Flotsam & Jetsam

2010: The Year in Balloons
“I’m proud of what I’ve done here. The Banking Department does a good job. This was a small part of what we regulate, and I think that out of the total of just mortgage companies, this was like .02 percent of what we regulate.” – Then-Banking Commissioner Peter Hildreth on the Financial Resources Mortgage matter.”By the time I finished, I found myself thinking, ‘I wouldn’t buy a pack a gum from these guys.’ I mean, honest to God.” – Then-State Sen. Maggie Hassan, chair of the joint legislative committee investigation how the state handled the alleged Financial Resources Mortgage Ponzi scheme, describes her reaction after reading about all the violations found by Banking Department examiners over the years.”My dad is 100 percent behind me in this election.” – GOP Congressman Charlie Bass during his campaign on the stand of his father, 97-year-old Perkins Bass, a former Republican congressman himself, who endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2008.”There wasn’t a single red flag. There were a series of red flags that kept coming in year after year after year.” – Gov. John Lynch criticizing the performance of the state Banking Department in overseeing Financial Resources Mortgage.”Anybody with half a brain who would see the damage from these cuts would appreciate the impact this bill would deliver.” – Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, D-Manchester, speaking of cuts in health and human services programs and his bill to expand gambling.”I’m not a politician, I am a patriot.” – Jack Kimball, former candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, on his decision to run to replace John Sununu as head of the state GOP.”It doesn’t have that repetition. It doesn’t have the glitz and the glamour and all of the chutzpah you find in a casino, so it’s quite different.” – Rep. David Hess, R-Hooksett, on proposed online lottery games.”We are very excited.” – Republican State Sen. Peter Bragdon, the incoming Senate president, reflects on his party’s 19-5 majority in the next session.”Charlie Bass joining the Tea Partiers is like George Steinbrenner joining the Red Sox or Sarah Palin joining PETA.” – Former Dem 2nd C.D. hopeful Katrina Swett assessing the genuineness of Charlie Bass while he was seeking the GOP nomination in the district.”If you’re not allowed to drive, why are you collecting mileage?” – Former state Sen. and House Democratic Leader Peter Burling, asked for his take on how Rep. Steve Vaillancourt could collect $4,700 in mileage for his legislative activities while he had a suspended driver’s license.”We have seven weeks of hard work after Tuesday. I came in to clean the vermin out, then I’ll leave. I’m done. Done-zo. Finished. Kaput.” – John H. Sununu, chair of the state Republican Party, on his job goals.”The old gang is getting together in a crowded primary, and I think that says a lot about her.” – Former GOP Chair and state senator John Stabile on the list of big-name Republicans supporting Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte.”I don’t really need any Republican help. I wasn’t looking for it in the first place. As a whole, I think they’ve sold white people out.” – Ryan J. Murdough, a self-avowed white racist and anti-Semite and a Republican candidate for the New Hampshire House, responds after GOP leaders denounce him and bar party resources from aiding his candidacy.”I always tried to keep things civil because you never know when you need the other party to get something accomplished.” – Then-State Sen. Sheila Roberge, R-Bedford, who decided not to run for a 14th term.”I wouldn’t forget a $250,000 or $500,000 account I had – I just wouldn’t.” – Former 1st C.D. GOP hopeful Bob Bestani on Frank Guinta’s discovery of a previously unreported bank account holding between $250,000 and $500,000 during the campaign.