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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.

And they think that Rail Service in NH would be profitable??

Bumped: Given that Tim’s post is saying that the NHRTA (NH Rail Transit Authority) should be ridden out of NH out on a rail (pun intended), I decided to highlight the cost of the Downeaster – the most popular rail in NH could not exist without huge taxpayer subsidies. Avg % Fare per Subsidy / … Read more

GrokTALK! – Podcast page for 01/08/11

GrokTALK!

Podcast – week of 01/08/11

GrokTALK!

Streaming Live! from GraniteGrok

To play (or "stream") a clip now, just click on it.  To download it to your PC, right click on it and tell the process where to save the file for you.

(Click here for the promo page)

Well, we had technical issues – and as you can see from the above date, this didn’t get posted when it should have.  Add to that, the service we used for the video live stream had issues.  No audio clips for this week.  Our second guest, Jack Kimball, ran into time issues. 

Issues.

Actually, we DID talk issues, with Gary Johnson during the the first hour.  He is the former Governor of New Mexico and is now the head of Our America Initiative, an advocacy group concerned about what is going on in America:

OUR America Initiative seeks to broaden the parameters of the public policy debate of current topics in the national arena. We look to enlighten the population about civil liberties, free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values. It is our aim to increase the amount of discussion and involvement regarding all-important issues.

Issues?  You want issues?  Yes, we talked:

Balanced Budget tomorrow, Bankruptcy, Gridlock (vs uncontrolled spending), 43% cuts to Federal spending, Medicare block grants to States, Social Security (raise retirement age, means test), Defense (spending too much), Nation building, Iraq / Afghanistan, America is unsustainable financially, debt ceiling
Constitutional renaissance?, Proper Role of Govt?, States Rights, Corporate tax rate to zero?, Regulations, Sarbanes-Oxley, mark to market, Illegal Immigration

and more!

Part 1 is here:

Parts 2 & 3 after the jump:

Read more

NH Delegation Watch: Charlie Bass


From Google Ads (of all places):

          Congressman Charlie Bass

          is holding a Town Hall Meeting in

          Salem on Feb. 26/11AM. Learn
          more.

          Bass.House.gov

That would be this Saturday. Go. Watch. Ask. Record.

He’s already gone to the middle, running away from any aspirations of being part of the TEA Party movement (big surprise, eh) that he alluded to during the campaign.  Let’s get real – the Conservatives and the Liberty & Freedom type folks in NH CD-2 barely voted in numbers to give him a victory – vote for a Republican Progressive (self-described) or a Democrat Progressive.  

Why go and watch?   Forwarded by loyal reader, Steven (emphasis mine):

UPDATED: House Fails to Adopt $20B in Additional Cuts (February 18, 2011 by Dan Holler)

Republicans Miss Opportunity to Honor Pledge to America

 

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives voted 147-281 against an amendment offered by RSC Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), which would have cut an additional $20 billion in spending from H.R.1, the bill to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011.  Heritage Action for America was an outspoken proponent of the amendment.

“The failed vote on Jordan’s Amendment is a missed opportunity,” Heritage Action CEO Michael A. Needham said.  “This amendment would have put House Republicans in full compliance with their Pledge to America, which promised to rollback non-security discretionary spending to 2008 levels.”

Currently, H.R.1 cuts non-security discretionary spending to approximately $398 billion, $20 billion shy of the 2008 level.

“We congratulate the 147 Members who voted to uphold their Pledge,” Needham continued.  “And while the underlying bill takes an important first step forward, we know they can and must do more if America is to remain an exceptional nation.”

Today’s vote was just the first of many legislative battles over spending, and the future of our country.  Heritage Action for America will encourage Congress to cut spending to put our country on the path towards prosperity and will hold Members accountable to their Pledge and their constituents.

The following 92 Republicans opposed the amendment, along with every Democrat:

 

All of the Republicans that voted against this are after the jump; for those readers that live in NH, this is all you want to know:

 New Hampshire

  • Charlie Bass (NH-02)

Read more

What is Classical Liberalism?

Certainly, it is not those values that a Progressive / Liberal now holds (or, at least, they’d REALLY have to twist themselves into pretzels in order to justify their present rhetoric in these declarative definitions: However, if you DO do the research, one just might find out that my phrase, incremental socialism = progressivism, holds … Read more

Random thoughts – WI, unions, and taxes

You know what I think is incongruous?  I have been watching the activities, as most of us have, of the teachers union (among other public unions) assembled in Madison, WI as they have been demonstrating against the bill that Gov. Walker has proposed in order to help stem the $3.6 Billion deficit by weakening the … Read more

Random thoughts – WI, unions, and taxes; another take

The teachers and all of the other union members in WI are demonstrating against what they see as an assault on their take home pay (never taking into account that their demands will result in lower take home pay for taxpayers).  However, let me ask this against the backdrop of what the union bosses see … Read more

NH GOP Jack Kimball outlines go forward plans

Last nite, I attended an event in Hollis for a get together that was quickly put together to honor Jack Kimball.  Here, he addresses the crowd and updates them what has happened with the NH GOP since taking over as Chair and what lies ahead with his vision for the NH GOP: Doesn’t sound incompetent … Read more

NIBYs and BANANAs – Oh My!

Doug forwarded this link about the Northern Pass foo-foo.  My instant response was this:

I dunno about Jeanie, but at some point, all the NIBY’s and BANANAs will force us all to wood heat and kerosene -> and not by our choice.

But it may be their choice.

Not In My Backyard.         Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone

Let me discuss this a bit more.  I have not been happy as the enviro-wackos watermelons (green on the outside, red on the inside) that have infiltrated EPA and the Dept. of Interior seems to want to slowly clamp down on America’s use of energy.  We have, in the past, seeming as a public, sort of dismissed some of these folks that have decided that a de-industrialized America is a better America; the "Noble Savage" ideal taken country-wide. 

We have seen that in Texas and other southern border states this past winter when the colder weather hit those states and they suffered rolling blackouts from a lack of capability of meeting the energy demand.  And the EPA thinks it knows best as it is trying to put its own version of Cap N Trade into effect and the Interior defies court order after court order as it kills off the oil drilling industry (both on and off-shore) by not issuing permits.

And doing so with our collective permission?  I think not (although we did elect the head honcho that has put these yo-yo’s into places of power.

Certainly, I keep hearing that "America is only 5% of the world’s population but uses 40% of the world’s energy".  What I do NOT hear is that America also produces about 40% of the world’s wealth (call it GDP).  The question to be asked is NOT

"why do so few consume so much?"

It also shouldn’t be:

"Why do we use so much oil / energy / gas; in short – energy?"

The question that should be asked is:

Read more

Wisconsin – a proper analogy

From Instapundit (who has been ALL OVER this topic since it began) : Wisconsin, what is the right analogy?  Strolling over to Rand Simberg’s link: Gettysburg was a battle in a war over federalism and states’ rights — in this case the dubious and odious “right” to treat human beings as chattel — a cause … Read more

C-SPAN: GraniteGrok interviews Herman Cain

As I posted here a bit ago, GraniteGrok had the opportunity to have a lengthy interview with Herman Cain at the Pemi-Baker Valley Republican Committee Lincoln Day Dinner.  Well, as we were conducting the interview, C-SPAN was taping us.  No big deal; I figured that it would end up on the cutting room floor.  Much … Read more

GrokTalk! Saturday February 19th, 2011

GrokTalk!Live Streaming local and National News with opinion you could only get from GraniteGrok.

It’s GrokTalk!

This Saturday from 9-11AM…

 

NH State Senator Andy Sanborn comes into Liberty Studio to talk about his vision for his 2011 Modernization for NH Government and its relationship to business. 

Michael Boldin of the 10th Amendment Center comes on to talk about States rights, the value of Federalism, and how those basic concepts can play a vital role in todays political roiling seas.

Learn More About Our Guests after the jump

Read more

No, this is NOT how democracy works…

What is one to make of our "public servants" who are screaming "PAY US!"? While the Middle East is going through its Days of Rages, it seems that the public unions in Wisconsin and Ohio are doing their’s as well.  In listening to one of the news clips, I heard the crowd shouting "This is … Read more

Citizens 4 Cain

As readers know, Herman Cain shows up a lot here on the ‘Grok.  Not always be design like the Cornerstone event, an AFP event (although we do like his stances) but last week was.  That said, a Samsphere blogger buddy of mine, Doug, has started a new site, Citizens4cain.org.  If you like Herman, stroll on … Read more

Picture of the day 2/16/2011

It’s winter in Oklahoma And the gentle breezes blow, 70 miles per hour at 52 below! Oh, how I love Oklahoma When the snow’s up to your butt; You take a breath of winter air And your nose is frozen shut. Yes, the weather here is wonderful, You may think I’m a fool. I could … Read more

It’s been a busy time in Concord….Accountability

Which often means doing the legwork of following one’s legislators to see how they are voting.  And when they don’t vote on one’s important issues, you let them know.  So, this is one way:

Belknap
HB 89 HB 747 SB 1 HB 125 HB 113 HB 166
District
Join Lawsuit Right To Work Evergreen NH Firearms Defund NHPTV Repeal M&R








4 Accornero, Harry Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
5 Bolster, Peter N.V. Nay Yea Nay Yea Yea
5 Comtois, Guy Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
2 Fields, Dennis Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
4 Flanders, Don N.V. Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
3 Greemore, Bob Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
4 Kingsbury, Bob Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
4 Luther, Bob Yea Nay Yea Yea Yea Yea
5 Malone, Bob Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
5 Milham, Alida Nay Nay Yea Nay Nay Yea
5 Pilliod, Doc Nay Nay Yea Nay Yea Yea
6 Russell, David Yea Nay Yea Yea Yea Yea
1 Simpson, Tyler Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
5 St. Cyr, Jeff Yea Nay Yea Nay Nay Yea
5 Swinford, Elaine Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
4 Tilton, Frank Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
2 Tobin, Bill Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
3 Worseman, Colette Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea

And yes, unlike past legislative seasons, I’m contacting them.  I expect answers.  And so should YOU!  Getting your chosen and / or favored person elected is one thing but as we have seen, sometimes the campaign words and actions do not translate well to votes.

Elections are one thing – Accountability is another.  That said, a couple of the new Reps are turning out to be nice surprises with their votes; a good outcome from November 2.  Colette Worsman, Bob Greemore, Bob Kingsbury, Tyler Simpson, Guy Comtois – happy dude here.  

Oh, and another thing?  I call my Congressman too….let him (in my case) know what I’m thinking.  So far, not bad – but it’s early yet.  Keep watching, keep talking.

BTW, after the jump is the EMail I sent to all of the
Representatives that voted against  HB 747 – the Right To Work bill.  Note that I ask their intentions if Gov. Lynch decides to veto the bill; will they then be supportive of the Republicans, or the Democrats and the unions that support them?

Read more

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