The Nashua Union-Monitor

[Angrie]

The Nashua Union-Monitor is New Hampshire's leading newspaper. It provides coverage of Atlasian politics, with a special emphasis on New Hampshire and the North.

SHEA-KUSTER FORMS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

BEDFORD, New Hampshire - Bedford Lawyer and activist Angie Shea-Kuster announced on Sunday that she was forming an exploratory committee for political office.


Bedford progressive activist, defence attorney, and mother of two, Angie Shea-Kuster

In what would be an unusual move in ordinary times, Shea-Kuster has not specified exactly which office she will be running for, or when. "It's all just so up in the air, what with the new Constitution," said Shea-Kuster. "You can't tell just what offices will be up for election, or when. You don't know the district lines. So it's really an unusual situation." Sources close to Shea-Kuster said she was leaning towards running for the Assembly or House of Representatives. But when pressed for details and asked about the new constitution, they sounded flustered.

Shea-Kuster emphasized her progressive policy stances on issues such as the economy, education, climate change, and women's rights. "We need a new way of thinking, cutting through the old barriers, a new progressive politics in New Hampshire and Atlasia. Together, we will build a better future for all of our children."


Shea-Kuster huddles with advisors to plot campaign strategy

Shea-Kuster announced five initial events on a listening tour to gauge support for her candidacy and to hear the concerns of the people. The first five events would be held in western New Hampshire [NH-02] (in Bedford, Nashua, Concord, Keene, and Hanover), with plans to campaign later across other parts of the Northern region, depending upon which office she runs for and district lines.

But Bill Johnson, a spokesperson for the conservative Heritage Institute, downplayed the news of Shea-Kuster's possible candidacy. In a statement, he said, "Angie Shea-Kuster is little more than an unqualified soccer mom, with no political experience. She doesn't even know what office to run for, and she thinks she is fit to serve as a representative of the people? Her calls for change and reform fall will flat. This is just one more example in a long string of missteps and failed policies, showing how Labor undervalues experience, competence, and knowledge."

Erin Peterson, Shea-Kuster's press secretary, countered that the political establishment has become out of step with the people. "These guys just don't get it. People in New Hampshire and the North are sick and tired of the failure of incumbents to get anything done for the people. They have plenty of experience at the same old politics, messing things up. Angie Shea-Kuster has the experience that matters - a commitment to justice, liberty, equality, experience as a mother, lawyer, and activist for non-profits. Angie Shea-Kuster has accomplished more in a few years representing indigent clients and advising Manchester area non-profits like Granite State Food Pantry than the same old politicians have accomplished in decades of languishing stagnation."

[Angrie]

I'm starting a newspaper, and am interested in any input people may have as to what to run for, particularly from labor party supporters, but also from the general public. I am still not clear on whether the regional Assembly still exists, but that would be the be the best place to start? Hence the exploratory committee.

[Angrie]

No, but a committee to set up the Assembly is. You could run for Senator, you'll have to ask the Northeast Committee though as what their rules will be for the Senate elections.

I wish you luck, it's really quite hard to run for office in Atlasia, being a sock and all.

Obviously my name is not actually Angie Shea-Kuster.

But nor am I anyone's sock.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sock%20puppet

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The bolded part does not apply.

[Angrie]

I'm joking around, but the undertone is that you are tapping into an Atlasian meme. If a new poster came in here with the name "LAST RODEO be4 reeapuintment", I'd say the same.

Yeah, I am obviously aware of the meme.

[Angrie]

Also... Angrie Shea-Kuster? LOL That name alone should be a bannable offense. Not to mention that Ann Kuster ran a pretty racist campaign against Marilinda Garcia in 2014...

There's no "r" in Angie Shea-Kuster, and I cannot see why that would possibly be a bannable offense.

All I have done is lurked on and off (frankly, for probably about a decade at this point), lurked more heavily during the 2016 primaries, followed mostly the 2016 board and the political geography and demographics board, finally registered, and when I did so asked myself the question, "hmmm, what would be a really good Atlas username."

[Angrie]

The Nashua Union-Monitor is New Hampshire's leading newspaper. It provides coverage of Atlasian politics, with a special emphasis on New Hampshire and the North.

SHEA-KUSTER TAKES LISTENING TOUR TO KEENE

BEDFORD, New Hampshire (5/30/2016) - Angie Shea-Kuster took her fledgling campaign to Keene on Monday, where she held a listening tour event at Keene State University. Shea-Kuster began by introducing herself. She emphasized her lifelong ties to New Hampshire, from her childhood growing up on the Seacoast in Portsmouth, with many pleasant summer days by the lake in Laconia, to her time as a day student at Phillips Exeter Academy, to her undergraduate years as an Economics major at Dartmouth, and then at the UNH Law School in Concord (not Durham). And finally to her present life in Bedford.


Angie Shea-Kuster takes questions in Keene.

Shea-Kuster then opened the floor to listen to what members of the audience thought she should hear, and to take questions. One memorable moment came when an audience member, Tim from Swanzey, told Shea-Kuster about his daughter, who is a Heroin addict. He emphasized the trouble she had since high school, her harsh treatment at the hands of the law, and her struggles with addiction. Shea-Kuster spoke of her experiences representing addicts who were prosecuted under harsh drug laws, and emphasized the need for reform and a renewed focus on treatment. "Heroin addiction is a medical issue, and a social problem. It is ravaging New Hampshire and the north, now more than ever in rural areas. I have seen it first hand, and I know the struggle you are going through. We have to fix it, and we will fix it. The same old incumbent politicians don't get it. But I know that we have to do right by all of our kids. We need to fix this, for them." A handful of audience members began to softly cry, and then the crowd broke out into a chant of "Run Angie Run!"

[Angrie]

What are you running for, Angrie? If you haven't already, you should declare in the Candidate Declaration thread.

Probably the Assembly (?). There seem to be ongoing discussions as to whether the northern region has a bicameral or unicameral legislature, etc. I can't run for anything yet until that is worked out, or am I wrong?

[Angrie]

The Nashua Union-Monitor is New Hampshire's leading newspaper. It provides coverage of Atlasian politics, with a special emphasis on New Hampshire and the North.

SHEA-KUSTER TALKS EDUCATION, GUNS IN HANOVER

HANOVER, New Hampshire (5/31/2016) - Angie Shea-Kuster's listening tour made its way to the Upper Valley on Tuesday, where she spoke to a crowd of about 200 people who tottered into the Hanover High School Gymnasium to meet her. Shea-Kuster introduced herself as a Dartmouth alum, but quickly brought up the Zika virus. "You know, if men other than Arnold Schwarzenegger could get pregnant, we would have no problem with this. There would be billions in funding instantly."


Members of the Dartmouth College Laborites club and members of the general public file in to the Hanover High School Gymnasium to see Shea-Kuster

Marie, a mother of twin preschoolers, brought up education.

Shea-Kuster responded: "I've been fortunate to have had an excellent education, and that's why I'm standing before you here today. We all have a responsibility to make sure our kids get outstanding, wide-ranging educations that teach them how to think and to be good citizens, while also unlocking every child's full potential and helping them to flourish. To do that, we need to reduce class sizes and to pay teachers better, to create classroom environments in which students can thrive. With smaller class sizes, students at all schools could have a Socratic learning experience more like around the Harkness table, or like at a seminar at Dartmouth."

"So you'll just be a lackey for the teacher's unions and indoctrinate children with 'liberal arts'," said one man skeptically. The man, who spoke with a southern accent but said he was a swing voter who had driven all the way from Franconia, followed up. "And what about guns, you are going to grab our guns?"


Angie Shea-Kuster speaks in Hanover

Shea-Kuster responded: "I respect the right of ordinary law abiding citizens to own guns, for instance rifles for hunting. But we have to do a better job of separating that right from unrestrained access to automatic weaponry used by maniacs to massacre our children at the place where they should be safest - in school. So I support common sense gun control to do that."

The man, who appeared dissatisfied, muttered something barely audible about sexism, got up, and walked out of the gymnasium. But most of the crowd grimaced at the man as he exited, and then began to shout "Run Angie Run!"

Asked later about Shea-Kuster's answers, Marie, the woman who had asked about education gushed, "Oh, I love her! She gets me! She speaks to me. She is smart, fresh, she brings the new perspective we need to the table. I am behind her all the way."

[Angrie]

Angrie, how will you stand up for White women's rights?

There are just too many ways, they can't possibly be enumerated. All ways. In every respect.

[Angrie]

This is what Atlasia elections should be about: policy speeches and actual campaigning, not just GOTV on election days. This is what makes the game fun, and I commend you for it!

Glad you like it!



The Nashua Union-Monitor is New Hampshire's leading newspaper. It provides coverage of Atlasian politics, with a special emphasis on New Hampshire and the North.

SHEA-KUSTER RETURNS HOME TO CAMPAIGN IN BEDFORD

BEDFORD, New Hampshire (6/3/2016) - Angie Shea-Kuster talked to citizens and supporters in Bedford on Friday. At another in a string of town hall meetings on her "listening tour," she listened to the concerns of voters and told them where she stands.


Angie Shea-Kuster greets a Bedford man

The discussion turned quickly to health insurance and social issues after a woman stood up and told Shea-Kuster about her situation. The woman, who declined to share her name out of fear of retaliation, but who identified herself as an employee of Hobby Lobby, asked about contraception converage in health insurance. She explained that about a year ago she had been raped, but then her employer denied her coverage of emergency contraception, and she had to pay out of pocket out of her minimum wage salary. "Of course we should make sure comprehensive access to contraception is covered by all health insurance plans. That shouldn't even be a question. I am so sorry about what happened to you!" said Shea-Kuster.

Local issues also came up when a man asked about local police speed traps. Shea-Kuster responded: "Well, I don't know how much authority I'll have over that if I am in the Assembly. But it has really long since gotten out of hand. Especially along 101, they just set up shop and ambush. If you are a local, you are wise to it, they mainly trap outsiders passing through. Frankly, we all know it is a bit of a scam to bring in money from outsiders. But after a certain point, it starts to get ridiculous. Speed limits should be safety, and they should be enforced to maintain safety, not to raise revenue."


Bedford Police interrogate a victim. The individual was driving 36 in a 35 MPH zone, which changed from a 40 MPH zone just over a hill.

Finally, a group of several people stood up in unison and asked, "Angie, when are you going to run?!? When will you file for office! We need you, Angie!" Shea-Kuster said that she had been getting a tremendous reception all across New Hampshire. "Everywhere I go, people say, 'Angie, you've got to run.' I plan to file preliminarily for the Assembly. I'll turn in my paperwork in a few days, the lawyers are just going over it, and I want to talk to more citizens. If the constitution changes the offices, then we'll adjust our filing at that point."