Category: Granite State,

Why Ghislaine Maxwell chose New Hampshire

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Dense forests and difficult access from few public roads make it easy to get off radar in the place whose motto is ‘Live Free or Die’

By Sarah Kennedy New York 3 July 2020 • 5:53pm

Ghislaine Maxwell could not have chosen a better spot than Bradford, New Hampshire for the hidden location of her house Tuckedaway. Known as the ‘Granite State’ for the local psychology as much as the landscape, New Hampshire is a live- and-let-live place whose motto is ‘Live Free or Die’.

Locals are famed for their quiet resilience, indifference to high-net-worth visitors and cool welcome. Apart from a nod, diners in the Appleseed Restaurant in Ms. Maxwell’s new home town of Bradford won’t have second-glanced the international jet-set’s most wanted if she happened to blow in for a burger.

The town of Bradford is located along the southern end of Lake Todd. New Hampshire could be compared to the British Lake District, only with more greenery and far fewer tourists. Bordered by the Northern Appalachian Mountains, many of the lakes in the state are private, meaning that only those with homes on the shores can use them.

Dense forests and difficult access from few public roads make it easy to get off any kind of radar. Adirondack-style homes like Ms. Maxwell’s, purchased for $1,070,750 in December 2019, are quaintly called cottages and camps thanks to their rustic, wood-built frames and open-plan design.

Ms. Maxwell’s home is a modern take on the rugged look, featuring a prerequisite 4 bedroom minimum and barn-style living room. The only cottage-like accoutrement to the house is the name – ‘Tuckedaway’, carved into a stone by the secure iron gates.

If there is such a thing as an American aristocracy, New Hampshire is its go-to spot for winter skiing and summers on the lakes. Holiday home owners hail from the worlds of finance, medicine and tech in Boston, many from New England’s oldest families. Their children attend the summer camps dotted around Lake Winnipesaukee, mixing with peers from as far south as New York and Pennsylvania.

New Hampshire’s summer camp-and-club lifestyle is sent up beautifully by local boy Adam Sandler in movies like Happy Gilmore and Grown Ups. The area breeds salty American comedians and writers including Seth Meyers, Sarah Silverman and going back further, J.D Salinger.

Holiday activities on the lakes are simple, from crawfish dipping to kayaking and possibly water skiing, though power boats and jet skis are forbidden in most places. Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney famously shot himself in the foot metaphorically over July 4 weekend 2012 when he and his wife Anne were photographed on their jet-ski, too obviously enjoying the billionaire lifestyle.

At a time when Romney was attempting to promote social and welfare issues on the campaign trail, political pundits in the US still hail this photo as Romney’s downward turning point. New Hampshire is politically important as the place where the first primary elections for US presidential candidates are held. The state is home to political bigwigs including Republicans Romney and Kelly Ayotte.

Although the fashion scene is definitely not happening, strike out on a direct route east from Ms. Maxwell’s home in Bradford and you arrive at Kennebunkport, seaside location of the Bush family compound. A discreet haven for boat lovers. John Travolta, Susan Sarandon and Martha Stewart have had homes there in recent years.

When we say boats by the way, we mean sailing boats such as the True Love from High Society, rather than the fiberglass mini-hotels bobbing about on Long Island Sound. Membership of the Kennebunk River Club for tennis and dining would be the holy grail for a home-owner new to the area. Though not, obviously, for Maxwell.

Possibly the only risky issue security-wise for those like Maxwell seeking a luxurious hideaway up north is staff. Live-in is pretty much the norm north of New Hampshire state capital Concord, with most homes keeping a chef, ground maintenance workers and a housekeeper. The very limited dining-out options are for basic, traditional diner fare. Organic fruit and veg are plentiful though, so the right chef could work wonders. It’s all a very long way from the Manhattan jail where Maxwell is currently residing.

Why Ghislaine Maxwell chose New Hampshire

for the love of christ…. I don’t know where to start

NH state trooper fist-bumps an armed Trump-supporting anti-protestor behind the back of a black Concord City Officer at the Concord Black Lives Matter march. Any questions?

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Sherry Frost 🍑🆘 on Twitter: “A NH state trooper fist-bumps an armed Trump-supporting anti-protestor behind the back of a black Concord City Officer at the Concord Black Lives Matter march. Any questions? Photo credit: Jody Anthony https://t.co/Ir5NEQkIaj” / Twitter

Why has this Tropper not been ID’ed and doxxed yet?

NH says Troopers Who Pulled NH Man By Dreadlocks Followed Policy

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Granite State,, Race,Leave a comment

Troopers Who Pulled NH Man By Dreadlocks Followed Policy: State | Concord, NH Patch

What the f**ck is this shit???

Nope, not OK. Not at all OK. If that is the policy then the policy is an insult to law and order.

Here’s hoping he sues the individual Troopers and the Department back to Kingdom Come. IF there is one thing NH taxpayers won’t abide it’s wasting money. And having polices or paying Troopers who invite lawsuits is a waste of money.

‘It’s going to backfire’ – Concord, NH city councilors not keen on mandatory masks

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,Leave a comment

“I think a lot of people inappropriately have made this into a point of resistance for their own personal reasons, which I think potentially places our law enforcement, as we saw in the incidents at the Rollins Park playground, into the position of being a point of confrontation with people who have an ax to grind or a point to make,” Champlin said. 

…“If we are going to go down this road at any point, we need to consider the fact that I think there’s likely going to be a legal challenge to whatever town ordinances are implemented,” Councilor Nathan Fennessy said. “Just a note of caution there.” 

Councilor Rob Werner agreed. 

“I’m very skeptical that we or any municipality has the ability to do this,” he said. 

‘It’s going to backfire’ – Concord city councilors not keen on mandatory masks

hmmmm

COVID-19 update for Thursday: Sununu issues ‘stay-at-home’ order through May 4, extends school closing, shuts beaches

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New Hampshire’s four-Democrat congressional delegation is criticizing federal health and emergency management agencies for delays in receiving medical supplies – some of which had already expired — to help the state deal with the coronavirus.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas said it is their understanding that one supervisory error at the Federal Emergency Management Agency resulted in a request sitting unprocessed for four days.

When New Hampshire received supplies in response to its March 17 request, some of it was expired, and the 16,000-plus gloves that were sent were latex, “which are unusable in the medical setting due to latex allergies,” according to the letter sent Wednesday to the heads of FEMA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The delegation said between this shipment and a prior one this month, the agencies have provided only 28% of respirator masks requested, one-third of nasal swabs needed, about 26% of surgical masks and no ventilators.

COVID-19 update for Thursday: Sununu issues ‘stay-at-home’ order through May 4, extends school closing, shuts beaches

hmmm

COVID-19 Was Catalyst in Fight to Free Detained Americans

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,, Middle East,Leave a comment

“Sen. Shaheen was involved from Day 1. New Hampshire should be proud of a senator like this – who will not put up with one of her constituents being unlawfully detained,” Atallah said.

…Shaheen, along with several other senators, also was deeply involved in the push for the release of North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained in Turkey for two years on trumped up charges and released in late 2018.

…With Fakhoury en route home, Shaheen late last week thanked Atallah as well as National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, NSC staffer Virginia Boney, Roger Carstens, the presidential envoy for hostage affairs who replaced O’Brien in that position, as well as Shea and several other top State Department officials, including Pompeo and Schenker.

“This is exactly how our government should work,” she told reporters. “… Congress and the administration came together on a bipartisan basis to work together to help Americans in need.”

COVID-19 Was Catalyst in Fight to Free Detained Americans | RealClearPolitics

Sanders’s New Hampshire Visit Alarmed 2012 Obama Aides – The Atlantic

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Bernie Sanders has insisted he was not on the verge of a primary run against Barack Obama during the summer of 2011—but that would have been news to activists in New Hampshire at the time, who were watching his schedule in the first primary state and listening to his speeches criticizing the president then running for reelection.

…Sanders said that people could ask Reid or fellow Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, and that they’d deny that Sanders had talked about running. But I did ask Reid and Leahy about this last week in reporting the story, and neither of them denied it.

…Attending these sorts of events is one thing that potential candidates for president do to test the waters, get their names out there, and try out their stump speeches.

…“People in NH sure knew what it looked like, and sometimes what it looks like and what you’re really doing is a distinction without a difference.”

…“It seemed like he had an objective,” Kilchenstein said. “He wasn’t there as a courtesy as much as he showed up with a message.”

…When Sanders arrived at the barbecue on August 21, he ripped into Obama.

…Sanders last Thursday called Obama an “icon” in an interview with CNN, but has not explained what changed over the nine years from that summer of 2011, when he spoke of “deep disappointment” with Obama in an interview on a progressive radio show.

Sanders’s New Hampshire Visit Alarmed 2012 Obama Aides – The Atlantic

Bernie dun’ give a f*ck. He’d burn everything else down, including the Obama administration and the Democratic Party, if he thought it would advance his own agenda.

…And, rather like his about-face on the nomination rules he himself helped to create, he sure as sh*t has no problems revising history to suit his own goals. You don’t come to NH at that point in the cycle and criticize the presumptive nominee unless you are running. His denials don’t change that simple fact.

…And for what it is worth, rumor has it that he was dismissive and stand-offish to the attendees at the county picnic in question.

New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Says Primary Voters Are ‘Engaged,’ Projects Record Turnout

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“New Hampshire is not about having the most diverse population. I think the nominating process added Nevada and South Carolina in a way to ensure that diversity is reflected. What’s important in New Hampshire is that we have a very engaged electorate. We have one of the highest voter turnouts of any state in the country. And we need to be able to have a place where you can come, if you don’t have the most money and name recognition, and be able to talk to voters about your vision for the country and where we need to take America.”

…“I’ve been involved in Democratic politics for a long time. I remember the fight between the liberal wing and the moderate wing when I was working for Jimmy Carter. So this is not unusual and not surprising. And I think the important thing is that every Democratic candidate is talking about expanding health care to all Americans.”

…”We’ve been doing the New Hampshire primary for about 100 years now. I have every expectation and belief that people will be enthusiastic, and then it will go very well.”

New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Says Primary Voters Are ‘Engaged,’ Projects Record Turnout | Here & Now

hmmm

 

New Hampshire Votes In Three Days. Many Voters Could Still Switch Candidates.

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In that recent UMass Lowell poll, likely New Hampshire voters were asked if they prefer President Trump win reelection on Nov. 3 or “a giant meteor strikes the earth, extinguishing all life.” Sixty-two percent said they prefer the meteor strike. When broken out by income, gender, age and ideology, the only group in which a majority of respondents chose Trump’s reelection were those making more than $100,000 per year.

New Hampshire Votes In Three Days. Many Voters Could Still Switch Candidates. | FiveThirtyEight

oh my!

Buttigieg And/Or Sanders Are Going To Win Iowa. What Happens Next?

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State delegate equivalents, the measure that has gotten by far the most attention from the media because it’s traditionally the way that Iowa has counted its vote, showed Buttigieg ahead 27 to 25 percent, with 62 percent of precincts reporting. But Sanders narrowly led in two measures of the popular vote, taken before and after voters were given the opportunity to realign to a new candidate if their original choice was deemed not viable.

If the split verdict holds, it will be an appropriately weird outcome for a weird-as-hell Iowa caucus.

…Buttigieg probably needs to win New Hampshire — or come very close to doing so — because the states that follow aren’t good for him. He’s polling at just 6 percent in Nevada and only 4 percent in South Carolina. In other words, it’s highly unlikely, even if Buttigieg does get a big Iowa bounce, that he can win those states (especially South Carolina, given his poor standing with black voters). So he needs to build up enough momentum that he can afford to take losses there and still remain in a reasonably good position for Super Tuesday.

Buttigieg And/Or Sanders Are Going To Win Iowa. What Happens Next? | FiveThirtyEight

hmm

Who will win New Hampshire? 5 top state Democrats dish on the state of play

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Levesque: The media is completely missing minority populations here, especially with all the talk of lack of diversity in New Hampshire and Iowa. The media could do a better job of seeking out opinions from more diverse populations in both states.

…Sullivan: At this point in 2016, Sanders was at 50 percent in the polls. He ended up winning with about 61 percent. Now he’s in the mid-20s. That’s a pretty significant loss of support, yet the media seems to think he is doing well. The media is also missing the potential that there may be no clear winner here. Any candidate who finishes with more than 15 percent of the vote picks up delegates under the party rules.

…Meyer: The supposition that Sanders and Warren have a stranglehold on the state is wrong. They certainly have an advantage by virtue of familiarity. But that also creates a much greater expectation for them to perform very well.

Who will win New Hampshire? 5 top state Democrats dish on the state of play – POLITICO

hmmmm

Bennet die-hards drawn to awkward, unusual New Hampshire campaign

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In a campaign filled with stump speeches aimed at getting people fired up, Bennet is working to make government boring again. He has worked to position himself as the adult in the room. If he is elected, he wants people to not have to think about his administration for weeks at a time.

That’s endearing to some in New Hampshire, especially those who are more interested in getting Trump out of office than any one specific platform.

… Sometimes, he continued, candidates “have risen in New Hampshire simply because New Hampshire decides we’re not going to accept the conventional wisdom, and instead we’re going to pick a candidate we think can actually do whatever the mission is.”

…Carville sees Bennet as a soothing moderate who can not only beat Trump but also convince people wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats to take them off.

“I don’t just want to get rid of Trump, I want to get rid of Trumpism,” he said. “On election day, I want to see that army ragged, starving, freezing, retreating.”

Bennet die-hards drawn to awkward, unusual New Hampshire campaign – POLITICO

hmmmm