Steve MacDonald

Steve is a long-time New Hampshire resident, an award-winning blogger, and a member of the Board of Directors of The 603 Alliance and the National Heritage Center for Constitutional Studies. He is the owner of Grok Media LLC and the Managing Editor, Executive Editor, assistant editor, Editor, content curator, and more (yes, there's more) at GraniteGrok.com. Steve is also a former board member of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, the Republican Volunteer Coalition, and has worked for or with many state and local campaigns and grassroots groups, and is a past contributor to the Franklin Center for Public Policy.

GraniteGrok Debate. Counterpoint…Favoring a tax cap.

point counterpoint
.
The following was forwarded to us by ‘Grok reader Bill Asbell of Dover. After reading Mr. Tunning’s "Point" against NH cities having tax caps, he felt as though it answered several of the incorrect assertations made. It was originally written in response to a letter writer in his local paper, Foster’s…
.
I attended both forums on the Dover Tax Cap initiative. In the first one moderated by Councilor David Scott, he laid out the ground rules and how it was an information gathering event for citizens paneled by: himself, three Dover city employees and four guests from Franklin and Laconia (including two mayors), who had experience of a tax cap in their communities. It was therefore balanced with those from the private sector who pay taxes to government and those from municipal government who increase their ranks and compensation through tax hikes and whose earnings are the result of taxes. Two of the first people to break the ground rules and start the ball rolling toward mild anarchy were the tax and spend liberals Betsey Andrews Parker and Mr. Glenn Grasso himself, who felt that they should grandstand rather than ask questions. And no cap opponents asked a question of the Dover staff. The audience was packed with Dover city union employees, some of whom also threw their rhetorical weight around with great melodrama, and warnings of doom, generating far more heat than light.
.
The second, calmer forum, run by unlimited spending advocate Mayor Scott Myers had six panelists all from state agencies and local government; people whose compensation increases and whose jobs are more secure when taxes go up not down. This is objectivity he says, not stacking the deck to achieve a desired outcome. There were no private sector representatives and no one who’d personally experienced first-hand a tax cap…how helpful.  He then coached the panelists how to respond when he felt the need.
.
On the same day that Foster’s ran its editorial against the tax cap, the Union Leader editorialized in favor of it. On Thursday, Foster’s editor publishes an unhinged, "infuriated" diatribe playing the class warfare demagogue’s card, then denying it in the next paragraph…truly embarrassing.  As if renters don’t pay increased rent when landlords’ property taxes go up. Foster’s editor must really believe all its readers are dupes.
.

Read more

GraniteGrok Debate. POINT… Opposing a tax cap.

point-counterpoint
.
The following was sent to me from Ron Tunning, the chairman of the Laconia Democrat Committee. Writes Ron,
Doug,
. 
I thought I’d share with you a column I’ve submitted to the Foster’s Daily Democrat regarding the proposed tax cap in Dover.  I know you’ll never agree with me, but at least you can see where I’m coming from.
He’s right about that, but, as he knows, I do like to listen to and ponder what those who stand in opposition to what I believe have to say. Ron is a thoughtful individual, and I always appreciate and enjoy the discourses and debates we have engaged. His piece follows in full as written. Tomorrow, GraniteGrok will present a counterpoint to his argument. Keep in mind that two cities right here in the ‘Grok’s neck of the woods have tax caps: Laconia and Franklin. Feel free to leave comments in the section below…

Opposing the Tax Cap Proposal in Dover, NH

by Ron Tunning
No one enjoys paying higher taxes, and it’s safe to say that everyone would prefer a lower tax bill. That is why ideas such as the tax cap being proposed in Dover garner immediate public support. But if voters are honest with themselves they’ll oppose the measure.
.
Let’s be frank. We all know “there’s no such thing as a free lunch“, and experience has taught us that “you get what you pay for.” Those maxims should guide us as we evaluate the sensibility of imposing a tax cap.
.
So, too, should careful consideration of the methodology proposed for determining how much municipal spending will be permitted to rise. The Dover plan mirrors the language adopted in Franklin and Laconia, limiting the annual increase in spending to the annual rise in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). After all, proponents of the tax cap argue, why should the cost of government rise more rapidly than the costs of consumer goods?
.

Read more

Awaiting the Great Pumpkin?

I took this picture in Boston Saturday at the pumpkin festival at the Government Center plaza. I have no idea who the little baby is, but, I just couldn’t resist. . . Choose life…

Embarassed his taxes aren’t high enough!

. Sometimes you really have to wonder… In a letter found in the Foster’s Daily Democrat entitled, Don’t Cap Taxes; Increase them for the sake of the Children, a Mr. Verdenal H. Johnson writes about how distressed he is that when it comes to taxes, the people always want to say "no." He is apparently … Read more

Religion in public schools? No, not THAT kind…

………… . In an excellent article entitled "Public Schools- Pagan Indoctrination Centers" found at NewsWithViews.com, author Joel Turtel writes Many public schools have become pagan religion indoctrination centers. These schools now teach children anti-Judeo-Christian beliefs and pagan religions, and try to mold children’s minds through the latest techniques in behavioral psychology. He includes a listing … Read more

The THREAT of deportation. Could it be working?

. This article from Dallas Morning News is an eye opener.  Couple that with the recent report that the Windsor Bridge in Michigan is overcrowded with illegals fleeing to Canada for fear of deportation—and provincial governors in Canada crying “Uncle” because they don’t have the money to accommodate this influx—and one begins to see the … Read more

National Gay-Rights Group is Right!

Ray Buckley

NH Dem Chair Ray Buckley (GG file photo)

 

Click here first to read my post: Is Civil Union Legislation Based on Lies? Then click here and read “Gay-Rights Group Pushed for State Democrats in ’06.” More disturbing is this article from the Boston Globe. Yep, that’s right, they were the single biggest donor to the democrats. But, of course the dems weren’t influenced by the money, geez, ya gotta explain everything. da mi il soldi!

 

Spending almost $150,000 on New Hampshire state races by the Human Rights Campaign…I wonder why they just don’t call it what it is; i.e., Gay Rights Campaign?…paid off for them. They switched their focus from national politics to influence state politics, particularly NH, Iowa and Oregon. Smart move, I’d say.

 

I recently read an opinion published in one of the papers that said there was no out-of-state influence regarding pushing civil unions in NH. Well, the Human Rights Campaign donation would prove that person’s theory wrong. Not only did they contribute money, according to the editorial, but an employee traveled to NH to assist with get-out-the-vote efforts and phone-banks. Do you think he was encouraging Republicans to vote?

 

The President of the Human Rights Campaign states:

 

“We understood that in order to change things at the federal level, we had to play a role in changing things locally.”

 

Of course they were successful in changing things here locally. They don’t live in NH and NH citizens didn’t get a chance to vote on the issue of civil unions, but I guess many NH citizens simply are too apathetic to care that NH was being influenced by “outsiders.”

 

Read more

Giuliani wins the straw poll. No, not THAT one…

Ron Paul’s supporters caravanning to the straw  poll? * . In the Nashua Telegraph’s blog page, "NH Prime Cuts", Kevin Landrigan reports on another, lesser-known straw poll that took place this past weekend. Given that it took place in NH, probably a more important state than Iowa in the requisite steps a candidate must take on the path to … Read more

Welfare Poem

welfare sticker
.
Well, I have no idea if the figures in the poem below are correct, etc., but you get the drift, huh? Read the poem (after my discourse)  and let me know if it makes you angry, okay?
.

Somewhat related to this, I’ve been following some of the coverage on the Pelosi/Shea-Pompous upcoming trip to New Orleans along with the other 13-14 democratic party animals. The story is interesting. Why, you ask? The comments are overwhelmingly against them going to New Orleans for what most people believe is merely another photo op and Bush bashing expedition at taxpayers’ expense.
.

What does Congress do about approval ratings in the single digits? Go on a trip, of course. They are all on vacation anyway. Many people are mad at Pompous and wondering why she doesn’t work here in NH to solve fixing the many roads and bridges that are red-lined, help those who have suffered flooding problems here, feed the one in ten children who go to bed hungry…you know work on NH’s many unsolved problems. We’re 6th in income but 49th in services to citizens right here in NH. Where’s the NH way?
.

Not a big photo op here, I guess, as it probably wouldn’t get national exposure. Playing on people’s sympathies works very well many times. What some people don’t seem to understand is that you can fell sorry for somebody, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to "do" something for them, especially if they’re not willing to do something for themselves.
.

We all like to give, partly because it makes us feel good about ourselves. Obviously, when there’s a real crisis as there was with Katrina, we should all try to do our part to help. But, sometimes people don’t appreciate what they get for nothing so it can be more harmful to them and what they may need is to become responsible and accountable and held to a higher standard sometimes too. I’m not saying we still shouldn’t be trying to help people in New Orleans, but sometimes "help" can actually hurt.
.

I was in Vail about a year ago. I rode the shuttle van from Denver and met a New Orleans’ football player who was going to see an ortopaedist in Vail. We started talking about Hurricane Katrina.
.

Read more

President Bush assesses the war

old time radio
.
In his weekend radio address, President Bush gave an assessment of where we’re at in the war. He talks about both of the major fronts: Iraq and Afghanistan…
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. In America, August is considered a slow news month. But in the war on terror, America and our allies remain on the offense against our enemies. And this month, we’ve had some encouraging news from both Afghanistan and Iraq.
.
Earlier this week, I had a good meeting with President Karzai of Afghanistan at Camp David. He updated me on the work his government is doing to help build a more hopeful future for the Afghan people. He told me that senior officials and tribal leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan are meeting to discuss how to deal with the extremists who are targeting both their countries. And he explained why he’s confident that his government will prevail against the Taliban remnants who continue to launch attacks throughout his country.
.
Here’s how President Karzai put it: "The Taliban do pose dangers to our innocent people …. [But] they are not posing any threat to the government of Afghanistan, they are not posing any threat to the institutions of Afghanistan, or to the buildup of institutions of Afghanistan." He continued: The Taliban "is a force that’s defeated" and it is "acting in cowardice by killing children going to school." In other words, the Taliban fighters can still launch attacks on the innocent, but they cannot stop the march of democracy in Afghanistan.
.
In Iraq, we are working to help put the Iraqi government on the same path. The surge that General Petraeus and our troops are carrying out is designed to help provide security for the Iraqi people, especially in Baghdad — and aid the rise of an Iraqi government that can protect its people, deliver basic services for all its citizens, and serve as an ally in the war on terror. Our new strategy is delivering good results, and our commanders recently reported more good news.
.

Read more

Blogger Conference Call: Discussing Obama’s “Comprehensive Strategy to Fight Global Terrorism” [Full text included]

Sen Barack Obama in Laconia recently (GG file photo)
.
Here at the ‘Grok, we make no bones about the fact that we are conservative Republicans and will almost without question be voting that way barring some unforseen and monumental circumstance. That being said, we are observing, studying, and chronicling what the Democrats are doing because we’re interested and, quite frankly, believe one must know what the "opponent" is thinking and doing. As the march to the White House continues, and the various candidates tramp through the Granite State en route, it seems like a good thing to see, hear, and possibly meet each and every one from both of the parties. After all, one will become the next president. And, while it pains me to say this, one must realistically expect that there’s a good chance the next will be a Democrat. This forces me to ferret out the good points from all comers, seeking the one I believe will do the LEAST harm to the US. To believe otherwise given the current situation would be a mistake. That doesn’t mean that the situation can’t change, but that is pure hope at the moment. But I digress…
.
As we inch closer to election day, we find candidates beginning to release major policy remarks and proposals. Yesterday we heard Sen. Barack Obama unveiling his "Comprehensive Strategy to Fight Global Terrorism." While I disagree with his pullout from Iraq as proposed, there are some points that make sense. It was a thoughtful speech and I give him credit for its detail. Unlike others who have built their candidacies upon a foundation of "Bush Derangement Syndrome" (BDS), offering little but rhetoric and bumper-sticker-like slogans, Obama has at least delivered a plan. I am not alone in my guarded praise. Today in his blog, the Union Leader’s Drew Cline writes
In his speech on terrorism today, Sen. Barack Obama referred to the war on terror with a term almost identical to the one Rudy Giuliani invented for his campaign. Instead of saying “war on terror,” he said “al-Qaida’s war against us. . .” and “the terrorists are at war with us.”
.
Rudy’s coinage is “the terrorists’ war on us.”
.
Obama clearly wants the American people to know that he is not John Edwards, that he believes the terrorists are waging a war on this country, but that he would fight back differently. Smart.
I have reprinted the speech further down in the post. Late yesterday, I had the chance to participate in a bloggers’ conference call featuring Major General Scott Gration (USAF-Ret.) in a discussion of the Obama strategy. While relatively short, it was enlightening in more than one way.

Read more

Robbery of Your Rights, Democrat Style!

Eekks! I hardly know where to start dispelling so many just-an-opinion rather-than-truth statements made in 3 or 4 letters to the editor printed in the Concord Monitor on July 30.

Perhaps addressing each one individually is the way to go.  Here’s Steve Metzger’s “Some Statesman” in response to “Unlike Democrats, I’m looking for answers on Iraq.”

Metzger states:

“First, Hodes and Shea-Porter are following the mandate given them by a majority of New Hampshire voters.”

Really? Perhaps you remember the old TV commercial where the old lady said: “where’s the beef?” Where do you get your information, Mr. Metzger? Where’s your proof?

And, for sure, Judd Gregg does have every reason to fault Hodes and Shea-Pompous for

 “their unwillingness to buck their liberal leadership’s agenda.”

Here’s Doug’s recent post on some proof that Hodes and Pompous vote along the party line consistently, click here.

Shea-Pompous has lied when she told military people that she had gotten back to the families who had repeatedly requested a meeting with her. She lied about taking money after she said she wouldn’t. She lied about voting for a minimum wage increase. She lied when she said she speaks for the troops. She’s lied and twisted the truth so much that perhaps she believes it herself by now.

Just because Blair had the nickname “Bush’s poodle” doesn’t mean it’s true. Those closer to Blair than you people would tell you otherwise. Look it up! Plus, who do you suppose gave him that name and for what purpose?

Did Bush lie about why we went to war or did he act on the intelligence available at the time? Even Chillary (hey, I like her new name and think I’ll use it more often) voted for the war based on the information available at the time.

Gregg is right to say that Hodes and Shea-Pompous are playing politics with the war. What democrat doesn’t continue to play politics at the cost of our soldiers and their mission? Democrats want nothing more than for the terrorists to win and for America to lose; in fact, they want to tell them the exact date when we’re leaving which is aiding and comforting America’s enemies and constitutes treason against America and Americans. If Bush wins the war, or another republican, the democrats lose. It’s about them and their political future not about what’s best for Americans.

And, puhleze, Mr. Metzger, your statement:

 “After years of abusive partisanship, towering arrogance and stunningly stupid decisions”

applies more to the current democratic leadership. What have they accomplished after hundreds of days in office? One thing, and that’s passing a minimum wage increase.

Perhaps the democrats are way too busy having slumber parties that accomplish nothing and pursuing the AG when there are certainly much more pressing matters facing America.

Oh yeah, they’re all leaving for a month’s vacation starting today with a lot of unfinished important business and have done nothing more than waste a lot of our tax payer dollars accomplishing very little after a lot of promises.

Read more

Shoot the B#*!#^+s!

Ruger Mini-14
Ruger Mini-14. The "ranch rifle" of choice here at the ‘Grok
.
Okay, much has been made of the upcoming GOP fundraiser so click here to read about it first,and then I’ll tell you why I love my right to bear arms!

My father owned a .22 rifle when I was a kid. He made sure that I, and my brother and sister, knew proper gun safety; how to safely handle weapons, load, unload, clean and everything connected with gun safety that he knew, he passed along to us. I will be forever grateful to him for his teachings, and he may have even saved my life.

I have great memories of growing up in Oklahoma City and going out to some remote location where our family would spend a day hiking, picnicking, finding a stream, floating cans and bottles and taking turns shooting at them or at targets. It was a very different time in America (yeah, I know, but nobody was concerned about the environment in those days), and we did not live in fear, as do many people today.

From a very young age thanks to my Dad, I became comfortable and confident in handling any weapon and did not grow up in fear of guns because of it. I did grow up respecting firearms and always handle a firearm assuming it’s loaded. Years later, my later father-in-law and I went out so he could show me how to handle a gun. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I already knew, since he took great pride in instructing me.

After I put six rounds pretty much in the bullseye, he beamed that he had done such a good job teaching me how to shoot. Years later, we shared great laughs about it when he learned about my background with firearms from my Dad when they had an opportunity to meet.

When I lived in Fairbanks, Alaska during the pipeline project in the 1970’s, when there were an over abundance of men compared to woman, I spent many nights alone. I always felt secure knowing I had a loaded handgun on my nightstand. While I always hoped I’d never have to use it, I was happy to have it when one night someone attempted to break into my home in the middle of the night.

 

Read more

Breaking News: Petitioners file “Motion for Reconsideration” in Belknap County Right-to-Know suit.

.
The petitioners in the Right-to-Know lawsuit filed against the Belknap County Convention, despite having "won" their case, today filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the ruling. As noted in this prior post, some of the words contained within Judge Bruce E. Mohl’s decision, if allowed to stand, could make matters worse when it comes to tarnsparency and openness in government. His ruling, while declaring the plaintiffs position to be correct– that the Convention violated the law– unfortunately reaches out and creates a new, smoother path for governemental bodies to conduct business behind closed doors. Additionally, by allowing the result of the law-breaking action to stand, namely for the illegally-appointed Sheriff to assume his duties, the judge has denied the petitioners injunctive relief, effectively rendering their action moot.
.
This is the motion as filed today in Belknap Superior Court:
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
BELKNAP, SS                                                                                  
SUPERIOR COURT
Doug Lambert and Thomas A. Tardif
v.
Belknap County Convention
No. 07-E-0140
PETITIONER’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
            NOW COMES the petitioners Doug Lambert, ProSe and Thomas A Tardif, ProSe motion for reconsideration in the above entitled matter, and in support thereof, the Petitioners say as follows:
            “A motion for reconsideration allows a party to present ‘points of law or fact that the court has overlooked or misapprehended.’” Barrows v. Boles, 141 N.H. 382, 397 (1996)

            The parties provided the Court with all relevant dates and documents pertaining to Petitioner’s right-to-know request in its petition and at hearing.  For the following reasons, the motion for reconsideration should be granted;

Fact and Law

1.      The court acknowledged that ‘On 29 May 2007, the Convention met to discuss the vacancy created in the Office of Belknap County Sheriff, occasioned by the resignation of Sheriff Dan Collis. The Convention voted to go into a nonpublic session pursuant to RSA 91-A:2 to discuss the process for filling the vacancy.(Emphasis added)

 

 

Read more

“Kicking the tires.” Checking out candidates, NH style: The Democrats

media passes
.
As a New Hampshire resident and an active citizen journalist sharing my observations and opinions here on the ‘Grok, on the radio program "Meet the New Press", and in a weekly newspaper column in the Laconia Daily Sun, media pass in-hand, I have had the opportunity to see a fair number of presidential wannabees live and in person. With the future of the New Hampshire “first in the Nation” primary uncertain, it has been my mission to partake of as much of what could very well be the last of its kind in its present form. Whether Republican or Democrat, I have found it both interesting and enlightening to get up close to listen to what these guys (and “gal”) actually have to say directly to real people, without the benefit of the normal filters in place throughout the old-fashioned mainstream media. As the wags like to say, I have “gone out and kicked the tires.” At the end of it all, one of these people is going to be our next president. Given the dangerous reality of the present times, it’s of paramount importance we choose wisely. In this post, I will focus on the Democrats.
.
.
Barack ObamaHillary Clinton
.
So, what have I learned? Well, first of all, as a conservative, ordinary-thinking and involved citizen, fairly well-informed, the prospect of a Democratic-controlled White House scares me above all else. When listening to their (mostly) big- government, socialistic sounding ideas and themes, I wonder how it can possibly be made to work. To hear them speak so freely of using the powers of government to dictate, regulate, and outright take from the private sector in the form of mandates and new taxes ought to frighten anyone that still believes in the right to keep a portion, no matter how small, of the fruits of their labor. Fuel efficient cars? We’ll just mandate them, and they shall be so. Oh- if it’s been that easy, why didn’t we just do so a long time ago? Let’s review…
.

Read more

VLog: Rudy on the war (not just the Iraqi front)

At a town hall meeting in Concord NH on 7/10/07, Rudy Giuliani discussed the war from a broad view. He emphasised that the war with Islamic terrorists goes far beyond Iraq. He also counsels we wait for the September reports from the military leaders in Iraq before making any conclusions about defeat. I agree. He discusses … Read more

Howie Carr update

  Like many folks throughout New England, I too was stunned by the news that longtime afternoon talk show host Howie Carr- the "franchise" of WRKO radio these days, is jumping ship to another station to do a morning drive time slot. Many believe he’s making a play to replace Imus as the "king" of … Read more

Now, we wait… Will the NH peoples’ right to an open government be upheld… or eroded?

.
Today was the hearing for the Right-to-Know suit filed by me and former Laconia Mayor Tom Tardif under NH’s Right-to-Know law (RSA91-A). (Click here to read a prior posting with the details and here for the Citizen newspaper’s reporting on the matter) As expected, our elected representatives vigorously defended their actions instead of simply dropping back and doing the right thing in compliance with the law. You know– default in the direction of openness. Instead, it’s time to circle the wagons…
.
One of the things we asked the court for was to deny the assumption of the Sheriff’s position scheduled for Monday, based on our contention that the secret ballot used in an open meeting by the Belknap County Convention was illegal. Unfortunately, the judge decided that no harm would come from this happening, no matter what he ultimately rules on our overall case. While he’s right that the matter is one of process versus whether the person is suited for the job, which nobody questions, it validates the egregious action. Furthermore, I still believe this leaves the county wide open to future messy litigation as defense attorneys seek exoneration of clients using all available means, at undoubtedly great cost to the taxpayers.
. 
I believe we successfully made our overall point and will be found correct by the judge. What was interesting was that the county’s attorney framed the convention’s action as being an exception to the Right-to-Know law because they held an ELECTION, which is exempted from the statute. The problem for the county is, if that were true, then the election would have to be under the auspices of one of the three types as defined by NH’s election laws. If that’s the case, then the county violated ELECTION law instead of the RIGHT-TO-KNOW law. Either way, a body comprised of those we elect to MAKE the laws has broken some law, thus causing our honorable

lawmakers to become lawbreakers!

Here is the testimony I gave to the Belknap Superior Court today at 9:00AM:

Read more

Share to...
BufferCopyFlipboardHacker NewsLineLinkedInMastodonMessengerMixPinterestPrintRedditSMSTelegramTumblrVKWhatsAppXingYummly