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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.

Cornerstone – Keynote Speaker: former Senator Rick Santorum

While we did have the chance to yak with Senator Santorum after the event, he was the first scheduled Keynote Speaker of the event.  with a quiet demeanor and a studied fashion, he related what had been important philosophically to the Founders and where we may be lacking in today’s political environs.  What was the … Read more

Cornerstone Dinner – Keynote Speaker: Herman Cain

The second keynote speaker of the night, introduced by Jennifer Horn (radio talk show host and ran for US Congress in NH CD-2), was Herman Cain (also a radio host, syndicated columnist, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, former member of the Federal Reserve Bank [Kansas, I believe]).  Recounting his early life and the impact that … Read more

*I* am the Biggest Extremist!

This is getting to be just too funny!  Remember that Steve put up the information about the new Democrat online venture:  Extreme 16 (here and here).  It is all about the Democrat Party trying to make it amusing to pick the most extreme Republican for the November 2 election.

What ANGER this has become on the Republican side!  Grumbling, harsh words, rolled eyes – every politician that I talked to, every person involved in politics one way or another that I yakked with last night is ticked!  You wanna know why?

THAT THEY GOT LEFT OFF THE LIST!

Well, one of our "part-time" Groksters, Ed Mosca (who has been on an absolute tear the last few days!) decided to complain:

From: Ed Mosca
To: mjwallner@juno.com ; marjorie.smith@leg.state.nh.us
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2010 5:13 PM
Subject: Extreme 16 — What were you two thinking?????????

Dear Mary Jane and Marj:

I am dismayed, insulted and shocked by my exclusion from the “Extreme 16.”  What were you two possibly thinking when you left me out?  I am much, much, much more extreme, by your definition of extreme, than anyone on that so-called list of extremists.  Let me give you just a few examples:

1.  I do not believe that government should force anyone, either directly through an “individual mandate” or indirectly through coverage mandates, to purchase any type of health insurance coverage that he or she does not want to purchase.

2. I do not believe that it is the role of judges to invent new constitutional rights or to ignore existing constitutional rights in order to achieve “social justice” or a “living constitution,” or any other of the lovely euphemisms you ”progressives” use to attempt to legitimize  judicial activism.  

3.  I do not believe that the people of New Hampshire are under-taxed.  I believe you and your collectivist cronies in Concord have proven yourselves thoroughly incapable of exercising even a modicum of fiscal responsibility.

I trust that I have, in your eyes, established my extremist bona fides.  Now do the right thing and put me on the “Extreme 16.”  Thank you.

Well, let’s just say that since he broadcast that out, others, including myself, are now petitioning (nay, DEMANDING!) to be added!  In fact, Bob Mead weighed in (but don’t believe him OR Ed – I have earned that title!):

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Notable Quote – Suzanna Gratia-Hupp

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual… as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of." – Suzanna Gratia-Hupp (H/T: Kevin)

Announcement: Cornerstone Action Steward of the Family

Speaking of Cornerstone, GraniteGrok has been invited: Actually, click HERE to register online ($60 per person) We will be live streaming and recording, per usual. My thanks to Tom for doing the legwork on this event!

Live Blogging – Cornerstone Research 10th Anniversary Dinner – Herman Cain and Rick Santorum are keynote speakers

GraniteGrok is here at the 10th Annual Cornerstone dinner with keynote speakers: Herman Cain (radio host, syndicated columnist and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza) & Rick Santorum (former US Senator, R-PA) Tom, Steve, and I are here – live stream is up at UStream and here (normal WiFi caveats apply).  Follow our tweets and our … Read more

A note for the NH GOP – that would be you, Ryan Williams…

Filed under "Just Plain Annoying" Yessir, Ryan Williams, Communications Director of the NH GOP; read this one again.  Because you were a wee bit miffed and and a whole lotta uppity when you called me last Friday, I have a present for you… A NEW FRIDAY HUMOR post! It starts off like this: They didn’t … Read more

And just so that the Hatin’ Dems won’t feel left out….

"you know how that sumbitch lies" … After all, hate is an all encompassing emotion.  But here’s ONE Democrat that is actually LAUGHING over it: That would be the DEMOCRAT Libby Mitchell, running to be Maine’s next Governor, LAUGHING at the idea of casting President Bush as a terrorist. Yeah.  Not exactly "that lovin’ feeling", … Read more

Notable Quote – NJ Gov. Chris Christie

Voters are willing to accept the political pain of deep cuts in government spending as long as they know the pain is being spread equally, Christie argued. It makes sense to shrink government in tough economic times, and politicians seem to be the last to get that message, he said. “We lost our way a … Read more

notable Quote – P.J. O’Rourke

On Conservatives and Libertarians: Well, I think that the general philosophical divide between Libertarians and conservatives is the conservatives tend to rely on tradition, sort of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. And if it’s only a little broke, be careful of the fixing you do lest you make the problem worse. conservatives say … Read more

Bill Whittle on Small Government – and the hazards of the other type.

Bill Whittle – a treasure!  He used to blog (on his own) at Eject! Eject! Eject!.  Often, posts were irregular and oft times with long intervals between them.  And then he’d rip off a corker! Now at Pajamas Media, he’s bringing it to the small screen – on Small Government. He, too, believes in this: … Read more

A time before Big Government? Egads! Just HOW did people make it back then?

One of the biggest decisions we have in November is THE Proper Question: What kind of America do we wish to have?  We are faced on being on the Train of Socialism / Progressivism that Obama and the Democrats, as they sit in the Engineer’s seat, hand on the full open throttle, have us rocketing towards the trestle bridge of failure: What is the Proper Role of Government.

Statists / Socialists / Progressives (both Democrats and Republicans) cannot believe that returning to a time with lesser government is even workable.  They cannot accept that individuals can make their way in the world without the hand of Government showing them the way, helping them with their choices, or even making choices for them?  Charity and help, however, ALWAYS comes with THEIR strings attached.

The TEA Party / 9-12ers / Constitutionalists reject this notion as being not only "of the Nanny State" but as a complete repudiation of the Founders vision of private property, individual freedom, and free markets unfettered by Government interference.

After I wrote this, I rediscovered this article that outlined two anecdotes.  This was the second – which will send the former group absolutely stark raving crazy – sacrilege!:

The second story  is contained in the wonderful insight into an essentially pre-government world provided by the 11-year diary of Thomas Turner. He was a shopkeeper in the small village of East Hoathly, Sussex, outside modern day Brighton in England. His diary is circa 1750 and relates everyday life in a world we no longer comprehend.

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Notable Quote – Dr. Dan Benishek

The National Mall and surrounding monuments to great Americans and this nation’s honored war dead were left trashed. Yes, literally, and there are pictures proving  the disregard and callous treatment of treasured American monuments. Seeing this made me realize that this is exactly how progressive Democrats and their Socialist/Communist supporters see America: They don’t see … Read more

“Buy locally” – A plea in my local paper.

There was this article in one of my local papers (Laconia Citizen) from a local shopkeeper imploring the local residents to buy from local businesses:

If Lakes Region residents devoted only 10 percent of their shopping to local businesses, it would benefit not only the region, but themselves in the long run, an noted author and expert on local economies told an audience Wednesday….

Hamel explained that a big problem in the economy is people not spending locally, but rather at "big box chain stores," and buying on the Internet…

Hammel said that with large corporations building chain businesses, they are essentially "stealing from local economy" by making consumers think that their money is being spent locally when it isn’t. He said if people shopped just a little more at the local level, it can make a big difference…

…Local business owners Randy and Sue Bullerwell, who also started BIBA, own All My Life Jewelers and they said they were forced to close their second shop, String ‘Em Up Bead Shop, because they were losing business to the Internet and larger chain jewelry stores.

"We got sick and tired of people saying what they bought online," said Randy. "It wasn’t helping our businesses and it wasn’t helping the area."

"We had two businesses downtown and because people don’t shop locally, we have one now," said Sue.

The phrase "stealing from the local economy" really struck me – do local businesses have a right to claim a profit first from the local population before the "big box stores"?  If I spend at a Lowe’s or a Shaws, am I now participating in a "capitalist crime"? 

Last time I looked, commerce in our capitalistic society is a voluntary decision –  a price determines whether or not I shall buy an item or service  and a vendor will sell. It shows…

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Data point – what teachers really make as public sector workers

At least in Illinois – your state may vary, but I bet that it isn’t all that much variance. The average teacher in the state of Illinois makes $61,402. Illinois teachers work around 176 days, 300 minutes, or 5 hours, per day.  That’s just over 35 weeks per year.  On average, they make $348.88 per … Read more

I LIKED! this quip!

The Obama Administration: All the charm of Nixon and the effectiveness of Carter. Yup, it fits.  I’m done.

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