October 22, 2025 • 38 mins
Former Republican U.S. Senator announced he’s entering the race for U.S. Senate to represent New Hampshire again in D.C. Sununu served the Granite State in the Senate until he lost a reelection bid to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in 2008. What made Sununu enter what is already a competitive primary race with another former U.S. Senator, Scott Brown? We discussed how things are heating up in New Hampshire ahead of an open battleground race next November.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Night Side with Dan y w b Z Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're politics here today. After much speculation, former Republican Senator
John Sunu Uh, the brother of former New Hampshire Governor
Chris Sonunu UH and the son of former New Hampshire
(00:28):
Governor John Soun whose namesake dad, decided he's gonna try
to take the seat that's being uh left. There's leaving
from former Uh current US Senator Jean Shaheen Uh. This
is Republican politics in New Hampshire. It's it's unbelievable. Uh.
(01:00):
Sonunu ran for the US Senate in let's put it.
He was a member of Congress. He was born in
nineteen sixty four and he went to Congress at the
ripe age of thirty two. He defeated a Democrat. There
(01:25):
was an open seat. A Republican congressman decided to run
for governor of New Hampshire. I believe he lost, but
Sonunu defeated a Democrat and one reelection in ninety eight,
two thousand, and two thousand and two, and then he
decided that well, he won reelection I should say in
(01:49):
ninety eight and two thousand. He decided in two thousand
and two that he would take on a Republican incumbent.
So he has run against prior Republican incumbent Bob Smith,
who he defeated, and then he defeated the incumbent Democratic
governor Jean Shaheen in two thousand and two, but then
(02:13):
she came back and she defeated him, both of them
fairly close elections. In two thousand and eight. Johnsonunu went
off into the private sector and has been in the
private sector since two thousand and eight. So he served
(02:34):
six terms in the House and one term six years
in the House, three terms in one term in the Senate.
So he made his announcement today rob Let's play Coat
two A. He's been out of politics, although his brother
Chris has been a major figure in New Hampshire politics
for the last ten years. He's been out of politics
(02:55):
since at two thousand and eight. Long time, long time,
eighteen years. Well at this point seventeen years. This has
cut a twenty A. Former Senator John Snunu saying he's
going to seek the Republican nomination and will therefore have
to run against Scott Brown to win the Republican nomination
sets up a real interesting battle in New Hampshire. This
(03:18):
is a cut number twenty eight. Rob.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
It's been a while since you elected me to serve
New Hampshire, and boy of things changed. Washington's never been perfect,
It's not meant to be. But when I was there,
people with different opinions could get together, work things out,
and come to solutions. That made a real difference. But
now Congress seems loud, dysfunctional, even angry. But granted, staters
(03:48):
still talk. We don't always agree, but we respect one
another and work together for the common good. That's the
New Hampshire way.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Okay, So he's taking an appeal and saying, let's get
back to the good old days. Now. We have invited
John Sanunu too. Again I have to say the candidate,
not the former governor, but we have invited him to
join us. We've invited Scott Brown to join us because
it's not often, especially in a small state like New Hampshire,
(04:23):
that you have two Republicans. Now, Snunu has done this before.
He ousted an incumbent Republican, Bob Smith, when he got
elected in two thousand and two to the US Senate.
So he's been away for a while, but he's stepping
back in and it's a big battle. The people who
(04:45):
will probably benefit from the most of the Democrats, because
generally when Republicans battle, there's some hard feelings. Let me
give you another part of his announcement a little longer.
This has cut twenty b as in Boston.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Maybe you're surprised to hear that I'm running for the
Senate again. I'm a bit surprised myself. Why would anyone
subject themselves to everything going on there right now? Well,
somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody
has to get things done. Laser focus on the economy, jobs,
our debt, and making our lives more affordable. Somebody has
(05:25):
to protect Medicare, do a better job for our veterans,
and really tackle our healthcare costs. And on social Security.
We keep our promises to seniors, all of them over
twelve years. I never voted to cut benefits and I
never will. I'd be honored to have your support and
return to the Senate to help calm the waters. As Senator,
(05:48):
I'll have just one job, stand up for the people
of New Hampshire every single day. The New Hampshire Way
needs to be the American way, thanks for considering me.
I'll see you around.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So it's a very homey opening presentation by John Sounu. Again,
John Souna, the former senator, wants to go back to
the US Senate. So what I'd love to do is
I would love to hear from as many callers as possible.
If you're from New Hampshire, particularly if you're not from
(06:22):
New Hampshire, you would think, I mean New Hampshire right
now has a Democratic governor. They have two US Senators
who are both Democratic, two members of Congress. So there
are five five not statewide races, but five major positions
(06:46):
governor Senate, to in the Senate and to in the House.
They're all Democrats. You would think that the Republicans would
get their act together and say, okay, I'll run for this,
you'll run for that. To have Scott Brown against Johnsonunhu, now,
I don't know enough about the backgrounds of either of them. Well,
(07:07):
I know a lot about the background of each of them,
but I don't know what their interpersonal background is. I
know Chris Sonunu really well, uh and he really is
a great guy. I've told you that I thought he
was the best senator a best governor in the country
and I and that's how I felt. Uh. And I
(07:27):
will be interested to see if Scott Brown and John
Sounu can run. They both have served in the US Senate,
Brown from Massachusetts, Sonunu from New Hampshire, not at the
same time. They didn't overlap. But I find it interesting
that generally, you know, a party will say, Okay, let's
(07:49):
make way for this candidate. They're both qualified candidates. I mean,
if if the qualification is having served in the US Senate,
they both qualify. Uh. But so I want to hear
from you who who? Who are you interested in? Who
do you who do you favor at this point if
you're a Republican, love to hear from you six one, seven, two, five,
four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one
(08:12):
ten thirty. Uh. It has seemed to me that the
Democrat who's an incumbent congressman who wants to step up,
Chris Pappus, Uh, I think he will probably run, if
not unopposed, he won't have any other member of Congress
running against him. I think he's going to benefit from this.
But we'll see. Maybe a race between Sonunu and Brown
(08:34):
will make them both better candidates. I don't know. That's
why I'm leading it up to you. Six one, seven, two, five,
four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one,
ten thirty. Both the nine three, one ten thirty lines
are tied up. Bernie and Jay, you will be first
and second. We come back the lines that are opened.
Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty. My name's
Dan Ray. This is a night's ide talking a little politics.
(08:57):
Scott Brown versus John Sanunu. We'll hopefully have both of
them on in the not too distant future. And by
the way, I should mention I misspoke, the New Hampshire
does have a Republican governor finally, Kelly Aart, a former
senator herself. They played musical chairs up there, so in
(09:19):
the congressional delegation it's all Democrats, two senators, two members
of the House by a Republican governor, Kelly Aart, although
they haven't had a Republican governor up there for a while.
We'll be back on nightside. Let's have a little bit
of fun with this. Coming back on nightside.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
It's Nightside with Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
All right, so we're kind of testing the waters for
Scott Brown and John Sanunu. Again, I keep having to clarify,
we're not talking about the former governor, talking about the
former US Senator. And again, apologies to Kelly Aart. I
blanked over the fact that she's now the governor of
New Hampshire. So they have a Republican governor, but two
US Senators who are Democrats and two members of the
(10:03):
House of Representatives. Here, we gotta go next. Let's go
to Bernie in New Hampshire. Bernie, welcome back. Next on Nightside,
you now have a multitude of qualified US Senate candidates
of the Republican side. Is that a good thing or
a bad thing?
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Well, for me, it's a good thing. I mean I
was number one. I was very impressed with Scott Brown's
interview on your station. I thought he articulated himself.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Well.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
I was very happy to hear what he had to
say and moving forward going towards the race, I was
excited that, you know, we would get a Republican into
the Senate from New Hampshire, which would be a good thing.
I was really impressed with him, and I was kind
of surprised today let the Republican Party like of New Hampshire.
(10:51):
I mean, not that they have a say, but they
must have some type of let's say, why would we
do this when we have a good candidate already in
a good position to beat Bappos.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, And.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
I don't know, I'm just kind of maybe you said, maybe,
just you know what, maybe the stronger guy comes out stronger,
you know, and that would be a bad thing. And
the difference between like my I grew up in Mass,
I work in Mass, and my friends in Mass so
quick to tell me that New Hampshire is just an
extension of masks living off of masses, like whatever.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yea, Well, it wasn't always that way already, back back,
you know, when I first started in TV, which a
long time ago, in the nineteen seventies, you would always
have for the most part, Republicans as governor uh and
Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate. UH.
And slowly but surely it changed up there.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Warren Rudman was a senator from up there there. You know,
they were well known, you know, members of Congress UH
up there for many many years governors. But then there
was a kind of a change once Rudman was gone
and you had a bunch of Democrats came in and
(12:06):
both as governors and as senators. Obviously you have Jean
Shaheen who was a governor and is now a retiring
US senator. This is a seat that Republicans could pick up,
which is you know, that's a rare opportunity in my opinion,
So we'll have to see how it works out. I
hope that that both Brown and Sanoonu realize that the
(12:29):
real prize is not the nomination. The real prize for
the Republican Party is they senate pick up in New England.
We don't other than Susan Collins, there's no other Republican
US senator in New England. So we have six states,
twelve senators, eleven Democrats and one Republican.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Right that's my fair is that they beat each other
up and lose sight of that and instead of looking
at the substantial game up you can be made and
bringing a voice of Leason instead of League in. Because
it's great, we have to have the two party system
and that works for the state. You know that they
are actually serving some of the state because of that.
(13:08):
But I'm like in mass where it's an all Democrat
all the time, and you guys lose your voice. Found
me a lot because of that, especially at the state level.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, well, we used to have a tradition in Massachusetts
and maybe it will come back of electing Republican governors.
I mean, you know, Bill Weld and Paul Salucci, Mitt Romney,
Charlie Baker, even before that, Frank Sergeant John Vopie, people
like that. So Massachusetts always like to have a Republican
in the corner office. Yeah. True, that's not so much lately.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
No, no, but then it's thanks for your time.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I appreciate it. Time is precious and I appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Let me get my point of view, and you have
a good evening.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
How's your son doing? Everything still okay down there, and they.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
He's doing very well. He's still in training and yeah
it's odd and he's doing well.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah, excellent, excellent, Thanks so much, Bernie. I appreciate the call.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Rolling here on nights, I'm going to go next to
Jay also in New him should say you are next
on nightside, Dan.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
Even though I'm not too crazy about him. I gotta say,
Scott Brown is my horse in this race. Uh, any
any Republican other than other than the new news.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You don't like any of the news.
Speaker 6 (14:35):
No, no, I find you know, they're really textbook rhinos
and weak Republicans. And I know that they you know,
have had I know, Chris has had a great run
as far as elections and popularity and all that. But
you know, you're gonna remember this. This is the guy
(14:56):
that that went along with with the lot of the
left wing craziness that came through the bathroom bills, the
transgender stuff. I mean he just signed off on it.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
And who signed off on that stuff?
Speaker 6 (15:12):
Oh yeah, all that stuff, all that stuff when when
went threw one to him, and they didn't they didn't
fight it, and they just kind of they went right
along with that.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
That's that's why again, that's that's not my recollection. I
don't have the in front of me, you know, you know, uh,
you know, chapter verse, but I I would be very
surprised do you have, Well whatever, if that's your recollection
of it, you're in New Hampshire, I'm not you. You
(15:44):
like Scott Brown, you know Brown, uh and and and
the sons. They've they've made these races up there, uh,
you know, fairly fairly tight. So for example, I'm just
looking at a couple of races here, which I think
a kind of interesting. You know, Sununu beat Shaheen in
(16:08):
two thousand and two, then lost to her. You know, again,
it was a close race in two thousand and two.
Soon it was just over fifty percent. It was the
twenty thousand vote difference. That's a tight race in New Hampshire.
Saheen then turned it around and beat Sonunu in two
thousand and eight, again it was about we have forty
(16:30):
thousand race, so she had a pretty strong showing there
and then she was an incumbent beat Scott Brown, but
it was very tight. It was about sixteen thousand votes.
So you know, they're competitive races up there, which is great.
They're not blowouts and they make them. Those are races
that people want to follow. So but I got you
(16:52):
down for Scott Brown, Jay and will hopefully have Scott
Brown on maybe even as early as tomorrow night, and
left to have john Sonunu on and give them a
chance to talk to our listeners.
Speaker 6 (17:03):
Yeah, thank you again, I appreciate it. I think Scott Brown,
I mean the very probably at the end of the day,
very similar Republicans, but Scott Brown's got a little bit
more of the the maggot cred now, you know, and
I have a suspicion that's why they're running against them.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Well, well, we'll see if how that how that turns
out that you know, I can't I understand that, but sometimes,
you know, parties get together and they say, Okay, we're
gonna go with this candidate or whatever. I think it'll
be a battle to the end, and I hope that
(17:41):
they they don't destroy each other and pave the way
for another Democratic member of the Senate from New Hampshire.
I'm gonna be honest with you. I think that you
know that that either Sununu or Brown, with their experience,
would be very reputable members of the US Senate. I mean,
(18:03):
right now you have Maggie Hassen and Jean Shaheen, two
very significant Democratic US Senators. Shaheen has been elected now twice.
She serves until twenty twenty nine. Rather Hassen does Shaheen's
gonna leave. Maybe you need one Republican, one Democrat in
(18:23):
the Senate from Massachusetts. So you got a little bit
of poll with the incumbent with the incumbent White House,
Jay Love your calls. Man, Thanks very much for checking in. Okay,
thank you.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
I like that. I appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
Have a good night you too.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
We're going to take a quick break. We got the
news at the bottom of the hour, and we're going
to come back. Patrick is down in DC, Laurie's and Idaho,
Steve is in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and John is in
New Hampshire. I'm assuming that is not a SNU now,
but we'll get to that. John in New Hampshire as well.
The only line opened six one, seven, nine, three, ten thirty.
Let's have a little bit of fun with this again.
(18:57):
It's it's it's not war and peace, folks, this is
this is elections, and I hope people can have disagreements
without being disagreeable. That's what this program is. I try
to make it about that, and I hope both on
the Democratic side and on the Republican side, that we
have two parties in this country. It's worked pretty well
for about two hundred and fifty years. No need to
(19:19):
change it now. Coming back at Nightside.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Let's keep rolling here. I got Laurie who is in Ohio,
but is a New Hampshire native. I have learned that
from Laurie.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
Laurie not in Ohio.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I said Idaho, right, or did they say Ohio? Oh?
Speaker 7 (19:44):
No, Ohio.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I don't know why. I don't know why. I'm Laurie
in Idaho. Yeah, but the New Hampshire native. Go ahead, Laurie.
What what's your thought of that?
Speaker 8 (19:59):
Well? You had me think I was losing my mind
a little bit earlier because when you said Republican government,
I said.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
No, oh yeah, yeah, I've had a rough night. It's
been a very busy day back here.
Speaker 8 (20:10):
Okay, So I don't I I am a little bit baffled.
I'm guessing Scott Brown was not counting on this.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I wouldn't think not.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (20:23):
No, Yeah, so I don't know what to say. I mean,
I hope they're not like pulling rank or something and
thinking that like another the little I don't know. I
don't know what to.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Make of it.
Speaker 8 (20:31):
I mean, did did you know did he talk with
brother Chris? And maybe that's that's why Chris stepped up
or maybe running for the seat, because I.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Don't think it again, No, I think that Chris said
that he was not interested in going down to he
called it.
Speaker 6 (20:44):
And I do believe that.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I believe that, yeah, yeah, And I think Chris had
served four terms as governor eight years, was the best
governor in the in the country as far as I
was concerned. Oh yeah. And and I think that if
he had decided to run, everybody else would have stood
stood down. But he decided not. He decided that he
(21:05):
wouldn't run.
Speaker 8 (21:07):
So which I think is it's I think that's actually
a good thing. But I don't know where this john
comes back out of. I mean, poor, I feel family
for Scott Brown, but I don't know. Maybe I don't know.
Hopefully it's a good contest. And you're right, they don't
ruin each other and they don't put the vote for
the other.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Even by the way, if if Johnson and again I
got to keep saying that not the governor of the
former senator. He actually believe he's been out of the
Senate for it will be eighteen years. He was defeated
in two thousand and eight and the election is in
twenty twenty six. He'll be out of the Senate for
(21:45):
eighteen years if he gets re elected. But he's younger
than Scott Brown. And you know, they're both in their
six years I believe at this point. But he's no, no, no,
he was born in Sinuna, was born in sixty four,
so he's probably sixty one at this point, although again he.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Wait, when was Scott brownborn?
Speaker 6 (22:07):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Wow, Scott was I'm guessing fifty three or something like that,
So I would bet that Scott no, no, Scott might
have been. I'm gonna find out. I'll find out Scott
Brown's age. But I believe that Sununu was born in
sixty four, so I think he's just going to be
a little bit younger, not a lot, but a little
(22:29):
bit younger than Scott Brown.
Speaker 8 (22:31):
Yeah, but Scott Brown, when's the charisma?
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Well, I think most people would agree with that. They
didn't do a sketchu on Saturday Night Live for John
they did, they did that for Scott Brown.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (22:49):
I really caught me by surprise. It will be interesting
to see what happens.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Scott in sixty Scott is sixty six. He was born
in fifty nine. Okay, okay, so he's sixty six. And
as I said, Sonunu is was born in sixty four,
so he's sixty one or so. So that's that's that's
where that's where it is.
Speaker 8 (23:10):
Huh, well, I'll.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yeah, and they both they both have advanced degrees. They
both right guys. You know Scott you know, went to
this college over in Medford called Tufts uh and went
to Boston College Law school. Uh. And so went to
m I t uh and has an NBA from Harvard
Business School. So they both have some you know, some
(23:36):
some some bonfindings, uh qualifications. And they've both been U
S senators real so, yeah, I'd love to know the
last time to and come, you know, two former US
senators were going to square off in a Republican primary.
I'll bet it's been a while.
Speaker 8 (23:56):
Not just has Scott lived in New Hampshire before he
moved up there just recently? Was he ever a native
of there or anything?
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Yes, Scott will tell you that I believe that that
Scott was born in New Hampshire. Okay, he was born
in kidd Remained, but his family lived in New Hampshire
and then he came down, Okay to go to school
here and then lived here. You know, it was a
state rep and a state senator and then question.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
Up there you can have the local sneering at him
because he's Massachusetts. This is going to be interesting.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I certainly will thank you, Laurie from Idaho. Thank you much.
We don't get many calls from Idaho. That's why I
think I always default to to Ohio. But I won't
do it again, I promise. Okay, thanks Laurie. Let me
go to Patrick. He's clearly from d C. Patrick. How
are you tonight?
Speaker 7 (24:47):
Well, greetings from Shutdowntown.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Yes, Shut Downtown.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
I like that. That's good.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
That's good Patrick.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
Yeah. I try to stay out of it as out
of the district of during this little bit. I'd like
to go in, but I don't know I can. I
can do my job without having to go inside the district,
but eventually I have to kind of get in there,
sou But I did put my sights on up the
road in Baltimore City. And in our last phone call,
(25:17):
you would ask if I was going to perhaps with
the subject matter, we would meet somebody from the other
political divide, and would we, you know, go ahead and
try to you know, have a friendly conversation and you know,
try to persuade the other person in a friendly manner.
And I told you. I couldn't do that because I
was going to go into Trump Country, and there is
there is you know, there is a section. You know,
(25:39):
there is such a thing as Trump Country. And if
you go into Baltimore City, it's it's it's a lot
different than Brandon Scott territory. I will, I will, I
will let you know that it is completely different than that.
So it's necessary to clean up Baltimore. It it needs
(26:00):
a little it needs a little kick in the butt
to get going.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
All right. So we're talking about Johnsonunu and Scott Brown
running for the same seat. Both of them have served
in the US Senate. I can't think of another time
when two non incumbent former US Senators relying for the
(26:23):
same Senate seat.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
This is one of the reasons that this subject matter
prompted me just to call it is very interesting. It's
very interesting. It's solid each of those each of those candidates,
each of these men have you know, solid footing for
the US Senate. That's not bad at all. My concern
when I look at this, if I was a member
in New Hampshire and I wanted to vote for a
(26:48):
person for the US Senate as a Republican. I would
look for the one who who can war. I hate
to bring that subject up, you know, I mean, you
know war, but you know things are pretty rough out there,
and we're going to have some conflicts and I want
I need somebody, We need the Congress to have a
backbone for war, and that's how we prevent it. But
(27:09):
it may come.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yeah, you told me, I think you said to me
an email today that there was some member of Congress
who said they.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Thought that of the Republican Party in Maryland, and he
said that No, Putin's not interested in piece because he
wants all the resources that he can get out of Ukraine.
He wants the land. He wants Ukraine, right, and the
only way that we're going to stop him is to
stop him, and I don't.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
So there's an article in the Wall Street Journal tonight
that somehow Zelinsky has gotten a hold of Tomahawk missiles
and the White House. We may talk about that later.
The White House is saying that that is not true.
Wall Street Journal tends to nail their stories down there,
pretty credible newspapers, So we'll have to see how that
works out. I wonder if somehow, some way missiles Dunblack
(28:04):
missiles have gone to Zelenski through a third party to
give us a credible deniability.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
So that is my outlook. If I was a Republican
in New Hampshire and I had these two candidates, I
would look at the one who had the background of the.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
War and who would that be? In your mind?
Speaker 7 (28:21):
Is this the sunity that comes from the bushes, that
was working in the bushes?
Speaker 2 (28:26):
No, no, no, no, the dad former Governor johnson Unhu.
These he has two well he is I think it's
several children, but two of them. One is Governor Chris
Snunhu and the other is former Senator John Snunu, who
is trying to get back into the Senate after an
absence or what will be an absence of eighteen years.
Speaker 7 (28:47):
Okay, well let's let's see. I don't know. I mean
Scott Scott Brown was rather, in my opinion, a little lamboyant.
Is that is that? A good little but dad?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
I mean, he was a I to think of him
as being personable sort of.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
You know.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
It's one of those things where when you talk about people,
I'll say my friend Patrick is very stubborn, and someone
will say to me, well, well, what are you. Then
I'll say, well, I'm adamant. You know, it's a it's
a it's a stubborn is a pejorative term. They kind
of mean the same thing.
Speaker 7 (29:17):
So he's he does have charismas you know, he does
have personality, and I don't know.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
And well remember they had the actor John Haam play
him on Saturday Night Live, and he was you know,
he was you know he was. This was in twenty ten.
There were a lot of people who thought that he
might actually be the candidate to run for president in
twenty twelve. Of course, it turned out to be his
(29:46):
at that time, his fellow Massachusetts person Mitt Romney. But
the Romney people were a little concerned that Scott Brown
was going to swoop in once he defeated once he
defeated Martha Cokeley up here to succeed uh you know
Ted Kennedy, Uh, that that he had a potential to
(30:10):
really go national very quickly. But anyway, Hey, I gotta
let your one because they've got to keep rolling here. Patrick,
thank you, he's always got it. We talk to you soon, Thanks, Patrick,
have a great night. Six two five, We got one
line there and one line at six one seven. I'm
more than happy to take this into the next hour,
or we can change topics. It's always decided by the
(30:32):
callers tonight's side, So fill up these lines and we'll
continue to move here. John Sounu are former Senator John
Sounhu or former Senator Scott Brown in the Republican primary
that will be what now eleven months from now, Boy,
that'll be a race that will be highly contested. Good
(30:52):
for the New Hampshire TV stations and also Boston TV
and radio stations. Ten thirty back on Nightside right after.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
This, you're on night Side with Dan Ray on w
b Z, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Back to the phones, who go, Let me go back
to New Hampshire and we'll talk to Steven Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Steve love to know what you think of this development
as someone from New Hampshire.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
Well, Dan, I really support Scott Brown. I've met him,
he knows me. I think that he's got the experience
he was, especially on the international scene because he was
the former ambassador to New Zealand. He is a Trumpster,
he does get along with Trump. I think that John E.
(31:42):
Sanunu is more of the bush variety. George W. Bush,
who really did not like Trump at all. And as
I recall, going way back twenty years ago, you know,
he was front and center when it came to all
the war is that we got involved in both Afghanistan
(32:03):
and Iraq. And also when George W. Bush left office,
as you know, it was right in the heart of
the Great Recession. That's probably one of the reasons why
he didn't beat Shaheen, you know, back in two thousand
and eight. And I would have to describe him as
I has been. I don't think he's you know, really
(32:25):
relevant in this day and age. I think it you know,
Scott Brown is he may be older, but I think
his ideas are younger. And I think if he's going
to ride the tide of what Trump does over the
next eleven months, you know, Trump has a really successful
twenty six which I hope he does, then I think
he'll do very well. But as far as the battle
(32:46):
of two heavyweights, I don't know. I think it's going
to come down to a few debate appearances and you
know what will they debate?
Speaker 2 (32:54):
And yeah, well it's such it's a long time between now.
In September, there's a poll up in New Hampshire that
show John Sanunu with a higher favorability rating than Scott Brown.
But those numbers are always numbers that can change or
they could stay the same. Obviously, Kris Sanunu has really
(33:15):
distinguished himself in also the family name. I think he
was a really good governor. I don't live in New Hampshire,
but follow Fred.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
You know, I've met Scott Brown, I've met Kristen. I
think Kris Sennina would be Actually I kept calling his
office when he was his governor. I said, boy, he
would be a great president. Actually, I would love to
see him, you know in the international I mean the
national scene as president, and he would do a good job.
He gets along with everybody. And he's got the energy.
(33:45):
You haven't seen this guy, how much energy he has.
He's got all O.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I know, I know Kristan very well. I probably know
Kris Sanunu as well as I know any major politician.
He has a lot of energy, this no doubt about that.
He also is a very quick and sharp mind. And
he also was a great personality. I mean, Kristinuu, well,
whoever you are, it's tough not to like Kristinunu. I
mean there are also Democrats who have charm and uh
(34:11):
and and are likable people, and then there are people
on both sides who are not likable. So you know,
so you're with Scott Brown, Steve, Okay, I got it down.
I got it down. I thank you.
Speaker 5 (34:22):
Yeah, we'll see what happens. But it's interesting that he
would declare now I'm wondering why.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Well, I think there are some questions about that I share.
I share some of those questions. So we'll we'll keep
on top of it. I promise, thanks, Steve, please keep
calling show a great night.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
Good night.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Let me go to Tom and Melrose a little closer
back home here, Tom, you are next time nights.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
I go right ahead, Hi, dam I think the first
time I've called.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
You, first time caller. Well, Tom, welcome, welcome to get
a run of the art of applause from our digital
studio audience. You go right ahead.
Speaker 6 (34:57):
I appreciate them, and I appreciate you. I'm a Democrat,
but I've always the times i've tuned in, I always
find you fair minded, trying to treat everyone respectfully, and
there we don't have enough of that these days.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
So well, thank you. I appreciate that. That's what I
try to do. Maybe I don't succeed in it all
the time, but I do try.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
That's what leads me to my question, Frum. I fold
your assistant who was screening the call, that I didn't
know what the topic was when I first called in.
I didn't know it was strictly about Sindana and Brown.
It seemed to be about general New England politics. And
I wanted to know what you thought if you ever
thought of Graham Plattner, whom you probably know, but I
(35:40):
don't know if your listeners know.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
That he's the guy in Maine. Right.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
He's a marine and an oyster farmer, and he's a
democratic socialist, and yet he tries so hard to be
to get his followers to be respectful of Trump supporters.
In other words, do you think of the guy that's
going to try to bring peop together as a centrist?
Speaker 2 (36:03):
The only thing I know about him now, the only thing,
and I'm not I don't know much about him. He
apparently had some sort of tattoo on his body. You
know the story that I'm talking about.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
Yeah, I noticed no, but he had a tattoo on
his body, which apparently was a.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Tattoo that was popular with the German army during World
War Two. I think he claimed that he was he
got that tattoo. He didn't know the significance of it
while he was stationed in Slovakia. But whenever he's running
as a Democrat, I believe for the US Senate seat
that Susan Collins holds in Maine. And of course the
(36:50):
governor of Maine, Governor Mills, is running for that seat
up there as well. So i'd have to know more
about this gentleman before I really offered. I could just
tell you that he's been in the news the last
couple of days for all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 7 (37:04):
Right.
Speaker 6 (37:04):
Well, you know, anybody who starts to become a bit
of a sensation gets attacked from all sides. But I
think he's doing what you're trying to do. He is
trying so hard to bring everyone together. You seek SIPs
of him. If people say anything against Trump, he'll shut them,
he say, hear me out.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Well, I can only say I have no tattoos anywhere
on my body, and the last thing that you would
find with me would have a Nazi tattoob So I'm
willing to to do whatever I have to do. I'm
not running for office, so I don't have to worry
about that. Hey Tom, I loved you, Carl. It was
(37:42):
a lot of fun chatting with you. We'll find out
more about this gentleman and if he's someone who has
a strong position as a democratic socialist, but he also
wants to try to get along with people. I think
we need more politicians, more people like that.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
Okay, yeah, and you're one of them.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Thanks Tom. I appreciate your call. Thank you very thank
you a nice compliment, and I hope you come back
as a more regular caller. This is your first call call,
very thoughtful. Talk to you soon, all right. I will
love to stick with this, Thanks Tom. Love to stick
with this. Scott Brown Johnson. I think it's fascinating, but
maybe you don't. And we can go to a couple
(38:21):
of other topics if you'd like. You as the audience
decide six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. Light the lines
up and we'll stick with this. If not, we will
move on. Anyone who's on the line. I will take
your call on the other side of the eleven o'clock
News
It's Night Side with Dan y w b Z Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
We're politics here today. After much speculation, former Republican Senator
John Sunu Uh, the brother of former New Hampshire Governor
Chris Sonunu UH and the son of former New Hampshire
(00:28):
Governor John Soun whose namesake dad, decided he's gonna try
to take the seat that's being uh left. There's leaving
from former Uh current US Senator Jean Shaheen Uh. This
is Republican politics in New Hampshire. It's it's unbelievable. Uh.
(01:00):
Sonunu ran for the US Senate in let's put it.
He was a member of Congress. He was born in
nineteen sixty four and he went to Congress at the
ripe age of thirty two. He defeated a Democrat. There
(01:25):
was an open seat. A Republican congressman decided to run
for governor of New Hampshire. I believe he lost, but
Sonunu defeated a Democrat and one reelection in ninety eight,
two thousand, and two thousand and two, and then he
decided that well, he won reelection I should say in
(01:49):
ninety eight and two thousand. He decided in two thousand
and two that he would take on a Republican incumbent.
So he has run against prior Republican incumbent Bob Smith,
who he defeated, and then he defeated the incumbent Democratic
governor Jean Shaheen in two thousand and two, but then
(02:13):
she came back and she defeated him, both of them
fairly close elections. In two thousand and eight. Johnsonunu went
off into the private sector and has been in the
private sector since two thousand and eight. So he served
(02:34):
six terms in the House and one term six years
in the House, three terms in one term in the Senate.
So he made his announcement today rob Let's play Coat
two A. He's been out of politics, although his brother
Chris has been a major figure in New Hampshire politics
for the last ten years. He's been out of politics
(02:55):
since at two thousand and eight. Long time, long time,
eighteen years. Well at this point seventeen years. This has
cut a twenty A. Former Senator John Snunu saying he's
going to seek the Republican nomination and will therefore have
to run against Scott Brown to win the Republican nomination
sets up a real interesting battle in New Hampshire. This
(03:18):
is a cut number twenty eight. Rob.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
It's been a while since you elected me to serve
New Hampshire, and boy of things changed. Washington's never been perfect,
It's not meant to be. But when I was there,
people with different opinions could get together, work things out,
and come to solutions. That made a real difference. But
now Congress seems loud, dysfunctional, even angry. But granted, staters
(03:48):
still talk. We don't always agree, but we respect one
another and work together for the common good. That's the
New Hampshire way.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Okay, So he's taking an appeal and saying, let's get
back to the good old days. Now. We have invited
John Sanunu too. Again I have to say the candidate,
not the former governor, but we have invited him to
join us. We've invited Scott Brown to join us because
it's not often, especially in a small state like New Hampshire,
(04:23):
that you have two Republicans. Now, Snunu has done this before.
He ousted an incumbent Republican, Bob Smith, when he got
elected in two thousand and two to the US Senate.
So he's been away for a while, but he's stepping
back in and it's a big battle. The people who
(04:45):
will probably benefit from the most of the Democrats, because
generally when Republicans battle, there's some hard feelings. Let me
give you another part of his announcement a little longer.
This has cut twenty b as in Boston.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Maybe you're surprised to hear that I'm running for the
Senate again. I'm a bit surprised myself. Why would anyone
subject themselves to everything going on there right now? Well,
somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody
has to get things done. Laser focus on the economy, jobs,
our debt, and making our lives more affordable. Somebody has
(05:25):
to protect Medicare, do a better job for our veterans,
and really tackle our healthcare costs. And on social Security.
We keep our promises to seniors, all of them over
twelve years. I never voted to cut benefits and I
never will. I'd be honored to have your support and
return to the Senate to help calm the waters. As Senator,
(05:48):
I'll have just one job, stand up for the people
of New Hampshire every single day. The New Hampshire Way
needs to be the American way, thanks for considering me.
I'll see you around.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So it's a very homey opening presentation by John Sounu. Again,
John Souna, the former senator, wants to go back to
the US Senate. So what I'd love to do is
I would love to hear from as many callers as possible.
If you're from New Hampshire, particularly if you're not from
(06:22):
New Hampshire, you would think, I mean New Hampshire right
now has a Democratic governor. They have two US Senators
who are both Democratic, two members of Congress. So there
are five five not statewide races, but five major positions
(06:46):
governor Senate, to in the Senate and to in the House.
They're all Democrats. You would think that the Republicans would
get their act together and say, okay, I'll run for this,
you'll run for that. To have Scott Brown against Johnsonunhu, now,
I don't know enough about the backgrounds of either of them. Well,
(07:07):
I know a lot about the background of each of them,
but I don't know what their interpersonal background is. I
know Chris Sonunu really well, uh and he really is
a great guy. I've told you that I thought he
was the best senator a best governor in the country
and I and that's how I felt. Uh. And I
(07:27):
will be interested to see if Scott Brown and John
Sounu can run. They both have served in the US Senate,
Brown from Massachusetts, Sonunu from New Hampshire, not at the
same time. They didn't overlap. But I find it interesting
that generally, you know, a party will say, Okay, let's
(07:49):
make way for this candidate. They're both qualified candidates. I mean,
if if the qualification is having served in the US Senate,
they both qualify. Uh. But so I want to hear
from you who who? Who are you interested in? Who
do you who do you favor at this point if
you're a Republican, love to hear from you six one, seven, two, five,
four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one
(08:12):
ten thirty. Uh. It has seemed to me that the
Democrat who's an incumbent congressman who wants to step up,
Chris Pappus, Uh, I think he will probably run, if
not unopposed, he won't have any other member of Congress
running against him. I think he's going to benefit from this.
But we'll see. Maybe a race between Sonunu and Brown
(08:34):
will make them both better candidates. I don't know. That's
why I'm leading it up to you. Six one, seven, two, five,
four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one,
ten thirty. Both the nine three, one ten thirty lines
are tied up. Bernie and Jay, you will be first
and second. We come back the lines that are opened.
Six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty. My name's
Dan Ray. This is a night's ide talking a little politics.
(08:57):
Scott Brown versus John Sanunu. We'll hopefully have both of
them on in the not too distant future. And by
the way, I should mention I misspoke, the New Hampshire
does have a Republican governor finally, Kelly Aart, a former
senator herself. They played musical chairs up there, so in
(09:19):
the congressional delegation it's all Democrats, two senators, two members
of the House by a Republican governor, Kelly Aart, although
they haven't had a Republican governor up there for a while.
We'll be back on nightside. Let's have a little bit
of fun with this. Coming back on nightside.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
It's Nightside with Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
All right, so we're kind of testing the waters for
Scott Brown and John Sanunu. Again, I keep having to clarify,
we're not talking about the former governor, talking about the
former US Senator. And again, apologies to Kelly Aart. I
blanked over the fact that she's now the governor of
New Hampshire. So they have a Republican governor, but two
US Senators who are Democrats and two members of the
(10:03):
House of Representatives. Here, we gotta go next. Let's go
to Bernie in New Hampshire. Bernie, welcome back. Next on Nightside,
you now have a multitude of qualified US Senate candidates
of the Republican side. Is that a good thing or
a bad thing?
Speaker 4 (10:20):
Well, for me, it's a good thing. I mean I
was number one. I was very impressed with Scott Brown's
interview on your station. I thought he articulated himself.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Well.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
I was very happy to hear what he had to
say and moving forward going towards the race, I was
excited that, you know, we would get a Republican into
the Senate from New Hampshire, which would be a good thing.
I was really impressed with him, and I was kind
of surprised today let the Republican Party like of New Hampshire.
(10:51):
I mean, not that they have a say, but they
must have some type of let's say, why would we
do this when we have a good candidate already in
a good position to beat Bappos.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah, And.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
I don't know, I'm just kind of maybe you said, maybe,
just you know what, maybe the stronger guy comes out stronger,
you know, and that would be a bad thing. And
the difference between like my I grew up in Mass,
I work in Mass, and my friends in Mass so
quick to tell me that New Hampshire is just an
extension of masks living off of masses, like whatever.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yea, Well, it wasn't always that way already, back back,
you know, when I first started in TV, which a
long time ago, in the nineteen seventies, you would always
have for the most part, Republicans as governor uh and
Republicans in the House and Republicans in the Senate. UH.
And slowly but surely it changed up there.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
You know.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Warren Rudman was a senator from up there there. You know,
they were well known, you know, members of Congress UH
up there for many many years governors. But then there
was a kind of a change once Rudman was gone
and you had a bunch of Democrats came in and
(12:06):
both as governors and as senators. Obviously you have Jean
Shaheen who was a governor and is now a retiring
US senator. This is a seat that Republicans could pick up,
which is you know, that's a rare opportunity in my opinion,
So we'll have to see how it works out. I
hope that that both Brown and Sanoonu realize that the
(12:29):
real prize is not the nomination. The real prize for
the Republican Party is they senate pick up in New England.
We don't other than Susan Collins, there's no other Republican
US senator in New England. So we have six states,
twelve senators, eleven Democrats and one Republican.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Right that's my fair is that they beat each other
up and lose sight of that and instead of looking
at the substantial game up you can be made and
bringing a voice of Leason instead of League in. Because
it's great, we have to have the two party system
and that works for the state. You know that they
are actually serving some of the state because of that.
(13:08):
But I'm like in mass where it's an all Democrat
all the time, and you guys lose your voice. Found
me a lot because of that, especially at the state level.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Yeah, well, we used to have a tradition in Massachusetts
and maybe it will come back of electing Republican governors.
I mean, you know, Bill Weld and Paul Salucci, Mitt Romney,
Charlie Baker, even before that, Frank Sergeant John Vopie, people
like that. So Massachusetts always like to have a Republican
in the corner office. Yeah. True, that's not so much lately.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
No, no, but then it's thanks for your time.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
I appreciate it. Time is precious and I appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
Let me get my point of view, and you have
a good evening.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
How's your son doing? Everything still okay down there, and they.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
He's doing very well. He's still in training and yeah
it's odd and he's doing well.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah, excellent, excellent, Thanks so much, Bernie. I appreciate the call.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Rolling here on nights, I'm going to go next to
Jay also in New him should say you are next
on nightside, Dan.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
Even though I'm not too crazy about him. I gotta say,
Scott Brown is my horse in this race. Uh, any
any Republican other than other than the new news.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You don't like any of the news.
Speaker 6 (14:35):
No, no, I find you know, they're really textbook rhinos
and weak Republicans. And I know that they you know,
have had I know, Chris has had a great run
as far as elections and popularity and all that. But
you know, you're gonna remember this. This is the guy
(14:56):
that that went along with with the lot of the
left wing craziness that came through the bathroom bills, the
transgender stuff. I mean he just signed off on it.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
And who signed off on that stuff?
Speaker 6 (15:12):
Oh yeah, all that stuff, all that stuff when when
went threw one to him, and they didn't they didn't
fight it, and they just kind of they went right
along with that.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
That's that's why again, that's that's not my recollection. I
don't have the in front of me, you know, you know, uh,
you know, chapter verse, but I I would be very
surprised do you have, Well whatever, if that's your recollection
of it, you're in New Hampshire, I'm not you. You
(15:44):
like Scott Brown, you know Brown, uh and and and
the sons. They've they've made these races up there, uh,
you know, fairly fairly tight. So for example, I'm just
looking at a couple of races here, which I think
a kind of interesting. You know, Sununu beat Shaheen in
(16:08):
two thousand and two, then lost to her. You know, again,
it was a close race in two thousand and two.
Soon it was just over fifty percent. It was the
twenty thousand vote difference. That's a tight race in New Hampshire.
Saheen then turned it around and beat Sonunu in two
thousand and eight, again it was about we have forty
(16:30):
thousand race, so she had a pretty strong showing there
and then she was an incumbent beat Scott Brown, but
it was very tight. It was about sixteen thousand votes.
So you know, they're competitive races up there, which is great.
They're not blowouts and they make them. Those are races
that people want to follow. So but I got you
(16:52):
down for Scott Brown, Jay and will hopefully have Scott
Brown on maybe even as early as tomorrow night, and
left to have john Sonunu on and give them a
chance to talk to our listeners.
Speaker 6 (17:03):
Yeah, thank you again, I appreciate it. I think Scott Brown,
I mean the very probably at the end of the day,
very similar Republicans, but Scott Brown's got a little bit
more of the the maggot cred now, you know, and
I have a suspicion that's why they're running against them.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Well, well, we'll see if how that how that turns
out that you know, I can't I understand that, but sometimes,
you know, parties get together and they say, Okay, we're
gonna go with this candidate or whatever. I think it'll
be a battle to the end, and I hope that
(17:41):
they they don't destroy each other and pave the way
for another Democratic member of the Senate from New Hampshire.
I'm gonna be honest with you. I think that you
know that that either Sununu or Brown, with their experience,
would be very reputable members of the US Senate. I mean,
(18:03):
right now you have Maggie Hassen and Jean Shaheen, two
very significant Democratic US Senators. Shaheen has been elected now twice.
She serves until twenty twenty nine. Rather Hassen does Shaheen's
gonna leave. Maybe you need one Republican, one Democrat in
(18:23):
the Senate from Massachusetts. So you got a little bit
of poll with the incumbent with the incumbent White House,
Jay Love your calls. Man, Thanks very much for checking in. Okay,
thank you.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
I like that. I appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
Have a good night you too.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
We're going to take a quick break. We got the
news at the bottom of the hour, and we're going
to come back. Patrick is down in DC, Laurie's and Idaho,
Steve is in Merrimack, New Hampshire, and John is in
New Hampshire. I'm assuming that is not a SNU now,
but we'll get to that. John in New Hampshire as well.
The only line opened six one, seven, nine, three, ten thirty.
Let's have a little bit of fun with this again.
(18:57):
It's it's it's not war and peace, folks, this is
this is elections, and I hope people can have disagreements
without being disagreeable. That's what this program is. I try
to make it about that, and I hope both on
the Democratic side and on the Republican side, that we
have two parties in this country. It's worked pretty well
for about two hundred and fifty years. No need to
(19:19):
change it now. Coming back at Nightside.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Let's keep rolling here. I got Laurie who is in Ohio,
but is a New Hampshire native. I have learned that
from Laurie.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
Laurie not in Ohio.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I said Idaho, right, or did they say Ohio? Oh?
Speaker 7 (19:44):
No, Ohio.
Speaker 6 (19:46):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
I don't know why. I don't know why. I'm Laurie
in Idaho. Yeah, but the New Hampshire native. Go ahead, Laurie.
What what's your thought of that?
Speaker 8 (19:59):
Well? You had me think I was losing my mind
a little bit earlier because when you said Republican government,
I said.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
No, oh yeah, yeah, I've had a rough night. It's
been a very busy day back here.
Speaker 8 (20:10):
Okay, So I don't I I am a little bit baffled.
I'm guessing Scott Brown was not counting on this.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I wouldn't think not.
Speaker 6 (20:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (20:23):
No, Yeah, so I don't know what to say. I mean,
I hope they're not like pulling rank or something and
thinking that like another the little I don't know. I
don't know what to.
Speaker 5 (20:30):
Make of it.
Speaker 8 (20:31):
I mean, did did you know did he talk with
brother Chris? And maybe that's that's why Chris stepped up
or maybe running for the seat, because I.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Don't think it again, No, I think that Chris said
that he was not interested in going down to he
called it.
Speaker 6 (20:44):
And I do believe that.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I believe that, yeah, yeah, And I think Chris had
served four terms as governor eight years, was the best
governor in the in the country as far as I
was concerned. Oh yeah. And and I think that if
he had decided to run, everybody else would have stood
stood down. But he decided not. He decided that he
(21:05):
wouldn't run.
Speaker 8 (21:07):
So which I think is it's I think that's actually
a good thing. But I don't know where this john
comes back out of. I mean, poor, I feel family
for Scott Brown, but I don't know. Maybe I don't know.
Hopefully it's a good contest. And you're right, they don't
ruin each other and they don't put the vote for
the other.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Even by the way, if if Johnson and again I
got to keep saying that not the governor of the
former senator. He actually believe he's been out of the
Senate for it will be eighteen years. He was defeated
in two thousand and eight and the election is in
twenty twenty six. He'll be out of the Senate for
(21:45):
eighteen years if he gets re elected. But he's younger
than Scott Brown. And you know, they're both in their
six years I believe at this point. But he's no, no, no,
he was born in Sinuna, was born in sixty four,
so he's probably sixty one at this point, although again he.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
Wait, when was Scott brownborn?
Speaker 6 (22:07):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Wow, Scott was I'm guessing fifty three or something like that,
So I would bet that Scott no, no, Scott might
have been. I'm gonna find out. I'll find out Scott
Brown's age. But I believe that Sununu was born in
sixty four, so I think he's just going to be
a little bit younger, not a lot, but a little
(22:29):
bit younger than Scott Brown.
Speaker 8 (22:31):
Yeah, but Scott Brown, when's the charisma?
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Well, I think most people would agree with that. They
didn't do a sketchu on Saturday Night Live for John
they did, they did that for Scott Brown.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (22:49):
I really caught me by surprise. It will be interesting
to see what happens.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Scott in sixty Scott is sixty six. He was born
in fifty nine. Okay, okay, so he's sixty six. And
as I said, Sonunu is was born in sixty four,
so he's sixty one or so. So that's that's that's
where that's where it is.
Speaker 8 (23:10):
Huh, well, I'll.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Yeah, and they both they both have advanced degrees. They
both right guys. You know Scott you know, went to
this college over in Medford called Tufts uh and went
to Boston College Law school. Uh. And so went to
m I t uh and has an NBA from Harvard
Business School. So they both have some you know, some
(23:36):
some some bonfindings, uh qualifications. And they've both been U
S senators real so, yeah, I'd love to know the
last time to and come, you know, two former US
senators were going to square off in a Republican primary.
I'll bet it's been a while.
Speaker 8 (23:56):
Not just has Scott lived in New Hampshire before he
moved up there just recently? Was he ever a native
of there or anything?
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Yes, Scott will tell you that I believe that that
Scott was born in New Hampshire. Okay, he was born
in kidd Remained, but his family lived in New Hampshire
and then he came down, Okay to go to school
here and then lived here. You know, it was a
state rep and a state senator and then question.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
Up there you can have the local sneering at him
because he's Massachusetts. This is going to be interesting.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I certainly will thank you, Laurie from Idaho. Thank you much.
We don't get many calls from Idaho. That's why I
think I always default to to Ohio. But I won't
do it again, I promise. Okay, thanks Laurie. Let me
go to Patrick. He's clearly from d C. Patrick. How
are you tonight?
Speaker 7 (24:47):
Well, greetings from Shutdowntown.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Yes, Shut Downtown.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
I like that. That's good.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
That's good Patrick.
Speaker 7 (24:53):
Yeah. I try to stay out of it as out
of the district of during this little bit. I'd like
to go in, but I don't know I can. I
can do my job without having to go inside the district,
but eventually I have to kind of get in there,
sou But I did put my sights on up the
road in Baltimore City. And in our last phone call,
(25:17):
you would ask if I was going to perhaps with
the subject matter, we would meet somebody from the other
political divide, and would we, you know, go ahead and
try to you know, have a friendly conversation and you know,
try to persuade the other person in a friendly manner.
And I told you. I couldn't do that because I
was going to go into Trump Country, and there is
there is you know, there is a section. You know,
(25:39):
there is such a thing as Trump Country. And if
you go into Baltimore City, it's it's it's a lot
different than Brandon Scott territory. I will, I will, I
will let you know that it is completely different than that.
So it's necessary to clean up Baltimore. It it needs
(26:00):
a little it needs a little kick in the butt
to get going.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
All right. So we're talking about Johnsonunu and Scott Brown
running for the same seat. Both of them have served
in the US Senate. I can't think of another time
when two non incumbent former US Senators relying for the
(26:23):
same Senate seat.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
This is one of the reasons that this subject matter
prompted me just to call it is very interesting. It's
very interesting. It's solid each of those each of those candidates,
each of these men have you know, solid footing for
the US Senate. That's not bad at all. My concern
when I look at this, if I was a member
in New Hampshire and I wanted to vote for a
(26:48):
person for the US Senate as a Republican. I would
look for the one who who can war. I hate
to bring that subject up, you know, I mean, you
know war, but you know things are pretty rough out there,
and we're going to have some conflicts and I want
I need somebody, We need the Congress to have a
backbone for war, and that's how we prevent it. But
(27:09):
it may come.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yeah, you told me, I think you said to me
an email today that there was some member of Congress
who said they.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Thought that of the Republican Party in Maryland, and he
said that No, Putin's not interested in piece because he
wants all the resources that he can get out of Ukraine.
He wants the land. He wants Ukraine, right, and the
only way that we're going to stop him is to
stop him, and I don't.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
So there's an article in the Wall Street Journal tonight
that somehow Zelinsky has gotten a hold of Tomahawk missiles
and the White House. We may talk about that later.
The White House is saying that that is not true.
Wall Street Journal tends to nail their stories down there,
pretty credible newspapers, So we'll have to see how that
works out. I wonder if somehow, some way missiles Dunblack
(28:04):
missiles have gone to Zelenski through a third party to
give us a credible deniability.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
So that is my outlook. If I was a Republican
in New Hampshire and I had these two candidates, I
would look at the one who had the background of the.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
War and who would that be? In your mind?
Speaker 7 (28:21):
Is this the sunity that comes from the bushes, that
was working in the bushes?
Speaker 2 (28:26):
No, no, no, no, the dad former Governor johnson Unhu.
These he has two well he is I think it's
several children, but two of them. One is Governor Chris
Snunhu and the other is former Senator John Snunu, who
is trying to get back into the Senate after an
absence or what will be an absence of eighteen years.
Speaker 7 (28:47):
Okay, well let's let's see. I don't know. I mean
Scott Scott Brown was rather, in my opinion, a little lamboyant.
Is that is that? A good little but dad?
Speaker 2 (28:58):
I mean, he was a I to think of him
as being personable sort of.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
You know.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
It's one of those things where when you talk about people,
I'll say my friend Patrick is very stubborn, and someone
will say to me, well, well, what are you. Then
I'll say, well, I'm adamant. You know, it's a it's
a it's a stubborn is a pejorative term. They kind
of mean the same thing.
Speaker 7 (29:17):
So he's he does have charismas you know, he does
have personality, and I don't know.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
And well remember they had the actor John Haam play
him on Saturday Night Live, and he was you know,
he was you know he was. This was in twenty ten.
There were a lot of people who thought that he
might actually be the candidate to run for president in
twenty twelve. Of course, it turned out to be his
(29:46):
at that time, his fellow Massachusetts person Mitt Romney. But
the Romney people were a little concerned that Scott Brown
was going to swoop in once he defeated once he
defeated Martha Cokeley up here to succeed uh you know
Ted Kennedy, Uh, that that he had a potential to
(30:10):
really go national very quickly. But anyway, Hey, I gotta
let your one because they've got to keep rolling here. Patrick,
thank you, he's always got it. We talk to you soon, Thanks, Patrick,
have a great night. Six two five, We got one
line there and one line at six one seven. I'm
more than happy to take this into the next hour,
or we can change topics. It's always decided by the
(30:32):
callers tonight's side, So fill up these lines and we'll
continue to move here. John Sounu are former Senator John
Sounhu or former Senator Scott Brown in the Republican primary
that will be what now eleven months from now, Boy,
that'll be a race that will be highly contested. Good
(30:52):
for the New Hampshire TV stations and also Boston TV
and radio stations. Ten thirty back on Nightside right after.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
This, you're on night Side with Dan Ray on w
b Z, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Back to the phones, who go, Let me go back
to New Hampshire and we'll talk to Steven Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Steve love to know what you think of this development
as someone from New Hampshire.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
Well, Dan, I really support Scott Brown. I've met him,
he knows me. I think that he's got the experience
he was, especially on the international scene because he was
the former ambassador to New Zealand. He is a Trumpster,
he does get along with Trump. I think that John E.
(31:42):
Sanunu is more of the bush variety. George W. Bush,
who really did not like Trump at all. And as
I recall, going way back twenty years ago, you know,
he was front and center when it came to all
the war is that we got involved in both Afghanistan
(32:03):
and Iraq. And also when George W. Bush left office,
as you know, it was right in the heart of
the Great Recession. That's probably one of the reasons why
he didn't beat Shaheen, you know, back in two thousand
and eight. And I would have to describe him as
I has been. I don't think he's you know, really
(32:25):
relevant in this day and age. I think it you know,
Scott Brown is he may be older, but I think
his ideas are younger. And I think if he's going
to ride the tide of what Trump does over the
next eleven months, you know, Trump has a really successful
twenty six which I hope he does, then I think
he'll do very well. But as far as the battle
(32:46):
of two heavyweights, I don't know. I think it's going
to come down to a few debate appearances and you
know what will they debate?
Speaker 2 (32:54):
And yeah, well it's such it's a long time between now.
In September, there's a poll up in New Hampshire that
show John Sanunu with a higher favorability rating than Scott Brown.
But those numbers are always numbers that can change or
they could stay the same. Obviously, Kris Sanunu has really
(33:15):
distinguished himself in also the family name. I think he
was a really good governor. I don't live in New Hampshire,
but follow Fred.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
You know, I've met Scott Brown, I've met Kristen. I
think Kris Sennina would be Actually I kept calling his
office when he was his governor. I said, boy, he
would be a great president. Actually, I would love to
see him, you know in the international I mean the
national scene as president, and he would do a good job.
He gets along with everybody. And he's got the energy.
(33:45):
You haven't seen this guy, how much energy he has.
He's got all O.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I know, I know Kristan very well. I probably know
Kris Sanunu as well as I know any major politician.
He has a lot of energy, this no doubt about that.
He also is a very quick and sharp mind. And
he also was a great personality. I mean, Kristinuu, well,
whoever you are, it's tough not to like Kristinunu. I
mean there are also Democrats who have charm and uh
(34:11):
and and are likable people, and then there are people
on both sides who are not likable. So you know,
so you're with Scott Brown, Steve, Okay, I got it down.
I got it down. I thank you.
Speaker 5 (34:22):
Yeah, we'll see what happens. But it's interesting that he
would declare now I'm wondering why.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Well, I think there are some questions about that I share.
I share some of those questions. So we'll we'll keep
on top of it. I promise, thanks, Steve, please keep
calling show a great night.
Speaker 5 (34:38):
Good night.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
Let me go to Tom and Melrose a little closer
back home here, Tom, you are next time nights.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
I go right ahead, Hi, dam I think the first
time I've called.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
You, first time caller. Well, Tom, welcome, welcome to get
a run of the art of applause from our digital
studio audience. You go right ahead.
Speaker 6 (34:57):
I appreciate them, and I appreciate you. I'm a Democrat,
but I've always the times i've tuned in, I always
find you fair minded, trying to treat everyone respectfully, and
there we don't have enough of that these days.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
So well, thank you. I appreciate that. That's what I
try to do. Maybe I don't succeed in it all
the time, but I do try.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
That's what leads me to my question, Frum. I fold
your assistant who was screening the call, that I didn't
know what the topic was when I first called in.
I didn't know it was strictly about Sindana and Brown.
It seemed to be about general New England politics. And
I wanted to know what you thought if you ever
thought of Graham Plattner, whom you probably know, but I
(35:40):
don't know if your listeners know.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
That he's the guy in Maine. Right.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
He's a marine and an oyster farmer, and he's a
democratic socialist, and yet he tries so hard to be
to get his followers to be respectful of Trump supporters.
In other words, do you think of the guy that's
going to try to bring peop together as a centrist?
Speaker 2 (36:03):
The only thing I know about him now, the only thing,
and I'm not I don't know much about him. He
apparently had some sort of tattoo on his body. You
know the story that I'm talking about.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
Yeah, I noticed no, but he had a tattoo on
his body, which apparently was a.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Tattoo that was popular with the German army during World
War Two. I think he claimed that he was he
got that tattoo. He didn't know the significance of it
while he was stationed in Slovakia. But whenever he's running
as a Democrat, I believe for the US Senate seat
that Susan Collins holds in Maine. And of course the
(36:50):
governor of Maine, Governor Mills, is running for that seat
up there as well. So i'd have to know more
about this gentleman before I really offered. I could just
tell you that he's been in the news the last
couple of days for all the wrong reasons.
Speaker 7 (37:04):
Right.
Speaker 6 (37:04):
Well, you know, anybody who starts to become a bit
of a sensation gets attacked from all sides. But I
think he's doing what you're trying to do. He is
trying so hard to bring everyone together. You seek SIPs
of him. If people say anything against Trump, he'll shut them,
he say, hear me out.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Well, I can only say I have no tattoos anywhere
on my body, and the last thing that you would
find with me would have a Nazi tattoob So I'm
willing to to do whatever I have to do. I'm
not running for office, so I don't have to worry
about that. Hey Tom, I loved you, Carl. It was
(37:42):
a lot of fun chatting with you. We'll find out
more about this gentleman and if he's someone who has
a strong position as a democratic socialist, but he also
wants to try to get along with people. I think
we need more politicians, more people like that.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
Okay, yeah, and you're one of them.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Thanks Tom. I appreciate your call. Thank you very thank
you a nice compliment, and I hope you come back
as a more regular caller. This is your first call call,
very thoughtful. Talk to you soon, all right. I will
love to stick with this, Thanks Tom. Love to stick
with this. Scott Brown Johnson. I think it's fascinating, but
maybe you don't. And we can go to a couple
(38:21):
of other topics if you'd like. You as the audience
decide six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. Light the lines
up and we'll stick with this. If not, we will
move on. Anyone who's on the line. I will take
your call on the other side of the eleven o'clock
News
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