Election 2008: My Background
October 18, 2007 | 1 Comment
As I live in NH, I get the opportunity to meet a number of presidential candidates and form an opinion using first hand experience. I find that my opinions of candidates can sometimes change in retrospect, so I intend on chronicling my experiences and meetings going forward. However, there is some history I’d like to get out so I have a starting point.
The first national election I paid attention to was the 1992 primary. I was merely 12, but I can remember supporting Tom Harkin in a formal grade school debate. Bill Clinton went on to win that primary and later the national election. During the national election, I was quite curious about Ross Perot. His concise, non-politician sounding, talk was intriguing. His platform was clear and I was a bit torn before finally siding back toward my liberal roots with Clinton.
Eight years later in 2000 I was finally of age to participate. As a college student in NH, I was able go out and meet candidates. Out of the blue I took the opportunity to meet George W. Bush in Lebanon, NH. What stuck out for me most was his odd spin on how to reform education. More mandatory standardized testing and tax credits for enrolling students in private schools seemed insane to me. Later, I saw John McCain speak and realized that not all Republicans were crazy. With this in mind and Al Gore a sure thing on the Democrat ticket, I’d oppose Bush in any way possible way. This led to me voting for McCain in the primary, which he ended up winning in NH, even though he would go on to lose nationally.
By the time the election came around, I was uninspired by Al Gore and had lost faith with the two party system. I then dipped my toe back into the third party concept and threw my support behind Ralph Nader. When the election was eventually awarded to Bush, I felt somewhat bad about not having supported Gore, when he was electable and superior to Bush. With this in mind, I was more passionate in my opposition of Bush and certain that in the future I would only support candidates I feel are electable.
In the 2004 campaign I met Howard Dean. For the first time, I had found a candidate who truly resonated with me. I vowed to do anything possible to help him get elected. This was the first time I got involved in helping a candidate’s campaign. Beyond participating in the campaign, I took the opportunity to see him speak two additional times before the election, each time reassuring me that this was the strongest person to lead America. When his campaign imploded, I remained faithfully hopeful, but was heartbroken to see his hopes of the White House dwindle. The primary was eventually won by John Kerry.
This left me forced to put my support behind John Kerry, in continued resistance to Bush. Without a doubt this was a better choice than George W Bush and I would not make the mistake of refusing to choose the lesser of two evils in a close election again. Of course everyone knows how this election eventually turned out, Bush getting four more years in Washington.
This leads us to Election 2008… With George W Bush out of the equation, I feel like any candidate will be an improvement, leaving me very hopeful for the future. This also has the side effect of me needing to look at each candidate equally, on both side of the aisle. Over time, I’ll post my impressions of each that I get to see. Of course keep in mind… I’ve never supported any candidate who has gone on to win the presidency…
Tags: 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008, america, bill clinton, Bush, clinton, college, dean, election, george bush, george w bush, harkin, howard dean, john kerry, kerry, new hampshire, nh, politics, primary, ralph nader, tom harkin
Man Commits Suicide With Homemade Guillotine
January 4, 2006 | 10 Comments
I’m all for do-it-yourself projects, but this is ridiculous!
A guy in Belmont, NH built a homemade guillotine which he used to commit suicide. This guy was pretty serious though as he setup a fairly intricate “bomb” setup with 12-16 ounce bottles and gasoline as an apparent failsafe. According to descriptions, the device was intended to detonate using electricity. This “bomb” was built to burn down down the place, not for explosive purposes.
According to The Citizen:
[Belmont Police] found the man dead in what appeared to have been a homemade guillotine — a device designed to behead its victim.
Authorities said the man had been dead of the apparent suicide for some time.
… subsequent investigation turned up bottles of gasoline that had been placed into the walls of the home with electrical wires coming out of each — a discovery that prompted police to call the fire department.
Authorities cut power to the home after determining that the device inside was designed to detonate using electricity.
Of course Sara says this guy needs props for his creativity. She said “heck, they hardly ever put gunshots in the paper anymore!”
Tags: belmont, bizarre, bomb, bomb squad, DIY, do it yourself, guillotine, homemade, new hampshire, nh, suicide, the citizen
Hot Buttered Democracy
October 21, 2005 | Leave a Comment
Emmons took this picture of a sign in a store window in Concord, NH. I don’t understand what the deal is, but I love it. Bring on the hot buttered democracy!
Tags: buttered, concord, democracy, hot buttered, hot buttered democracy, new hampshire, nh
Lipstick Lesbians Trash P-Hop
September 14, 2005 | 1 Comment
They then ran to their car, squealing away.
When asked for comment, the quotable local
The following account is a
(Co-authored by [Co-Author Name Removed By Request].)
Tags: additional expletives, Approximately, blouse, booth, crime, deviant behavior, enraged, exhibition, exhibitionist, explicit, gender mix regardless, hands, hollering, horizontal, inappropriate, innumerable expletives, jealous, Jenny Sweedler, laid waste, lesbians, lipstick, lipstick lesbians, loudly, mammary, man, man woman combo, Monday, mouth, new hampshire, nh, P-Hop, paraphernalia, plymouth, Plymouth House of Pizza, proprietor, restaurant, shirts, spouting, strip, true story, twitchy, two women, vacate, violently
My Brother, The Hero
September 2, 2005 | 2 Comments
My brother, Philip John “PJ” Tirrell (Jr), is an amazing person. I’m convinced I could actually write an entire book about the guy, but what makes me think of this at the moment is his impending departure for New Orleans. A veteran of the first Gulf War, he returned to the states and made his career as a professional firefighter. Apparently helping people in times of extreme crisis or disaster is what drives him. He stayed in the Guard after returning and was called up again last year. He returned from Iraq for the second time this February.
He is now headed out with the New Hampshire 744th to help with Hurricane Katrina aftermath.
The Concord Monitor: “New Hampshire Guard headed for New Orleans” says:
Gov. John Lynch announced his decision to send 488 troops yesterday for a mission that is expected to last at least 14 days. Units being activated include the 744th Transportation Unit based in Hillsboro, troops under command based in Concord, a field artillery unit in the North Country, a military police unit in Manchester, a field artillery unit in southern New Hampshire and members of the air refueling wing in Newington.
Interestingly enough one of my students is in the North Country unit and has also been activated.
Finally I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and guard units who are helping in this effort and helping to better mankind in general. I truly appreciate it.
Update:
More on the 744th in Louisiana:
From Concord Monitor: State reaches out to Katrina’s victims
Four Concord firefighters are on their way to help with relief efforts, too. Firefighter Philip Tirrell, a sergeant with the 744th Transportation Co. who returned from Iraq last March, will be in New Orleans by today to help with cleanup and police duties. Lt. Robert Chaisson and firefighter Alexander Matson will leave tomorrow to volunteer.
Other related press coverage:
Union Leader: NH Guardsmen leave for ‘battle’ on new front
Tags: concord, guard, gulf war, hero, hurricane, hurricane katrina, katrina, national guard, new hampshire, New Orleans, philip tirrell jr, public service, tirrell
Outhouse Diving
July 6, 2005 | 2 Comments
A guy was caught by a teenage girl staring up from inside a toilet at a rest area along the Kancamagus Highway in NH. Firefighters had to hose this guy off before the police could take him into custody, not that I can blame them…
Apparently he gets his jollies off by watching women go to the bathroom, while standing waist deep in urine and feces. Wow, now that’s a fetish.
Here’s some google news results:
Man arrested in women’s outhouse tank
The Union Leader, NH -
Jun 28, 2005
Man Pulled From Women’s Outhouse Tank
WCSH-TV, ME -
Jun 28, 2005
Man Pulled From Women’s Outhouse Tank
WMTW, ME -
Jun 29, 2005
Sometimes the crime is its own punishment
Wizbang, DC -
Jun 29, 2005
Man Arrested For Allegedly Hiding In Women’s Toilet
Boston Channel.com, MA -
Jun 29, 2005
Tags: arrest, fetish, gross, humor, kancamagus, maine, new hampshire, Newsy Goodness, outhouse
744th Coming Home!
February 2, 2005 | 2 Comments
Update: My brother is finally home safely.
The following are links related to his unit returning. As more articles come in I’ll post them here:
The 744th is coming home to Hillsboro - Concord Monitor
Danger tempers joy of return - Union Leader
Another NH Guard Unit Prepares To Leave Iraq - WMUR
. . . and another is on the way home - Union Leader
Cheers, tears for returning Guard members - Seacost Online
From Battle Comes New Perspective - Union Leader
At ‘home’ at Camp Anaconda - Union Leader
More NH troops back on US soil - Nashua Telegraph
Tags: 744th, iraq, new hampshire, nh, philip tirrell jr, troops, war