Merrimack County Republican Committee - My 'discussion' Part 1 - Granite Grok

Merrimack County Republican Committee – My ‘discussion’ Part 1

Well, this micro-saga started when a Merrimack County Republican Committee (“MCRC”) meeting turned out to be rather short for me (“An NH GOP State Committee Member, computer bag, and tripod walk into a Merrimack County Repub meeting“):

…Only if one believes the meme of “anybody with an R next to their name IS a good Republican” and that NEVER should one Republican attack another? Sorry, we don’t believe that – for if you believe that anything is possible, well, you may find Rs voting like Ds and acting AGAINST the Republican Party Principles (and too bad if it is your friend).  Well, it certainly felt like was a bit of payback time for our pitchfork times by some who haven’t like the idea that we at the ‘Grok don’t accept that meme.

Yes,the camera was voted out and given that the tripod legs were “frozen in fear” afterwards, I had to carry it out of The Draft.

“C’est la”!  But imagine my surprise when one of the MCRC members (and loyal ‘Grok readers)  asked “Would you like to come and talk to the MCRC”?  “Surprise” doesn’t begin to describe my reaction; neither does “shocked” – so I said, chuckling, “sure”!  So last week, I had the chance to return; I would have to say the place was pretty well packed at the home of Howard & Robyn Pearl (more folks than the original meeting).

Sidenote: When I first arrived I. Could. Not. Get. Over. How. Georgous. The. View. Was!  Didn’t want to go inside: high up on the hill, the setting of the bright sun just set the still colored trees ON FIRE and the view just kept on going.  God’s handiwork, indeed!).  Appreciate the invite to see the view!

Being a blogger, I hate to waste material, so here Part 1 of the talk (with some editing now that I have reviewed it yet again) as prepared.  Irony: it was recorded – will post it up as an update to this post and it will be clear that I just free styled off the written remarks – sometimes a lot.  I also learned that I prepped WAY WAY too much material, so it another reason for posting it.  I had the choice of two titles – the first was a bit more “cerebral sounding”:

I will no longer support anyone who acquiesces in “fundamentally transforming America”

but I decided to go with a take off on the phrase that was thrown out in my direction when voted out of that earlier meeting:

“So, I help to elect Democrats, eh?”

And I went with that latter one.  Truth be told, I have to give a H/T to Mark Sanborn who uttered “you help to elect Democrats!” just before that outcast vote was taken (and several people ID’d him as the person independently).  Thanks guy, for really set the stage for the construction of my discussion.  In true sermon fashion (tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them), the goal was to

  • Who are we at GraniteGrok?
    • The History of the ‘Grok
    • What we are About?
    • What we Do
  • Why we see a Problem in the GOP
  • Why is the GOP / NH GOP in Trouble (DEEP trouble)

Here is that talk, with some additional observations:

WHO WE ARE

Good evening!

Since I was voted off the island the last time, this is a rather stunning turn of events – thank you for the opportunity!  Hopefully, I will not disappoint and hopefully, it will be different as well as it is all about the discussion. The title is

“So, I help to elect Democrats, eh?”

 Unlike most speechest given at these kinds of meetings, a talk/short Q&A of the speaker, I’m going to turn this around – a series of questions for you all. And given that I used to teach Technology and Sunday School for years, my style is a bit “different. So, let’s begin, shall we?

  • Hands up – Who here is familiar with GraniteGrok? Great – keep them up.
  • Who here hates it? Likes it? Could care less?
  • Who here has read it just once? a few times? Intermittant? Regular reader? Daily read?

I left out a couple of others:

  • Anybody here know I was a Republican Town Chair for a while?
  • Anybody here know that I am a NH State GOP Committee member?  That most of the Groksters are?
  • Anybody here know that I was twice an elected town official that ran on a conservative platform when it came to spending money that wasn’t mine?

as I didn’t think it fit.  In asking questions, I got feedback – which is what I wanted.  Too often, it is just a listening time – I wanted a more interactive time, so I dropped them.  I only included them originally for ‘bona fides” (such as they are) to help illustrate the validity of the title.

History / the facts:

  • Doors opened in 2006 w/Doug Lambert
  • Figured that beyond our families (maybe) we might get 5-10 folks a week to read our opinions.
  • Grateful – we’ve been as high as 4,000 visits a day. When things are hot here in NH, we’ll be at 2-3K/day and a steady readership of 1-1.2 K / day.
  • We now have over 15K posts of which I have writen close to 7,000
  • Emphasis is on politics and culture from a Conservative / Libertarian (Conservatarian, Liberative)
  • Our bedrock Quality Of Measurements are the Constitutions, Platform, and our Judeo-Christian heritage.
  • We were a co-founding member of the NH TEA Party Coalition

About: We do battle in the arena of ideas EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

 We ARE your feared:

fire-breathing, Mtn Dew powered, extremist, right-wing, hard-charging, gun-toting, opinionated, outspoken, rabble rousing, Letter writing, radio microphone stomping, buying ink electrons by the barrel Conservatives and Rational Libertarians!

We take on all Progressives/Liberals/Moderates/ Squishy Republicans and fly to the aid of rock-ribbed freedom loving and liberty seeking / leaning folk anywhere!

We are those that are striking fear into the hearts of Democrats everywhere in NH. After all, none of them DARE to take us on, mano-y-mano in the blogosphere or radio land or in any debate anywhere. As with fabled Texas Rangers of old (1 mob – 1 Ranger): just ordinary schlubs in New Hampsha vs the whole of the NH Dem / Progressive Party – no contest!

Anything that amuses us is game!

What we do:

  • Citizen journalism
    • We get to events and live stream & record video and post them unedited for those that can’t go or afford events and where the MSM pays little to no attention.
    • We do interviews with interesting people
    • Investigative Journalism – State workers blogging on taxpayer dime, Voter Fraud
    • GilfordGrok – a town salary study that stunned the Lakes region for about 4 years after I gave it
  • Opine (of course)
    • We speak up – we say the things on the issues most others can’t or won’t (for whatever reason – fear, or retribution, or from a power standpoint).
    • We don’t give a crap who you are, what you are, or who you represent
    • We are consistent – and we can back that claim up.
    • We hold people and organizations to Account – go ahead, break your word or break your promise. CAUSE NO ONE ELSE DARES TO.

 So, a coupla few questions more:

  • So far, kinda boring stuff, right? Let’s get interesting
  • So, where do YOU think that I and the ‘Grok fall on the political spectrum: Dennis Kucinich?  Ted Cruz?
  • Where do YOU think GraniteGrok should be on that spectrum?
  • To the initial premise – have I given any evidence that I “help elect Democrats”?
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