YOUR COMMENTS

Republican activist Bill Boyd said he was impressed seeing Ayotte three months ago at the Nashua Market Basket "with a pony tail and baseball hat looking at produce. She is just a very credible person." Well, that does it for me. The next time I see someone who looks good pumping gas or eating a hamburger, I'm going to vote for that person for President.
- Gary Patton, Hampton, NH

- LJC, Manchester. Good point, Obama got paid to run for President by we tax payers.

Leno, Raymond
- Leno Hebert, Raymond

"Democrats trying to link Ayotte to Palin"

That's going to be tough to do. One has a brain, while the other has a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The latter suffers from the same inability to grasp reality her fellow Republicans suffer.
- J. Shackford, Claremont

As I pointed out, Obama and others WAITED until they knew there was a job to go to, then resigned. This shows more self interest than resigning a job which pays well, without knowing if the voters will elect you to a new position, like Palin and Ayotte did. The fact of the matter is that politicians of both parties routinely leave a position to pursue a higher one. There really is nothing wrong with this, but the N.H. Democrats and fellow reader LJC are trying to say that it is some sort of terrible crime......but only when Republicans do it. Democrats: your hypocracy and partisanship have become so extreme that they blind you to even the most obvious facts, and your defense of bad behaviour when it is a Democrat at fault, but your vicious attacks when Republicans do something wrong is disgusting. Example: Republicans called for the resignation of Congressman Mark Foley (R-Florida), when he was sending questionable e-mails to student pages, but Democrats would not call for the resignation of Congressman Gerry Studds (D-Mass., when he was caught misbehaving with pages. Double standard.
- mo, derry

Those who corrected me about Ayotte being elected are, of course, correct. I misspoke. As for the charge that President Obama did the same, it is simply false. He resigned from the Senate after he was elected President.
- LJC, Manchester

Hey LJC of Manchester: "Quit jobs they were elected to"? You mean like Democratic Senator Barack Obama, and Senator Joe Biden in 2008, Governor Bill Clinton and Senator Al Gore in 1992, Senator Walter Mondale in 1976, Senator John Kennedy and Senator Lyndon Johnson in 1960, and Senator Hubert Humphrey in 1964? Yup they all quit the jobs they were elected to to advance their own careers, just like Governor Palin, except these afore-mentioned gentlemen did not resign until they had been ELECTED to a higher office, thereby ensuring they would have a job, which is the height of self-interest. Incidentally Kelly Ayotte was not an elected official, she was appointed.
- mo, derry

The comparison is silly - like much of the Democrat state party "minds." Obama, Clinton, Napolitano, Emmanual, the list goes on an on. This is what happens in politics. It has no traction.

What is interesting, however, is that the GOP, while fighting off the obvious, has said nothing yet about Paul Hodes voting for an Energy bill he never read, or supporting a stimulus package he never reviewed - or voting for a budget that is almost a trillion dollars out of balance - or announcing support for a healthcare plan that will cost at least that much.

Pay attention to the real stuff. Ignore Buckley's Moonbat Brigade of the Unhinged. All they have is petty, partisan personal attacks, because they do not dare talk about the issues. Stay focused.
- William Simpson, Concord

Hey LJC, Manchester, isn't that what Obama did? Oh, I'm sorry, that is ok in your eyes. Folks, need I say more?
- Rich D, Daton

Ayotte should also explore a run for governor. I think Sarah Palin would be a sure win for Senator from NH and Ayotte as governor of NH. But if Ayotte ends up on the Republican ticket for Senator, I will surely vote for her.
- Andrew J. Manuse, Derry, NH

John DiStaso! Welcome back! We've missed you.
- Peter Sullivan, Manchester

Robert in case you have forgotten, unemployment nationally is approaching 10% and who knows where it will be in 6 months. Hodes, Shea-Porter, and Shaheen continue to put this country deeper into debt with no results. The only way of paying for this will be to increase and implement new taxes which will kill private job creation. Jobs, jobs, and more jobs will be at the forefront of most NH residents minds during the 2010 elections, not pot, gay marriage and abortion.
- Don, Exeter, NH

Likening her to Palin is actually not the dumbest strategy in the world... but it's still kind of dumb.
- John, Plymouth, NH

Looks like we have an early preview of the democratic strategy. Last time everybody ran against Bush regardless of what seat they were pursuing. Looks like everybody is going to run against Pailin this time. I think it's obvious that the dems are scared. I think it's also obvious that LJC has a short memory when it comes to democratic promises.
- Tom Grinley, Bradford

Jeff in Goffstown,

Rep Paul Hodes is going to be running for Senate for the Democrats, you know, the guys with the skill to manage a professional job and running for office. It is something called delagation and an AG should have been able to handle that.

Futher Jeff, when you talk about individual freedoms are you talking about the right to marry the person you love? The right to have access to a medical marijuna to suppress the horrible pain and suffering caused by chemotherapy? The right for a woman to control her own body? The right to organize a union in your work place to balance power?

You do realize all of those personal freedoms are ones that the Democrats support and the Republicans fight tooth and nail.
- Robert, Dover, NH

LJC go back to civics class because the last time I checked NH voters do not vote for Attorney General. Imagine the "false" outrage by you and Buckley's minions if Ayotte didn't resign. You would be all over her saying that she is comprimising the non-partisan position of the AG. You and the DNC are just extremely concerned that a smart woman who works well with both parties has better numbers than Pelosi's rubber stamp (Hodes).
- Alex K., Deering, NH

John, welcome back and glad to see you are feeling well. You were sorely missed by many across the state. A definite void has been filled in the state's political culture.

Here's to many, many more years of great health.
- Greg Moore, Manchester

I love Hillary Clinton. But she left her Senate seat for a different job. Obama did too, and he had been just elected. And if McCain/Palin had won she would have resigned then just like Joe Biden did, and everyone knew that.

The Democrats raising this issue is just dumb politics. It raises questions about some of their top NH political leaders who stayed in their jobs while running.

Kelly Ayotte is a great candidate. They need to stop this stuff. It's silly.
- Bob Jean, Northwood, NH

Good to have you back on the news and politics stage, John. I missed your analysis and insight.
- David Minnis, Concord

The leaders of both parties seem to be encouraging and enticing its members to continually spit venom at the other side, much like LJC continually does.

In the meantime, they are spending OUR money and making themselves rich!

So keep fighting folks, while our leaders in Washington get rich.
- Melvin, Keene

LJC, Ayotte was not elected; the AG's position is an appointed one. If she has disappointed anyone, it's the Governor and Executive Council, not the electorate.
- Serena, Manchester

Why am I not surprised? The left will easily point out how the opposition party does this but when pointed out how their own people do the same thing, this fact does not even register with them.

Hypocrites.
- Jim D, Hillsboro

I suspect by the time the 2010 election rolls around, those who have been paying attention will be voting for the person who best represents thier point of view, those who aren't paying attention will be voting for the democrat, again. Ayotte, although a much better prepared candidate than Palin, must realy scare the democrats if they are already hysterical about her challenge to whomever spineless party before voters candidate they run. Sadly, the democrats can't stand the fact that a women would dare run for the party that stands up for individual freedoms and choices rather than the party that promotes personal choice only when it comes to abortion.
- jeff, goffstown

Welcome Back, John! Your insight and reporting have been missed in New Hampshire.
- Michael Power, Portsmouth NH

Sounds like the Democrats are desperate to me.
- Bob, Salem

It's not a difficult connection to make. Here are two Republican office holders with aspirations to higher office who quit the jobs there were elected to do to further their own careers. It seems as though the GOP is all about personal advancement over public service. So what's new?
- LJC, Manchester