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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.

Notable Quote – Martin Wolf

I’ve never agreed with the meme that ‘companies FORCE us to buy their products’: This charge – that corporations own customers – is another example of the lie that freedom is slavery. We are free to make choices, however. Insisting upon anything else demeans us. It is because we are free that corporations need to … Read more

Yo, Mr. VP? How about spitting in their eye? Really, who CARES what they think?

We aren’t them!  Or is this just the normal “I’m a politician and I feel vulnerable if not everyone likes me”?   I read stuff like this:

Vice President Joe Biden gave a heated speech on reducing gun violence this afternoon, lashing out at Republican senators who have vowed to filibuster the gun-control legislation. “It’s almost mind-boggling,” Biden said to law-enforcement officials in Washington, D.C.

He asked the senators to consider how their actions are being viewed by the international community: “In sophisticated capitals and in less-sophisticated capitals, they all reported on Sandy Hook, they all reported on Aurora.” “What do you think is being said today in those capitals about us?” the vice president asked. “Imagine what they’re saying, gentlemen and ladies, in other capitals around the world today.”

and I don’t know whether to scream or cry.  Who cares what they say?  Why is it that our leading politicians give the indication they are ashamed of their country (Obama’s Apology tour and now this)? Filibustering is part of the way that the Senate decided, according to the Constitution, to run itself.  Biden, after decades in the Senate, should know that.  Or staying with the Progressive meme, just another crass attempt at poking holes in the Constitution (I’d say like Swiss Cheese, but the Swiss are all armed)?  Why is it that our leaders wish to lower us (and yes, that is the proper word) to their level in not trusting their citizens (versus the Founders that trusted we Citizens – but not future (current?)  leaders not so much – by enshrining our previously existing Right to defend ourselves and our Free State).

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Wait a sec, I thought President Blameless was the Commander-in-Chief??

From RedState:

Ever notice that this administration is only lightning-fast when it comes to shifting blame when things don’t work out perfectly? They practically left a vapor trail in their zeal to anonymously accuse the US military of being responsible for our tense situation with North Korea:

So, it’s the Navy’s fault that the U.S.-North Korea spat has gone so far?

That’s the apparent message from senior administration officials who, according to the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, said that they had long planned to send B-52s, B-2 stealth bombers, and F-22 fighters to the Korean Peninsula as part of preplanned wargames with South Korea, but that they had not planned the recent deployment of Navy destroyers.

Last weekend, the U.S. ordered two guided-missile destroyers to the Western Pacific — the U.S.S. John S. McCain and the U.S.S. Decatur — to provide additional defense against North Korean ballistic missiles.

Command takes responsibility, Mr. Obama.

 Indeed.  Especially when one is Commander-in-Chief instead of Blameless-In-All-Things.  Really, other than the Drone killings, and indicating he was fine with the Affordable Care Act being called Obamacare, what positive things has he done?  Yes, I know – OBL.  However, that was a continuation of a program that preceded him – any President would have given that order.  Yes, as it turns out (I bookmarked this a couple of days ago) the Navy used its protocol to send two additional destroyers without getting Presidential approval – it wasn’t needed.  In fact, new DoD Sec. Hagel didn’t even have to approve it.  Yet, Obama choose to hide behind (not lead from behind) and…

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Blogline of the Day: It spotlights: don’t do more until the basics are done

We have known about Reynolds’ Law for quite some time:

“Subsidizing the markers of status doesn’t produce the character traits that result in that status; it undermines them.”

Well, it seems like Glen Reynolds (of Instapundit fame) now has a new law (making the above Reynolds First Law)

Reynolds’ Second Law:

“The more a government wants to run its citizens’ lives, the worse job it will do at the most basic tasks of government.”

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Liberal Hypocrisy – Children are the adults in the Progressive world

The second one definitely breeches Reynolds’ Second Law.  How can the Progressive mind believe that an 11 year old can make rational decisions about a powerful hormonal abortifacient but an adult can make a rational decision about how thirsty they are? Or is this ONLY about the money – another illegitimate baby on welfare for … Read more

Still think the Second Amendment DOESN’T exist to protect us from Tyrannical Government?

On a Firefox tab somewhere, I have a couple of posts I wish to comment on this very topic (just can’t seem to find them today) – that America can turn into a Tyrannical Government (especially if Progressives succeed in doing away with the Constitution – the ONLY bulwark we citizens have against an overreaching government.  And within that Constitution is the last resort of Citizens: the Second Amendment.

Think I’m crazy?  Ask someone whose “Democratic government” was overtaken by those that promoted a “safer, more secure” future than the government at the time about  the need for its Citizens to protect themselves – and a Free State:

 Progressives often wish that we forget our history.  They also want to us to be ignorant of the history of other countries where their philosophy has been tried before – and failed.  Yes,

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Data Point: When the Government isn’t collecting the check for unions, guess what happens…

It seems that the Public Sector union members decide to tell the union leadership “Check’s in the mail!”.  Imagine that – for all of the bluster of “Solidarity Forever!”, “Workers standing side by side!” and “Mighty, Mighty Union!”, as soon as these Union Members have the Freedom to decide “er, SHOULD I send that check in, now that the Government isn’t TAKING it from me automatically”?

More than two years after Scott Walker’s showdown with organized labor in Wisconsin, the official numbers for the state’s public sector union membership are in — and they are down. Way down.

You betcha! American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 40:

  • 2011 – 31,730
  • 2012 – 29,777
  • 2013 – 20,488 now.

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Guest Post: former Speaker of the NH House, Bill O’Brien on the passing of Margaret Thatcher

Rep. William O’Brien’s Comments on the Passing of Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minster of Great Britain and the indispensable philosophical, political and international ally of Ronald Reagan, died this morning.

Lady Thatcher was a giant of conservative values and action.  Along with President Reagan, Margaret Thatcher inspired us with her thoughtful and unflinching advocacy of a dynamic, forward-looking conservatism.

In reaction to her death, Rep. William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) was quoted as saying, “Prime Minster Thatcher will be missed.  She was one of the foremost conservative leaders who have come forward in recent years and led change both in Britain and the United States.  Just as the liberal progressives of the Reagan/Thatcher era tried to diminish both of them with arguments that they had to soften their rhetoric and abandon important goals to get elected, so we hear the same claims today.  Thankfully, the Iron Lady and Ronald Reagan knew better that the importance of achieving critical public policy goals outweighed the politics of the moment and we remember both so fondly for their willingness to stand against the tide, let the personal invective wash over them, and make the world a better and freer place.”

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Statement by Jack Kimball on Signatory Authority by the NH GOP Chair

Former NH GOP Chair Jack Kimball’s statement concerning the email thread posted here on GraniteGrok of the situation concerning current NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn’s refusal to keep to her agreement to not seek signatory authority of the NH GOP’s bank accounts (and other financial instruments) (emphasis mine): Soon after my election as GOP Chair, … Read more

A bleg to Andy Leach’s Boss – where ARE you on this issue?

Yes, the Andy Leach of the Title is the same Andy Leach that I mentioned here (e.g., NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn’s email to NH GOP Treasurer Robert Scott; “Nice Treasurership you got there; a shame if anything were to happen to it…”):

QUESTION????   Why is Andy Leach, in his capacity of CoS to Kelly Ayotte, being copied on this kind of matter?  Yes, she may well be on the E-Board, but what does she OR Leach have to do with this internal governance spitting match?  Can someone tell me, your lowly blogger, the why of this, please?  After all, there are many folks out there that truly believe that I am of the dimmest bulb sort – I look to be enlightened!  Or is it as simple of what I have heard in rumor: simply one of a few whispers behind the throne?

Anyways, CoS stands for Chief of Staff – Kelly right hand man.  But I digress.  This post is not about him but rather the Jr. Senator from NH, Republican Kelly Ayotte.

Here is the question:

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Hey Dan Ffeiffer, senior adviser to Obama, you are completely wrong!

Dan Ffeiffer, senior adviser to Obama gave his opinion as to where Republican Senators should be looking for answers on how to vote on the Progressive gun control legislation that will be brought up soon for a vote: “If you remember, during the State of the Union, with the families of Newtown in the audience, … Read more

Apologies, apologies – both show the rot in our culture…and both involve Obama

Obama Apologizes to California AG for Complimenting Her Appearance

“President Obama has apologized to California attorney general Kamala Harris for calling her the nation’s “best looking” attorney general at a California fundraiser yesterday, according to White House press secretary Jay Carney.

“He called her to apologize for the distraction created by his comments,” said Carney. “He did not want in any way to diminish the attorney general’s professional accomplishments or her capabilities.” He added that the president “fully recognizes the challenges women continue to face in the workplace and that they should not be judged based on appearance.”

…His remarks caused a stir among feminists and others upset that the president commented on Harris’s appearance.”

Chivalry: Coat Over Puddle For LadyWe were not a family of means growing up but my brother and I were taught and expected to know our manners and know how to behave both in public and in private so as not to embarrass either ourselves or worse, Mom. Yes, I grew up in what I consider now to be a much more chivalrous time when it wasn’t out of the ordinary to hold a door open for a lady, regardless of age, to seat a lady first before taking my seat at dinner, to hold the use of cruder words / jokes for times “with the boys”, to show manners, and complementing the ladies was an ordinary occurrence (or, expected at some types of events).  While just being polite was a large part of it, it was NOT as many feminists seem to believe…

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Jake Tapper – how many OTHER MSMers are willing to call Obama and Bloomie idiots?

Since Aurora and Sandy Hook, we who like to shoot and support the Right that the Second Amendment enshrines have just about had it in listening to all kinds of folks who believe that they know best for society with respect to “gun violence”.

Sidenote: and we all know that this phrase is a made up / focus group created phrase that means nothing special; violence is violence, regardless if a “violence tool” is used or not (are hands and feet considered to be a “violence tool” too?)

They tell us “you don’t need this”, “I don’t know anyone that…”, “it is for the common good”, “we have to consider the safety and security” and the one phrase they believe renders them harmless against all logical arguments: “this is for the children” (er, we are supposed to shut up at that point, otherwise we are selfish, cold hearted, and hate everyone else). Progressives are oft to say “Hey, trust Government – the best and brightest work here!”.  In fact, one of their basic theorems of governance is that those in Government DO know better than you in how to order and run your life and those of your family, and Civil Society as a whole.  Why?  Because they TRULY believe they are smarter than those of us they wish to rule.

And then, as Grokster Rick and Susan point out here and here, they do the one thing that renders them weaponless: they open their mouths and speak.

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More than a food fight at NH GOP HQ – and only one standing up for Principle thus far?

Will he, Dr. Robert Scott, be that only one standing?  Or has he just been led in front of the firing squad wall – alone?

I received either the same or a similar email thread that was sent to Pindell over at WMUR.  Unlike him, who only put up excerpts (er, why?  He’s got that blog site and putting it up is almost a negligible marginal cost.), I’m putting up what I have and you can decide.  Will this prevent more from coming in?  Dunno, but here is one thing you can count on.  Over the years, the ‘Grok has ALWAYS been on the side of a more open and transparent Government.  Given that, why not be open about one of the Parties, especially since James has already started the email dump?  And yes, it seems like everyone is trying to dump on Robert Scott for trying to stand up and protect the assets / good standing / name / history / <insert “good stuff” name here>.

Why put them up?  Why yak about what is going on at the NH GOP E-Board level? After all, these elites “rule” Party since we elected them, right?  Why should we trouble our little heads, we who ARE State Committee Members (like most of us here at GraniteGrok)?  Turn that question around: why shouldn’t the State Committee Members know of the food fight (with what seems to be with embedded razor blades)?  And instead of “ruling”, shouldn’t they be governing the Party with our consent?  Should we not be holding them to the same standards that are espoused in our Platform?

A la Drudge, consider this “Developing”.  Interesting that Dr. Scott starts off with a “wait, you agreed to not sign” with a Ms. Horn immediate response on Dr. Scott concerning FEC reports – such a deal!  Seems from these emails to be a “I want what I want and here’s how I’m gonna get it” and if a sullying of Dr. Scott’s reputation is but a tool in which to get it, er, well, politics ain’t beanbags as Papa Smurf has been known to utter.  Well, we’ll take his other advise: “talk, talk, talk, talk, talk…talk to your family, talk to your friends, talk to anyone”.

Indeed; it is what we do at the ‘Grok!  Begin forwarded messages (emphasis mine):

****************************

ROBERT SCOTT FIRST LETTER TO STOP SIGNATORY

Fiscal Liability?

Dr. Robert Scott (wisdomteam@hotmail.com)
3/28/13
To: jennifer@nhgop.org

Good Morning,

It has come to my attention of your interest in becoming a signer on one of our GOP bank accounts which is directly contrary to our mutual agreement that we determined after receiving the advisement of our counsel, auditor and insurance agent in regards to your personal fiscal liability. We agreed that you would not sign anything.

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Maggie “The Red” Hassan – MaggieGuns?

History has taught us that those of history desired power and wanted control over others grabbed products, services, and liberties under the rubric of “for the common good” or for your “safety and security”.   Never did you hear “we are taking these things so that you may be free and enjoy enhanced liberty”.  No, those two phrases are the shopworn platitudes of those that believe they have the right to organize life for others instead of others exercising their Rights to do it themselves.   Governor Maggie Hassan has already expressed and acted in this way when a State Senator:

  • First, they came for the speakers – MaggieSpeech (“your political speech will be regulated and taxed fee’d!”)
  • Next, they came for the capitalists – MaggieCare (“all your hospitals are belong to us!”)

If her legislation had passed, she would have ensured that Government would have put political speech into a straight-jacket – opposite of the reason why the First Amendment exists (to protect those that would criticize others, especially those in power and those in Government).  Then with MaggieCare, she would have wrested the power to decide operational details of all of the hospitals and placed it into a Governmental board that would have been populated by bureaucrats; unelected and unaccountable to the voters.  And they would have been self-sustaining  with the ability to tax those they oversaw without legislative oversight.

Back in the 1930s, that was called Fascism – who needed to own the means of production when Government merely controlled its operation and outcomes?  We also know that incremental steps were taken in other areas as well – including taking away the right to self defense.  So when a representative of Citizens for a Strong New Hampshire asked what her intentions concerning HB135, which would repeal the Stand Your Ground legislation passed last session (as well as upping the budget 16%, btw), what was her response?  Shades of Carol Shea-Runaway!  Watch:

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