The Political Climate: an ongoing commentary on the NH Primary and Climate Change

The Nashua Telegraph has a good article covering NH Public Interest Research Group’s release of a report analyzing the data from 255 weather stations across the country and concluding - no surprise here - that temperatures are rising. Jim Rubens, a Carbon Coalition steering committee member, is on hand to talk up the economic possibilities that reducing fossil fuel use holds for forward-looking and innovative businesses. As he says, “The idea is not to reduce economic injury, but to be a driver of economic activity in New Hampshire.”

With such a well-done article beneath, it is unfortunate that the headline for this piece read, “Debate on global warming heats up.” Read the article. I defy you to find a debate. I imagine the headline writer liked the “global warming heats up” bit and decided to go with it even though it does not accurately reflect the article. Not a good editorial decision.

Several weeks ago Clean Water Action facilitated the New Hampshire release of a report card grading the New England states and Eastern Canadian provinces on their climate change efforts. In a previous entry (”Tale of Two Press Releases,” Aug.29) TPC weighed in on the report card as a whole, but one point of the report that is undeniable is the woeful state of public transportation in New Hampshire. To  be fair New Hampshire does come with some built-in disadvantages in this regard–lacking a large metropolitan area among other things. But still…the fact that you can’t take rail from Nashua (much less Manchester) to Boston is ridiculous.

A minor piece of good news from the Seacoast is that the COAST bus system has just completed a year that saw record ridership. The increased price of gas may be a catalyst, but TPC hopes that once people give it a try, they come to appreciate the ease of a bus commute. For people who are looking for an alternative to the solo car commute, take a look at Seacoast Commuter Options.

Nevada or no Nevada, candidates and the press are focusing on New Hampshire as the country gears up for the presidential primary.  The NY Times ran this article reporting Senator John McCain’s visit to the Granite State.  At a private reception McCain responds to this heated editorial in Manchester’s Union Leader.  The editorial blasts McCain for opposing the Presient on US interrogation tactics and the treatment of suspected terrorists.  The Bush administration believes it is necessary to interpret what it sees as vague guidelines in the Geneva Conventions.  McCain explains to New Hampshire citizens, “The United States has always been better than our enemies…we came from a better nation, with better values, with better standards.”

This article in yesterday’s Foster’s affirms the common wisdom that McCain is one of the candidates we should be paying attention to.  Recent studies have shown that the 2008 presidential race could cost each nominee $500 million.  The article reports that the Republican candidates with the three best financed PACs as of this month are Sen. John McCain, former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Gov. Mitt Romney.  The best financed Democrats are currently Gov. Mark Warner, Kerry, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Evan Bayh, and Sen. Barak Obama (Who is becoming more and more a presidential hopeful.)

The Union Leader’s Granite Status has a couple of items of interest.  George Pataki has brought Alicia Preston into the fold: “In the George Pataki camp, Meridian Communications’ Alicia Preston is now with the 21st Century Freedom PAC as national press secretary.”

Also, this on McCain: “[McCain’s] state version of the Straight Talk America PAC will add five county officials as advisors: Cathy Stacey, president of the New Hampshire Association of Counties; Hillsborough County Treasurer David Fredette; Merrimack County Treasurer Stuart Trachy; Merrimack County Attorney Dan St. Hilaire; and Rockingham County Commissioner Maureen Barrows, who backed McCain in 2000.” McCain’s PAC hired Brian Bernys as New Hampshire Field Director.

The whole piece is here. Also worth reading, The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza examines the enthusiasm for a Barack Obama presidential run.