In response to an article in the Concord Monitor about disgruntled Republicans planning a “coup” against house speaker Bill O’Brien, Kris Roberts argues:
A coup would be a really bad idea because it would allow the speaker and his leadership team to avoid taking the hit for the major cuts; whoever became the new speaker and whoever assumed leadership positions would be held responsible for the final budget.
The most effective way to deal with the current problem, the best way to look out for the interest of the people of New Hampshire would be the formation of a third caucus, what I would call for a better term the “Common Sense Caucus” made up of men and women who would be willing to put New Hampshire first, party second. Men and women who can take the time and decide just what are our core values, what programs that we believe define us as a state, programs that we must find funding for; Programs that we would be willing to stand up and fight for.
Fifty or sixty men and women may not have the power to conduct a successful coup but they could have the power to limit the power of the king; requiring him to lead by a set of rules. If one doesn’t believe so I recommend that they take out their history book and read about a little place named Runnymede and that piece of paper called the Magna Carta. After all you don’t have to kill the king to get him to look after the welfare of all the citizens of New Hampshire.
