YOUR COMMENTS

Unlike most endorsements from major newspapers this campaign season the UL's is not thoughtful and doesn't really discuss the issues. See the San Deigo news for a thoughtful endoresment of McCain based on economic policy issues or some of the Florida papers for thoughtful endorsements based on his immigration policies. The UL's might as well have been written by the same smear campaigners who feed Palin her half-truths and outright inflammatory lies. This endorsement is mostly negative, and does not offer a compelling argument for why McCain would be better for the country. Aren't we all getting tired of candidates (and in this case newspapers) using fear as the main motivator?
- Rob L., Formerly Lebanon, NH

Like most elections this is about two flawed candidates. In this case, Obama is the most flawed of the two.
Consider:
- history has already proven that Obama's turn and run strategy on the war in Iraq was wrong. For those citizens of NH with sons and daughters in the military, is this the Commander in Chief your family deserves?
- if you closely listen to his discussion with Joe the Plumber, it is obvious that Obama does not have a clue about how small businesses operate in America. NH small business owners - beware.
- Obama's tax strategy is truly socialist, and will further hurt the economy. Let there be no doubt, if Obama is elected we will stay in a recession for a very long time. Taxes will go up, investment will move to other countries, and we will remain in a deep recession. Moreover, the inherent strength in our economy will be permanently changed.
- Obama selected Biden for his experience, but his recent foreign policy gaff has caused the campaign to keep him from view or more interviews. While Governor Palin is reaching out and openly speaking to the American people.
- Obama as President, Pelosi as Speaker of the House and Reid as the Senate Majority leader is a recipe for economic, social and national security disaster.
The Union Leader has this one right. Vote McCain - our country and our way of life will be better for it.
- Paul, Drayden, MD

I just read all the posts reasonably carefully. Responses generally deride the UL for endorsing Palin via McCain, or McCain himself. Mostly logical arguments, even a conservative who feels betrayed. I seems that younger thinkers jumped into the pool early and the discourse is rather high minded; cntrl/F for "Hussein" thankfully yields; "no results."

One thing I would not do is deride the Union Leader, not at all. Beyond all imagination of only a few years ago, Independents of all types have had a forum, right here in Hard Right Heaven, in which to trash talk, practice our English writing skills, and get involved. The UL may be hard right, but they treat their leftist readership fairly. For that they are entitled to endorse anyone they wish, and indeed; should stick to their neocon guns. I'm a liberal who like the Leader as they are, as long as they continue to play fair!

All that aside I think the UL actually just endorsed Obama with this statement: "Barak Obama's call for "change" has a certain appeal, to be sure." If you lived here for fifty years and knew these guys, that's an endorsement!
- Ali Moore, Peterborough

I understand that the Union Leader is a distinctly Republican newspaper, but their perseverance at endorsing McCain/Palin at all costs while ignoring basic facts is astounding. The fact that John McCain has served in the armed forces is, of course, commendable, but this is supposed to qualify him to lead our nation? Spike, from Brentwood, would compare a Harvard graduate to a woman who went to school for journalism as being equally qualified for the Presidency? Shame on the Union Leader for supporting their party at all costs, no matter the consequences to our great nation.
- Jennifer Boie, Windham, NH

Chris King--the only reason why Vermont and a number of other states ever raised the drinking age to 21 was because of a threat by the Federal Government to withhold transportation funding. If Vermont lowers the drinking age back to 18, it is the exact opposite of a 'liberal' or Democratic partisan effort. Your bogeyman 'liberal' would ban alcohol altogether. Good luck with your angry confusion.
- JB, NB, NH

JP from Vermont, I'm sorry that New Hampshire is not as liberal as you'd like with newspapers that blindly endorse any Democrat for President, but that's not how we do things in NH. You're state is so dang liberal that you're even considering lowering the drinking age back to 18. Come on bud, worry about you're own state's backwards politics before you start concerning yourselves with NH.
- Chris King, Manchester, New Hampshire

Bad call.

McCain and Palin will be a disaster for this country in almost every area you name- morally, ethically, spiritually, experience, socially.

The professional judgment flaws and poor character they are demonstrating is downright scary.

This editorial really calls into question the maturity and judgment of the editor. So sad to see someone make these conclusions and be so off base and wrong about McCain and Palin.

I sure hope that the local readers of this newspaper take this editor to task for a failure to face the difficult facts, instead of swooning with blind love and adultation for the republican party line.
- JP Morganthaller, Barre, VT

Hope, I took you up on your invitation to look at Obamas VP choice.

Biden, on numerous occasions, has said that Obama is an articulate, well educated, "clean" young black man, who in no way is ready to lead this country.

Hillary Clinton has also said as much. As a matter of fact, she said McCain was the better choice of the two.

Hope, instead of disagreeing with the UL and it's anti-Obama readers, perhaps it's Joe and Hillary, two of the Dems "leading lights", that you should be emailing.
You could ask each of them if they sincerely believe that Obama is not ready to lead, or, if they are willing to say anything to get elected.

Listen to Biden, Hope, and vote for the expierienced candidate.
After all, Biden is a person of "substance, isn't he ?
- Michael Paradis, Manchester

Shaun, so just because Obama graduated from an Ivy League school, he's a good President? Come on, what a horrible argument. I'm sorry that Palin isn't an elite Ivy League graduate, but to say she barely graduated is totally untrue. She did very well in college. Check your facts!
- Casey Johnes, Manchvegas

Anyone who compares Sarah Palin and Barack Obama's lack of experience can see that neither has had significant time in their lives to have much experience. They are both young politicians looking to take the country in different directions. However, I trust the one who graduated from two Ivy league universities (Columbia,Harvard), was head of the Harvard Law Review as well as a Professor of Law. Barack Obama is a distinguished American, where as Sarah Palin is barely graduated from the University of Idaho and her only real accomplishment outside of Alaska politics comes in the form of beauty pageants.
- Shaun Leary, Manchester

Thank you for the beautiful and well deserved endorsement. For those who do not understand what 'socialism" means perhaps it's itme they read about. I am not comfortable sharing my wealth with those who do not want to work for it or who do not have the same moral responsiblity about what it means to live in America.
- Mark Harris, Exeter, NH

Well said, Mike Lane. The UL is a consereative paper consistantly towing the Republican line. Guy's, the republican party is responsible for our current state of well being...how good is that, I ask? I predict a victory for Obama and I sincerely hope that I'm right and the UL is wrong. I've had enough of thses guys destroying the country. I'll be in Londonderry tomorrow.
- Bob Ahern, Derry

The comments that I quoted are attributed to Obama supporters and NOT to Obama himself.
- Guy Plante, Manchester

Not terribly surprising but unfortunate that the Union Leader would put their party and ideology first and what is best for the country second. Clearly John McCain does not have the temperament, judgment, or integrity to lead this great nation through these troubled times.

The Union Leader is putting their credibility at risk. At some point you have to put what's best for you country over what is best for you party. Ideologues have come dangerously close to destroying our nation. Shame on you UL.
- Mike Lane, Manchester

"McCain will do anything to win." Anyone who writes this is blind and intellectually dishonest.
Who just the other day said that "there will be riots in the streets if McCain wins!"? Who threatened that that "this town (Philadelphia) will be burned to the ground if Obama loses!"?
And I won't provide any hints.
- Guy Plante, Manchester

Am I shocked by your endorsement in light of the conservative bent of your paper? I supposed I'm not. On the other hand, it's unfathomable to me that any intellectual, conservative or otherwise, would, full steam ahead, support a candidate that chose the likes of a Sarah Palin as his running mate. This woman is tied to Alaska Sessessionists, witch doctors, and an extreme rightwing ideology that includes not giving choice to pregnant women who've been raped.

What a shameful endorsement.
- Julie Anderson, Stowe, VT

I sympathize with the dilemma of the UL during this election cycle. However, this is a time for conservatives to be intellectually honest and courageous. The future of the movement depends on it.

Let's face it. The Sarah Palin pick was the height of recklessness and disqualified the honorable Senator McCain from serious consideration. It's time to gather the pieces and move on.

Conservatives need to reclaim their Barry Goldwater roots and throw the Christianists overboard. Acknowledging the disaster caused by pandering to them with the Palin pick is the first step.
- Jim Richmond, Newfields, NH

An opinion from someone who clearly voted for the current President. I don't trust your opinion for anything. This should not have been an article on this site. VERY BIASED!!!
- Benjamin West, Nashua, NH

Let's pull apart Hope Ullman's spin below. That Palin might be an untested President, under unlikely events, sidesteps the fact that Obama will be untested and dangerous under events that look likely. It also ignores the fact that we have a fully-staffed, two-month transition operation that will get any new office-holders up to speed on the current situation. Finally, Palin is optimistic and pro-American, while Obama and his entire entourage seem to see the US and its citizens as defective until coercively reformed by themselves.

The rest of Ms. Ullman's message is stock partisan rant. Characterize McCain as "angry" (why not the usual epithet, "mean-spirited"?) and talk about Bush/Cheney--neither of whom is on anyone's ballot.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

I agree, look at Obama's life, resume, qualifications, and experience - voters will find him to be terribly deficient in each.
- Tom Boucher, Campton

You wrote "... this is no time to be rolling the dice on an untested leader whose rhetoric doesn't match his record when it comes to delivering actual change."

I agree. So, where does that leave us if --God forbid -- Sarah Palin has to step in as the free world's leader? We cannot risk a Palin presidency in these perilous times.

I also respectfully disagree with your view that McCain is the man for the job.
While I've respected certain things about him in the past, he now strikes me as an extremely angry man who will do anything to win.

Afer 8 years of the Bush/Cheney debacle, I urge voters to really think this one through. Go beyond the mud-slinging ads and take a serious look at Barack's life, resume, qualifications and experience. Look at his pick for vice president -- not a particuarly flashy choice, but an experienced person of substance.
- Hope Ullman, Wolfeboro, NH