Farewell, Granny D

Doris "Granny D" Haddock died peacefully today in her Dublin, New Hampshire family home at 7:18 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010. She was 100 years old. Born in 1910 in Laconia, New Hampshire, she attended Emerson College and lived through two world wars and the Great Depression. She was an activist for her community and for her country, remaining active until the return of chronic respiratory problems four days ago.
She walked across the United States at the age of 90 in the year 2000, in a successful effort to promote the passage of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act. In 2004, Granny D decided to challenge incumbent Senator Judd Gregg for his US Senate seat. She hoped to demonstrate that ordinary people can run for office and win with the support of small donations from individuals. Despite a shortened, grassroots campaign without the benefit of any advertising dollars, Granny D garnered an impressive 34% of the vote.
During the past year five years, Granny D has traveled the country speaking about campaign finance reform and working on behalf of legislation for publicly-funded elections in New Hampshire. In the 1960s, she and her husband, James Haddock, Sr., were instrumental in halting planned nuclear tests that would have destroyed a native fishing village and region in Alaska.
She raised two children, including the late Elizabeth Lawrenz of Washington D.C., and a son, Jim Haddock, who survives her and, with his wife, Libby, was at her side during many of her great adventures, including the final one today. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
A public memorial service will be held this summer.

Granny D on Supreme Crt. Decision

http://www.truthout.org/doris-granny-d-haddock-response-supreme-court56272

About Granny D, 98

"Hi Friends,
Next week, Thursday, Jan. 24, is Granny D's 98th birthday.

Her address is: Doris Granny D Haddock
PO Box 492
Dublin, New Hampshire 03444

She is off to the doctor today for a checkup, intent on making it to 100 or beyond--still a lot of work to do!

She has helped move a campaign finance reform bill through the New Hampshire House this week, and wants to get it through the senate as soon as possible. She was stumping for Edwards a couple of weeks ago, but seems almost equally delighted by the prospect of an Obama or Hillary presidency: "Something to feel great about with any of them."

Indeed, a year from this month, if we all work hard, she will likely witness something she has only dared dream of seeing in her lifetime: a woman or an African-American president. And that will be for her 99th birthday.

Sincerely, Dennis Burke

p.s. I recently helped write a book on the Darfur situation that will be out in a few weeks from Random House. Look for "The Translator," or pre-order it if you are interested in the issue, which remains critical."

Opposition Party?

http://www.regressiveantidote.net/

Campaign Contributions Info Site

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?cycle=2008&ind=E1210

Tons of good stats here!