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Interesting – I didn’t realize the percentages were THAT large:

A new study of how criminals vote found that most convicts register Democratic, a key reason in why liberal lawmakers and governors are eager for them to get back into the voting booth after their release.

“Democrats would benefit from additional ex-felon participation,” said the authoritative study in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

The authors, professors from the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University, found that in some states, felons register Democratic by more than six-to-one. In New York, for example, 61.5 percent of convicts are Democrats, just 9 percent Republican. They also cited a study that found 73 percent of convicts who turn out for presidential elections would vote Democrat.

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“What is the base supposed to think when they see Republicans taking money from Democrats to use in Republican primaries?”

Or, as the phrase goes that I’ve been using: the Jr. Partners of the Democrats.  It is no secret that the Establishment Republicans, as shown by Karl Rove’s willingness to spend millions to defeat conservatives (aka TEA Party) that actually believe in the Constitution and the Party Platform.  Power is addictive and we see that on both sides of the aisles.  How often have we seen those trying to move the country down to its political roots be attacked by long term pols that seemingly have more regard for themselves and their butts in the seat rather than taking the hard stances and showing the willingness to say “no more” to the overregulating, freedom snuffing Welfare State?

How often do we see “our side” willing to work with the Socialists and move that Overton Window just that next incremental move Leftward?  As long as they get to play with the Levers of Power – when permitted, I guess.  And here is a great example of Republicans acting as “the useful idiots” for others that wish to knock them off  later- but willing to take out TEA Party types first:

Guess Who’s Funding the Republican Civil War

Labor unions. And they’re doing it through a pro-business Republican PAC.

The Republican Main Street Partnership has emerged as an outspoken, deep-pocketed player in pro-business GOP plans to beat back tea-party challengers next year. But the group’s new super PAC has an unexpected source for its seed money: labor unions.

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More and more, I see this sentiment boiling up from those “in the movement”.  More and more, they are feeling used (“thanks for 2010, now go away)

If Republicans were as concerned as they say with winning in 2014 and 2016, the GOP establishment in Washington would get out of the way and let the grassroots work the same magic it did in 2010. Instead they are doing everything in their power to make conservatives, their most reliable base of support, shut up and sit down. This is a colossal mistake that will lead to the Democrats retaining control of the Senate in 2014. It may lead to the end of the Republican Party.

The ruling class in Washington, on both sides of the aisle, has spent generations developing a system where the American people are largely uninvolved, and therefore politicians can absolve themselves of responsibility for most any legislation or problems that may arise with legislation. The ruling class is very happy with this status quo.

Conservatives want to change the way Washington works and make all representatives more responsive to the will of the American people. Accountability is the very last thing the ruling class on either side of the aisle wants to accept, and the conservative movement has sometimes shown the muscle to force it upon them. For that, the establishment GOP will partner with the progressive Democrats to do their best to cleanse conservative principles from Washington.

They feel they have been betrayed by those that lipsync the right words,

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The NH GOP should go “X Contests” a la the Ansari X Prize that was offered by the X Foundation

Frank Guinta was on WMUR’s (just like the logo says) “Close Up” – no big surprise as like all shows, we are now in the “wrap up for the year” time slot for all the news and talking head shows.  This week was one of “quick bites” from politicians from both sides of the aisle and Frank basically got one quick shot at it – but brings up an interesting concept:

Be respectful of different views and perspectives in our party because there are a lot of great ideas. Whether you identify yourself as an ideologically in the middle or on the Right, there are a lot of ideas that come from different people.

Indeed!  I have often said that the only people who have a monopoly on good ideas are those that, well, have good ideas.  And yes, they can come from a bunch of people and sometimes, from people you have never heard of before but has taken quite a different slant than the Conventional Wisdom would dictate.  However, this does beg a question: HOW do you decide what is a great idea – or not?

I have a suggestion (yeah, no surprise there, eh?).  Usually, great ideas fall into a few categories: 

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Advantage Guinta in the “Answer the Question” category.  Host of WMUR’s Closeup, Josh McElveen, asked what I thought was a simple straight-forward to US Senator Kelly Ayotte:  Is there a collective unity or is it still as fractured as it was Nov 7?

Well, you know, just like any place, there are divergent views within a Party.

C’mon! It’s not like it’s a secret or anything – I’ve been blogging about this topic for a while. Not only that, but the NH Media is oft covering the same (after all, many are Democrat operatives with bylines, as Glen Reynolds is oft to say) and like to turn that shiv a little at a time.  Or, just read / watch / listen to the media that seemingly delights in reporting that Karl Rove and the US Chamber of Commerce are raising 10s if not 100s of millions of bucks to “fight” the Liberty and Freedom wing of the Republican Party (e.g., loudmouth US Representative Peter King is a great example, if you need one).

 But I think what we need to do is make sure to focus on, really, the core principles of the Republican Party: fiscal responsibility, making sure that we have economic growth and jobs by creating the best climate in the world for you to grow your business, thrive and grow here in NH and across the country, and strongly defending our nation. That’s been my focus in the Senate and I have found many like-minded individuals that want to work on those issue not only the Republican Party but looking for opportunities across the aisle to solve problems for America – that’s what’s needs to happen and I hope to be a strong voice within our Party that we need to be problem-solvers and that we need that we show the American people why our principles make sense and why they are going to provide a better future for America.

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“A people that has a government” – methinks that this guy has that relationship backwards.  From the Nashua Telegraph:

Assistant Safety Commissioner Earl Sweeney hopes drivers will take into account that the North Country experiences some of the worst winter driving conditions in the state.

“The difference it would make for someone traveling a distance of 100 miles at 70 miles per hour versus 65 miles per hour is they would complete their trip about six minutes sooner and consume more fuel while doing it,” Sweeney said in an email. “Is it worth it just to save those six minutes?”

To some folks, yes it is. And whether or not they “consume” more fuel is none of your business – that is a decision between adults and their wallets.   On a personal note, Mr. Sweeney has the perfect right to his opinion – pontificate away!  As a government employee, however, his purpose is to carry out what the public (his employer) have decided to do with those roads via their elected officials.  In this case, the public has decided they want to go a bit faster on the roads that their tax monies built and maintain – you’re job is to make it happen as safely as possible knowing a priori that 100% safety is impossible to attain. 

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Low taxes are the result of low spending

– former NH Gov Meldrim Thomson.

Well, as it seems to be their wont, our Legislators in DC just keep forgetting about that sage advice and instead, keep their own New Year’s tradition alive – “gifting” us with new taxes.  Some big, some small. CNN / Money as a short list of those that you may need to hurry up on before they go away:

1. Tuition and fees: A deduction for tuition and fees of up to $4,000 is currently available to parents and students paying for college.
2. Teachers’ expenses: The Educator Expense Deduction aims to help teachers cover the cost of classroom supplies like notebooks, pens and paper that their school doesn’t reimburse them for. Elementary and secondary school teachers can qualify for deductions of up to $250 per year, even if they don’t itemize.
3. Mortgage insurance premiums: Currently, homeowners are able to deduct their mortgage insurance premiums as residence interest.
4. State and local sales tax: In states without an income tax, like Florida and Alaska, taxpayers have been able to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of taking the income tax deduction — but that won’t be an option next year unless Congress intervenes.
5. Donations through your IRA: Retirees older than 70-and-a-half have traditionally been able to make non-taxable charitable donations of up to $100,000 directly from their IRA disbursements. But once this tax break expires, they will need to take the disbursement first, meaning it will be considered part of their taxable income.
6. Energy-efficiency: It’s your last chance to get a credit of up to $500 if you made energy-efficient home improvements this year — including new windows and doors. To see if you qualify, visit EnergyStar.com or ask the company where you bought the items.
7. Commuter costs: Currently, commuters who take mass transit like trains or buses to work are able to receive $245 a month (or $2,940 per year) in tax-free money toward those expenses. But this perk is scheduled to expire January 1, at which point commuters will only be able to write off just $130 per month — $1,560 a year.
8. Mortgage debt forgiveness: A tax break that has been in effect since 2007 allows struggling homeowners to exclude any debt forgiveness they were granted from a bank when calculating their taxable income.

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Of COURSE, once the news that UPS and Fedex missed some deliveries, I knew it was only a little bit of time before some Self-important CongressTwit and SenaBoob was going to insert themselves into this situation, given that it was Christmas and Capitalism.  From the various news reports, it seems that some retailers and the shippers overpromised in the world of online purchases – and underdelivered.  Of COURSE people were angry to the point of outraged.  I can certainly understand – it’s a pain in the neck when I’ve ordered something and it doesn’t appear on time – but stuff happens:

These factors pushed online retail sales to jump 63% on Dec. 23 when compared to the same day last year, according to Mercent data. Even though forecasts expected a jump in online sales this year, the industry has not experienced this peak two days before Christmas in the past, Best said. “They may have seen late signs that more people were buying online, but you can’t ramp up equipment that fast,” Stock said.

So, right on cue, US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) steps in and demands rebates from the retailers and the shippers.  All of the reports I saw in the blogosphere reguritated this – except for CBS New York who recorded a bit more than what is on his website: 

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