Liz Cheney shows us that courage and principle can still exist in U.S. politics

Watching Wyoming U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney chair the last public session of the committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, and hearing her summation of it at the end, this writer could not help but think of the courage and principle being demonstrated.

Cheney, a conservative Republican, defied the leadership of her party in pursuing the truth about former President Trump’s involvement in the despicable actions incited by his lies about having won the 2020 election.

Polls in her state, at least at this writing, predict Cheney will lose her seat in the upcoming GOP primary election. Commenting on this, she stood firm that putting her country over party was more important than political victory, and exposing what really happened was perhaps the most important thing she would ever do.

Truth, facts, principles and patriotism used to be the basis for trust in politics and government, and was more the rule than the exception — and there always have been plenty of exceptions.

My generation grew up reading “Profiles in Courage,” President Kennedy’s book with stories throughout U.S. history of those who had the guts to do what was right, regardless of the cost. We watched the generation ahead of us, a majority of whom had fought in World War II, take office and lead the nation, largely with integrity.

Now, after another round of state primaries, there is a lot to ponder. In many states, Trump-endorsed candidates for secretary of state, charged with running elections, have won the GOP primaries and will be running for the job of overseeing the next presidential election, having denied the clear results of the last one.

In several elections, members of the U.S. House who voted to impeach Trump have been defeated in GOP primaries, beaten by those who embrace obvious falsehoods.

Conversely, there are reports of Democratic Party groups funneling money into the primary campaigns of right-wing or fringe GOP candidates, hoping to help them win nominations over responsible candidates, so that Democrats can beat them in November. This practice is cynical at best and dirty politics at worst.

As the campaigns take shape, we are treated to reports of debates between candidates who accuse each other of lying, claim to be on the fence about endorsing or supporting incumbents of their own party, and demonstrate a lack of knowledge about the jobs for which they are running. (See a Union Leader Aug. 3 article about a debate between the GOP contestants for the 2nd District U.S. House nomination.)

Maybe it’s just my having a bad day as I write this, but it certainly appears to be more difficult to find the truth and evaluate candidates, with all that is thrown at us in the media and by politicians.

On the brighter side of recent events, all of the craziness surrounding the Gunstock Area Commission and fight for control of the gem that is the Belknap Countyowned ski and recreation area, seems to have abated, albeit after the resignations of the top staff shocked others into action. Whether this will be a permanent fix, or the Belknap County Delegation will revert to its prior conduct, should be watched by residents of that county and the state as a whole.

One function of state legislators is that those elected to the Legislature from a county make up the County Delegation, which is the legislative body for each county. The county commissioners are the executive. In Belknap County, which has one of two county-owned ski areas in the country (the other being Alta in Utah), the county delegation also has supervision over the operations of the ski area. Debate over the propriety of the government being in such a business has led to much discussion, accusations by some that proponents are somehow “Marxists,” and the recent unpleasantness, notwithstanding the fact that Gunstock has been operating under county ownership for the better part of a century.

Finally, and understanding that this is redundant, every New Hampshire voter should be studying the candidates and issues well in advance of the Sept. 13 primary. While it is somewhat easy to know the candidates for governor and senator, it is equally important to research and know what the candidates for offices lower on the ballot believe and stand for, or crazy results can occur. Don’t rely on mailers or roadside signs and slogans to make your mind up for you.

Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.