"We don't always agree, but we respect one another and work together for the common good. That's the New Hampshire way."
So said former Senator John Sununu back in Oct. when he was announcing a run for retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s seat. I don’t know where he’s been during the last decade but “working together for the common good” is not what the Republican Free Staters in the New Hampshire State Senate or New Hampshire House have been doing. Perhaps he can clue them in.
How about some history. . .
The White House Effect is a documentary released in 2025 focusing on what was referred to as “global warming” back in the latter part of the 20th century. Scientists had been studying the effects of what was happening to our environment and climate and were banging the warning drums. George HW Bush was running for president, promising to be the “environmental president.” He acknowledged what was then called the “greenhouse effect”, that fossil fuels were emitting excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, leading to global warming. According to the documentary (a 2 min. link) Bush actually seemed interested in addressing this global issue.
Fast forward to the Bush White House where he named John H. Sununu his Chief of Staff, governor of NH at the time. Sununu served as Chief of Staff from 1989-91. During those brief few years, Sununu, who was an ally of corporate lobbyists, worked against bringing Bush on board for any climate action. In Nov. 1989, he prevented the signing of a 67-nation commitment at the Noordwijk Climate Conference to freeze carbon dioxide emissions, with a reduction of 20% by 2005. The documentary clearly shows corporations who diminished and discredited scientific evidence in order to protect their profit. Remember this from 1984, an internal Exxon document: “We can either adapt our civilization to a warmer planet or avoid the problem by sharply curtailing the use of fossil fuels.”
I guess we all know what they chose . . .
Now to the son running for the Senate. Does he feel the same way as the father when it comes to issues of climate and the environment? Americans for Prosperity (a conservative, libertarian Koch brothers organization) has endorsed him. His record from his one earlier term should make NH voters a little wary. For example, while in the Senate, he voted 4 times against lowering prescription prices. In July 2010, Sununu joined one of the largest law and lobbying firms in Washington, DC. Akin Gump hired him as a Senior Policy Advisor and he remained until 2019. Akin Gump also represents domestic and international gas and oil leaders in their transactions. Remember the Keystone XL Pipeline? Akin Gump was hired to lobby on behalf of the Pipeline.
The documentary is about 90 mins., well worth every one of them. Check out Americans for Prosperity and research all candidates. Nov. will be here before we know it.