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.

Laconia (NH) Fourth of July parade – local, State, and National candidates

Yesterday, being July 4th, I went to the next town over for their Parade as it is one of the bigger ones in NH.  This year, I expected to see a lot of Republican candidates marching – and was not disappointed.  Indeed – a far cry from what has been the norm the last couple or few election cycles.

Lots of candidates there (a Hodes group was there but I didn’t see the senator-wanna-be myself) and other Republican folks.  A couple of quick interviews.  The first Micro-interview was with Frank Tilton, chair of the Belknap County Republicans (also running for NH House); we chatted about his outlook for the fall elections (BTW, the float behind him is by Bill & Faith Tobin; Faith is the lady in the blue top):

I would also be remiss if I pointed out that Jack Kimball (running for NH Governor, also after the jump) may not have had a large group of supporters, but DID go "unique" – the only candidate with his own personal bagpiper (Joe Barton)!  I learned two things:

  • recording smoothly and walking backwards is something I am going to have to practice – a lot!
  • Ever hear the Star Wars theme on bagpipe?  It does tend to grab one’s attention and go "REALLY!"

Next was with Jim Forsythe (running for NH State Senate) who was with his Mom – drat, she didn’t reveal much about her son (smart lady, there, Jim!).  Apparently, Jim comes from good stock – she’s active in the TEA Party movement in her home state!: 

Also caught up with Andy & Laurie Sanborn; Andy is running for the NH Senate & Laurie is running for the House – only the second Republican couple to ever attempt this. Platforms – the same! This should be very interesting!

However, unlike most of the micro-interviews I usually do, I decided to go a bit non-political with this next batch; with very few exceptions, there were three questions:

  • How many events have you already done?
  • How many more before the day is done?
  • And before you started running, you must have had some idea of the time and effort it was going to take.  Has it turned out to be less, spot on, or more than you thought?

After the jump:

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Quick Thoughts on the Fourth – Honor

Independence.  Freedom.  Liberty.  Patriots.

Danger.  Rebellion.  Fear.  Excitement.  Determination.

Honor.

The above words that are often said on this Day of Remembrance when those intrepid Patriots that were the Fathers birthing a new nation.  They, of the conviction that their Vision was a new one, a far better one under which a People could live and thrive and be Free, were willing to sacrifice all of what they had – their families, their fortune, and their sacred honor, sacrifice their all for this country.  How many of us, today, would really join that group of intellectual and spiritual Band of Brothers?

July 4th – "…our sacred honor".  Honor – a word that has become abused and  disused the last few decades.  How many of our politicians could really and truthfully say they have led and governed from positions of "honor" as meant by our Founding Fathers?  How many could rightfully say that in each and every vote and in each and every written bill (or even a majority of the time) that they have acted and voted solely based on their principles and not from "the act of the deal"?  How many have consistently put their country ahead of their own careers, pet projects, or their favorite special interests?

VERY few, I’m afraid. 

Why?  Why do they act thusly?  We, those who are governed only by giving our consent, have stopped demanding it. WE have forgotten the true…

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NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – Micro-Interviews after the Debate

Well, after the debate, the Flip Cam was full and didn’t have the chance to unload it.  However, the trusty Edirol audio recorder was in the blogger vest, so I took the time to talk to Leigh Bosse (long time Republican activist), Grant Bosse (former NH Congressional candidate and currently the Lead Investigative Reporter for … Read more

He’s got that sinking feeling, oh-o-oh, that see-inking feeling…

Here in NH, he’s not as boffo as once was, either: Rasmussen says voters are evenly divided at 50 percent each on whether they approve of the job Obama is doing or not, although 41 percent are in the "strongly" disapprove camp while 32 percent are in the "strongly" approve. Fifty-three percent favor repealing the … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – Opening Ceremony

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. This clip is of the opening ceremony.  Apologies that the clip "joins in progress" – please note that because the … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – Closing Remarks

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman. Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: – Each question had each candidate give just their answer – A single candidate was … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – Stop Power Flow To Feds / protect NH Sovereignty?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – How encourage Legislature to work for the People and not work Special Interests?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – how would you reduce State spending?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – Is NH State Government too big?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – what differentiates you from the other three candidates?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types:– Each question had each candidate give just their answer – A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – NH school funding Solution? American Exceptionalism?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – What Government functions better handled in Private sector?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

NH Politics w/John Burt Gov. Debate – First thing you would do as Governor?

Thursday night, John Burt of NH Politics with John Burt, put on a gubernatorial debate for the Republican candidates: Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, John Stephen, and Karen Testerman.  Ray Wiezoreck. Executive Councilor, was the moderator. Questions were of two types: –  Each question had each candidate give just their answer –  A single candidate was asked a … Read more

Ruminations from the Charlie Sherman show this morning (with Jeff Chidester)

1 am this morning – Glad I can sleep in a bit this morning – at least no show to get early for this morning.  Love doing the show, but need some beauty rest… 

Brrring!   Brrrring!

5:30 am "….hello…?"

"Skip, you up brother?"

"…am now, Jeff!"

Yup – wasn’t scheduled, but will help out a friend anytime – just hand me a can of Mountain Dew….dang, open eyes Skip, you just dropped it on your toes…. Here’s the links that we used during the show:

  1. Town employees now allowed to have guns at work
  2. Follow up from yesterday: School backs down on "no Pledge zone" (but not in classrooms)
  3. Radar gift from Iran to Syria – uh-oh
  4. US Justice Dept still stonewalling on why voter intimidation suit against New Black Panther group was dropped.
  5. Carol Shea-Porter continues stonewalling on where / from whom she got high schooler home addresses.

We only had time to address #1, #2, and #5.  I have to admit, when I first started to read #1, I almost had a "snorting out nose Mtn Dew" experience:

NOTTINGHAM – The board of selectman approved a new policy last week allowing town employees to carry guns to work.

Selectman Mary Bonser, whose family runs the Cedar Waters Village Nudist Park, asked during the board of selectman’s June 21 meeting to amend the employee handbook to allow employees to bring guns on town property. The change was approved unanimously.

My first reaction back to Jeff (before the caffeine kicked in) was:

Man, that first one is full of irony – nudist camp owner in favor of concealed carry?

No, don’t go there, reader! But the rest of it really brings to the fore a very serious problem (in my eyes):

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Competence, Mr. President

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 

This is considered to be ….working? 

Oil Spill Timeline from RightChange on Vimeo.

(H/T: The Campaign Spot)

The Progressive ideology posits that Big Government is THE answer to our problems, that simply by getting the brightest and smartest people into Government, they can "guide" us to a social utopia.  That a competent Government can smooth over the ills of everyday life.  Really?  Not if you read this:

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