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Co-founder of GraniteGrok, my concern is around Individual Liberty and Freedom and how the Government is taking that away. As an evangelical Christian and Conservative with small "L" libertarian leanings, my fight is with Progressives forcing a collectivized, secular humanistic future upon us. As a TEA Party activist, citizen journalist, and pundit!, my goal is to use the New Media to advance the radical notions of America's Founders back into our culture.

Defund the Federal Highway Fund and return the responsibility (and costs) back to the States.

From Weekend Pundit:

David Starr comments on the Federal Highway Trust Fund, its original purpose, and how it is now being used for anything but maintaining our highways. He also has some suggestions about dealing with it now that the money is running dry.

Better, would be to shut down the Highway Trust Fund altogether.  Lay off all the bureaucrats who run it. Cancel the Federal gasoline tax.  Let the states, who do the roadwork, pay for road maintenance out of state funds.  The states could even hike their gas taxes if needed.  With the Federal gas tax removed, the states could take a much bigger bite without raising the price of gas.

Indeed.

Ayup.  Too often I have to say “what is happening in DC is happening in Concord”; the politicians of BOTH stripes have created this man-made crisis – set up the Fund(s) for a specific purpose and unable to exert discipline over themselves to leave the monies alone and siphoned it off in multiple ways… 

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CNHT Annual Picnic – Candidates for NH State House : Frank Edelblut, Michelle Levell, Nick Zaricki

Having finished with the candidates for the NH State Senate, it is now time to turn to those activists that are now going to run either for re-election or for the first time:

  • Frank Edelblut – Hillsborough District 38
  • Michelle Levell – Rockingham District 7
  • Nick Zaricki – Hillsborough District 6

  

Frank Edelblut                                                      Michelle Levell

Nick Zaricki

Previous Video:  

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BCRC – Oh yes, the denialist Jeremy Baker was there

The “I don’t work for Scott Brown before he WAS working for Scott Brown” person that decided he was going to record a group of us that were protesting the “Scott Brown event at GONH meeting” across the street – and had a “moment” when we decided to return the favor.  Here, he introduces himself to the folks at the Belknap County Republican meeting this past Wednesday:

And as a reminder:

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CNHT Annual Picnic – Candidates for NH State House : John Burt, Lawrence Cheetham, JR Hoell, David Murotake

And the last of the candidates – and again, they are running for the NH House of Representatives:

  • John Burt – Hillsborough County District 39
  • Lawrence Cheetham – Hillsborough County District 7
  • JR Hoell – Merrimack County District 23
  • David Murotake – Hillsborough County District 32

  

             John Burt                                                         Lawrence Cheetham

  

JR Hoell                                                              David Murotake

Previous videos:   

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BCRC – Walt Havenstein Q&A: Questions 4 & 6 – On Right To Work and on an apology for his slur against the TEA Party

And the last couple of questions made to Walt Havenstein at this past Wednesday’s Belknap County Republican Committee meeting.  Also, and in keeping with the GraniteGrok policy of always putting up everything (which has been done, chopped only for the time for each topic), the complete time is after the jump (with some breaks ONLY because the camera has been starting to fail and I “stopped/started” the recording so as to not get corrupt recording files).

  • Question 4 – An apology is needed, sir!
  • Question 6 – Do you support Right to Work (RTW)?

  

Question 4                                                                   Question 6

Quick Result:

  • None is going to be offered
  • Yes

The whole schmear:   

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CNHT Annual Picnic – Candidates for NH State Senate: George Lambert, Kathy Lauer-Rago, Lydia Dube Harmon, Dennis Lamare

Still even MORE candidates for NH State Senate speak at the CNHT Annual picnic held last Saturday in Hillsborough, NH.  Lots of folks showed up as it IS considered to be Old Home Day for conservative activists in the State.  Here are three more folks that believe that they can make a difference:

  • Kathy Lauer-Rago, NH State Senate District 7
  • Lydia Dube Harmon, NH State Senate District 15
  • George Lambert, NH State Senate District 18
  • Dennis Lamare, NH State Senate District 21

  

Kathy Lauer-Rago                                              Lydia Dube Harmon

NH State Senate District 7                                  NH State Senate District 15

George Lambert                                                                    Dennis Lamare

NH State Senate District 18                                              NH State Senate District 21

Previous Video:  

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GrokTALK! for the week of 7/12/2014 – The Videos

Dang, I THOUGHT I might be able to get these up before Steve gets the audio up.  Yes, we had a late start as we couldn’t get into the building at our regular time, so our start time was 9:30am and then ran late on the other end.  BUT!  A good show with

The Pre-Show – we grouse a bit.

  • Segment 1 – former US Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) who is seeking the NH GOP nomination for US Senate
  • Segment 2 – Matt Murphy with Citizens for a Strong NH
  • Segment 3 – Jazz Shaw, the weekend Editor of Hot Air joins with the Groksters
  • Segment 4 – Groksters Assemble!  Normally Segment 1, we talk about issues of interest to us.

Pre-Show

Segments 1 – 4 after the jump:

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Data Point – Labor Dynamism

My Data Point post on Business Dynamism is here – showing that the rate at which new businesses / start ups has slowed right down.  There is also a labor companion to this: “It’s not enough for an economy to generate jobs. There should also be a good amount of turnover in the labor market. Workers … Read more

Data Point – Conceal Carry rates versus Crime / Murders

“murder and violent crime rate has fallen significantly while concealed carry in this country surged 130 percent.” 2007 – 2013: concealed carry permit holders up from 4.6 million to 11.1 million (141% rise). 2007 – 2013: the murder rate fell from “5.6 to 4.4 per 100,000.” (22% drop). 2007 – 2013: Overall violent crime down 22% Apparently, other … Read more

BCRC – Walt Havenstein Q&A: Q2-Would you veto Medicaid Expansion in 3 years?

Continuing on with the Question and Answer session… Question 2: Would you veto Medicaid Expansion in 3 years if it is implemented? Short Result: Yes Previous video: Intro Ceremonies, agenda for old / new business, importance of delegates, candidate pitches Keynote Speaker: Walt Havenstein, candidate NH GOP nomination for NH Governor Walt Havenstein Q&A: Question … Read more

CNHT Annual Picnic – Candidates for NH State Senate District 11: Gary Daniels, Dan Hynes, Maureen Mooney

Certainly, there are many more candidates than just those that have already spoken; there are plenty more to come.  Vying for either the NH State Senate directly as the NH GOP nominar (they do not have a primary) or will be striving to be that after September 9th (the day of the NH Primary).  Here are three – all in the same District (and obviously, in the same Primary):

  • Gary Daniels, NH State Senate District 11
  • Dan Hynes, NH State Senate District 11
  • Maureen Mooney, NH State Senate District 11

  

Gary Daniels                                                                Dan Hynes

Maureen Mooney

Previous Video: 

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BCRC – Walt Havenstein Q&A: Questions 3 & 5 – Platforms and Union money

More questions for Walt Havenstein, candidate for the NH GOP nomination for NH Governer, at the Belknap County Republicans meeting this past Wednesday night: Question 3 – Where do your views differ from the NH GOP or the national GOP? Question 5 – Have you taken money from Unions, and if so, which?    Question 3 – Views                                            … Read more

BCRC – Intro ceremonies, old business, candidate speeches

As most already know, the July meeting of the Belknap County Republican Committee was held last night.  As always, the whole thing will be put up, first in “topical segments” and then I’ll put up the entire hour plus meeting (to provide full context, given the controversy from last night) – we may snip out … Read more

Notable Quote – John C Maxwell on Mistakes

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes; smart enough to profit from them; and strong enough to correct them. – John C Maxwell Well, gee now…. (H/T: Joe)

CNHT Annual Picnic – Dr. Betsy McCaughey

Not only did Dr. Betsy McCaughey spend a few minutes with GraniteGrok in an exclusive interview (Steve has the audio here – eventually I’ll get the video up) but she was the Keynote Speaker at the CNHT Annual Meeting.  She is ALWAYS well prepared and know how to present her points: Previous Video: CNHT 2014 Annual … Read more

Data Point – Business Dynamism

“One analysis of the Not-So-Great Recovery argues that rebounds after recessions with financial crises tend to be weaker than otherwise. This is the theory posited by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff in their book This Time is Different.  But that’s not quite right, according to Michael Bordo. In the paper “The Recovery of Housing and the End of the … Read more

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