Archives

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate John Lynch

By Laura Knoy on Thursday, October 30, 2008.

Since winning the corner office in 2004, John Lynch has enjoyed consistently high approval ratings. Now he’s running to win a third term, a feat that only a few New Hampshire governors have accomplished. But to do that, he'll have to defeat Republican State Senator Joe Kenney. We’ll talk to Governor Lynch about his record in four years as governor and where he stands on the issues.

Guest

Democratic Congressional Candidate Carol Shea-Porter

By Laura Knoy on Wednesday, October 29, 2008.

Two years ago, Rochester Democrat Carol Shea-Porter surprised many by defeating Republican Congressman Jeb Bradley and becoming New Hampshire’s first woman elected to national office. Once in Congress she landed seats on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Education and Labor. Now she's in a closely-watched and contentious rematch against Bradley for the 1st District seat. We talk with Shea-Porter about her campaign, where she stands on issues from foreign policy, the economy, health care and energy and what she hopes to accomplish if reelected.

Guest

Political Advertising Overload!

By Laura Knoy on Tuesday, October 28, 2008.

One week before the election, you can’t turn on the T.V. without being inundated by commercials meant to sway your vote. This year we’ve had it all: ominous music, sarcastic narrators, quotes way out of context, and even outright lies. We’ll look at how advertising has influenced voters and the media this campaign season.

Guests

  • Gregory Payne, associate professor of Communications Studies at Emerson College, specializing in political communications
  • James Pindell, national managing editor of the Politicker.com websites, and author of The Pindell Report, analyzing campaigns for Congress, Senate and state governor

We'll also hear from

  • Jeff Bartlett, general manager of WMUR-TV

Socrates Exchange: What is the Relationship between Money, Happiness, and a Good Life?

By Laura Knoy on Monday, October 27, 2008.

In our next installment of The Socrates Exchange we're asking the question: “What is the relationship between money, happiness, and a good life?” Our culture may often tell us the personal wealth equals success, but most of us are suspicious of this. What really is the relationship between money, happiness, and a good life? If money isn't essential for happiness, why are we concerned with poverty? Is money, as some say, the root of all evil?

Guest

  • Nick Smith, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Hampshire, Advisor to the Socratic Society at UNH and Project Advisor to the Socrates Exchange

We'll also hear from

  • Father Jerome Day, a Benedictine Priest, professor of English at St. Anselm College and pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Manchester
  • Sue Macoo, of Capital Craftsman and Romance Jewelers in Concord
  • Kirke Olsen, psychologist and owner of The Positivity Company

Issues and Elections: The Economy Revisited

By Laura Knoy on Sunday, October 26, 2008.

Eight weeks ago when we started this series, the economy was the major issue for voters and news of a Wall Street crisis and a possible bailout had just started. Now, a little over a week before the election, Congress has passed a $700 billion bailout package, the stock market has climbed and dipped like a roller coaster and financial watchers may officially declare a recession. We look at where the economy's changed and where it's stayed the same in voters' minds.

We’ll also hear from Andy Smith, Professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire and Director of the UNH Survey Center (http://www.unh.edu/survey-center).

Guests

  • Ross Gittell, economist and professor of management at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, and Vice President and Forecasting Manager for the New England Economic Partnership
  • Dean Spiliotes, New Hampshire political analyst, author of NHPoliticalcapital.com, and writer of the “Crashing the Party Line” column in the Portsmouth Herald

We'll also hear from

  • Andy Smith, professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire and director of the UNH Survey Center

The Employee Free Choice Act

By Laura Knoy on Thursday, October 23, 2008.

It’s a measure supporters say would make it easier for employees to unionize. Opponents argue the bill would eliminate a worker’s right to vote secretly on whether or not to support forming a union, and that, they say, could lead to coercion. We’ll hear from both sides of the debate and look at what the Employee Free Choice Act could mean for New Hampshire.

Guests

  • Jim Roche, president of the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association
  • Mark MacKenzie, president of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO

Issues and Elections: Health Care

By Laura Knoy on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.

With under two weeks to go before voters go to the polls, our Issues and Elections series returns with a look at health care. As the cost of health care continues to grow at a breakneck pace, many voters worry that a major health crisis could leave them bankrupt. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have put forth plans to control costs and expand health insurance coverage, but the two plans take very different approaches to improving America’s health care system. We’ll find out where the candidates stand, break down their plans, and imagine what the future of health care would look like under a McCain or an Obama presidency.

Guests

  • David Moore, Former senior editor at the Gallup Poll, founder and former director of the UNH Survey Center and author of The Opinion Makers: An Insider Exposes the Truth Behind the Polls
  • Trudy Lieberman, contributing editor to the Columbia Journalism Review and blogger on the media coverage of health care in the presidential campaign

We'll also hear from

  • Andy Smith, professor of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire and director of the UNH Survey Center

The State of the U.S. Senate Race

By Laura Knoy on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.

Nationally, it's one of the most closely watched Senate campaigns. Locally, it’s become one of the most contentious races on the ballot. On Tuesday night Republican incumbent John Sununu and Democratic challenger Jeanne Shaheen squared off in a debate; we look back at what they said and where the race goes from here.

Guests

We'll also hear from

Republican Congressional Candidate Jennifer Horn

By Laura Knoy on Monday, October 20, 2008.

She’s a former award winning radio talk show host, a former newspaper columnist for the Nashua Telegraph and a mother of five children. She’s been lauded for her work with breast cancer groups and with her Chernobyl Children Project. Now, she wants to be New Hampshire's next congresswoman, challenging one-term incumbent Paul Hodes. We talk with Jennifer Horn about the campaign as well as her positions on energy, healthcare, foreign policy and the economy.

Guest

  • Jennifer Horn, Republican Candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s Second District

The State of the 2nd District Race

By Laura Knoy on Sunday, October 19, 2008.

New Hampshire’s 2nd District stretches from the very northern tip of the state all the way down to its southwest corner and then east to Concord and Nashua. Generally considered a bit more ‘blue” than its first district, the seat was held by Republican Charles Bass until Concord attorney Paul Hodes defeated him in 2006. Now Republican Jennifer Horn wants to reclaim the seat. On Friday, the two debated each other in Manchester; today, we’ll discuss what went on in the debate and where the race goes from here.

Guests

  • Kevin Landrigan, State House reporter for the Nashua Telegraph
  • James Pindell, national managing editor of the Politicker.com websites, and author of The Pindell Report, analyzing campaigns for Congress, Senate and state governor

We'll also hear from

  • Chester Lapointe, Libertarian candidate for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District