“Everybody deserves an opportunity to be their best” is such an unsatisfying credo for Democrats. Republicans would say that’s exactly THEIR objective!
Here’s my theory: it’s about what each political tribe considers the prime directive. We’re all out there participating in society, via some combination of competing and cooperating. Republicans think competition is the prime directive. Democrats think Job No. 1 is cooperation.
Regarding the value of not permanently conceding the governorship to Republicans: Take a look at the state of our energy policy and public utility regulation now that Republican governors are 100 percent responsible for the people in charge. Compare what we have now to the way it was during the Lynch and Hassan administrations. In those days, because PUC commissioners had to be palatable to both the Democratic chief executive and Republican executive councilors, we had a capable, bipartisan, cautiously progressively-oriented PUC. What do we have now? Alas in light of my day job it would be improvident to offer an assessment in this medium.
The best thing my boss told me when I was in my corporate career was, "Rosemarie, you're great at leading a parade but take time to look back to see if anyone is following." It was a wake up call that led to me checking in with my team at least annually to find out from THEM what changes I needed to make. The Democratic party needs to do the same. There is a lack of collaboration which is creating this echo chamber isolating party leadership from the people they are meant to lead.
When you recently addressed Londonderry and Windham Dems you posed the Q about what our NH Dem brand is. Kiper’s independent bid reflects our lack of a durable brand: our ideas are solid, but our brand isn’t. As I continue to ponder a state legislative run in 2026 my biggest concern is whether my fellow Dems would be put off by my “Live Free or Die” Democrat identity. I actually agree with the majority of Kiper’s critiques and Dems here in NH would do well to soberly reflect and use his independent gubernatorial bid as a learning opportunity.
I am a senior and currently registered as a Democrat in NH. But I am considering changing my registration to independent, as many of my friends have done. As we discuss often when we gather, it feels like the Democratic Party just isn’t listening to us. We write letters, emails, request town halls, and we often get zero response. Until it’s time to fundraise. If many of us switched our party affiliation to independent, then perhaps the Democratic Party would listen to us in order to woo our vote. I found Jon Kiper’s arguments very compelling. I will be following his campaign closely.
“Everybody deserves an opportunity to be their best” is such an unsatisfying credo for Democrats. Republicans would say that’s exactly THEIR objective!
Here’s my theory: it’s about what each political tribe considers the prime directive. We’re all out there participating in society, via some combination of competing and cooperating. Republicans think competition is the prime directive. Democrats think Job No. 1 is cooperation.
Regarding the value of not permanently conceding the governorship to Republicans: Take a look at the state of our energy policy and public utility regulation now that Republican governors are 100 percent responsible for the people in charge. Compare what we have now to the way it was during the Lynch and Hassan administrations. In those days, because PUC commissioners had to be palatable to both the Democratic chief executive and Republican executive councilors, we had a capable, bipartisan, cautiously progressively-oriented PUC. What do we have now? Alas in light of my day job it would be improvident to offer an assessment in this medium.
The best thing my boss told me when I was in my corporate career was, "Rosemarie, you're great at leading a parade but take time to look back to see if anyone is following." It was a wake up call that led to me checking in with my team at least annually to find out from THEM what changes I needed to make. The Democratic party needs to do the same. There is a lack of collaboration which is creating this echo chamber isolating party leadership from the people they are meant to lead.
When you recently addressed Londonderry and Windham Dems you posed the Q about what our NH Dem brand is. Kiper’s independent bid reflects our lack of a durable brand: our ideas are solid, but our brand isn’t. As I continue to ponder a state legislative run in 2026 my biggest concern is whether my fellow Dems would be put off by my “Live Free or Die” Democrat identity. I actually agree with the majority of Kiper’s critiques and Dems here in NH would do well to soberly reflect and use his independent gubernatorial bid as a learning opportunity.
I am a senior and currently registered as a Democrat in NH. But I am considering changing my registration to independent, as many of my friends have done. As we discuss often when we gather, it feels like the Democratic Party just isn’t listening to us. We write letters, emails, request town halls, and we often get zero response. Until it’s time to fundraise. If many of us switched our party affiliation to independent, then perhaps the Democratic Party would listen to us in order to woo our vote. I found Jon Kiper’s arguments very compelling. I will be following his campaign closely.