YOUR COMMENTS

I don't know very much about politics, but like every other american, I want to live the American Dream. With these scarce times at such a young age for me being a first time voter, I can only imagine the many years to come. What happens to those families that do not make the requirements of the $250k? My parents work so hard to put food on the table and pay the bills. For my fathers sake he had to live his home to go to a different state with better pay so we could survive to remain what great enivornment we call home survive. I realize that takes will never go down because as the world changes so does our dollars. What happens to the little people who make the best of themselves and never earn that quote? Who's right is it to decide that only certain people should get tax breaks. Equality, should be established amongst everyone, not the reach, not the poor, not the middle class. I have dreams during this recession but everyday I look at our nation crumble because of the dollar, my hopes dimenish for those also who face this times of hard ships. Wonder, when was the last time you put down what ever you were doing to help someone lift their chin higher to have a greater cause?
- Tim Heidt, Morrison, Colorado

We need a president that will take care of our country. Stop all of the political mailai and face our countries issues. Right now we pay attention to every other countries problems. We have education, energy, homeless, starving people etc. in our country! You can't build a house without a foundation so lets fix america by building a foundation, face our problems then we can build a country. Pay attention to us, America noteveryone else. BE A HONEST President!!!!! Don't play political Games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Theodore I. Bunnell, Warriors Mark, pa 16877

When you talk about not raising taxes for business not making over $250,000 are you thinking gross or net. Many small businsss don't net 250k but gross over that amount. ( It would be a good idea to clearify point. Many small business owners are worry about this)
- Tony Rlvington, Fort Worth Tx 76133

October issue of AARP Bulletin had this to say on page 18: "Obama proposes a payroll tax on income over $250,000, to begin a decade from now." If this is not a misprint, it's a ridiculous stance from any candiddate to begin anything in ten years. Please explain, because it sounds like an idiot talking?
- bob Koeper, Ozark MO

For all of the people that call themselves christians, but don't believe in prayer or God, shame on you. I see a divided nations bickering over who gets the pie, and most of you are already overweight.
I pray that God will bring an end to greed as we see it now off the backs of the poor. I pray that God will bring an end to bigotry that has spiralled out of control in this US of A. I Pray for the candidate that best represents life, liberty and the pursue of happiness for all mankind, to get into office.
Last I pray that if things don't change as we presently witness that God brings that final change needed to save this earth from itself.
- Esther Bechet, huntsville, al

lets HOPE Obama wins. Its time for a big CHANGE.
- jalil jackson, lorain ohio

To you, George Trembly, NH, how dare you imply that a hard working family who makes less than $50,000 a year does not have the right to actively campaign? It is their absolute right and the fact that they took a day to support their candidate should actually show how desperate the situation is for people like them, and me. What you are implying is that "the little people" should not be allowed to "dabble" in politics...we should be working 24 hours a day to make sure our bills are paid and just accept the higher prices we pay for everything, and on top of that, have no say? (Your words..."if you're having such a hard time with your bills, how do you have time to actively campaign for a candidate for no pay?" It is called an investment of their time. They are taking a chance, hoping to change things and make them better for everyone. Please! If it weren't for the "little people", who comprise the majority of Americans, your ventures would not make money, which means you would be much less well off than you are.

I am thoroughly amazed at how many obviously "planted" comments are on this blog. It would appear that McCain's campaign workers are hard at work...blogging. Since when has a president had the power to physically get something done on his own? Everything relies on his ability to work with Congress and the Senate. Do you really think, with how things have gone for the past eight years, McCain is going to get any kind of cooperation, or that anything would change with him in office? Everyone is on edge, the economy is sinking like the Titanic, and we are arguing over whether Obama has enough experience? I would rather have someone who has less experience with "politics as usual" and who has new vision, than someone who has been in the "good old boy" system for over a quarter of a century, and has only recently...hmmmm....think he was contemplating running for president for the past 4 or 5 years?....began a record of voting "against the grain". At least Obama has true experience in reform, not to mention the ability to rally people, to make them believe that we can change things.

And shame on you again, George, for implying that the folks in this country who make a fraction of what you do, should not be able to campaign! How arrogant! We work just as hard, if not harder, for our little pennance, than you do for your big one. The only difference is, when something horrible happens, like a serious illness or an unexpected death in the family, we often lose everything....something you obviously don't have to worry about. Get down off your high horse, already! You are just as out of touch as McCain!
- Tabatha Rodriguez, Corinth, TX

www.votesmart.org

If you want to check candidates voting records you can check at the adress above. It lays out, in detail, what each bill voted on was about and how the candidate voted: Yes or No. It takes time to read, but it is worth it if you want to inform yourself.

The preamble to our constitution states "We The People..." not "We the politicians..." In other words. Empower yourselves. TV ads and regurgitated party slander are what weaken this country. Make your party work for you. Don't work for you party.

Ignorance and anger brought this country a war it can't afford, and high oil prices shot up by fear. Don't believe the propoganda on either side. Research. Gather as much info as you can and then decide.

Please America.

We have the potential to continue to be the greatest country in the world. Lets use our minds. The constitution was built so we can have freedom of thought. Anger only locks us up.
- Jeremy Rishe, Brooklyn, NY

So Sarah Palin wasn't sure what the "Bush Doctrine" is; so what? There have been in reality four of them according to many sources. She correctly asked Gibson "His world view?". Look it up.
Can any of you"out there" enumerate even one of them?
- Guy Plante, Manchester

Since when is the pledge for "most" people? Obama will raise taxes period - he is as phony and slick as they come.
Hope, NOT!
- Steve Russell, Dublin, Nh

My dear friends from Californication land - Let me school you in world politics and life in general. Neither one of you could carry my shoes. You are typical white sympathizing liberals guilty for past wrongs so you want to vote for obama and a radical himsewlf. As a middle easterner myself, and one who has lived through terrorism since the day I was born, can you not see who and what obama aligns himself with (Rev. Wright; radical Bill Ayers; bigot Louis Farrakhan?????? Are you that naive. Let me tell you Americans, a vote for obama is a vote for muslim and a vote of death to America. WAKE UP -THE ENEMY IS WITHIN!
- Isham Malik, Manchester

Isham Malik wrote, "A vote for Obaam is a vote of death to America." Dear Isham, fear and ignorance will get us nowhere (just like the famous bridge that Mrs. Palin canceled only after supporting it, and then kept all of the money for her state).

When will conservatives learn to get their news from more than one or two extremely biased, lying, distorting sources like right-wing radio hosts and Fox News?

If you don't, you may look foolish forever repeating the utter nonsense about Barack Obama's religion and the well-documented recent outright lies of the McCain campaign. Check factcheck.org for your facts. They report lies on both sides. So far McCain is way ahead in lies!

Do not be afraid of the well-considered, deep-thinking, caring Obama. Be afraid instead of McCain whose judgment has lapsed so badly that he has selected as his VP a person who this week showed that she doesn't even know what the "Bush Doctrine" is--the guiding principle that launched America into the disastrous Iraq war. It is embarassing that a governor of a U.S. state does not know this. It would be a catastrophe if someone with such disinterest about world events would become vice president or, God forbid, president.
- Ken Worthy, Berkeley, CA

Randy Herman, oh, good. So we only destroy the successful small businesses.

Brilliant. Is that why most of LA is such a paradise? Oh, right. It's a third-world gangland hell.

New Hampshire isn't. Get over it.

To the person offering their opinion from Switzerland, I find that ironic. The former untouchable, neutral hedgehog is losing its quills to the EU's demands, losing the long-held right of citizens to be armed, and will soon be overrun by the same barbarians that blow things up in Spain and the UK. Enjoy.
- Jason Entres, Hollis

Mike Jones in Alaska, I will say whatever I please. It's called the First Amendment.

Obama also says that people MUST STOP saying things right now, so I'm not surprised you support him.

So I say to you, and your command to me to stop saying what I want to say...No. I will say whatever I want, as enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

No.

What're you gonna do about it?

Impotent rage from little people who hate the First Amendment. That's all you are.
- David Goss, Manchester

"Pledge"? More often than not, it's a ploy used to get elected, by politicians of all stripes, who promptly break that pledge because of "changing circumstances".
The one thing to remember about raising taxes: raised on any group/business for any reason, they are always passed on to the consumer. Ever hear of a tax that was not passed on?
End of discussion.
- Guy Plante, Manchester

Obama, who is young and healthy, showed great judgement in picking a Vice President with the experience to assume the presidency on day one. McCain, who is old and increasingly infirm, was reckless and irresponsible in picking a gimmick VP who is totally unqualified to be Vice President, let alone President. McCain is an old man who is letting his ego (and his lobbyist buddies) drive him. President Dwight Eisenhower was right when he said, "No one should ever sit in this office over 70 years old, and that I know."
- Mary Heslin, Manchester

I'm sorry, but the people in NH don't believe a thing that celebrities and liberals from California have to say. Randy, remember what Obama said; we should scare you because we're from small towns and flock to guns and religion out here.
- Ryan Feltner, Manchester

For those of you who are interested I have a posted below the web addresses for Obama's economic plan and his plan for small business. I have read through these several times and I do not see where it says that he will raise taxes on small businesses. If fact it is quite the opposite.

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/economy/EconomicPolicyFullPlan.pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/SmallBusinessFINAL.pdf

I would also like to point out that as a small business owner myself, most small businesses are sole proprietorships or LLC in which case the taxes are passed through to the individual. It is a very successful small business that would yield its owner more than $250,000 after all the business expenses.

I really think if you are going to accuse someone of lying you get your facts straight.
- Randy Hermann, Los Angeles, CA

retired in az from massachusetts - i almost considered nh but the sunshine drew me in.

I thought nh was the live free or die state?

I have no problem paying a little more tax for my liberty..

everything in govt today is in shambles.. you get a different perspective looking from the outsde in - I am an independent for obama - i just can't give up the liberties we have fought so hard for. the corruption is rampant. you must be able to see this. Mrs. Palin is an insult to every woman who spent 4-8 years in college and worked hard to get where they are.

You must be able to see this.

Oil scandal just hitting the airwaves - I really expected better judgement from my neighbor to the north.

this is just 4 more years of what we have been devestated by the last eight with bush.

this is not an election about me - it is an election about us. Our country needs you to take a look around - i sure don't like what i see.
- j roberts, arizona

Obama is so out of touch with mainstream America. Like Guiliani said, he has no record, he represents NOTHING, NADA! The man is dangerous. We have no vote record (except killing babies, aka: abortion) to use as a ruler to judge his positions. Though he is definately the most liberal there is. A vote for Obaam is a vote of death to America. Obama REFUSES to wear an American flag insignia on his collar; REFUSES to display the American flag on his plane, claims he is a Christian, then a muslim, and you want to vote for him??? WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!
- Isham Malik, Manchester

It amazes me that everytime I get into discussions about taxes, business owners start spewing their doom and gloom scenarios about how they will have to close the doors and lay off all of their emplyees. If i make less than $250,000/yer and see a tax cut that puts more money in my pocket. Being an everyday middle class consumer, I will in turn spend the extra money i have on goods and services that your companies provide. The current generation of americans are not saving money like they used to, they are spending the extra that they have for your goods and services. Its seems like it is ok for business owners to get a tax break and enjoy the increased profits, but if i get a break then its the end to the economy as we know it. A serious question to small business owners: During the 1990's under Bill Clinton your taxes went up. Did your businesses have a hard time staying in the black or were you making a decent profit? As I recall the economy was at an all time high...
- Brian Reid, Kalispell, MT

Ms Williams of Switzerland, please refrain from blasting our President and Commander in Chief. We don't involve ourselves with your politics or elections so stay out of ours, and of all the useless countries in the world who have lived in peace while every nation around yours sacrificed it's young to stop the Nazis, you have no right to post here and blast our President.

Where was Switzerland in WWI, WWII, Korea etc? Oh, I forgot, in WWII you collected the Nazi loot and held it all in your banks.

I suspect that many years from now Mr. Bush will be known as a man who defied polls, politics and his many enemies to protect not just the US, but the rest of the free world from Islamic terrorists. Many people like you, simply refuse to look at the facts.

Not that the Swiss have ever had any real men, but most of Europe has lost it's nerve and it's will to fight. We do appreciate the Brits, Poles and Irish for still having some men in their ranks. In the meantime, it will be US boys and girls playing the role of sheep dog eliminating the wolves from the world while you enjoy your tea.

Enjoy your tea and cocoa, and you're welcome.
- Pete, Swanzey NH USA

Obama says that McCain is out of touch. How come he thought today that Dover is affected by a loss of jobs at the mills? The mills closed over 60 years ago, not during the Bush administration. He can pander, but he just read everything in a book.
- Michael Noronha, Madbury

Obama is full of it on his tax plan. Today he claimed under his plan, "everyone" would see a tax reduction as compared to the Bill Clinton era. Huh!!! Is he nuts??!!

If you recall, Clinton instigated one of the largest tax hikes in history. Subsequently Bush lower the rate twice. Obama claiming everyone will pay less than during the Clinton years is ;RAISING TAXES ON EVERYONE!!
Who is hell is he trying to fool?

Tax credits that benefit those whom already pay no tax is not helping the middle class and higher income tax payers. It is simply stealing for the "haves" to give to the "have nots". It is socialism and that is a fact!

Electing Osama Obama would be the downfall of America.
- Paul Fenton, Shelby, NC

I don't know if he agrees or not, but the UL blog shows "Martin Lewis, Exeter" for what I actually wrote / submitted this morning. When I critique B. Hussein Obama, I want full credit.
- Ed Holdgate, Sandown, Live Free or Die New Hampshire

Obama will tax businesses if elected. Taxes are an expense to a business. Businesses will increase the cost of their goods or services to maintain their current level of revenue. Everyone has to buy goods or services so therefore everyone is affected by this tax increase.

Take cigarettes for example. Most of the cost for a pack of cigarettes is tax. The Government raises taxes on tobacco, the tobacco companies increase the price of cigarettes and the end user is the one who foots the bill. Now while some of you may not smoke, we all have to buy gas, groceries, etc.

Moreover, businesses are having a tough enough time in this economy. The other alternative to raising prices is to have cutbacks which means layoffs or reduced quality of their products or services.

Obama has no experience in matters such as these. He's a great public speaker with his talk of hope and change. The only change that he's going to bring is for the worse and the only hope that America has is that he doesn't get elected.
- John Franzen, Manchester, NH

Mr Jones from Alaska, I thought you liberals were more enlightened. You apparently do not want any conservatives posting here, Is that free speech. Well that's typical of the left, what's their latest game their pushing through congress. Oh yes banning secret ballots for union employees. boy does that sound like democracy.
Well since you don't like smears here are some facts for you. The corporate tax rate is the highest it has ever been. The wealthy pay more in taxes than they ever have. The $250,000 barrier. How many small businesses file under personal income tax. The old democratic party is gone and has been replced by the far left determined to redistribute wealth and start extreme enviromentalist policies. Obama has the most liberal voting record in the senate and was buddies with the most leftist economists from Harvard. Just skip the pretty speeches and language and admit what you are SOCIALIST.
- Fred White, Bedford

You can see how much of a Obama tax break you will get here:

http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/

Open you minds, instead of opening your wallets to pay $10 billion a month for the Iraq Occupation.
- Tony Motyl, Westampton Ma

I found this great Bi-partisan independant web site run by the Tax Policy .http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/
I am a married 2 earner and make 125,000 with 2 kids I get a 3,834.40 tax cut.
Also Mccains health care plan taxes my Employees Plan as income. My budget can't take that hit.
This republican will be voting Dem for the first time in 30 years.
- Joe Dicato, Litchfield

So Obama says he won't raise taxes on the middle class. But isn't his plan based on increases taxes on businesses? And businesses see taxes as a cost of doing business, and they pass on those cost to their customers...

Which means that Obama will raise taxes on everyone who buys anything from a business. Which is just about everybody.

Think about it, people. And that doesn't even BEGIN to touch the damage tax increases will do to job creation.
- Keith Murphy, Manchester

Well, Neil Cavuto on Foxnews this afternoon rebutted Obama's views and
statistics as wrong.

But, more than this? WHERE WAS MICHELLE OBAMA YESTERDAY AT THE 9/11 CEREMONIES. SHE WAS STARKLY AMONG THE MISSING! GUESS SHE STILL IS NOT PROUD OF AMERICA! WHAT KIND OF A POTENTIAL FIRST LADY WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HUG OR SHAKE THE HANDS OF THE VICTIMS WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN 9/11 . SHAME ON HER!

My vote goes with a patriot, with his wife by his side! Instead of the media on Sarah..Do a little zooming in the lack of patriotism of the Obama's!!
- J Worthen, Goffstown, NH

"I want to take a pledge," he told about 250 supporters and independents in his first of two stops today. 250 supporters, wow, what happened to the crowds? What a come down, thats what happens to Rock Stars when they don't have something new every month.

Leno, Raymond
- Leno Hebert, Raymond

I love how "pledge" is in quotes in the title of this article. It absolutely deserves to be because its not a pledge. Its a political lie!
- Tom Moore, Nashua, NH

I love how Obama thinks we are stupid. "No new taxes..." riiiight... So is that Obama's new plan at his campaign; Lie and deceive voters about your tax plan in order to bribe them into supporting you.
- Kevin Lyons, Hampton, NH

"I want to take a pledge," he told about 250 supporters and independents in his first of two stops today. "I pledge that under my plan, no one making less than $250,000 a year will see any type of tax increase."- What a LIAR! That would be fiscally impossible or fiscally stupid! Its easy to lie and give empty promises to try and get votes.
- Greg Ballard, Manchester, NH

lol um are we seriously supposed to believe that Miles Jones is actually from Wasilla, Alaska (the same town Palin was the Governor of) and blogging on NH's newspaper. Can we say fake blogger?
- Ryan Feltner, Manchester, NH

What we have here is the difference between a campaign for change which is Obama's and a campaign for dollars which is the Republican mantra. Your dollars given to those who make more than $250,000 a year. Not that have $250,000 but that make that much or more year after year after year. Is that you? All these promises about lower taxes, smaller government, less government intrusion into your life, less government in your bedroom, less debt both trade deficits and federal debt. It is all hog wash. When you look at the result of the last seven years the government is 60% larger. The deficit is going to be a record over $400 billion, every month a huge trade deficit. Republican senators caught in bathrooms, corruption of a kind that makes Enron look benign. Less regulation so that there can be lead in your kid's toys, mad cow in your meat, salmonella in your halapenas. We are shedding 100,000 jobs a month. Our young people are being killed overseas. For what? No Republican has ever given a squat about a foreigner yet. Why now? could it be that you are being duped again?
- Robert Mann, Deerfield

You, Martin Lewis... You, David Goss... You Ditmar Kopf...You Richard Higgins need to stop the smear tactics you so childishly perform in your posts. Each and every one of you do not deserve a platform until you can actually talk civilized. End of story! You mean to tell me that the state of our economy is in perfect harmony right now?!? That you want to see these IDENTICAL tax codes continued for the next four years!!! You have got to be the blindest lemmings in the world... you fall right in line with the Republican spin machine... that machine that is richer than God himself and is ONLY looking out for the interests of the largest corporations in the world... they use emotionally topics such as values to turn you into a cheerleader... they spew the most dead pan LIES to your face, look you in the eye, and make you believe EVERY word they say... common guys... you've got to be smarter than that?!? You really want to be little minions that work you butts off so only those select few can steal your hard earned money?!? TRUST ME... no matter how hard you try and defend this Republican ideology you are dead wrong.. not one additional word you might say in retort will be worth anything... you have simply been brainwashed into defending a group of people who pull your puppet strings to perfection. GOOD JOB!!
- Miles Jones, Wasilla Alaska

The only way to be shocked that her kids have problems is to make the assumption that Palin has to be perfect. There is a prevalent caricature of religious Americans among journalists and other Obama supporters that expects them to hate a working mom and hold the imperfections of her kids against her. It is a laughably clueless self-delusion on the part of a class of people who esteem themselves mostly on the basis of their superiority to people like Sarah Palin. Oh, and incidentally, a majority of Americas, aside from the eastern and western seaboards and a few other blue outposts.


This will backfire, like so many other attempts to slime a woman who embodies so much to such a large slice of Americans.
- Margaret & Tom Jenkins, Brentwood, NH

The real voice of change in this election is from Sarah Palin. I am optimistic that if the McCain-Palin ticket is elected we will see the same transparency, spending reductions, private sector stimulus, and common sense come to Washington that she has brought to Juneau. I am already tired of the Obama-Biden bluster; imagine how we would all feel after 4 years of them! Which ticket would best understand Live Free or Die?
- Tom Boutin, Juneau, Alaska

JKally Williams of Switzerland? Why are you posting in a USA paper? The only sham is that people in other countries, like yourself, want Obama to win so we can be like you- no thanks.
- Brent Harris, Epping, NH

"Obama was introduced by Kirsten and Devin Meehan, parents of two from Dover who, said they have a combined income of less than $4,000 a month and are struggling with bills."..."She said she and her husband are actively campaigning for a presidential candidate for the first time."

First of all, just because you are having a hard time with bills, does that mean that you have the right to take money out of my pockets that I WORKED FOR to make life easier for you? I think that is wrong and an attitude like that was certainly not what drove America into becoming the stongest nation in the world. Secondly, if you're having such a hard time with your bills, how do you have time to actively campaign for a candidate for no pay?
- George Trembly, Manchester, New Hampshire

lies lies lies..ok he might not physically rasise taxes on middle income America, but he'll tax the heck out of the upper middle-class, the wealthy, small businesses, and big businesses. So explain how the common person isn't smart enough to recognize that when you tax the heck out the those whom are the bosses, employers, and businesses in general, you're going to hurt those making less than $250,000 in the long run.

Stock investment will dramatically drop and businesses will be forced to lay off all of those workers whom Obama says he won't tax. What Obama is proposing is an actual redistribution of wealth. Sound like Socialism to anyone?
- Matt Davis, Freemont

"His lies reveal the growing desperation infecting Obama's camp."

Mr. Lewis, the sleep of reason produces monsters. That was the title of a painting by Goya. Are you serious? Do you read your national newspapers? Yes, ideological veil cannot see the truth. The media are full of stories about how McCain and Palin are telling you blatant lies, and you dare turn it round and atrribute to Obama? That is why people like you voted for the Bush, the worst president in the history of that great nation. What a sham!
- J. Kally Williams, Prättigau, Switzerland

I think it's great he took the Pledge.

I hope he does it in the other 57 states he's gonna visit.

“Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go.”
- Richard Higgins, Manchester

This is the most blatant vote-buying scheme imaginable.

"Tax the other guy." You know, the evil rich, and the evil corporations, especially Exxon. Then, take that money and establish a Fund or tax credit to solve every problem, real or imagined. A State Growth Fund, a Jobs and Growth Fund, an Advanced Manufacturing Fund, a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Fund, a yet to be named fund for the $150 billion in clean energy research (and 5 million new green jobs!), Production Tax Credits, National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank (only $60 billion for that one, a small one), Universal Science Fund, and more.

Its all on his website, where he proudly proclaims, "I believe America's free market has been the engine of America's great promise."
- Ditmar Kopf, Hollis

He wants to raise taxes on businesses. That's just passed onto consumers.

He has no idea how the economy works. Or how the middle class lives.

Don't you recall his statement to a bunch of corn farmers? "Have you been in Whole Foods lately and seen what they're charging for arugula?"

Uh, no.
- David Goss, Manchester

His lies reveal the growing desperation infecting Obama's camp. More importantly, voters need to realize that 143 days of senatorial legislative (not executive) experience is all he really has accumulated. I rather doubt 143 days of experience on the floor of a McDonald's would get anyone promoted to Manager. Yet this character aspires to lead the country, improve the economy, nominate Supreme Court justices, command the military, uphold the Constitution, defend the country, and deliver the mail. B. Hussein Obama is too indecisive to be the executive leader of the United States of America and leader of the free world. He voted "present" something like 130 times for crying out loud, instead of "yea" or "nay". I don't blame Obama per se. I blame his supporters for trading their money and votes for this empty shell of a leader.
- Martin Lewis, Exeter, NH