“I’m not going to go up and ask, ‘Have you had Covid and what’s your status?’ I’m sorry that’s nothing but a damn smokescreen.”

– House Speaker Sherm Packard responds to a call to publicly reveal the number (not the names) of legislators and staffers who are testing positive for Covid.

A tale of two protests: On Oct. 3, 42 State Police in full riot gear were at the ready to take on peaceful protesters at a rally against the coalfired Bow power plant. 18 of the protesters were arrested. On Oct. 13, when the Exec Council was forced to hold its meeting at the state Police Standards and Training Council building in Concord, because of threatening protesters, the State Police were there too: in short-sleeved uniforms. Nine of the 17 protesters were arrested.

The line forms at the right, babe

It sure seems like only yesterday when the guv was almost universally viewed as an unstoppable, unbeatable political force. But it wasn’t yesterday, or even the day before, because in the last several weeks the man who basically could write his own political destiny — guv for a third term? US senator? — has found out it ain’t gonna be as easy as it seems.

Consider the way the guv couldn’t figure out a way to handle the NHGOP’s Anti-vax, Anti-science, Anti-reality clique, which resulted in what pretty much became a national embarrassment when the Exec Council’s four GOP members, bowing to the shouting Anti’s and their own inability to face reality, turned down that $27 mill from the feds to help in the Covid battle. To say he looked like a guy who had been hit in the head with a 2x4 after the vote would be an understatement.

And the Anti’s ain’t going away anytime soon. If anything, they’re even more emboldened, and as NHGOPers have learned in recent years, have in so many ways been calling their shots.

Which spells trouble for any GOPer the Anti’s are anti. And the guv has become one of their favorite targets, right up (or down) there with Dr. Fauci.

So imagine a primary for Senate against Don Bolduc, who’s been on the Trump/ Anti’s bandwagon for a long time now. Or better yet, imagine the guv running for re-elect. Ya think the man with the neverending campaign for guv, also known as Ed Commish Frank Edelblut, is willing to keep waiting another two years?

The answer sure seems like no, considering that th’other day he was in full-blown Anti form when he spoke to the Government Integrity Project — a right wing group the guv himself has called “fringe” for its various claims of fraud in state elections, its very vocal antagonism to public health Covid suppression initiatives and its overall anti-vax beliefs. And then there’s the comment by GIP founder Ken Eyring, who said NH under the guv’s reign was “dangerously close to what would be expected to be commonplace in Communist China.”

In fact, after news of commish’s little foray into Anti world, the guv did something he’s never done before: He publicly criticized FE, calling his presence at the GIP forum “inappropriate” and adding, “He has given me his assurances that he will use better discretion going forward.”

To which, anyone who’s followed FE’s career as commish would reply: Sure. “And I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.”

Bottom line: When pols even sense there may be an opponent’s blood in the water, their sharp, pearly-white teeth are at the ready.

Buy one get 423 free

Those among us who believe the adage, “You get what you pay for,” might want to keep an eye on a possible bill coming up in the next legis. session.

The proposal of Rep Brodie Deshaies, a Wolfeboro GOPer, would cut the already low, low, low price of $200 per biennium that we pay legislators to 2 cents.

BD says, “I still hold that we’re volunteers. I’d prefer our politicians to stay as volunteers and for our compensation to reflect such.”

So back to the premise: You get what you pay for.

MAKING THE ROUNDS

For your radar: There’s a growing disgruntlement among local officials about the state’s continued failure to pony up the full amount of rooms and meals tax dough they’re supposed to get.

Yes, during the vote to reject the $27 mill for anti-Covid programs, Exec Councilor David Wheeler called on Guv Sununu to “stand up like the governor of Texas.” He must have meant that figuratively, considering Texas guv Greg Abbott is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair.

You do have to ask yourself why the guv was so confident about winning that $27 mill Exec Council vote, considering it was 4-1 against and he later said the result was “baked in.”

Did you notice the guv’s 180 on his insistence that he not have to go through the approval process to sell the Laconia State School property?