My Letter to the Editor - New Hampshire Primary

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Tuesday January 02, 2024 · 5:00 AM PST

2024/01/02 · 05:00

To the editor,

I received my absentee ballot because I have escaped the NH winter and won’t be able to vote in person. I’m a Democrat and was amused to see that there were 21 candidates to choose from this year. The chatter around the NH Democratic primary goes from “why bother” to “vote for someone to let Joe Biden know how disappointed you are.”

I am writing in Joseph Biden as a way of saying thank you. I appreciate the bi-partisan legislation, the successful navigation of the Covid crisis, the return of America as a respected participant on the world stage (NATO), the diversity and talent of the people around him, the appointment of judges that are deemed worthy by the Bar, support of unions and the middle class, addressing the student loan problem, support for green energy, increased wages, record job creation, low unemployment, record high stock market and the reduction of inflation without a recession. At his age, stepping back and letting someone else try to finish what he’s put into motion would be perfectly understandable. I am grateful that he is healthy enough and willing to utilize his wisdom and experience to finish the job. Age is a number, not a diagnosis. Every 40-year-old is not at the top of their game, and everyone over 70 is not at the end of their productive life. Am I satisfied with the way things are working in Washington? Absolutely not. Do I care that the Democrats are not counting NH as the first in the nation primary this year? Nope. I don’t believe perfection is possible. However, dignity, competence, and compassion are possible. So, thank you, Joe Biden, for doing a good job under horrendous circumstances.

As Local As It Gets

SMucci

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Tuesday July 19, 2022 · 7:58 AM PDT

2022/07/19 · 07:58

I am running as a candidate to represent Meredith in the NH House of Representatives.

Meredith (Pop. 6,662) will elect two delegates to join the 400-member NH (Pop. 1.355 million) House. In addition to serving in Concord, the 19 Members from Belknap County serve on the County Delegation. They are involved in the County business, including the Nursing Home, Sheriff's Department, and Gunstock (a ski area developed by the WPA during the depression). The current delegation is composed entirely of "Republicans." I put that title in quotes since many of the members are actually Free Staters and Libertarians calling themselves Republican.

To say that they are making a mess of the County and are an embarrassment at the State level is a gross understatement. Four of the 19 voted to have NH secede from the nation. Although Belknap County is one of the most Republican Counties in the State, we have had Democrats as part of our delegation in the past. It's a little complicated, but because of gerrymandering, Meredith has been combined with Gilford for the last ten years. The so-called Republicans have been elected by a complacent low, information constituency who think they are Republicans because that is the NH tradition.

That has changed with re-districting, and Meredith will elect two representatives instead of being combined with Gilford to select four. The "crazies" have been dipping into the management of the nursing home and Gunstock. Finally, people are noticing and are not happy. Then there's the disruption of public education with a voucher system and abortion restrictions and unreasonable gun laws—all signed by Governor Sununu, so he owns them.

I plan to write blog post's on the issues. Additionally, I plan to interview; the chief of police, fire chief, head librarian, selectmen, town manager, etc., and Blog those. I believe my years here at DailyKos will help. I am reasonably well known in town and want to start a conversation about our town and County.

Naturally, I am open to any suggestions from my friends here at the DK. Take a look at Smuccinh.com

My letter to Wayfair

SMucci

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Wednesday June 26, 2019 · 5:55 AM PDT

2019/06/26 · 05:55

I just ordered from Wayfair for the first time. The campaign intern who is staying with me and I just finished putting it together last night. Here is the letter I sent in response to their request for feedback on the purchase.

This was my first Wayfair purchase — I used the company on the recommendation of a friend — I am very impressed with the quality and service and will use Wayfair again and again. However, I am appalled by conditions of refugees on the border and although what is happening may be “legal” it is morally reprehensible and I will not support a company that is enabling that situation. I understand that from a business perspective this is a slippery slope-making moral judgements is not generally good for business. However, there are hundreds of children in a deplorable situation and I will do whatever I can no matter how insignificant. I am very impressed that you have an organization which has employees willing to take on this fight. It speaks well for the management. I look forward to being able to shop with you again and recommend you to my friends.

Bumper Sticker Fear

SMucci

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Monday April 15, 2019 · 5:48 PM PDT

2019/04/15 · 17:48

While sitting at the lights in my small rural town I saw a bumper sticker(image above), placed under the image of the American flag, on the window of the pick-up in front of me. It offended me on so many levels I felt like my head was going to explode. How can it even be legal to display something so obscene?

Once we went through the lights the pick-up turned into the bank which was also my destination and they pulled into the first teller spot, I pulled into the 2nd so we were now side by side. He was joking and laughing with the teller and had 2 beautiful boxers sitting on the seat next to him. I considered getting out of my car and walking to his window to tell him how offensive his bumper sticker was. But I didn’t. And it still bothers me that I was such a coward. I feel complicit because I was silent. I told myself that nothing I could say would make a difference and I would just bring negative attention to myself. I reminded myself that as a well known middle aged widow I need to be careful about who I alienate. The reasons (excuses) continued, you’re in business, you’re not suppose to get out of your car at the drive-through, I might upset the dogs, I might upset the tellers, I can’t reason with an idiot… The problem is I’m not afraid to speak out when I see something that is wrong. When I was a bar tender in the 70’s I did not allow racist or misogynist comments or jokes at my bar. When I was a substitute teacher I talked about racism and antisemitism to these children sheltered in the rural white enclave of this community. I speak out! But I didn’t. Why?

I don’t think I was afraid of this guy who was probably 10 years younger than me and looked 10 years older (teeth matter). I had the time unlike at the Dayton airport when a guy sporting a t shirt saying something about his gun and the 2nd amendment went past me too quickly to comment. The only other time that I held my tongue and it haunts me still was 30 years ago when at a Pizza Hut with my toddlers I saw a woman pour soda into a baby-bottle and give it to a toddler. Not my business. So I am left with the conclusion that my subconscious risk benefit analysis decided that it just wasn’t worth it. Which is really sad because it tells me that either I don’t think I can make a difference or I don’t think “this guy” is worth the effort or risk of trying. I don’t like feeling that way. If I see him again I will say something.

Poll

81 votes Show Results

What do you think

81 votes Vote Now!

What do you think

It doesn't matter

22 votes

It matters

42 votes

you should have said something

0 votes

I would have said something

6 votes

Mind your own business

11 votes

Meet the Candidates Night – Belknap County, NH – WOW!

SMucci

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Friday January 12, 2018 · 2:10 PM PST

2018/01/12 · 14:10

A little background. Belknap County has long been considered a wasteland for Democrats. It is full of; “old school” Republicans (fiscally conservative, socially responsible, protectors of the environment, party of Lincoln), transplants escaping from “the burden” of taxes (states who believe in funding their government with something other than property taxes, State Liquor Stores and Lottery proceeds) and little pockets of “Free Stater’s” masquerading as Republicans. We have elected the occasional Democrat but it’s always a challenge. The State is divided into two Congressional Districts and Belknap County is part of District 1 which is currently represented in DC by the amazing Carol Shea Porter. I remember meeting Carol for the first time during her first run for the House. It was winter and the Belknap County Dems were meeting at the Gilford Library. There were 6 or 7 of us and still she came and gave her pitch. On election night when the early returns came in from the more urban areas (nothing here is all that urban) it looked like she was going to lose – but she didn’t because she gathered enough votes from turning over all the rocks in all the unlikely places, Belknap County being one of the most unlikely.

Well, Carol has decided not to run again and there are currently 7 announced contenders for the Democratic nomination. Wednesday night they were all invited to a “Meet the Candidate’s Night” in Meredith. The plan was to set up 7 tables where voters would sit. Following a 2 minute introduction speech by each candidate they each joined the voters at a table for questions. After 10 minutes the whistle blew and the candidates switched tables. Everyone had a chance to question all of the contenders. Each table had a moderator whose job it was to keep things moving along and get as many questions asked and answered as possible. I agreed to be a moderator although I was quite worried that my table would be empty. Not that I didn’t have plenty of questions to ask but, I know a lot of work goes into these events and I hate to waste the time and talent of the candidates. I was so wrong to worry. We were at standing room only! All the tables were filled!

My take on the 7 Candidates in alphabetical order:

Mark MacKenazie – Retired Fire Captain from Manchester, President of the NH AFL-CIO for 25 years, current member of the NH House (serving on the labor committee) UNH graduate with a Master’s in Public Administration. He gave a very good introductory speak (I’m a sucker for the Union Guy’s) and is both articulate and knowledgeable. He had a very good grasp of transportation issues and when asked where the money would come from to fund it quoted someone (I can’t remember who) “We’ll get the money from where the money went” then went into detail about income inequality and tax policy which perpetuated it. He is a top tier contender.

Daglean McCracken – There wasn’t any information on him in the program because he is apparently a recently announced candidate. Not sure where he came from but his intro speech was quite nice. The highlight was that he believes that government matters and we need people in government who understand that. He also emphasized the need to bring younger people (like himself) into the process. At the table he was stumped by the first question which was what committee would you want to be on when elected. He also danced around the gun issue and did not seem very conversant on the details of many of the issues we were discussing. Nice guy, lots of energy but not ready for prime time.

Mindi Messmer – Environmental Consultant and scientist. She is currently a NH House Rep and is very active protecting drinking water, whistle blower on a toxic site which created a cancer cluster of sick and dying kids. She is very passionate on the topic of environmental safety, science and clean water. Her introductory speech was excellent. I had signed up with most of the campaigns and hers was the first and so far only to send me a thank you e-mail for signing up and participating. She is organized! However, during the questioning she was prepared to talk about the work she was doing in the state but not particularly fluent in the national issues we asked about. Lots of talent here and it will be interesting to see how she grows over the campaign.

Terence O’Rourke – Captain in the Army, served in Iraq, prosecutor at both the State and Federal level, lives in Belknap County. His intro speech was very good. He talked about being a Radical Democrat because things were so skewed at the federal level right now that normal appears radical. He handled the gun issue very well and overall was fast on his feet with the different questions we threw at him. Not sure why I’m not more enthusiastic about him but will watch him closely because even if this doesn’t work out for him he has much to offer.

Chris Pappas – Restaurant owner from Manchester started politics as a State Rep and is now on the Executive Council. His introductory speech was good. Since he already had numerous endorsements and is a “favored son” of the Dems, I was inclined to judge him a little more harshly than is entirely fair. He did a good job at the table particularly on the issues of a living wage and health care. Clearly his restaurant is a wonderful employer. Although quite young, he’s likable, energetic and will be interesting to follow through this process.

Lincoln Soldati – Retired business owner, County Attorney who pioneered Victims Assistance programs and criminal justice reform recognized for his considerable effort on behalf of Sexual Assault survivors, and a former Mayor. His opening speech was cut off because it went overlong. He was one of the later attendants at our table and started to launch into a long winded “chat”. Our table was pretty strictly managed so I interrupted him so we could get our questions asked. He knows his subject, is passionate and has lots of energy. However, he came off as a little “old school” which might be just what the district wants. He can certainly do the job if nominated.

Maura Sullivan – Retired Captain in the Marines, Assistant Secretary of the VA under Obama, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy & Secretary of Defense. Focus on rebuilding veterans’ access to quality medical care, on gender integration in the Navy & Marine Corps and family mental health & LGBT policy reforms in the Defense Department. Her introductory speech was beyond excellent. She was in a different category from the rest with her confidence, competence and ability to capture the room. My note to myself said Amazing! She answered the first question which was on gun control with a full throat-ed call to ban “so called” assault weapons. She knows guns and has complete confidence in her grasp of that issue. Her answer to committee assignment was interesting because in addition to naming Veteran’s Affairs she went on to explain what other rolls she would take on and demonstrating a clear detailed knowledge of the workings of Congress. She stumbled on a question about the militarization of police forces and was not up to speed on criminal justice reform. She made a huge impression on me and I look forward to watching her grow through this process.

Most of our questions were on Health Care, Income Inequality, Guns, Religion in politics with a few additional on the prison industrial complex and criminal justice reform. This venue wasn’t really conducive to in depth conversations on any topic. This event was very encouraging because so many people turned out and really any of the candidates will do a good job. We have a very impressive “bench”. Final note: I started writing this on Thursday morning and it is now Friday afternoon. I have received 2 more e-mails from Mindi. The titles are :Call to Action: Healthcare for All and Big Money in Politics. I’m impressed.

John L. Mucci RIP

SMucci

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Friday April 14, 2017 · 12:31 PM PDT

2017/04/14 · 12:31

John Louis Mucci III May 27, 1950 – April 9, 2017

Family man, music lover, traveler and local activist John Louis Mucci III, 66, died peacefully in his Meredith, NH, home, April 9, in the company of his loving family.

John was born in Stamford, CT, to the late John Louis and Jane Nelson Mucci. After attending public schools in New Canaan, CT, John studied Liberal Arts at Shimer College, Mt. Carroll, IL, and computer technology at the Control Data Institute (CDI).

John married Sandra J. Mucci (nee Miller), August 26, 1972 and the couple settled in Meredith where they raised their family, pursued a variety of stimulating careers, participated in civic and charitable activities and threw themselves into local, state and national politics. Together the couple traveled extensively both in the United States and abroad including a “capstone” Italian tour in the autumn of 2015 to explore, discover and unite his new and “Old World” families.

John worked in software development at RealWorld Corp. before creating and launching his websites, Netstate.com and StuffAboutStates.com. These websites showcased his singular ability to provide a reliable history of each of the state’s symbols. His extensive research is respected and appreciated by both students and educators.

A philosopher by nature, John was a man with a curious intellect and wide-ranging interests. His greatest passions were music, trains, gardening, and reading. No pursuit, no excitement, however, exceeded his love of family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and nonno who cherished the time he had to spend with those closest to him including his sister, brother-in-law, nieces, nephew and cousins.

John is survived by Sandra, his devoted wife of 44 years, two daughters, Meridith (Benjamin) MacDonald, of Southern Pines, NC, and Melinda (Jeffrey) Keller, of Huntingdon Valley, PA; two grandchildren, Oliver Seth and Madeline Jane Keller; a sister, Deborah (Robert) Hart, Rye, NH; several nieces and a nephew; a large extended family and his two beloved spaniels, Belle and Bonnie.

Among his cherished circle of family and friends John Mucci will live in memory as a wise and sensitive soul possessed of a deep and abiding respect of books, music, history and kindness.

The Mucci family will host a celebration of John’s life this summer. They wish to publicly thank the staff at Brigham & Women’s Hospital & Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA and Pemi-Baker Community Health, Plymouth, NH, for their outstanding care and caring. Remembrances may be made to; Dana Farber Cancer Institute C/O Philippe Armand Lymphoma Research Program,450 Brookline Ave
Boston MA 02215;Pemi-Baker Community Health, 101 Boulder Pt. Dr., Plymouth, NH 03264; or the New Hampshire Humane Society, 1305 Meredith Center Road, Laconia, NH 03246.

Cancer - an Analogy

SMucci

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Wednesday November 09, 2016 · 8:51 AM PST

2016/11/09 · 08:51

In April, my husband of 44 years was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. As a result we’ve spent the the last 8 months going back and forth from NH to Boston (2 hour drive) emergency room, intensive care, chemo — we’ve done it all. On Monday we learned that what we have done so far has not worked and our remaining options are all poor. I am dealing with this frankly sucky situation by taking each day as it comes hoping for the best and planning for the worst. Anything that I can’t directly affect goes into a box to think about later — if ever.

It may be that when you’re a carpenter every problem looks like a nail, but I see the election results in the same way. I didn’t like the game we were playing (felt the Bern) but did everything I could to get the best result possible. So take each day as it comes hoping for the best and planning for the worst. Put anything that you can’t directly affect into a box to think about later — if ever.

Supreme Court Puts Hold on Louisiana Abortion Clinic Law

SMucci

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Friday March 04, 2016 · 1:57 PM PST

2016/03/04 · 13:57

Very good news, I think…..

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/supreme-court-puts-hold-louisiana-abortion-clinic-law-37407344

The Supreme Court on Friday blocked enforcement of a Louisiana law that could force all but one of the state's abortion clinics to close, a sign that a similar law in Texas also could be in peril.

The justices effectively reversed an order by the federal appeals court in New Orleans that allowed Louisiana to begin enforcing its 2014 clinic regulation law even as it is being challenged in the courts.

The law requires doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

Two clinics, in Boisier City and Baton Rouge, that had already closed in response to the appellate ruling will reopen and a third clinic in Shreveport that faced imminent closure will remain open, said the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing the clinics.

Voting in NH

SMucci

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Tuesday February 09, 2016 · 1:50 PM PST

2016/02/09 · 13:50

I love to vote! It feels important every time. So I was at the polls this morning with my photo ID (now required in NH) greeted all the locals signed in and voted.

A couple of things were very different this year. There were no Democrats standing at the polls for either candidate. Very unusual. Also the only republicans were for Carly and Cruze. Also very unusual. I would have expected some Bush people and perhaps a Christie.

The number of phone calls were greatly diminished this year. That is a good thing. There were however, knocks on our door and text messages reminding us to vote. Very nice.

I don’t know where this is heading and am looking forward to tonight and the race ahead. For me it will be great to get back to the local dem meetings to get to work getting rid of Kelly Ayotte and Frank Guinta and regaining the state house.

And yes… GO BERNIE!!!!!

Why being “First in the Nation” is unhealthy for NH

SMucci

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Sunday February 07, 2016 · 2:11 PM PST

2016/02/07 · 14:11

Let me begin by saying that I am an 8^th generation NH native who was raised as a Republican. The phrase I was taught and have enjoyed repeating to many NH republican “leaders” is “fiscally conservative, socially responsible, protectors of the environment, party of Lincoln” then as they are shaking their heads in agreement I add “and that’s why I’m now a Democrat”. When I did this to Bill O’Brian (former crazy speaker of the NH house) he started yelling at me that my family would be ashamed of me. Very funny…

On a political involvement scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being, only vote in presidential years and 10 politics is your life’s work, I am between a 7.5 and 8. Many of my friends are my political comrade in arms who have called and campaigned and hosted parties and raised money and written personal notes together to get democrats elected for NH state and national posts and to turn NH blue in the presidential.

Because NH is “first” there is an additional layer of complexity. There are always people working in the state who are learning the ropes and making the contacts for the next presidential race with an eye to a career in DC. Because of the long build up to the primary there are a class of “very important people” who are catered to by potential candidates. It makes for a top heavy Democratic party and it pollutes the smaller downstream groups. Or for another analogy it’s like the unnatural high of a drug fix rather than the natural high of exercising. I imagine the same is true in Iowa.

We have gotten through the many years of primary battles and come back together as friends to fight for more, better democrats. Although I live in a very rural red part of the state we have made progress.

This time is different. This whole inevitable, competent woman thing was deeply embedded during the last competitive primary when Obama was the “insurgent”. The build up to this year has been going on ever since. There is so much energy in the Clinton camp from people who are 8 to 10’s on the political involvement scale that the next level down has been silenced. If we’re not full throat-ed Clinton supporters many of us are keeping our mouths shut. Because, these are the people we will be working with to get rid of Kelly Ayotte and Frank Guinta and the republican state house…

What started me on this rant was a conversation I had with a political friend I hadn’t seen in a while. I asked if she was involved in the primaries. She said no because she “kinda liked” Bernie and didn’t want our Clinton friends mad at her. This group of people I am talking about are mostly like me professional women in their 60’s. I can’t wait for this primary to be over so I can look my friends in the eye again. We have a lot of work to do in this state that has nothing to do with the national elections. The time, money attention and influence that is peddled in the state has created an unhealthy environment and is distracting us from this mission. We will need to spend valuable time and energy healing the breaches which this process creates.

As a side note I don’t think that Bernie will get the tremendous win that is projected. Too many game players in NH when it comes to answering poll calls. Also, the roads go north and south in Northern New England so there is little commonality from east to west. NH has no natural affinity for Vermont and few knew much about Bernie.

Finally – I miss the orange squiggle. That pale gray line just does not do the job.

Kelly Ayotte Town Hall in Tilton, NH

SMucci

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Tuesday April 30, 2013 · 6:25 PM PDT

2013/04/30 · 18:25

So Senator Ayotte held town hall meetings throughout NH today. I’ve heard her speak before and she has a way of making the unreasonable sound reasonable and ridiculous lies sound plausible. This makes for a gifted politician and a terrible leader/legislator. Normally this type of event would be an echo chamber for her point of view. No reason to participate in a highly controlled scripted event filled with “tea partiers” and other crazies. This far in front of an election, we tend to keep our powder dry and hope they are lulled into complacency so we can replace her in 4 years.

This time was different. Her vote against background checks was unthinkable. Some of my friends made signs and others sent out e-mails to come out to this event. Lots of conflicts at this time of year and we actually had a gorgeous day. By my count the audience ended up being about 40% us and 60% them. Amazing, really in central NH on a Tuesday evening without an immediate election.

SMucci

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Sunday September 23, 2012 · 11:02 AM PDT

2012/09/23 · 11:02

I just received this e-mail and although I do a lot of political reading I find all the different legislation confusing. With all the attacks on the internet and the practice of wrapping a nasty process with a worthy intent to hide the truth... anyway I may have missed it but does anyone here know if this is worth contacting my senators about? The fact that they only listed Kelly Ayotte and not Jeanne Shaheen is also a little strange.

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