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.

Five myths about conservative voters – Frank Luntz

Frank Luntz is often on Fox News – given this Republican Primary season, he was on a lot doing his focus groups during the televised debates where the members of the groups were able to interactively “spin their dials” to indicate various levels of “like / dislike” with what the candidates were saying – it was interesting to see the differences of what “turned the switch on” between Republicans and Democrats.

Well, he has a quick read article in the Washington Post on what Democrats might believe about Conservatives – and would be wrong according to this pollster:

Five myths about conservative voters

1. Conservatives care most about the size of government.
2. Conservatives want to deport all illegal immigrants.
3. They worship Wall Street.
4. Conservatives want to slash Social Security and Medicare.
5. Conservatives don’t care about inequality.

Go read his explanations on each of those myths.  My take?

Government today is expected to do way to much – and in most of what it tries to do, it fails the “excellence” test.  My belief is that a limited government, much decreased in size (especially at the Federal level), would have a better, a far better, chance of being best in breed if the number of services were limited.  Take those services that Society would have a hard time in doing (national defense is the best example of such a good public good) and have Government do them – but have the accountability to ensure they work and work well.   If you disagree, reread this.

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Notable Quote – Joel Mokyr

The enforcement of property rights through private-order institutions reflects something deep and supremely important about British institutions in the eighteenth century.  The culture of respectability and gentility helped solve the standard collective action problems that bedevil the production of public goods.  The emergence of a plethora of networks, clubs, friendly societies, academies, and associations created … Read more

In Obama’s world, all that matters is – Cool?

Snazzy. Cool.  Hip.  He’s all that: But is that all? Is that why someone wants to become President? Results?  Good Governance?  Who cares about that in our celebrity “15 minutes of fame” environment? I’d rather have concrete results.

Best BlogLine of the Week. Worst BlogLine of the Week.

Context: “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 Let’s start with the worst: Gov’t $15.6T in … Read more

Last I remember, NH sent both Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass to CUT THE SPENDING.

Low expectations for Charlie on my part – am not enthused that he has failed to meet that height challenged standard.  For Frank, however, who campaigned hard with TEA Party constituencies, the bar was higher – MUCH higher.  Sigh….Today, I get to repeat my lament: why isn’t your name among the other Conservatives that voted against spending more?  Oh, to be sure, I got both eBlasts about H.R. 4628:

  • Charlie’s: Earlier today, the House passed, on a bipartisan vote, legislation to extend the current student loan interest rate of 3.4 percent for one year.  Without Congressional action, the rate would double on July 1st, making it even more difficult for students struggling to find jobs in such a weak economy to pay back their loans.  I strongly supported this fully-offset, fiscally-responsible legislation and hope the Senate moves on it as soon as possible.
  • Frank’s: Representative Frank Guinta (R, NH-01) today voted for the passage of H.R. 4628, the Interest Rate Reduction Act.  It would extend the current 3.4 percent rate for college undergraduate recipients of Federal Direct Stafford loans.  Without congressional action, that rate will double on July 1.  The bill was approved in a 215 to 195 vote.

I note with no small irony that Obama has recently visited over 120 colleges and universities.   My response concerning this out-and-out-pander vote back at Frank’s office (NH CD-2 is not my district and I’ve given up on Bass):

So, we’re taking money from a program that most of us want to kill, for which we had no money for it in the first place, to fund a program that Obama nationalized.

Er, where am I wrong here?

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BE BREITBART: DoIT Right To Know Request : Outbound Internet traffic summarizations – Update 1

Last week, we sent in our second RSA 91-A Right To Know request concerning the Government records that summarized the websites that State of NH employees had gone to:

We hereby request,  in electronic digital form (in order to minimize time and cost on behalf of DES and DoIT), those records bolded in the above paragraph and to which the State has now admitted to possessing. Further, we also request the file / record layout description of the resulting file (fixed or variable field lengths, data types, et al). As computer consultants, our expertise will allow us to examine the data once received (we have several projects in mind for that data).

This request is asking for those records from January 1, 2005 to the present time (i.e., April 20, 2012), inclusive.

Well, 5 Business days have passed – the exact number of days in which we expected to have the State of NH send us the records.  After all, they already have admitted that have the records.  And as far as being “exempt” from RSA 91-A, well, we did not ask in terms of any personnel policies – all we want to see is URLs.  Well, in that time, we received nada for results; not even a <cough>.  Far different than our first RTK concerning Richard de Seve.

So, I emailed Gretchen Hamel, Administrator of the DES Legal Unit:

Subject:     Re: Your RSA 91-A request dated April 20, 2012
Date:          Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:39:19 -0400
From:        Skip Murphy <Skip@GraniteGrok.com>
Reply-To:     Skip@GraniteGrok.com
To:             Hamel, Gretchen <Gretchen.Hamel@des.nh.gov>
CC:             Grokcrew

Good morning, Ms. Hamel

Will we be receiving our requested information before the close of normal business hours as provided by RSA 91-A (5 business days, and verified by your PDF Letter)?

It seems that we have to ask because,  unlike your predecessor, we have not had any interim communication from you during this time period with respect to any updated status of our request.  Do you have the FTP site and credentials available for us to download that outbound traffic summarization information?

Kindest regards,

-Skip

(Skip Murphy for himself, Steve Mac Donald, and Ed Naile)

And then the wait began…and were unsurprised at the answer (emphasis mine).

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BE BREITBART: DoIT Right To Know Request : State of NH Internet Filtering policies

You know, we are still trying to find out the root reasons why folks like Richard de Seve and “GAIA” (and others like them) were allowed to comment and blog at the Concord Monitor so often during normal work hours.  So, we continue to think of what we need from the State that would be “non-exempt” that would be available.  We just sent this latest RSA 91-A request on the filtering policies that have been put into place by the State of NH:

  • what is blocked?
  • who requested it (Department) that it be blocked?

Here is the request:

Right to Know Request
as per
RSA 91-A
April 26, 2012

To:

Stanley “Bill” Rogers, Commissioner and CIO, Department of Information Technology, State of New Hampshire

Thomas S. Burack, C, Department of Environmental Services, State of New Hampshire

In light of the final response of April 19th concerning our first Right To Know request  (re: political postings by State Employee Richard de Seve during regularly scheduled work hours contra to the policies of both the Department of Environmental Services (“DES”) and the Department of Information Technology (“DoIT”) filed on March 11, 2012), we are making the following RSA 91-A request.

As noted in that final response:

That software categorizes web sites based on historical content. Agencies establish filter policies that determine which categories are accessible or blocked. Based on a user’s login information, the software is able to associate a user with his or her IP address and based on the policy assigned to that user, determines whether the requested page is allowed or blocked. If allowed, the software permits the requested web page to be sent from the requested server to the user for viewing.

Although we were fairly sure that web sensing / filtering software was part of the State’s network, we now have further requests knowing that such filtering software is actually used by  the State.  We hereby request, in electronic digital form, those electronic Governmental records of existing (and to the extent possible, retired or disabled) filtering policies that:

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BE BREITBART: DoIT Right To Know Request : Outbound Internet traffic summarizations – Update 3

Telephone Rotary

Well, a quick update on setting up the Commish meeting:  Got a call yesterday afternoon from the “DES Commish Lady” (Commish Burak  Administrative Assistant, but DCL sound more bloggish) – the tentative meeting with Commishs Burack and Rogers (DES and DoIT) this  Friday at 6 pm is out of the question – somehow, I was not surprised.  Here’s how the [admittedly paraphrased] conversation went (hmm, next time I should just flip on the sound board on and record such conversations):

  • She asked – how about next week?  SURE!
  • And then I aGAIN explained we all work full time day jobs – we’re located all over the state and I said I’ll have to check schedules – several of us travel for biz and that can mean country-wide rather than just state-wide.
  • Hesitation on her part: “Er, well, the only days he REALLY has is Wed or Friday.”
  • Well, that will be OK – still at 6pm, though?  Remember, we’re working stiffs.  And being computer folk, we REALLY want to ask some questions (yes, I made a point to say it that way to make it PERFECTLY clear what our intent is).
  • Another hesitation moment.  “Um, that could be a problem – you see, he has a lot of work appointments – like ground breaking ceremonies and the like”

Yes, you REALLY read that right- she REALLY did say ground breaking ceremonies.

OK, I just hate to be cynical (watch for a post a bit later this evening – you’ll understand why my outlook would be a bit “shaded”), but methinks I be getting a sniff that perhaps  he’s not all that willing to make time after his working hours even as we are after ours – having dealt with politicians personally for a while, the “is it a ‘for show’ deal meter” is starting to twitch a tad.

  • I reiterated: I’ll ask about Groksters schedules
  • Her parting words “Commissioner Burack remains committed to meeting with you”

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NH Governor race – let’s start talking about it

This November, voters in NH are going to have a stark choice for Governor: On the Left, it will be one of two extremely hard Left, Progressive, “Government-centered society” candidates: Jackie Cilley or Maggie Hassan – both who are trying to “out-Progressive” each other On the Right, it will be either Ovide Lamontagne or Kevin Smith.  … Read more

GrokTV Special Event: GSPLPAC TEA Party – The Speakers Part II: Rep. Dan Itse, Irena Goddard, Karen Testerman

In addition to Nat Healy and Dr. Joe Tarta, there were three more speakers:

  • NH House Representative Dan Itse on the NH and US Constitutions
  • Irena Goddard, Freedom activist,  speaking about life growing up in a Communist nation and why she is scared for America
  • Karen Testerman, founder of Cornerstone, speaking on traditional values.

Dan Itse (he of the tri-corner hat!):

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BE BREITBART: DoIT Right To Know Request : Outbound Internet traffic summarizations – Update 1

Right To Know TagWell, with all of the coming and goings of the weekend, I forgot to “note” that we had received a response to our latest Right To Know request that read, in part:

As noted in that final response:

When a user enters a URL or IP address for a particular web page, the outbound request passes through the state’s internal network until it reaches the internal firewall. There, the request is routed through DOIT’s web filtering software. That software categorizes web sites based on historical content. Agencies establish filter policies that determine which categories are accessible or blocked. Based on a user’s login information, the software is able to associate a user with his or her IP address and based on the policy assigned to that user, determines whether the requested page is allowed or blocked. If allowed, the software permits the requested web page to be sent from the requested server to the user for viewing. The date, time, and destination of the outgoing request, as well as all IP information sent to the user from the destination web page, are recorded by the web filtering software. The actual content of what was either sent or received is not recorded.

We hereby request,  in electronic digital form (in order to minimize time and cost on behalf of DES and DoIT), those records bolded in the above paragraph and to which the State has now admitted to possessing. Further, we also request the file / record layout description of the resulting file (fixed or variable field lengths, data types, et al). As computer consultants, our expertise will allow us to examine the data once received (we have several projects in mind for that data).

This request is asking for those records from January 1, 2005 to the present time (i.e., April 20, 2012), inclusive.

We also request that you name a single point of contact who will be in charge of complying with this RSA 91-A request. If possible, we would request Mr. Peter Demas be that person – we established a very good working communications protocol with Mr. Demas that proved to be beneficial to both parties in our last request.

Well, I think that the tenor of this RTK is going to be a bit “different” than the last one, given the inbound email:

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Bon mots and “turn of phrases”

Since becoming a blogger, I have learned to appreciate a good turn of phrase or the use of an unusual word.  In line with that topic is one of my favorite lines from the last US Senate race here in NH – Jim Bender’s “line of the night” when talking about Washington DC attitudes: Self … Read more

Based on what the NH GOP Elite are saying about us – is it time to withdraw support and work on alternatives?

bumped and updated:  Paul Jacob who puts out Common Sense on a regular basis, had these bon mots concerning this (emphasis mine):

Though it may be that “it’s only a matter of time” before Tea Party folks run the GOP (as “the longtime national committeeman” from my state put it), the price of admission to the higher ranks seems calculated in the abandonment of principle. Hohmann quotes one old party hand as saying that Tea Partyers need to learn “that everybody who is in government is not evil, that we’ve got some really good people in government. Let’s don’t burn the barn down to get rid of the rats.”

And here you have the real problem.

Real change isn’t about putting “better people” in office. It’s changing the principles by which anyone in government — good, bad, or indifferent — must operate.

The founders knew this. Today’s Republican insiders do not.

*****

In the same post where James Pindell asked “how many is enough to be successful?” concerning the turnout of the Granite State Patriot Liberty PAC’s TEA Party , he also had this to say (emphasis mine):

The Republican Establishment: While Jack Kimball tries to mount a comeback, the fact of the matter is that the Republican Party is being run by establishment types like Wayne McDonald, Steve Duprey, Juliana Bergeron, Kelly Ayotte, Charlie Bass, Frank Guinta and Peter Bragdon. Yes, Bill O’Brien is the exception.

Now, as Grokster Mike pointed out, I did launch a stealth campaign to run against Steve Duprey for the RNC Committeeman on the idea that no one should run unopposed; when I heard that no one else had put up their hand, I did.  Given that I spent no money on campaigning, no time spent on campaigning (except a select few words whispered before the vote that evoked “WHAT?” responses followed by smiles), I figure that I had a decent ROI.  Now, I had no illusions about winning  against a multiple time NH GOP Chair / RNC Committeeman.  But my takeaway were these:

  • standing on the auditorium floor looking upwards at the crowd, it was amusing to listen to the gasps and looks when it was announced that there were TWO contested races for the RNC representation
  • I receive 68 votes just by showing up.  It showed that a sizable number of folks were open to an alternative to the status quo.  How will this be received going forward by the Establishment?

That should be a message – but from this piece from Politico, it seems that the NH GOP Leadership is not all that in love with those of us that made 2010 possible

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GrokTV Special Event: GSPLPAC TEA Party – The Speakers: Natalie Healy, Gold Star Mom, and Dr. Joe Tarta

I am a double Blue Star dad which means that I have had two children serve in our Armed Services (the Eldest a Marine who did a tour in Iraq and the Youngest a tour in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne).  I consider myself lucky and blessed – they returned home safely with just some wear and tear….but they are home.

A Gold Star Mom (and Dad) is different, for their child made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country, and in Nat’s case, for his Navy SEAL buddies.  Sr. Chief Petty Officer, US Navy SEAL Dan Healy didn’t have to go on that last helicopter ride to rescue his buddies on that Afghanistan mountain – but he did not hesitate.  But let’s let Nat tell the story far better than I:

Dr. Joe Tarta, retired physician, also spoke on Obamacare and why it won’t work as President Obama has promised.  He also talks about some of the practical bad outcomes that are already taking place and that are being noticed:

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GrokTV Special Event: Granite State Patriot Liberty PAC TEA Party – Intro Ceremonies

Yesterday the ‘Grok went to the Granite State Patriot Liberty PAC (“GSPLPAC”) “Jack is Back!” TEA Party. Meant as the start of a rallying point, a number of conservative candidates and speakers talked to a crowd that was double that which was originally expected. Sure, most of the TEA Party rolled up its sleeves and went to work politically to effect the changes it knew had to be done – and the 2010 elections were the results.  Even with that amazing result, the Dems and media kept kvetching about “well, where are you” (even as I kept saying “and the huge rallies by the Democrat / Socialist leaning Occupy Wall Street movement are – where?”.

We can be an obliging bunch.  As I said here, the expectation was 100.  I’ve been told by “official counters” that the actual attendance was just about 200 – far more than my lower range estimate of 150.

Sidenote: although not present at the rally, Jerry Delemus was mentioned often with many thanks for stepping up and stepping into the GSPLPAC Chair when Jack had his run at the NH Governorship.  GraniteGrok extends its thanks to Jerry for taking on a hard job with no notice and getting the PAC into the fray!

This video is of the intro ceremony: Invocation, Moment of Silence in honor of the slain Greenland, NH Chief of Police (Michael Maloney who died protecting his men), Honoring our Veterans, Pledge to the Flag, and the singing of the National Anthem:

Right after that, Jeff Chidester (host of “NH Perspectives” and Conserva-tarian [Conservative / Libertarian] activist) stepped into the role of Master of Ceremonies and had some introductory remarks:

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GrokTV Special Event: Granite State Patriot Liberty PAC TEA Party – Conservative / Libertarian candidates make their case and ask for support

No one can accuse Ovide Lamontagne, candidate for NH GOP nomination for NH Gov.,  of sitting and waiting for that nomination to come to him.  He doesn’t feel entitled to it – he knows he as to earn it.  Here at Saturday’s GSPLPAC  TEA Party, Friday night at the AFP/NH Conservative of the Year award for Kelly Ayotte – he’s working!  He brought a message that fits the TEA Party philosophy (and the worst nightmare of Democrats / Socialists / Statists everywhere):

  • Free Markets
  • Limited Government
  • Constitutional outlook

The TEA Party can always count on the support of Ovide.

There were also others looking for TEA Party support:

  • Dennis Lamare (Republican nomination for Congress,  NH-CD2)
  • Brendan Kelly (Libertarian nomination for Congress, NH-CD1)
  • John Hikel (Republican nomination for NH Senate,  District 20)

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GrokTV Special Event: AFP/NH 2012 Conservative of the Year Award – Intro ceremonies

This past Friday, we live streamed the Americans For Prosperity / NH’s Conservative of the Year Award given to US Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) for those who could not be there (either for scheduling or financial reasons).  Well, if you missed it, the entire live stream is after the jump.

Sidebar: On GraniteGrok 1.0, I could more easily put in multiple videos into a post in a side-by-side format.  I have YET to figure how that technique would work here in Grok 2.0 so I’m just going to do two or three videos per post (mostly two).

Here are the intro ceremony: Invocation, Pledge to the Flag, and the singing of the National Anthem (led by Kevin Smith, candidate for the Republican nomination for NH Governor).

Kevin also introduced Corey Lewandowski, Executive Director of AFP/NH, who served as the Master of Ceremonies:

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