NH Insider Discussion Board

Unemployment and Payback...

RobertT — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:01:34 GMT

I was wondering this and maybe some of those here could give me a few answers I have been wondering about.

Q: If a person has been on unemployment benefits for 84 weeks, that is 70 weeks plus another 14 weeks, how does one go about paying it back when it comes to tax times?

I ask this because the extended weeks will place people around the time income tax returns about due to be processed.

Back in the day, when a person collected unemployment they had to pay a portion back to the IRS as it was deducted from your total return.

So how is it going to be when lets say a person has been out of work for 84 weeks, not recieved a full paycheck to generate a tax return are they going to pay back unemployment??? There is only 54 weeks in a year?

Forum: NH Issues

2009 Election Outcome

ManchesterGuy — Thur, 05 Nov 2009 20:47:21 GMT

Ok this thread is for everyone who wants to comment or analyse (although there does not seem to be much analysis on here, more fact-less opinion)

Aldermanic & School Board Wards 1-12, At-Large, and Mayoral outcomes

Why certain people loss, others prevailed...
some of these races were really close

Forum: Manchester '09 Elections

UN PROPOSING ANTI-GUN MANDATE

SaveNH — Thur, 05 Nov 2009 15:19:48 GMT

The UN is proposing an act that would require the surrender of all guns by private citizens worldwide, leaving only the government and police armed. Normally this would be of no concern, but with our current Administration in support of this, along with Secretary of State Clinton, and many Anti-Gun Congressional members, this is a real concern to Patriotic Americans.

We are a free society because we have guns, and the problems the rest of the world has with guns is not because of us, it is because they do not take care of their people, and fear losing control over their people. Mexico is blaming us for their drug wars, yet Mexico does little or nothing to stop drugs at heir borders, either coming in or out, and that gives the drug lords the money to buy those automatic weapons they use. Americans are not armed with automatic weapons, drug dealers and drug lords are. America already has banned automatic weapons, we need go no farther in disarming the people. Let Mexico fix their problems and let the UN stop blaming America for their failure to bring Peace to the World.

Peace through gun ownership! Britain tried this on us once, we left them.

Forum: National Issues

Devries Hides from Sick Constituent

casper — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:11:04 GMT

Watch this incredible video posted on Blue Hampshire of Devries running away from a sick constituent. She is such a mean person.

http://www.bluehampshire.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=E504D9CB9735993D075BC1232F5BD82C?diaryId=8645

Forum: Politics

Hey Peter Sullivan how's it feel?

grapes — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:42:59 GMT

As predicted from the first time I came onto this site right up until the election. Peter "the village idiot" Sullivan would lose to Pat Long. And Levasseur would help Long do it. What a great day for Long and a really sad day for the biggest loser in Manchester politics Peter "the constant blogger" Sullivan. Maybe now Sullivan will go out and get a job? Nah, he's looking to get on disablity. I saw him at the polls, (yes I held a sign for my pal Pat) and Sullivan is just fat, unhappy and sad looking, and his wife looks like a meanie. I want to thank joe kelly for putting the dagger in sullivans heart and for helping Long, if the rumor is true, Joe kelly will be getting nominated by to a board or commission by Lopez soon because it was Lopez that got joe kelly to run. What a great day.

Forum: Manchester '09 Elections

Maine Kills Gay Marriage Law

SaveNH — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:35:53 GMT

With 87 percent of precincts reporting, gay-marriage foes had 53 percent of the vote in a referendum that asked Maine voters whether they wanted to repeal a law allowing same-sex marriage that had passed the Legislature and was signed by Democratic Gov. John Baldacci.

"The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation," said Frank Schubert, the chief organizer for Stand for Marriage Maine, which lobbied for the repeal. For the gay rights movement, which has gained a foothold in New England, it was a stinging defeat. Gay marriage has now lost in every state - 31 in all - in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine, framing same-sex marriage as a matter of equality for all families in a campaign that used 8,000 volunteers to get out the message.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20091104/D9BON78O1.html

**************

I think this explains why Liberals and Dems in NH did not/do not want this to be a ballot issue here in NH

Forum: NH Issues

Alderman Garrity

ShaneMcGowen — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:02:30 GMT

Do you think Former Alderman Garrity will be making better decision about where and who he drinks with now? Also do you think the Wal-Mart vote had anything to do with his losing?

Forum: Manchester '09 Elections

Closest Race - Predictions of W12?

ManchesterGuy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:04:59 GMT

Hirschmann narrowly beat Patrick Arnold by 8 votes in the primary.

If Brunelle's votes go mostly towards Arnold, despite the endorsement, Arnold would win.
But then again, Hirschmann is a longtime resident of the ward.

What are everybody's thoughts on this highly contested race?

Forum: Manchester '09 Elections

Here we go again... Ordinances to protect the people are being wavered by our elected officials that end up endangering the public at large.

Ouelletteformayor — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:40:28 GMT

Here we go again, City Ordinances meant to protect the Citizens of Manchester are being wavered by our very elected officials who wrote them in the first place are now ending up endangering the very 'Public At Large' they were meant to protect.

I'm talking about the New Dumping of old trailers, trucks & cars on the Connor of Lake Ave. & Chestnut St., across from the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Months after the City opened the Arena, the Board of Mayor & Alderman choose to protect its interests from inviting crime into the city. They wrote & passed a City Ordinance that wouldn't allow: A.) A Building from being torn down for the purpose of then using that land as a parking lot or B.) to be used as a dumping ground to entice criminal activities like Graffiti.

Three properties where this has happened within a one block area surrounding the Verizon Arena has accrued to date. And three different responses have accrued on each, of which two are in violation of the City's Ordinances.

1.) The first was enforced by the owner being forced by the City to have concrete barricades surround the property so that parking would not be allowed. As of today that lot on Willow Street is still barricaded.

2.) The second was told that no parking lot could be created to replace the torn down buildings. A. But, months latter a special waver was given & a 40 space parking lot created where one of the buildings were standing. B. Today a dumping ground for abandoning trailers, trucks & cars exist right across from the Verizon Arena on the Connor of Lake Ave. & Chestnut St. C. This has created an invite of a lot of New Graffiti painted on those trailers & surrounding buildings in that Neighborhood & an New Eye Sore to the City's Downtown Area that the New Ordinance written was suppose to curtail.

3.) The third such property exists even closer then the other two do, as it borders the Verizon Arena Property even closer. A torn brick warehouse was demolished a few years ago & the City again created an Ordinance Waver so that a parking lot of over thirty cars can park.

All three properties tore down their buildings, knowing that the City Ordinance wouldn't allow parking lots to replace them, but Two of these properties have now been given permission by the City to do so, while the third is still forced to endure hardship while still paying City Property Taxes.

One Property has been allowed to park abandon trailers, trucks & cars on their property Downtown. This has created a new interests in criminal activities like Graffiti painted not only on the abandoned trailers, but on to the surrounding buildings in that Neighborhood.

The Gatsas - Lopez 2010 City Budget has cut the Graffiti account funding in half, enhance inviting Graffiti Painters a Welcoming into the Downtown area for more criminal activities, while the City lost its funding to clean & control its own creation of this activity by not enforcing its own City Ordinances.

In affect, the City has given up on enforcing Graffiti Activity & hence a restored Graffiti presents is in abundance throughout Manchester. By the City ignoring the problem, won't make it go away... No - instead an increase to the problem exists today & its inviting more criminal activity into the City by our elected officials not providing the tools for law enforcement to control these & other crimes committed within our Neighborhoods.

On Tuesday these same present elected officials want we the voters to re-elect them back into official so that they can continue serving two Manchester's... The Special Interest Groups 1st., & We The People 2nd.

Well, I don't think so as new blood is needed desperately to change this madness within our city. I have already voted last Friday, as I am away in Maine till this Friday, but I have voted for change & not the same old - same old nonsense that they have created throughout our city.

Come Tuesday, I can only hope that the people of Manchester go out in force & vote for change in order to start moving the City forward again & not this backward stance for money first & services of the people last. Yes, Vote Tuesday for Change.

Glenn RJ. Ouellette
One City - One Voice -
A Voice - Not An Echo!

Forum: Manchester

Sins of the Gang of Eight

DagnyTaggert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:56:48 GMT

Vote for change tomorrow! The Gang of Eight - Mark Roy, Jim Roy, Bill Shea, Betsi Devries, George Smith, Russell Ouellete, Dan O'Neil, Mike Lopez - have voted against the taxpayers over and over.

The Gang of Eight:

1) Wasted $580,000 by giving the city's health contract to Anthem instead of Cigna, for the exact same coverage.

2) Grew the budget 8.57% in the last two years, over 10 times the rate of inflation from July 08 til now. Raised property taxes nearly 8% in two years.

3) Tried repeatedly to keep the voters from having a voice on the spending cap. Met in secret to direct the city attorney to go to court on the topic, only to have the judge criticize the illegal meeting.

4) Started charging to park downtown on Saturdays, raised the meters 50%, and started event parking fees even on Sundays.

5) Forgave $2 million in debt owed to the taxpayers by the Wall Street Tower developers.

6) Cost the taxpayers $1.3 million to build the ballpark, after promising that it would pay for itself.

7) Spent $50,000 to build a sculpture outside the Verizon Wireless Arena, while the gym floor at Central High was warping due to roof leaks.

8) Drove the total city debt to $920 million, over $8700 for every resident of the city. Borrowed $60 million THIS YEAR ALONE.

Why would anyone support these big spenders? Vote them out, and oppose those trying to join their gang: Ludwig in ward 2, Long in ward 3, Rokas in ward 5, Corriveau in ward 6, Shaw in ward 9, and Arnold in ward 12.

Your future is at stake, Manchester!

Forum: Manchester '09 Elections

20 Yr Old State Rep Arrested Drinking

SaveNH — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:17:53 GMT

In today's Sunday news it was reported that 20 year State Rep Brian Poznanski, of Nashua, and a St. Anselm College junior, was arrested Friday morning for underage drinking.

Now I could walk all over this from a partisan perspective, as he is a Dem, but that would evade the real issue here, and that is personal responsibility.

Poznanski ran for and was elected to the State Legislature to make and change law, and in my opinion he has failed that responsibility. In running for office he should have understood that his responsibility from that point on was to obey the laws that existed, work to establish new laws in the public interest, and work to change those he felt were unfair or ridiculous.

Personally I think the age 21 Liquor laws are ridiculous, and I am very tired of the failure of government to meet what I view as Constitutional consistency. If you are old enough to fight at 18, and old enough to vote, how can it be that our driving and drinking laws, as well as criminal laws, view you with the double standard you are a child. You should either be an adult for all applications and purposes, or not at all.

The idea that a 15 year old can be tried as adult for crimes, but can't drive, or vote, or anything else, and faces driving laws that say until age 21 you are a child, so we can take your license away for years on violations that those over 21 would only get a fine for, proves the inequity of the system. The age of Majority is 18 and it should apply across the board; No second class citizens.

Forum: Politics

Merrimack Valley High Bars Patriotic Yearbook Picture

SaveNH — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:32:19 GMT

Merrimack Valley High School senior not allowed to have his graduation picture showing him standing in front of the American flag wearing his combat hat (he has already completed basic training and enlists after graduation).

At Merrimack Valley High, the yearbook policy prohibits photos like the one Jordan Westgate submitted. He's wearing his army combat hat, and he's standing in front of the American flag. What's the problem? asks Jordan, a senior who completed the Army's basic training last summer.

He's showing no disrespect. No disrespect at all. No hats and no props? Well, okay, for the most part. But shouldn't exceptions be made, especially these days, when we're fighting two wars simultaneously?

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091031/FRONTPAGE/910310306

Merrimack Valley High is a public school, grades 9-12, with 943 students.

To contact the school about this outrageous stand against patriotism, you can write them at:

Merrimack Valley High

Attn: Mike Jette, Principal

106 Village St

Penacook, NH 03303

Phone: (603) 753-4311

In all fairness to Mike Jette, the Monitor reported that:

Mike Jette, the MV principal, is in the eye of the storm. He calmly answered questions about the issue this week. He emphasized that this is not a statement against the military, noting that his grandfather and father served.

But this same principal, under the same policies, allowed a Muslim girl to have her senior picture in a previous yearbook wearing a head scarf.

Can you say double standard? Is it now persmissable to allow violations of the rules based on religious beliefs, but not to show patriotism?

Forum: NH Issues

To my Liberal Friends - Tea Party focus explained

gormans — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:02:15 GMT

I'm still amazed that people don't get it. Obviously the media is NOT doing its job.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=110005

Rush: You're wrong on this one

Posted: September 17, 2009
1:00 am Eastern

By Kimberly Fletcher
2009

I was returning home from taking my son to school Monday when I caught Rush Limbaugh's show as he gave his opinion on why so many people attended the rally in D.C. last Saturday. Rush said we came not because we are fed up with government but because we are fed up with Democrats and the Democrat president. As one of those protesters and one of the coordinators for the Dayton Tea Party in Ohio, I have to tell you, Rush, you couldn't be more wrong on this one and no amount of analysis, reports or numbers from prior elections is going to change that.

I know why I am protesting and I am very clearly aware of what this movement is about, and anyone who has attended any one of the tea parties knows it, too. I attended four of them and spoke at three. The air in those rallies and the over 30 smaller community meetings known as Liberty Groups that formed from them is the same everywhere. We are sick of government corruption and its invasion in our lives.

I completely agree with Rush that this is a conservative movement, but he is equating Republican with conservative as if they are synonymous and they are not. Rush insists the two parties are not the same, and while I agree that the platforms of the parties are dramatically different, the people serving in office are not. The Republican Party looks great on paper, but the people who call themselves Republicans (but for a few exceptions) either have no idea what the Party stands for or they just don't care.

The tea parties are not protesting a party; they are protesting an oppressive, out-of-control government, and both parties are guilty.

It wasn't the Democrats who pushed No Child Left Behind or the massive expansions to Medicare. It wasn't the Democrats who pushed through the $700 billion TARP. It wasn't a Democrat president who threw the Constitution out the window and expanded the powers of government well beyond the Constitution with the Patriot Act and Homeland Security. It wasn't a Democrat president that tried to legalize millions of illegal aliens and basically called the American people stupid and uncaring for fighting against it. This fight did not begin with President Obama, his taking office just escalated it.

The reason Barack Obama was elected was because of the two-party system. The people of America didn't know where else to go. How can you be heard when you are told you only have two choices and they both stink? In 2006, voters came out in mass numbers and voted Democrat down the ticket to "teach Republicans a lesson." Not only did that strategy not work, it totally backfired. In 2008, the people bought into the "Change" theme because that is what we all wanted change in Washington. But the change we got was not what we were promised. We have taken the easy way out for too long. There is no accountability in Washington. There is no transparency. And the only way we are going to get it is to vote both parties out but not by voting a third party in.

Like Rush Limbaugh, I am adamantly opposed to a third-party option. Voting "third party" simply for the sake of change will only exacerbate the problem. We've already tried the changing of the guard, and it doesn't work. The answer is not to vote third party; the answer is to vote NO party! We need to stop voting by letters the way preschoolers color by numbers. It's time we take all the letters away and stop taking the easy way out. We need to vote people not parties, and issues not politics. That is what these tea parties and protests are about taking the government back into our own hands where it was always meant to be. But if we allow Rush Limbaugh to convince us we are protesting a party and this whole thing comes down to Republicans versus Democrats, the movement will come to a screeching halt and we will lose all the ground we have gained.

This movement knows no color, no race, no religion, no gender, no party! And we need to keep it that way. We are not protesting a Democrat president; we are protesting the policies of our current president. It doesn't matter what party he is. It only matters that he is going against the will of the people. We are not protesting the Democratic Party. We are protesting people who are completely disregarding the Constitution and introducing socialism into our republic.

This isn't about saving the Republican Party; it is about ending government corruption. And we will no longer allow anyone to divide us by race, gender, religion or party. We are not protesting a party; we are fighting for America. We are Americans, coming together to fight for our freedom and our republic. It is as simple as that.

We don't want any more politicians in Washington or anywhere else in this country. We want statesmen men and women who understand the fundamental principles and guiding values this nation was founded on, men and women who have the courage to stand up for those principles no matter what the cost. We want leaders with integrity and moral character who are willing to sacrifice their lives, fortunes and sacred honor for the public good men and women who are committed to fighting for a cause that is greater than themselves. That is what we want. And that is what we are fighting for.

Shame on us for not being here before. Shame on us for being asleep at the wheel and allowing this to happen. But we are here now. We are awake. We are engaged. And we are not going anywhere! Enough is enough. No matter what party you are, we are not going to take it anymore. And that, Rush, is what this movement is about.

Forum: National Issues

Pelosi's Congress is Failing America

PoliticalMeatball — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:37:28 GMT

Take a look at Gallup's Poll on the approval rating of Nancy Pelosi's Congress:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/123491/Approval-Congress-Falls-21-Driven-Democrats.aspx

We don't need polls to know if Congress is serving us well. I believe that overall, Congress has failed the American people on a broad range of issues. Whether it's the bogus stimulus package that "SaveNH" details or the massive buildup of government, or plans for sweeping amnesty for criminal aliens, or the tremendous increase in welfare recipients, or government controlled health care, or the inability to force the President to make a decision on the War in Afghanistan while our soldiers are killed, this Congress has really hit bottom and appears to have no connection with average citizens.

In the past few days, there are news reports of a dozen or more members of Congress that have been tied to ethics probes...

When 2010 arrives, and we, the people, have the chance to change the make up of Congress, I wonder if we will.

If the Democrats lose seats but still retain a majority, will they ask Pelosi to step down--and will she?

Forum: National Issues

Union Leader endorsements

Dirk_Squarejaw — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:35:00 GMT

No big surprises, just a few things that made me go "hmmm".

They went with Christine Pariseau-Telege in Ward 8. Telge is, from what I hear, pretty liberal, but they must be fed up with Betsi DeVries. Sort of reminds me of the endorsement of Sullivan over Long two years ago, a fiscal moderate Dem over a lost-cause.

Ed Osborne? Is this Rokas guy that bad? Osborne doesn't do anything except bug the Highway Department about putting up and taking down signs. Maybe he's supporting Gatsas, I don't know.

No endorsement in Ward 3? Wow. Long is a big-spending, old time Labor Dem and Levasseur is Gatsas' boy. They must really have problems with Joe's character issues if they took a powder on this one!.

Forum: Manchester '09 Elections