(New NH) Senator designate's trait: independence (RINOism?)

Concord Monitor ^ | 2/4/2009 | DANIEL BARRICK

[markomalley]

J. Bonnie Newman, the woman poised to become New Hampshire's newest senator, has spent 40 years moving among high-profile jobs in politics, academia and the business world. But even for her colleagues and admirers, the precise contours of Newman's personal politics are unclear.

Newman, a 63-year-old Republican, has never run for public office, never cast a legislative vote, never outlined a campaign platform. Colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, describe her as a nonideological problem-solver - with a wicked sense of humor and a serious golf habit. They praise her work ethic and her ability to bring together people of differing viewpoints for a common goal.

When it comes to Newman's political philosophy, her colleagues said they expect her to promote the interests of the business community, stress fiscal conservatism and avoid debates on controversial social issues. Newman has been active in Republican politics for decades, but friends say her most important political trait is her independence.

"I don't think it's easy to peg her on the conventional political scale as liberal, conservative or moderate," said Will Abbott, who has known Newman since 1980. "She'll surprise you on some issues. But there is very little she'll do politically that will not have been thought through."

Newman will be a blank slate to most New Hampshire residents when she takes her seat in the Senate sometime in the coming days. On any number of critical issues - the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, abortion - Newman's opinions are unknown.

"We know she has an incredible work ethic and a real sense of New Hampshire, but we have no idea of where she stands on anything, not a clue," said Donna Sytek, a former Republican speaker of the New Hampshire House...

[markomalley]

So does this mean a true unknown quantity, or are they just trying to put lipstick on a pig?

[DoughtyOne]

I read somewhere that she was a fairly decent Conservative. Until she casts some votes that means about zilch to me.

We were hanging by a thread in the Senate, and now this.

Every time I get the impression we have sunk as low as we possibly could as a party, I get another surprise.

[trumandogz]

It means she meets with the approval of Sen. Gregg and President Obama.

Not a good sign.

I suspect show will make Snowe and Collins look like Jesse Helms.

[NHResident]

She organized and led ‘Republicans’ for (Democrap) Lynch as governor of NH when he was first elected, she co-chaired the same groups for his second campaign. She will be one more NE RINO, always willing to compromise to the left. She is non-ideological as Hillary or any other D-RAT. Gregg has just handed more power over to Reid-Obama.

[who knows what evil?]

Newman is also the “genius” behind the sale of Verizon to Fair Point...an IT cluster**** that has enraged tens of thousands of former Verizon customers whose e-mail accounts have been completely screwed up by the transition. The local media is having a field day with this story...now Newman is in a position to screw things up on a NATIONAL level...thanks again, New Hampshire.

[who knows what evil?]

I read somewhere that she was a fairly decent Conservative.

ROTFLMAO!!! YOu have GOT to quit reading those supermarket check-out rags. :-)

Seriously...flaming RINO. Flaming.

[mvpel]

The local media is having a field day with this story...now Newman is in a position to screw things up on a NATIONAL level...thanks again, New Hampshire.

Lay it at the feet of Judd Gregg, who was stupid enough to take the bait waved before him by the Marxist Obama, and of John Lynch, the governor, who in classic Democrat fashion would shake hands with his fingers crossed behind his back and betray the electorate of the entire state who elected Gregg with a 66% supermajority.

[who knows what evil?]

Similar to the way Jeffords betrayed his constituents in Vermont? A New England tradition, no doubt...

[BillyBoy]

TRIPLETS UNITED!
MAINE SISTERS MEET LONG LOST N.H. TWIN

In a stunning development, America's famous "RINO twins" from Maine, Susie and Snowe RINO of Maine, will no longer be a New England duo. The twins, who share a mental bond and have joined at the hip since 1997, will now be joined by a third sister, the previously unknown RINO Bonnie Neuman.

Sources tell Weekly World News that the rare Neu Englande Rinous species (which has been displaced more and more by its lookalike neighbor Neu Englande Rattus Scumbagus that it seeks to co-habit with) has been uncovered in New Hampshire. Neuman, a lifelong member of this group, was apparently native to RINO infested Maine, but was seperated from her sisters at birth and adopted by a kindly New Hampshire Republican couple. Upon reaching maturity and "growing in office", she displayed her true RINO roots to Governor John Lynch (a Neu Englande Rattus Scumbagus). Lynch then placed her in the Senate to florish with her RINO sisters.

The ladies will collectively be known as the New England RINO triplets. Amazing reporters of their genetic bond to the RINO instinct, it has been reported that the fraternal triplets look nothing alike, but that the way they vote and act in their Senate habitat is virtually indistigushable. "It's like having three of the same person. They are terrific ladies and united in lockstep to forge a bipartisan consensus and advance a progressive agenda with us", mused Dick Durbin.

Don't get too excited for the RINO triplets yet, though. Experts on New England political animals report that Neuman's placement in the Senate is only temporary, and next year she will leave her new home in favor of a designated Neu Englande Rattus Scumbagus who will be placed in the Senate for life.

[BillyBoy]

WHAT THE RATS THINK OF THIS:

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/01/j-bonnie-newman-to-the-se_n_162883.html

jtackeff See Profile permalink

Bonnie Newman is great. I am from NH. I interned for Obama, Shaheen, NHDP. She is a RINO- Republican In Name Only. She is moderately conservative on fiscal issues, but on everything else she is a down the line liberal. She also was chair of Republicans for Lynch, and I think she supported Obama. She will do a good job.

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[DoughtyOne]

Wonderful. Thanks Gregg, you patriot you...

Thanks for the info BillyBoy. Sad indeed.

[BillyBoy]

Yep, the RATs are all lining up to embrace her selection. They know she’ll vote with them on key issues, then quietly retire in 2010. A full-fledged DemocRAT will be elected to replace her, with Neuman’s blessing behind the scenes. Total RINO.

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Newman, who lives in North Hampton, grew up in Lawrence, Mass., and has an undergraduate degree in sociology and a master’s in education in higher education adminstration. In the private sector, she founded a radio station, was executive vice president at Exeter Trust. She has served as interim president of the University of New Hampshire and executive dean at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Despite being a Republican, she was an early and strong backer of Lynch’s campaigns.Newman pledged to put the well-being of New Hampshire and the country above partisan politics.”I am an independent-minded Republican. This assignment is not about politics and business as usual. It is about governing,” she said.

Governor Lynch (D), who said he has known Newman for 40 years, said her party affiliation didn’t drive his choice.”Bonnie is someone I would have considered regardless of party,” he said.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H) said, “I have known Bonnie Newman for years, and know she is dedicated to the State of New Hampshire.”

Rep. Paul Hodes (D), who is expected to run for the Senate seat in 2010, congratulated Newman and applauded Lynch for “his swift, bipartisan action”. He called Neuman “one of the true gems in our state.”

New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli, a Democrat, praised the choice and said Newman is careful, thoughtful and considerate in her approach. “It’s been my experience that’s how she approaches problems,” she said. Norelli said she has no concerns about Newman’s party affiliation. “President Obama ran on change,” she said. “This is change.”

[Impy]

This species is fugly, extinction can’t come soon enough.

[Impy]

Sounds worse than her sisters.

If her ACU rating ends up being as high as 40 I’d be surprised based on what I’m hearing.

Likely there will be a least one ‘Republican’ vote for “stimulus” in the Senate, and the rest of the Obama agenda.

[DoughtyOne]

I’ve seen tactics like this used in my own state, so I’m familiar with the ploys the Democrats use in situations like this. When it get close, they play games to gain a majority or super majority.

If she votes with the Democrats on issues, it may be generations before the United States recovers, if ever.

[Clintonfatigued]

The more important question is who will run in 2010? All eyes are on ex-Senator John Sununu. His 2008 loss was marginal (51% to 45%), but he lives in DC now and may not want to uproot his family. Ex-Governor Stephen Merrill left office popular and reminds some of better times, but he hasn’t run for anything since 1994. Ex-Congressman Charlie Bass is credible (if not especially conservative), but he’s more likely to seek his old House seat. Jeb Bradley’s second loss in 2008 was a surprise.

So ex-state AG Tom Rath may be the nominee.

[fieldmarshaldj]

As much as Billyboy detests the Sununus, I dislike the Basses. Please, no more Basses. These guys are always present when the GOP goes into the toilet in NH going back to 1912. Grandpa Robert, Daddy Perkins, and Charlie. Jeb Bradley needs to permanently retire, he lost by an even wider margin to Che in ‘08.

[BillyBoy]

Whoever the GOP candidate is in 2010, he will have to be able to self-fund and run independently of the state party. I am convinced NH Republicans are going to remain in the minority as long as keep the same people in charge. There's a slim chance a Republican could keep the seat in GOP hands, but it would someone independent of the state party ala Fitzgerald's win against Carol Moseley Braun in 1998 (the IL GOP's hand picked choice was RINO State Comptroller Loleta Dickerson, and when Fitzgerald upset her in the primary they wrote him off as "too conservative" and took their ball and went home, never lifting a finger to help him)

If Sununu Sr. runs his kid again, it will be similar to the Dummycrats running Stephenson again in 1956 and expecting a different outcome than 1952. Being tied to Bush is politically toxic in NH right now, and that's what Sununu Jr. personifies. During his debate with Bob Smith, this is the guy who had that incredibly stupid line justifying his willingness to consider amnesty for illegals simply because "the President supports it". The Dems can rerun the same ads they used against him in 2008.

I recently looked up Robert Bass on Wikipedia, and Field is right about history repeating itself -- Charlie's grandfather caused the state to go RAT in 1912 by backing Teddy Roosevelt's third party bid for President. His son, Perkins Bass (the father of Charlie Bass), gave up his safe house seat to run for U.S. Senate in 1962 and also lost. In any case the "moderate" Charlie Bass doesn't impress me, but in all fairness I expect any Republican who runs in 2010 will have a rough time including him.

My opinion of Judd Gregg has gone down since he sold his soul to Obama. I used to rate him as "tolerable", now I just have him down on my "GOP traitors" list.

Overall, I think the best candidates the GOP could run in 2010 are Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta and former Governor Steve Merrill. I don't know enough about Tom Rath to judge him. But still I'm pessimistic and would rate the seat "likely Dem" no matter who the GOP candidate is. (Possibly "leans Dem" with Guinta and Merrill)

No I don't think NH is RAT forever, but I do think it will take a long time to recover and the state GOP there shows no signs of getting a clue and cleaning house. Paul Hodes practically screamed "one term fluke" when he was elected in 2006, and would have gone the way of Nancy Boyda if there was a competent NH GOP in place. Instead he's now likely to end up as U.S. Senator for life and Katrina Swett (whose husband Dick held the seat before) should win his house seat in a walk.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Given the f’ups by the current regime, 2010 may end far more favorable to us than ‘08, especially if Porkulus and as-yet-unnamed-extremist-moonbat-legislation goes through. Any problems with Dubya may be long forgotten, replaced by the reality of the False Messiah.

[Impy]

“Paul Hodes practically screamed “one term fluke” when he was elected in 2006”

Che Porter screamed that to me not Hodes.

I don’t think it’s as bad as all that. Unless Lynch is the rat I expect a close race. I certainly don’t expect Teddy Kennedy style tenures for NH rats.