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I went to the "Re-open NH" rally today.
It was the same scene as in other states: flags, signs, a few masks, and 100s of people upset at NH& #39;s shutdown order.
Except one major difference: Almost none of the protestors took it out on @GovChrisSununu.
(THREAD)
#nhpolitics
It was the same scene as in other states: flags, signs, a few masks, and 100s of people upset at NH& #39;s shutdown order.
Except one major difference: Almost none of the protestors took it out on @GovChrisSununu.
(THREAD)
#nhpolitics
I talked to a dozen people, some of whom had signs like "Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God" and "What happened to & #39;Live Free or Die& #39;?"
But when I asked what they thought of Sununu& #39;s actions, a Republican, almost all said "he& #39;s doing the best he can."
#nhpolitics
But when I asked what they thought of Sununu& #39;s actions, a Republican, almost all said "he& #39;s doing the best he can."
#nhpolitics
To be clear, Gov. Sununu is the one person responsible for the closure of non-essential businesses. He& #39;s the one person who can reverse that closure.
And yet almost no one I talked to was willing to criticize him outright.
#nhpolitics
And yet almost no one I talked to was willing to criticize him outright.
#nhpolitics
One speaker took to the microphone and said (to applause) that it wasn& #39;t Sununu& #39;s fault; he had taken action based on “faulty models, faulty testing, faulty deaths that are attributed to COVID-19."
But now, she argued, he should reverse that stance.
#nhpolitics
But now, she argued, he should reverse that stance.
#nhpolitics
Another protester, donning camouflage and an assault weapon and standing with a paramilitary group, told me the same.
"I think we feel like while we& #39;re protesting, people feel like Sununu is actually listening to us," he said.
#nhpolitics
"I think we feel like while we& #39;re protesting, people feel like Sununu is actually listening to us," he said.
#nhpolitics
"That& #39;s the big thing," he added. "As long as they feel like Sununu is listening to us and taking what we have issues with into consideration, he won& #39;t really have any issue with getting re-elected."
#nhpolitics
#nhpolitics
His friend, another member of the paramilitary group, New England Minutemen, agreed.
"I think he& #39;s definitely taking a lighter stance on it than obviously some of the Democratic governors," he said. "Because he& #39;s listening to people on both sides of the aisle." #nhpolitics
"I think he& #39;s definitely taking a lighter stance on it than obviously some of the Democratic governors," he said. "Because he& #39;s listening to people on both sides of the aisle." #nhpolitics
That& #39;s not true though. NH has taken the same major actions as other New England states, and in some cases we did it faster than them.
Take a look at this graph from @vtdigger& #39;s @EPetenko and @xanderlanden: https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/29/how-does-vermonts-covid-response-compare-to-other-states/">https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/2... #nhpolitics
Take a look at this graph from @vtdigger& #39;s @EPetenko and @xanderlanden: https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/29/how-does-vermonts-covid-response-compare-to-other-states/">https://vtdigger.org/2020/03/2... #nhpolitics
So to recap: strong condemnation of state government overreach. Faint criticism of the person at the head of that government.
#nhpolitics
#nhpolitics
To me this is an illuminating dynamic. In Michigan, there were literal swastikas on posters used to compare Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, to a dictator.
In NH, whose orders are the same, there were vague posters about tyranny but few attacks against the governor #nhpolitics
In NH, whose orders are the same, there were vague posters about tyranny but few attacks against the governor #nhpolitics
The protesters were majority right-leaning/libertarian to be sure.
But I think the dichotomy illustrates Sununu& #39;s unique hold over all factions of the @NHGOP, even the ones that are sometimes literally opposed to him.
#nhpolitics
But I think the dichotomy illustrates Sununu& #39;s unique hold over all factions of the @NHGOP, even the ones that are sometimes literally opposed to him.
#nhpolitics
And from all appearances, the governor is aware of that.
In a statement Saturday, he spoke against the protesters& #39; request, urging Granite Staters to have patience.
But he did so gingerly. Here& #39;s his whole statement:
#nhpolitics
In a statement Saturday, he spoke against the protesters& #39; request, urging Granite Staters to have patience.
But he did so gingerly. Here& #39;s his whole statement:
#nhpolitics
Will be interesting to see how long the balance holds.
There are no plans for more rallies. But Sununu& #39;s been clear that any re-opening will not be soon. The case levels and death toll have not nearly slowed down yet.
And obviously the crisis is nowhere near over.
#nhpolitics
There are no plans for more rallies. But Sununu& #39;s been clear that any re-opening will not be soon. The case levels and death toll have not nearly slowed down yet.
And obviously the crisis is nowhere near over.
#nhpolitics
End note: I did find one person at the rally who has lost faith with Sununu.
Scott Sybert, of Deerfield, made the sign below.
Sybert was a Sununu voter, but no longer, he told me.
“He’s trying to appeal to both sides,” he said. “But there’s no negotiating liberty” #nhpolitics
Scott Sybert, of Deerfield, made the sign below.
Sybert was a Sununu voter, but no longer, he told me.
“He’s trying to appeal to both sides,” he said. “But there’s no negotiating liberty” #nhpolitics
