YOUR COMMENTS

Well I gues Guinta is not his brother's keeper..Obviously he is his own keeper...what does that say if he gets to Washington? Obviously he won't keep the public's interest in first place.
- Bonnie, Wolfeboro

I think Kathy Sullivan staged the whole thing
- Ricky G, Goffstown

Personally, I applaud the mayor for putting himself out there. People with alcohol or drug issues are not easy to deal with. He went to help a friend. I don't blame him for not staying around once the situation was taken care of and the person was in good hands. Good for you Mayor Guinta.
- MaryC, Manchester

This story just keeps getting better now we got this guy Tom who's related to Paul and Mike Porter now venting out and on the other side we have the brothers Garrity Patrick and Mike, and we have Frank Guinta lurking about.

All we need is to add in Joe Levassuer, Ray Buckley, Peter Sullivan and Danny O'Neil and we got a good ole' fashioned get down in preperation for the Fourth.

BLAH BLAH BLAH....this gin mill city is beginning to bore the heck out of me. I don't know which is more boring, the politicians or watching the paint dry. Right now I'd have to say the paint is looking more interesting by the day.
Why ain't the MPD out investigating "real" crime.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

I expected to see this printed in the city's left-leaning weekly paper - as it was earlier this week - but this story is being ginned up by Democrats in an attempt to discredit Mayor Guinta, and shame on the UL for falling for it.

I love Mr. Fortin and others critiquing Guinta for "walking away." Should he have jumped into the brawl? Should he have punched the guy ut? What lunacy. They were there to help this poor, homeless drunk guy.
- James, Manchester

This reminds me of the old saying, "No good deed ever goes unpunished." This is a sad situation all around. Kudos to anyone who takes a risk, (and HOW in this case), and tries to help a person who is struggling with addictions.
- jolene, brookline

Channel 9 has the ambulance run sheet. THey wrote the call came in as a man tripping over a chair with a broken leg. So when the ambulance was called they knew the leg was already broken. The mayor says he didn't know the extent of the injury. The mayor and garrity say he slipped or fell. Mike Garrity says Pat grabbed Tom and Tom fell. Where in Guinta and Garrity's story do they ever mention a chair? Neither of them is capable of telling what happened here. So now we have a trip, a fall, a slip and a chair. We have the person calling the ambulance saying "Broken Leg" so, they knew the leg was borken before the ambulance got there.
- John, Manchester

It does not take a 300 pound guy to break a tib-fib. I broke mine playing Frisbee when I landed wrong. Give me a break with the sensationalism. Two guys go to help out a friend and they get screwed by the media and the public. One of them gave the guy a place to live the other offers help with work and an ear to listen to the guys troubles. It just doesn’t pay to be nice.
- G, Nashua

What is a "dust up" and who cares how the idiot broke his leg

Move on!!!!
- Harry, Atkinson

Another case of 'no good deed goes unpunished.'
- Jim, Manchester

Mayor Guinta is starting to sound more like Mayor Quimby from The Simpsons. All he needs is the sash!
- Scott, Manchester

First of all who cares if who is rep and who is democrat.. people grow up and see the bigger picture. Yes Pat was wrong for the attack.. regardless of him "claiming to come to aid his brother" there are still several moral and character issues with all of them. Just because something is printed doesn't mean it is the whole truth- do you think everyone involved here is honest.. UMM doubtful..and although the UL Tries to get the story they are not going to get it from people holding office trying to further their career. Do you really think they would implicate themselves of doing something wrong? The fact that the Mayor denies drinking at the club alone.. come on... why couldn't Mike drive.. hmm took drunk himself from drinking with Tom at the Uk? Take off your blinders and see through the crap. Why are people in office hanging out with so called shady people in a shady club? Then trying to deflect and cover it up? Regardless of whether the mayor is Rep or Dem I wouldn't want someone with his lack of character in office. period.
- kat, manchester

This whole story is wierd. From what happened, to who was involved and why, and finally how the coverage of it has been sparse and somewhat biased. I can see why the Dems want to prop the story up. It keeps the focus off of what Shea-Porter is doing in DC. Before the Dems get carried away with the "bad behavior in bars" matra, they ought to review their current payroll. They would not want to seem hypocritical.
- Tom, Manchester

Wow, I love that people like kathy, Glen, and Bill, all question a grown man for going to a bar (on a Thursday, whoa). It's amusing to me. Because he is Mayor he isn't allowed to go to a bar, what a joke. Sorry Mr Mayor, no bars for you, in fact, you shouldnt leave your house unless for City business. Incredible. Clearly you are all Democrats and are attacking him because he isn't. To take it a step further and make a comment about him "needing to be with his family" is even worse. I love people like you who think your better then someone and think you know him better then he does. Who are you to question his family committment?? Oh that's right, you are perfect. And Bill, he wonders why elected officials were there. Jeez Bill, you think politicians don't go to bars?? Go look at Washington, you'll find a few that do.
- mike, manchester

Because JEAN he wasn't hanging out there- read the article. He was with Garrity somewhere else when Garrity was called to the bar to pick up the drunk. Neither Garrity or Guinta were hanging out at the bar at all. Jeeze, apparently some people can't read before commenting. And I do agree that Scott Brooks should have added who the Democrats were that were involved when he had no problem calling out who are Republicans. Seriously Mr. Brooks, terrible writing.
- Fred Jenkins, Manchester, NH

I never thought I'd see the day when someone accuses the Union Leader, of all papers, of being a tool of the Democrats. Has partisanship become so extreme that, even in a paper that has historically heavily favored the Republican party, any article that doesn't call for something like banning the Democratic party and instituting one-party rule is considered biased in favor of the Democrats?

There are a bunch of unresolved questions in this incident, starting with why one of our Aldermen is seemingly running a do-it-yourself halfway house, and whether (and if so, why) our Mayor is hanging out in questionable drinking establishments. That's what we need to be looking at, not complaining that a newspaper doesn't hate one political party sufficiently.
- Jean, Manchester

Both the Uke and Fish are fine establishments for an Alderman and Mayor to be hanging out at.
- sr, manchester

I see that reporter Scott Brooks has learned his trade well. He mentions that one of those present during this fracas is a Republican, and then allows a quote from a Democrat party official, while NEVER, mentioning the fact that an elected Democrat was one of those actually involved in the fracas.
- Robert Hilliard, Pembroke

Glen, read the article before commenting. Guinta wasn't AT the bar. He was with Garrity NOT at the bar and then Garrity was called to pick up this drunk guy. Guinta just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when Garrity was trying to help out a friend who was probably on drugs as well as drunk apparently attacked Alderman Garrity.

I think it would be much more effective if the Union Leader would add the political party that each individual is affiliated with along with their name because it is THEN that you see the obviousness that this is just a Democrat attack ploy because they are scared of Guinta taking on Carol Shea-Porter. Paul Porter is one of the most partisan/angry Democrats in Manchester. Can it be any more obvious that he is going to make comments against Guinta and Garrity?

Also, how about we mention that the Garrity brother who ACTUALLY did the "harm" of throwing this English guy to the ground is Democrat State Rep! This garbage is just barking from Democrats trying to use the situation against Guinta even though everyone has said he did nothing wrong. What a joke. I wouldn't even waste ink on this story...
- Dave Thompson, Manchester, NH

"The incident has become fodder for the state Democratic Party, which put out a statement yesterday saying Guinta's behavior "raises questions about his leadership and character." "

Really - did Ray Buckley put this statement out? I almost fell out of my chair when I read that.
- WS, Manchester

Glen, read the article before commenting. Guinta wasn't AT the bar. He was with Garrity NOT at the bar and then Garrity was called to pick up this drunk guy. Guinta just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when Garrity was trying to help out a friend who was probably on drugs as well as drunk apparently attacked Alderman Garrity.

I think it would be much more effective if the Union Leader would add the political party that each individual is affiliated with along with their name because it is THEN that you see the obviousness that this is just a Democrat attack ploy because they are scared of Guinta taking on Carol Shea-Porter. Paul Porter is one of the most partisan/angry Democrats in Manchester. Can it be any more obvious that he is going to make comments against Guinta and Garrity?

Also, how about we mention that the Garrity brother who ACTUALLY did the "harm" of throwing this English guy to the ground is Democrat State Rep! This garbage is just barking from Democrats trying to use the situation against Guinta even though everyone has said he did nothing wrong. What a joke. I wouldn't even waste ink on this story...
- Dave Thompson, Manchester, NH

So, the city has no money, had to raise taxes, lay off teachers, make kids pay to play sports, can't fill vacancies on the Police Force, and the mayor is out bar hopping with one of the cities Aldermen?

Leadership by example. Go drink your problems away right Mr Mayor?

What's Frank going to do for us if he gets elected to Congress? Put up fancy new archways on 93 and 95 so people know they are entering New Hampshire?

Do we really deserve this guy? Do we really want him representing us in Washington?
- Al Wood, Mancehster

Thank you Glen!
I find it interesting as well that Guinta always uses his children as an excuse for not being at scheduled events during the day, but goes out drinking on a Thursday night!
- Kathy, Manchester

The Mayor and Alderman are at more bars in the afternoon then is being reported. Up until this incident they were at The Fish and Game almost every day. I have seen them in a lot of the private clubs in the afternoons.
There skirting the truth here.
Stan Howser
- stan Howser, Manchester, NH

I'd like to know what 2 elected city officials were doing at a very sketchy establishment.
- Bill, Manchester

Mike Garrity calls Tom English a close personal friend and says "his family gave up on him a long time ago, but I never did."

The right thing to do for a close personal friend that you never gave up on would have been to stay with him all the way to the hospital.

As far as Mayor Gunta is concerned he could have at least stayed until the ambulance arrived.
- Will, Manchester

Oh boy, now this gets messier. I hope for Frank Guinta's sake that he is telling the whole truth, because if the police report shows he wasn't up front, he is done. In the meantime, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

I still want to know why the Mayor, with two young children, is hanging around in bars on a Thursday night. Go home and be with your family.
- Glen, Manchester, NH

Is this still a story? Even though:
The family admits that Alderman Garrity and Mayor Guinta did nothing illegal;
The person making these accusations has years of drug and alcohol issues;
Alderman Garrity has tried to help this individual for years;
The mother herself admits her son hit Alderman Garrity;
The person in question was immediately tended to by an EMT; and
The person in question did not want the police involved;

Somehow this is Mayor Guinta's fault. I guess Mr. Brooks needed to fill a slow news week with Democrat talking points.
- Ryan, Hooksett

LJ: If your bartender is likely to tell reporters about your role in a fight at a private club, you're not tipping him enough.
- C, Manchester

Personal struggles??Sounds like there are a few people having some personal struggles.This Garrity clan seems to be having just another Thursday night in the Queen City that everyone in small town America is familiar with.And Guinta??Hangin @ The Fish??Everyone in Manch knows what goes on in the cellar at the Fish.
Glad to be living in Hooksett and saying my prayers
- jimmy, Hooksett

I agree with Jay. English had too many adult beverages, took a swing at Garrity, and was pulled off Garrity by Garrity's brother. Sounds like another typical Saturday night scuffle at your average Manchester drinking establishment.
- Mark, Manchester

This sounds more like a qualification for a governor than a congressman. Guinta would fit right in with the Blagovichs, Spitzers, Sanfords, Clintons, etal, who have represented their state so well
- James Canny, Allenstown

Good Point Jay, I might add or the word of someone not there. You would have throught the UL would have been able to get a quote from someone there! After all we at least know there was a Bartender.

Have to say I do not envy Mike Garrity position with his friend, been there myself with a friend. Hopefully he will stick with him if he needs the help as it seems family is not all that willing according to the story above.
- LJ, Manchester, NH

And Guinta wants to go to Congress? Is that the way he will settle arguments in as our Representatives. When disagreements come up, just walk away. Fisticuffs was the Keith Hirschmanm method of solving his disagreements and how long has he been a former alderman? Frank Guinta is not fit by experience nor temperment to be in Congress, no way Jose.
- Richard L. Fortin, Manchester

I never take the word of a drunk/drug guy....but that's just me. Non-story.
- Jay Collins, Laconia