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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.

Pull! – version 2: President Tutu

Ah yes, the White House actually dared folks to ‘shop the picture; Grokster Susan has one here that speaks to the serious side of what Obama is trying to do (and it isn’t just the Second Amendment).  *I* think, given his absolute personal disdain for guns and those that own them, this does a better … Read more

Yes, we MUST be critical of their thinking (or what passes for it)

Political correctness, CYA, a lack of blame-shifting / “not my fault and not my responsibility” and a total lack of “critical judgment” – what a combination we see.  And the Educational-Industrial at work (School Board Associations, Administrator Associations, and Public Teachers Unions at these Government schools purport to be all about “public education” and how DARE you criticize us? (emphasis mine)

This incident is the latest in a growing line of extraordinarily strong reactions by school officials to things students have brought to school — or talked about bringing to school — that are not anything like real guns.

At D. Newlin Fell School in Philadelphia, school officials reportedly yelled at a student and then searched her in front of her class after she was found with a paper gun her grandfather had made for her. (RELATED: Paper gun causes panic)

In rural Pennsylvania, a kindergarten girl was suspended for making a “terroristic threat” after she told another girl that she planned to shoot her with a pink Hello Kitty toy gun that bombards targets with soapy bubbles.

At Roscoe R. Nix Elementary School in Maryland, a six-year-old boy was suspended for making the universal kid sign for a gun, pointing at another student and saying “pow.” That boy’s suspension was later lifted and his name cleared. (RELATED: Pow! You’re suspended, kid)

In Sumter, South Carolina, a six-year-old girl was expelled for bringing a clear plastic Airsoft gun that shoots plastic pellet to class for show-and-tell. The expulsion was later revoked.

Remember, these are the people who claim that they teach critical thinking.

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Black Swan: Obama’s actions created the TEA Party. Is the Establishment Old Guard Republicans are about to be black swanned?..

“ if you aren’t going to do what you say you would, we can no longer trust you“

I am beginning to think so.  Certainly here in NH during the last two election cycles, the enmity between what I would call the Old Guard Establishment (e.g., “I’m a Republican because…..I’m a Republican” and “who the heck do these newcomers think they are, waving the Party Platform and Constitution?”) and what I call the New Conservative Republicans (e.g, “Winning is the precursor, not the end game in itself”) has only become more distinct and calcified along that gap call “Philosophy / Country Club”.  Do you run and win to put a philosophy into action, or do you run to be somebody and “go along / get along” and make nice with the opposition?  The TEA Party arose because of Obama’s so compressed the political air, the common folks sprang up in dissent – with their ire aimed at those that were throwing the country into a fiscal black hole and ignoring the basic Rule of Law.  That included Republicans as well as Democrats – people who had never before protested got a glint in their eye for those they believed were not living up to and voting by the standards they swore oaths to.

It took the Democrats by surprise.  It took Republicans more by surprise.  And both are reacting against the upstarts – simply because many of us have had it with the Political Class (comprised of both Dems and Rs and the MSM / political operatives) that is seemingly protecting itself against the best needs of the country and “the little people”.

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Guest Post by NH State Rep. Jane Cormier – Honor is the Only Way Out of This Mess!

Since becoming involved in Republican politics back after the 2006 elections where the Republicans first got mauled (for not understanding and standing up for what they used to say they were), I have said, over and over again, that elected Republicans needed to stay engaged with the local media outlets – write the guest columns, write the Letters to the Editor, and write the commentary.  Scared of their own shadows and whatever political beliefs they held, none of the Establishment Old Guard bothered to do so (with the possible exception of doing so RIGHT before the election – just like some politicians that come to the Belknap County Republican meeting one meeting before Nov. 6th and one meeting afterwards – with the latter being mostly optional).   Let’s not get Democrats riled up, eh?  How’d that work out fer ya?

It has been very refreshing that I see folks that I am dubbing the New Conservative Republicans willing to stand up and do such – NH State Rep. and Belknap County Convention Chair Colette Worseman, NH State Reps Bob Greemore and Herb Vadney and some others.  Finally, folks willing to answer back the Democrats instead of cowardly shivering in their shelters or retreating from the field of ideological battle (for make no mistake, the Democrats are even more ideologically based than many people with Rs after their names).  Now I also get to add freshman NH State Rep Jane Cormier to the mix with this guest post that is also appearing in the Weirs Times:

Honor is the Only Way Out of This Mess!  
(With a good dose of Conservatism, of course…)

Rep. Jane Cormier

As a newly elected member of the NH House of Representatives, (Belknap District 8 including the towns of Alton, Barnstead, and Gilmanton), I would like to introduce myself to you, the readers of the Weirs Times.  I have long loved this local newspaper for its honesty and integrity.  Each week, the Weirs Times offers a conservative platform which is reminiscent of former President Reagan and his definition of conservatism: “The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority and more individual freedom…”.  How true.  But, as a dedicated conservative, I also know personal honor is central in true conservatism.  Without honor and integrity, especially from those who serve us in political office, our republic is doomed to fail.  Honor is what makes us better as a nation and a people.  Together, conservatism and honor are an unbeatable team.  In my humble opinion, Republicans will start winning elections again when we embrace these two ideals.  But, that is a discussion for another day.

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“Line in the Granite” – Defend Your Gun Rights Rally – Jack Kimball

This past Thursday was a Line in the Granite – People who take the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution AND Article XX of the NH Constitution very seriously.  They gathered on the steps of the NH Capitol this past Thursday to let the politicians under the Golden Dome know of their seriousness and willingness to fight for that Right – especially for efforts that will result legislation that will not solve the problems they purport to address.

Certainly there were a number of folks addressing the crowd (estimates ranging from 250 to over a thousand; I’ll stick with about 6-700 for a good show of folks on a poor weather work-day afternoon).  Unfortunately, I could not be there due to work – thanks to Bill Wynne of the G

Here, Jack Kimball, Chair of the Granite State Patriot Liberty PAC, speaks:

“Jack Kimball presents – Life, Liberty and Freedom – This production is Jack Kimball’s speech, one of 9 made at the event today, 31 January 2013. Jack is the Chairman of the “Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC. Please visit them on line at http://www.gsplpac.com

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“Line in the Granite” – Defend Your Gun Rights Rally – Karen Testerman, Al Baldasaro, Dan Dumaine

Addressing the crowds on Thursday at the Defend Your Gun Rights Rally were three more folks supporting the Second Amendment:

  • Karen Testerman – founder of Cornerstone and former NH Gubernatorial candidate
  • Al Baldasaro – prior Marine First Sergeant and NH State Representative
  • Dudley Dumaine – NH State Representative

  

Karen Testerman                                                       NH State Rep. Al Baldasaro

NH State Rep. Dudley “Dan” Dumaine

(H/T: Video courtesy of Bill Wynne of GoffstownToday.com)

Previous Videos:

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Tyranny #1 – Where Steve Vaillancourt decides to make it about himself…and approves of overt threats of Tyranny

“They may as well attack me as well.”   OK, battle joined – you asked, we’ll oblige: You’re an arse of a Libertarian for siding with Statists that promote promise threaten Governmental Tyranny against fellow citizens simply for holding opposing political views.

This is the first of a series of posts about Governmental Tyranny (or in this case, the threatening thereof) set this against the current Second Amendment Right battle being waged by those that would willingly disarm law-abiding Citizens.  Sure, they say that they respect “legitimate” uses for hunting and some forms of sport shooting, but lesser respect for the use of firearms for self-defense. And when it comes to the real reason that the second Amendment exists, to be able to credibly fight against a tyrannical government,  it seems that scoffing or demonizing (see our posts on the English wanker Piers Morgan strewn all over the ‘Grok lately) is in order using one of two arguments:

  • Do you really expect to win a fight against the US Military?
  • The US Government will never become tyrannical – it just can’t happen here.

Here’s the back story: this stems back to Grokster Steve’s post on NH State Rep (Democrat) Cynthia Chase’s threat to use the force of the State of New Hampshire Government to screw over a group of people simply because this recent transplant from RI cannot stand that they want less government over their lives and her philosophy / religion demands more. So she threatens:

“What we can do is make the environment here so unwelcoming that some will choose not to come, and some may actually leave.  One way is to pass measures that will restrict freedoms that they think they will find here.”

It seems de riguer / all the rage for Democrats lately: “You disagree with me politically – thus, I shall destroy you personally.  I will use Government to take stuff away from you”.  As Grokster Steve put it “Sounds more like tyranny“.  Rush Limbaugh agreed with Steve!  Even the UL recognized the inherent danger in what she said:

A much greater threat lies in the dictatorial impulses of legislators who find it permissible to reshape the electorate in their favor through the selective dismemberment of our liberties.”

Dictatorial.  The simple word for this is tyranny.  And Grokster Susan got the tweet from NH State Rep (Democrat) Peter Sullivan that amplifies the Democrat mantra:

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Oh, that Paucity of Posts yesterday? I was responsible for that lack of new content….

Or as Grokster Susan put it: Guns, Grub and Groksters!

But not in the way you think – every once in a while we Groksters all get together, go to a restaurant, have a good long meal, and yak.  Yes, we normally gets heads turned around to stare at us as almost any topic that we discuss here on the ‘Grok gets discussed then – only faster, more in depth, and certainly a whole lot louder than just on the ‘Grok’s pages.  Given our numbers, we do tend to stick out – big time – where ever we go!

Well, it had been a little while since we had a meeting, so I called one – Groksters AND wives, husbands, and girlfriends (for there would certainly be no GraniteGrok unless those special folks allowed us to do what we believe we need to be doing).  So, yesterday, we gathered for a GrokMeet and…a GrokShoot.

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A funny thing happened on the way to “Did Saturday’s boos send a response to Jim Foley’s claim?”

It just keep writing itself.  A Conservative friend of mine was strolling around the ‘Grok and saw the post I put up from Jim Foley’s site for his aborted run for NH GOP Chair. He let me know that “Wow, can anything scream ‘Country Club!’ ” any more than the pictures he had as a back drop to the page”?  Then he really started to laugh – and laugh hard.  He just could not get over the joke I was playing “You really want to push this, don’t you?”

“Huh”?  He started laughing harder: “Skip, did you REALLY have to put those ads there – “Jim Foley’s Colon Pills and Colon Cleanse” and “Jim Foley’s Liver Cleanse“?  By this time, he was really cracking up badly.  And then it sunk in: the Amazon sidebar ad” that was displaying as he was looking at “Did Saturday’s boos send a response to Jim Foley’s claim?“.  I asked him to send a screen cap to me even while I went back to that post myself (go ahead, they showed up for me!):

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A Bump On The Road To Unity – some riffs off Steve

Unity

Steve’s post brings up a bunch of issues that are well worth your time to read – and as you can tell by the title here, this is a takeoff on it.  He brings up (along with some of my thoughts):

  • Bloggers like us aren’t the problem that former NH GOP Chair Wayne MacDonald believes us to be…

Most political operatives, campaign managers, politicians and El Jefes of the GOP still have little to no clue how to view bloggers even after a decade since the first bloggers started.  Ditto for cooperating with us.  These folks get frustrated, because they quickly find out that not only can they not “use” bloggers, bloggers get extremely annoyed when a dumb attempt is made to actually do so (and make that abundantly clear, which then makes us “the enemy” in their minds because we won’t “go along”).  We may support your issues, and sometimes, we may even be in lockstep in areas, issues, or people important to you , but realize that it is because those things are important to us – not you.  We do a lot of things but mainly we blog and we do a lot of it.  Personally, don’t ask me to do a lot of other things that you think we should be doing; ask how I might be able to help THIS way – not your way or to plug your “need holes”. We may like you as a politician but don’t view us as part of your campaign staff (even if we “make nice” on you often) that you can then believe co-opting might possible.

Jon Henke a few years ago told me what he tells politico type…

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A Bump On The Road To Unity – Unity of what?

Rose Colored GlassesAgain, Steve’s post on NH GOP’s mistrust of bloggers and unity ignited a bunch of thoughts – and realized I had gone long (even for me).  So consider this Part II of mine from his Part I.  On Unity – or more properly put – the false sense of Unity that some in the NH GOP are proclaiming just because, well, it what is supposed to happen after elections.  Phewy on that – unfortunately, Reality is about to be injected into some self-delusion happy talkers that are believing that nonsense (their rose colored lenses are gonna have to dialed down quick).

Unity – all day Saturday we heard that we, as a Party, now have to unify, that we have to be united.  Well, that’s very true.  The question is “Unity of what?”  Well, the simple answer is “well, to win”.  Gee, no kidding – that’s a given.  The purpose of the NH GOP, historically, has been to take people who are willing to put an “R” after their name and get them elected.  Period.  They have had (or shown) very little judgement or discipline in this matter (sorta like that TSA parody of Rush’s: “He’s breathin’!”).

Simply saying “Unity NOW!” or “We are UNITED!” is now insufficient for the NH GOP at this time.  Period. Silly, really. Ain’t gonna happen and if the E-Board and the Chair think that this state of being is here, well, it’s back to the Wilderness for quite some time (am just hoping it isn’t for 40 election cycles).  A snap of the fingers isn’t going to heal what has been festering for 3 or 4 cycles now (at a minimum, but has become front and center the last two or three cycles).  Ding Ding Ding!  Ignoring the real state of dis-unity it isn’t going to solve it – that’s just doubling down on the Disaster line.  Acting like a judge (or a parent) and only yell “stop it – act like adults ” will probably end up like the SuperBalls I used to bounce off the brick wall at JFK Elementary School – I found out the hard way that a rebounding (super hard) ball on the soft parts of the body HURT.  So will maintaining the delusional.

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Data Point – Obama’s economy heading south: -0.1%

The Obama administration, I think, has figured out that the Bush excuse has expired.  But, they were happy to talk Sandy Superstorm and “The Republican fiscal cliff” – it is never, EVAH the result of their policies.  Never. Some numbers breakdown here. (H/T: AEIdeas)

Joe Biden: “If it only saves one life!” Five against two. Guess who had the equalizer?

Five big guys against two guys.  Normally, the five guys are going to take what they want.  It did turn into, temporarily, a five on one.  And then… (reformatted, emphasis mine):

FAIRBORN —  One man was killed and another shot in the leg when they, along with three others, allegedly participated in a home invasion Monday evening where the residents fought back.   Police said Tuesday that it is still a bit unclear what prompted the five individuals, ages 19 to 23, to force their way into the Victoria Avenue home while brandishing a fake plastic gun.   Fairborn Police Sgt. Paul Hicks said the only motive they’ve uncovered was that the subjects intended to rob the home.

 Two Wright State University students who live at 1006 Victoria Ave. were home when the intruders entered.

5 on 2.  not good odds.

Trent Seitz, 21, reportedly struggled with the men and was ordered to the floor. He called out for his roommate, Christopher Muse, who told police that he grabbed a gun and fired at the men.

 Equalizer

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“Secrecy in the name of unity” – Yet, I thought the NH GOP was about “Openness & Transparency”?

From the NH GOP Platform:

II. TAXES AND SPENDING

Government Structure:

Expand openness and transparency to employment, expenditures and all recipients of taxpayers’ funds

“Secrecy in the name of unity” – what a phrase; anyone else see the uber-contradiction between what the NH GOP demands of its Government and what governance it is willing to hold itself to?  What a phrase from the person who held highest office in the State Party, now former NH GOP Chair Wayne MacDonald to utter.   Once again, the disconnect of “Fine for thee but not for me” rears its ugly head.  No, Wayne MacDonald and James “Jim” Foley, as we here at the ‘Grok have been pointing out for YEARS now, bloggers are not the problem.  We only hold the flashlights and flip the ON switch to ON.  What they shine on is strictly a manifestation of the internal works that folks like you have created.  Or do you not like that message either?  Good governance, either in Government or any other organization, yields trust – and that demands openness and transparency.  However, both of these “gentlemen” believes otherwise – that secrecy is the stuff of good governing, I guess.  We can only trust ourselves – the elected to rule govern.

Consistency – oh true, there are times we may continue the early practice of the blogosphere being the Wild Wild West (which does upset some of the delicates out there, or those that believe they are the be all and end all, and above criticism)  but in almost everything we say or believe in here at the ‘Grok, we are consistent.  Sure, like most folks, we do slip up now and then (heck, with almost 13,500 posts, we’ve said a whole lot a whole lot of times) – but they are the exception rather than the norm.  You read us, you know us.  Government, and the NH GOP, should be internally consistent.  They are not.

This was the most egregious fact that was brought out by Steve’s post (“Wayne Mac Donald ..”People who blog are those who are “ruining” the party”“)  linked to a piece by political newcomer Kathy Benuck about her experience at the NH GOP Annual Meeting.  Seen through her eyes, from a fresh unvarnished perspective should be viewed by those now in charge of the NH GOP.  My takeaways of her “cause for concern” items:

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Free Advice For Chairman Horn – Part II

OK, perhaps some might think we are piling on tonite – well, sometimes, that’s just what happens.  Besides, as bloggers, this past Saturday was like finding a field full of gold nuggets.  Sure, we do have fun doing some of this (after all, none of us get paid, not even me, and if you aren’t being paid, you’d better be having fun) but it is a lot of “seriousness” wrapped in that “fun”.  Sometimes, though, it’s just a having an observation thrown into your face by someone else.

This time, by new NH GOP Chair Jennifer Horn.  Being a State Committee Member, I was on both her email list and Andrew’s – dualing messages.  Well, given her victory, she sent out one last email from her JenniferForGOPChair account (as it will be Jennifer@NHGOP.org next time). And had a facepalm moment.  After all, one of the Big Three “issues” of this campaign was Unity (“I can create this!”), another was Technology (“I can write and deploy this!”), and the biggest, in my mind, was Messaging (“I can articulate a convincing story”).  Messaging – to differentiate the NH GOP from the NH Democrats. Messaging – to give a clear and obvious choice. Messaging – to articulate the differences.

Difference.  Kinda hard to do, though, when you use their words their way, ma’am!  My immediate response to friends was:

>> And Now We Move Forward!

 PLEASE tell me that she really has no idea what she just said…...in copying the Obama campaign slogan “FORWARD!”

 FORWARD! – the slogan of Marxists and Socialist from time eternal.

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Did Saturday’s boos send a response to Jim Foley’s claim?

Well, when the call for a second for Jim Foley’s Finance report, all that was heard were “BOOS”.  Umm, no second was heard.  The call for a second was issued a second time for Jim Foley’s Finance report, all that was heard were “BOOS”.  Umm, no second was heard – a second time.

Togetherness?  Kumbaya moment?  Not so much, I guess.  But he did promise just that, once upon a time:

Jim Foley For NH GOP Chair

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Hillary: “What Difference Does It Make??” Former NH GOP Chair Wayne MacDonald: “What difference does it make?”

Hillary Clinton loses it Drudge BenghaziActually, in both cases, the answer to both cases is “It DOES make a difference – a tremendous one, in fact.”  And both are in the same area: trust.  Or in fact, creating more a lack of trust than what already exists.  Both questions from the top figures in the organization show a lack of concern of the perception of impropriety at best or a callous lack of concern (at all) at worst.

As Grokster Scott points out here, the question from Hillary was an avoidance of responsibility on her part.  She may, indeed, have future political plans and does not want a political albatross hung around her neck.  It was also, secondarily, a defense of Obama and of Obama’s claim that He has single handedly decimated Al Queda and made the word safe for Socialism (after all, an Obamessiah has to be blameless in order to mold us to be able to enter into his Heaven on earth).  After all, if that policy PR is shown to be false (and I believe that it has), the inference can be “where else is Obama’s foreign policies failing?”  or other policies as well.

But it matters even more – Government should be open and transparent.  It does matter, in that it is not YOUR Government, it is ours, the Citizens.  This is not YOUR nation, it is ours, the Citizens.  The reasoning of those we have elected to govern (not rule) as well as how that reasoning turns into action (and then how that action is carried out) should be able to be followed by the ordinary citizen.  When that open and transparency is violated, the lack of trust by the ordinary system rises.  Pulling down the shade by dint of her question only creates dark corners in Government in which bad things seem to sprout and create rot.

Oh, back to Wayne MacDonald, now the former NH GOP Chair…on the NH GOP Area 5 Vice-Chair race

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