Also on today’s menu:
The Hollow Men’s Victory
Newfound’s Top Students Discuss Future Plans
Earthquake Recorded Near Andover
Making his first campaign stop in the Granite State since announcing his bid for United States President, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke to a crowd of about 100 at the Laconia Veterans of Foreign Wars post, describing himself as a “can-do executive” ready to “end this culture of losing that’s infected the Republican Party in recent years” — a thinly veiled swipe at former President Donald Trump.
DeSantis’ success in imposing a ban on transgender women competing in women’s athletics at public schools and on gender reassignment surgery for minors were accomplishments as governor that elicited the loudest applause from the audience.
Further distinguishing himself from Trump, DeSantis said, “Leadership is also not entertainment. It’s not about building a brand; it is about producing results for the people that you represent. And in Florida we have produced those results.”
Substack writer Steve Schmidt discounts DeSantis’ chances of winning the presidency, quoting New York Times reporter Michelle Cottle: “Even Mr. DeSantis, who fancies himself a fighter, won’t risk a full-frontal assault. His people have said he plans to be strategic with his criticisms — more shiv than sledgehammer. How cool. How strategic. But you know what happens when someone takes a sledgehammer to a shiv, right?”
Instead of DeSantis, Schmidt holds up fellow New Jerseyite Chris Christie as the one to take on Trump: “The GOP/MAGA nomination contest reeks of weakness, moral rot, political capitulation, and fear. It is a grotesque sight. There is something important to remember in this moment. The fighter doesn’t have to be virtuous or even worthy for his cause to be just. Every person who opposes Trump should hope that Chris Christie measures up after a long season of laying [sic] down. Everyone, including the president and Democratic leadership, should be rooting for Chris Christie to throw the hardest punch he can and level Trump. Everyone should be rooting for proverbial blood on the floor because that is what it is going to take. Donald Trump will not go gently into that good night. He must be humiliated, repudiated, castigated, and dismissed from public life and the affairs of the nation….
“I’m hoping that Chris Christie makes the most of his second presidential run. I hope he unleashes his inner ass-kicker at long last on someone who truly deserves it. After all, in a real fight it would be foolish to bet against someone from New Jersey in a fight against a spoiled, rich kid from Queens. Here’s hoping Chris Christie does New Jersey proud. Maybe Chris Licht can promote a “two men enter, one man leaves” cage match between Trump and Christie at the border line of the George Washington Bridge where New Jersey meets New York. I bet that would get some ratings. Brawling is always preferable to propaganda.”
The Hollow Men’s Victory
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
— “The Hollow Men” by T.S. Eliot
The United States Senate, by a bipartisan 63-36 vote, approved the debt ceiling compromise, legislation that kicks a debt ceiling crisis down the road for a couple of years. The deal now goes to President Joe Biden Jr. for his signature, averting a default on the nation’s debt payments on spending already approved (much of that debt due to former President Donald Trump’s rollback of taxes on the wealthy, leaving less-affluent Americans to pay the bills).
The compromise really pleased no one, but that is how compromises go. Four Democrats and Independent Bernie Sanders joined 31 Republicans in voting no on ideological grounds.
After all their bluster about holding out for more spending reductions, Republicans quickly turned to an easier task, ridiculing Biden after the president tripped over a sandbag as he left the stage after giving the commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado. Among the comments was this one from Ron DeSantis: “We hope and wish Joe Biden a swift recovery from any injuries he may have sustained, but we also wish the United States of America a swift recovery from the injuries it has sustained because of Joe Biden and his policies.”
Newfound’s Top Students Discuss Future Plans
Newfound Regional High School Valedictorian Taylor Mooney and Salutatorian Lillian Karkheck have been successful not only in academics but also in athletics and community service.
Mooney plans to enter the five-year program for Global Management and Finance at the Florida Institute of Technology, hoping to finish with a master’s degree in Financial Forensics.
Karkheck plans a pre-medical major at St. Anselm College in Salem, with the goal of becoming a pediatrician.
Earthquake Recorded Near Andover
A magnitude-2.2 earthquake centered about a mile east of Andover was recorded at 6:04 a.m. on May 31. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 3.8 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no reports of damage from the quake.
The Messenger reports that five other earthquakes have occurred within New Hamp- shire’s borders this year:
• 2.9- and 1.8-magnitude earthquakes April 25 in Center Sandwich;
• 1.5-magnitude earthquake Feb. 26 in North Woodstock;
• 2.1-magnitude earthquake Feb. 24 in Warner; and
• 1.9-magnitude earthquake Jan. 25 in Bow.
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