And I think NH will soon have an all female delegation…

Below are my predictions, with the usual mushy commentary…

House 1:  I give Carol-Shea another term.  Her original campaign was the original tea-party type–fired up about Hurricane Katrina and party underdog.  She has made no big whoops.  And she has made getting veterans local health care her flagship cause.  Any Republican/Conservative picking a fight with her will have to put up or shut up on supporting our dear suffering veterans.

House 2:  With an open seat this will be like  playing hockey and basketball on the same field. Katrina Swett will put up a feisty and smart campaign.  She will face Jennifer Horn who will beat Charlie Bass.  Not that she strays beyond the talking points, but because she is newer and fresh.  Charlie has had too much time in congress to get another chance.  Katrina v. Jennifer ought to full of fury and foam.  Jennifer will win by having never set foot in DC.

Senior Senator: I know Jeanne Shaheen is not up for re-election, but she will have a split delegation—all filled with strong willed women.  Tragically will alone does not bring back Happy Times.  I hope she can bring unity because unity comes in awful handy in awful times.

Junior Senator: Paul Hodes will be the sacrificial goat for the sins of Obama.  Meanwhile Kelly Ayotte will beat her male opponents after a bruising, hurting, and wearing race. But she will be the “establishment” pick with an anti-establishment mandate.  She will have the courage to blow the whistle on her fellow Republicans/Conservatives when they engage or had engaged in the same behavior they complain about.  She will resign within a year saying (about Congress) “They no longer do the people’s business, but business’s business…and they have lobbyists for that”

And there is zero patience.  So the Democrats get the proverbial boot.  Republicans take over, but then what?  Will they stand by their promises or will hopes be burst like plenty of recent bubbles.

Voters will stew knowing nothing has changed in the positive direction.  There are vague alternatives–but again can bravado translate to practical solutions.  Our troubles, especially financial, are too deep and widespread.  It has taken decades to degrade the low and middle class.  They are stripped of all but defiance and anger.

This leads to long term questions about democracy competency. 

Unfortunately institutions in America are pretty well sullied and younger generations are none to pleased with current and especially future state of affairs.  There are some ok folks running for office, but the prospects don’t look good.  Many candidates are so virulently “anti-government” that one wonders why they are running for something they hate.

Since severe financial disruptions has left so much in the air, now would be the time to deep think how to re-arrange the things we once considered permanent, before they are thrust upon us by those who find elections no longer enough to sustain democracy.

Well Jack. Many citizens live within their means especially those with obese paychecks and those who have the luxury to complain about taxes versus complaining about little things like hunger and homelessness.  But look at the legal notices–once a mere few, now page after page after page.  Just like state, national, and local, on the personal level a great many of NH charged their way into insolvency.  Of course back in the day, a worker could expect and get paid health coverage and a decent pension.  But it was more expeditious to ship jobs overseas—followed by pensions and health coverage.

I think it is fair to say some NH citizens live within their means.  But to say we all do is blind propaganda. Take Note.

Irving Oil/Shaw’s is cutting back on their groceries for gas.  It used to be $50 in groceries got you $.10 off per gallon at the pump.  Now it is $.05.

Interesting reading for those who into the popular “last Days” theme. Trevor-Roper goes full bore into belittling the personalities…Hitler in a perpetual froth, Goering grabbing for power, Bormann silently plotting. I am taking a guess, but chaos comes with titanic destruction by conquering armies.

This was a discount book; No doubt very used, like the Death Star exploding, worth watching again and again.

This brings up the question of privacy versus public right to know.  Do we all have the right to control our image?  Who decides what images are public domain or private propriety?  What about retroactively gaining ownership of  “public images”?

Public record (of the image variety) is so important for the public good.  Going in the opposite direction is only fair if it is all or nothing.  Giving certain groups the advantage to “cover up” is wrong and wrong.  And that is where the SeaWorld case is so important. Being in public means being the public…subject to the eyes and the lenses therein.

The economy, like politics, has become a crap shoot.  Reasoning does not necessarily apply. So many principals and assumptions to which we have anchored our beliefs on seem to have become just so unstable.

Fred has lead an exemplary life, raising a great brood of fine children, giving of his time for community (getting the moniker Saint Fred), and working loyally (in our country’s defense) for Sanders for many decades.

Now retired Fred has combined passions of hiking, photography, and community service with his website. 

I have had bad experiences with hiking in the past—but never under Fred’s tutelage.  I look forward to joining a hike with Fred.  He was calm, deliberate, and responsible back in the 1970’s.  He can only have “improved” with age.

Please check out the website and enjoy!!!