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Entire chapter viewable here

McCain and the Media

New Chapter - How the media has covered McCain since Free Ride went to press

John McCain is now the presumptive presidential nominee of his party, a position that is accompanied by increased scrutiny and skepticism from the nation's political press. Or at least that's what ordinarily happens. But as we know by now, the rules are different for John McCain. Just a few months ago, McCain had cratered in the polls, and few thought he could bounce back. Yet there was one group of people who had not only the desire but the ability to give McCain the boost he needed, just when he needed it....

About the Authors:

David Brock is the author of four political books, including The Republican Noise Machine: Right-Wing Media and How It Corrupts Democracy. In his preceding book, Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative, a 2002 New York Times bestselling political memoir, he chronicled his years as a conservative media insider. Brock currently lives in Washington, D.C.

For Immediate Release

Legislation Will Provide More Affordable Health Insurance Alternatives to Small Businesses

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today applauded the House's strong support of the New Hampshire HealthFirst initiative, which is aimed at helping small businesses better afford health insurance for their workers.

The House passed the bill 259-93. It passed the Senate on a 21-3 vote.

Gov. Lynch unveiled the proposal during his State of the State Address.

"This legislation is an important step forward in helping small businesses better afford health insurance for their workers," Gov. Lynch said. "I want thank the members of the House for recognizing the importance of keeping health insurance in reach of employers."

New Hampshire HealthFirst was developed in conjunction with the state Insurance Department, lawmakers and other stakeholders. It will provide comparable coverage to existing health insurance plans, and reduce premiums by addressing the underlying cost drivers of health care increases through better prevention, better care management and more efficient use of health care services.

SOURCE: cbsnews.com

McCain Promises Judges Like Roberts, Alito
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 6, 2008

(AP) Republican John McCain criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for voting against John Roberts as U.S. chief justice, reaching out to the Christian right on one of their chief concerns: the proper role of judges in government.

Conservatives contend that federal judges have upset the constitutional balance of power among the courts, the Congress and the presidency by making far-reaching decisions, such as one in 2005 that let cities seize people's homes to make way for shopping malls.

"My nominees will understand that there are clear limits to the scope of judicial power, and clear limits to the scope of federal power," McCain said Tuesday in a speech at Wake Forest University.

McCain, the eventual GOP nominee, promised to appoint judges in the mold of Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, saything they would interpret the law strictly to curb the scope of their rulings. While McCain didn't mention abortion, the far right understands that such nominees would be likely to limit or perhaps overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Several busy days ahead for New Hampshire Legislature

One month from today the New Hampshire legislature will end its work for 2008.

Given a tight schedule and the many bills left to handle, the Senate will meet one day this week and two days, which is very unusual, next week. That means many hours in our seats on the floor going over each bill and then casting voice or roll call votes. Occasionally, there are division votes where Senators stand to be counted whether they are casting a yes or no vote. When our session is over on Thursday, May 15th, committees of conference will be set up to iron out differences between Senate and House positions on some key bills. Committees of conference must complete their work by May 30th and then the House and Senate will meet for final sessions to vote on the committees of conference reports on June 5th.

With those deadlines and some late hours, the legislature’s work will get done on time. Many bills will receive routine votes. An example last week was the bill to reduce penalties for possession of small quantities of marijuana. Without any discussion, the bill was quietly killed on a voice vote.

For Immediate Release

More than 1,000 NH Workers Now Receiving Training Through State Grants

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today announced that more than eight companies across New Hampshire will receive $72,000 in Job Training grants, bringing to 1,000 the number of New Hampshire workers now receiving training through the recently re-instated program.

Job Training grants are aimed at keeping jobs in New Hampshire by helping New Hampshire companies compete globally. Gov. Lynch made it a priority to reinstate the Job Training Fund, which distributes up to $1 million annually in matching grants to allow companies to train new workers or retrain longtime employees.

"Job Training grants play a valuable role in helping New Hampshire workers and companies succeed. By partnering with New Hampshire companies, we are helping workers get the skills they need for good jobs and helping our companies get the skilled workforce they need to stay and grow in New Hampshire," Gov. Lynch said. "I am pleased to see so many New Hampshire workers receiving valuable training. I hope more New Hampshire businesses will use this important tool designed to help strengthen our economy."

HEADS-UP ADVISORY ABOUT LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE LEGISLATION
House Bill 91

This Wednesday the House may consider "concurring" with the State Senate on legislation that would greatly affect our lobbyist disclosure and reporting laws, and in my judgment considerably reduce their effectiveness. For the first time in New Hampshire's history, we would be eliminating important right-to-know requirements in our lobbyist disclosure laws.

Consider that since March 10, 1909 we have had a lobbyist disclosure law that has required -- REQUIRED -- that people who are lobbying the Legislature register before they do so. Now, for the first time in 99 years, we are changing that law into what amounts to an "honor system," allowing for 10 business days before a lobbyist must register, that's two full weeks, and giving certain people 75 hours to lobby free-and-clear BEFORE they must register. My goodness.

I don't think this is part of either party's Legislative Agenda -- nor should we be asking Governor John Lynch to sign a bill like this in its current form. Going backwards is not something we should be doing when it comes to lobbyist disclosure. We have seen recent news media reports about how our laws may not be sufficient enough as they are.

SOURCE:Boston Globe

Pressing to develop Navy land in Maine

Congresswoman courts Air Force Cyber Command

May 4, 2008

KITTERY, Maine - As the Navy explores private development of the former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard prison, US Representative Carol Shea-Porter is pushing to bring the US Air Force's Cyber Command to the long-neglected castle-like structure.

SOURCE: www.blackboxvoting.org

My records show that YOUR elections district uses the Accuvote voting machine. This is the system hacked in the HBO "Hacking Democracy" film, being shown TODAY on HBO. It also goes by the names "Diebold", "Premier", "Global Election Systems" optical scan or OS. Your voting system uses both the Diebold /Premier machines and the GEMS program for BOTH mailed in votes and polling place votes. It is the Diebold/Premier Accuvote optical scansystem that you will see on HBO, altered in the blink of an eye to change election results without leaving a trace.

The film "Hacking Democracy", showing exactly how my organization, Black Box Voting, actually rigged a voting system like the one your votes are counted on. You'll understand this quite painlessly by viewing the detective story as it unfolds, on HBO or YouTube. The film will be shown on HBO on May 2, 4, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 23, 29, 25, 26 and June 16 -- mostly during daytime hours. Note that several of these showings are on weekends.

Scroll down for NEW INFORMATION on how this voting system may affect you personally in the Nov. 2008 election, and what to do about it.

If you don't have HBO, you can view HACKING DEMOCRACY for free in nine 10-minute segments at YouTube:

SOURCE:FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT

It took a week, but the local press finally reports on Seacoast citizens lobbying their junior Senator.

Sending a message: Citizens tell Sununu funds should be spent at home, not on war

By GRETYL MACALASTER

Article Date: Friday, May 2, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — About 15 area residents turned out at Sen. John Sununu's office recently to present a new report from MoveOn.org that shows New Hampshire voters think federal money would be better spent on domestic issues instead of the war in Iraq.

NEWS RELEASE FOR DISTRICT FIVE April 23, 2008 FROM DEBORA B. PIGNATELLI, Executive Councilor

April 23,2008, Concord, NH - Listed below are some of the items that were approved at the Governor and Council Meeting, April 23, 2008, that might be of interest to District Five constituents.

The next Governor and Council Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at Plymouth State University, Hartman Union Building, High Street, Plymouth, NH.

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Authorized Bureau of Public Works Design and Construction to enter into a service contract with Microdesk Inc., Nashua, NH, for customized AutoCAD, and on-site training, for a total price not to exceed $7,980. Effective upon G&C approval through June 30, 2008. 100% General Funds.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Authorized to appoint Diana E. Fenton as an Assistant Attorney General at a salary level of $61,294.34. Effective upon G&C approval. Diana E. Fenton lives in Amherst.

Valley News editorial published 4/27/08:

Self-Service In Concord
Restricting the Voter List

Democrats and Republicans in the New Hampshire Legislature don't agree on much, but the spirit of bipartisanship is alive and well when it comes to securing privileges for themselves at the expense of the public.Witness the hijacking of the statewide voter list that unfolded recently in Concord, where everyone seems to agree that political parties, committees and candidates are entitled to information that is denied to ordinary citizens. This is self-service, if not public service, at its finest.

The House and Senate have now agreed on legislation that seeks to remedy the defects in an earlier attempt to expropriate this data for partisan purposes. That earlier version provided access to the centralized voter registration database only to major political parties -- that is, Republicans and Democrats. Libertarians took exception, and in November a Merrimack County Superior Court judge agreed that it was unconstitutional, although not before the state Democratic Party had resold the list to presidential candidates for $65,000 each.

On March 11 a new documentary was aired on French television (ARTE – French-German cultural tv channel) by French journalist and film maker Marie-Monique Robin, The World According to Monsanto - A documentary that Americans won't ever see.

The gigantic biotech corporation Monsanto is threatening to destroy the agricultural biodiversity which has served mankind for thousands of years.

View the entire documentary here

House Bill aims to cut Greenhouse Gases

In his testimony, D. Dickinson Henry, Jr., reported that home heating oil had increased in price by 137% in the last seven months and 318% in the past five years. That reflects an annual price increase of 26%. Can you remember that the price in October, 2003 was $1.25 per gallon?

Mr. Henry then truly got my attention. He predicted $5 or $6 per gallon for home heating oil in the near future. Sounds impossible, but if add 26% to the nearly $4 dollars per gallon I paid for my last delivery, you are getting very close to $5 per gallon.

Mr. Henry, representing the Jordan Institute in Concord, was testifying on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) bill (HB 1434) which is the most significant environmental bill to come before the legislature since the passage of New Hampshire’s Clean Power Act in 2002. The bill is before the Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee which will vote on it this week.

BY Jeannie Dean

JANUARY 24, 2008...

DAY 1 of the NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN RECOUNT continues with ANOMALY after gross ANOMALY: MANCHESTER WARD 5, a DIEBOLD COUNTED ward of great interest due to the massive INFLATED VOTE RESULTS yielded from the original Diebold Counted results on election night to the hand RECOUNT results.

This video explores NH State Office's very strange, and even UNLIKELY, explanation for the anomaly, leaving us with more questions than answers...

ED NOTE: This video is not for the faint at heart. This was, by far, the most complex and textured video I've ever tried to birth; like a demon baby invetro, it has been haunting me above all others...