YOUR COMMENTS

I am a registered Republican and what I clearly don't get (and I am purposely ignoring the petty arguments between Fergus and Fran) is why are Republicans/Conservatives allowing people to define their platform as anti-abortion/anti-choice?

I am a Republican and true conservative and my core belief, is low taxes, small government, and strong defense, and that is where the Republicans should be, that is where the typical "independent" voter is thinking as well. So why one should ask are they independent, because in the last two election cycles we have gotten away from that, we need to get back to it.
- Rick, Manchester

The winners in Manchester were Steve Abbott, Bob Barry, Gail Barry, Mike Biundo, Tom DeBlois, Jean Esslinger, Larry Gagne, Ted Gatsas, Frank Guinta, Phil Greazzo, Keith Hirschmann, Cliff Hurst, David Hurst, Kelly Hurst, Win Hutchinson, Doug Kruse, Andy Leach, Steven Mathieu, Jim Merrill, Natalie Mitchell, Greg Moore, Keith Murphy, Toni Pappas, BJ Perry III, Sandy Reeves, Tammy Simmons, Kathy Souza, Saggy Tahir, Bob Tarr, Siobhan Tautkus, Sean Thomas, Steve Vaillancourt, Mark Warden, and Ray Wieczorek.
- Mark, Manchester

As a former member of the Merrimack Committee and having had the privilege of campaigning for and serving President Ronald Reagan, the internecine warfare is contrary to his political principles.
- charles kupperman, canterbury, new hampshire

I'm with Fran. My thoughts are, the Democrats have an extreme left platform that I am sure some D's do not follow to the letter either, but nevertheless, the party does not pander to those people or let them dilute their platform message.

And so it goes that the Republican platform will be considered hard right, yet we let RINOs derail us and water it down in honor of the 'big tent' theory. It's like the kid in school who wants to be liked and will do anything. Sorry, I don't want to be liked, I want to be RIGHT.

You have the right to be a moderate GOPer but just don't expect to run for office and win or run the party into being Democrat-lite.
- Sue, Manchester

From the outside, the Cullen-Wendleboe tussle looks like two passengers on the Titanic manuevering and squabbling to be seated at the captain's table for dinner.
- Mike, Greenland

I have asked this question before and no one has yet been able to provide an answer. Just who is it that decides who is to be designated a RINO is it the National, State or local GOP committee and just where do they derive that designating authority. I have been called a RINO and I am still registered Republican and I challenge those self-designated RINO labelers to deprive me of my party affilication.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

I am fiscally conservative socially liberal and right now that is where the democrats are at the federal level they do pay go the republicans are for low taxes which is nice if you are balancing the budget the republicans have not been for balanced budgets since President Regan said deficits don’t matter well they matter to me and I will not vote for republicans until they at the federal level realized that (local level balanced budgets are mandated). A second problem with the republicans is that they do not believe government has a roll in society i.e. Grover Norquoist wants to be able to drown it in a bath tub (not an exact quote on both Regan and Norquest) So at this point in time I see the republicans as for deficits, against efficient or any government and your only other issues are guns gays and abortion all social issues that responsible adults should making the decisions on their own. If you don’t like the decisions that people are making teach them to make better decisions don’t dictate them! Basically stay out of people’s private life.
- keith cronyn, sandown

It is time for the ex aid of Ct. Governor John Rowland, Furgus Cullen to go. He has managed to give the GOP a black eye instead of rebuilding the party base to regain control of the Statehouse and take back our congressional representation. He attacks the one republican leader who has a plan to take back our Statehouse, Rep. Fran Wendleboe. Chairman Cullen where is your plan?
Fran knows just how important in grand scheme of politics in NH to help local GOP candidates for the House of Representatives, not just candidates for the NH Senate.
Fran can clearly articulate GOP issues in era when all current GOP leaders look "child like" when ever on the news or talk shows. New Hampshire republicans need to rebuild the base while reaching out to bring new fresh blood to the mix.
Chairman Cullen's slight of hand to the most inergenic foot soldier in the NH republican big tent disqualifies him from further service to the party.
Fran may not have all the answers but she has a plan and is willing to get to work to make a GOP majority a reality unlike the current chairman.

John Gibson
former State Representative and proud conservative republican
- John M. Gibson, formerly of Merrimack

I'm sick of Republicans thinking that the party needs to open itself up to more moderate ideas so that everyone will want to be Republican. It should be obvious to Fergus Cullen that such a strategy is a losing strategy. People don't want everyone to have the same ideas, they want leaders. Republicans need to define themselves by fiscal and social conservatism to distinguish themselves from socialist Democrats. Democrats have the wrong ideas for this state and this country, both fiscally and socially, and we conservative Republicans need to start saying it louder and more often. We also have to be able to show why our ideas work better. Get to it!
- Free Thinker, Derry

Is there a reason why some of those elected from Manchester where not mentioned?
- David, Manchester

I was elected by the Manchester caucus as a State Delegate and will be active in the role of elections for the state level GOP executives. I believe on voting for someone who has merit, not a special interest in a group. We will see how it goes come January. If any Manchester Republicans would like to share their comments or opinions, I would welcome all to call me and talk about the upcoming elections. Only when we are truly united and working for the people of New Hampshire can we really say 'we, the citizens of NH are invested in our communities, neighborhoods and government and are working together to bring about possitive changes that ensures the next generations can have a bright progressive future. Thanks to all those who showed their support and voted for me last evening.
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

Neil Young, you state "Fergus, it is tough when Republicans in Concord and Washington are no help by operating with no backbone or acting like Democrats".

Bingo, Mr. Young. This is one conservative who hopes this message is heard, as I would, at the least, like to have the "lesser of two evils" choice again.
Keep up the good work, Neil.

Mr. Cullen, perhaps you would be kind enough to clarify your meaning of "...her narrow extreme view of who makes a good Republican.".
Is the Republican party platform still worth the paper it is printed on, or, are even these principles negotiable?
How many core values can be sacrificed before a victorious election becomes a victory in name only.
- Mike P., Manchester

Fergus you had your chance at leadership and you muffed it. Not just you individually but ALL the party insiders on both state and federal levels. You guys were an epic FAIL.

Will you please just shut up now?
- Rowland, Fremont

I fear that until the God-obsessed, far-right members of the Republican party finally die out, and the party gets out of people's bedrooms, the party will continue to lose elections by ever-widening margins. We need to get back to the message of fiscal responsibility and smaller government and stop worrying about people's personal choices that should not be the government's concern.
I'd hate to have to side with the damned hippies in the Democratic party. Maybe we need a third party of even-headed, reasonable people.
- Steve, Goffstown

Interesting article - now, if the addresses of the various websites mentioned had actually been listed the article would be complete. I think the writer of this article, John Distaso, should have included the actual addresses. I am sure I am not the only one concerned about the future of the NH GOP!
- Tom Groetzinger, Somersworth

Three cheers for the peasants with pitchforks. Despite some internal squabbles, the GOP grassroots are alive, and well, and energized. I insist that "moderate" is just a code word for anti-social conservative. Such Republicans want to be in the winner's column no matter what they have to do, or say, or forfeit to win. We genuine fiscally and socially conservative Republicans are far more passionate about the principles involved. We are Republicans for reasons more sophisticated than just being a "winner" and just having an "-R" after our names. On the other hand, "passionate moderate" is an oxymoron. Finally, Margaret Thatcher, one of the top British conservative leaders of her time said, ""What great cause would have been fought and won under the banner 'I stand for consensus'?" Besides, something like 7 out of the 8 GOP Presidential Primary candidates were professing pro-lifers. Only Rudy Guiliani was professing pro-"choice". Finally, "change" has come to the GOP !!!
- Ed Holdgate, Sandown NH

Mike in Manchester - there are certainly those in the party who may be thought of as RINOs but nowhere near 95% of registered Republicans fit that description. The fact is as more people change their enrollment to independent you will find that the remaining registered Republicans are for the most part the conservatives who believe in the party platform. Is this reflected in the elected Republicans around the state or in the leadership? That is up for debate. However, I would say that after the 2006 and 2008 elections any incumbent party official must be put under strong scrutiny and held accountable for this record. Likewise, people who are outside the leadership, like Fran, should not hesitate to speak out and push for changes (not that she needs encouragement but others can and should step up as well).

The big tent works both ways. Are moderates and even liberals welcome in the party? Certainly! If someone who is not conservative still wants to be in the party that is a good sign for there must be some part of our philosophy that attracts these individuals. However, they cannot expect to run the show and dilute our core conservative message. Republicans cannot win by being Democrat-lite. Given a choice between a Democrat and a Democrat, people will choose the Democrat every time.
- Mark, Amherst

It's called change Fergus. I was at that meeting the other night in Concord and was lucky enough to be elected. And my agenda wasn't to get anybody "excommunicated." I merely wanted to become part of the process of rebuilding the GOP in NH. We need to get more people involved, particularly younger folks and having to listen to the whining the other night following the vote was not exactly inspiring to somebody new to the process. So apparently involvement is encouraged only to the extent that new participants go along with the status quo. Well, what has the status quo gotten us lately? We are barely discernable from Massachusetts these days. I don't have your Ivy League pedigree but I am a voter who follows the issues and thinks change in the local, county and state GOP is needed. And the folks who were "excommunicated" the other night need to stop their whining. It's exactly what our party doesn't need right now. They can choose to help unify the party or continue to complain that they didn't get their way and just make things worse. Accept the change and help us move forward...please? And for the record I've never met Fran Wendleboe but am certainly interested in her positions and what direction she'd like to see NH go in the future....
- Scott McDonald, Allenstown, NH

This is a fight between conservatives and moderate/liberal Republicans.
I am a principled common sense conservative who does not vote for Democrats because I know where they stand on the issues.
Time can be better spent organizing small groups of principled conservatives with folks who share your philosophy who would like to run for office.
Meeting with the big groups tends to be an experience where conservatives attending are expected to work for certain candidates of those who will be paid for their services at election time.
If Republicans had principles and a vision perhaps they would have won more elections in 2006 and 2008.
To me this is not about “the Party” it is about what and who we believe in.
Each Saturday morning a group of those principled conservatives with backbone gather on wezs.com The Advocates (8-Noon) as we have for nearly 12 years.
That is like Saturday morning church for conservatives. Geez, we have to believe in something, don’t we?
Some of us spend a great deal of energy fighting the Democrats. Fergus, it is tough when Republicans in Concord and Washington are no help by operating with no backbone or acting like Democrats.
bnyoung@metrocast.net
- Niel Young, Laconia

Fergus said " "Fran may win an occasional battle, as she did in Merrimack County," Cullen said, "but the reason she has lost three leadership elections in as many years is because she can't stop fighting with fellow Republicans."

What Fergus doesn't understand is that I am not fighting fellow Republicans, I am fighting for the principles of the Republican party--those enumerated in not only our state platform but the national platform as well. Yes, we have a big tent, but those who are "out of step" with the platform are the ones fighting to make those who do fully support the platform as the ones who somehow are divisive if they don't abandon the areas they don't agree on.

I respect their diversity and there is room "IN" the tent, but they shouldn't expect that it gives them the right to "take over" the tent and ridicule conservatives who closely follow the platform as the "outsiders" .

I have no problem having "lost" three elections fighting for principles than having "won" and being widely judged as a dismal failure.

I find it amazing that I am being "blamed" for a coup of Merrimack County. Only duly elected delegates and nomineees of the party could have participated and voted in that election.

I hear that Betsy Miller lost her bid for re-election for the following reasons:
1. she is a paid lobbyist and many of her caucus feel that is not appropriate.
2. she was part of the debaucle of the 2008 platform committee that chopped the platform in half with little public process and only 11 days from public hearing to convention voting. This was overwhelmingly rejected at the convention.
3. under her chairmanship the county committee refused to help fund some candidates in the general election. One newcomer specifically then went on to be the top Republican vote getter in her district.

These were the driving reasons why Miller's OWN caucus members chose a new direction. Anne Copp is a tremendously hard worker in all levels of state races and will lead well. And yes, Betsy was a good chairman, but her own committee decided for change.
- Fran Wendelboe, New Hampton

I would venture to say that 95% of registered republicans in this state are actually RINOS.
- Mike Bodruk, Manchester

Is it me or does it seem the Fergus and Fran feud is just not helping the NHGOP's chances? Fran seems like she is on and ego mission and Fergus is playing right into her hands. Add NH's version of "almost" celebrity death match too Jim Merril's shameless plug of the week and one really has to wonder if Gatsas and company are eternally doomed to live in the state house basement offices.
- Concerned Republican, Bedford

All this battling at the county and state level within the GOP is an amusing sideshow but it has zero impact on the disillusioned newly-independent voter who may have been a Republican at one time but now is an independent conservative. Republicans have suffered losses but look at the great victories of NHAC and CNHT. This is where the real conservatives are. This is where progress is being made to control the growth of government. Republicans leadership take note - and join forces with these groups. Republican candidates are not winning but tax and spending caps pass overwhelmingly (when they are actually on the ballot). Take the hint!!
- Mark, Amherst

The NH GOP as well as the national GOP has to get rid of privacy policies that infringe on the GOP traditional values of personal responsibility and individual freedoms including anti-choice policies inre abortion which are enslavements of pregnant women to the will of the state and therefore are denials of her personal responsibility and individual freedom, anti-assisted suicide/personal termination policies, and anti-gay policies. These policies offend moderates who are the swing voters who determine who wins elections and prompt them to vote for DEMs despite the detriments of DEM gun-grabbing and socialist policies to both NH and US citizens. Practical politics requires winning elections, and getting rid of privacy policies detrimental to individuals does not mean getting rid of traditional GOP values of personal responsibility, individual freedoms, less govt, and less taxes, which promote a capitalist economy and individual incentives.
- Bob Kroepel, New Durham, NH

This isn't a fight between conservatives and moderates. Most NH GOP activists, including the ones Fran just excommunicated from the Merrimack Committee, accurately describe themselves as conservatives. No, this is simply about Fran trying to line up votes in her Ahab-like effort to become state party chairman, booting conservatives who don't support her narrow, extreme view of who makes a good Republican. If only Fran would put as much energy into fighting Democrats as she wastes plotting and scheming against fellow Republicans.

Fergus Cullen
Chairman, NH Republican Party
- Fergus Cullen, Wolfeboro, NH