News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
. John DiStaso, writing in the Union Leader breaks the bad news: New Hampshire became the fourth state to legalize civil unions today, as Gov. John Lynch signed the bill, calling it “the New Hampshire way.” This is the full text of the Governor’s statement: "Dating back to the Abolitionist movement, we … Read more
A day designated in the United States for honoring dead members of the armed forces. Cross: 1. "A gibbet or ancient instrument of torture, generally made of two pieces of timber placed across each other, usually with an upright set in the ground and a horizontal crosspiece below the top of the upright. Upon this, … Read more
Charlie Arlinghaus of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy has released a study on what he sees as a growing hole in the NH state budget. It is lengthy, but a good read for the long weekend. Of course, if you wish to "not worry and be happy," you’d better skip it… . Tax … Read more
. In prior postings on the subject, I noted that the delivery of health care services in my local region is controlled in total by a single monopoly. I wrote …the local "non profit" health-delivery institution is, for all intents and purposes, a monopoly. Through the years, they have worked all the machinations … Read more
On Monday May 21st, Newt spent part of his day here in NH, first at a book signing at Wal Mart and then at a meeting of his group, "American Solutions for Winning the Future" (ASWF), hosted by the folks from VictoryNH. . I filmed his entire talk at ASWF and have finally started chunking out the … Read more
It has come down to this: Those who back the Whalley amendment are “statesmen,” while those who don’t are “screamers” and “criers.” I’m quoting from a recent op-ed by one of the self-proclaimed statesmen supporting the Whalley amendment. According to this statesman, the Whalley amendment will lower the level of judicial review of education legislation … Read more
. Now that it appears that illegal aliens will be able to pay a $5,000 fine as part of a process to become a legal US citizen, what happens when they can’t pay? Most of the people I know in my daily life would have … Read more
The local paper (unavailable online) has noticed the latest project that the gang at the ‘Grok is supporting… Gilford bloggers take aim at pending NH civil union law by Michael Kitch Saturday May 19, 2007 GILFORD — Doug Lambert and Skip Murphy, the protean conservative couple who spawned the internet blogs GilfordGrok … Read more
Apparently, Mike Whalley told the House Finance Committee yesterday that his “amendment, by including the word ‘reasonable,’ would lower the standard [of judicial review]. Court review of legislative decisions would be based on whether they have a ‘rational basis.’” There is a standard of legal review known as rational basis review. As a practical matter, … Read more
I totally agree with this sentiment. It is the antidote to apathy… "The manna of liberty must be gathered each day, or it is rotten. Only by unintermitted agitation can a people be kept sufficiently awake to principle not to let liberty be smothered in material prosperity. Republics exist only on the tenure of being agitated." … Read more
. Last week I posted a piece about Hillary Clinton visiting Laconia and having a private meeting with the leaders of the local health-care monopoly. I wrote: As they lament rising costs that hurt "little people", do you suppose anyone will ask why the LRGHealthcare CEO’s salary rose nearly $134,000 in the span of … Read more
If you got it, they’ll tax it… . The following press release was issued yesterday afternoon by the NH House Republican Office. Can you imagine if this was the GOP that had decided to tax milk? I’ll bet the Dems and their comrades in the statewide newsmedia would have had a cow… NH Democrats Continue to … Read more
Our friend Liz Mair of GOPProgress.com fills us in on an interesting election coming up in "Kennedy County" south of the Granite State (er, we’re lookin’ like Kennedy Country here in NH, now that I think about it). In this week’s column for the New York Sun, Liz reports on the upcoming October election to … Read more
As stories file in about the murder of Corporal Bruce McKay, I am sad to report that I have become a “crime voter.” The murder of Corp. McKay began officially to push me in that direction, but then an evening visitor at my front door sent me over the edge. Seems one of my neighbors … Read more
. The Democrat controlled NH House Judiciary Committee caused a stir when it rejected on Tuesday a Senate bill requiring the POW-MIA flag flown at all courthouses in the state. The NHInsider reprinted a Union Leader editorial on the matter giving the details: "Barnes’ bill, Senate Bill 27, would have mandated flying the … Read more
Ron Tunning was our guest this weekend on Meet the New Press (you can listen to the discussion here). Ron is the chairman of the local Democrat committee. He is also a fierce advocate of gay marriage. I—as you can clearly tell in the Podcast—am not. I am just as adamant in my defense of … Read more
. After many years of watching the Sunday morning talking heads shows, this weekend, I’ll be staring back FROM the set. Arnie Arnesen, former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and long-time liberal NH political pundit hosts a program about NH politics called “Political Chowder.” I was invited to be a member of the panel discussion hosted by … Read more
Today’s Pravda-on-the-Merrimack’s political column has this gem from Fergus Cullen on Fran Wendelboe’s plan to start a group to recruit candidates who believe in Ronald Reagan’s principles: "We already have a Reagan organization in New Hampshire. It’s called the Republican Party." Nice try, Fergus, but no cigar. Reagan Republicanism is anathema to the majority of … Read more
Fellow Granite Staters Mark Steyn and Jay Tea have weighed in with some perspective on the murder of Corporal Bruce McKay, to which I can add very little if anything. My only contribution is that events like this one tend to catalyze political debates and I suspect it will not be long before our Democrat-controlled … Read more
Our friend Pat is often lecturing me and Skip about the need for Republican unity. "Now is not the time for purges," he tells us, whenever we start to discuss those Republicans that represent a big part of the problem the GOP has had in sticking together on core issues. I believe that just being willing to … Read more