Skip

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.

Obama brings the Sequestor Armegeddon over a Federal 2.4% cut; Non-criminals, says Press Secretary Jay Carney

Presidential Press Secretary Jay Carney on “Special Report with Bret Baier”, 2/27:

“As ICE made clear yesterday, the Agency release these low risk, non-criminal detainees under a less expensive form of monitoring to ensure that detention levels stay with ICE’s over all budget.”

I dryly note that all of the illegal aliens being moved around were in handcuffs.  Also, this from  Hot Air (emphasis mine):

Among those released in the past week was Anthony Orlando Williams, 52, a Jamaican immigrant who spent nearly three years in a detention center in Georgia. “I’m good, man,” he said. “I’m free.”

Mr. Williams, in a telephone interview from Stone Mountain, Ga., said he became an illegal immigrant when he overstayed a visa in 1991. He was detained in 2010 by a sheriff’s deputy in Gwinnett County, Ga., when it was discovered that he had violated probation for a conviction in 2005 of simple assault, simple battery and child abuse, charges that sprung from a domestic dispute with his wife at the time. He was transferred to ICE custody and has been fighting a deportation order with the help of Families for Freedom, an immigrant support group in New York.

Non-criminal?  Non-Violent?  Domestic abuse, child abuse, assault?  Mr. Carney, what’s your answer?  I vane seen this tactic over and and over –

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Email Doodlings – thoughts on Republicans & HB617 from a reader

All kinds of emails come into the Inbox – right now, it can run 300 to 500 per day and I can’t get to them all, or if I do, the sheer volume of stuff just gives me a case of induced ADD (and with TMEW, the Eldest, & the Youngest medically diagnosed with ADHD, I KNOW ADD).  This one did catch and hold my attention (emphasis mine) – it shows that it isn’t just me saying this stuff.  NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn, are you listening?  Here’s a person (take them as a real example) that MIGHT be more positive about the Republican Party if it would just keep its word and be Consistent in how it applies what it says it believes in.

Skip,

You don’t know me, but I am an originalist constitutional conservative, not a Republican, who happens to live in [Grok Witness Protection Program] in the formerly conservative state of New Hampshire. I run in a circle that includes [redacted to protect the guilty] and [redacted to protect the semi-guilty], another participant with the program. We have discussed HB 617 on the air and in emails. When I learned of the committee vote, I accused the emailer of the information of not having his facts straight. He then proceeded to straighten me out by sending me a detailed account of the vote.

Jennifer Horn has a steep hill to climb. The Republicans think that Democrat lite is the way to salvation and the way to correct a poor image. They want to be Bob Michels, if you remember that scum bag from Illinios. The vote on HB617 proves my point and illustrates why I will have nothing to do with the Party. I do support individual Republican candidates who are conservative enough and demonstrate some knowledge of the two Constitutions and the role of the states, as intended by the Founders. Rand Paul is one of those guys, as are Ted Cruz and Louis Ghomert.

The Democrat administration of our affairs is based on Progressive/Marxist doctrine. It can end only in bankruptcy. The Republicans need to stop worrying about image and what others are saying. They need to do the right thing. That more than a dozen of them on that committee don’t even know right from wrong shows why the Party is in ruins and can’t draw support from people like me.

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Email Doodlings – it’s the HB617 numbers that are fishy

Well, we’ve gone from full blown guns all the time to HB617 having a run.  Sure, each topic is important, but for us, each one brings up LOTS of secondary & tertiary items to be contemplated, and so it is with HB617.  However, aNOTHER reader sent in this analysis on the spreadsheet that David Campbell was sending out – that Bill O’Brien sent to us (emphasis mine):

Good morning, Skip,

Sorry I’m late to this party but I just read your post re: HB617.

Hasn’t anybody noticed the double counting in Campbell’s (DOS) spreadsheet? Take a look at the revenue estimated for FY16, due to the 7/1/13 $0.04 increase: $175,531.20. Now look at the revenue for the same year, due to the additional 7/1/14 $0.04 increase to $0.08: $351,062.40. The spreadsheet takes credit for both a $0.04 increase and a $0.08 increase, as if the total increase was $0.12.

Between FY16 and FY18, there is over a million dollars too much revenue projected.

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Notable Quote – George Washington on the importance of firearms

Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very … Read more

NH .223 Day of Resistance – Video Summary

‘Grok friend Ed Comeau runs GovernmentOversite – his specialty is taking his GINORMOUS video camera to various public meetings and just recording the meeting – especially at those meetings where public officials (elected and appointed) have never had a Very Bright Flashlight recording their actions and words in high definition (yes, he brings microphones and … Read more

The first real test for new NH GOP Chair, Jennifer Horn: Party over Principle, or Principle over Party. Choose well.

NH-GOP_logo

Dear NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn,

While it is true that we supported your opponent in the race to replace Wayne McDonald, we have watched you doing the right things as the new Chair.  We have needed someone to be on the attack instead of silent.  We have needed someone willing to get out of the office and not just to go to yet another GOP meeting.

We have seen both so far.  More needs to be seen and the intensity measured as well.  Thus far, we have taken the tack of “not actively helping, but not actively griping either” – we can do both (some believe the latter far better than the former, btw) but given that the race was decided, we decided to sit back and see how things would start to shake out.

Do not take this as “a damning with faint praise” moment – so far, we are staying cautiously optimistic.  Overall, given the short amount of time into your term thus far, stay on the same road you are on.  However, you have an important speed bump that you are about to hit – or have you already bounced over it without wondering “er, what was that and what damage has it done?”.  You are confronted with a Branding Moment.  A Defining Moment.  No, not for you as Chair, per se, but for the Party – what NOW will be the outward face to the Public?  Or will the be The Spinning Top Party moment?

HB617 – where every NH House Republican on the Public Works Committee supported a large TAX.  Our most prolific commenters (with the quirkiest name and oft, an even more quirky sense of humor and writing), C.dog.e.dog wrote as a comment here:

I looked on the NH Repub Party site and found no position posts regarding the gas tax. You’d think it would deserve at least a mention given it’s the largest tax to feed the maw of New Hamster in some time.

– C. dog bark ravin’ mad

My opinion is that he is wrong; he isn’t raving mad, just mad at a Party that says it is for lower taxes (and indeed, it has the potential to be the biggest “broad based” tax in many a year) but has said NOTHING. I fear that there are many others out there that are waiting to see what the Smaller Government / Larger Citizen Party is doing about this situation and are thinking to themselves “And?”  Why is there silence – especially as the NH GOP has come out against other taxes introduced, promoted, voted on, and passed by Democrats?

Where is the Consistency?

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A Letter sent to NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn, based on her HB617 Press Release

I wondered what Jennifer Horn would do as I wrote this; now we know – the non-silent silent answer.  She did not “Choose Well”.  The Press Release, which went out this morning, is after the jump.  This is my Letter just sent:

Dear Jennifer (NH GOP Chair),

Right you are concerning the proposed gas – this should never have made it out of committee with a single Republican vote.

And that’s the problem – it got every single one of them.  All of the Republicans on the committee, every one, voted for it; not a single Nay vote amongst them.  In other words, they have turned your words below into hollow ones with their votes – that presser is of no importance at all as every single elected Republican just cut you off at the knees.  Wait until NH Democrat Chair Buckley sends out his PR about “But Jennifer, all of YOUR Republicans sided with the Democrat Leadership and Maggie Hassan – doesn’t that put you on the wrong side of the issue?”.  I see no comeback – your Party members have done just that from a perception standpoint – and voters will see that.

Your press release does make you look rather blinkered for ignoring the very Republicans that put you into such a position – a very foolish one.  Castigating the Democrats while ignoring the bad behavior of your own Republicans – including the Minority House Leader?  Not good at all and badly played.

Unfortunately, this PR blurb does not “thread the needle” that was necessary – you’ve now given more Republicans cover by not mentioning these chuckleheads at all.  You have now given out the message “S’all right, vote for more expensive and bigger government – I’ll just ignore your part in it“.  Again, how is this perception going to help in recruiting more voters to the Republican Party?

Yes, Jennifer, my answer would have been:

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And now, a word for our advertisers

Over on the Right Sidebar are a couple of folks that have chosen to advertise with us.  SonsOfEnoch.com has a bunch of “not your ordinary” type T-shirt vendor.  I know them personally (they live and work in my town), so as an “up by their bootstraps” type of operation, I offered to give them some … Read more

Guest Post – NH State Rep Jane Cormier “Just a FEW of the MANY Taxes We Pay…”

FEDERAL     STATE of NH    
  Income Tax     Property Tax:  
  Corporate Income Tax       Town Property
  Social Security       Town School Education
  Medicaid       State Education
  Capital Gains       County
  Marriage Tax Penalty     Inheritance & Estate  
  Workers Compensation     Business Profit  
        Meal & Rental Tax  
        Electric Consumption Tax  
        Meals & Rental Tax  
        Real Estate Transfer  
        (And there are many more….)  

“The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.” Vladimir Lenin

On February 6, the NH House of Representatives voted on CACR 1, a bill which would have allowed citizens to vote on this constitutional amendment. CACR 1 basically declared a 3/5 majority vote in the NH House would be necessary to pass any legislation imposing new or increased taxes or license fees on the citizenry or to authorize the issuance of state bonds. (Might it be, if we shut down the spigot for a while, the “powers that be” may actually have to budget in a fiscally sound manner as do so many of NH citizens? Might the “powers that be” actually need to seek consensus before forcing citizens to pay increased fees or taxes that THEY deem appropriate? Might it be, if we have to have a majority vote before raising taxes or fees, the budgeting may be more transparent and streamlined?) Of course, the answer is yes to all those questions. Unfortunately, many of our state representatives did not agree. CACR 1 was voted Inexpedient to Legislate (which just means “kill the bill”) by a vote of 206 to 149.

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HB617 – Well, ONE Republican is making a big stink about raising the gas tax.

Well, I, Mike, and Steve are all over HB617,  the bill that will raise the gas tax 18 cents over the next four years – and to hammer home the point, we can thank Republicans for greasing the skids to push this through without nary a cross vote.  Well, one NH House Representative has spoken up about it – NH State Representative Bill O’Brien.  And he has sent some information our way as well.  In my post, it is obvious that Democrat David Campbell is all aflutter about his “hoodwinking” : “the gift that keeps on giving” – he is just ecstatic that he’s widened a revenue source for feeding Leviathan.  Notice that wording – spoken as a true Statist in that the orientation is from State Treasury aspect.

Sidenote: Never mentions that in order for the State to “receive”, it is taking, by force, monies that New Hampshirites would otherwise be able to spend on their families.  But, that’s how Progressives are – they are always convinced that they have a better purpose for your money than you do.  They delight in using other peoples money (but really believe it was theirs to begin with).

Well, Bill decides to take Campbell to task for playing magician with the facts of the bill to one set of folks but boasting about it to the Democrat Leadership (Campbell’s letter after the jump) and adds some figures (emphasis mine):

David,

There is an additional spreadsheet you have on the 83% hike in the gas tax, but up to now you have only given to the Democratic leadership of the Finance, Resources and Fish & Game committees. That spreadsheet, which was prepared by the Department of Safety, points out that this near doubling of the gas tax will apply to all gas sales, but that gas used for snowmobiles and boats is not placed in the Highway Trust Fund, but instead is deposited into other funds.

Your disclosure of this fact to those committee leaders is inconsistent, of course, with the documents you have forwarded today showing only money going to roads and is contrary to your public protestations that “every dollar” of the gas tax hike will be going to roads. Instead, and as you said in the late afternoon Friday, February 22, 2013 email to the leadership of those committees, “[w]hen fully phased in [the gas tax] will generate $658,000 annually in General Fund revenue, $1,251,000 for Fish & Game and $593,000 for DRED/Trails.” This “extra revenue” going to Fish & Game and DRED will not, of course, be used to repair red-listed bridges.

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What are those definitions again, Democrats?

Having Government  Ownernship makes you, by definition,  Socialists.  Having Administrative control, by definition, makes you a Fascist. Really. (H/T: Liberal Logic 101)

Branding: “Nobody…seemed to consider the possibility that taxes should not go up!”

That was from Grokster Mike’s post that was riffing off of mine on my “ire” on how NH Republicans in the NH House voted to raise the gas tax via HB617 (emphasis mine):

Riffing off Skip’s piece on the gas tax, I happened to walk into a thinly attended local GOP meeting last night – not naming names, because it’s the principle that matters:

The topic under discussion was the recent vote on the gas tax increase, and whether it would have been better to raise gas taxes and take a bite out of passing tourists, or for residents to suck it up in registration fees to keep the state friendly for visitors.

Nobody, NOBODY, in a GOP group (until I walked in) seemed to consider the possibility that taxes should not go up! Once prodded, they wondered aloud whether our roads and bridges were so bad as to warrant this, whether prioritization might be a good idea, or gosh, are all the gas and vehicle taxes actually going toward road maintenance?

And we wonder why we have a problem cutting spending? Do we HAVE to give Maggie’s Marauders a free pass?

U Cud Be a Useful IdiotOnce prodded.  Really?  Once prodded?  Attendees at an NH GOP meeting have to be “prodded” to think of the ramifications of what is a heightened broad based sales tax (most people in NH drive, and driving requires gas or diesel)?  Look, even those that are active in the NH GOP can’t keep track of every bill and every issue that is going on in the State and under the State House Dome.  But my gosh, one would think that they have a grasp of the basics of Republicanism (if not Conservatism).  So, when a good chunk of number of Rs help to enlarge the local Leviathan, it kinda puts a kibosh on putting a Phoenix story on the Republican brand – instead of rising from ashes, this is putting nails into the coffin.  Thus far, it seems like new NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn is doing the right things – but with respect to providing separation from the Dems, is this a one step forward / 3 steps back?  How does this prevent a “taxes?  Republicans voted for them too – so don’t blame us!” attack?

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NH .223 Day of Resistance – Opening Ceremonies

Today was the .223 Day of Resistance Rally day all over the nation – and NH was no exception.  GraniteGrok attended the rally held on the steps of the NH State House in Concord NH.  Even on a grey, dark day with intermiteant spitting snow (thankfully, the snow held off almost until the end of … Read more

NH .223 Day of Resistance – Opening Ceremonies Part II

Two more clips that can be judged to be part of the Opening Ceremonies.  Father Christian Tutor of the All Saints Anglican Church gave the invocation with some additional remarks and Jeff Chidester (Conservative activist and host of of NH Perspectives radio show on WGIR 610) was introduced by Susan Olsen as the Master of … Read more

NH .223 Day of Resistance – NH State Rep Dan Dumaine and Diane Bitter

Continuing on the ‘Grok coverage of yesterday’s NH .223 Day of Resistance, here are two more of the speakers.  I briefly had the chance to meet NH State Rep. Dan Dumaine before the event started (but ever so briefly) and then, since he spoke before I did, found out he “borrowed” some of Joe Biden … Read more

NH .223 Day of Resistance – GraniteGrok Co-Founder, Skip Murphy

Yup, that’s me – the ordinary schlub from central New Hampsha that has happened to have shared a whole lot of his opinions on a whole lot topics since the ‘Grok’s doors opened in 2006.  Lots of posts in fact: 6,353 to be exact.  Had a leading regional radio show.  Have participated on a few forum panels.  But speaking?  Especially when an event is almost a single issue one with multiple speakers ahead you on the agenda covers most of what you wanted to say.

Hey, I’m a blogger – just wing it.  Hopefully, it was worthy of the other speakers and to the fundamental Rights that are at stake.  Because, Mr. Vice President Joe Biden, is it NOT about guns at all.  It is about who is in charge: the citizens or the Political / Government / Ruling Class.

Remember:

Live Free or Die – death is not the worst of all evils

The Bigger the Government, the smaller the citizen

Which do you choose this day?

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NH .223 Day of Resistance – NH State Rep Al Baldasaro and Pro-Second Amendment Lawyer, Evan Nappen

You have to love former USMC First Sergeant Al Baldasaro (and now NH State Representative)!  See problem – go straight ahead.  Doesn’t care whose delicate liberal insensibilities get offended (and resulting loud crying) in the process.  Here is a person, having served with honor after swearing an oath to the US Constitution, that understands that … Read more

NH .223 Day of Resistance – Jack Kimball (Chair, GSPLPAC) and Donna Murphy

The last speaker of the day at the NH .223 Day of Resistance was Jack Kimball.  A powerful speaker (no one evah wants to follow Jack in a speakers roster!), there is always one constant in each and every speech: his patriotism shines through large and bright.  He carries the weight of his oath to the Constitution that he swore when entering the US Navy – and that showed yesterday, loud and clear.  In his mind (and should be in everyone else’s as well) that we owe an allegiance, not to a given Administration, but to the ideals interwoven in our founding documents.  After all, we are a nation founded on ideals and not one based on geographical location, ethnicity, a given sect of religion, gender, or economic class (much to the consternation of Progressives who have adopted the class struggle argument of Marxists everywhere).

Donna Murphy was introduced to me during the event by Susan Olsen (the Event Organizer) to see if I could give her some time.  Not on the roster to speak, she wanted to represent the One Million Moms against Gun Control, after the event was officially over, I was happy to record her speech and promised to post it here (consider it done, Donna!)

  

Jack Kimball                                                          Donna Murphy

Chair, Granite State Patriot Liberty PAC

 Previous Videos:

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