair For Life(?) Ray Buckley may still have an iron grip on his job, there are some rust signs peeking through the sheen.

An update: While there has long been murmuring opposition to the CFL(?) among Dem activists, suffice to say that he’s on the ballot for his eighth two-year term when delegates vote at the party convention in March.

This go-round, however, it seems a little different. That’s because Emmett Soldati, head of the Somersworth Dem club and the losing candidate in the Exec Council Dist. 2 race, has thrown his hat in the Dem Chair Ring. And, while the odds against him are long, it looks like he ain’t going down without a fight.

Consider that th’other day ES announced that he Zoomed a launch party for his bid and 194 NH Dem activists took part to show their support. Most of the names are inside baseballish, but a few of them stand out. Like ex-Senate-majority-leaderand-loser-to-Guv Sununu last November Dan Feltes, Becky Whitley, who won DF’s vacant Senate seat, and Mark Brave, the newly elected sheriff of Strafford County – and the first Black person to be a sheriff in NH.

Of course, it don’t mean a thing if ES ain’t got no swing. And the CFL(?) has been busy applying some Rustoleum to his iron grip. To counter ES’ Zoom session, the CFL(?) has named 12 (twelve!) campaign co-chairs, whose roster makes a point out of youth, LGBTQ activists and, of course, elected officials.

He doesn’t know it when he sees it

Wow, the new House Speaker sure didn’t waste any time drawing that line in the sand.

Bottom line: Sherm Packard quickly stripped Merrimack Dem rep Rosemarie Rung of her committee assignment after she posted an item on social media that criticized Troy top cop David Ellis, who was at the 1/6 MAGA rally that spawned the Capitol insurrection/riot/looting.

While she did inaccurately imply that the chief was joining rioters” – he stayed outside – she did go on to say that “All NH police need to denounce Ellis and call on his resignation. He was there to violate the U.S. Constitution. He did not step in to stop the attack as an off-duty officer but watched as many police officers were injured. He is a stain on each and every NH police officer who does not come out against him.”

In removing her from the committee, SP himself inaccurately implied that RR “may have contributed to the town offices in Troy shutting down” after news of the chief’s MAGA involvement emerged. But he is the speaker and it was his prerogative.

The only thing is that SP sure hasn’t been quick on the trigger when it comes to responding to other social media posts that made RR’s post look like an exercise in subtlety. Specifically the recent posting of an blatantly anti-Semitic image by Deerfield GOP Rep Jim Spillane. who also added his own sympathetic caption to the image. And then there’s the work of Laconia GOP rep Dawn Johnson, who’s also a Laconia School Board member, who shared some more anti-Semitism with her pals on social media from a neo-Nazi website.

Both posts were greeted by widespread, bipartisan disdain. But that didn’t include the speaker, who – quite amazingly – insisted that neither of the blatantly anti-Semitic posts were, well, anti-Semitic.

“I have yet to have anybody who has seen it say it is anti-Semitic,” SP said.

Maybe he would have heard another opinion if he asked someone else besides Dawn Johnson and Jim Spillane how they felt about the posts.

Bienvenue – and adieu

It’s kinda interesting to think that the state with a bumper sticker that reads “Welcome to New Hampshire Now Go Home” recently found itself in something of a crisis of chauvinism.

The mini-eruption occurred when word went out that it was the state’s policy to allow nonresidents – yes, Flatlanders, Outsiders and the like – who own property in NH to be eligible for Covid vaccine within the Granite State’s borders.

In other words, amid all the hand-wringing nationally and hereabouts about not having adequate vaccine supplies in the first place, non residents would be able to get in line alongside the rest of us, who are mostly patiently waiting.

Well, rest easy: the state did a 180 pretty much the minute the non-resident news emerged.

And if you think it’s a typical NH First policy, consider that the states o’Maine and VT already had resident-only policies in place before NH jumped on board.

MAKING THE ROUNDS

Arkansas GOP senator Tom Cotton sure ain’t wasting time worrying about DJ Trump entering the 2024 prez race, or at least it sure seems like it. In fact, TC is already dipping his toe in the prez waters, speaking at a virtual NHGOP conference on 1/23. And, to no one’s surprise, he made sure to tell he’ll be back “very, very soon.”

Speaking of potential candidacies, how about ex-GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte? A return to DC anyone?

You’ve seen what’s been going with the GOP at the national level as well as in some other states splitting themselves in two over DJ Trump. And the NHGOP ain’t immune, considering the wacky four-hour Zoom meeting that devolved into chaos and adjournment, with no action taken.

Boy, they sure love having Guv Chris as a guest on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” don’t they?

Just in case you’re actually thinking of entering the State House anytime soon: The new policy from the House speaker requires masks to be worn when entering and exiting the building. But not when you’re in a work space or committee room.