I am a 76-year-old Republican, raised under President Eisenhower, inspired by GOP leaders like Barry Goldwater, Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
In New Hampshire, I learned my politics from Walter Peterson and his proteges Kimon Zachos, David Nixon, Lou D’Allessandro and Warren Rudman. Watching national and state events in the summer of 2024 causes me great alarm. Here are two major complaints and, thank goodness, a tribute to a great citizen.
First, and most troubling, was the federal budget report that surfaced in early August announcing that interest payments on the national debt had reached $900 billion-plus for the present fiscal year.
That is more than any other item in the budget except Social Security, more than Medicaid or national defense. It is the result of the trillions of dollars spent in the last decade under Republican and Democratic administrations and higher interest rates. The country is on track to have a $2 trillion deficit in the next budget.
In the face of this irresponsible situation, neither party has fiscal restraint in its platform, and both major party candidates for president speak in terms of further tax cuts with a straight face.
The fact is, a responsible candidate should make the following statement: “We spent record amounts of money saving the country from a collapse during COVID. We borrowed the money, and now is the time to pay it back. To do so, all citizens will have to pay higher taxes, especially the wealthy, who benefitted most from the record spending. In addition, our country has to stop spending money it does not have. In short, we need to raise taxes and cut spending.”
Otherwise, we are headed for a certain fiscal disaster. Let me know when you hear that speech from one of the candidates.
Second, politics, as practiced these days, is disgusting. Take the campaign for governor of New Hampshire. We are lucky to have four fine people running for governor in 2024.
Chuck Morse was a fine Senate President, educated in the state budget and fiercely proud of the integrity of the Senate. Kelly Ayotte was a good attorney general and distinguished U.S. senator. Joyce Craig was a competent mayor, and Cinde Warmington has a good record on the Executive Council.
Anyone would be happy having any of them for a next-door neighbor. Yet, when hearing about them on television, or getting mailers about them in the mail, one would think they are evil, dishonest or suspect.
“Chuck Morse is 100% Phony Baloney,” one mailer says. Kelly Ayotte is accused of misleading people about her record in the Senate and cannot be trusted, a PAC ad announces on TV. Joyce Craig was a terrible mayor, and, by implication, a bad person, we are told. Cinde Warmington is that worst of all evils: a liberal.
Similar mailers in the congressional campaigns malign the character of other fine people running for office, asserting they are dishonest because they took honest positions previously in office or, in the greatest sin, supported someone other than Donald Trump for president, if they are running in the Republican primary.
We should demand that campaigns stick to criticizing candidates on issue positions, and cut out the personal attacks, especially in races where all the candidates are good people. I suspect candidates are getting this advice from political consultants who say that the only way to win is to attack, truthfully or not.
They should get new consultants. Voters are tired of all this and sad when the candidates they support engage in it as often as their opponents do.
Finally, on the positive side, a tribute needs to be given to the long life and distinguished career of Ruth Griffin, longtime executive councilor from Portsmouth. Griffin, a member of the prominent Griffin family that contributes to the economy and life of the Seacoast and has for generations, served on the council for 20 years, retiring in 2007.
Before that, Griffin served in the New Hampshire House and Senate. In her home town, largely Democratic, this Republican served on the Housing Authority Board for 42 years, retiring when she was 95. A housing project is named for her, as well as a bridge connecting Newington and Dover.
Straight talk was her most noted trait, and she was a friend to everyone she met. She was 99 when she died on Aug. 10. Notwithstanding her service as the Republican National Committeewoman, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen praised Griffin’s contribution when working with Shaheen as governor when Griffin was on the council. Former council member D’Allesandro noted that those coming up against her had better have done their homework, because Griffin would have done hers. Ruth Griffin was a treasure, and all who knew her knew she had the best interests of her community, state and country at heart.
Would that her successors could all say the same.
Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.
