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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.

Fiscal Cliff Deal? A classic case of the Left embiggining Government

Update:

  • Current tax rates would be permanently extended for singles making $400,000 or below, and permanently extended for couples making $450,000 or below
  • For singles, capital gains and dividends of $400,000 or below would be permanently taxed at 15 percent; capital gains and dividends above $400,000 would be permanently taxed at 20 percent
  • For couples, capital gains and dividends of $450,000 or below would be permanently taxed at 15 percent; capital gains and dividends above $450,000 would be taxed at 20 percent
  • The Alternative Minimum Tax would be permanently patched
  • Estates over $5 million would be taxed at 40 percent, and that tax rate would be permanently extended

Nothing on spending cuts (like, I’m surprised??)

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Or “Running out the clock always results in running out with somebody else’s wallet.”

The Corner is reporting that the AP is writing that a deal has been struck:

  • We shall punish the hardworking and successful:

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Notable Quote – F. A. Hayek

Wherever liberty as we understand it has been destroyed, this has almost always been done in the name of some new freedom promised to the people.

– F. A. Hayek, the Road to Serfdom

 

Certainly, Progressives believe that they have new “freedom not to be bankrupted from illness” with Obamacare – but are destroying the First Amendment Right to expression of religion (the HHS mandate, and opposed to Obama’s “freedom of worship”)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

and making others indentured servants to pay for it:

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It was only a matter of time for the low-lifes to show up….

SOMEBODY has to be responsible, right?  NY Daily News:

A lawyer who’s asking to sue Connecticut for $100 million on behalf of a 6-year-old Newtown school shooting survivor who heard violence over the school’s intercom system says the potential claim is about improving school security, not money.

“It’s about living in a world that’s safe,” New Haven attorney Irving Pinsky told The Associated Press on Saturday. “The answer is about protecting the kids.”

…The child heard “conversations, gunfire and screaming” over Sandy Hook’s intercom after someone in the office apparently switched on the system, according to the claim. Pinsky said Saturday he didn’t know whether his client saw anyone die.

The state Board of Education, Department of Education and state education commissioner failed to protect the child “from foreseeable harm,” including by failing to provide a safe school setting, the filing said.

And this is the problem with both our legal system AND in the fantasy land that Progressives and Liberals live in – note to the not-able-to-think-things-thru clueless “thinkers” and Utopians, there is not such thing that exists that is “living in a world that’s safe“.  Never has been in history and never will be either. However, in this modern world where so many are truly disconnected of the reality of real life when the veneer of civilization is removed (re: look at how tough life really is for those in third world countries without our “advanced accommodations”).  There is true evil in the world that no planning and no drilling can account for.  What we saw in Connecticut was that true evil in full view – yet the Progressives wish to either pass over that gruesome fact at best and ignore it at worst.  After all, we can’t have a Utopia without “progressed” people (either on their own or “nudged” (usually by force) into it by Government) can we, and EVIL people just so screw up that narrative of what is possible.  Thus, the anger over guns – which services two purposes – hides the fact that the Progressive Utopia can never be achieved (and is unable to sustain it self to boot) and serves to disarm folks (making it harder for opposition to react and oppose such a forced march to Utopianville).

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Runs like a Deere….no thanks to a sniveling Lowe’s

I still miss the ole’ Suburban.  What’s not to like about a land yacht that had a really nice comfy bench seat in the front where TMEW would sit right next to me, a long wheel base to smooth out the bumps, 4wd to take care of the ravine that one must pass to get to Murphy Manse (a H/T to DCE from Weekend Pundit calls his home), and was plenty big to haul all the stuff that our daycare center needed (at the time).  Plus it was always great to move snow with its plow as I stayed warm in the cab, listening to conservative talk radio and a Mtn Dew in the cup holder.

No matter who you looked at it, it was a vehicle that stuck a stick in Liberal and Enviro’s eyeballs.  Why do I say that?  Remember, they were complaining that NO ONE needed such a large SUV – they hated the idea of big “wasteful” cars that only single folks rode in – a CRIME against not only GAIA but also a crime against all those other folks “less fortunate” to only drive dinky cars.  Yes folks, the “gun on four wheels” of its day.  But, thanks to Socialist Enviro Lisa Jackson (about to be former EPA head) and Secretary of Transportation “Republican” Ray LaHood

Sidenote: you know, I did a post about NH GOP Greg Carson who all but has claimed that ANY person with an R next to their name was a GOOD Republican, as it helped the Party to gain Party; I need to return to the next installment of that thought process – after all, LaHood DOES have great power as Obama’s DOT Secretary – how’s THAT working out for us Liberty loving Republicans, eh Greg?  Especially as you are the point person for the Federal push, via the EPA, HUD (your department), and DOT to Federalize local New Hampshire communities’s zoning laws with the ill-named and worse intended result than the “Sustainable Communities Initiative”.

they’ve pretty much decided that Americans (if they can afford the newer regulation laden results) will only be able to drive tin cans that will be hard pressed to carry a grocery bag for cargo because of a doubling of the CAFE standards.  SURE, it’s gonna save us money in the long run – when have we heard THAT promise before (like with compact flourescent bulbs that have turned out to be a bust?).  But I digress.

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Send a Wanker home for Christmas – Part III

Grokster Tom put up Send a Wanker home for Christmas in reaction to CNN’s Brit celebrity talking head, Piers Morgan, constant hoplaphobic yakking about how some US Citizens “over value” the words of the Second Amendment and seems to be in total agreement with Obama’s phrase concerning bitter clingers and their guns and Bibles.  Then some folks decided to take advantage of the White House new petition feature and ask that Piers Morgan be deported for being a threat to the US Constitution!

Well, I guess the Wanker has his nose out of joint – we may get our wish all by his lonesome

The concerted effort to get me thrown out of the country – which has so far gathered more than 90,000 signatures – struck me as rather ironic, given that by expressing my opinion I was merely exercising my rights, as a legal US resident, under the 1st Amendment, which protects free speech.

He shows an astonishing lack of knowledge about the First, even if he is a legal US resident; you may say what you want – that doesn’t mean that we have to treat you like a Queen – just sit there, nod our heads, and quietly titter “oh, how British of him”.  He comes from the land of a noisy, loud, and raucous Parliament.  He expects us to act otherwise?

But no matter.

This gun debate is an ongoing war of verbal attrition in America – and I’m just the latest target, the advantage to the gun lobbyists being that I’m British, a breed of human being who burned down the White House in 1814 and had to be forcefully deported en masse, as no American will ever be allowed to forget – Special Relationship notwithstanding.

Don’t worry about that “Special Relationship”- Obama has made it clear that the official (albeit not necessarily non-public, but just watching his actions) stance on that is about the same as the truthfulness and veracity as that quaint notion of American Exceptionalism.

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Notable Quote – Abraham Lincoln

Note – the real reason for the Second Amendment: “We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution.” – Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America

Notable Quote – Dr. Larry Arrn

Imprimis – On Progressivism and the despotism it will bring: The experts who run the modern bureaucratic state think they are architects of a perfectly rational society. They think of themselves as scientists, and of the running of government as something more like science—the science of administration—than politics. They think they can coordinate society comprehensively … Read more

Assault Weapons – Chuck Woolery’s thoughts

Chuck has another video out – this time his take on why he needs his assault weapon.  After all, “…to blame assault weapons for these tragedies would be like blaming airplanes for the 9/11 attacks.  The problem lies with the perpetrator and not the tools used to commit the crime” “Our Founding Fathers wanted every … Read more

So, looks like gun owners are hating Senator Diane Feinstein’s gun grab, yes?

Or as I saw on one post “the only packing anti-gunner I know” – she’s got her CA carry permit and weapon and has said why she has it (…”I’ll take them with me!”).  Certainly, a lot of gun owners (or would  be owners) right after the Newtown tragedy felt that the gun-loathers (and those that loath those that have and use guns) would try another disarmament grab (regardless of what Senator Chuckie Schumer said).  But when they heard what NY Governor Andrew Cuomo said about signing legislation that had confiscation in it, and the new bill that Feinstein that all but outlaws most modern firearms AND calls for outright confiscation (“…until their deaths, at which point they would be forfeited to the government“).

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Where Burt Cohen makes a fool of himself on NH TV

Colt AR 15As I have posted before, I generally DVR the regular Sunday morning talking head shows to listen to what the Progressive Libs have to say.  Most of the times, except for the Fox show, the Conservatives are out numbered.  So I was rather surprised at last week’s Closeup (WMUR 9, hosted by Josh McElveen – yes, first chance I’ve had to transcribe the audio).

The topic, naturally was about gun control.  Ralph Domico of Reilly’s Gun Shop and  GoNH, and attorney Penny Dean represented gun owners.  Former NH State Senator Burt Cohen showed up to represent the typical gun hater that is clueless about why he wants to ban guns.

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Notable Quote – Dr. Larry Arrn

Imprimis: In a discussion with Hugh Hewitt, on the weakness / tyranny of Progressivism: No, and I don’t mean that. What I mean is that the principles of Progressivism that animate our government today, which are antithetical to the principles of the American Founding, lead to policies that cannot work, will not work, and result … Read more

US Progressive Senator Diane Feinstein – Yup, she’s got confiscation in her bill. Gun removal by regulation.

At the Corner, a snippet of an interview with Samuel L. Jackson

 Q: This movie has a fair amount of gun violence and can be a bit flippant about it. Does that give you pause in the wake of what happened in Connecticut?

 A: I don’t think movies or video games have anything to do with it. I don’t think [stopping gun violence] is about more gun control. I grew up in the South with guns everywhere, and we never shot anyone. This [shooting] is about people who aren’t taught the value of life.”

 It seems that Progressives like Diane Feinstein have not understood that simple phrase.  The problems that we see in mass murders (or single murders, or any other crime committed against another) is either one of a mental illness (who shoots their Mom or defenseless little kids as in Newtown?), or the latest where that previously incarcerated oldster (for killing his mom with a hammer) proclaimed “do what I do best – kill people – just plain black as night Evil.  Or those that simply wish what others have for either the reasons of “I want what they have” and justify it with “they don’t need it” (just like Progressives / Liberals / Democrats) – its about control.

Diane Feinstein combines that latter part, control, with another.  That is, Progressives so untrust their fellow citizens, they feel that they have the mandate to take away “all the toys” because we, the “unprogressed”, “uncivilized”, “uneducated”, stubborn, selfish, should-be-demonized ungrown-up child-citizen should not be allowed to have guns simply because those things either 1) insult their sensibilities (as guns do) or 2) have a longer range motive in mind.

As to #1, if “we” won’t cooperate and compromise with the Progressives as they head us from being the Land of the Free to that of the Land of We Submitted to Despotism, they will keep at changing the laws and changing the regulations to enforce their way to their Utopian version of Freedom (“you are free to do what we allow you to do – it’s not just for the common good but it’s good for you too – you’ll see!).   Yes, it was enable citizens to protect themselves and their families at a personal level.

And more; from Soldier Systems comes this retweet:

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YOU sir, as a Cabinet Secretary, are BOUND to Constitutional strictures!

Once again, we see yet another Progressive downplay the values by which the government is to act by and to be held against.  Education Secretary Arne Duncan:

“I want to talk to gun owners and hunters and sport shooters and ask them, what should we do? I want to talk about community and responsibility, and I want to talk about values — because we have common values that go far beyond the constitutional right to bear arms.

A number of things come immediately to mind:

  • First, your responsibility IS to the Constitution.  Period.  First.  Last.  You are the Government – stick to what the Government must obey (be it ever so hard for the Obama Administration to do that)
  • Second, an oh so soft slither around the fact that the Second Amendment is not about hunting and it is not about sport shooters.
  • Third, this IS about you trying to not have to talk about the Constitution – because it limits you.
  • Fourth, you don’t WANT that limitation – so you all (Obama Administration) are trying get people to emote instead of think, to think in the moment instead of long term and “what brung us to this place in the dance” -the sense of Federalism and a limit on what Government can do in manipulating Society.
  • Fifth, it is because, in large part, that you Progressives have swapped out traditional values for Progressives ones that we are in this pickle.

Yes, I just said it.  I lay it all on the Progressives with the denigration of hard work and the traditional work ethic that made a lot of people no longer ashamed to be on the dole.  I blame them for the substitution of absolute values for a secular humanism whose values can change from day to day – situational ethics run amok.  I blame them that Progressives believe that the rest of us cannot function in Society (ever closed to the irony, these “self-assured incompetents” of the poor and worse job that Big Government is delivering) without the guiding hand of themselves.  I blame them for the spiritual emptiness that they are wreaking in the country.  I blame them for the financial disgrace (with many helping hands of Republicans who merely wish “to get things done” without counting the cost).

I will answer “what should we do?”

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Friday Humor – a Doctor, a Lawyer, and a Mathematician…

A doctor, a lawyer, and a mathematician were having a conversation about the relative benefits of wives and mistresses.

  • The doctor insisted that, from a health perspective, it was far better to have a wife. He talked about stress, relaxation, routine, and other factors.
  • The lawyer contended that it was better to have a mistress, because that way you retain more of your legal rights, she doesn’t own half your property, and so forth.
  • The mathematician said that he could see both sides of that argument, but really he thought it was best to have both.

“Both?”, the doctor and the lawyer exclaimed. “Why?”

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Notable Quote – Dr. Matthew J. Franck

I have been getting Imprimis (a monthly commentary from Hillsdale College) for a while now.  I had kept this one, entitled “Individual, Community, and State: How to Think About Religious Freedom” as it has a number of things to reflect upon: Fourth, the power of government, necessary as it is to maintaining a shared moral … Read more

Notable Quote – Matthew J. Franck

From Imprimis: But—fifth—short of such cases, the state should respect, honor, and even foster the role of religious communities and institutions as essential contributors to civil society. In crucial respects they are expressions of something still more basic to the flourishing of the human personality than is the political order itself. The modern secular state … Read more

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