#decision2014

Two of the big contests in New England, the New Hampshire Senate race and the Massachusetts Gubernatorial race, have such obvious choices that I'm keeping my endorsements brief.

Massachusetts Governor: Charlie Baker After 8 years under Deval Patrick (D), it's time for a change for Massachusetts. Charlie Baker (R) is a strong leader, and a moderate candidate who can help advance Massachusetts forward without raising taxes or enacting undue burdens on job-creating businesses. Martha Coakley (D) offers more of the same, and perhaps even weaker leadership that will lead to worse results than under Mr. Patrick. Additionally, Ms. Coakely's policies are too liberal even for "liberal Massachusetts" with her support for higher gas taxes and her support for allowing non-U.S. citizens to vote in elections in the Commonwealth.

In the Granite State, voters on November 4th will have the chance once again to choose their State’s top executive, the Governor. New Hampshire, in contrast to its neighbor to the South (Massachusetts), elects the Governor to 2-year terms similar to how members of the U.S. House of Representatives are elected to 2-year terms. This empowers the people of New Hampshire to get rid of failing leadership much faster than in other states.

The two leading candidates for Governor of New Hampshire are incumbent Margaret "Maggie" Hassan, a Democrat, and Republican Walt Havenstein.

Since taking office, Ms. Hassan has managed to bring forth positive results for the economy. Business has grown in New Hampshire, and the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.3% from over 5% when Ms. Hassan took office. In addition, Ms. Hassan worked with both sides of the aisle in order to pass a balanced budget. New Hampshire’s two major strengths over surrounding states are its lack of Income Tax and Sales Tax, and Ms. Hassan did not propose implementing either tax. Ms. Hassan has also sought to ensure taxpayer funds have greater accountability, and is the first Governor of New Hampshire to actively use social media to engage with the citizens of the state.

Where Ms. Hassan does fall weak is in her support for some new regulation which gives government more control instead of individual. Unfortunately for Mr. Havenstein, he is in favor of burdensome, job-killing regulation. In opposing casino gaming in New Hampshire, Mr. Havenstein is endorsing the continued flow of money out of New Hampshire to casinos in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Quebec, and soon Massachusetts. Further, Mr. Havenstein effectively has taken a position against new jobs in New Hampshire.

Additionally, Mr. Havenstein has a weak record of leadership. Under his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of SAIC, he ran the company's stock price down by over 30%, killed thousands of jobs, failed to grow the company's revenue, and was in charge during the "Citytime scandal" in New York that cost taxpayers more than $400M.

Fuck all the selfish gits who voted for a party who benefits rich, white people and rich, white people alone. You're all stupid.  Name five policies that National focused on this election? I bet you can't. Tax cuts, you say? Oh, maybe in 2017 if there's still enough money left in the bank. Enjoy your fucking mystical block of cheese, which by then, will barely be half a block.

You can't celebrate being the best when there was no competition.