blogsNH - Concord and around - Comments

Thank you so much for that

Barbara Stewart — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:54:23 -0500

Thank you so much for that thought! Yes, it is really beautiful and amazing out here.

It reminds you that no

MrsBray — Sun, 9 Nov 2008 20:39:14 -0500

It reminds you that no matter what will happen, life will keep going. The circle of life, and all that hooey. I find it depressing in the fall and winter, but all I need to counteract that is a simple sunrise. It starts new every day. I'll bet you see some simply amazing things on your walks!

I enjoy both your and Dave's writings.

Well Richard

Bill Bunker — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 21:00:15 -0500

LOL LOL LOL If I were going to call you that name I would have included the word "head" after it.

No, most of the Richard's I have known have taken the name "Dick". Imagine if the early reader was "Richard and Jane". Then you have Dick Cavett, Dick Durbin, Dick Cheney and Dick Clark as opposed to Richard Clark, King Richard and Little Richard. Of course there is Rich Little and Rick James. All Richards............no offense suggested.

No, we will probably never agree on politics but maybe other issues.

I was thinking about a piece on the auto industry or frivolous lawsuits. Both will get your panties in a bunch.

See you on the other side of debate! At least now I know how to push your buttons when you cross the line! LOL

What you said, Dave.

J in Me — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 16:15:42 -0500

What you said, Dave. Here's to the future, hopefully brightening sooner rather than later.

MikeS

timss13 — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 01:59:34 -0500

As an independent who was and is a strong supporter of President-elect Obama, I saw your comments and felt highly frustrated that you are resorting to such crap. It is not what we need as a country. It is certainly not something that President-elect Obama would appeciate. We need to find compromise on key issues to help our country become even better than it already is.

Bill- I appreciate your comments. I do hope that Obama governs from the middle and expect that he will. He is too smart not to. I think he will end up disappointing a lot more Democrats than he will Republicans.

Hi Bill

Richard Nusbaum — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:54:10 -0500

Bill, I need to explain something and offer an apology to you.

Some time ago, on a thread that Ken Braiterman started, I believe I misinterpreted something you called me. You see, although I've lived in NH for more than 24 years, I grew up in a state where a 'Richard' was never a 'Dick' -- at least not without fisticuffs soon following. When I read that you had used that nickname when referring to me I took it as a cheap shot and responded in kind.

Then, when I read your reply to my post above, it made me think. Why would you write what you did and at the same time deliberately antagonize me? The answer seemed clear: the nickname was used innocently and totally without insulting intent. And if that was the case THIS time, could it also have been the case before? Upon reflection, and to my chagrin, I think it probably was. I don't offer this as an excuse for my reaction but merely as context for it.

Bill, I was as hasty as I was wrong in my conclusion and I regret it. I apologize to you for the "play the man and not the ball" character of my posts on that thread and I ask you for your forgiveness.

But before either of us get too weepy and we start signing "Kumbaya," I should point out that we are not likely to agree on things political. But I pledge to you to do my best to keep the disagreement on a substantive and not personal level. After all, we both love our state and our country and we both want what we believe is best for them.

Whaddya say, can we agree on that?

PS For future reference, I answer to "Richard" or "Rich" or "Rick" -- pretty much anything but "Dick."

RE: This needs to stop

Bill Bunker — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 19:43:56 -0500

Ken,

The original post is how I really feel but two days of being badgered on the phone, in the streets, on this blog pushed me over the edge to respond in that way.

As I read letters in the Monitor, the gloating and Bush bashing continues; by the same folks who WON!

My response to Mike was a carbon copy of his first line. As you have read on several posts, I am looking for the middle ground but people who think and act out like Mike will just bring us all back into negativity. His comments, in light of my original post pushed my buttons.

Take a look at some of the posts on the Monitor letters board. Most are gloating victors. If a person has the intestinal fortitude to congratulate the winners, other people should at least accept that and not rub your nose in the excrement.

Nothing makes me more angry than the kind of attack MikeS decided to take. In the future, I would still have to respond in kind.

Congratulations on your victory, Ken!

This needs to stop

Ken Braiterman — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 18:26:12 -0500

I was feeling really hopeful and positive when I read Bunker's original post. But as I scrolled through the rest, it became:

Your president smeared us and called us names. No your party smeared us more.

The country is in too much trouble for that sort of thing today. The voterx cid not just reject George Bush and his policies Tuesday. They also rejected that kind of politics. That's why none of the McCain campaign's attempts to hang a negative label on Obama were successful.

There really was a mandate for a different kind of politics, more civil and issue-oriented, not like talk radio. People who try to continue in that vein will find themselves marginalized by people in their own parties, or else they'll just continue to lose elections to non-ideological pragmatists.

Hello Dick

Bill Bunker — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 15:40:43 -0500

That means alot coming from a true liberal like yourself.

The other post shows the issue with those who support your agenda but are not intellectually adept in expressing themselves and coming to consensus.

Those comments are illustrative of the problem that conservatives and moderates have with liberals and progressives.

Maybe you can reign them in but I doubt it!

MikeS

Bill Bunker — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 15:37:48 -0500

I almost did not reply to your juvenile rant but it shows that the principles "your" Democratic party purports to stand upon are vacant and empty rhetoric.

It is not "my" republican party, I am an independent.

Your comments illustrate the hatred of progressives and shallow thought that feeds into the divide in this country. But I guess you do not even care about that as long as you get your own way, like a spoiled child.

Nice talking points copied to this blog OR are you just a mind numbed robot!

Reply to your demands

MikeS — Thu, 6 Nov 2008 14:17:06 -0500

Do not tell the Democrats what to do. In 2000 Bush did not win even a majority and

did a total ignorance of the Democrats. Ran a very unpopular mandate to boot

including a Tax Cut that benefited the Rich. The Democrats will listen to your

Republican party, even though, Bush ignored the Democrats for 6 years. Your

Republican party is not even the best party in the USA. Your Presidents have run up

over 8 Trillion dollars of our 10 Trillion dollar deficit. You cite family values but

condemn every Democratic President candidate we ever try to elect with name calling

and many more negative ads. If O'bama (Who your friends call a Muslim, and a

Socialist) does well as I know he will. The Democrats should rule for years.

Excellent post, Bill

Richard Nusbaum — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 14:09:36 -0500

You've really shown me something with your very gracious post, Bill. I appreciate your sincere congratulations and your very reasonable questions.

In fact, I am wondering some of the same things, too. As much as I would love for some of the more liberal things you oppose to be enacted into law, I understand that to do so without consensus about them is to continue the partisan poisoning of the work of government. For that reason, I want Obama and Congress to set them aside and concentrate on the important things about which consensus can be reached. And if that means Obama governs from the center rather than the center-left, so be it.

As to those issues where we can't reach consensus, let's agree to respect each other's opinions/beliefs no matter how vehemently we believe the other is wrong. Let us instead look for areas of common ground. For example, those who are pro-choice and those who are not would agree that the ideal number of abortions is 'zero.' Why not start from that point and look for ways to bring the actual number closer to the ideal, thereby bringing these groups closer, too?

Circumstances dictate that we put America -- rather than party -- first. We need those in Congress to be statesmen, not politicians. And we need Americans to remember that we all have a stake in America, not just one party or the other, succeeding. We are and need to be citizens of the UNITED States of America.

Goog Luck

Scott Ives — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 16:17:13 -0500

Have a safe trip!

Scott

timss13 — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 15:28:16 -0500

I understand your opinion and where you are are coming from. I fully believe that Obama will lead our nation by governing from the middle. I know your concern that he has a liberal track record. Let's not forget that being a legislator generally has you lead more to your ideology than being a president or governor does.

I hate the way Bush has been treated. He has made plenty of mistakes but he deserves respect as does any person who seeks to serve our nation, regardless of ideology. Your question about Dem's over the last six years goes both ways. Both parties have been nasty towards each other and it would not bother me at all if a significant chunk of both parties were voted out of office.

Your point about people voting for Obama based on his mantra of change and hope is still not a bad reason to vote for him. If that is your only reason to vote for him, well that is a different story.

There are lots of reasons why I cast my vote for him today and I am proud that I did. I will respect whatever decision our country makes and ask that whomever wins focuses on the issues that are most important to me. I will push for that and argue against when I feel they are wrong.

Congratulations on your insurance savings and answering machine! Tomorrow I am off to NC to close a large deal!

Timms

Scott Ives — Tue, 4 Nov 2008 14:43:32 -0500

I do not question your intelligence, just your selection. You have demonstrated countless times that you are a thoughtful and respectful person. I have an opinion different from yours that we can freely debate. During the debate no one is harmed by the give and take of political discussion even when it is spirited. It is not an insult nor is there malice in holding you responsible for your selection.

Barak Obama is not a unifying character...remember...W...a uniter not a divider, that only works if people of goodwill make a principled decision to find common ground. Ask yourself, do you truly believe that over the last 6 years democrats worked hard to find common ground with Bush? Do you believe anything in the current political climate has changed?

Bush has been the object of hate, invective and ridicule. I believe that there are a great number of people who despise George Bush and this election will likely be decided by people who believe they are punishing Bush and voting for change , all with the same vote. I question, if you will get the change you want or change that takes additional pain and suffering to correct. Perhaps, you have the evidence to support your belief in Obama...sadly, many of his supporters only answer to the many questions that surround Barak Obama's candidacy is the mantra of hope and change.

There is good news though...I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance and tomorrow, November 5, I get my answering machine back!