Skip, Author at Granite Grok

Notable Quote – B.W. Hughes, Jr

September 26, 2018January 15, 2013 Skip

On The Rule of Law: So few young people today understand that the rule of law is the precondition of an ordered society in which free men and women act in liberty. It is no overstatement to say that, without the rule of law, we cannot have liberty, and that this is a truth, not … Read more

Paint and fireworks: what could go wrong (in Slo-Mo)?

September 26, 2018January 15, 2013 Skip

We’ve been doing a LOT of talking about things that go boom – not just because they go boom but for the underlying reason we need them: protection against the real reason why the Second Amendment exists: tyrannical government. But sometimes, stuff that goes boom is good, if for no other reason that its FUN! … Read more

Hmm, is it legal for Illinois legislators to make US Currency illegal? And register your gold purchases?

September 26, 2018January 15, 2013 Skip

What ever happened to:

THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

A most disturbing post over at Zero Hedge – Illinois legislators think that gold is about on par with guns – you have to register your purchase and you cannot pay in cash (SB3144). It’s sorta like, well, they want to track who has what. After all, Obama’s Progressive Hero, Franklin Delano Roosevelt confiscated all private property gold on April 5, 1933 simply by issuing an Executive Order.

“…Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall obtain a proof of ownership, create a record of the sale, and verify the identity of the seller. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall not pay for the precious metal in cash and shall record the method of payment.” (SB3144)

From the post, this pithy summary:

“So let me get this straight. First they want gun registration and now precious metal registration? I’m sure the government would only use such information in our best interests, because as we all know: Your Government Loves You. Sounds reasonable, after all, only ‘terrorists’ buy guns and gold anyway.”

And you have to do that registration either at a Sheriff’s or Police station. Gee, do you know what kind of database THEY have access to? Hint: it ain’t the SEC, the Fed, the IRS, or Treasury. I wonder whose database you’d end up in if you insisted on cash?

Let Rick Santelli ‘splain it to you:

“…and they also fear their Government.” – Part (insert number here)

September 26, 2018January 14, 2013 Skip

Here is a video from OathKeepers, an organization that believes once one takes the oath to the US Constitution, it always remain in force. In these times, when even Peggy Noonan believes that there is widespread angst, we see an organization that holds up, not the US House, not the US Senate, and not even … Read more

Such a media hound, this US Senator Chuckie Schumer

September 26, 2018January 14, 2013 Skip

And acting like a Ruler that issues decrees instead of a Servant-Leader, too:

NEW YORK — Sen. Charles Schumer says retailers that sell assault weapons should stop offering them for purchase while Congress discusses gun regulation legislation.

Schumer on Sunday released a letter he sent to major retailers asking for a voluntary moratorium.

The New York Democrat says consumer demand for guns has gone up in the weeks since the December mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.

Schumer says Congress is debating the issue, and if measures get passed that limit these type of weapons, it won’t help if more of them have recently been sold.

Well, does that mean we, the Citizens, should stop using money, as you chuckheads in DC are “discussing” our $16 Trillion national debt ceiling (100% of our national GDP, btw, but you guys don’t seem to be counting) – which should alert you that we, THE NATION, have no money to spend?

Here’s a couple of observations for ya, Chuckie (giving respect in proportion to that which is due to this idea):

So Dan, what say you when Government Teachers openly say they will indoctrinate their students against American Society?

September 26, 2018January 13, 2013 Skip

and declare War on American Society as it now stands? And Hunter Dan (aka IWKAGGP aka Dan William, a Govt school music teacher) decided to leave the same comment on my Head Start post and on Steve’s The Left’s War on Education:

So I guess four weeks is the right span of time for the Grok’s 24/7 defense of the 2nd amendment. Now that Lanza’s massacre of our most precious commodity – our children – is past us, it’s time to restart our all-out assault on the nation’s great equalizer.

Right – Head Start has proven to be a failure of an educational program, but with $180 Billion spent since its inception, it has probably turned out to be a GREAT patronage employment scheme. Steve catches the Left in its own detrius – if it was REALLY for the children, teachers would be all over anything and receptive of anything that actually yielded better educational results for the children (regardless of it being private or public organization, regardless of who does the teaching (union or not), regardless of who owns the building, et al). Instead, any attempt in searching out better methods than the status quo are quickly demonized. It’s as if the Teachers Unions believe that they are absolutely entitled to all the K-12 education money (and Hunter Dan’s comments enforce this). So Dan, in defending the status quo model, must absolutely believe in the Occupy Oakland Teachers (and their demi-God and Obama’s BFF and former SDS / Weatherman / killer / American Society hater, “educator” Bill Ayers (emphasis mine, reformmated):

At least the teachers of Occupy Oakland are finally being honest about their political agenda. They’re openly calling for an all-out abolition of capitalism.

The Occupy Oakland Education Committee – comprised of public school teachers from the Oakland, California school district – has renamed its publication “ClassRoom Struggle” and its platform TEACH, which stands for “Transform Education, Abolish Capitalism and Heal.”

Finally the radical teachers have acknowledged what we’ve been saying all along: they want to end capitalism and replace it with a socialist economy, quite possibly enforced by a totalitarian form of government.

Closeup – Jeanne Shaheen defends “Bigger Government through compromise”

September 26, 2018January 13, 2013 Skip

On Closeup this morning, Josh McElveen asked US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Progressive-NH) a question about the national debt and the Fiscal Cliff:

How much damage repair needs to be done in terms of what the country watched Congress do with this whole fiscal cliff battle, and still, even after from all that debate not come up with something comprehensive? Sure, there was a stopgap measure put in there. But how is this a two pronged “hey we can get the job done” and, just get the job done?

Her answer:

Peggy Noonan on recent gun sales explosion: “…and they also fear their Government.”

September 26, 2018January 13, 2013 Skip

On “This week with George Stephanopolus”, Peggy Noonan said what I have been posting about here for a while. If that angst has now trickled up to a nationally rated columnist and talking head on one of the top rated national political shows, that assures that there is a problem. The gun sales are through the roof to the point of being almost unobtainable – and is finally getting noticed. George asked Peggy Noonan the question:

Peggy Noonan, Newtown happened one month ago tomorrow. We are going to see here from VP Joe Biden on Tuesday. But we’ve been talking about this for the last few weeks on the program. Every time I talk to a group of Senators, it does seem that there is a not a lot of sharing of the President’s sense of urgency on this issue.

Her response:

On Capitol Hill, you mean? Look, guns are a very tough topic in America. I do think that if the VP comes forward with some with his report on Tuesday that looks at the whole violence problem in a way that includes guns and extended magazines and such but how we also deal with the mentally ill in America and what to do if you have a 17 year old kid that appears to be unstable and violent? There is a cultural angle to this, we all know what it is, we all go through the motions on this, we have for 25 years but a Democratic President addressing the cultural part of it this would be a little like Nixon to China.

If Biden has something to say that touches on all those things…

Notable Quote – Ann Althouse

June 9, 2018January 13, 2013 Skip

On the idea that if the imagery is embraced and used by Progressives, why can’t we who are Pro-Life do the same? Biden actually said: “There is nothing that has pricked the consciousness of the American people (and) there is nothing that has gone to the heart of the matter more than the image people … Read more

Joe Biden: “If it only saves one life!” A concealed carrier saved two that night.

September 26, 2018January 13, 2013 Skip

Of all of the stupidest arguments that Progressives use over and over again is that of “if it only saves one life, it’s worth it!”. The hypocrisy is that when confronted with that absurdity with other concrete example of danger (but do not fit the Narrative Du Jour), they grimace and “that’s stupid” without realizing that they have just made your argument for you. Like Joe Biden here to the members of his Gun Grabber Task Force: “If our actions result in only saving one life, they’re worth taking.” (watch here). In fact, one person listed a whole bunch of things that should be banned forever if saving one life was really all that important – yet Progressives never would…

…Versus just being a talking point primarily used in a reducto absurdem way that makes them feel morally superior – but shows how intellectually weak they truly are (too much time in the echo chamber). Especially when confronted with reality; from 10TV.com (reformmatted and emphasis mine):

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man said that he fought back when a man tried to rob him at gunpoint in west Columbus Monday night. Kelby Smith, 34, told police he was in the driveway of the home on Crescent Drive just before 9 p.m. when he was approached by a robber. Smith said that he had his 2-month-old in a car carrier and had to shield him from the robber who held a gun at Smith’s head. The suspect took Smith’s money and started to flee the scene as he pointed the gun back at Smith and his child.

That’s when Smith pulled out his own gun and fired at the robber.

The robber continued to run, but police said that a man fitting his description arrived at Mount Carmel West a short time later with a gunshot wound.

Notable Quote – George Will

June 9, 2018January 12, 2013 Skip

And these [natural] rights are the foundation of limited government – government defined by the limited goal of securing those rights so that individuals may flourish in their free and responsible exercise of those rights. A government thus limited is not in the business of imposing its opinions about what happiness or excellence the citizens … Read more

Where I show that one can break Reagan’s 11th Commandment with impunity

September 26, 2018January 12, 2013 Skip

Oh sure, folks have castigated the ‘Grok through the years as being “purists” with respect to “who is a good Republican” (and in our case, our “purity” comes merely from two observances: 1) do you vote in line with Constitutional values?, and 2) vote in line with the Party platform values?). We get accused of breaking Reagan’s Commandment for merely pointing out and commenting when Republicans don’t act according to Republican standards (after all, we disagree with the NH House Minority Leader Gene Chandler when, at the Belknap County Republican Committee meeting this past Wednesday when he pronounced “Any Republican that helps us regain power is a good Republican“) (and the Old Guard Establishment types were all nodding their heads and the newer Conservatives / more Liberty & Freedom types were doing facepalms) .

So, Jan 26th is the annual NH GOP meeting where the Members of the State Committee get to vote for one of two candidates, Jennifer Horn or Andrew Hemingway. I shall repeat that ALL of the ‘Grok writers have endorsed Andrew Hemingway. With pleasure and confidence.

Oh wait, there’s three people in the race for NH GOP chair. Should I have said “then there’s “Andy Martin” “? I got an email from him (being a Member). One line stuck out all by its lonesome:

One of my opponents has made outrageous personal attacks against me on the radio

Really? Why is it, then, when I see this:

It immediately gets translated to this:

An utterly horrible example of “Laws are for little people” – David Gregory will not be prosecuted

September 26, 2018January 12, 2013 Skip

That would be David Gregory of “Meet The Press” and the event was him waiving a 30 round magazine on national TV in attempting to not report the news but trying to make the news in shaming / stigmitizing Wayne LaPierre of the NRA over the Sandy Hook tragedy. Originating in DC. Where having, possessing, and brandishing is illegal. As Grokster Rick had in his post:

The law in question is titled: DC High Capacity Ammunition Magazines – D.C. Official Code 7-2506.01, and reads (my bold):

(b) No person in the District shall possess, sell, or transfer any large capacity ammunition feeding device regardless of whether the device is attached to a firearm. For the purposes of this subsection, the term large capacity ammunition feeding device means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The term large capacity ammunition feeding device shall not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

Well, I had a thought on related post that mentioned this as a practical result here:

Sidenote: Example? Think David Gregory of Meet the Press and how he intensively grilled NRA’s Wayne LaPierre over gun control to the point of waving a 30 round AR magazine – deliberately breaking the law as even having such in DC is illegal. Yet, in that bastion of Democratness, has anyone seen him arrested for doing something on national TV that would have you and I arrested in 10 seconds flat? He was willing to be arrested to defend and promote a Progressive end point – disarming the populace.

10 seconds flat for you and me – and now never for David Gregory. Dr. Jacobson over at Legal Insurrection has the news that being a Beautiful Person In The Press has juice (the media version of Crony Capitalism?) (emphasis mine – full Letter at the link):

Head Start – it’s “For the Children” even when it is a failure.

September 26, 2018January 12, 2013 Skip

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.”

– President Barack Obama, Inauguration, 1/20/09

We TEA Partiers are always being accused of wanting to get rid of Government as Progressives desire it and here in NH, the Free Staters are all accused of being outright anarchists that want no government whatsoever. Well, the former is true – we want a limited government that yields a good value: a limited government that carries a small number of tasks extremely well. In that aspect, the Free Staters (the real anarchists aside) also agree in that a limited government, by necessity, will provide an enlarged degree of Individual Liberty and Freedom.

So, back at the beginning of LBJ’s Great Society (which further pushed the Progressive Society started by Wilson, moved along by LBJ, and almost finalized by Obama), Head Start was created – a program to assist low income, inner city kids, to get a “head start” educationally, to get caught up with “the richer kids who have built in advantages”. Problem is, there was a lot of concern from Conservatives that this has been nothing but a money sink with little results to show for it. Did it really give those kids the boost that Liberals swore was going to happen? Er, no – #FAIL (emphasis mine):

Washington politicians interested in never cutting a dime from Washington’s spending can bring forth the name of Head Start quicker than the name of their own districts. It’s a heart-string puller. It has its roots deep in the Great Society, established in 1965 and expanded over the years to become one of the country’s longest-running programs to combat the effects of poverty. More than 20 million American children have gone through the program, which is designed to impart parenting skills to parents, and cognitive, emotional, and health improvements to children. Over the years, the program has cost $180 billion.

For the second time in two years, a Congressionally mandated study of the Health and Human Services program has shown it does not work. Its published date is October 2012, but it wasn’t released until after Obama’s election, presumably so Democratic campaigns could safely accuse Republicans of not caring about children and ignore the actual results of the programs they favor.

The Hot Air post quotes the Heritage review:

Notable Quote – George Washington

June 9, 2018January 11, 2013 Skip

“Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.” – George Washington, first President of the United States

“Gun Control” – that’s just so HARSH. WMUR approves of Obama Administration’s Politically Correct term: “safety”

September 26, 2018January 11, 2013 Skip

During lunch I wanted to find out what the weather was going to be so I switched on WMUR and listened to Melinda Davenport read the update on the Presidential Gun Task Force:

Well, the gun debate continues to heat up. VP Joe Biden kicked off his gun violence task force yesterday by meeting with gun violence survivors and safety groups. Today he sat down with the other side of this controversial topic as he he meets with the NRA. The task force will make recommendations for gun policy changes at the end of the month.

Note that? Nice to see the constant slide of the Left in changing their chameleon skins – and the Media’s complicity in helping out. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they called themselves “Progressives*. They so wore out their welcome with that word, they decided to alter ego themselves and merely change their names “Hey, we’re Liberals – we’re NEW and DIFFERENT”. Yeah, so different, they had to start back using their old name “Progressive”. Same people, different names, same regressive philosophy. Truthfulness in advertising? No – language perversion in the cause of collectivism winning out over Liberty & Freedom.

Hardly. They have one LARGE fundamental problem – if they called themselves, and their policies, exactly what their heartfelt policies would result in, nobody would go for them. Their real monniker should be “Hiders” – especially amongst the Political Class Progressives who couldn’t be elected dog catcher, in many cases, if their true ends were known with ALL of the ramifications.

And so it begins……….a thought

September 26, 2018January 11, 2013 Skip

Remember, Progressives hate women defending themselves. Why? Well, Susan just posted another case of “what as bad when Republicans did it, but fine when Democrats do it” – their faux cries of “settled law” (here and here). Here we see the regressive nature of Democrats in trying to reverse the Natural Right to defend yourself. No longer will it be lawful to defend your home (“castle”) or yourself where ever you happen to be – even if you do not “consent” to give your Right to the State in this regard.

This case illustrates wonderfully, beautifully is the difference:

Conservatives:

You have the Natural Right (and responsibility) to defend yourself. The State should not force you to outsource that to itself. Remember, the lives of you and your family, loved ones, and friends might depend on it. Gun Control: firm grip, get the correct sight picture, and keep the muzzle pointed at the evil ones. Carry on.

Progressives:

Heh! Just remember, NY residents – we have no income or sales taxes here. We still like guns, too

September 26, 2018January 11, 2013 Skip

“the MinuteMen would have make “the swishing sound heard ’round the world” with the swords they would have been left with in NY”

Well, at least while we can still beat off the attacks of the transplanted Progressives now here in NH who hate people keeping their own money (that’s cheating Government, dontcha know!) and think guns are alive and evil.

SideNote: once again, I note that Progressives seemingly hardwired to NOT leave other people alone. Conservatives: I just want to be a Conservative – just leave me be and I will leave you alone as well. Stop trying to either convert me or absorb me into your Borg unilaterally. You wanna be a Progressive? Great and good for you – go over there where the other Progressives are; we don’t want you and we don’t like your regressive policies enforced upon us. Progressives: I want to be a Progressive – and that means where ever I go, you all have to be Progressives with me – and LIKE IT. I just don’t understand why you Conservatives so dislike us so – all we want to do is make life EASY for you by making all the decisions for you (that you used to do for yourself). What, don’t you like the Utopia I am trying to put you into??

New York Times (reformatted, emphasis mine):

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who spent his first two years in office establishing himself as a fiscal conservative, turned left in his third annual address to the Legislature, and sought to reclaim the state’s progressive mantle. Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, had two emotional fulcrums in his sprawling 78-minute address: gun violence and Hurricane Sandy. But most of the speech was devoted to an onslaught of proposals favored by the left wing of his party.

Yup, I think Cuomo so dismayed the base that, given his half way point, time to go full Progressive. After all, without them, he isn’t getting back in. Sure, NY is a Progressive bastion, but hey, he was showing so much “practicality”, he could have almost a moderate Repub. But, here he goes!

“I am not your subject” – Senator Blumenthal’s ammo bill is moving to change that sentence.

September 26, 2018January 10, 2013 Skip

“There is no rational reason why a person can walk into a store, fill their shopping cart with hundreds of rounds of ammo, pay up, and walk out without so much as giving their name.”

The Hill is reporting on

[US] Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would require background checks for buying gun ammunition

It’s currently illegal to sell ammunition to fugitives, felons and people suffering from mental disorders. However, while background checks are required for selling firearms, they are not required for selling ammunition. Blumenthal’s legislation would require background checks for selling ammunition as well.

“Ammunition sales should be subject to the same legal requirements as firearm sales — instant background checks using the FBI’s national database,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “There is no rational reason why a person can walk into a store, fill their shopping cart with hundreds of rounds of ammo, pay up, and walk out without so much as giving their name.

Yeah, like we all know that ammo without a gun can still hurt when it is thrown at you by a burglar. Imagine the arm the would be gunless-but-deranged killer-to-be must have to cause such mayhem! Government micromanaging the personal private lives (oops, scratch that- Progressives want Government in EVERY aspect of your lives!) – yo, Blumenthal: while you’re regulating the crap out of my sugar intake, my salt intake, my ammo usage? You gonna finally do what YOU chuckleheads are supposed to be doing – like passing a budget for the first time in 4 years? How’s that National Debt thingie doing? Fix that yet? How ’bout you take care of the major messes you’ve created FIRST?

The legislation also makes it mandatory for sellers to keep records on selling ammunition.

In an interview with The Hill, Blumenthal said the idea for the bill came from discussing with law enforcement personnel ways to deter gun violence. Blumenthal said authorities should be notified when somebody buys a large amount of ammunition.

“We should know,” Blumenthal said. “Somebody who buys that much ammunition is maybe someone whom we should give some attention.”

Notable Quote – Glen Reynolds

September 26, 2018January 10, 2013 Skip

NOTE: When people say things like “don’t let this moment pass without acting on gun control,” what they’re really saying is our arguments are so unpersuasive that they can only succeed when people aren’t thinking clearly. – Glen Reynolds, Law Professor, Instapundit