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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.

“Dana Loesch Vs. Piers Morgan and Van Jones on Gun Control” Yes: One Lady Kicked both A***s

I met Dana Loesch about a year ago at a symposium jointly held by the Heritage Foundation and The Franklin Center.  She is all but fearless, knows her stuff, and refuses to take any crap from anybody.  Conservative?  You betcha!  Fearless?  You betcha!  Knows what she’s talking about? Absatively! Making Van Jones speechless?  Rockin’!  Continuing … Read more

Riffs off Laura Ingraham’s opening monologue – social issues and the Republican Party.

I like Laura Ingraham, a Conservative talk show hostess, and I do listen into The Factor when she guest hosts.  I had DVR’d the program for a different segment, but this morning upon playing it back, her opening monologue caught my attention even more:

The question of what sort of culture our children are going to inherit is more important that the results of any one election.

This SHOULD be true: “culture our children are going to inherit is more important that the results of any one election.” The problem for Conservatives, especially Social Conservatives, is that the Progressives ARE making elections all about the culture, that they are playing “Culture Survivor” and we are in the process of getting thrown off the island.  I hear calls that “times are changing”, for folks like me to “get over it” or that I am “a Christian bigot”, and that my political Party just wants me to die off (shades of US Rep Grayson of Republicans wanting people to die quickly (although that was in terms of Republicans not wanting Obamacare)) just to take a flock of issues like gay marriage and abortion off the table (or any other issue on which they seemingly can’t articulate a clear message that could persuade even an ant).

The social issues are not merely a political football to be used by grasping politicians seeking to win power.

Yes, but that is how politicians and the rest of the Political Class see it. Power first and then we’ll….do something, sorta. BUT WE HAVE TO WIN! Yeah, winning is nice and winning feels good and winning lets you do things. But THAT is the question! After we pour in all of our money, and all of our effort, and all of our intellectual and spiritual effort, and our votes – what do we get?

Politicians who are already looking for the next election and Republican campaign promises end up having the same expiration dates that Obama’s do. I’ve oft posted about Frank Guinta and his failed votes on the Continuing Resolutions that only spent MORE than before (regardless of promises to cut spending). For a couple of YEARS, I’ve heard the the DC House Republicans say they will cut Obamacare funding – and Constitutionally they CAN as they are the branch of government that starts the appropriation process. Did they cut a DIME out of Obamacare on this last CR? Course not – the Party that proclaims “You can trust us – we’re not Democrats” makes a lie even out of that thin phrase. The very THOUGHT of being blamed for “shutting down government” turns them into statues of stone for a microsecond – my GOSH, I might get booted from office!

They really do establish the framework for the many aspects of American life, from our schools to our churches to our families.

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Notable Quote – Ludwig Von Mises

“Private property creates for the individual a sphere in which he is free of the state.  It sets limits to the operation of the authoritarian will.  It allows other forces to arise side by side with and in opposition to political power.  It thus becomes the basis of all those activities that are free from … Read more

“Bad Luck” – starting to catch up with us?

I have seen the words that some of our Industrial Barons have said – their “business lightening” wouldn’t even flicker today if they had to do it all over again.  But, given a mention of the author who help give rise to our name, I decided to use it all:

FEDEX FOUNDER: I Couldn’t Start Company with Today’s Economy, Regulations.

Last month, a CNBC headlined noted, “Subway ‘Wouldn’t Exist’ If Started Today Due to Regulations: Founder Deluca.”

In 2011, Bernie Marcus said the same about Home Depot, which he founded.

Or to put it another way:

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.

This is known as “bad luck.”

“Or as some would say: ‘You didn’t build that,’” Glenn added last year when he quoted Robert Heinlein.

(H/T: Ed Driscoll at Instapundit”

Three different industries, three different biz models – all doomed to failure if attempted today?  Do I blame Obama directly?  No.  But we all should examine the Jungle of Regulations that has grown up since those times – the bad luck that will plague, not those of us reaching the end of our careers, our children and theirs.  We are in the middle of the birthing of a government spawned sclerosis that has taken two generations to achieve the current state of growth we see now; 0.1% growth, 0.4% growth in the last two quarters.  Hardly a gift to our offspring, eh?

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So, David Gregory, host of Meet The Press, will be on a reality TV show?

Just what ALL Conservatives have been waiting for – a Meghan McCain reality show!  Does it really show, that I’m not thrilled about her?  If not, now you know.  Simply put, I put her in the same category as the Kardashians: “er, WHY are they famous?”. Well, Gregory brings the “Meet The Press” chops, which … Read more

Obamacare claims more victims: Juicy Couture. Clueless employees, though

Capitalism is easy to understand; here are Skip’s Rules:

  • Rule Number 1: The company owns the job.  Not you.  While good employers care about their employees, the Company comes first, long term.
  • Rule Number 2: Companies exist to make a profit. You have their job until you no longer help them make a profit.
  • Rule Number 3: This really should not exist but does because Socialists / Progressives / Fascists are trying to turn Companies into mere extensions of Government
  • Rule Number 4:  Given that Rule #3 now exists, Companies will react to it in ways that will ensure Rule #2 is fulfilled.

Corollary for Statists everywhere: TANSTAAFL (There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch) – and those that support them.  This post uses them all.  Here, Rule #3 is coming into the forefront of C-level execs, more and more, because several Obamacare cliffs are rushing at them. And now, some clueless retail employees at Juicy Couture are rather upset that their hours are being cut, and as the post says, they are demanding “just hours.”  And if they are “hip” shop, you can believe that oldy /moldies like me would probably not be out there on the retail floor – these would be the young  hipsters (and as it turns out, stupid and clueless for not being able to string  moves together and see where it ends) who voted for Obama:

You see, according to the campaign, the hip and trendy Juicy is doing what other companies are doing in an effort to cope with the burdensome regulations and costs of the “Affordable Health Care Act” (aka ObamaCare)–the company is downsizing its full-time payroll to (mostly) part-time workers.

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Just too good not to share!

Over at The Blaze is a post that hunters that would normally go Colorado are venting their ire over the gun restrictions that have been enacted there.  Instead, they will be going elsewhere – along with their $$.  Why not?  Why put yourself at risk:

Opponents say the laws will make criminals of previously-legal gun owners, and hunters lending each other weapons for hunting trips.

And yes, Colorado citizens will suffer for the ideology of the Progressives that took over the Colorado Legislature and Governership:

“There’s a united front of sportsmen that are tired of having their freedoms and liberties and fundamental rights taken away from them,” said Jurney, vice president of the Colorado Outfitters Association. “That kind of unity among sportsmen is going to be big, and unfortunately for those of us who live here, we’re going to suffer the consequences of this misguided legislation.”

But I thought that one of the comments, by nonofmybiznez, was priceless:

If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for being in the country illegally…you might live in a country run by idiots…

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Lying to Parents to have “power” over the child / Student? Head Teacher in Chicago is “all in” on this tactic

Sickening.  And make no mistake, if it is happening there, it is happening in your child’s school too.  Go ahead, watch the video and then ask yourself “Can I really trust my child’s teacher?”

After all Karen Lewis is the head of the teachers union in Chicago – this is just a tactic of Chicago politics except the target is not other adults but someone’s child.  Progressive / Socialists / Democrats are always talking about “power inequality” in terms that Conservatives are always the bad guys in Society (we must be eliminated).  Yet, here is a “leader” (openly Socialist) that is all too willing to take advantage of that “power inequality” to silence a child as in “look, I gave you cover in front of your parents”.  Now, the kid is scared to say a word crosswise, and she is LAUGHING that she now has, not a student, but a hostage.  Isn’t that nice?

Really, is she all that willing and HAPPY to have, in her classroom, a HOSTAGE and not a student?  And is jocular to the max in being open about lying to the parents – LYING!  Is this what we want from the Leader of Teachers?  It’s not about the educating but the Power!

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“It’s that when you give too many people help, they start to atrophy…. “

Atrophy – a weakening.   Either of muscle or of will.

OK, I admit it – I set the timer on the bedroom TV and put on Fox News most nites.  Thus, I heard new (relatively, now) contributor to The Factor, Adam Carolla, when he first said this.  Being what I thought was a Hollywood Liv, my jaw would have dropped to the floor had I not already been horizontal.  While I do know that there are some Conservatives out there in the land of TV / Movie La-la’s, I did not expect such a strong statement against what Liberals believe to be the ultimate in Compassion – Govt handouts:

Here’s really what I object to: It’s not that certain people don’t need help from us, and the government. It’s that when you give too many people help, they start to atrophy….

My mother got food stamps, and we used food stamps, and she waited for her food stamps to come twice a month instead of go out and look for a job….

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WMUR demonstrates bias in Journalism – covers sparse National Day to Demand Action anti-gun rally, ignores .223 Day of Resistance pro-gun rally

WMURSparsely attended indeed for a day where the “kick the Second Amendment lovers” folks decided to have a “National Day to Demand Action”.  WMUR decided to cover it, with a quick spot at 5pm by reporter, Jennifer Gannon, sweeping her hand towards the middle of the Portsmouth’s Market Square announcing the soon-to-start rally – showing a completely empty area.  Don’t worry, she adds, they will be coming!  They sure did!

At 6pm, it was one of WMUR lead-off stories, with anchor Jennifer Vaughn doing the throw-over to Gannon for this rally sponsored by Project for Safer Communities NH.  Given that WMUR was covering this, it just HAD to be a big deal, right?  Well, as Gannon started her patter, I started to frame-by-frame to count noses.  Again, lots of people for this NATIONAL day of protest for one set of folks to take away Constitutional rights from another?

Er, not so much.

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So what is NH doing to lure these now “orphaned” 2nd Amendment Companies?

You know, we have SigSauer based here in NH.  Sturm Ruger, too, Heckler & Koch as well.  Well known manufacturers – a solid knowledge base and familiarity with firearms manufacturing.  I have been wondering, with Democrat onslaught in various States of restricting the civilian populations’ access to and use of small arms they deem “scary” (as Progressives do not trust “we plebes”), what the State of NH has been doing to go and entice some of their companies to move here.  A win-win situation: companies leave the States that have made it illegal for them to sell their products to their own citizens for a place that should be more welcoming  and we get the jobs  and a larger tax base.  However, I have seen NOTHING in the NH media that would indicate that our present Governor, Maggie “The Red” Hassan has reached out to Beretta in MD, Magpul in CO., Colt in CT, or any other number of companies – all large operations whose (Democrat controlled) Legislatures have said “We do not trust our own Citizens” and, in fact, have said via their actions “We have judged our Citizens to be guilty ahead of innocence for crimes they have not committeed”.  Simply put, they have turned the traditional American philosophy of jurisprudence upside down – and like it that way.  Neither have I heard if DRED (Depart. of Resourced and Economic Development) has done any reach out, either.  While there might be secret negotiations, SOMEONE would have leaked something by now, right?  However, I have received note that a few of our legislators have reached out on their own to these companies – Republicans ran on a Jobs! platform and they are carrying out their campaign promises.  Here are a couple of the letters that have been sent in (emphasis mine):

 *****************

March 26, 2013

N.H. House Republican Office
107 N. Main St.
N.H. State House
Concord, N.H. 03301

Dennis Veilleux
President & CEO
Colt Manufacturing Company
PO Box 1868
Hartford, CT 06144

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Data Point – Polling on gun control

Polling right after Newtown tragedy Overall:                56% want stricter laws Republicans:      not reported Democrats:         78% want stricter laws Current Polling Overall:                47% want stricter laws Republicans:     68% same or less strict laws Democrats:        66% want stricter laws (H/T: CBS News via The Corner)

So, Laconia Daily Sun reporter Mike Kitch is being called onto the carpet – again?

I’ve been posting on Mike Kitch for years now ever since he showed his true colors (more later) as being rather hostile to Conservatives (and not just to me).  He has argued or screamed at almost every Conservative in town (or failing that, had a snide remark or worse, outright bias in his writing). Now, I could be dismissed by “an honest to goodness Journalist” as yet  another blogger sitting around in his PJs.  However, I make it clear – I am biased as a Conservative with small “L” libertarian leanings and a strong emphasis on a Constitutional foundation and a morality base from being an Evangelical Christian (and have almost 6,500 posts showing so).  There, that’s me.  While we do some objective “Citizen Journalism” (e.g., our recording and posting of video, straight up the middle just as it happens and not as we would like to see it happen), we are an opinionated site (and I like it that way!); we make no apologies for our views (because we are Right!).

In today’s Laconia Daily Sun, it is obvious that Kitch has stepped into it again.  Someone else is complaining – and she matters even if I don’t (emphasis mine):

To the editor,

I have been perplexed by the one-sided reporting of our Belknap County Convention meetings dealing with the approval of the 2013 budget. At the conclusion of our Tuesday, March 19, 2013 meeting, a disrespectful and angry encounter with reporter Michael Kitch lifted the veil as to the slant of his biased reporting.

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