Chili Fest

The annual Seacoast Republican Woman's Chili Fest was held on 10 September 2011 at the Scamman Farm in Stratham.  Joan and I attended as has been our habit for the past couple of years.  The farm, pictured below, is beautiful old New England.  It has extensive rolling green fields out beyond the buildings.  Next door, sort of, is the Scamman Garden Center, affectionately known as the Republican Store to the townies.

The Scamman Farm

Chris Hill Speaking



Doug and Stella Scamman have hosted the Chili Fest for several years.  It is always a pleasant afternoon with good company and Republican politics.  This year was extra pleasant because the weather was perfect.

When we got to the Chili Fest my wife Joan went right up to Ovide, grabbed his hand in both of hers, and said, "Tell me you are going to run."  He said he was.  Good!  He will have our support for Governor.

Ovide Lamontagne Greets Supporter

New Hampshire Republicans should remember the spirited run Ovide Lamontagne had for the Senatorial nomination in 2010.  Despite a late start and a much smaller war chest, he came within about 1% of winning the nomination.  New Hampshire Republicans should also remember Ovide’s gracious decision not to seek a recount and to stand with Kelly Ayotte.  Read Ovide’s article in the American Thinker titled “The Conservative Challenger and the Establishment Victor.”

When it came time for the speeches, Ovide went first.  He gave a brief but fiery speech to kick off the festivities.  He spoke of the need to defeat John Lynch after Lynch’s eight years in office and complete the Republican resurgence in New Hampshire started in 2010.

“Eight is enough” he shouted!

And now we know Governor Lynch is not running.  Good!  Here’s your hat, what’s the hurry?
Don’t get me wrong, John Lynch is very charismatic; it’s his politics I can’t stand.  The Democrats will suffer because nobody else they have is anywhere near as likeable.

We met Frank Guinta next.  If the only thing Frank had accomplished was defeating CSP, it would still be worth a bundle.  But Frank has done a decent job as our Representative so far.  He told us that he might occasionally vote against the party line, but it would be a thought-out vote and would be in the best interests of the country.

Frank Guinta

Thad McCotter is a shy, self-deprecating man who is running for President.  So far he hasn’t generated much traction, but the short speech that he gave at the Chili Fest was the best of the day.  Not a blistering ideological rant, not an egotistical list of promises, but a thoughtful and pragmatic explanation of his thinking.  This is a man that can grow on you, probably not this time around, but keep an eye out for Thad in 2016.

Thad McCotter

Chris Hill is running for President.  He is an airline captain, a former Air Force fighter pilot, and a veteran of Desert Storm.  Chris is from Bedford, NH.  His pattern on his tie is made up of little New Hampshire maps.  Quite appropriate.  When each of the candidates spoke, the balloons tied to the podium would blow in front of them, distracting both the candidate and the audience.  Chris solved the problem very simply.  He took the cordless microphone and stood in front of the podium.  An example of thinking outside the box.

Chris Hill

Fred Crager is a relatively unknown candidate for President.  He explained about how the debate field was cut off at eight, and that he and others were not invited.  It is a dilemma.  A debate field of eight is too many, but choosing only eight from a total field of twelve or so does not seem fair.  Fred was fun to listen to, particularly when he offered us each a Fred's Frisbee, but there did not seem to be much presidential potential.  (I took a picture but decided not to use it, unskilled photographer that I am.)

John Stephen, the Republican candidate for governor in 2010, was scheduled to speak, but was a little late.  He spoke anyhow, but the crowd was not as attentive as it could have been.  Too bad, because John spoke forcefully to the several bills that Governor Lynch has vetoed and to the need to override the vetoes.  I, like most of the audience, missed the first half of his remarks.  I was impressed with his strength in the half that I did catch.

I was disappointed in the candidate attendance.  None of the eight presidential candidates with enough horsepower to get invited to debates showed up.  Only five even bothered to send representatives.  Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, and Newt Gingrich had no representation at all.  Cain and Gingrich I can understand.  They are unlikely to win in New Hampshire and unlikely to get close to the nomination.  Bachmann is a different story.  She is running third and needs a good showing in New Hampshire if she expects to do well in the primaries that follow closely.  Kelly Ayotte had been expected to attend but did not.  She sent a short letter in apology. 

Much of the fun of an event like the Chili Fest is meeting new people.  We met Linwood (Lin) Wickett, a skilled photographer and a person I have seen at other similar events.  He took a picture of Joan and me with Stella Stamman, shown below.  Thanks, Lin.

Stella Scamman with Joan and I

Look at the picture of Linda Jazowski.  A pretty woman looking so happy because her hero is home from the wars.  We can all feel happy for her and with her.  Our military men and women deserve our praise and our thanks.  Their moms deserve to get them home safely.

Linda Jazowski and the Wonderful Tee Shirt