YOUR COMMENTS

You're all a bunch of sheep! Listen to yourselves, you don't even know what you are saying..."smaller government, cut taxes." You know the rhetoric, but not the meaning. Read a book!
- AlliS, Denver

Mike P said:
"....Blah, blah, blah.....where were all the winers when Dubya was spending $$ like it was water?
- Mike P, Concord..."
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Me: we voted for the 'one' most unlike, most different, the opposite of, Obama-messiah.

W, was a Democrat. Obama is NOTHING like JFK. We voted for W instead of Gore. We voted for W instead of Kerry.

Now we have ZERO, read O. Leftists are spoiled brat fools. Idiots.
- Richard, Antrim

What happened to all the Dems who have were crying "Bush is spending our children's futue!"

Come on two wrongs don't make a right. It is time to make government smaller and to cut taxes.
- Annie, Henniker

To Scott-Chichester, You missed my first sentence. I said we pay way too much for taxes. I've been saying it for years. I am an independent because both parties stink. But when I was screaming and writing letters to my representatives over the last 8 years, I was called by many republicans 'unpatriotic'. Bush was the one who gave the banks billions with no accountability last October and grew our government larger than its ever grown in history. Didn't hear a peep out of our conservative republicans then. For our mayor to stand up there and insinuate that this mess is the liberals fault (a man who conveniently forgot to pay his taxes like alot of Obama's buddies) sounds like he is calling Bush & Co. a bunch of liberals. My whole point is I find it funny that 2 months after Pres. Obama comes into office all of a sudden republicans are crying foul on taxes and big government spending. They missed that boat a long time ago, however, I guess better late than never. But lets be honest about your actions over the last 8 years when you all had your heads in the sand like a bunch of ostriches.
- Joanne, Manchester

At the Senate hearing in Concord, it was amazing to see all the people who need help for the medical bills.

This makes me think. We ask our government for help to survive. We ask for help to LIVE and not DIE.

The question which needs an answer is this.
What do we want from our government and how much are we willing to pay?
- Sherry, Concord

I would have find it a little more authentic if we had started having tea parties 4 years ago and they weren't corporate sponsored (as they are being in several venues). While the purpose of the participants is honorable, the shadow people pulling the strings are not.
- L<>, Manchester

It didn't matter how peaceful or how many people showed up at the protests- they were all going to be portrayed as various versions of right wing nut jobs.
People are plain fed up with how the government is spending our money, our children's money, their children's money and so on and so forth.
The liberal media only showed up at these events for their amusement and made sure that the governement got their way and downplayed it all. They already knew from the get-gp what they were going to say about these protests.
There was no whipping people into a frenzy or violence as they want they want you to believe.
So the next time you see us getting pounded with yet another foolish tax, government getting bigger and bigger, and your wallet getting emptier- don't worry, it will just be us right wing nut jobs there to listen.
- Pauline, Franklin

To Frank Jutras, Manchester. I loved Ron Paul and was praying he would become president. I am not a repub. or demo. I am an Independent but I don't see them winning any elections so I have to vote for the lesser of the evils. In the past I have voted for both parties at different times but when the repub. went so nasty under Clinton thats when I gave up on them. However, like I said Ron Paul was one of a kind and it really is too bad he didn't get elected.
- Joanne, Manchester

Joel in Nashua maybe the people are finally getting a clue and are trying to do something about it. There is no secret that many feel powerless because of the political machines and their grip on our government. I say good for tham, I agree with them and unlike some who say this is all being blamed on Obama most know that is not true. On the other hand there can be no doubt he is
increasing spending on the federal level more than any time since FDR. He is expanding government programs astronomically. To think paying now will cover these costs is shortsighted at best!!
Free is not what is being asked for, it is called responsible spending and getting our money's worth. How about you pay my taxes too Joel seems how your so gung ho about having to pay?
- Bill B., Pelham

As a candidate in 2007 and now in 2009 my position hasn't changed. I am and always will be standing up for the tax payer and their families. As in the current budget cycle here in Manchester, NH, I made recommendations to the school board to not fill 76 positions, reduce the number of assistant principals in schools where the student body has declined and reduce non-essential cost to save the school district some four million dollars on thier FY 2009 budget. Thus this in turn will help lower the tax burden on already struggling families. Now that the school district has taken some of those recommendations and applied them, it is upto our Aldermen to do the same and reduce cost so that we can have a tax cut this year (2009) to offset any higher tax increases to those families. So in closing, NO! We, the taxpayers can't live a 3% tax increase on our properties. Nor can renters live with a increase in thier rents.

Robert M Tarr
Candidate for Alderman, Ward 5 09'
Manchester, NH
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester

Multiple comments listed here have dismissed this public display of concern by asking: Where were you when Bush/Republicans were racking up the debt?

This is not constructive.

Ultimately, this line of argument only serves to offer cover and defense for the current out of control spending taking place in D.C. and position you in the role of its defender.

The logical difficulty here is: If you do not agree with the current spending spree, you are at odds with your goals (providing cover and defense for that which you do not agree). If you do agree with the current spending spree, then you should be asked: Where were you when Bush/Republicans were racking up the debt? In full support of Bush/Republicans spending too, right?

This method of argument can work both ways, and neither offer anything constructive.
- John Raymond, Hampton

I hate it when people are ignorant on the issue of secession, it dishonors the deaths of thousands of our soldiers who fought against and is an insult to the history of New Hampshire. These soldiers actually cared little about the slavery issue, but they were willing to take point-blank fire for the Union. Here, this is intelligent people discussing the issue on a forum, instead of a bunch of claims on a blog, it cites the law, just a group of common people with an education discussing it and citing the actual law:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=250476

I'm ashamed that Perry ruined this event with his parsed lawyer words that were one step away from treason. Anyone who wants to see this country torn up is a traitor, pure and simple.
- William, Raymond

Bob H, you want a real lesson in secession, I suggest you go to Gettysburg and ask our ancestors, there's a few thousand lying around there. They hated it so much they were willing to walk point blank into the guns. I also suggest you take a trip to the NH State House and look at the battle flags, there ain't no Southern Nazi flags in there. And your understanding of the Constitution is moronic.
- William, Raymond

One of the largest Tea Parties was in Sacramento, Ca. They've been living Obamunism for years; big govt. spending, high taxes and fees, open borders and endless regulation on business... Now the employers/producers in the state are fleeing like rats off the Titanic, there's no one to foot the bill, no one wants to buy their bonds and the state is insolvent. Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Illinois and the other liberal havens are not far behind... Look at how Deval is trying to wring every last nickel from the citizens "south of the border" (should be good for NH economy!)... If we don't wise up to Obamanomics, this entire country will eventually be insolvent...

Twice as many people were watching Tea Parties on Fox, than all of the liberals discrediting them on the other networks combined... If nothing else, at least the interest level is picking up...
- Hedge, Newton

Blah, blah, blah. "Bush was a big spender, the GOP spent a lot, too." Wait a minute -- I know! "Let's prove what a BAD idea that was by spending TEN TIMES MORE, just when we can LEAST afford it!" These liberals are hilarious. And in case they didn't notice, fiscal conservatives (and in fact, social conservatives too) abandoned Pres. Bush several years ago, when he abandoned US with the huge spending plans designed to make the media and liberals like him (It didn't work.) We have been plenty mad about it, but we knew that sending tax-and-spend Liberals to Washington and Concord would be far worse. We were right.
- Stephen A., Manchester

I agree with david R from manchester I was not surprised that channel 9 did not REPORT what went on at Victory park. Notice how when they interviewed 2 people at the park they did not bother to show the crowd. I was not all that long ago that the news media would defend 1st amendment rights. I notice that it only counts when it surpresses them not when it surpresses the people. congrats wmur for being the eyes and ears of the people you should be proud. How many of you have read the constitution lately?Why do you not report on your govern,ment that spend your grandchildrens money without reading a word of the bill. I usually give out blank checks, you too?
- Paul, Goffstown

I recall visiting Plimouth Plantation in Massachusetts and they mentioned that "back in the day" prisoners were actually expected to pay for their prison time. (AGHAST!) Interesting thought: Why are tax payers (law abiding citizens) paying for food and shelter for those who are not law abiding citizens?? Do you like paying for Bernie Madoff's prison time? And what about prisoners' rights? Shouldn't those rights end when they broke the law? I am so sick of taxes I could spit. I hate paying for abortions for irresponsible people, I am sick paying for food for people who can work but don't. I am sick of paying for "programs" that i do not personally support. I am sick of paying for services for illegal aliens. What ever happened to personal responsibility? God help us.
- Elaine, Bedford

Poor poor John Linville of Wolfeboro. His savings are down, our debt is owned by China, our bad decisions are made by Washington. Everything he says is right, of course.
But where was poor John - and all the other teabaggers - during the Bush Admin. When the Bush tax cuts gave the US Treasury to the richest 1%. While fighting one war, and starting another under false pretenses (Iraq was going to cost "40 billion, no more" but they never did a risk assessment, and now we're up to 2 Trillion for that war, and still losing it). Where were John and the other teabaggers then, shopping at Wallmart - the retail outlet for China? Remember when the federal deficit and trade deficit rose astromically in 2001, when after 9/11 the President told everyone to just go shopping some more (and visit Disneyland, too!).
Every time a Republican is in office the deficits soar, starting with Reagan, who raised the debt ceiling three times (to a measely 3 billion) in his admin. Clinton balanced the budget and then ran a surplus. Bush depleted that within a year, with the fervent earmarking encouragement of the Rebublican Congress, which ran bigger and bigger spending sprees with every passing year.
The issue is not who eventually raises the taxes. It's how our government spent us into poverty since 1980, then turned over what was left of the bankrupt treasury to the Wall Streeters (last Fall, remember Paulson et al and their pals at Goldman and Lehman and AIG, remember McCain "suspending" his campaign to make double sure that Wall Street bankers got their bailouts first?).
Yes, I'm bitter, too. I also snoozed through the 200 to 2008 party time. Now it's time to try to fix it all, but we'll be suffering the effects of the Bush years for the rest of my life, too, John.
- Martian, Mars

All I know is that since Obama became president the amount of federal income tax taken out of my pay check has gone DOWN. Combine that with the fact that the size of the executive branch of the federal government increased to it's largest size ever under the last president and not under this one and you really have to wonder what all the anti-Obama people were doing at the protests yesterday.

It always amuses me when people protest yet have their facts totally wrong. Not everyone did yesterday, but I think a large majority did.

I also find it amusing whenever those in the working class are used by the rich elite GOPers to protest potential tax increases against the rich. What are the execuses used? Taxing the rich will prevent growth and harm the economy? Bush cut taxes for the top 1% and look where that has gotten us. I always feel bad when the rich fat cats have to pay a little more taxes out of the millions in the stock portfolios. Just how will they buy that vacation home or new yacht, both of which the rich fat cats can then use as tax write offs.
- jon, hooksett

Blah, blah, blah.....where were all the winers when Dubya was spending $$ like it was water?
- Mike P, Concord

The Federal government in 'obligated' to (read chained to) about 56 trillion dollars. Divide that by 300 million people and you get about $187,000 per person. For a four person household that is almost $750,000!

Let's keep going, almost 50 percent do not pay ANY Federal tax. Yes we can?

Those who ridicule TEA protests do not understand why America is so historically unique. We The People.....
- Alex W, ManchVegas

The problem with all the people upset at those protesting is they do not notice the true cost of the gigantic government. Why don't you add up all of the taxes you pay. From income to gas tax, sales tax, food tax, property tax, tax on tax (yes this is real) and then tell those fed up with having to pay all these damn taxes that we really don't pay much in taxes.

Not to mention, with the amount of money being spent by this Administration, taxes have nowhere to go but up and people just don't want to pay them. In many cases, people simply can't afford to pay them. Unless of course, you can show me how over the last 20 years my salary has kept pace with inflation when everything seems to take twice the chunk of my monthly budget as it did when I got my first job. I don't expect anyone to try and show this, because it isn't possible.
- Mike, Londonderry

I went to both parties and could have done without the social conservatives working the crowd against gay marriage; that was not what the gathering was for. Also, I could have done without the singing social conservative who closed the Manchester gathering. Other than that, it was good to be like minded people sick of the over growth of governemt.
- Jack Langley, Hollis

So what happened to all the "infiltration" by Obamatrons and Acorn members that Lush Limbaugh and Faux Noise predicted. Is anyone here going to apologize for that paranoid fantasy? Perhaps the turnout was so small that the infiltrators couldn't find the demonstrations
- Robert, Deerfield

NH citizens pay the lowest taxes in the country, yet STILL they complain....
- Art, Portsmouth

I want to thank the Union Leader as well as its videographer for the coverage of the Tea Party at Victory Park in Manchester, NH. When the biggest news story of April 15th was the 500+ tea parties nationwide, our local television station, WMUR, devotes less than 30 seconds to the Concord and Manchester tea parties in its 11PM newscast. Instead, the story it devoted the most time to on the 11PM newscast was a feel good piece about the Nubanusit Neighborhood and Farm. The biggest story of the day was in its own front yard - and WMUR couldn't be bothered with anything more than a token acknowledgement of it.

Thank you to UL for doing the job that our local "WHDH wanna-be" TV reporters can't be bothered to do.
- David R, Manchester

We spoke up against Bush bail outs and communist Kennedy bills, too.
The excesses of the Federal governement do not exclude Republicans. We the people who are Pro- Life, Pro-Constitution and limited government do not have a voice we can turn to in government. That's why we need to pursue whatever comes next from the Tea Parties.
- Jeff Lessard, Manchester

What I witnessed yesterday in Manchester, NH was powerful and enlightening.

For those of you who believe you’re not paying enough in taxes, believe our Government needs to barrow, print and spend more money. Believe we should shut up and pay up, believe you won and we lost, believe we have representation with taxation, believe Capitalism is dead, believe this event changed nothing, believe nothing can be changed, need specific examples of waist and neglect and believe only a few hundred whining tax dodgers showed up at the Tea Party. For those who question Bush’s illegal war spending while ignoring today and my favorite, “these tea bag clowns don’t have a slight grasp of anything”.

Fox News, Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck did not drive this. News reports and slanted media can twist this anyway they want but I assure you this, we were heard. We will be heard again.

A true grassroots movement can’t be held down.
- Wally, Manchester, NH

These Fox News / Republican Party protesters have sat on their teabags for the last eight years. You lost the election. You're out of power. Get used to it. It's going to take a long time for the Democrats to clean up the mess your party inflicted on the US and the world.
- ed, londonderry

What we saw yesterday was the TRUE "forgotten man"rising up and being heard.

William Graham Sumner explained :

"As soon as A observes something which seems to him to be wrong, from which X is suffering, A talks it over with B, and A and B then propose to get a law passed to remedy the evil and help X. Their law always proposes to determine what C shall do for X, or in the better case, what A, B, and C shall do for X.... What I want to do is to look up C.... He is the man who never is thought of. He works, he votes, generally he prays--but he always pays. . . ."
- BW, Concord

OKay, thank you to all the "teabaggers" for the news worthy event. now you can be proud of what was accomplished, nothing but news, and no more. You are all congratulated, and can now all move on to something else to complain and whine about. Wait, once the economy turns around, where and what will you complain about?
- Eric, Epsom, NH

Who is John Galt??
- Patricia, Raymond

Bring NH back to what it was. Pay attention to local and state politics! Vote for patriots that will fight for states rights and smaller federal government. This is not just a Republican/ Democrate issue as the Media wishes us to believe. I believe the future of our Country depends on this.

This Tea Party is just the begining of regular hard working people standing up for what we believe. That is American's founding principles. President Obama is against those founding principles. He taught the constitution to law students! He stated that is is an outdated document and is flawed. He wants to "Change" us fundamentaly! So does Nancy Pelosi..and Barney Frank. They all do. So every has to live like they think we should live. They think Capitalism is flawed and should be changed. They want to grab as much power through taxing the wealthy and powerful in this country!

We need to impeach some people in Washington!
- Mary,, Londonderry

Remind Obama who pays his salary.
There hasn't been a Democrat president since Truman got the job to be worth voting for.
None of them met a tax they wouldn't vote against. Lets face it they dont call Republicans Limosine LIBERALS.
Come May go to the town halls and switch your voter afiliation to INDEPENDANT. Send them all the message. Do you think it may be costing taxpayers too much to keep letting ILLEAGLE ALIENS in the country?
- bill, atkinson

To quote the great Austin Powers:

"Now those capitalist pigs will pay for their crimes, eh Comrades?"


(yeah Capitalism!)
- Paul, Litchfield

William in Raymond: So because of the words of one man (The TX governor) you are willing to ignore the voices of over a million others at close to a thousand events around the country?
- Mark, Windham, NH

The real issue is not about how high the tax rate is. It is easy to contextualize an argument on that basis and make a useless point. At the center of this problem is the devalued dollar. Ink and paper will not resolve that. Bailing out businesses that do not know how to perpetuate solvency will only cheapen the dollar more. We each pay more for inflation than taxes. The solution for our nation's economic problems will only be seen when we return to a Constitutional monetary system. The Federal Reserve must be eliminated and real money accepted. Until that happens we all will be subject to chains we can believe in.
- Lee, Epsom

I hope there were no Obama supporters at the rally. If there were, then they're hipocrites. Or unedumacated. Or just plain dumb. Can't wait to see how these protests go after the people start receiving the tax bill to pay for Obamas outrageous spending.
- Frank, Manchester

William in Raymond, I live in Texas and Rick Perry is trying to save his hide in the next election. He will do whatever he can to get the spotlight on himself. He has been an ineffective govenor and knows his days are numbered. The only good thing I can say about the guy is he is a tad bit better than the last dunce of a govenor from Texas.

PS - Are these "tea baggers" the same people that protested the 1T being spent to rebuild Iraq?
- SID, Plano TX (X NH REZ)

You guys are right. Perhaps you could talk with your feet and get up and move to the state with the lowest tax burden and the lowest crime rate in the nation. The moving costs will be cheap.
- Steve B, Derry

Liberals are absolutely right, the last eight years are part of the problem. What republicans are trying to do is fix it. We need to take responsiblity for our mistakes, and certainly the direction the Obama administration is going is not going to fix any of the last eight years, it will just compound them. We need to get back to a fiscally responsible and small government, thats the only way to put a lasting fix on the economy. all of this stuff being done now is going to end, unless we keep pouring more money into the government. Obama isn't changing anything, he is just MORE of the same. Bigger deficits and more spending. stop spending my retirement and my kids future!
- Tom, Manchester

As I stood in Victory Park yesterday, I did some soul-searching about our country and how we got to this point. It boils down to the majority of our citizens being uninformed or misinformed. I don't know which is worse. We can't trust the newspapers or TV Networks to just give us the facts. They all have their own agendas. And then there is Congress. Don't get me started! Their task was to READ the stimulus package. They couldn't even do that. They obviously do not understand what their job duties entail. I agree that every incumbent should be fired (aka voted out of office) and start with a clean slate. If the new Congress performs as miserably as this one - vote them out again until they finally get the point - which is that they are our servants - they are supposed to be working for us - for the people/of the people.
- Marie, Merrimack

William - Calm down. I don't know where you heard what you think you heard, but you are mistaken. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas said things MIGHT get to the point where secession is an option, but that things are not at that point. In fact, Gov. Perry and the state of Texas are staunch defenders of the US Constitution, having recently affirmed their support for the 10th amendment. Besides, where does it say anything in the Constitution about secession? And there was a time when some in New England wanted to secede from the U.S.

God bless Texas.
- Tom, Campton

Who voted for AIG Bonuses?

Shaheen. Yup.
Hodes. Yup.
Shea-Porter. Yup
Gregg. Nope.

You do the math.
- Barry, Washington

William (Raymond) Gov Perry didn't say Texas would secede but at the same time, according to the Constitution, we can replace goverment. If the residents/citizens of Texas feel secession is what they want, then who are the rest of us to say - what? FYI, the US took Texas into the Union through Treaty.
- R, Raymond

Hey im all for the rally,but i have to wonder if anyone else would have survived weilding an axe in downtown manchester.Should we alert homeland security?
- bill w, seabrook

What a triumph for Fox News. These "protests" were as spontaneous as the St. Patrick's Day parade. It's amazing how willing people are to be duped.
- LJC, Manchester

William, Raymond-
I doubt you "were really on board until you read about the Gov. of Texas wanting to seceed. I think you just were looking for a way to redirect the conversation.
What they are proposing in Texas is to return the power to the states as the Consitution provides for.
And basically says: A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government.

It also designates that all compulsory federal legislation that requires states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties, or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding, be prohibited or repealed.

You may find a course in the Constitution helpful.
- Bob H, Londonderry

America has never been a true democracy, but we say we are. So when a few ideas that come around that are shared with Socialism, only a fool would believe that we're going to become a socialist state just because we embrace one part of it or another : rather we'll just take the parts we like and leave the rest of socialism on the floor. It how we as a people behave socially, economically, and religiously.

Also, I can't believe that no gave Thompson any grief for raising his axe as part of his protest. If that had been a "regular citizen", homeland security would have pounced on this guy for wielding a weapon at a public event or something like that.
- Mike, Manchester

I was really on board with this stuff until I heard the Texas governor preaching secession. I was concerned with the AM radio talking heads occasionally sounding like they were formenting violence, but this new rhetoric from what looks to me like an incredibly irresponsible Texas governor, this preaching secession, goes too far and shows a side of this movement that I do not like. If it were just taxes, that is fine with me, but here we have a Texas governor in favor of secession, something my great-grandfather would have gladly shot him in the head for, and I got the old family album pictures to prove it. I don't like this going to a point of destablizing the US. I think this clown wants to treat this country like a banana republic, that legal elections mean nothing, and apparently to the governor of Texas, neither does the US Constitution. We all have a right to vote and protest, but calling for the destruction of my country and waving around a Southern battle flag, which to my family, a family that has ancestors killed at Gettysburg, this represent treason. It amazes me that this AM radio crowd is the first to holler when Mexicans wave their own flag, yet here they are all cheering when the flag of a proto-fascist slave nation that attempted to destroy the USA is one of the main features of these rallies. Secession is treason. I have no use for high taxes, but I have even less use for traitors.
- William, Raymond

Love it.

Tea Party naysayers are lying in their critique of the day by saying that either only "500" people attended, which is not true....

But I guess it's not surprising when you elect a President who nominates a Treasury Secretary who can't count and frauds the government from tax revenue!

George Bush spent like a Liberal Democrat (and they loved him for it) and was loved by Social Conservatives on social issues.

Barack Obama spends like a Liberal Democrat (b/c Nancy Pelosi has a dog collar on him) and is loved by Social Liberals.

They both are ignorant captain's at the tiller being led by the extremes.

This was articulated throughout the day yesterday. Bush and Obama are to blame, as well as the lame Congress we have in office.

Change we Can Believe In has turned into no change, Obama is just like Bush only worse. We are still in Iraq, and will be in Afganistan for years. Bush tax cuts still exist (despite Obama pledging to elminate them), Obama has raised taxes (desipte pledging to reduce them), Obama has increased spending (despite pledging to use a scapal).

Congrats on your budget and bailouts comrades! Now on to price inflation and/or more taxes.

But we'll just blame businesses for raising prices, not Presdient Obama.

Later ally-oopahs!
- Ben, Concord, NH

J in Bedford, I will not "get over it".

If taxes only went to things like roads and security (prisons, defense, police, fire) the tax burden wouldn't be so cumbersome.

But, since there are folks like you (presumably) that believe the gov't needs to provide things such as food, shelter and health care (oh yes, and a job), taxes go up, and go up.
- BW, Concord

Call it what you want. Teabaggers, astroturf, whatever. When more than 1,000,000 people show up nationwide to protest the government's action, all the name calling in the world isn't going to stop the train.

We completely expect to see Cindy Sheehan get full press coverage when she shows up with 15 people to protest the war. We expect to see Louie Farrakahn get wall to wall coverage with his 100,000 man march. This is what we have grown to expect from ABCCBSNBCCNNMSNBC. At least Fox News covered what was going on. That's why they're #1.

Make no mistake, this was ordinary people out there letting their collective voices be heard. Now that they've been heard, get busy letting the representatives know how you feel. Send letters, make phone calls, send e-mails. And make sure you make your voice heard loud and clear when you head to the voting booth next year.
- Wayne S, Manchester

The “Tea Parties” were more than just a protest for lower taxes, they were a protest against Big Government’s control over their daily lives. An example is the taking of one person’s property to benefit those who the government deems worthy of support. The favored include both individuals and businesses. Those who are willing to trade their freedoms for security support the government programs.

By propping up businesses like GM, AIG, and banks, Government is deciding winners and losers. The winners will be the weak companies who submit to the Government’s bidding, which is why many stronger banks are trying to pay TARP money back to get out from under Government control.

With TARP, the stimulus package and huge budgets passed by both parties, this dissatisfaction with government spending goes back many years. Reagan thought that by limiting the tax income Congress could spend, the size of government could be reduced. His tax cuts resulted in increased tax revenues, but Congress spent even faster.

The Tea Parties were also a statement by those who feel that the true role of government is to provide for our security and follow the Constitution. While the platform of the Libertarian party is extreme in today’s political landscape, the ideals of those demonstrating were libertarian in nature, not Republican or Democrat.

When the Democrats took over in 2006, they arrived with the mantra that Republicans were crazy spenders, and that only the Democrats could control spending. Unfortunately, spending has increased even faster under Democrat control. The clowns we have representing us in Washington and our own state governments are busy bribing us with our own money, and our children’s and grandchildren’s money.
- Richard Waldron, Kensington

Protesting anything the government does, doesn't matter. IT IS A WASTE OF TIME. They do not care about you. They care about what is best for themselves only.
- Kevin, Dover, NH

Let's show Carol and Paul just how loud we can yell. Vote them out in 2010.
- Missy B, Merrimack

It seems some folks wouldn't understand a metaphor if it hit them over the head.

"THE Boston Tea party was about Taxation without representation"

It's not about re-creating the Boston Party for the exact SAME reasons. The sentiment is the same - gov't control and out of control taxes. We may have "reps" - but they sure aren't listening.

The Tea Party is a metaphor. Sorry you can't grasp that.
- BW, Concord

get over it.

nothing is perfect. do you enjoy driving on paved roads? safe bridges? sending your kids to school? having a fire department nearby to protect your property?

if people weren't losing their jobs nobody would be complaining. you people weren't in the streets over the last decade because you didn't care to do anything when you weren't directly impacted.
- J, bedford

Anyone who is stupid enough to call himself or herself a democrat or republican should not be considered seriously. Both parties are businesses fighting over market share. Until the common people realize they are little pawns getting screwed in the game of politics nothing is going to change.
- Al Gagliardi, Windham

What the naysayers are missing is that enough folks have finally had enough. It's been slowly building for a long time (yes, even through the Bush Administration), and the "Stimulus" bill was just the final straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.

I attended the Concord rally. I've had enough. I write and call my duly elected "reps" from the city level on up to the fed - regardless of party, and the response has been the same - regardless of party - no response. Nada.

I vote, and I vote and I vote. I write and I call. I pay and I pay. When does it end?
- BW, Concord

I'm so sick of these "tea parties", THE Boston Tea party was about Taxation without representation. We are being represented so what's yuor problem?

These events should be labels a Whine Fest, because that all it is.
- Jeffrey Comeau, Manchester

First of all there were officially about 4,000 in attendance in Manchester according to a count taken from atop the parking garage, and
1,000 on Concord at noontime.

This diverse crowd was a self-organized group of young and old alike.

It was heartening that so many people could wake up to what is happening and come together on their own in this way.

Thousands of protests were held all over the country and yet as predicted they were ignored by the president and his sycophants in the media. He wasn't ignoring us in private, so this was totally disingenuous. This showed pure
arrogance that this elitist president will pay for down the line. Angering 57M Americans is not really a very smart thing to do.

The attempt by Janet Napolitano to paint these folks as 'radical extremists' was part of a pre-emtptive strike to case aspersions on them and it was a dismal failure.

People are starting to understand what was just done to them at the G20 and that the only
people who are going to benefit from this massive looting of our treasury are the
foreign banking cartels who put Obama in office and for whom he works.

Obama cares little about what happens to you or me, only that he pay off his backers for putting him in office. Most of his blind supporters have no idea that his main backer George Soros made $1.2Billion from this 'crisis' and that at the G20 Obama placed our country under the control of the world bankers, as if the federal reserve were not criminal enough.

While we separated from England long ago, Obama basically just handed us back.

Please read up on the federal reserve if you want to know who is responsible for destroying our economy, putting us in debt, and the driving force behind the shameful Obama
administration and all his tax cheater, global banking elitists and wall street friends.

The American people will be hurt for generations to come by this Commander in Thief!
- Sue, Manchester

Breyer S., Manchester, NH
Hey if this was too much coverage for you and if you are so smart - why don't you just start your own newspaper, radio or TV station and you can cover what ever you want, when ever you want.
- Bob H, Londonderry

The proposed budget is disgusting. I've had to put up with long pay freezes, benefits cuts and price increases for along time. Now they want to take more from me? What is it coming to? My cost have gone up an average of 50% in the past five years. My income has gone up less than 10%. Don't tell me to get another job either! The reason this happened is because of lack of good paying jobs! Another thing I don't want to hear is that a certain political party is responsible for this. My downturn happened under the administration of BOTH parties! The solution is to put every politician in the unemployment line.
- Steve, Raymond

"The average age of the "TEA party" protesters appeared to be about 65. It makes sense that the only ones who could show up at a tax protest during the middle of a work day is a bunch of social security pensioners with a smattering of Republican business owners."

Clearly, Bob in Bedford wasn't even AT the Tea Party in Manchester yesterday.

1. The Tea Party took place at 5:30pm---NOT in the middle of the work day. It had always been scheduled at 5:30pm.

2. The average age of the protestor was NOT 65...there were people of all ages and a large number of young people. There were parents with their families. There were teenagers. They were everywhere and hard to miss.

The more important point, however, is not anyone's age. The fact is that there were 2,000-3,000 AMERICANS who were fed up with what both parties are doing in Washington and in Concord. They've forgotten who pays the bills and it's time they were reminded.
- William Smith, Manchester, NH

Reagan came to the aid of Chrysler.

Reagan had higher tax rates than we do now.

Why didn't conservatives complain then?

I do not agree with all the government spending, but please don't act like the taxes that are being proposed are outrageous because they are simply at the same rate as good old Ronny had them at.

The tea-baggers certainly have a right to protest and they were peaceful and organized, but they represent a very small fraction of the population. I applaud them for their passion and commitment, but they do themselves a diservice by carrying signs that proclaim Obama a Socialist and other false propaganda. Stick to the message and let reasonableness prevail. Otherwise, it will be seen as just another action by the lunatic fringe.
- Jules, Manchester

Since when does a single protest require round the clock coverage? Hippies can protest 2000 strong in their sleep. Sometimes literally ;) Where's their front page news?
I was at Victory Park and it was a peaceful gathering. It was mostly quite pleasant; not like the hateful stuff I saw on FOXnews. But it still wasn't deserving of the coverage it's getting here. It was only 2000 people! More people show up at a rainy Fisher Cats game.
I guess a point could be made that protests should be covered more in general. I can get on board with that point. Hundereds of thousands of people protest for Womens Rights in DC and get nary a peep from the media. Even more people protest the Iraq War with only minmal coverage. The minority has a right to have their voices heard, and we should have mainstream avenues to listen to them(provided their arguments are valid). I just don't know if these protests should require as much news as it's gotten; compared to the other valid, but largely ignored protests throughout the years.
- Breyer S., Manchester, NH

To many that commented about where we were in the last 8 years, let me say that I was opposed to big government for a long time. I worked for the Libertarian Party candidate, Mr.Clark in 1980. This issue is an American issue, not about party politics.
To those that say that we must pay the bill now, let us see how we can pay over $10Trillion in direct debt with another $40Trillion in unfunded liability. The current administration will be doubling the debt to close to $20Trillion. The current federal budget is $3.7Trillion with tax revenues at less than $2Trillion. Currently, roughly 50% of people do not pay income taxes. So, the rest of the 50% would have to pay over additional $2Trillion just to balance the current fiscal year. It is an impossible task unless you start cutting the spending. Government does not create wealth. Please show me where the massive government spending has resulted in prosperity for people.
We owe China close to $1 Trillion and other foreign governments close to another $3Trillion. We are trashing the value of the dollar as we monetize the debt. The Fed. has already announced that it is monetizing the debt. When the economy recovers, the inflation will go through the roof. The interest rates have to go up in order for others to buy our debt. Economic activities will plunge to another low as cost of capital will sky rocket.
So, do the math. What I have outlined is not opinion. They logically follow the laws of economics.
If you are smug about trashing the Republicans for their largess and endorsing the current massive spending, think again. It is only going to hurt you and your family for a long time to come. This is an American problem in which everybody has a stake in it. We are headed to a disaster of the proportions not experienced before.
- Ananta(Art) K Gopalan, Hampton, NH

We live in 2nd least taxed state in the country behind Alaska who gets oil subsidies. No state income tax, no sales tax, and depending on the town, especially Manchester, low property tax. Anyone that says the state taxes are high is uninformed.

If you were sepculative, you would have put your money into Bank of America. Bank of America stock that is. Quadrupled in 5 weeks from $2.50 to $10 and rising. I bet the bank teller wont tell you about opening that account though. Someone is making money somewhere....
- E, Manchester

Joanne I'm just wondering how do you get a tax cut when you don't pay any taxes in the first place?

Pat Miller, nice try. The executive branch administers the programs created by the congress. The lack of financial controls in the first tarp program had nothing to do with the Bush administration and everything to do with the congress that wrote the legislation. Now, care to guess who was in control of the congress when TARP was written?

Joel, where was I, I was yelling at my TV every other night asking, what the he** are you doing, and hoping that someone on the national stage would put a stop to the nonsense. But it wasn’t to be; both parties just lined their pockets with my hard earned dollars. While people like Joanne sat around eating Twinkies with their hands out.

I won’t work has hard this year, . I employ four less people than I did last year, and I‘ll see all my kid’s baseball games this summer. So I have to wonder if that will make me less of a “typical hypocritical republican” and a little less scary to Joanne. I do know it will make me a little less productive but a lot happier.
- Dan, Nashua

Joel, "There's no such thing as a free lunch"? Whaaaatttttt???????? You must be kidding? Obama is making sure all the haves(that's the producers of the country), pay for the have-nots. All the lazy slobs, including illegal immigrants that keep taking, taking, taking. All you fools on this website who keep crying about the tax breaks for the wealthy, wait until Barry takes so much from the people who actually are paying for his socialist programs, decide to stay home and not contribute to this crap. The Tea Parties were WELL represented around the country. For every one person that attended, there were thousands more who couldn't because they needed to work. As for this being a Republican issue only, think again. I am an Independent who has had enough. Obama wants to spend this country into bankruptcy. Yes, I am willing to pay my fair share, but not for the pork programs that are in the stimulus bill. Bigger government is NOT the answer.
- Judy, Londonderry

Hey JC....Dissension is patriotic, right?...The difference between these folks, and your ilk on the left, is that the label is accurate....Hating on soldiers, protecting Jihadist civil rights, and ignoring the Constitution is by definition antagonistic to 'real' Americans, no?
- Geoff, Derry

Now, you all realize that the attendees are now on the Homeland security watch list as authored by nanny Janet. Participating in any kind of protest or dissent that falls on the "right" side of things makes you a threat now.
Funny how that is...
- JOhn, Manchester

We are all to blame-we all voted for idiots over the years! Everyone has a little need for this or a want for that. Our society has begun to unravel because we are cosumed with ourselves and not with each other.
I have voted in every election I could for the last twenty years and while I primarily voted conservitive, I can no longer stomach the lying, stealing and outright lunacy of all of our so-called leaders.
During WW2 some members of the military in Japan warned of waking the sleeping giant (the USA) in fear of inc redible retailation. Those words fell on def ears-Our own governments-at all levels, have now done the same to the same breed of people that won the war. The time has come for the lunatic liberals, the two-faced conservitives and all the other power hungry idiots to get thrown out of office and install people with honor and common sense before America is nothing more than new pages in the logs of history.
Hell hath no furry like that of an American scorned!
- Don, Peterborough

A lot of Conservatives were critical of Bush and the spending ways of the Republican Congress. Many of those Republicans were tossed out of office and Bush never recovered politically. The Tea Parties are about the here and now.

Carol Shea Porter on WGIR this morning referred to the Tea Parties as a lot of “ shouting”. This is the same woman who handed out juice to the War protesters outside her office a couple of years ago.
- Chris, Merrimack

tea party success..a couple thousand folks show up & peacefully protest and wmur has a story about cats that out does this? come on wake up people-they dont want you to know the truth about whats taking place right under our noses. our freedoms are being slowly,no, deliberately, being taken away. we are labeled extremists & threats(terrorists) by our own gov't yet real terrorists are called man-made disasters? they will continue to twist the truth-we the people,not you the gov't.
- jonathan, derry

There were between 1800 and 2000 people at the Tea Party by a rough head count around 6 or 6:30. The video link appears to be from the very opening at 5:30.
- Erica, Derry

This frustration is coming to a head because enough is enough. The American taxpayer and the Constitution were abused under Bush, and rather than seeing any real relief under Obama both are under even greater attack.

Those who are the current recipients of tax favors are drinking poisoned kool-aid, as when the bill comes due there will be no way to lay it all on the shoulders of "the wealthy." Those who still aspire to monetary reward for hard work and discipline see the danger in demonizing those who make over a certain threshold. The current President is furthering this hatred, blaming his own high income on "luck" and referring to only mid to lower income people as "workers."

Both the Democrats and the Republicans got us into this mess. Rather than name calling, what are we going to do to turn the train around before it crashes? Democrats in particular, I ask you if your party still lives up to its ideals? We can't urge on a dangerous financial course just because we like the man driving the train.
- Erica, Derry

Let's see, if I remember correctly for the past 8 years the term applied to people who protested against the government was "America haters" wasn't it? Hope all you Republicans enjoy your stay in the glass house....
- JC, Newfields

These Tea Bag clowns don't have a slight grasp of anything.

The good news is there were only about 500 of them. Wow. Awesome.
- NSW, Epping

George from Fremont, patience my friend, REAL CHANGE is coming...

For all of you that are quick to blame one party or the other, you don't get it nor do you understand this awakening (FINALLY).... This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it is a fat cat Politician issue... The people that define themselves as Republican or Democrat are the problem. They live their lives TAKING from us and SPENDING wherever they want. To these elected people, we are nothing more than a unlimited checking account...This starts at the local level and runs rampant all the way to Washington. Obama (I did not vote for him) based his entire run for the presidency on CHANGE... Can someone tell me what currently has his administration proposed as CHANGES that will make a lick of difference to the way government works?
For the people that agree and understand what yesterday and July 4th was/is about, continue the fight... Our country was started based on the exact issues we are fighting for today. WE WILL NOT GO AWAY!
- Nick, Londonderry, New Hampshire

To those who would turn this into a liberal vs conservative, Democrat vs Republican issue: you miss the point. Our governments are getting bigger, costing too much, trying to do more than they should and doing that very badly. There are many who favor local governments, minimal federal intrusion and want to be left alone to work and raise our kids.

Contract with America was squandered, then Bush and the Republicans drove us into deeper debt. In the name of "change," our new president forecasted armageddon without the stimulus bill and a $1 trillion debt was dropped on our kids. Our Congresspeople couldn't even read the bill and surprise! it was full of pork (not earmarks - PORK).

Our legislators are stomping on ants with a herd of elephants on the horizon: Social Security and Medicare. If you think spending will stop by fleecing the "rich," do the math. Big government is going to cost all of us.

And the price isn't just money.
- Leigh, Springfield, NH

I love when liberals get nervous. They come to these boards in droves. Trying to discredit the person not the message. This was their tactic with Palin and Joe the Plumber....forget about the message, let's label them a bunch of winers and try to dig up dirt. Brought to you by the tolerant party.
- Bob, Hampstead

But where have all these people been over the last abominable decade? Where were they when the rich were getting tax cuts and the little guy wasn't and when we were having two wars and the costs for that weren't included in any budgets..- Joanne, Manchester

....Did you know Ron Paul was standing up and saying all these things for his entire time in office? He was a Republican. Did you kniw that Ross Perot was telling the American people all this as well? He was a Republican. The controled mass media made sure they both looked like they were out in left field and ridiculed. But in the end they turned out to be right in everything they said. Where are the appologies from the media and the American public to these men? It will never come. It will never come because Both parties are responsible for this mess and have everything to fear from the truth.
- Frank Jutras, manchester

It's kind of funny since taxes and spending were higher under Mel Thomson, Overall tax rat in his last year in office 8%, in 2008 7.6%. I'm not sure how his son can use him as an example(Oh I know, because facts are meaningless when you have reputation)

Also funny how federal taxes were much higher under Reagan than now.

Sarah Palin was VP of the conservative party and made her fame by heavily taxing oil corporations and handing oil welfare to Alaskan citizens.

So let's be real, the tea party was not only ignored by the general population but rather hypocritical considering taxes even under the Obama plan to roll back Bush cuts will still be less than under Reagan, who ran huge deficits that resulted in the breaking of Russia, then Clinton was able to eliminate the deficits. I think the defecits proved necessary under Reagan and they are necessary now.

Obama will avoid a recession which would have caused much higher taxes over the long run than the stimulus. Once the economy is rolling again the deficit can be pared back just as past history has shown.

If your 66 and lost your retirement in the stock market shame on you. All bank preferred stocks are still paying the same dividends they always paid, none of them have stopped, preferred stock is the main stock option for retirees, if you did not plan well not sure what you have to complain about, your 66, you should have had a safe plan for the bulk of your money.
- Kevin, Derry NH

Thanks for a good, accurate article, Dan Tuohy and Union Leader. It matches my observations. I took lots of photos yesterday and I'm sharing them via my (easily Googled) blog, Atlantic Ave.
- Amy Kane, North Hampton

People. Don't get confused by the Dems vs. the Repubs nonsense. There is plenty of corruption for all to share.

What we need is to stop being slaves to the banks. Pay off your debts, stop using credit cards, use local banks instead of Chase/Citi/BofA.

Our electoral system is a sham. Only the chosen get to play in the "big game". It's time to go back to a nation of the people, not of the corporations.

A flat tax would remove all of the tax cuts, the loop holes, and the dreaded accountants and lawyers. You make 50k, you pay 5k in taxes. You make 1000000, you pay 100000. Same for corporations. I read an article that only 43% of Americans pay Federal income tax. The rest are either sitting in their homes watching Oprah and Maury or can afford a good enough tax accountant to wiggle out of paying.

Enough is enough.
- Shawn, Milton

What is everyone protesting about, where were they when Bush dragged us into war In Iraq, where were they when he was throwing money to the Big Three Automakers or other corporations to help out his buddies. This is all being done to Stimulate the economy, when it works and then he attacks the defecit what will you complain about then.
- Steve, Manchester

Let's see; If I shoot myself in the foot it makes sense to blow a hole inthe other one, right? Not even close! This is basically the same argument that the Obama supporters are using by claiming that we already have a deficit so runit up even more.
Americans being fed up with government is not " a waste of time" and there were plenty of supporters at these events that are not "ultra right wing". In fact, many of the attendees are just average folks that have realized (some before Obama) that the feds are wasting our money on projects and programs that are not worthy.
How any of you can feel happy and safe waiting on the government to solve your problems and save you from any bad decisions is a joke! Regardless of party affiliation bigger government is not the answer; Infact, it is the problem!
- Jesse, Orford

The naysayers just don't get it. It isn't about what was done in the past, it's about where we go from here. It's about saddling future generations with crushing, immoral debt. It's about our elected representatives spending this country into the ground, it isn't about Democrat or Republican - in case you haven't noticed there isn't much difference between the two. Obama is simply continuing and quadrupling down on what Bush started. TARP was the brainchild of Bush and the Dem leadership in Congress. Obama voted for TARP, and he voted for all of those budgets and supplementals. Obama has the same people around him - Bernanke and Geithner - that Bush did. That's not change.

I don't mean to make this personal, but I don't understand the complaints from people like Joel and Pat Miller. Obama ISN'T paying any bills.That's the point! Obama is borrowing enormous amounts of money from China, printing enormous amounts of funny money, and deferring the inevitable enormous tax increases until later. The result is massive deficits and debt, an unstable currency, and the promise of high taxes, a strangled economy, reduced liberty, and a reduced standard of living for decades to come. Now if you can tell me why these are good things, you may have a point. Otherwise, why weren't you at a tea party?
- Tom, Campton

Axes? Pitchforks? Tea bags hanging from the ears? You all may have good points (I don't agree with them, but they are fine arguements to make), but these events made you look irrational and childish.... Maybe you want to reconsider your approach.
- Jane, Manchester

Mark in Windham--- very well put. This is not about passing the blame. This is about Americans coming together and standing up for what this country was founded on.

This is not an issue of "where were these people the last 8 years?" A lot has changed in the past year with TARP 1 (BUSH) and TARP 2 (OBAMA) and the Obama stimulus plan. More has been spent in the past year (by two presidents) than in the past 8 combined, and it needs to stop NOW.

I hope that all of these people do their research, show up at the polls in November 2010, and vote every single Congressional incumbent out of office... Democrat or Republican, Libertarian or Reform, Independent or Populist... I don't care. Get them all out and send a real message. Until we do that, none of this matters.
- Brian, Concord

Deficits and deficit spending. Search your GAO spending history and the spending history of each administration of the past 60 years and tell me where the national debt resides. Go one, if you dare, it's all on the governments own websites. Come on 'bi-parisan' teabaggers. That's a joke.
- Tom, Dover-Foxcroft, Me.

- Joanne, Manchester

over a one trillion dollar "stimulus package" is the problem, plus the fact that OUR state, for example, is receiving a ridiculous amount of money for roads. we are already paying taxes, tolls, gas tax, etc... yet, we still need more money for this? why? because government spending is WAY out of control.

secondly, big banks do not need bail outs. what they need to do is restructure and the fat cat ceo's NEED TO STOP being so damn greedy!

and to the first poster, Joel...

again, bailouts for ANY industry is NOT needed. let them all fail! if we continue to bail out businesses, we are enabling them to make very bad decisions because the ceo's will have the understanding that they cannot fail.
- scott, chichester

It's good to see people are finally waking up to the lies and failures of big-government liberalism and overblown government spending, despite what the moonbats on the "news" networks and on this comment board have to say about it. To them, we all fall under the category of the despicable Janet Napolitano's definition of "right-wing extremist" which in a nutshell is anyone who disagrees with Obama Bin-Lyin' and his socialist worldview. If there were a Republican in the White House when this took place, we all know the nightly "news" and the moonbats here would have a MUCH different view on the subject. All they seem to concern themselves with is if the person at the top of the ladder has an "R" or a "D" after their name, and adjust their opinions accordingly. For 8 years we heard them whine and cry. For 4 months we heard them say "hope and change!" So they can afford to listen to us for 3.7 more years protest against the socialist they elected to be their president who has made matters far worse for America and the Constitution than George W. Bush or any other President in American History.

1-20-13 - Hope FOR Change
- Mike, Temple

The average age of the "TEA party" protesters appeared to be about 65. It makes sense that the only ones who could show up at a tax protest during the middle of a work day is a bunch of social security pensioners with a smattering of Republican business owners.

John Linville in Wolfeboro...do you advocate income testing on Social Security benefits? Do you advocate a reduction in Medicare B and D for seniors? That is the highest portion of most working people's and their employers' federal tax bill. If you're 65 and collecting right now you will receive FAR more back than you ever paid into Social Security. If you're in your mid 40s, like me, you will pay far more than you will receive from Social Security-if you receive anything at all.

So, unless you're willing to forego the benefits that you have not paid for, you, and the others like you, should consider limiting your hypocritical B.S. Or, you could hold a rally and say "thank you" to me and others like me that pay our taxes to support you, without a complaint.
- Bob, Bedford

The uninformed claim these folks are protesting about having to pay their fair share. The uneducated say these folks are hypocritical. The truth is they are protesting about the enormous tax burden being imposed by a democratically controlled government that chose to defer the Geithner plan until after the $787 billion dollar stimulus package was passed. Why? Had they dealt with the toxic assets first, then a fraction of the $787 billion dollar stimulus package would have been needed.
- Alfred, Bedford

Finally a newspaper that runs an article on this. Nowhere did find any mention of this in the Eagle Tribune or USA Today this morning.

Another fine example of LIBERAL BIAS MEDIA. They don't dare tick off the LIBS.

Rally the troops, 2010 is right around the corner. If people really want to send a message, DON'T VOTE FOR LIBERALS
- Harry, Atkinson

I see that the DNC supporters are out in force this morning. Name calling, Bush blaming, etc.

The protests had nothing to do with Obama, per se, or Bush, per se, or Democrats vs. Republicans. You left wing nitwits just don't get it. It was about out of control government spending, at the city, state and federal levels.

To say that nothing happened is short sighted and a little incorrect. It was the failure of Republicans in Congress to be the party they had always been that led to their ouster. They spent like drunken Liberal sailors and were voted out. Unfortunately, more free spending drunken liberal sailors were elected, and now we see even more spending planned with budgets so big that our great grandchildren will be paying for them for years to come.

And the vast majority of the spending, at the state and federal levels is designed to pay for those who refuse to work, to become more dependent on the government, at the expense of those who do work.

Wake up folks, you (we) are selling our souls to the devil.

The results will hopefully be seen in November 2010 when we vote in people who won't spend our money and stop this madness.

We'll see.
- PF, Keene

After I got out of work, I headed over to the Manchester event and there were at least 2,000 people there. About two-thirds of the park was full and it was an amazing atmosphere - full of families and older people.

You can dismiss this all you want - there were hundreds of these peaceful rallies nationwide, and woe to those in 2010 that ignore the message.
- Ryan, Hooksett

I agree the American people are taxed way too much. But where have all these people been over the last abominable decade? Now after Pres. Obama has been in office a little over 2 months and is left with this deplorable economy from Bush they show up. Where were they when the rich were getting tax cuts and the little guy wasn't and when we were having two wars and the costs for that weren't included in any budgets. Now that its catching up with our country naturally, people are coming out and blaming it on the new president? Who is just trying to find a way to deal with this problem. Which includes finally letting the wealthy pay their part. Typical hypocritical Republicans. They are the scariest people I've ever encountered.
Their motto 'Do as I say and not as I do'.
- Joanne, Manchester

Pat Miller while you make some points they are not all valid. The bailout was written by and passes by the majority party in Congress and it was them who failed to put in safeguards. I do not think anyone is blaming all of this on Obama but what they are protesting is his even higher deficit budget which calls for more government programs and the highest budget ever. The president tries to sound like he is doing is a favor with his "tax breaks". Well last I knew 95% of Americans do not pay taxes so those who do not and are getting one penny is a joke. The other joke is the measley 10 bucks a week I am getting in my pay when the price, fees and taxes on so many other things are going up. Not to mention that the "tax relief" will show it's usefulness next year when that amount is added to my tax bill just like last years joke of a stimulis was. This is not a party issue but a person issue and they are right to question the ever burdening cost of government and it is true both parties are responsible for where we are now.
- Bill B., Pelham

Please stop focusing on blame and whether Bush or Obama is more at fault, start focusing on solutions and taking a stand to fix the mess this country is in.

The problem here isn't Democrats or Republicans, the problem is that we as a nation have forgotten what small Government should be about, the problem is that both parties want to spend spend spend money they don't have, money that will put our childrens children in debt for their whole lives.

The problem is also that many have forgotten the American dream of working hard and making a success of your own life and have instead grown up in a society where it is ok not to listen in school, it is ok not to work, and it is ok to survive off Government handouts.

This is not the future for our country that the founding fathers envisioned and it is not the future any of us should want either.
- Mark, Windham, NH

This was a huge failure because the Republicans have no credibility when it comes to the issues they are trying to raise. Sure, I'd love a political party that would shrink the size of government, cut spending, cut taxes, follow the US Constitution. Unfortunately for the GOP they spent the last 8 years proving that they aren't the ones to get that done. They did everything they accuse the "radical far left" of doing or wanting to do. They grew the government, spent more money, tried to police the world, attacked our civil liberties, etc. Now they actually expect the Americans to believe that if they were in power again, they wouldn't do the exact same thing all over again?
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

Its a shame to see that the talking heads like Limbaugh still control a lot of citizens, and they don't stop to look at the facts.
The current administration inherited this mess, and if what they want to do to fix it isn't the way some citizens want to try to correct it, where are the alternative plans?
Ridicule and derision are easy, but constructive ctitisizm is harder. Obama won, he's trying to fix the chaos left him and he's only been there a few weeks.
Where were all these protestors when the last administration was mortgaging our hertiage ?
Probably still waiting for the WMD to show up.
- pete, sunapee

I find it curious that groups such as FreedomWorks helped organize yesterdays event. Their website calls for opposing the bailouts and appears to support the tea parties.

What's curious about that?

FreedomWorks chairman is Dick Armey (R). Armey’s lobbying firm, DLA Piper, represents AIG, Lehman Brothers, and Merrill Lynch.
- DM, Hampton

Our bloated windbag of a mayor actually had the nerve to show up at an anti tax rally? Was everyone wearing boots?
- Jake, Manchester

I attended the event in Manchester yesterday and I was glad to see the event not only raised awareness of the obscene spending at the Federal level, but also at the State level.

The thing that really frustrated me about this event was the blatant bias by the mass-media in their coverage. It's very disturbing when they portray the people who are voicing their opinions about the level of spending by our government as some dangerous radical group.

The mass-media went out of their way to belittle and discredit this event, and their partisan take could not be more obvious.

I'm not one to use the UL forum to pick on WMUR, but their coverage (and I use that term loosely) of the rally was a joke. This was a major news event in the state and WMUR gave it all of 30-45 seconds of coverage on last night's 11pm news, and barely any coverage on their 5:30am news today. In fact, it was not one of their top stories and they didn't even show the NH event at all in their 5:30am news. Instead they showed an aerial picture from Atlanta and made mention that this was a "conservative" event.

WMUR felt that last night's public meeting by the State Senate Finance Committee (regarding the budget) was a much more important story and chose to air that multiple times. Senator Maggie Hassan (D - Exeter) was shown three times from 5:30am - 6am) in a vain attempt to make it seem like the Democrats care about the public's opinion on their obscene budget. Why did Sen. Hassan receive more airtime than this event? Why didn't WMUR show clips of the speeches from the event? It's obvious WMUR favors liberal Democrats.

Yesterday's event was not an anti-tax rally, despite the mass-media's attempt to label it as such. It was a rally to send a message to our elected officials that they are spending far too much of our money and that this reckless spending cannot continue. It also was not a partisan event. I heard several speakers reference reckless spending under George W. Bush's watch.

I am simply fed-up with the obscene spending by our government and that's why I attended. When China has to lecture the US on monetary policy, that's a red flag that there is something very wrong with our government.
- Joe V., Nashua

Is there an estimate as to how many people were there?
- Rick, Bedford

And what exactly did this event change? Not a thing.

What a waste of time and energy.


But hey I guess it sure made the ultra right wing nitwits feel good!!
- George, Fremont

this is only the begining.
- tim bourgeois, weare

For far too long the government has ignored the will of the people and legislated our freedoms away. They have done all they can to divide us into little interest groups. The rally was attended by Independents, Libertarians, Democrats and Republicans, to make a stand for US ALL. This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, it is an AMERICAN problem.
- Mae, Plaistow

You have so got to be kidding me. The last Administration built the largest government ever created in this country, created the multi-trillion dollar Medicare Part D program, created a $3 trillion war which costs us $20B a month now (not to mention killed soldiers, future VA costs, and destroyed families), spent almost $1B on TARP to "bail out" banks with no financial controls in place, gave bail out money to Detroit which can't build a decent car to save its life, provided tax cuts which created a major deficit, and blew a $1T surplus in 8 years. BOTH parties have to clean this mess up. I don't like the spending or many of Obama's policies either, but to blame it all on Obama is ludicrous. Get a grip people.
- Pat Miller, Campton, NH

I watched the talking heads on MSNBC and CNN dismiss the tea party attendess as despicable whiners. Well, they just don't get it. I am a WWII baby, worked hard all my life, been married for 43 years, raised two children and saved for my retirement. I never took a dime from the government dole in my life! And now that I am 66, I am confronted by sights I could never imagine. My retirement savings are gone, spirited away by greed and chicanery on Wall Street. My government is spending money at an incredible rate by passing voluminous bills that no one has the time to read and understand. Our burgeoning debt is owned by a communist country so we become beholding to those we oppose. Our politicians of all stripes are in the tank for special interest groups and in some cases, just downright crooks. And we are becoming an entitlement state, where people want to be paid for doing nothing and have their bad decisions made whole by Washington.
So did I protest? You bet. I only wish we could have thrown some politicians into Lake Winnpesaukee rather than faux tea!
- John Linville, Wolfeboro

Yada yada yada...Where were you people when the previous President, not to mention the nine before him, were allowing spending to continue unabated? Stop your whining and complaining because you don't want to pay the bills as they are coming due.

We have no one to blame but ourselves for the situation our country finds itself in. And, in case you've forgotten, there IS no such thing as a free lunch. Everything needs to be paid for eventually. We either pay now or our children and grandchildren will later. I would prefer to pay now to leaves their lives as free as we can.

Peace
- Joel, Nashua