New Hampshire fancies itself better than your state. Not only have they demanded holding their primary first (not including Iowa’s “caucus”), but they’re also the only state who has a say in the Vice Presidential nominations. Well, ok, we all know the tallies are generally meaningless… but they give New Hampshire that sense that they’re a special cross-segment of our overall population. The law first came about in 1949 along with the law that allowed direct votes for candidates rather than delegates.
You may be wondering, “How good are New Hampshire residents at selecting a VP?”
Well, they got it right in 1956 with Richard Nixon… and they voted Hubert Humphrey in 1969… Spiro Agnew in 1972… Walter Mondale in 1980… George Bush in 1984… Al Gore in 1996… and Dick Cheney in 2004. So far so good, right?
They voted for some good candidates that would have been sired in had their party succeeded in the general election: John Edwards, Adlai Stevenson, Colin Powell or Robert Kennedy.
However, they did have a few slip-ups: KKK ring leader David Duke in 1988… “Return the land to the Indians” Austin Burton in 1968… in 1959, Styles Bridges, who blackmailed Wyoming Senator Lester Hunt so bad that he committed suicide… and Wayne Green… telemarketing guru of “Secret Guides” to Health, Happiness and Wealth in 1998. Hell, they even voted for the bigoted Black-hating, Gay-bashing, Japanese Internment Camp-endorsing Jesse Helms in 1980.
As to be expected form a state that emphasizes VPs, some hopefuls have come out of the woodwork, knowing they don’t have what it takes to launch a major campaign, but hoping that the mere mention of their names on the ballot will redirect the spotlight their way.
Karen Lovett of the Nashua Telegraph wrote: “With 43 candidates on New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary ballot, it seems like every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to be president. But what about Jack, William and Raymond – the three guys vying for . . . vice president?”
She’s referring to:
1. John "Jack" Barnes Jr
Who Is He?
Jack has been a Republican senator for New Hampshire’s 17th district since 2000. He’s also served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1988 to 1992.
Who’s He Running For?
John McCain. “I happen to think he’s an American Hero,” Barnes says, adding that if McCain weren’t running this time around, he would have run himself. “The two of us could raise some Hell down there,” Barnes comments with a smirk.
His Political Hero
Franklin Pierce, because “he’s the only (president) from New Hampshire.”
Why VP?
Like McCain, Barnes is a military veteran and a man of principle. In 1951, he served on the front lines of the Korean War, with nothing to eat but snow for five days. Since then he’s vowed to never go hungry again – and wants to make a difference for others as well. He plans to donate vice presidential fundraiser proceeds to the New Hampshire Food Bank. Improving infrastructure is another huge concern for him. He’s also an active advocate for Veterans and small business owners, having once owned a small chain of McDonalds himself.
Why Not VP?
Some may find it a little radical that one of his platforms is: If the United Nations doesn’t change its ways, he’d like it to relocate its headquarters from New York “to some country where they might feel more comfortable.” He added, “I think the United Nations is a worthless piece of… I won't say it."
2. William Bryk
Who Is He?
Bryk is a relatively well-known, fifty-two-year-old, Democratic attorney from New York who specializes in bankruptcy law. He’s never served in the Senate or House, although he has some experience with the New York City comptroller (1977-1981) and served as New York City Council president (1986 – 1993).
Who’s He Running For?
John Edwards. He says, “John Edwards has the experience of having been at least born poor, which I think is a good thing. . . . He’s recovered a proper sympathy for the common people. . . . I think he’d make a fine president.”
Political Hero
Thomas Marshall, Woodrow Wilson’s VP. “He was a dapper little man, a charmer, very, very, witty.”
Why VP?
A Barnes-Edwards ticket is something people could get excited about. With their Kennedy-esque looks and youthful vigor, they’re the furthest thing from a Dodd-Gravel ticket as you can get. Interestingly enough, Bryk won the Republican VP nomination in New Hampshire’s 2000 primary. Having a respectable counterpart who can bridge the partisan divide might not be a bad idea for Edwards whose made strong talk on the campaign trail against Republican-everything. He told Statesman.com that he’d “like to focus some attention on the vice presidency”… what’s not to love about that? A man after our own heart, Bryk further commented (in his lengthy diatribe), "I think that we've come a very long way (from) when Vice President John Nance Garner said (the position) wasn't worth a pitcher of warm spit," Bryk said. "The vice presidency has evolved into a deputy presidency, if you will. It's a job that people should pay more attention to than they do."
Why Not VP?
Barnes might be a little spend-happy from his years dealing with the poorest of the poor in bankruptcy court. For starters, he wants to send $2 billion in federal aid to each state to use as needed "to get their states up to snuff so people aren't hungry, bridges aren't collapsing and new schools are built where they're needed." Although, it should be noted, he plans to usurp this money from foreign aid that we’ve been doling out "to countries that give us the finger every time we look at them."
3. Raymond Stebbins
Who Is He?
Stebbins is a sixty-four-year-old Democrat and retired corporate attorney from Massachusetts. He's also a licensed real estate agent.
Who Is He Running For?
Any Democrat… but we’d say Edwards is his only shot. (Hey, they’re both the only two people in politics who are actually concerned about Mill Workers!) And you know, Mike Gravel is still holding on… I could see a Stebbins-Gravel ticket, although Mike will probably need someone more high profile to boost him up a notch.
Political Hero
Harry Truman
Why VP?
He’s concerned about the economic slowdown in rural areas, noting how mill closures in New Hampshire have hurt working class families. On immigration, he proposes something similar to Canada’s “Landed Immigrant” status for law-abiding, working immigrants whose only crime is living in the US for several years. He’d also like to tackle the housing foreclosure crisis, developing a viable system between mortgage companies and banks.
Why Not VP?
First off, he has no meaningful experience or reputation. Secondly, it’s kind of troublesome that he can’t even create a proper website with the correct phone number. In response to the error, Stebbins said, “No wonder it’s been very quiet.”
