When I first set up Orient Lodge, I was posting blog entries on several different blogs. Over time, I've focused more on my writing here, and less on other sites. That said, yesterday, I wrote a post focused on Rep. Paul Hodes of New Hampshire and the blog BlueHampshire. I am cross posting it below the fold as part of my archiving and for those interested in my thoughts on a Senate race in another New England state.

Today, I received a fundraising request from Rep. Paul Hodes of New Hampshire talking about health care reform and ‘politicians like Joe Lieberman bailing out insurance companies and watering down the bill’. It seems like everyone is using the specter of Joe Lieberman in their fundraising these days. So, I thought I’d come over to Blue Hampshire and see what is being said.

On the front page, I found Hodes Continues Running Rightward which goes after Rep. Hodes for his comment:

"Restoring the Granite State's economy is my single highest priority. Creating good-paying jobs, strengthening our state's small businesses, and helping those who are still suffering in this economy are goals which must be achieved in a fiscally responsible way."

It seems that the writer is objecting to Rep. Hodes desire that our goals are achieved in a fiscally responsible way. Is she advocating a fiscally irresponsible way? Meanwhile, another write echoes David Sirota’s comment at Huffington Post that "Howard Dean is a genuine American hero" for suggesting that the health care bill, as it exists now in the Senate is not supportable.

Well, in 2003, I worked hard supporting Gov. Dean in his Presidential bid and I continue to respect his commitment to health care and fiscal responsibility. Yup. Fiscal responsibility was an important part of his platform that too often gets lost in the discussion about his opposition to the war in Iraq and his commitment to health care reform.

Likewise, in 2006, I worked hard supporting Ned Lamont in his bid to replace Sen. Lieberman as the junior U.S. Senator from Connecticut. Again, much of the attention to Mr. Lamont’s campaign focused on his opposition to the war in Iraq, but another key issue was health care reform.

So now, we have Rep. Hodes talking about fiscal responsibility, health care reform and demonizing Sen. Lieberman. Maybe I’m not as progressive as folks at Blue Hampshire, after all, I’m from Connecticut, a much more conservative state than New Hampshire, a state that re-elected Joe Lieberman. Rep. Hodes may not be perfect, but he’s sure a lot better than our junior Senator, or any of the choices that the people of New Hampshire currently have.

I’ll trade Sen. Lieberman for a Sen. Hodes any day of the week.