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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.

Andrew Hemingway for NH GOP Chair

Andrew Hemingway For NH GOP ChairAs reported here and here, grassroots activist Andrew Hemingway has decided to challenge the Establishment candidate, Jennifer Horn.  If you are looking for more information, he has a Facebook page up here.  In fact, he is planning a reach out tonite via Facebook:

Dear Concerned Republicans,

 Today has been an exciting day for the future of our party! This morning I announced my candidacy for Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party. I am doing this because I have a unique set of skills that I want to use to serve our party and strengthen it. Tonight I will be laying out some of my vision for the future of our party. Please join me tonight at 8pm for a live Facebook Town Hall about my candidacy and my ideas to help Republican Party in New Hampshire. The video will be streamed on my Facebook page via Ustream.

Sidenote: or watch it live here after the jump:

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“Jennifer Horn – Wayne MacDonald in a Skirt?” or even more derogatory “Jennifer has a bus – just like Obama’s”

Skirt.  This reminded me of something that happened when Jack Kimball was running for NH GOP Chair

There is a crying need for revised American (and Israeli) military doctrine in the face of enemies who hide behind women’s skirts

Associated Sidenote: I also note with disdain from this morning’s WMUR Channel 9’s Closeup interview with Wayne MacDonald:

“When Jennifer Horn decided it was time for Jack Kimball to go..”

I wasn’t aware that it was her decision to make.  Interesting that the present NH GOP Chair would make such a statement.

Derogatory.   Yes, you’ve been seeing that word in my posts for a while – there’s been a reason for it (Steve sneaks it in every once in a while too).  It’s a blogger inside joke – something happens and you write about it in such a way that only those that were involved in the incident (generally a bad one) will “get it”.  And sometimes, if done right, it’s like that old Carly Simon song “I bet you think this song is about you“, you have a bunch of people thinking “Oh jeeze, he’s at it aGAIN”?  And you giggle, knowing that you succeeded.  And sometimes, it’s just enough to be eternally tearing off their scab.

So let this be a response of mine  to this FB page notification:

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Kevin Landrigan – how often do you call the subjects of your reporting?

Kevin Landrigan?  Did you even BOTHER to contact Jack?  Or is this merely simple plagiarism? “Defrocked Republican State Chairman Jack Kimball hosted a meeting Friday to express outrage about the Horn ascendancy and volunteered to run against her if no one else would.” You need to read the ‘Grok more often, or are your sources … Read more

A quick ditty on Electability, Power….and what often gets forgotten: Why? And what is Jennifer Horn’s answer to that?

As I mentioned here, I had a long phone call with an official in the NH GOP and I had brought up this article that was written by Mike Murphy in that paragon of Conservative Journalism: a blog at Time magazine.  He’s a Republican strategist who often appears on the Sunday morning talking head shows (especially Meet The Press hosted by Democrat with a byline, David Gregory).  I am always amused / dismayed at what comes from him as he is framed as being one (or only) of the “balanced” conservatives on the panel roundtable.  Most of the time, he’s just a political operative (“hack”) but is instructional on how most Establishment Republicans think:

  • I see talk about “Electability” in that piece.
  • I see talk about “Power” in that piece.

But nary a mention WHY the obtaining of power is important – what is it that is to be accomplished when it has been obtained?

Bill O’Brien knew exactly why he did what he did upon obtaining power.  Unlike the vast majority of politicians, the WHY of Power was to return it back to the Citizens – instead of just going with the flow under the guise of “getting stuff done and solving problems” (like that means anything at all).  It was increasing personal Liberty and not centralizing it.

So, I will ask both Jennifer Horn and Andrew Hemingway:

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Morality – once again, Establishment Republicans are unmoored as to the reason we fail.

Any person who voted for Barack Obama for the express purpose of having him utilize the US tax and regulatory apparatus to take money away from the rich and give it to them personally, is the moral equivalent of a bank robber. Neither I, nor any other person alive, is entitled to two red cents out of another person’s stash just because we don’t have as much.

 – Repair Man Jack, contributor at Redstate (emphasis mine)

Mike Murphy complains that we Republicans have to get with the program – and get more secular.  Well, this is what happens when morality goes unmoored from absolute values (in the case of the US, Judeo-Christian values) – exactly what Murphy is advocating.  You see, we are bombarded from High Priests of Republican Political Operatives that Republicans are losing because of standing firm on Principles; yet, one of those Principles is “don’t steal”.

Democrats and Progressives have, for decades, pushed to remove religion from the public square under the rubric of “separation of Church and State”.  They have done so at such a pace that it has become a societal meme.  Speak up and you’re labeled as ‘shoving religion down my throat” or “oh, you want a theocracy” or even crazier: “who are you to be judgmental” (as if stealing, murder, adultery, <name your sin> is only a personal choice?  And how dare you challenge my morality?

Thus, anything goes.  What used to be verboten is welcomed.  Some is goodness (black civil rights, for instance); some are definitely not (who ever thought that Govt could force you to buy a good or service simply for being able to breathe).

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Britain – the Productive are already “going Galt”

From TaxProf Blog: The Guardian: Two-Thirds of Millionaires Left Britain to Avoid 50% Tax Rate:  In the 2009-10 tax year, more than 16,000 people declared an annual income of more than £1 million to HM Revenue and Customs. This number fell to just 6,000 after Gordon Brown introduced the new 50p top rate of income … Read more

“The Future of the New Hampshire GOP”

“I have been told that I will receive more details later on this afternoon” –  just like my Magellen GPS: “you have arrived”:

The Future of the New Hampshire GOP

Dear Concerned Republicans,

Like you, November 7th, was a very sad day for me. I awoke to the realization that we had been defeated. All the time, money, and energy seemed a waste. Though I had seen what I thought were some weaknesses, I could not imagine President Obama being re-elected given his horrendous record.

The country needs Republican leadership. States where Republicans govern are far better financially than those where the Democrats are in charge. We especially need principled Republicans in leadership here in New Hampshire.

Out of my anger and frustration, I began to analyze what went wrong and what needed to be done to correct our mistakes. Here is a short list that I came up with:

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Speaking of NH GOP Chair – it sucks to be Fergus C

Heh! DOWN Fergus Cullen: For the second consecutive cycle he tried and failed at getting elected to the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. In a field of 43 candidates, the former party chairman was unable to earn enough votes at last Saturday’s Strafford County Caucus to secure one of the 38 availed slots. Ouch. I … Read more

Notable Quote – F. A. Hayek

From his “Road to Serfdom”: Everything which might cause doubt about the wisdom of the government or create discontent will be kept from the people. The basis of unfavorable comparisons with elsewhere, the knowledge of possible alternatives to the course actually taken, information which might suggest failure on the part of the government to live … Read more

Data Point – Federal spending; the curve

What happened in 2007 to elevate spending?       A Democrat controlled Congress.  Just like in NH, but that started in 2006.  That money has to come from somewhere.  Emphasis on “where” is all that Democrats think of rather than on what Conservatives believe, which is someone. It is sad that Democrats hate people. … Read more

NH Journal – Shawn Millerick: stooge for the Gnome of the North

Well, I guess that the battle will now be joined.  Shawn Millerick is a partner / friend with Pat Hynes (a former friend and co-host in “Meet The New Press” radio show that was the number one talk show in the NH Lakes Region) in NH Journal (and other activities) decided that NH Journal was going to start to “shape the battlefield” with this “out of thin air” post:

Sources: Kimball to stage comeback attempt as party chairman

After having served a failed half-term as Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee – a term that ended in his last-second resignation just before being ousted – Jack Kimball may attempt to engineer a comeback and challenge Jennifer Horn for the post, sources tell NH Journal.

 According to sources, Kimball will host a private strategy meeting on Friday to discuss the race for chairman and seek an opponent to Horn, who is backed by most party big-wigs. According to one source, if no other candidate emerges from the meeting, Kimball has said he would go for it.

Some of those invited to the meeting include Kimball, Skip Murphy, Diane Bitter, Joe Barton and Gerry and Sue DeLemus.

Really?  “Sources”?  Those in his head? So be it.  I sent that post to all the folks  to check because I was never contacted for verification.  Turns out, nobody was.  Simply put, this was a hit piece just like the Obama folks do – an attempt to discredit folks that might be playing a role in fighting yet another Sununu sock puppet.

“Sources“?  Those in his head? Or those just whispering in his ear (the Left one)?  Journalistic Integrity? So be it.    #WAR

Let’s  follow some connections in a quick exercise of “Six degrees of Kevin Bacon”?

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NH Journal – hey, here’s a Journalistic clue for you, Millerick

Shawn, a word of advice for you (worth every penny you will pay for it) as it seems it passed you by the first few hundred times.  My post (and Steve’s) point out a fundamental flaw that even an elementary schooler (if not schooled at a Government school in the classification of “In Need Of … Read more

Is James Pindell calling Andy Leach the Second Coming of this guy?

Andy Leach: Andy continues to establish himself as Kelly Ayotte’s enforcer and the muscle behind her political machine. His behind the scenes moves this week dramatically shaped the chairmanship race more than most people realize. Andy’s work doesn’t always earn him friends (see the Grok post), but he’s quickly becoming the most effective person at … Read more

Breaking: Andrew Hemingway to run for NH GOP Chair

Breaking details: The once cleared table for Jennifer Horn to assume “by accolade” the NH GOP Chairmanship may have gotten a rightward tilt to it.  Former RLCNH Chair Andrew Hemingway has announced that he will be opposing Horn’s ascendancy. I have been told that I will receive more details later on this afternoon. Hmmm, the … Read more

NH GOP: And I thought a “poll tax” was illegal!

I overlooked this announcement (on which Steve is busy writing a post on as well, I see) when it first came in – someone else emailed in on this and my head whipped around.  File this “what were they thinking” OR “the Five Families were planning ahead, eh?“:

NH GOP

Important Notice on the 2013 Annual Meeting

The State Executive Committee has voted unanimously to charge $25 to all State Committee Members to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting (below is brief summary from that discussion)

This can be done before or at the Annual Meeting The 2013 Annual Meeting will be held at Bedford High School on January 26th

Any question please call the State Party at 225-9341 or email info@nhgop.org

Rest of the notice after the jump.  Oh, the “Five Families” of the NH GOP.  Of course you know that things have gone out of control when the Chair of the NH Democrat Party, Ray Buckley, has a public comment on the brouhaha now coming to a boil over the NH Republican Chair Race.  So, context by what Mike wrote last night (emphasis mine):

Only hours earlier, DiStaso reported that several others had considered and then stepped aside, but that Cliff Hurst, who rejuvenated the Manchester GOP, and who guided the success of the blowout NHGOP victory dinner earlier this year, was in the running. Hmmm. What a difference a few hours makes – what could have happened? No need to risk losing an election and having to deal with the messy business of toppling the chairman after the fact, if you can mount a smear and fear campaign in advance, and drive your opponent out of the race ahead of time. You see, Cliff Hurst is no newcomer to politics, is good at fundraising, and is happy to criss-cross the state meeting with town committees – he might just win if not neutralized immediately.

The smears – Cliff Hurst started getting phone calls from friends that the word on the street was that he had become senile. The money drying up – Andy Leach called Cliff from Ayotte’s office to advise that, if Cliff won, there would be no help whatsoever forthcoming from DC, just as had happened to Jack Kimball in 2011.

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REMEMBER! According to the Left, only Whites can be racists….

SURELY this guy isn’t discriminating against Jews, right (emphasis mine)? Even when those of non-pallor color just blatantly out themselves? In an email dated Monday, Mr. Lopez-Pierre said he is calling for a meeting to be held in January to “discuss the potential damage to the political empowerment of the black and Hispanic community if … Read more

As Obama continues his quest to “perfect us” – our food is next

Obama: “and a union that could be and should be perfected over time. “ From the Washington Examiner comes news that while Moochella has “improved” our kids school lunches, he’s wanting to “perfect” our eating habits – or pay for it: “I think there is no question that the way Americans eat and what Americans … Read more

Data Point – The Rich DO pay more in taxes

All Obama and the Dems can say is that certain folks don’t pay their fair share in taxes.  I know that there are some socialist / Progressives that would be fine with taking it all after a certain point (“you should not be able to make more than $5 million per year!”) and a high percentage on everything before that.  Equality, they say.  But the way they talk about it, the rich pay next to nothing; hardly:

% income tax paid
Adjusted gross income as a share of AGI
$1 to under $10,000 -13.6
$10,000 to under $20,000 -11.5
$20,000 to under $30,000 -3.7
$30,000 to under $50,000 3.1
$50,000 to under $100,000 7.5
$100,000 to under $200,000 12
$200,000 to under $500,000 19.6
$500,000 to under $1,000,000 24
$1,000,000 to under $1,500,00 24.9
$1,500,000 to under $2,000,000 25.1
$2,000,000 to under $5,000,000 24.9
$5,000,000 to under $10,000,000 24.2
$10,000,000 or more 20.7

As the chart shows, the only folks paying nothing are the poor – and with the EITC, the govt actually pays them. I bet you’re noticing “Skip, look at the top two brackets – they are paying LESS – you LIE!”.  Er, no – and this is where the Dems pull the magic trick of demogoguing over the low-information voter:

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