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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.

Blogline of the Day: Boston Marathon Terrorists – State supported?

“The Tsarnaev brothers were state-supported terrorists. The state was Massachusetts.” Howie Carr was talking about this on his radio show today – what the Herald (the paper where he is a columnist) had gotten from the State of MA for welfare payments via FOIA demands – 500 pages with welfare payments over $100,000. Yeah, the … Read more

THANK YOU, Senators Lee, Paul, and Cruz!

It’s about freaking time SOMEBODY forced other Republicans, you know, to have to rely on Principles! Once again, the political symptom is gun control and the filibuster but the Republican disease is   Heh!:

Texas senator Ted Cruz on Friday indicated that the battle among GOP Senators over gun control was so fierce that, at several points throughout the debate, some of his Republican colleagues yelled at him “at the top of their lungs.”

“I don’t know that there is an issue that has generated more heat internally in the Republican conference,” Cruz said at a Texas tea party rally. “We’ve had probably five or six lunches with a bunch of Republican senators standing up and looking at Rand [Paul] and Mike [Lee] and me and yelling at us at the top of their lungs, I mean, really upset. And they said ‘Look, why did you do this? As a result of what you did, when I go home, my constituents are yelling at me that I have to stand on principle.’ I’m really not making that up.

(H/T: The Corner)  Take away from that snippet – I betcha more of these Republican morons are more concerned with keeping their R-butts seats rather than defending the R-values they campaigned on.  Got that?  It comes down to saying one thing but doing another – and a lot of Rs don’t like hearing that and they don’t like the bony finger pointed at them or their friends.  Too bad – and with the rest New Media, we get the word out.

Oh you bet that I’ll hear about posting this – “there he goes again, bashing other Republicans” (just like when I “visited” the Merrimack County Republicans a coupla weeks ago and Mark Sanborn (according to someone sitting across from him who came up to me afterwards) yelled out “HE HELPS TO ELECT DEMOCRATS!”).  In response to that assflappery, I say this:

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A PERFECT case of “Bad decision? You own the bad consequence(s)”

For years, I have thought and said that one of the most pernicious new values of our rapidly becoming a secular Progressive Society is that of socializing negative consequences of bad decisions by individuals (“nobody can suffer the consequences of their decisions – we are ALL at fault so we must ALL suffer for him”).   The associated side of this is that of the Nanny State that seeks to force one to diminish the effects of risky behavior of certain voluntary activities (e.g., forcing people to wear a motorcycle helmet or a seatbelt) – or, to take that activity or substance (no, not the usuals, but think trans-fats that make things tasty, or 100 watt light bulbs that make it easier to read by).

Now, let me state that in no way am I in favor of suicide, so don’t try to twist what the above with the below – most suicides are done out of extreme depression and a sense that nothing positive can change for them – and the vast majority are of no fault of their own.  Here?  My opinion is that this is a political statement and a political stunt – these folks are there because of extremely bad decisions done on BATTLEFIELDS against our military or civilians – these are enemy combatants that have declared war on the US (reformatted, emphasis mine):

(AP) – A hunger strike among prisoners at Guantanamo Bay keeps growing.  Lt. Col. Samuel House said Saturday that 100 of 166 prisoners at the U.S. base in Cuba have now joined the strike.  He says 19 are receiving liquid nutrients through a nasal tube to prevent dangerous weight loss. House says five of those are at a hospital under observation but that they do not have any life-threatening conditions.

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Tyranny: Democrat Socialists of America in the US House saying (Ah-gain) “you don’t need all that and you didn’t earn it anyways!”

So they believe that if you have too much private property (too much cash), they have the perfect way to steal it from you: write a bill!  After all, it isn’t FAIR that you have earned so much by stealing it from the poor and middle class.  They have far better purposes for what your labor, skill, and motivation has earned you.  It’s rather simple, really – they basically want to count your money: $1 for you and we’ll take one too!  Lather, rinse, repeat – for your entire stash (not to be confused with the Obamastash which seems to come out of nowhere to give to the 47%.  Or have we found the source??  Oh, never mind – I don’t speak Mandarin).

Several House Democrats on Thursday introduced legislation that would impose a minimum 45 percent tax rate on taxable income above $1 million, and would set a 49 percent rate on income above $1 billion.

The Fairness in Taxation Act, H.R. 1723, was proposed by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who said the bill would help put the nation’s wealth back into the hands of middle- and lower-income workers.

Fairness?  To take that which was not earned by you is “fair”?  I have yet to see any reference in the Democrat Socialists of America white papers that says that they stand in solidarity with the Founders who held the pursuit of Property (which was the original wording in the Declaration until Ole’ Ben said to use “Happiness” – which was considered to the be same thing back then) was one of the philosophical underpinnings of a free society).  A man is not free when the Government can take his stuff.  After all, in all other societies at the time, if the King wanted it, the King took it by “Divine Right” for the use of his government.  Now, we see this again – this bunch of Progressives wish to regress back to that time of when Government (via the King) wants something, they will just take it.  Grokster Steve’s phrase of Fee Staters not only covers the Democrat Progressives here in NH but those in DC as well; none of them believe it is enough.

This is “progress” with respect human Liberty and Freedom?  Obviously, no to the question but yes to their intent.  We see this incremental Tyranny in that these folks that believe in a foreign political philosophy certainly join in with Obama when he said “at some point, you have made enough money” (or even saved enough) –

Individual, meh.  The Collective, YEAH!

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Joke?

From the White House Correspondents’ dinner, Obama tried to make a joke: These days, I look in the mirror and I have to admit, I’m not the strapping young Muslim Socialist that I used to be. Time passes. You get a little gray.” The audience, made up of Obama followers (mainstream press, Hollywood celebrities, and … Read more

Data Point – A Time to Drill

It is clear that if energy is needed, and it is found, it can be drilled for and drilled quickly.  It is also clear that Obama’s Administration does not believe it is needed nor wanted, so they slow walk it (if moving forward on one’s knees is construed as reasonable progress). (H/T: RedState)

Failure to launch – thanks to Liberals?

‘Grok friend DCE (aka Chan) runs Weekend Pundit and every late Sunday afternoon / evening, he has a long running feature called “Thoughts on a Sunday“.  Every Sunday (or Monday), it is a must read.  This week had a bit on the idea that Society, under Liberal guidance, is prolonging teen-age adolescence into the mid-twenties.  Which, when you look at the results of such coddling, is not good for families, not good for business, not good for these “Arrested Developers”, – and (note to guys caught up in this liberal “you don’t need to take up your responsibilities”) perspective mates are seeing it (emphasis mine):

At first I thought it was just incipient old fogeyism creeping up on me, but now I see that my observations about some members of the younger generation refusing to grow up were not unfounded.

When I look at BeezleBub, soon to be 19 years old, and compare him to others 5 or more years older than him, he comes out far ahead in regards to maturity, responsibility, and fiscal smarts. (This isn’t just a thoroughly biased dad speaking as I’ve heard that observation again and again from a lot of others. It might explain why some “older” women – those in their early to mid 20’s – find him so appealing: he’s a grown up.) While it’s true that he still lives here at The Manse, he pays his way including paying for his tuition and books when he’s attending college.

The extended or never-ending adolescence certainly isn’t helping our younger generation learn about coping with the adult issues the rest of us deal with every day. And whether they realize it or not, it also makes them less suitable as potential mates, the “hook-up” culture notwithstanding.

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A PERFECT case of “Bad decision? You own the bad consequence(s)” – Part 2

Or is it more a case of:

Biden: “IF IT ONLY SAVES ONE LIFE!”

Of course not – Progressives are only concerned about “saving one life” when it comes to guns; face it, we law-abiding citizens will, at the drop of a Liberal’s hat, fling that fully auto mini-gun from over our shoulder and run off 40,000 rounds (er, 10 seconds of firing) at ANY of their precious identity group members simply because we’re EVIL (translation: Evil simply because we’re not Liberals too).

When it comes to abortions and killing unborn babies, they become completely uncaring (at best, or unhinged at worst).  Or, in the case of late-term or “live-abortions” that are being litigated in Philly about the born-alive abortion doctor Gosnell, the phrase “if it only saves one life!” is quickly and quietly put under the couch in the basement in the spare room that is then locked shut.  Shhhhhh.

Hypocrites.

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Just another devaluation of Citizenship?

Or just another attack on the responsibility of citizenship?

Jury BoxIt IS a basic pillar of American Jurisprudence is that we are to be judged by a panel of our peers – people that should at least share some common values and outlook on guilt / innocence and presence / absence of evidence.  And be able to logically connect the dots running between all those things within the confines the applicable law.  We, as Citizens, are expected to fulfill this duty and responsibility – those that are accused need to be judged by fellow citizens.  I am amazed, at time, how often my co-workers in Southern California are called to do just this, for here I am in central New Hampsha, having lived in the same town and same house for 30 years, and I have yet to be called even once (or TMEW, but the Eldest and the Youngest have)!  I know a lot of people do an awful lot to keep from being empaneled as they never know what kind of case they’d be put on – the fear being a long drawn out trial in which they might lose their job or miss out on some important marker in life (e.g., wedding, funereal).  To be honest, I would like to be called.

With all that said, I think this is a horrible idea (emphasis mine):

California would allow noncitizens to serve on juries under a proposal being considered by state lawmakers, potentially expanding a fundamental obligation of American life to millions more people.

The measure, which would apply only to legal residents, would make California the only state to open the jury box to noncitizens who meet all other requirements of service, according to legal experts. The proposal raises the question of what it means to be judged by peers in a state where more than one in seven residents is not a citizen. One of the bill’s authors, Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), said the proposal would help ensure an adequate pool of jurors, help immigrants integrate into American society and make juries more representative of California.

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Congressional Democrats in DC – Can Congress grant ourselves a waiver from Obamacare – it costs too much!

And I am hoping it is going to cost them dearly – and not just as another deduction from their Federal tax paid payroll checks.  Like many Conservatives, my heart dropped when the Supremes declared it Constitutional – being penalized for simply being an American citizen that breathes if you decide to do “nothing”?  A Collectivists’ wet dream but in my mind, it shattered the Founders’ vision of a limited Government.  However, being a 3,000 page of a bill and now up to 20,000 pages of regulations (with more yet to come) to implement, States refusing to set up their own Exchanges and blowing out their budgets by expanding Medicare, are we starting to see panic as the October implementation date coming up?  And with this, are we seeing the first moments of the political equivalent of “insider trading”?

Or are we seeing the first screaming of those closest to an explosion starting to run to save their hides?

“I have no problems with Congress being under the same guidelines,” Burr told Politico. “I think if this is going to be a disaster — which I think it’s going to be — we ought to enjoy it together with our constituents.”

That would be US Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) over at The Corner and I think that SHOULD be the line that the Republicans should take – but will they cave?  At Politico (2 days ago):

Congressional leaders in both parties are engaged in high-level, confidential talks about exempting lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides from the insurance exchanges they are mandated to join as part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, sources in both parties said.

…There is concern in some quarters that the provision requiring lawmakers and staffers to join the exchanges, if it isn’t revised, could lead to a “brain drain” on Capitol Hill, as several sources close to the talks put it.

The problem stems from whether members and aides set to enter the exchanges would have their health insurance premiums subsidized by their employer — in this case, the federal government. If not, aides and lawmakers in both parties fear that staffers — especially low-paid junior aides — could be hit with thousands of dollars in new health care costs, prompting them to seek jobs elsewhere. Older, more senior staffers could also retire or jump to the private sector rather than face a big financial penalty.

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Real life NH Example of why HB135 (repeal of Stand Your Ground) is a bad idea

From Pro-Gun NH, an example of someone who would be in jail if it wasn’t for the passage of the “Stand Your Ground” law simply for trying to protect his family member in a public space.  I keep hearing that we are “not to worry – this is not a problem in NH” with the underlying whisper message of “not to worry – NH prosecutors WILL do the right thing”.  Then we here in NH saw what happened to Ward Bird with “a willing liberal prosecutor, Robin Gordon“.  And now, a second time (emphasis mine, reformatted):

After two days of trial and jury deliberation in Hillsborough County Superior Court South, a verdict of not guilty was rendered in the case of State v Craig Moses. The attorney for Mr. Moses was Evan Nappen….who is also the General Counsel and one of the five Directors of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. Mr. Moses had defended himself and his cousin, who was knocked unconscious and was lying in a pool of blood after having been brutally punched and kicked in the head. The attack on Mr. Moses and his cousin occurred early in the morning of May 5, 2012 outside a Nashua nightclub called “The Junk Yard.”

Upon exiting the nightclub, Mr. Moses was sucker-punched in the chest, breaking two ribs; he was also punched in the nose, and was dazed from a head injury. While trying to get away from his attackers, he saw his cousin also being brutally assaulted, receiving multiple punches and kicks to the head that left him unconscious on the asphalt as the beating continued.  When Mr. Moses reached the vehicle he immediately went to retrieve his lawfully-possessed .380 handgun, which he had kept in the locked vehicle, and for which he had a License to Carry.

In order to create a zone of safety around his fallen cousin…

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Reality Alert to the Ivory Tower:

Emphasis mine:

On Tuesday, New Hampshire adjunct professors stood outside Manchester Community College to protest the limit.

Some said the realization that the health care law they once supported is being used against them was a harsh reality to swallow.

Craig Lange is a member of the team that has been negotiating for a contract since the adjuncts joined the State Employees’ Association two years ago. When the health care reform law passed, he was with a group of adjuncts at a system board of trustees meeting.

“We all applauded when the news came in that (the law) passed. . . . I didn’t think it would go this way,” he said.

This is what happens when Smart People support something that they didn’t read.  This is also what happens to Smart People when Government changes the rules of the economic game and the Smart People, who voted for the Democrats that drove this ObamaClunker over the Finish Line, failed to read the fine print and had nary a thought of merely clever people acting in their own interest. Which is to say, your bosses and your politicians that keep your bosses on a leash.  Welcome to the “new normal” of trickle down Obamaeconomics, boys and girls!  And just think of the irony – you all helped to grease the skids of your own healthcase and financial demise (as it were).

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Notable quote – Judge Andrew Napolitano

The pact with the devil occurred in the fall of 2001, when then President George W. Bush and Congress decided that they would use the machinery of the federal government to secure safety, rather than liberty. So, the Bush-inspired Patriot Act permits federal agents to write their own search warrants, and the Bush-inspired new FISA … Read more

Some thoughts on the Pindell / Cline / Douglas criticisms of the Honor Your Oath Rally – Part 1

I’m not even sure that James Pindell, Chuck Douglas, and Drew Cline were even at the same rally I was from reading their criticism (one at the WMUR site, two Union Leader Op-Eds)  – or even bothered to watched the videos that were up at several sites.  Each of them decided to tear the folks apart that stood up for their beliefs without seeing what was, to me, the obvious.  In fact, I’m not even sure they even saw the obvious reason why 600 folks turned out to participate, volunteers doing the grunt work necessary to put on such an event, and the dozen or so speakers up at the podium.  Yes, when you put yourself out in public, this is what happens – others will take pot shots at you, at the rally, or the issue for a variety of reasons:  their sense of “professionalism”, their overarching specialized knowledge has been “violated”, their standing within their own specialized communities “demands” they take a stand, or they decided to reject the perceived issue out of hand as “being without merit”.  None of them seem to have caught the intense sense of importance of the actual subject to the speakers and the attendees.

Or, to put it simply, wielding a hatchet just because they have an audience to impress or a thinly veiled purpose that may be getting set for the future.  Or both.

Honor Your Oath.  It wasn’t about journalists worried about column inches, punctuation, and delicately chosen words and sentence structure; it is about keeping a promise.  It wasn’t about case law, or legal briefs, or court battles (even if from a former Supreme Court Justice);  it is about a man and the importance of his word.  It was not about bright lights, teleprompters, self-absorption, politics, or even the crowd; it is about judging a man and his bond.  It wasn’t about guns or self-defense or “Stand Your Ground” (although that’s all these three seemingly heard), it wasn’t about Right or Left; it is about answering the question “Do we trust this person when their actions do not match that Oath”?

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Government: wanna a dog? Criminal background check and dog class for YOU!

Best comment over at the News Observer:

When are we going to close the dog show loophole? 

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up as yet another politician has decided that “he’s gotta do something” and ends up with a law that says “Subject Citizen, you must again ask for permission to do that”!

Rodney Moore, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County…introduced a bill [House Bill 956] Tuesday that would require anyone taking ownership of the much-maligned dogs [pit bulls] to submit to a criminal background check. The proposal also targets Rottweilers, mastiffs, chows, Perro de Presa Canarios and any “wolf hybrids.”

“I did this for a constituent,” Moore said Thursday. “It was not to vilify a breed. The reason I put background checks in was I didn’t want irresponsible people to use these types of animals illegally.”

So, what was he (and the Republican who was the co-sponsor) ?

  • submit to a criminal background check
  • mandatory enrollment in a four-hour course provided by the Humane Society or another rescue organization approved by the state Department of Insurance to learn “responsible” dog management of these breeds and be “good” owners
  • tell your insurance company “Hey, I have a new Fido” (and accept the rate increase (I assume that word “quietly” is in there somewhere in “signing the check”)
  • your Police Chief “may” issue you a permit to own “Fido”
  • pay for a special state permit

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Blogline of the Day – on HB 135 (Deputy Dawg’s repeal of Stand Your Ground)

From the Seacoastonline.com reporting on the NH Senate hearing on Shurtleff’s repeal of Stand Your Ground (who is exempt from his own law) (emphasis mine): Earl Kolb, 32, of Salem, said the repeal proposal was written with only public safety in mind. As someone who uses a wheelchair, he urged lawmakers to consider those for … Read more

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