Steve MacDonald

Steve is a long-time New Hampshire resident, award-winning blogger, and a member of the Board of Directors of The 603 Alliance. He is the owner of Grok Media LLC and the Managing Editor, Executive Editor, assistant editor, Editor, content curator, complaint department, Op-ed editor, gatekeeper (most likely to miss typos because he has no editor), and contributor at GraniteGrok.com. Steve is also a former board member of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, The Republican Volunteer Coalition, 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.

So What If It’s Technically Impossible to Administer…

September 26, 2018December 3, 2012 Steve MacDonald

New Hampshire Democrats are ready to get serious about legislating matters that are important to New Hampshire’s future…so hey, how about we try to pass a perfume ban? (For state employees).

The important point to remember here isn’t that a perfume ban was brought up in the last legislature and failed, and it is not that there is a need to discuss whether or not “how state employees covering their BO” might create an unpleasant environment–into which some citizens may be inconvenienced, it is how quickly can we use the power of the state to regulate it regardless of whether or not it would even work.

Talk About Having No Idea What A Conservative Is… (Updated Again & Bumped)

September 26, 2018December 3, 2012 Steve MacDonald

John B. Heroux is reported to be a resident of Bedford, New Hampshire, and a chronic contributor to the Union Leader Editorial page (if Google can be trusted), but he has absolutely no idea what a conservative is. In his recent “Your Turn” contribution to the public discourse (Union Leader) he starts with this:

The first order of business should be to take the party back from the conservatives. Republicans are the minority party, and the party’s success depends on appealing to independent voters and conservative Democrats. The radical Tea Party and the Rush Limbaugh/Ann Coulter faction do not appeal to these voters.

That’s all well and good as opinion–to which he is of course entitled–except that as he proceeds to storm his way down the laundry list of “consevatives” he blames for all that seems to ail him, he fails to name anyone who has actually behaved like a Conservative.

Notable Quote: Harvey Mansfield – On Goodness and Justice

September 26, 2018December 3, 2012 Steve MacDonald

“…goodness or justice in our country is not merely the transfer of resources to the poor and vulnerable. We have to take measures to teach the poor and vulnerable to become a little more independent and to prize independence, and not just live for a government check. That means self-government within each self, and where … Read more

Ayotte Leads Measure To Block Gitmo Transfers to US Soil

September 26, 2018December 3, 2012 Steve MacDonald

New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte sponsored a measure that would (again) prevent any funding from being used to transfer Gitmo detainees to US Soil. The measure passed the Senate 54 -41. (More at Hot Air) Michelle Malkin has some details here about how the Administration is still attempting to make their dream a reality despite … Read more

NH Journal – I Have A Question

September 26, 2018December 1, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Pat Hynse flunky and NH Journal editor Shawn Millerick went to bat for the progressive (r)epublican establishment the other day by fabricating a secret meeting, with a select guest list, for the purpose of agitating the voting members to support the anointed NHGOP chairman of choice, Jennifer Horn–because hey, we have to come together and … Read more

With This Bunch Failure Is Always An Option

February 13, 2021November 30, 2012 Steve MacDonald

I’m torn between thinking this is just sad or that it’s just funny. Maybe ironic is a better word? First, the NHGOP establishment power brokers (who forced Jack Kimball out) just cleared the field to make sure that the preferred, groomed, in-debted (and in debt) to them, moderate-insider was the only candidate left running for the NHGOP chairmanship.

Un-Un Breaking News: Stacie Laughton Resigns Again

September 26, 2018November 30, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Convicted Felon and recently elected New Hampshire House Democrat Stacie Marie Laughton has ended the roller-coaster ride since her extensive criminal history was released by the Laconia Sun and resigned…in writing….to the Secretary of State. (Story went public, she resigned, un-resigned–sort of, then resigned again.) So reports the Union leader. In the same piece (UL Editorial) … Read more

If There Is Only One Candidate Left for NHGOP Chairman….?

September 26, 2018November 30, 2012 Steve MacDonald

FRIENDS – WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need you to attend your local GOP Caucus (listed below) and offer your name as a candidate for delegate (State Committee) . There will be a vote at the caucus, and if you win, you will then attend the January 26th Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to vote for Jennifer for NHGOP Chair. If you have any questions let us know!

This was posted, I am told, on Jen Horn’s Facebook page. Seeing as no one else is currently (publicly) left to oppose her, this seems like an odd thing to post. Perhaps there are other contenders waiting in the wings to oppose the establishment?

That might make it worth getting involved.

If you’d like to vote for someone else–and I suspect there will be someone else–then you too must attend and offer your name as a candidate.

The county Caucus dates and times provided by Horn are on the jump

Feds Close 100 Year old Business…Because They Can

September 26, 2018November 30, 2012 Steve MacDonald

What the government wants the government gets. Even if they have to make it up. This is the story of how the Federal government railroaded a 100 year old company, recognized as an outstanding Environmental steward by the national parks service, out of business. (more preamble here c/o Hot Air).

Prelude to November 2010 All Over Again?

September 26, 2018November 30, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Charles Krauthammer brings home the bacon on the White House Fiscal Cliff Deal effort to screw Republicans for nothing in return. Synopsis- Republicans are expected to detail every cut. Democrats can just toss out a number with no details at all. The whole deal stinks and while Obama has nothing to fear, other elected Democrats … Read more

Blood and Water – The Return of Democrat Rule in New Hampshire

September 26, 2018November 29, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Skip broke the news (on the Grok) about New Hampshire State Government’s department heads making budget requests that would increase state spending by 26% in 2013. If you had any delusions about who or what state agencies represent, you just got your answer.

It ain’t you. It’s them.

In the current economy, with no regard for whose money they are spending, incoming governor Maggie Hassan would have to raise taxes and fees by at least 19% to fill all the requests. AFP-NH estimates that this would extract around 700 million dollars from the people of New Hampshire to pay for new spending that would never go away. So that’s 700 million from every budget henceforth and anon, plus new new spending each budget there after….these are Democrats if you recall, there is no enough when it comes to spending your money.

And that $700, 000,000.00 (million) is ironically close to another sum we readily associate with New Hampshire Democrats.

Breaking News: Laughton Resigns

September 26, 2018November 28, 2012 Steve MacDonald

The union leader is reporting this morning that newly elected Democrat House member Stacie ‘The Beloved‘ Laughton (Hills Dist 31/Nashua) has decided to resign.

Laughton is disappointed, and states that no one asked her to resign, but that she was asked to consider all the things that have been presented.

Call me cynical but if you are elected to a post, and some unpleasantry from your past emerges, and people ask you to ‘consider’ things…they want you to resign. They are just afraid to say it because their identity politics prevents them from going on the record.

Personally, I’m not done with this and it has nothing to do with Laughton.

Is Kelly Ayotte Just Another White Meat Racist?

September 26, 2018November 28, 2012 Steve MacDonald

It is quite obvious from these remarks by New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte that she prefers white meat at Thanksgiving, why else try to put a hold on the nomination of UN Embarrasador Susan Rice as a potential replacement to Hillarity Clinton? Yeah, she has these facts about Rice misleading the American people on Benghazi … Read more

Un-Breaking News: Laughton Un-Resigns….Decides to Serve in NH House

September 26, 2018November 28, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Stacie Laughton has now changed her mind again, and decided that she will accept the House seat won on November 6th, according to an updated article at unionleader.com Earlier this morning we reported that Laughton was planning to step down. Now she is stepping back up. Although it is not final. Laughton is seeking guidance … Read more

S’Preme Court Revives Challenge To Obama Care…

September 26, 2018November 27, 2012 Steve MacDonald

…on religious grounds.

S’Preme credit first to Hot Air, whose title I have assumed as my own. And second, how about a do-over?

Liberty University had challenged the law on religious grounds courtesy of the insurance mandate itself, the HHS’ contraceptive mandate, and the retarded left-wing notion that the government can prohibit any and every exercise of religious expression the moment it steps outside the four walls of the place of worship.

SCOTUS overturned a lower courts dismissal of that case –giving it new life

What Stacie Laughton Wants People to See is That She is Just Like Everyone Else.

September 26, 2018November 27, 2012 Steve MacDonald

On June 8th 2012, the Nashua Telegraph did a community piece on then candidate for the New Hampshire House Stacie Laughton. It opened like this.

NASHUA – What Stacie Laughton wants people to see is that she is just like everyone else.

This theme was repeated throughout the article, but nowhere in the Nashua Telegraph’s reporting, or in any Telegraph content after it that I could find (until a few days ago), is there any mention of her extensive criminal history. Laughton has previously been charged with felony misuse of 911 services, conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, conspiracy identity fraud, theft of services, misdemeanor criminal mischief, and served a suspended sentence for at least one felony conviction.

Would you be surprised to hear that she was elected to the New Hampshire House in Nashua, New Hampshire anyway?

White Meat Equals Racism

September 26, 2018November 27, 2012 Steve MacDonald

In case you didn’t know it having a preference for white meat at Thanksgiving makes you a racist. Warner Todd Huston, on Breitbart, has an entertaining piece about the rantings of one Ron Rosenbaum at Slate, who makes the case that white bread, the other white meat (Pork), and even a preference for white Turkey … Read more

Future New Hampshire House Democrat?

September 26, 2018November 27, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Political parties never stop recruiting “qualified” candidates for future races and I think I’ve identified a potential Democrat contender for 2014. Eighteen year-old Tyler Murray of Manchester New Hampshire was recently charged with Fraudulent use of a credit card: Murray is accused of using a credit card belonging to another to purchase $258.58 worth of … Read more

On A Path To Less Government or More?

September 26, 2018November 26, 2012 Steve MacDonald

Mind if I smoke a doobie - medical marijuana in New Hampshire — Maggie Hassan says she’d consider supporting Medical Marijuana

Newsmax reports that New Hampshire’s new governor (gag!) Maggie Hassan is open to the idea of legalizing Marijuana.

Pro-pot advocates in New Hampshire are excited about the possibilities.

Medical marijuana, the gateway-drug -policy to broader decriminalization efforts, is generally considered to be an issue with bi-partisan support. Supporters of legalization at any and every level have also long insisted that the cost to taxpayers of policing pot is excessive. But when the new governor (gag!) says ‘yeah, we’ll seriously consider support for the right bill’ while some folks are getting ready to pass the big fat doobie, I’m asking myself….”If New Hampshire Democrats are really interested does legal pot in any form put us on a path to more government or less?

The New Up and Coming Scourge of Our Nations Youth: The Bouncy House?

September 26, 2018November 26, 2012 Steve MacDonald

The danger of bounce houses — Danger Will Robinson – DANGER!

The number of U.S. children hurt while using inflatable bouncers, such as bounce houses and moonwalks, is 15 times higher than in 1995, according to a new study.

That’s the lead from Reuters.

I didn’t look past the dead link at the bottom of the article but I’d love to know who the ‘researchers’ are and who paid them to figure this out because as I understand it the increased use or access to anything by the human animal will result in an increase in injuries.

“Groups should take a look at these data, help us get the word out and make sure parents are making informed decisions,” said Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

The number of kids being brought into emergency rooms (ERs) for the injuries increased from 702 in 1995 to 11,311 children in 2010.

Informed decisions…?