GraniteGrok

Here we go again... Yet another misinformed person is trying to claim Barack Obama is of the Muslim faith. How many times does this have to be debunked? Why does the media keep giving these crackpots making such claims airtime? Don't they know there's a whole bunch of REAL issues affecting REAL Americans? Will the McCain campaign denounce supporters making such scurrilous claims?

Er... you mean the person is associated with the OBAMA campaign? Will they show this obviously bigoted racist the door? Hasn't president Barack stated he would not tolerate such attacks on people's personal lives and beliefs?

Posted by Doug at 7:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

During numerous blogger conference calls we participated in with John McCain, he repeatedly promised he would not be making the same mistakes as President Bush with regards to communicating with the American people. Back in April of '07, I wrote,

Aside from my respect and full appreciation and agreement with his positions on winning the new world war, the other area in which I find common ground with Senator McCain is, in fact, his New Media acknowledgement. When asked what role bloggers would play in the media strategy of a McCain Administration, McCain said

"Bloggers are a vital part of the information technology in America and the world."

He vowed as president to hold detailed briefings for the public, both on C-Span and through the use of such devices like today's "blogger conference call." He seems to absolutely recognize, as I have long held, that President Bush has failed at properly communicating with the American people.

To that end, the blogger calls and outreach have continued, and Senator McCain has made a weekly radio address a regular staple of the ongoing campaign. This week, Gov. Sarah Palin provided the radio spot. You can listen to the mp3 by clicking here, or just read the text:

Good morning, this is Sarah Palin -- the governor of Alaska and candidate for vice president. When Senator John McCain asked me to join the ticket last week, he placed a lot of confidence in me, and I'm going to do my level best to be worthy of it. Senator McCain also asked me to fill in for him today in his weekly radio address -- he's putting me right to work.

In my speech to the convention last Wednesday, I wanted to share some basic convictions, and also to tell you a little about the path that shaped those convictions. I never really set out to be involved in public affairs, much less to run for vice president. My mom and dad both worked at the local elementary school, and my husband Todd and I, we both grew up working with our hands. I was pretty much your average hockey mom, raising kids, and joined the PTA. When I ran for city council of my hometown, and then for mayor, I didn't need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and I knew their families, too. I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment, and I have no plans to join.

That was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau, when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good-ol' boys network.

Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power brokers. That's why true reform is so hard to achieve.

But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up, and in short order we put the government of our state back on the side of the people.

I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law. I came to office promising to control spending -- by request if possible and by veto if necessary. And today, our state budget is under control. We have a surplus. And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes.

 

Continue reading "Radio Free Palin..." »

Posted by Doug at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Meet the New Press Podcast 

            

To play (or "stream") a clip now, just click on it.  To download it to your PC, right click on it and tell the process where to save the file for you.
 

Hour 1        Hour 2        Hour 3

Hour One:

Opening Banter and Jeb Bradley - "Barracuda", technical problems, Chan from WeekendPundit is back with us along with Jeb Bradley (Republican Candidate for NH Congress in NH-1).  Discussions with Jeb: Sarah Palin - THE game changer - whither now the GOP?  Libya / Sec. Rice visit, Surge in Iraq - now for Afghanistan?  Jeb gets endorsed by Natalie Healy (Gold Star Mother).  $ for troops.  Earmarks - good ones and bad ones?  Sue Peterson (Blue Star Mother) talks about how Jeb supports the Blue/Gold Star Moms.  Veteran care - dedicated hospital or "access card"?  Just say No to government run healthcare.  Discussion on how the State is transferring costs to the County property tax payers.

John Hawkins (RightWingNews) - weather from Hurricane Hanna, RWN post in Feb. about Sarah Palin.  Bloggers got it right first (compared to MSM and pundits).  PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome) - why is it now Palin vs Obama (and not Obama vs McCain)?  Liberal Feminists -> hatred of successful conservative women.  How is Sarah handling the Liberal MSM that is attacking her (vs how they handled John Edwards' illicit affair).  Sarah / Harriet Miers comparison.  Sarah - eBay that State Jet!  Reagan - is she going to be another good or great Communicator?  RNC was the highest rated Convention ever (huh?)!

Hour Two:

Discussion on DUI Police checkpoints - Mr "X" (the passenger) talks about being stopped by the Auburn, NH police and how the police may have gone well beyond what they should have. Attorney Mark Stevens (of ByeByeDWI.com) discuss the legal ramifications of what the police did / did not do as well as the gang's questions.

Tom Tardif again comes on the show to talk about why he is the guy to be the Republican Candidate in November for Belknap County Commissioner. Discussed:  open and transparency (and the lack of it right now), putting up financial documents (like the check register) on the County Website, broadcasting the Commissioners and Belknap Convention meetings (he will push for it), problems in how the budget was created, the rise in property taxes 8.8% because of it, his fiscal conservatism, wants to right ALL of the bad processes that have been seen over the last year.  Frank Tilton's reason for his refusal to debate Tom on the issues.  The problems all came home with the theft of $40K by the County Financial Officer due to a lack of internal controls and a lack of oversight by the Commissioners and the Belknap Convention.

Discussion with Tom continues into the third hour.

Hour Three (the Primary Edition!):

We finish up with Tom Tardif in discussing what needs to be fixed at the County level of government and why he believes he is the best person to do the job.

Random Round - The Gang (Chan, Doug, and Skip) talk about things from quantum theory to taxes

Grant Bosse, running for the Republican nomination from NH Congressional District 2, joins us to talk about his halcyon trips on the campaign trail, his ideas of what government does and does not do right, and asking for your vote.

SchlubCam later this week!

Posted by Skip at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From the same mold?

Vote to Keep America Alive

by Amil Imani

America is a nation and an ideal, birthed by a group of visionaries that gave it the Constitution to nurture it and protect it. What makes America, America the Beautiful, more than just a blessed land is our legacy, the Constitution. Sadly, the Constitution also makes for America the Vulnerable by enshrining freedom that enables the malevolent to subvert and destroy America from within. You, the voter, are the guardian of the Constitution. Your vote determines the health and survival of America.

America is defined by the last phrase of our national anthem: The land of the free and the home of the brave. Freedom, in all its forms, is our greatest legacy, which this nation has bravely fought many wars on many fronts to preserve against the unceasing assaults of totalitarianism of all stripes. Time and again, the flowers of our nation bravely sacrificed their lives to protect freedom and liberty.

In the not too long ago past, we fought and defeated Nazism and Fascism in Europe and Imperialism in the Far East. Before the nation could have a respite, the flame of international Communism raged, consumed many parts of the world in its wake, and posed a great threat of scorching our land. Yet, we did not waiver, did not appease, and did not surrender. We stood and fought the scourge of Communism on multiple fronts. Once again, the forces of freedom succeeded in reducing the Communist menace to little more than a nuisance.

Now, we are faced with the insidious, multifaceted, and most deadly threat of Islamism. Since Islam has been around for centuries, there is a tendency to ignore or even deny the threat it poses to humanity. Various concessions are made, some of them as good faith offerings and some in the hope of placating the Islamists. Yet, concessions to threats are appeasements. And appeasements have never solved any problems. They only whet the appetite of the aggressor, give it more power, and make it even more dangerous.

And appeasement comes in many forms. When our leaders, for instance, call Islam a great religion, they are appeasing, if not lying outright. We the people elect our leaders and we hold them accountable to be honorable: using their voice to call a great religion a most deadly threat to everything we cherish as a great religion legitimizes Islamofascism, on the one hand, and infuses the rest of us with a false belief.

Continue reading "America the beautiful, and, if we're not careful, America the vulnerable" »

Posted by Amil at 8:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New Hampshire Primary Tuesday September 9th

Starting Saturday morning at 9 am!

....

As usual, this week's broadcast version of GraniteGrok and AnkleBitingPundits brings an array of items and guests for your consideration-- ALL STARTING AT 9AM! As always, thanks to the technical wizardry and analytical skills of Skip, if you are beyond the broadcast area of Newstalk 1490 WEMJ, simply click here for instructions on how to connect and listen on the Internet via livestream. (Podcasts here)

SPECIAL 3 HOUR PROGRAM!

• Jeb Bradley is working doubletime in his quest for the opportunity to run against Carol Shea Porter in the November election. The primary battle between him and his opponent has certainly been one to watch. With a series of debates, neither Republican candidate has shirked from the fight. Of course, Skip and I feel that at the end of the day, only Jeb Bradley has what it takes to defeat the cider-sipping, anti-war, peacenik-loving Shea Porter in November. Jeb joins us in studio to give us his thoughts on energy, events in Georgia and Russia, the economy, and anything else that comes up. This is his last pitch to voters before the head to the ballot box Tuesday. Feel free to call in and ask him anything...

• Our buddy John Hawkins of RightWingNews (RWN) & the Conservative Grapevine joins us for a wrap on the two conventions and what he sees for the sprint to the finish line at the November elections. The first place I ever heard of Sarah Palin was at RWN, where she always ended up on the various blogger lists and polls. Is it just me, or is there more excitement than what we've seen in many years on the GOP side? How is Mrs Palin handling the media so far? John thinks, so far, so good.

• The story of the young couple stopped at a sobriety checkpoint last weekend in Auburn, as recounted in this post, was also featured in my weekly column in the Laconia Daily Sun. As promised, we have the passenger from the incident in studio, along with well-known DWI attorney Mark Stevens, who will give us his thoughts on whether the actions of the Auburn police last Friday evening pass muster. (Check out Mr. Stevens' blog here.) My gut tells me what the Auburn cops did to two young people last Friday evening was very wrong and out of line. We'll see if Mr. Stevens agrees.

• Wednesday's Laconia Daily Sun reported that former County Administrator/ Finance Director Nancy Cook, with a salary of $93,000, has been charged with the theft of over $40,000 by writing checks to cash for personal use.  The story (posted here by Skip) notes that Belknap County Commissioner Philip “Bud” Daigneault “said the alleged thefts occurred over two years, 2006 and 2007.” Former Laconia Mayor Thomas A Tardif --known to 'Grok readers because of his involvment with various Right to Know law actions, and the victory at the NH Supreme Court resulting in the removal of the illegally appointed sheriff-- is involved in a heated primary battle for the GOP nomination for county commissioner. "Look, it's no secret the county has problems," announced the County Convention chair at a meeting some time back. We agree. That's why we're trying to help Tom beat his opponent, who happens to be the chair of the county Republicans-- who sat by and did nothing as the county's government went to hell in a handbasket...

• 2nd Congressional GOP candidate Grant Bosse will discuss his ongoing campaign as it heads into the final few days before Tuesday's vote. Endorsed by the 'Grok, this not-so longshot candidate has left more than one person with a better than expected assessment following the chance to meet or hear him. "He's remarkably good on the stump," said one insider to me some time back during a phone conversation. In addition to his stances on all of the important issues of the day, Skip and I really like his embrace of the New Media and his ability to get the most bang for the campaign buck. "I might be outspent, but I won't be outworked," said Grant at the CNHT picnic in July. We'll get an update on his 50 Days, Fifty Ways to Cut Spending plan. The Union Leader, while not endorsing him, said "Grant Bosse, former aide to Sen. John Sununu, has an impressive political mind. He would make an excellent representative one day. " We disagree--- That day is NOW!

• Our friend and fellow local blogger DCE, AKA "Chan" AKA the Weekend Pundit fills in for Pat this week performing cohost duties, as we offer our expanded, pre-NH primary program...

Enjoy! 

It all starts at 9AM EST Saturday. Tune in if you're in Central NH at NewsTalk 1490AM WEMJ or live on the 'Net here... The best radio (in our humble opinions) anywhere...

Posted by Doug at 12:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Skip at 8:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Cost shifting, the act of forcing another part of overall government to pay for something it shouldn't, is one of the hot topic in NH in the race between Jeb Bradley and John Stephen in the Republican Primary  in the Congressional District 1.  A guest blog from John E. Poirier, President and CEO of the NHHCA, speaks to this issue:

Opinion Editorial:  August 22, 2008

John E. Poirier, President & CEO,  New Hampshire Health Care Association

Politics and Truth

Every political season brings claims of qualifications, past successes and promises for a brighter future.  There are always experienced, successful office holders past and present, some experienced at running and some newcomers.  This year’s 1st congressional district has an interesting race on the Republican side. 

There is an experienced former Congressman Jeb Bradley that has shown New Hampshire and the nation who he is and what he will do if re-elected.  And then there is a person who has run unsuccessfully in the past and chosen to pursue the bureaucrat path to office.  John Stephen is using his tenure in New Hampshire government to claim he is a conservative.  In his campaign literature he claims to have “saved” $143 million of taxpayer money.  Some think he is a conservative.  I beg to differ. 

I work for long term care providers including nursing homes.  The great majority of the people in nursing homes, both county and private nursing homes, are paid through the state Medicaid program.  During his tenure as Commissioner, Mr. Stephen intentionally paid the nursing homes less than the amount the legislature had decided nursing homes should be paid.  In other words, Mr. Stephen took it upon himself to override the legislature’s will.

What was the impact of Commissioner Stephen’s decision to override the legislature?

In private nursing homes, people paying privately had to pay more to balance the books.  In county nursing homes, the county taxpayer had to pay more to balance the books.  Either way, someone was paying the bill.  The 10’s of millions of dollars which Commissioner Stephen says he “saved” was actually paid for by others, much of it by county taxpayers.  And to make matters worse, at a time when the State has to count every penny, Commissioner Stephen’s decision not to spend the money which the legislature appropriated kept millions of matching federal funds in Washington, D.C.

When John Stephen chose not to pay these bills, the additional cost did not magically vanish.  Someone else had to pay the bill.  The money came from higher property taxes, higher costs to residents or their families or from nursing home operations.  Stephen will tell you the State paid more to nursing homes during his tenure and that is true.  But it is also true that nursing home costs, as with medical cost generally, escalated significantly more than Medicaid payments during this time. 
Is it conservative to leave money in Washington?  Is it conservative to pass on hidden taxes to citizens and local property taxpayers?  Is it conservative to override the policy decisions of the legislature?

It is easy to save other people’s money.  Claiming that makes you a conservative is disingenuous at best.

Posted by Skip at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just got this from a 'Grok reader

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward." 

-Amelia Earhart

Again, showing up and stick-to-it-iveness are often the keys for success.  Remember, you CAN choose to do something (or choose to lay on the couch!).

(H/T: Eleanor)

Posted by Skip at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TILTON, NH – The annual American Legion “Spirit of the Eagle” POW/MIA Vigil will be held in the American Legion Park at the New Hampshire Veterans Home (NHVH) in Tilton from Saturday, September 6 to Sunday, September 7, 2008. The opening ceremony will begin at 11:00 AM on Saturday and the closing ceremony will take place at 11:00 AM on Sunday.

Chuck Lewis, past Department Commander of the American Legion for New Hampshire and a member of the NHVH Therapeutic Recreation staff, says, “The purpose of the POW/MIA Vigil is to honor the commitment and the sacrifices made by this nation's Prisoners of War and those who are still Missing in Action, as well as their families. We have the highest regard for their service and we want to make sure they are never forgotten.”

The American Legion for New Hampshire coordinates the event and seeks volunteers to stand watch throughout the 24 hours of the vigil. “Each watch is only 15 minutes long,” explains Lewis, “but sometimes it is difficult to get people to volunteer for a shift in the middle of the night. It’s pretty impressive to see some of our residents standing out there or sitting in their wheelchairs in honor of their fellow soldiers.” Lewis adds, “This event is open to the public and we would love to have more people attend and stand watch.” People can contact Chuck Lewis at (603) 455-5047 if they have questions or would like to volunteer.

The New Hampshire Veterans Home was established in Tilton in 1890 as the Soldier’s Home for Civil War Veterans.  One of just four New Hampshire nursing homes to win the 2007 Quality of Life Award from the NH Department of Health & Human Services, the modern facility is home to 200 men and women who have served their country and fellow New Hampshire citizens.  The mission of NHVH is to provide high quality, professional long-term care services to the Granite State’s elderly and disabled veterans.  NHVH is the only long-term care facility in the Granite State that is dedicated exclusively to veterans.

#######################################################################

Program Information Officer

NH Veterans Home

139 Winter Street

Tilton, NH 03276

(603) 527-4847

www.nh.gov/veterans

Posted by Doug at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Excerpts from McCain's speech as prepared for delivery tonight at the RNC:

I’m very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country.  But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington.  And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd:

change is coming.

*  *  *

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom.  It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.  Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed.  That’s how I will govern as President.  I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again.  I have that record and the scars to prove it.  Senator Obama does not.

*  *  *

I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s.  I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here.  I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people.  I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for.  I was never the same again.  I wasn’t my own man anymore.  I was my country’s.

Posted by Doug at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

What the heck... Everyone's so excited about Governor Palin that we figured we might as well keep dishing out more of her as we get it.

Here is a video that will play this evening at the RNC:

.

Man, did McCain get this one right, or what? The excitement from everyone I talked to today was palpable...

Posted by Doug at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Regular 'Grok readers know that on occasion we veer away from politics when something worthy catches our attention. If you were to ever check out my "about" page, you would find this:

Doug has long been a non-conformist who, while generally despising the 60's antiwar hippie types and their ilk, shares their questioning of authority... and loves the music!

Indeed, I do love the music-- and a lot from the 70's, 80's, 90's, etc. Anyway, when I got notice of this show via the email, I almost couldn't believe my eyes:

Celebrate the music & legacy of Jimi Hendrix with this 2008 tribute tour featuring:

Original Jimi Hendrix Experience rhythm section
Mitch Mitchell & Billy Cox

Buddy Guy
Jonny Lang
Brad Whitford of Aerosmith
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Eric Johnson

Along with special performances by
Chris Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan's double trouble
David Hidalgo & Cesar Rojas of Los Lobos
Hubert Sumlin legendary Howlin' Wolf Guitarist
Mato Nanji of Indigenous
Bernard Allison
Eric Gales

What a lineup! If you're into the Hendrix-style heavy electric blues, it really couldn't get much better save perhaps Jimi himself showing up with Elvis in tow... I got my tickets to the Hampton Beach Club Casino (lousy venue, great lineups) show this morning at 10:15. As I write, it is now sold out but there are still tickets available at RI's Providence Performing Arts Center (great venue).

Posted by Doug at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Our buddy John Hawkins of RightWingNews has put together a nice video of some of the highlights of Sarah Palin's speech to the RNC last night. I think I'm like many people in that I'm really, REALLY looking forward to hearing and seeing more of this fantastic person chosen by Senator McCain to serve as his VP. It's been a long time since I've seen so many people excited about someone on the public stage. It's great to finally have something new and different happening in the world of politics. While Obama promises "change" and might look different than what we're used to, when you get past that, he offers nothing more than the same tired old rhetoric we've been hearing from the libs forever. Not so with Mrs. Palin-- she's the REAL DEAL!!!

Enjoy!

You can click here and watch it in its entirety, too. Awesome... Totally awesome. If the Palin pick is indicative of the kinds of decisions Senator McCain will make as President, America will be in good hands...

Posted by Doug at 6:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Take that!

Just got some excerpts courtesy of the RNC from Gov. Sarah Palin's remarks as prepared for delivery tonight. Man, I just can't wait to watch her deliver this!

Here's the money line, with the setup:

"I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education better. When I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."

Oh yeah!!!

Posted by Doug at 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From our friends  at the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, on the decision by the Manchester Board of Alderman NOT to place a spending cap question on the November ballot:

STREET FIGHT AT CITY HALL AND THE TAXPAYERS LOST

Gang of Eight Alderman Seek to Delay the Will of 4,000 Residents

Manchester, NH – The Manchester spending cap petition, which was lawfully collected by volunteer voters in Manchester, was narrowly rejected for placement on the November ballot by a "Gang of Eight" aldermen led by Mike Lopez. The "Gang of Eight" called the placement of the measure on the November ballot "too soon," and claimed "too many questions remain about it."  These alderman were Aldermen Mike Lopez, Bill Shea, Betsi DeVries, George Smith, Russ Ouellette, Mark Roy, Jim Roy and Dan O'Neil. The taxpayers may have lost on this night but a rematch is scheduled for this Friday at 4:00 pm.
 
"What we witnessed last night was nothing short of an affirmation of why we need a spending cap here in Manchester. The board had four months to get answers to their "questions." Four months to make their case to the voters of Manchester on why we shouldn't have a spending cap. Instead the "Gang of Eight" spent four months trying to figure out how to keep it off the November ballot." said Mike Biundo, Chairman of NHAC.
 
If Mike Lopez's "Gang of Eight" gets their way, Manchester taxpayers will have to spend $50,000 on a low turn-out high dollar special election which will need to be held during our holiday season.
 
"Shopping and sipping our egg nog; that's how Lopez and company are hoping to catch us, causing a wintery low turnout and high dollar holiday special election." continues Biundo
 
The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition appreciates the leadership displayed by Mayor Frank Guinta and Aldermen Mike Garrity, Kelleigh Domaingue, Ted Gatsas, Peter Sullivan, Ed Osborne and Real Pinard for holding back the tide of special interest talk and voting for the spending cap to be placed appropriately on the November ballot.
 
Will the voters of Manchester let eight residents stand in the way of the will of 4,000? We shall see…

 

Posted by Doug at 6:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, change comes in many forms and some of them unexpected.  Change can do many things - sometimes for worse and sometimes for the better.  Regardless of which, one thing that often happens when change comes to the fore is that activities, thoughts, and underlying philosophies get challenged - and so, the status quo may change...

And then I was going to go on to talk about other things concerning how much of a game changer McCain threw at both the Dems and the Liberal press. Especially in the area of "experience" which certainly should be upfront.

The problem with my former plan is the absolute hypocrisy that has been exhibited by Dems, Liberal advocacy groups, the Left-wing blogs, and especially the utter disdain that the Press has shown for not just Sarah Palin herself but her family as well.

Look, my feeling is that the candidate themselves are fair targets.  She has a record and a resume to stand on - mayor, governor, runner, hunter b-ball player on a State championship team, commercial fisher, hunter, broadcaster, snowmobiler - the list keeps going on.  She is a doer and not a talker.

But fair game.  And it is ludicrous to believe that this lady has any LESS experience as the bottom ticket candidate than the top of the Dem ticket.  And yet, the Dems believe they have a winner in comparing her to Obama (gee, he said sarcastically, where has talk of Biden gone?)? 

But she is fair game.  Her husband, unlike Obama's spouse (and Cindy McCain too), has not spoken on the stump circuit.  He should be off limits.  Her children likewise.  After all, the press left Obama's kids off limits, right?   And up to now, so have McCain's and Biden's kids.

But with Palin, the Press and Lefty blogs are out to destroy this successful woman who has done it all.  They wish to discredit her right off the bat - they are either so scared to death of her that they wish to snuff her run out or so condescending that they feel that being a honest-to-goodness-person (as opposed to an elitist), she shouldn't matter.

And how to do that?  Well, the game plan is not to just attack her or her stances, but to kill off her family members by innuendo.  Like when US magazine (owned by a large Obama backer) tells only half the story about the Palin "controversies" (Fox News just drawed and quartered Wenner - and he had no comeback for his magazine).

The Liberal feminists have all but turned themselves inside out by proclaiming by using her newest son as a focus of their attacks because he has Down's syndrome (how can she run with 5 children at home, one with a disability).  Yeah, these self same proclaimers that women should have it all are all but drooling in their madness to discredit an over-achiever who earned it all but fails their one litmus test - she talks AND walks the "live is sacred" pro-life stance; they hate it that her choice was not their choice. 

The Press, too,  has attacked by raising one objection to another by phrasing them as "serious questions to be discussed" but in such a way that if you if it was me doing the questions and my target was a Dem, I think they'd of flayed me alive and then rub salt in both me and my separated skin.

These are the self-same folks that have so often decried the "right wing attack machine".  Right.

So I ask the Press and others - have the Palins gotten the same consideration from you that you demanded for the John Edwards family in not reporting his affair?  Are you spending as little time as possible to the next story "out of respect to the family in their time of trouble?".

No, you have not.

Know why they doing this?  Because they think they will win. They think that, being elitists and Liberals all (and politeness is only for the little flyover people) they will get you to dismiss her from consideration.  Or beat her down so that she will quit out of shame, guilt, or both.

Doug knows that I very, very, very seldom use strong language.  At all - either here or verbally.  I'm thinking of her nickname "Sarah Barracuda".  Given to her by her basketball teammates for her hyper-competitive attitude - the classic over-achiever.  The kind that when confronted with a roadblock doesn't go around it, doesn't go under it, or over it - they bulldog it and then blow it up. 

That said, I know something.  Something that the elitists don't.  And can't because you don't "get it" and never will.  You know what that is?

Continue reading "Who knew? A baby as Disruptive Technology" »

Posted by Skip at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The American political scene is now abuzz about Governor Sarah Palin and her drive to straighten out the corrupt politics from her home state of Alaska.  Quite the stiff broom she wields as she "cleans house" in rooting out politicians out for their business instead of the Peoples' business.  Ethics first, openness and transparency coming right behind.  This should be standard issue for our elected officials - unfortunately it is not.  Diligence is always needed to ensure that "government for the people" really is "for the People" and not "the good old boys".   I'm quite sure Gov. Palin and Senator McCain will do such.

As regular readers of the 'Grok know, Doug (along with Tom Tardif who is now running for Belknap County Commissioner), has been fighting to have NH's Right To Know law followed by the Belknap County Commissioner and the County Convention (made up of the County's NH House of Representatives). 

Well, when things are not as open as they could be, then information is as hard as hen's teeth to pull, then bad things happen. Along with the obfuscation of the RTK, there was a problem with the office of the County Administrator / Financial Director, Nancy Cook.  Big enough that she was placed on unpaid administrative leave back last March.

Now we know what has happened to County's Financial Officer: no wonder the books are a mess.  The question: why did the required oversight leadership fail?  She stole; who is responsible for the procedures (or lack thereof) that allowed it to happen?

From the Union Leader:

Attorney General: Belknap County official stole $40,601

LACONIA - Belknap County's administrator and finance director has waived an indictment charging her with stealing $40,601.99, according to New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte.

Nancy Cook, 46, of Laconia, was indicted by a Belknap County Superior Court grand jury on one count of theft by unauthorized taking.

She is accused of writing checks made payable to cash on the county's account, cashing them and then using the money for her own personal use. Cook also allegedly wrote a check on the county's account to purchase a computer for her own personal use.

She is to enter a plea and be sentenced on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. in Superior Court.

County commissioners placed Cook on unpaid administrative leave in March as the criminal investigation was taking place.

Cook faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

"New Hampshire's taxpayers deserve to have every tax dollar spent only for its intended purpose. Those who hold the public's trust and then violate that trust will be vigorously prosecuted by my office," Ayotte said in a prepared statement.

Somebody needs to take a hard look at the OVERSEERS. Why were the Commissioners allowed to "run things" at the County and fill the role of County Administrator / Finance Director when Ms. Cook was relieved of duty? Would it be in their interest to perhaps give themselves time and cover to hide their apparent failure when it came to watching the taxpayers' dollars? How far back has the investigation gone?  Where is THEIR report and their Press Release on this huge problem in County management?

The public deserves elected officials that advocate for more open and transparent government processes that could keep this from happening in the first place.  When information is not readily available, it is much easier to "cook the books" (pun intended) when finances are made less available to the public.

Even the Commenters at the Union Leader's site have their ideas on this failure of leadership at the Commissioner and Convention levels:

Made county checks out to "Cash"??? Talk about no oversight!

================

BINGO!!! This is the same bunch that lost in the NH Supreme Court over Right to Know Law violations in the appointment process of the Sheriff.

The Republican establishment has completely dropped the ball regarding oversight-- The County Commissioners haven't a clue, and the County Delegation does nothing more than add to budgets and rubber stamp what's put in front of their noses.

WAKE UP, People!!!!!

There is a primary for a Commissioner seat involving a real citizen activist/maverick and one of the old GOP "stalwarts". This is one to watch. The insider has used all the powers of his party connections to stifle any debate or publicity.

Time for a clean sweep! The place to root out corruption and dereliction of duty is right in our own party!

================

She made checks payable to cash and somehow didn't think she'd get caught? Not also is she a thief, but she's a stupid thief. Did she write on the memo line "Theft" too?

================

It should be a *minimum* sentence for a public official to screw over tax payers. I hope she gets all 15 years and has to pay back every dime she took with interest.

================

THESE are the people we need to punish. Lock her up for the max sentence. Public officials who abuse their power should be handled in a very strict manner. If not, then people will lose that last little bit of faith they have in their government and judicial system. Do the right thing, make an example out of her.

For our local readers in Laconia, NH - if you like the idea of open and responsible County  government, you would do well to consider Tom for County Commissioner to receive your vote on September 9th.

Posted by Skip at 9:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the big spenders, that is:

We really DON'T need her down in DC doing for the country what she did to New Hampshire...

I'll git you my little pretties! Heheheheeeeee!

YIKES!

Posted by Doug at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To most conservatives, the Federal tax code should be used to raise money for the Federal government operations.  This Prez election matters because uber-Liberal Obama has said that he will use the tax code "to make it fairer". Let's set the context with this quote from 1787 from Scottish historian Alexander Tyler:

"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

A gift does not have to be one that is given; it can also be one that is not taken.  In this case, voters have continued to vote for people that have saved them money at the expense of "the other".  What have we created for a society, as I have said repeatedly before on the 'Grok, when most of that society have no skinny in the game?  What is the long term result when people feel that society is "free" when it is demonstrably not?  Me?  My answer is more selfish children - "what's in it for me!"

My question is: "how much more change is he willing to do to make it more fair than it already is?" 

Now for the numbers from the IRS that prove that what we have is not fair (H/T: NTU via Thurber's Thoughts)

I echo Maggie's words:

Since Democrats, and liberals in general, are all about fairness, how is it fair that the top 5% pay 60% of the taxes? Shouldn't we all be paying a 'fair' portion? If we were really being 'fair,' wouldn't they have to pay only 5% of the federal income taxes?

And do people actually understand that if you make more than $64,702, you're in the top 25% of taxpayers? With this threshold, most public employees are 'rich.' And those good factory workers, like at Jeep and Hydromatic - good UAW union jobs - are probably in that group, especially if there are two wage earners in the family. These are the people who are already paying the vast majority of the taxes. So is it fair to make them pay more so that people who make less than $31,987 can pay less than the 3% they're currently paying?

Ok, Obama, let's hear the explanation! Tell me WHY this tax system is fair to all?  Tell me that by eliminating the financial sharing of the cost of government is good for society?

Continue reading ""Fairer" Taxes - they certainly are not!" »

Posted by Skip at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Welcome to New Hampshire... the Live Free or Die Police State.

Welcome! You're guilty!

Now, I'm all for gettin' the bad guys, so don't get me wrong as you read this post. What I'm NOT for is an ever expanding POLICE State, with growing powers of law enforcement creating an inverse shrinking of our freedom. Lately here in the Granite State, this appears to be exactly what's happening.

First, we've got these paramilitary police groups called "special operations units" that have sprung up all around. These quasi-public law enforcement units, lacking the usual oversight by elected officials have, in the name of "homeland security" grown into organizations that appear to be mini-armies, complete with vehicles that resemble battle tanks. While I'm all for getting to and stopping terrorists, the fact is, there haven't been that many here in NH, so these mini-"militias" have turned inward against the population. After all, an "army" that is fully trained for action cannot long stand still without "chafing at the bit" for something to do. It's when they don those ski masks and head out into the night that trouble starts...

What I'm talking about, of course, is the raid on the family in Bristol by the Central NH Special Operations Unit during which innocent family members were held handcuffed in their own home for an hour and a half. Click here to read the full story of how 23 (!) "police officers" (twenty wearing masks hiding their identities) smashed down the door to the apartment in order to execute an arrest warrant for a seventeen year old family member.

And of course there's the other botched raid in Charlestown NH by another of these so-called "special operations units" where one state trooper was shot, and a man wound up dead. While the AG called the killing "justified" (aren't they all?), there are many questions swirling around, and even the NH State Police are questioning whether there are inherent built-in problems with these "non-profit" regional agencies that seemingly answer to nobody.

And then there's another relatively new phenomena here in the "Live Free or Die" state: the so-called "sobriety checkpoint." The lunchroom discussion at work lately has included this topic, as there have been many in thes