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.

Senators Ayotte, McCain, and Graham in Merrimack NH This Tuesday

From NECN MERRIMACK, N.H. (AP) — Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain is returning to New Hampshire to discuss looming defense spending cuts. The Arizona senator, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will discuss defense spending cuts approved by Congress at a town hall meeting in Merrimack on Tuesday. The … Read more

Nullification…Liberal Style (part deux)

Thanks to the NHTPC, I found a video in which Carol Che-Porter, then candidate for Congress (beating Jeb Bradley shortly after), spoke at a NH Tea Party rally! Yes, it’s true!  Gadsden flags were flying, tri-corner hats were worn, and such liberty-loving creatures as Rep. Neal Kurk, Elbert Bicknell (GONH), Katherine Albrecht, and former State … Read more

What The…? How About That NH Ranking Report Thing Take 2…

WordPress ate my post….

Sorry.  I tried to add links from reports released in 2012 to the previous post and WordPress nuked me.  I lost some stuff.  It was a regular Shakespearean tragedy.  But I’m not giving up so let’s try this again.

New Hampshire is awesome and despite  “TEA party Republicans” eliminating the 800 million dollar deficit Democrats admitted to leaving (without raising taxes,)  writing a state budget that came in 1% under actual revenue (without all the tears and chest pounding and left-wing make-believe), and even after they added money to the Health and Human Services budget over the previous budget (shhh, that’s a secret),  we are still one of the best places in the nation to live.  As if you didn’t know that.

Point being, the narrative from the Democrats is the sacrifice of women and children on the TEA Party alter, and that is simply not the case.   In the 2012 reports New Hampshire is number one on children and families, number two on health, and number 1 to 3 on safety in the nation depending on which factors you look at.

Republicans didn’t sacrifice anything but the bad spending and revenue practices left by the departing Democrats.  The Republicans returned us to the kind of stewardship that got us where we are today and saved us from the brink of broad based taxes which would have been the beginning of the end of New Hampshire’s dominance at the top of almost every leading indicator of overall quality of life.

To heck with the chatter, how about some links…

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Jesse Jackson Jr.’s Ailment….[Updated and Bumped]

Jesse Jackson Jr - Moved to Mayo Clinic in MN[Update] Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who has been on a leave of absence for seven weeks, has now been moved to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, according to Jason Keyser with the Associated Press.  They have added gastrointestinal issues on top of his pre-existing mood disorder. I’m guessing he is not in the mood to say what he knows about his involvement in the attempted sale of Barack Obama’s US Senate seat and the pressure is getting to him.

I wish him the best but as a pawn of Chicago politics I’m not sure if any amount of prayer or well-wishing can protect him from the stress of knowing too much.

My original post on the “progressive” worsening of Mr. Jackson’s condition is on the jump.

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Where I Give Lessons on Efficiency to Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Government can best improve energy efficiency by starting with less governmentNew Hampshire Senator Shaheen would like me to sign a petition in support of Senate Bill S1000, a piece of legislation she is sponsoring with Senator Rob Portman.  From her email….

While disagreements remain about the right approach to fixing our nation’s energy problems, there are also areas of broad agreement that Congress can act on immediately. Nowhere is that better embodied than in a bill that’s sitting before the Senate, awaiting action: The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, S.1000, written by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio.

The Shaheen-Portman Act would help make the United States a global leader on the fastest and cheapest method we have for addressing our energy needs, energy efficiency. It encourages more private investment in efficient buildings and manufacturing technologies through low-cost, high-reward programs like strengthening voluntary national model building codes and expanding loan programs to include efficiency upgrades. It gives manufacturers tools for increasing energy efficiency in their supply chain. And it puts the federal government, the single largest user of energy in the country, on track to save taxpayer dollars by using less energy.

There is actually a much faster way to save energy, Senator Shaheen… (and a way we could be much more efficient.)

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UN Small Arms Treaty Collapses – World Blames Obama

Gun Rights win - UN arms treaty collapsesHere’s something you’ll almost never hear.  I’m actually defending Obama here.   Despite what the peacnick globalist gun grabbers think, the collapse of the UN Arms treaty that he would have been more than happy to sign in a New York Minute, despite it violating the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, and our inalienable human right to self defense….it was not (entirely) his fault.

Fifty-One members of the US Senate had already sent the President a letter stating that…as along as small and light arms were in the treaty, they would never vote to ratify it.  It’s that whole separation of powers thing.  Obama can sign whatever he likes but at the end of the day congress has to agree to fund it and in the case of treaties, the Senate needs 67 votes to authorize it.   Forty-nine aint no sixty-seven, even in Chicago.

Of course, as Hot Air point out, Obama chose to engage in the process of advancing this treaty starting back in 2009 so he only has himself to blame.  Which gets me thinking.

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Question of the day…

Let me just get this out of the way?  “Question of the Day…” will not be a daily feature unless someone else on the Grok payroll (which is a lofty sum of $0.00 dollars) bails me out…almost every day.  My follow through is simply not that reliable.  But I liked the sound of it so … Read more

New Hampshire Democrats Will Love This Idea

Democrats love rich people, when they are Democrats.  They take their money and give them taxpayer subsidized loans to prop up their failed business ventures.  They love working people, when they are in unions…baling out UAW workers at Car companies when you know that were it non-union Toyota or Honda–plants in America with American workers, they’d have been on their own.  And they love free speech as long as it speaks to their political advantage.   If you use your money or your speech to say things that run contrary to their agenda you are evil, selfish, a bigot, want people to die, a racist, buying up (local) elections, pushing grandma off a cliff, a monkey in the window, an Uncle Tom, a slut, whore, bitch, bag of meat, or worse.

(Have you noticed that Republican’s don’t do this? I’ve noticed.)

This Democrat hatred of the wrong kind of wealth or opinion was always present but burst from the seams when the Supreme Court overturned the unconstitutional McCain Feingold speech limitations, removing the gag placed there by Democrats and moderates who were gaming the system to their advantage.   This uncorking was followed almost immediately in New Hampshire by an amendment to HB1459 that would not only keep unfriendly money out of politics but empower third parties to do the intimidating for the Democrats so they wouldn’t even have to get their hands dirty .  With tax-paying business owners effectively silenced only the big money establishment players, the unions, and the left wing media (all exempt businesses engaging in paid political speech), would have the resources to deliver and maintain any consistent political messaging–and all of it predominantly center left, grow government first, speech.

Well there has been a new development in Chicago to silence speech that New Hampshire Democrats will love.

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Whose War On Women?

Clinton-Hassan

Yesterday, Steve wrote about William Jefferson Clinton coming to Nashua to endorse Maggie Hassan.  In it, he showed Andrew Hemingway’s 4RG video of the endorsement, where Clinton messed up and used Jackie Cilley’s last name (the other candidate!).  There is simply no good explanation or excuse for this.

Democrats around the state are now trumpeting the magnificence of Hassan and her campaign, what with a former President swinging (driving) by to heap praise on their candidate.  You’ve gotta feel bad for these people, grinning through a grimace, being real troopers, in spite of this embarrassing display of Presidential pretension and blunder.  All that effort and they can only show still photos of the event – no audio – no video!

Well, let me make it hurt some more.

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We Tried Our Plan and it Worked….

Red meat, low hanging fruit, softballs?  Call it what you like but whomever is charged with working the mouth on the Obama-Muppet this month is either an idiot themsleves, thinks you are all idiots, or is so disconnected from the reality of America Today that they are dangerous. ‘You didn’t build that’ was a great … Read more

Democrat Lee Nyquist’s Campaign Manager Kevin ‘Awesome-Cool’ Hodges Identified as Maggie Hassan’s ‘Bat-Boy.’

Lee Nyquist- Says he's for Civility but his Campaign manger wants to beat Republicans With a batGoffstown, New Hampshire Democrat Kevin Hodges, former House Rep from (D-Awesome Cool), has been identified as the Democrat in this video who wants to “Beat  Republicans with a bat.”  This isn’t all that surprising.  Hodges has a history of disrespecting Republican opponents…

“You should vote for me because I’m awesome and cool. The House is filled with stingy old people who are stupid. I’m younger and smarter, and that’s a fact.”

Hodges fed the “Beat Republicans with a bat” line to Democrat goober-natorial candidate Maggie ‘Louisville Slugger’ Hassan, who responded, “That’s a good answer.”

When Hodges isn’t playing Bat-boy, he is also the campaign manager for New Hampshire Democrat Lee Nyquist, who is running as the Democrat State Parties best choice to represent the people of  New Hampshire State Senate District #9.

Here’s a question.  Was NH Democrat Lee Nyquist in the room?  Was he smiling and laughing?  Not sure.  But regardless of that what does he think about his campaign manager’s announcement that they can “beat Republicans with a bat?”  I only ask because the boldface lead to the first item on Lee Nyquist’s ‘Issues’ page reads like this.

“Restoring Civility, Collaboration and Common Sense to Concord”

Rut-Roh!

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4RG Chairman Hemingway: “Hassan Should Withdraw From Gov Race”

4RG PAC Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2012
Media Contact: Andrew Hemingway, 603-203-4063, info@4RG.org

4RG CHAIRMAN HEMINGWAY SAYS HASSAN SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM GOV RACE AFTER INCITING VIOLENCE 
Republican Governor Candidates Smith/Lamontagne Share Ideas For Boosting New Hampshire’s Economy
While Democrat Maggie Hassan Is Talking About Beating Republicans ‘With a Bat’

CONCORD, N.H.—4RG Chairman Andrew Hemingway is calling for Democratic Gov. Candidate Maggie Hassan to drop out of her race for governor after she agreed that it was “a good answer” for Democrats to literally beat Republicans “with a bat … with your hands … [and] with your feet.”

Hassan, the former Majority Leader for the N.H. Senate, was asked at a Goffstown meeting “How do you plan to beat a Republican?” Democratic operative and Rep. Kevin Hodges, who introduced the candidate at the event, yelled out in reply, “You can beat ‘em with a bat, you can beat ‘em with your hands, you can beat ‘em with your feet.” Hassan was caught on video tape immediately responding, “That’s a good answer.” Please review the video here: http://youtu.be/V8zjC8NHlgI.

Later, when asked by the press about the comment, Hassan’s campaign manager Matthew Burgess replied that she was just “kidding” about beating other human beings with a bat as if the comment was just a joke.

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Bill Clinton Endorses Maggie Hazz…um….Hasss….uh..Who Are You Again?

Bill Clinton in Nashua, No Reports of Sexual HarassmentThere have been no reports of sexual harassment (that’s Her-Ass-Meant) during President Bill Clinton’s recent drive-by endorsement of New Hampshire Democrat Margret ‘Louisville Slugger’ Hassan.  But Clinton did have enough time to say some stuff.

“There’s a great plan for the future of the state of New Hampshire: Smoke more, learn less,” Clinton said.

You’d think reducing tobacco taxes would be a plus for a guy with Bill Clinton’s ‘appreciation” for  cigars.  But hey, honestly you are right Mr. Bill.  Taxpayers should pay for someone elses kids to get drunk and earn a degree in the History of Gender Philosophy Studies .  Making them pay for their own education is so self -responsible and free market.  No one would want people like that.  And when they ‘graduate’ with a major in “The Catharsis of Economic Freedom And Opportunity Under Democrat Rule” they can stand in line for a job at Staples or Burger King and use their degree to keep the rain off their $500.00 iPhone.

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Someone Ask Hassan-Endorsing UN Envoy to Haiti Bill Clinton – What Happened to “Building Back Better?”

Bill Clinton will be handing a steaming pile of an endorsement to New Hampshire Democrat candidate (for governor) Maggie Hassan, so while he’s here, can someone ask him what the hell happened in Haiti?

Not that long ago the left was suggesting that Clinton’s ‘Earthquake relief efforts there might be his lasting legacy.  (As opposed to the DNA on the Interns Blue Dress, perjury and impeachment?)  OK.  Well how’s that working out?

About as well as anyone could expect of any global UN relief effort “spearheaded” by a skirt chasing publicity hound like William Jefferson Clinton.

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You Can Force A Public School Student to Pay for a ‘Healthy Lunch’ But You Can’t Make Them Eat It.

school lunch- that no one is eating?Would you be at all surprised to learn that public school students who buy lunch in Public School cafeterias are–after a fashion–getting around the USDA Federal requirement that they consume certain foods with their meal?

Would you be more or less surprised to learn that the federal mandated will cost you as parents and taxpayers more, for no measurable good?

Examples?

Most public school cafeterias used to provide regular mashed potatoes weekly, and by all accounts, most of the kids were eating them.  But the USDA forced a switch from regular mashed to mashed sweet Potato. (I wouldn’t touch a sweet potato before I was thirty.) Guess what? Most of those Sweet potatoes end up in the trash.

Subversives!  How dare they not eat what we have decided is best for them.

So how about all the mandatory fresh vegetables?  How did they fare?

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Guest Post by Scott Morales – An Origin of Nonsense and Monsters

William GodwinThere have been a number of posts, columns, and interviews regarding Obama’s “you didn’t build that, somebody else did” admission last week, but none that I have seen touch on the origin of such nonsense.  From what I can tell, the earliest work that outlines this belief in depth is William Godwin’s “Enquiry Concerning Political Justice,” published in 1796.  (I must give props to Doctor/Philosopher/Economist Thomas Sowell whose invaluable book “A Conflict of Visions” delves into the origins of political ideologies and has helped me, time and again, regain understanding of the dark side as much as I am able.)

Before I continue, and considering this is a blog, I think I need to draw the distinction between this Godwin (William) and the author of “Godwin’s Rule”, Mike Godwin, so as not to cause any confusion.  Mike’s rule is that, given enough time, invariably an online conversation will invoke Hitler or Nazis.  It’s an interesting little rule, but, alas, I’ve only seen it abused and substituted as an actual argument by the unthinking left when they’re confronted with the reality of where Stateism leads.  It’s like an online version of squeezing your eyelids shut, cupping your ears, stamping your feet, and repeating, “Blah, blah, blah, blah,” as loudly as you can, over and over again, followed by a speedy exit and, once far enough away, downshift into a strut like you just out-debated Daniel Webster.  It’s cute, just not edifying and completely different from William Godwin’s writing.

Anyway, here are a few of good ol’ Bill’s quotes. See if you can glean a few similarities with His Majesty’s latest reductio ad absurdum.  (You may need to read it with a stilted, halting inner dialog to get the full Barry):

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Swing Away Maggie. Swing Away!

One can only imagine the media firestorm that would erupt from Democrat Party Chairman Ray Buckley and his troglodytes if Maggie “Louisville Slugger” Hassan was a Republican. John DiStaso-Granite Status (When) asked by an audience member: “How can you beat a Republican opponent in this state this year?” And just as she begins to answer, … Read more

Making Racists As Needed

MSDNC talking head Toure (Toure’ Too-Rah!) is  a race pimp, or at the very least a race-baiter.    If there was any room for debate about that, he has recently removed all doubt.

Waxing leftist-philosophic on the Aurora Massacre…

I would hope that it would be something like a Trayvon Martin situation that would make people think, ‘Wow. wrongful death, even though it’s a legal gun owner. How do we move forward from this situation?’ But so much of this issue, I think comes down to, ‘Let’s make sure law abiding white people are able to have access to guns and make sure that black criminals are not and that becomes part of the locus of the problem.

How about, let us make sure law abiding people have access to guns and criminals do not?  The law protects the rights of self defense for everyone, not that Toure’ would care.  He is too busy in this instance making racist hay and being racist himself, all at the same time.

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