Granite Slate

NH Man Dies from War Injuries

    A New Hampshire man has died from injuries suffered in Afghanistan, two days after the president outlined his plan to withdraw 10,000 troops from the war-torn country by the end of the year.

    Spc. Nicholas Bernier of East Kingston died Saturday in Germany, Gov. John Lynch said. Here's Lynch's statement:

"My wife Susan and I wish to offer our deepest sympathies to the Bernier family. We will be thinking and praying for the Bernier family during this difficult time. We, and all of New Hampshire, are saddened by the loss of Spc. Nicholas Bernier. His sacrifice, and the sacrifice of his family, was his service to all of us. Spc. Bernier gave his life serving our nation and protecting the freedoms we hold dear. He was a hero, and we are all grateful for his service."

One Man, One Vote?

    One man, One Vote. It's that simple, right?

    Governor Lynch vetoed Senate Bill 129, which would require a voter to present photo ID to cast a ballot in any municipal, state or federal election in New Hampshire. Here's what he had to say in this veto message yesterday:

    "Voter turnout in New Hampshire is among the highest in the nation, election after election. There is no voter fraud problem in New Hampshire. We already have strong elections laws that are effective in regulating our elections."

    Republican lawmakers disagree, obviously. Speaker William L. O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, contends that if a citizen must have a photo ID to drive a car, for example, it is no stretch to require them to flash a similar ID to pick up a ballot. Here's O'Brien's remarks on what he calls a bill to ensure clean elections.

Power of Alphabet Soup

    ICYMI: State yesterday approved power purchasing deal between NH's largest utility and a proposed biomass/wood chip plant in Berlin. The order was a real Alphabet Soup of acronyms: PUC ok'd PPA for PSNH on RECs despite IPPs objection to the RPS IOU...

    Here's a link to the full 16-page ruling.

Everywhere will be Signs, Big, Big Signs

    Some of the largest signs in New Hampshire are going up on Interstate 93 as part of the $800 million widening of the interstate from Massachusetts to Manchester, a stretch of about 20 miles.

    A total of six "dynamic message signs" will be along the corridor as part of a $3.8 million project. They are 8 feet high, 26 feet wide, and weigh 3,500 pounds. Here's the state DOT information on the signs.

Return of the Bling

"I'll be back," Jon M. Huntsman Jr. said after cruising on the M/S Mount Washington. The Republican former governor, seen here on the cruise and shaking hands with another former governor, Gary Johnson, returns today to launch his presidential campaign.

One whole week after skipping the first major debate, Huntsman looks to promote his message before going head-to-head with his rivals.

Ten Years on The Rock Pile

    Just picked up "Ten Years on The Rock Pile," by Lee Vincent. One of the best forewords (by Guy Gosselin) I've ever read.

In the Hunt

    Former Utah governor and U.S. ambassador Jon M. Huntsman Jr. officially enters the presidential race with a speech at Exeter Town Hall on Tuesday. The press is already scouring his record, including his family's chemical firm's business in Iran. But it remains to be seen what kind of a campaign he will run in New Hampshire.

    Will he out-Romney Mitt  Romney, his fellow Mormon? During his most recent trip, Huntsman showed he's no stranger to retail politics. Will plaid be his secondary business suit?

Newt and the Historic Handshake

    Newt and the Historic Handshake.

    This week in 1995, Newt Gingrich was in New Hampshire. Then Speaker of the House, Gingrich was in Claremont with President Clinton at the invite of the Claremont Senior Citizens. They pledged to create a bi-partisan commission to study limits on lobbying and campaign financing. There's even a historical marker on it over in Claremont. Gingrich was back this week in New Hampshire, this time as a presidential candidate, and this time the center of press reports questioning his personal finances and his non-profit paying $220,000 to one of his for-profit organizations.

Scenes from the Debate

Tea Party Influence, Confluence