LACONIA - The Laconia Democratic Party will be welcoming Arnie Arnesen as its guest speaker at this month's meeting to be held at Woodland Heights Elementary School at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 21.

"We're thrilled that Arnie has agreed to speak with us and with the community about issues that affect our families today and will confront us in the future," said Ron Tunning, chair of the Laconia Democratic Party.  "She is always a reliable advocate for policies that support Granite State families and reward the efforts of our hard working people."

According to Tunning, Arnesen will be focusing her discussion on jobs and the economy, particularly how the growing trend of outsourcing jobs and relying more heavily upon contract labor is impacting the traditional employee-employer role.  "Arnie questions how this rapidly evolving corporate model is going to impact our families and economy over the long term," Tunning explained.  "It really does represent a dramatic shift from  a responsibility shared by employers and employees to one that places all of the burden on employees."   ….continue reading

Arnie Arnesen, former NH Gubernatorial candidate and current host of "Political Chowder".

By John McCormick

ALBUQUERQUE - As Sen. Barack Obama's campaign debated whether to fly the candidate Monday evening from the desert Southwest to central Florida, the exact path of Tropical Storm Fay remained unknowable.

A similar feeling of uncertainly enveloped his traveling road show, as it awaits an announcement on who Obama will pick as his running mate.

Only a select few of the Illinois Democrat's top advisors know when - much less who - he will name as his running mate, although an announcement seems likely by this weekend at the latest.

Senator Obama hosted a Town Hall Meeting in Albuquerque yesterday before heading to Florida.

"Most of us revel in the fact that we don't know," said Jen Psaki, Obama's traveling press secretary.

Psaki said she is simply going about her daily routine - if life on the road can be described that way - and does not know how much notice she will get before an announcement.

For the reporters traveling in Obama's bubble, the uncertainty around the impending announcement amounts to a feeling even more so than usual of waiting around for news to happen.   ….continue reading

By Eduardo A. De Oliveira

MANCHESTER - Presumptive democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama has 77 days to convince Latino voters he should inherit those among them who supported Sen. Hillary Clinton. His campaign is betting on the voice of Hispanic leaders across the country, such as New Yorker Adolfo Carrion Jr., to inspire the Spanish speakers and lure their votes.

Carrion is the president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, a nonpartisan national organization that helped elect more than 5,000 Latinos in 2005. During a visit Saturday to the Latino Festival in Manchester, he said the transferring of votes is happening.

Adolfo Carrion talks with Rep. Carol Shea-Porter at Manchester's Latino Festival.

"Latinos knew Hillary," Carrion said. "Now they've gotten to know how Senator Obama's positions will impact their families. The idea of affordable health care is something Latinos can embrace."

His visit was aimed at 11,000 Latinos in New Hampshire who are eligible to vote but are not yet registered, he said.    ….continue reading

By Elisabeth Bumiller and John M. Broder

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Senator John McCain began a hard-hitting political attack on Senator Barack Obama's national security credentials on Monday and stepped up his rhetoric against the Russian presence in Georgia in remarks intended to showcase his ability to be commander in chief.

In a speech to a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention here, Mr. McCain criticized what he called Mr. Obama's "shifting positions" on the troop reinforcements, or surge, in Iraq, and said that when his rival voted against financing the troops in a single vote in 2007, he tried to "legislate" failure.

"This was back when supporting America's efforts in Iraq entailed serious political risk," Mr. McCain said. "It was a clarifying moment. It was a moment when political self-interest and the national interest parted ways."

Mr. McCain went on: "Both candidates in this election pledge to end this war and bring our troops home. The great difference -- the great difference -- is that I intend to win it first."    ….continue reading

By Eugene Robinson

The Democratic and Republican conventions have a couple of tough acts to follow. Two compelling spectacles -- one glorious, one shocking -- have stolen the spotlight this summer to remind us all that whatever nostrums we hear from Barack Obama and John McCain about it being morning again in America, the truth is that we live in a much more complicated world.

The glorious extravaganza is, of course, the Olympics. Anyone given to paranoia about China's burgeoning wealth and stature has new cause for alarm, because the Chinese are staging what may be seen as the most unforgettable Games ever.     

Photo by Julia Ewan

It helps that marquee athletes such as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt have come through with unbelievable performances. Even without all the world records, though, we'd still have to be impressed by the scale and audacity of these Olympics. If China is announcing its emergence as a great power, we get the message.    ….continue reading

By Candace Rondeaux

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's resignation Monday signaled the beginning of a new round of political uncertainty as the country's civilian government tries to reshape the legacy of nearly nine years of military rule.

Politicians began marathon meetings about possible replacements for Musharraf, with early reports suggesting a woman might be chosen. As word of the resignation spread, Musharraf's opponents celebrated with cakes in some places, gunfire in others. Financial markets rebounded.

But with the country's economy at an all-time low and a radical Islamist insurgency based in the country's tribal areas gaining in strength, the civilian coalition faces challenges that will not be easily or quickly sorted out, analysts here said.

Musharraf's exit, facilitated by an immunity agreement, appeared to augur a new rapport between the country's newly elected civilian government and the powerful military.   ….continue reading

By Peter Grier

The American military has depended on private contractors since sutlers sold paper, bacon, sugar, and other small luxuries to Continental Army troops during the Revolutionary War.

But the scale of the use of contractors in Iraq is unprecedented in US history, according to a new congressional report that may be the most thorough official account yet of the practice.

As of early 2008, at least 190,000 private personnel were working on US-funded projects in the Iraq theater, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) survey found. That means that for each uniformed member of the US military in the region, there was also a contract employee - a ratio of 1 to 1.

"It is ... exceptional the degree to which the military's currently relying on such contractors," said CBO director Peter Orszag at an Aug. 12 press conference.

In the Korean conflict, the ratio was 2.5 uniformed personnel for each contractor. In Vietnam, the comparable figure was 5 to 1.

The Balkans conflict of the 1990s provided a glimpse of the future, as it also featured a 1-to-1 military-to-civilian worker ratio.    ….continue reading

LACONIA - First District Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting at the Woodside Building at the Taylor Community on Union Avenue in Laconia beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 23.

"We're delighted to have Carol taking the time to meet and talk with local voters," said Rep. Judie Reever (D-Laconia) who has been assisting in organizing the event.  "She has done such a terrific job representing us in Washington since she was elected in 2006, and this is a great opportunity for people to get to know her better."

Shea-Porter has been a frequent visitor to the Lakes Region over the past few weeks as the area tries to recover from storm damage and she continues to advocate for more federal assistance.

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter

"Rep. Shea-Porter has been extraordinarily responsive to the needs of her constituents," said Ron Tunning, chair of the Laconia Democratic Party.  "Whether its fighting for jobs and strengthening the economy, pushing for new, clean sources of energy, making sure families receive home heating assistance, expanding health care coverage, or repairing storm damage, she's always looking out for New Hampshire's families."