Skip, Author at Granite Grok

Obama’s Buffet Rule – serious or a campaign stunt?

September 26, 2018April 9, 2012 Skip

Update:

So, Joe Biden wants to come and defend this crock? Hey Joe, those folks ARE paying the same rates on their EARNED income – how else is the top 1% paying 37% of all income taxes? And if this chart is insufficient, try these. Fair, Joe Biden – how much is enough to be “fair” to “help others”? Remember, this?

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Obama, over the last two weeks has let us all know that he is in full campaign mode – after all, he is attacking pretty much anything that moves in the political world that doesn’t fit his political worldview (boy, how paranoid he must feel to know that everyone is out to “get him”? Well, sport, you’ve kinda brought it upon yourself, eh?). Certainly, one of his tools is going to be those misbegotten words (at least, now it is) “fair” and “fairness”. Sure he uses it, but as I have learned over last few years, he isn’t about to define and REALLY state what “fair” and “fairness” is, other than to be a political club against his enemies (and make no mistake – we’ve seen him treat those that most of us would consider to be national enemies (or, “not friends at all” at best) far better than his political rivals here at home. Truly, he believes that old saw “Conservatives believe that Liberals are just wrong; Liberals believe that Conservatives are EVIL!” and treats everyone else as such (why does Obama hate “The Other” so much? Isn’t he all about diversity? Oh, sorry, that only goes skin deep – ask his Granny).

For a guy that promised so much to be a “post-political” President and “unite us and heal our planet” kind of guy, he’s really showing his BULLY side, ain’t he?

Where Maya Angelou intimates that we can be legislated to love each other

September 26, 2018April 7, 2012 Skip

Huh? I was looking up a word that was the equivalent of gaggle at Dictionary.com but starting with a “p” (then it popped up in my head: ” radical vision of Obama and his punishing posse of Progressives“) but there was a quote that was in the right sidebar from Maya Angelo (emphasis mine): Strictly … Read more

From James Pindell’s Political Standing

September 26, 2018April 7, 2012 Skip

Really? “Is there any truth to the rumor that next weekend Republican National Committeeman Steve Duprey will be challenged on the floor from an opponent from the right flank?” Interesting rumor…

“Germany set to tax young”

September 26, 2018April 7, 2012 Skip

Well, the Blue Social Model of Socialism is its own Ponzi scheme – and when you run out of young people, you run out of other peoples’ money. From the Sydney Morning Herald (reformatted here): GERMANY is proposing to levy extra taxes on the young to pay for the costs of the country’s growing numbers … Read more

President Obama’s stewardship of the Federal Government downrated AGAIN.

September 26, 2018April 7, 2012 Skip

From Big Government (reformatted here): A small credit ratings agency downgraded the United States’ credit rating for a second time, arguing the country was no closer to solving its runaway debt problem. In a move that could foreshadow decisions from larger agencies, Egan-Jones downgraded the US to AA from AA+. The company on Thursday cited … Read more

Data Point – Interest payments on slope to exceed DoD budget

September 26, 2018April 7, 2012 Skip

Liberals and Progressives have, for years, said that we have to decrease spending on defense and spend it on more important things – don’t think that they meant debt payments. Sorry, but you guys, in the end, are going to be the ones that screwed your own social programs. (H/T: Weekly Standard)

“You’re on your own” vs. “We refuse to leave you alone”

September 26, 2018April 6, 2012 Skip

1. You’re On Your Own

Ever notice that Liberals want both ways, 1 & 2? As a Conservative, they wish to take ownership of ours – #1. Yep – lock, stock, and barrel. They hate the idea that we like being on our own – being responsible for ourselves, being responsible for our families, friends, and neighbors. They cannot understand that we believe that this is a virtue – a goodness. They look at us and go “By yourselves? What about Community? What about ‘all for one and one for all’? What happens if you fail?”.

I have made a decision on my own. I have decided that the resources for which I have worked and earned are less in value than what I need – or want. An individual valuation – not a community (or “democratic”) decision (as the Occupy Wall Streeters want us all to do). To them, “on your own” is a curse. Obama is now using it just like militant atheists are belittling those of faith (“how STUPID are you to believe in that?”). Really, it must scare him so “You’re on your own”! And he says it with a negative, sarcastic tone; “Social Darwinism” – makes it sound like its a bad thing! Well, for him and his ilk, it is. They hate our philosophy (and just to rub it in: “which built this country, no matter what Obama is claiming!”). I find it perverse: they demand the “choice” to kill unborn children, but refuse to give us the freedom to decide for ourselves.

2. We Refuse To Leave You Alone

Decisions – which will you choose?

September 26, 2018April 6, 2012 Skip

Make no mistake – there is a political battle going on simply because it is a Presidential election year. But also make no mistake – there is a philosophical battle going on for the soul of what this country can and should be; what should the Land of the Free have as its guiding principle? This battle is between two diametrically opposed visions – the first is that now being pushed by the radical vision of Obama and his punishing posse of Progressives defined by the socialist collective ideal. In this world, Government is the most important part of the country’s life and guides and defines (and ultimately demands) how the rest of us will live our lives. Here, they would devolve us back to a system where elites and technocrats, within the almost unlimited confines of the Administrative State, would carefully let us know what is good and bad, right and wrong. All, we are assured, would live equitably with completely shared values – predetermined by the Politically Correct set. Society well defined and ‘efficient’ – the messy chaos that would otherwise exist is, well, would be a thing of the past.

The alternative is what this Republic was founded upon – radical vision that all men are created equal with Rights given by their Creator where each person is free to make of themselves what they will, all the gift of both the genius and sacrifices of our Founders. The new notion that we get to decide how we are to be governed by our consent by a Government that is (supposed to be) responsive to us (instead of the other way around). Further, that Government is bound by a limiting document that explicitly lays out what it can and cannot do, what each part of that government should and shouldn’t do, and all for our benefit (instead of for the benefit of Government).

Hmmm, this is not how I thought this post was gonna go; well, words happen. What got me started was the that phrase that is now the title (from Hot Air and ended up as the title of my previous post: You’re On Your Own vs We Refuse to Leave You Alone) as well as a memory that got kicked off as I read it.

Obama and his Progressive view of the Constitution to get what he wants

September 26, 2018April 5, 2012 Skip

As John from Powerline put it: Yet the Supreme Court has expanded the scope of the clause beyond all recognition, to the point where it has rendered the most basic principle of the Constitution, that our national government is one of limited and enumerated powers, almost a nullity. Michael Ramirez illustrates graphically how one clause, … Read more

Describing Obama’s campaign styles in three words:

September 26, 2018April 5, 2012 Skip

2008 – Hope and Change 2012 – Do my bidding (H/T: Fishersville Mike via Instapundit)

Press Conference: Susan B. Anthony List in favor of HB 228

September 26, 2018April 5, 2012 Skip

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2012 CONTACT: Mallory Quigley, 703-380-6674, mquigley@sba-list.org Pro-Life Leaders to Urge Defunding of Abortion Providers in NH Former Congresswoman to Testify before NH Senate Health & Human Services Committee Concord, NH – On Thursday, April 5, 2012 the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) will host a press conference in Concord … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Question 10 – TEA Party and 9/12 Project?

September 26, 2018April 4, 2012 Skip

Next to last question and again to the grassroots organization. As with the other interviews, the idea is to get a sense of what people in leadership within the NH GOP (as she is the Deputy Speaker) are thinking about the Liberty and Freedom groups that have a stand off view of the NH GOP. Can and will these pitches be believed – and should the L & F groups once again think there is a place for them other than as shock troops:

Your message to the TEA Party and 9/12 Project members?

Previous Questions:

Here is how you teach little kiddos what Socialism is – courtesy of President Obama

September 26, 2018April 4, 2012 Skip

(H/T: The Looking Spoon)

Federal Government – Sure, they’re good stewards of taxpayer monies….#FAIL

September 26, 2018April 4, 2012 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

Earlier, Rick posted the news how efficiently our Federal Government was exerting stewardship of our hard earned taxpayer monies:

In October of 2010, The U.S. Government Services Administration spent over $835,000 on a four-day “training” conference for 300 GSA employees…held at a luxury hotel outside Las Vegas.

This was in a post from The Corner that was in response to the same news:

Howdy–

Internet Doodlings – At TreeHugger, environmentalists are like Obama: Constitution?

September 26, 2018April 3, 2012 Skip

OK, commenter “mer” had me dead to rights: Skip, as a young boy, did you run around with sticks poking bears and hornet’s nests? 😉

My response was: No, mer, I didn’t – but I have found out, as an adult, that it is good, clean (and cheap!) fun!

So, I went back and did it again at TreeHugger. It seems that even at that bastion of Environmentalism (Leftist branch), there is talk about the Obamacare oral arguments:

If the Supreme Court Throws Out Health Care Law, Might Environmental Protections be Next?

The jist of the post is that they are following in line with Obama’s reasoning: The Supremes should not throw out a democratically passed piece of legislation. No positive mention of the Constitution as a limiting document – merely kvetching that other liberal programs, especially the EPA, would be at risk. That would be, except for a couple of conservative outlier commenters like yours truly. I responded to this comment which, in turn, was in response to an earlier one (emphasis mine):

” If you do not carry health insurance, you are not a threat to others. “

Have you ever heard of people passing germs and thus sickness? Yes, lack of healthcare is a threat to others.

I really shook my head at this – I’d hate to be this guy, walking around, thinking everyone around me could do me harm with a simple cough or sneeze! THIS is the argument of choice as to why Obamacare is constitutional and should not be thrown out – “Daddy, she gave me germs!”:

Richard de Seve – gee, there’s more! Student reviews…..and he’s a Truther???

September 26, 2018April 3, 2012 Skip

OK, given how much GraniteGrok has been blogging about Richard de Seve and his political activities on the taxpayer dime, it was finally logical to Google him and see “have we been able to get our investigation out there?”. The answer is yes: the two highest rated search items are about his LinkIn profile – and then GraniteGrok’s posts start showing up immediately thereafter with no small smattering of other sites reposting our stories. But I found two other totally unrelated items about Mr. de Seve that were unexpected – Koofers.com (a student-rating-professor site) and a Letter that Mr. de Seve wrote back in 2006 at (where else??) the Concord Monitor (I have screen scraped the Letter if need be, given it’s content.). First, Koofers:

Only two students have rated him as a Law Professor; they aren’t impressed:

Arrogant, pompous, driven by ideology, more agenda – how could I be surprised? But that ain’t the worst of it! He decided to share his thoughts about 9/11 with us (emphasis mine):

I voted Democrat because…

September 26, 2018April 3, 2012 Skip

Just received these via email: worth a chuckle! 1. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies’ profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 43% isn’t. 2. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending … Read more

Blue collar Reality shows – paragons of capitalism. Listen to them over our President.

September 26, 2018April 3, 2012 Skip

Anti-Collective, Anti-“we’re better together”, Anti-“you succeed only when we all succeed” (and all that other crapola) rant.

So Bill ayers wakes up, wishes to blow up capitalism, fails, goes to bed and then does it again the next day. I guess I’m complicit in his scheme – at least in part. Like Bill here, I am one of those that is helping to collapse part of the capitalist scheme – but only the part I don’t care for. I hardly evah watch the “old” networks – ABC, CBS, or NBC and it is showing in their downward ratings. Instead, its the reality programs. No, nothing like the Kardashians or the fashion shows. Instead, it’s the logging shows, the crabbing shows, trucking, fishing, gold mining and the like.

You know, the ones that actually love capitalism. They realize – no work, no pay. If they are sitting around, no money is getting into their pockets. Each one has to work on their own or in voluntary teams, to get the job done. They aren’t factory or ofice jobs where the pay is by the hour or the bi-weekly salary check. There’s no living off someone else’s sweat – it’s their sweat that determines success or failure. You have to salute the inventor shows, the Shark Tank shows where people keep after their dreams, hoping and praying that their time, talent, and hard work AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DELAY INSTANT GRATIFICATION will finally pay off.

Am betting that the Teachers Unions ain’t liking this all that much!

September 26, 2018April 3, 2012 Skip

From California: …The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a legal challenge filed against Proposition 209, the 1996 initiative approved by California voters, which argued that the law discriminates against minority students in admissions to California universities. The three-judge panel said that the court was bound by a 1997 9th Circuit ruling that upheld … Read more

BE BREITBART: Update 8: DES Right To Know Update : DOIT and DES – living up to their own policies (#FAIL)

September 26, 2018April 2, 2012 Skip

The last post on this topic (GraniteGrok’s Right To Know to the State of NH on the non-State biz use of the State’s network: political commenting) effectively ended on these notes:

“what did they know and when did they know it?“

and “they did know it all and they knew it when the packets went through the system.”

Which leads up to the next important question:“…can the State live up to its own personnel policies in this area?”

This actually breaks down into two parts:

Can the State technically actually do what the policies say imply based on the results sent to us from our Right To Know request?

And if the State can technically support its policies – are they actually using those technical tools and if not, why not?

Now, I would be remiss to not point out that part of RTK for our calculus is still outstanding – Mr. Richard de Seve’s outbound (of the NH State domain) emails which the DES RTK guy has told me, multiple times now, is in process:

Request 5:

5. Any and all of Mr. de Seve’s emails that were outbound of the NH State’s domain and whose destination were other than for another NH State employee.

Response to 5:

All known emails have been collected and are currently being reviewed to determine 1) whether they are responsive to your request and 2) whether they are subject to any privilege or statutory exemption under RSA 91-4. Responsive, non-exempt emails will be provided upon completion of this review.

So, this needs to be fit into the picture when they arrive. In the mean time, there is more to review and our interim conclusion at the end…