New Hampshire
Editor’s Notebook: Chris Sununu and the ‘baked-in’ Trump vote • New Hampshire Bulletin
For just about a decade, Donald Trump has either been president or a candidate for president. Over that time, his list of actions and utterances that would have disqualified any other politician in any other American political era has grown absurdly long, yet there’s always a measure of collective surprise when he crosses a new line.
And when he does, the journalistic parlor game is to search for a “reasonable Republican” who has finally heard enough and is jumping off the Trump train. It seems one of the favored “reasonable Republicans” of the moment is our very own Gov. Chris Sununu.
Over the weekend, Sununu was asked by ABC News’ Martha Raddatz about Trump’s support for using the military against “the enemy from within” – the “radical left lunatics.” New Hampshire’s “reasonable Republican” dismissed the whole thing as “hyperbole,” arguing that Trump “didn’t go after his political enemies” last time and so surely wouldn’t do that during a second term.
In other words, Sununu is betting that “reelection-minded Trump” and “nothing-to-lose Trump” will be exactly the same guy.
Then, on Wednesday, the governor was on CNN, this time so America could find out how a “reasonable Republican” feels about Trump’s one-time chief of staff Gen. John Kelly saying the former president fits the definition of “fascist.” And, according to a report in the Atlantic, the fact that Trump heaped praise on Adolf Hitler’s generals.
Perhaps, wondered CNN host Kate Bolduan and her audience, maybe that would change how Sununu feels about Trump – and maybe even change his vote? “No,” the “reasonable Republican” said in response to those very questions, explaining with a smile that stuff like fascism and being a Hitler stan is “kind of baked into the vote” with “a guy like that.”
Huh.
I get that our departing governor is likely trying out for a cable news pundit role and that the challenge of supporting Trump while not quite championing him is kind of like Republican pundit boot camp, but he’s not walking the tightrope quite as deftly as he thinks he is. I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody who has expressed even a little bit of admiration for Hitler or his generals, but I feel confident that I wouldn’t react with the old grin-and-shrug. The word “indefensible” comes to mind, just for starters before the rage fully sets in, but Sununu went with a full dismissal because, he said, it’s “baked into the vote”? I feel like maybe that’s the kind of thing that should get you fired from your cable news pundit job and blacklisted from “reasonable Republican” circles, right? Or maybe I’m just being naive?
More than 74 million people voted for Donald Trump in 2020, and Chris Sununu is just one of them. And I don’t think anything New Hampshire’s governor says about the 2024 election is going to swing the outcome even a little bit. I don’t know how many Americans are truly undecided in this very close race, but I suspect the answer is not many. It really could go either way, and turnout will be driven primarily by which collective emotion is stronger: the desire to see Trump in office again or the need to make damn sure that doesn’t happen. I believe there are a lot of Democrats who are truly passionate about Kamala Harris’ candidacy, but I don’t think that group is nearly as large as those who just can’t bear the idea of “Trump, the Sequel.”
So the real problem with Sununu’s media junket isn’t really election related. It’s even bigger than that, as big as this election is. What does it say about the state of our politics when a popular governor – who carried 57 percent of the vote in a purple state last time around – can so casually abandon not just political principles but human ones? What matters in an election, “reasonable” supporters like Sununu tell us, is not high character – or even the illusion of high character – but the party letter next to the name and the economic policy boxes that are checked off.
The argument, or hope, seems to be that the dictatorial fantasies and tendencies of Donald Trump will be naturally restrained – by American history, popular opinion, favorable economic conditions, or the imagined influence of “reasonable Republicans.”
What could possibly go wrong? That’s Sununu’s dangerous bet, and he’s all in.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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