YOUR COMMENTS

Art,
You are in some media-based-non-reality. NCLB was Kennedy/Gregg. Bush backed it--bad move. Bush backed a lot of bad Democrat ideas, but they were just that--Democrat ideas. Republicans gave up on Bush because of this.
And do you think that Bush's spending was greater than FDR's??
Do you think that Obama's plans are to cut spending? Do you think he will cut programs that are no longer working? Do you think he will cross party lines and sign onto Republican bills? Unlikely since none will make it to his desk with all Democrats in control. The next 4 years will all be on Obama--no one but his own to blame! This should be fun!
- Patricia, Raymond

Patricia - No Child Left Behind was the brainchild of GW and only GW. The Medicaid drug expansion was his alone, too. I think you are making this all up.

He alone expanded government more than any other president, with his expanded Homeland Security and his way expanded medicare programs. absolutely no way to blame the extra spending on democrat's. It's all GW, all the way.
- Art, Portsmouth

Anna,
Do you understand the make-up of the congress? How is it that you see balance now that all three branches of government are controlled by one party?
Bush's biggest mistakes occurred when he bowed down to the democrats ala Medicare prescription drug benefits and No Child Left Behind. I agree that the Bush years were a bust. He caved too many times to the dems. He allowed way too much spending. He didn't begin to control the looming problem of social security. My reasons for Bush Disappointment Syndrome are probably quite different than your reasons for Bush Derangement Syndrome (the war, the war, and the war).
The economic woes upon us are not the fault of Bush--they were mounting for decades. Can Obama fix them with increased spending? Unlikely.
- Patricia, Raymond

A well written article and I would be on board with it for any other President except that for the last eight years we experienced such vile and unfair treatment from the left of President Bush that has left deep feelings of resentment. If this President Obama, a twenty year plus denizen of Chicago gangland politics, a man who insults his country and our military by sitting during the National Anthem, the husband of a woman who was never proud of her country until her political party took the nomination from Hilary Clinton and gave it to her husband, who is of questionable origins, who has never before held a leadership position, gives you hope you have been conned.
- Don Diamant, Milton, NH

For those of you who felt patriotic and inspired today Welcome to the Patriotic Party, Rest of the Country. We’ve Missed You These Last 8 Years!!!


It’s great to see the sudden outpouring of pro-Americanism and goodwill from a population which managed to repress those emotions so successfully over the last eight years. President Obama’s inauguration has apparently prompted folks others to suddenly discover that they want to make themselves better by helping the poor, conserving, working together, and being the best they can be.

Contra what many supporters would have us believe, this doesn’t demonstrate the mythic ability of Barack Obama to inspire folks to come together across the divide and sing kumbayah in harmony; rather, it shows that the take-my-ball-and-go-home-when-I’m-not-catered-to crowd (of which First Lady Michelle “For the first time I’m proud of my country” Obama is one) has decided to come back and play with the rest of us now that The Other is gone and one of “theirs” is in the Oval Office.

To liberals blogosphere, and my leftward-leaning people who voted for Obama: welcome to the party. Most of us recognize that America is America, however much hate you may harbor for its leaders, and have supported it the entire time — through Reagan, through Bush, through Clinton, through Bush again, and will continue to do so through Obama’s presidency. We won’t agree on everything — for example, I hope much of Obama’s domestic agenda fails utterly — but it won’t stop him from being “my president too,” or me from patriotically supporting my own country.
- Debby, Concord,NH

I'm glad that the Union Leader can drop its conservative shades for a day and wish a simple good luck to our new president. I second this editorial's sentiments. Cheers!
- Erik, Medford, MA

Collin, Manchester - Excellent comments. It is amazing that those who voted for Obama, I guess you are the "liberals" - have such a nasty, narrow, single minded view of the world. I hope your hype doesn't invade the country.
I didn't vote for Obama, but he is now my President and I will support him.
- sandy, thornton

I was on the fence over watching Obama’s day. I read Peggy N. article and contemmplated putting on the rose colored glasses. Why not? It’s fun letting the old red white and blue flow sentimentaly through the veins.
Then Obama said this: Obama talked of the heavy challenges facing people now, including a staggering economy and global warming.
He said people must recognize that there will be “false starts and setbacks, frustrations and disappointments,” but argued that this is not the time to get discouraged.
Obama said the American Revolution “was — and remains — an ongoing struggle in the hearts and minds of the people to live up to our freedom.”
Preparing to board a train for his ride to the nation’s capital, Obama said that “what’s required is a new declaration of independence — from ideology and small thinking.”

He reminded me that I’m a small narrow thinker. I go back to my original fears and trepidation that he’ll follow Carter’s footsteps.
- Mike, Bedford,NH

To LJC,

Now we know how most of the country will feel after Obama's next four years of bumbling, mumbling, and fumbling.
- steve, nashua

The word 'Kumbaya' beats the hell out of the word of the last eight years - 'Fear'
- Art, Portsmouth

PS. Anna, just remember it was the Clinton administration who enabled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to give housing loans to people who couldnt afford them. Add to that the denial by Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Frank Raines, Gregory Meeks, Lacy Clay and many other Democrats that nothing was wrong when many Republicans were calling for more oversight on Freddie and Fannie and THAT is why you, your children and grandchildren will be paying for this mess that we're in right now.

Do your research before you jump on the Bush bashing bandwagon. What'll you be saying in four years if Obama doens't turn things around? I doubt very much if you'll blame him for his own shortcomings though. You are apparently too short-sighted for that.
- Collin, Manchester

As a retired military member, I agree with the premise of this article. No matter who is the sitting president, he or she should have the respect of the office they have been elected to. However, the respect of the office is different than individual respect which must be earned. I find this article troubling though because I still see bumper stickers proclaiming "George Bush is not MY President". When he was reelected, for better or worse, he deserved the same respect that the writer of this piece is requiring we give BHO. Talk about being a hypocrite! Even the writers closing comment is a slap in the face to the exiting president. Too bad the many liberals (the writer of this piece included) don't see it the same way when the shoe is on the other foot. The president only seems to deserve the respect of the office from everyone when he is a Democrat. Otherwise, you can proclaim that he isn't YOUR president and that's OK.

The hype for BHO is so high that the dissapointment this country will experience when he fails to meet the expectations set on him (and he will fail) may be enough to put a substantial number of Republicans back in power.

I guess then we can go back to disrespecting a person in office because of their political affiliation.
- Collin, Manchester

To Scott and Steve who are not proud to be American because of who is President: Now you know how most of the country felt during the past eight years of bumbling, mumbling, and fumbling by Mr. Bush.
- LJC, Manchester

I wish him ,President Obama,the same treatment Bush received. Nothing more nothing less.

That is fair.



p.s. In a totally unrelated development, the market is dropping.
- tom, manchester,nh

Let's all stand up and hold hands and sing Kumbaya. That will make everything better.

I agree with those who say respect for the office is given but, respect for the man must be earned not given.

How hypocritical of those saying we must respect him and give him a chance but, yet I have seen very little respect for President Bush for the last 8 years from the left side of the aisle and country.

I vote for those and do for this country what I believe is in its best interest and all of its people. Sometimes those are hard choices but, in the long run it is better than taking the easy way out.

Sure let's give him his "honeymoon" but, that doesn't mean a free pass. Yes, sure, let's celebrate that he is the first "black" American to be elected POTUS, even though he is half white and not a descendant of slaves like most African Americans.

You know what - who really cares if he is black or white, yellow or green, red or blue? It doesn't matter what color he is, what ethnicity, what religious background. Those who keep reminding us of our differences are those who keep perpetuating racism.

It don't matter to me his skin color. I don't care for his ideas, his policies, and for many of his choices for cabinet and consultants. Its that simple.

Yes, this is the greatest nation on earth. We make our mistakes but, hopefully we learn from them. We aren't perfect but, pretty darn good for a 200 year old experiment.

Give him his "honeymoon" but don't forget to tell him when he is wrong. Even a good marriage sometimes needs counseling.
- Dave, Auburn

obama

Today you make me proud of you and you make my dream get true, Hope you will change alot thing in U S A God will bless you and protect your familly
wish you the best luck in the world
finally we have a First black President in U S A
from Helene Mondesir from Manchester NH
- Helene Mondesir, Manchester NH

It would have been nice to hear the same sorts of appeals to unity and moderation from the left when the nation was involved in two wars. But instead we heard lectures about dissent (and apparently name calling) being the highest form of patriotism.

Apparently that's no longer in play. Now dissent is again "hate".

It's one of the things about the left that's always amazed me. All's fair and nothing is out of bounds when they are out of power, but as soon as they achieve it, it's time to play "let's all get along". And they do so by attempted demonization of their political opposition.


Unlike the left of the past 8 years, I don't plan on descending to the sub-basement level of hateful "dissent" they exhibited daily. I won't resort to the level of vitriol and viciousness they did.

But the lecture on what those that did not vote for Obama should or shouldn't do falls on deaf ears here. After the way the left acted these past 8 years, everything is on the table and as fair for the right as it was for the left.

Or said another way, this isn't the left's ball and they don't get to quit and take it home with them now. They defined the game for 8 years and now they get to live with the result. What's increasingly funny is to watch the left try to frame the game in a new way now that they're in power. They don't want to suffer what they gladly and even gleefully threw at the right during the Bush years.

Heh ... good luck with that. Instead they should expect - every time they try to take the moral high ground - to be reminded of the dismal and hate-filled swamp in which they lived in for 8 long years.
- Laura, Manchester,NH

Congratulations to the Union Leader for rising above its usual right wing rhetoric and writing an editorial objectively. The fact that we now have a new President simply makes us all feel better and may, in itself, create positive change.

In addition I noticed in other media what leaders of the rest of the world said about George W. It was extremely negative. I did not see the editorial in the UL. Maybe I missed it.

As a result of George's Presidency the rest of the world has lost faith in us as a strong leader and a fair and just leader of the free world. I hope that changes.

I implore the UL to give our new President a standing chance to change this country for the better.

George W leaves the White House with his head hanging low, probably wishing he made some different choices and shed some of his arrogance along the way. He was truly the worst president in many many years.

Goodbye George
Good Luck President Obama.
- Bob Ahern, Derry

I echo Scott F's statement. I am not proud to be an American today either. We have succeeded in electing a Socialist who will bring about all the worng kinds of change. Be prepared to be be taxed excessively (unless you are "disadvantaged", read "lazy"). Be prepared for the government to do everything for you (and send you the bill...). Be prepared to have your firearms taken away (or severely restricted). Be prepared to pay a tax on energy usgae to pay for "Global Warming" or now "Climate Change". Be prepared to get bent over by the liberals in power.
- steve, nashua

BTW - I consider it fair to give Obama the same respect entering the office that President Bush is receiving on the way out. As you read this, liberals are throwing shoes at Bush pinatas in the park across from the White House.

Hope? Change? Unity? I don't think so.
- Tom, Camptom

The childish proclivity of so many, even on the right side of the aisle, pretending that it is 1824. (Note: I don’t know of anything special that happened in 1824, just picking a year long ago, far away, as it were.)
I don’t recall in my lifetime any candidate for the Presidency who made his campaign almost exclusively one of “America is totally, completely screwed up, and we absolutely MUST change, EVERYTHING!!”

And now, as the moment approaches when the man who declared “change” as the foundation of his message, without ever bothering to say ‘into what’, will take the helm, we’re expected to “give him a chance”, “be patient”.
BS!
I want the miracle of The One ,TODAY. NOW!

At 12:00:01 I expect the stock market to jump UP 500 points, the Taliban to enjoy a moment of rational, Western style, clarity, and the World to experience a Global Epiphany of love and complete understanding of each other.

Anything less makes Mr Obama just another politician, who sang a great song, but doesn’t have a clue how to effect anything, long term, positive.
BTW, I am NOT holding my breath for any of it to happen.
- Leon H., Nashua,NH

Congratulations to the Union Leader for rising above its usual right wing knee jerk editorials. To those commentators who are not blessed with a similarly open mind I can only say: your side has had a generation in charge and has driven this country to the brink of bankruptcy. It's time for you to just shut up and give some a chance to clean up the mess.
- ljc, Manchester

This is Mr Obama's day, his many supporters are in DC today. He will have his "honeymoon" for about six months before the business as usual in Washington will set in and his poll numbers will come down a little. Let's not forget that many Republicans in and out of Washington are not going to forget the savage attacks against Bush for the last 8 years whether they were deserved or not. As soon as there is blood in the water or the next scandal involving Democrats the long knives will be out. Just remember Bill Clinton's impeachment was very much about Watergate which happened 24 years earlier.
Hope Love and "Unity" will be short lived.
- Chris, Merrimack

I agree with the author of this well written piece.
Let we on the right take the high road and give Obama his "honeymoon". This would be in stark contrast to the leftists who, since minute one of Bush's first term, have taken political hyperbole to new and disturbing depths.
After all, do we really want to resemble the shrill, historically clueless and, in some cases, totally unhinged "loyal" opposition?
This is not to say Obama should not ever be challenged, or criticized. It is to say we should use facts, reason, and common sense when doing so.
What a refreshing change that will be. You could even say it will be "change we can believe in".
- Mike P., Manchester

For the first time in my adult life, I'm not proud to be an American.
- Scott F., Manchester

I'm sorry, but I do have to agree with JP on his statement that respect should be earned. We can certainly respect the position, but President Obama still still needs to earn our respect. I didn't vote for him, but he's still my president, and I pray that this country will benefit from his time in office. I have no idea what the future holds, or whether or not this incoming president will help to make a difference for the better. We can only "hope." But don't forget that we're all a part of the process, that we're all responsible for our own actions, and at least here in NH, we still have the ability to "reform the old, or establish a new government." ~Article 10.
- Sheana, Chester

As an American citizen who happens to be covered in brown skin, whose is a Christian, a Veteran and a Democrat who must agree with you. It never ceases to amaze me the number of Americans who wish ill will to our own leaders. It is one thing to disagree but one does not have to major in the minor subject of being disagreeable. I am pro-life and I voted for Mr. Obama. I voted for who I thought was the best man for the job and the color of his skin nor his rhetoric mattered much to me. It was his honesty, his character, his consistency and his desire to see his country survive and prosper. Today begins a new chapter if the history of MY great country and I will relish the moment and thank God that He has sent someone to lead and help us get back to a level of honor and respect as a nation.

Darrell Hampton
Dayton, Ohio
- Darrell Hampton, Dayton

"Let's give the President a chance and see where our Country is before the slamming starts." Talk about a double standard and being hypocritical. Slamming of W started before he was even in office. Anna, get your facts straight about who controls what. The republicans controlled only the white house for the last two years. I suggest you watch school house rocks and learn how a bill is introduced (it isn't by the president). Isn't it amazing that when the dems took over congress in 2007 everything starting going south? The same could be said about NH too. The minute the dems took control we started getting more laws and regulations that tried to shutter businesses and a 17.5% budget increase to boot. Stuck in an ugly war in Iraq? Ma'am maybe you should stop reading left wing blogs and see that we are turning over power as the country's security has improved ever since the surge. Talk about being ill informed.
- Ralph K., Lee, NH

I did not vote for the man but I like most hope he does do good things for the country. I hope he keeps his promise and looks to the future and not like some here try to blame all that is wrong in this country on Bush and the last 8 years. That is simply wrong, shortsighted and only shows how uninformed some are.
At least he is getting a chance and not being questioned, belittled and viewed negatively as Bush was in 2000.
I do not agree with many things Obama says he wants to do but I am willing to have an open mind and give him a chance. I do have to say that many are acting like he is the saviour and that is a dangerous and ill conceived notion. He is a human and he will make mistakes and he will not keep all his promises. To think so is naive.
Time will tell but some of you need to come off your clouds and face reality.
You still have an inept Congress that has a say in all of this and how soon you forget their failings the past many years.
A party majority does not make all things right and to think so will only come back to failure.
- Bill B., Pelham

This is a republic, not a monarchy. Presidents are not automatically owed our respect and support, these must be earned. Barack Obama has earned neither my respect nor my support. That being said, he will occupy the office, and I consider it my duty to support him when he is right and fight him like hell when he is wrong. I hope Obama supporters will do the same, but to this point they have excused every one of their guy's misdeeds.
- Tom, Campton

What a truly historic day this is. Instead of saying to our children "we remember the history of deterioration of our modern society culminating when devastation happened on 9/11" we can now proudly say to them we were there when GOOD history was made that will undoubtedly have far reaching implications from this day till the end of time. A move like this one, gives the people back their hope. Something that has been lost in our bitterness and infighting. We can now point to this one man and the movement of people who believed that our compassion and humanity far outweigh our technology and say "yes son or daughter, you can achieve anything you want to, no matter what anyone says" there is nothing holding you back but your own self. And we will have a point in history to reference to. Although, there were many other presidents who came from abscurity and held that office, this is by far, the one moment when we say to the world, we are ready and able to see the world as a part of it, not from the other side of the glass.
- Theresa, Dover

This is the first worthwhile editorial I've seen after reading these pages daily for 5 months. Kudos to the UL staff. It's a shame the author of this and most of the other editorials feel the need to hide behind a veil of secrecy and not reveal themselves.

The historic ramifications of this moment will echo for generations. It has been a long time coming.
- Robert Kelso, Bedford, NH

Leo (from Canterbury) - I am an Independent, but am hopeful for the future of our country. You talk about the Democrats and the "screw the country" mentality, but the Republicans held the three highest departments in the U.S. and they are the ones that "screwed the country". They had the power but wanted everything their way - and look where it got us. Now we have a more balanced House and Senate with a new President who will hopefully be able to bring the two sides together and work toward getting our America back to where we belong. No more "me me me" President who cannot even admit when he messed the United States up royally and made us the laughing stock of the World.

JP (from Warner) - it's time to put aside the pettiness and disrespect and give our new President a chance. He has already admitted he will make mistakes (something G.W.B. refused to do) but at least he is optimistic. He cannot do all those things alone, that is why we have the House and Senate. So, before you start writing President Obama off, give the man a chance - that's all that is asked. But, it sounds like you already have your mind made up (sad sad sad).

Our country is in a recession, we are stuck in an ugly war in Iraq, and people are hurting everywhere. Let's give the President a chance and see where our Country is before the slamming starts. We all need to come together to bring the United States back to its glory! Time to unite America!
- Anna, Litchfield, NH

All historic moments are not great. Let's not forget that. Only time will tell whether the historic events of today are something we can be proud of or ones we will regret.
- Brian, Farmington

I did not cast my vote for him, but agree with the UL. This is a positive patriotic piece, and the negative comments by Leo and JP sound like sour grapes. Now is a time for all of us to feel good about our Country and future. One man alone may not be able to bring change and turn things around, but as Americans we should support him and his willingness to try. If paritison politics can be tossed aside, together we can turn things around.
- Brian, Iraq

All we've seen and heard is a lot of hot air for the last 2 years since he started his campaign.

Now its time for the rubber to meet the road and unfortunately it doesn't look to promising.

He's calling for Massive deficit spending and a so called bailout bill that is loaded with pork and pandering earmarks for groups like ACORN.

He's is calling for infringements upon the Second Amendment and seeking to ban a class of firearms that according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report are not used to any great degree to commit crime....in other words more restrictions with no justification, not that there is ANY justification for infringement of this Constitutionally Guaranteed Civil Right,

He's calling for massive expansion of entitlement spending and mandatory programs that our children will be obligated to "Volunteer" for.

More wasteful government is not the solution but rather the problem and will saddle our children and grandchildren with an unimaginable burden of debt

Respect is earned not given, and based upon his positions so far I respect the Office of POTUS but I cannot respect the man.
- JP, Warner

Apparently the UL editorial staff has been asleep for 8 years. The Dems, with their 'screw the country, we want power' approach to every issue have forever changed the American political landscape. As of today, the inmates are running the asylum.
- Leo, Canterbury

I applaud the Union Leader for this editorial. Very fitting and appropriate for this truly historic moment.

We cannot know what the future holds, but for one historic moment let us set aside all political differences and partisanship and savor the occasion. This is truly a great nation we are blessed to live in.
- Mike Lane, Manchester