New Hampshire

New Hampshire Primary Voters Can Send Biden a Powerful Message About Gaza

Published

10 months ago

January 18, 2024

Press Room

New Hampshire Primary Voters Can Send Biden a Powerful Message About Gaza

Politics

/
January 18, 2024

A campaign to write in the word “cease-fire” seeks to pressure the administration to shift its policy.

U.S. President Joe Biden returns to the White House December 20, 2023 in Washington, DC.

(Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

Andru Volinsky is a prominent New Hampshire Democrat. He served as a member of the state’s elected Executive Council, and nearly won the race to become the party’s gubernatorial nominee in 2020.

But on Tuesday, when New Hampshire holds its traditional first-in-the-nation presidential primary, Volinsky won’t be voting for President Biden. Instead, he will take his Democratic ballot, find the line for presidential write-ins, and print the word “cease-fire.”

“I’m not interested in replacing Biden,” says Volinsky, who expects that he will be voting for the president in November. “This is about getting a message to Biden about the urgent need for a cease-fire in Gaza.”

Volinsky won’t be alone. A grassroots movement has taken shape in the Granite State, one that’s urging voters in Tuesday’s primary to use their ballot to send a “cease-fire” signal in support of “de-escalation, humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and a just solution to the conflict in the Middle East.”

New Hampshire’s Vote Ceasefire campaign seeks to “draw attention to the urgent need to stop the violence in Palestine and the Middle East,” and let President Biden know that the United States must take action to end the killing in Gaza. And it’s gaining traction.

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Organizers have been fielding calls from across the state and around the country. They’re spreading the word on social media and distributing signs that urge voters to take a pen to the polls and register their discontent with the administration’s support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the brutal assault on Gaza that has left more than 24,000 Palestinians dead, severely wounded tens of thousands and displaced an estimated 1.9 million men, women, and children.

That assault on Gaza, which followed the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli kibbutzim and a music festival, has sparked an international outcry. In the United States, it has inspired mass demonstrations by American Muslims, Jews, and Christians calling for an end to the violence. It has also sparked significant dissension within Biden’s Democratic Party, as close to 60 members of the House and four Democratic senators have expressed support for a cease-fire.

But the Biden administration has not shifted its stance on the war. It continues to provide military aid for the Israel Defense Forces, as well as to push for Congress to fund additional aid. It’s also kept providing diplomatic cover for Netanyahu’s government at the United Nations. That’s led to frustration in New Hampshire, where Biden will face the first test of his 2024 reelection campaign.

This year’s New Hampshire primary is not sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, and Biden’s name will not appear on the ballot with those of his most prominent challengers, author and 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson and US Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota. But there’s an active and reasonably well-financed campaign to write in Biden’s name. If there is a substantial anti-Biden vote in the primary, it’s likely to get the president’s attention—and that of Democratic strategists and pundits—at a point when his approval ratings are already low.

So the Vote Ceasefire campaign is seizing the opening. “We have tried to make our voices heard in Washington. We have been ignored,” says Morgan Brown, a New Hampshire activist who was busy organizing efforts to distribute posters, yard signs and flyers urging New Hampshire Democrats to send their message to Biden by writing in “Cease-fire.” “The problem is the Democratic Party only cares about their votes, and that’s why we need to take this to the polls.”

The write-in vote won’t be the only way to send a pro-cease-fire message. Williamson, who for months has been calling for de-escalation and who has made a progressive critique of the Biden administration’s foreign policy central to her candidacy, says the best way to pressure Biden is by backing her, “a candidate who has demanded a ceasefire from the very beginning.” Phillips has also indicated that he’s supportive of a cease-fire.

“I think that the combined votes for the ‘cease-fire’ write-in and for Marianne Williamson could send a powerful message on Tuesday,” says Alan Minsky, the executive director of Progressive Democrats of America. “I don’t know if it will be as big as the Eugene McCarthy ’68 anti-war vote, but people will certainly notice if activists can point to a significant number of votes that were cast in protest against the administration’s approach on Gaza.”

A 1968 challenge to Democratic President Lyndon Johnson by McCarthy, an anti-war senator from Minnesota, drew support from 42 of New Hampshire Democratic primary voters and shocked the political world, beginning a chain of events that would eventually lead to Johnson’s decision to end his reelection bid. Few are predicting that the grassroots Vote Ceasefire campaign, which started late and has almost no money behind it, will get that level of support. But if a significant percentage of New Hampshire voters write in “cease-fire,” it is likely that Vote Ceasefire campaigning will spread beyond the border of the Granite State, says Minsky.

Volinsky says organizers of the New Hampshire campaign have already heard from activists in other states. But, for now, they are focused on spreading the word to New Hampshire voters, and on making sure that the national media takes note if there is a large “cease-fire” vote on Tuesday. To that end, campaigners will be closely monitoring the count of so-called “scattered” write-in votes to ensure that their message is delivered to the White House

“The Biden administration was able to veto the United Nations resolution on a humanitarian cease-fire,” says Volinsky. “But on Tuesday they won’t be able to veto my vote demanding a cease-fire.”

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John Nichols

John Nichols is a national affairs correspondent for The Nation. He has written, cowritten, or edited over a dozen books on topics ranging from histories of American socialism and the Democratic Party to analyses of US and global media systems. His latest, cowritten with Senator Bernie Sanders, is the New York Times bestseller It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism.

Town Of Bow: Tax Collector Says Bills Will Be Mailed Out In Early December

Published

6 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Town Of Bow: Tax Collector Says Bills Will Be Mailed Out In Early December

From the office of the Tax Collector:

I am reaching out due to the high volume of phone calls and emails we’ve received from concerned residents regarding their property tax bills.

As a result of the property tax revaluation this year, the tax rate-setting process has been delayed. We are still awaiting the finalized tax rate from the Department of Revenue. Because of this delay, we anticipate that the warrant will be prepared, and tax bills will be mailed out early December. The due date for taxes will be the second week of January, 2025.

I want to inform you that this information will also be available online for your reference. Tax bills will be posted online once they are mailed out under the online payment tab for property taxes.

In the meantime, you may pay your taxes now based on last year’s tax amount, with the balance due once you receive your updated bill.

If you are looking to qualify for an income tax deduction, please be aware that payments must be received by December 31st, 2024.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

This press release was produced by the Town of Bow. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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New Hampshire

Man Has Life-Threatening Injuries After 5 Vehicle Crash In Manchester

Published

14 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Man Has Life-Threatening Injuries After 5 Vehicle Crash In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Fire, AMR and police responded to a report of a multi-vehicle crash with injuries at Silver Street and Maple Street Friday.

Firefighters and AMR arrived just after 5 p.m. and immediately requested additional ambulances after finding multiple people needing medical care.

Five vehicles were involved, including some parked on the side of Maple Street. The first vehicle, a grey 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, was operated by a 53-year-old man from Manchester, who sustained life-threatening injuries. A trauma alert at the Elliot was requested, and AMR transported the driver.

The passenger of the Chevrolet was a 50-year-old man also from Manchester who sustained minor injuries.

The second vehicle involved was a green 2001 BMW 540I, operated by an 18-year-old man from Manchester who sustained minor injuries in the crash. The passenger of this vehicle was a 28-year-old male also from Manchester who sustained minor injuries in the crash.

The third vehicle involved was a silver 2004 Nissan 350Z, operated by a 17-year-old male from Manchester who sustained minor injuries as a result of this crash.

The fourth and fifth vehicles, a green 1999 Honda Accord and a grey 2008 Scion TC, were parked on Maple St.

Several witnesses who saw the vehicles moments before the crash said the BMW and Nissan operated by the teens appeared to be road racing at a very high speed.

One witness said the BMW was in the left lane, with the SUV in the right lane, as the Nissan approached they described it attempting to pass on the right and subsequently crashed into the parked cars.

A utility pole with a significant number of power lines was broken from the impact of the vehicles. Eversource was requested to the scene and expected to work through the night on replacing it.

The Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the cause and factors of this crash.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Manchester Police Department Traffic Unit at 603-668-8711.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news

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New Hampshire

Contoocook Motorcyclist Indicted On 4th OUI Charge: Court Roundup

Published

22 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Contoocook Motorcyclist Indicted On 4th OUI Charge: Court Roundup

CONCORD, NH — A Merrimack County grand jury indicted the following people recently.

Jonathan E. Ball, 63, of Academy Road in Pembroke, on two felony possession of child sexual abuse images charges. He was accused of possessing videos of a boy being raped on Feb. 13 in Pembroke. Ball was previously convicted of possession of child sexual abuse images in August 2011 in Merrimack County Superior Court.

Skylar Bennett, 41, of Snow Street in Concord, on motor vehicles; penalties and controlled drug act; acts prohibited charges, both felonies. He was accused of possessing cocaine while driving on Fisherville Road in Concord on June 23 after the NH DMV certified him as a habitual offender.

Alexander Sakovits, 33, of Timberwood Drive in Lebanon, on criminal threatening and three reckless conduct charges, all felonies. He was accused of forcibly taking ahold of the steering wheel of a vehicle twice on Route 3A, causing an intimate partner to lose control of the vehicle and drive off the road, and firing a gun in the direction of an intimate partner in Hooksett on June 16.

Anthony “Andy” M. Sanborn, 62, of Eagle Drive in Bedford, on theft by deception and theft by unauthorized taking charges, both felonies. He was accused of misrepresenting gross receipts from Win, Win, Win, LCC, and-or the Draft receiving more than $1.5 million from the Main Street Relief Fund that he was not qualified to receive on June 9, 2020, in Concord.

Shawn S. Smith, 52, of North Main Street in Franklin, on a felony second-degree assault-domestic violence charge. He was accused of strangling an intimate partner on Aug. 24 in Franklin.

Mary Smolinsky, 32, of Country Land Drive in Haverhill, on possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl, and possession of crack cocaine charges, all felonies, in Bow on April 18.

Matthew Stark, 36, of Revere Place in Franklin, on a felony controlled drug act; acts prohibited-methadone charge on Dec. 7, 2023, in Franklin.

Jennifer Sullivan, 55, of Batchelder Street in Laconia, on a felony possession of methamphetamine charge on Aug. 7 in Northfield.

John H. Tracey, 61, of Main Street/Route 103 in Contoocook, on motor vehicles; penalties and driving-operating under the influence of drugs-liquor-fourth offense charges, both felonies. He was accused of riding a motorcycle on Route 103 in Warner on July 12 after being deemed a habitual offender by the NH DMV.

Do you have a news tip? Please email it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella’s YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel. Follow the NH politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our campaign coverage.

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