News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Op-Ed 
By Eddie
June 17, 2018: Copenhagen, Denmark
After the posting on Denmark last week, I thought I should go there and see for myself. Ok, not completely true, but I am here in Copenhagen, passing through on a previously planned business trip. I spent a relaxing afternoon wandering around town, observing. This was not my first visit to Copenhagen and my personal impression is that the people here are freer than Americans, at least in some ways. So let’s see.
By Kevin Miller
House Minority Leader Stephen Shurtleff bashed Republican leadership for not passing gun control laws to “make our schools safer.” Such attacks on Republican leaders are slander. Republican leaders *are* passing legislation expressly for making our schools safer, but not how Shurtleff wants it done.
When Stephen Shurtleff took office, he swore to uphold the constitution. However, ever since he entered the State House, Shurtleff has done nothing but betrayed that promise, voting for legislation that overrides the U.S. Constitution, removing the rights of NH citizens. There is one word that truly describes Shurtleff…a charlatan, a con man who promises one thing and delivers another.
By Ken Eyring
NH is open for business. But not like you may think.
When (then) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was campaigning to “sell” the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to the American people, she said, “We have to pass the Bill to see what’s in it.” She wasn’t kidding. The ACA contained many unknowns. It was vaguely written and delegated the specifics and interpretations of the law to be defined by unelected bureaucrats AFTER Obamacare became law. The rest is history.
With the ideological Transgender “Bathroom Bill” HB1319, New Hampshire’s “Republican” Governor, Chris Sununu, is modeling his leadership after Democrat Speaker Pelosi.
By Eddie
Forward: I have known “Eddie” for a couple of decades and when we consultants were at the same customer in implementing our company’s software, we used to have long discussions on culture and politics – and we always disagreed. That said, Eddie is a reasonable guy and when we talked last week and I mentioned the ‘Grok, his response was “I’ve always wanted to do something like that”. So, here’s his chance. Comment per usual – just be yourselves, folks!
*****
Intro – I’m making my foray into the blog-sphere as an outlet to discuss issues of interest to me. I believe in the values of our founding fathers and their support of individual freedom. I believe that if Americans wish to have freedom for themselves they must be willing to give freedom to their neighbors. My favorite President is Thomas Jefferson.
I believe in getting to the truth of the matter which is rarely a simple thing. Facts and logic are my friends, lies are my enemies.
Oh, and I guess I need to say that I’m a misfit in the GraniteGrok world as I tend to the liberal side of debates. I hope not to upset anyone….. well, maybe a little.
Picking on Denmark
Steve Mac Donald’s post on Denmark’s arctic studies were a bit misleading and hey, I like Denmark so let’s not pick on them, ok?
For Immediate Release
Contact: Shannon McGinley, (603) 228-4794, cornerstone@nhcornerstone.org
Cornerstone Action Statement on Governor Chris Sununu’s Signing of Gender-Policy Legislation
The following statement may be attributed to Shannon McGinley, Cornerstone Action Executive Director.
Today, a Republican governor goes down in history as the man who signed the Bathroom Bill, endangering women and girls all across the state and giving unfair advantages to men posing as women in various competitive environments. Sadly, Gov. Chris Sununu’s decision to sign the Bathroom Bill will overshadow some of his otherwise constructive accomplishments and identify him as the man who allowed unwanted, socially harmful ideas into a law that directly opposes government’s constitutional role to serve the “general good.”
Gov. Sununu today has signed away every Granite Stater’s right to privacy in public accommodations. He has signed away protection for equity in school athletics and scholarships. He has bought into a lie that it is somehow bigotry to recognize a person’s natural biological sex, and instead instituted a new era of bigotry against people with common sense.
Jane Cormier and her campaign cordially invite you to join her as she files at the Secretary of State’s office on Friday, June 8, 2018 at 4:00 PM.Jane has decided to run for this office because “the hard-working people in District 4 deserve to have an Executive Councilor who will be their eyes and ears in Concord. The New Hampshire taxpayer has been ignored for far too long”.
Come show your support for Jane!
After filing with the Secretary of State, the campaign will hold a free, special kick off event at Londonderry Fish and Game, 5 Lund Street, Litchfield, NH.
Press Release
Senate, House urge Supreme Court opinion on voter residency legislation
Concord, NH — Following Governor Chris Sununu and the Executive Council’s request that the Supreme Court give their opinion on the constitutionality of HB 1264, AN ACT relative to construction of the terms “resident,” “inhabitant,” “residence,” and “residency,” the New Hampshire Senate and House of Representatives submitted memos to the Supreme Court today urging the court to issue an advisory opinion in support of the legislation’s constitutionality.
Every election in NH is really a race in three parts: 1) for political activists to serve on campaigns, endorsements, and donors, 2) to win the primary election, and 3) to win the general election. That first race is nearing its end. We at the ‘Grok have been studying the candidates, listening to their words, and reading their campaign materials to evaluate where they stand in OUR eyes.
By Granite State Taxpayers: TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR THE GRANITE STATE TAXPAYERS SUMMER MEETING “Take Back Our Taxpayer Rights” at the GST Summer Meeting! Attorney Chuck Douglas, a former Congressman and former NH Supreme Court Justice, will describe the history of Taxpayer Standing in New Hampshire and the importance of having the voters amend the State Constitution to include standing … Read more
REMINDER: We have our Military & Veterans Appreciation BBQ TONIGHT! Details are below: Who: Veterans and their families are invited from across New Hampshire – numerous veteran leaders and elected officials What: Military & Veteran Appreciation Event and BBQ! Where: Derry VFW, 18 Railroad Ave, Derry, NH 03038 When: Tonight, May 24, 2018; 6PM-8PM Why: Celebrate May as Military Appreciation Month with members … Read more
Press Release
NH House Freedom Caucus
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2018
Contact: Rep. JR Hoell, 603-315-9002
CONCORD – The New Hampshire House Freedom Caucus (NHHFC) today blasted the massive, $120 million state spending spree in new spending outside of a state budget year in bills coming before the House tomorrow. In particular, the NHHFC focused on the $102.3 million omnibus spending bill (HB 1817), legislation that never saw a public hearing in the House for any of the appropriations included within it.
“The Legislature abandoned its fiscal responsibility by approving this off-budget spending, and the committee of conference made this terrible mistake even worse.
Chris Sununu is no victim. He is a man of purpose and intention. It took such a person to wrest control of the State House from the Democrats who had held the corner office for so long.
And now, as he is poised to sign destructive legislation on gender, he and his surrogates are putting out the message that opponents of these bills had “terrible messaging,” and that the “terrible messaging” was why the bills landed on the Governor’s desk.
Message: it’s your fault, people. It shouldn’t have gotten here.
Mr. Sununu, shame on you.
Status report: the gender identity bill (HB 1319) and therapy ban bill (HB 587) will be on the Governor’s desk soon, but first they have to go through a process called “enrollment.” This is a bureaucratic process that could take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. You have more time to reach … Read more
Press Release
Cormier for Executive Council 4
Phone: 603.781.5695
Email: jane@janecormier.org
For Immediate Release
Former Speaker William O’Brien Endorses Jane Cormier For NH Executive Council District 4
Hooksett, NH – Jane Cormier is proud to announce the endorsement of her campaign for Executive Council District 4 by former Speaker of the House William O’Brien:
“As a former NH House Speaker, I heartily endorse Jane Cormier for the Executive Council. While Jane and I served together as state representatives, I came to know her as a dedicated, tireless, and effective advocate for the hardworking women and men of New Hampshire. The very qualities that make a great Executive Councilor – a dedication to detail while never losing sight of broader requirements, an openness to listening and working with others across the political spectrum, and courage, courtesy and coolness in the face of today’s harsh political rhetoric – are what Jane has become known for among her colleagues and constituents.
New Hampshire will be exceedingly well-served with Jane Cormier on the Executive Council and you have a great opportunity to make this happen.”
By Ken Eyring
This is the third part in a series that discusses indoctrination of our children through the introduction of ideologies in our schools. The focus below is in response to a Windham student, who took offense with my previous postings and mischaracterized my positions. You can find Skylar Hebert’s April 12th letter to the editor in the Windham Independent here.
Dear Skylar,
In your letter to me in the April 12 Windham Independent, you made comments that indicate you misunderstood the messages of my previous letters and therefore mischaracterized my positions. My letters are against our school district bringing ideologies into our schools and classrooms.
My letter was not against your right to protest – which I support, but not during school hours.
By Ken Eyring
George Washington was a reluctant, selfless first President. He put his personal life on hold to serve as our nation’s first leader. He could have served as America’s President for life but didn’t. Having fought for the Rights and virtues that were written in the Declaration of Independence, and subsequently, in our Constitution, George Washington genuinely understood their meaning and their values. When his service as President of our country was over, he returned home to resume his civilian life. He was a true public servant – and not a career politician. George Washington put what was best for our country ahead of his personal interests.
Our founding fathers were acutely aware that this selfless form of service to our Government would be the greatest means to serve the American people.
Regrettably, George Washington’s virtues (and those of our Founding Fathers) are now only found in a few elected representatives… and NH’s Governor Chris Sununu is not one of them. Instead, Mr. Sununu is more interested in being re-elected to the Governor’s office for life, rather than respecting the GOP Platform and the promises he made during his campaign (view 29:13 of this debate).
By Carolyn McKinney – (Reposted)
To advocates for removing “traditional” from marriage in the NHGOP platform.
First, you are guilty of using the most frustrating and pernicious leftist debate tactic.
To try to make your case, you use examples outside the norm – such as families who adopt, grandparents raising their grandchildren, single parents due to the death of a spouse – in an attempt to undermine the norm. It’s no different than those who are pro-abortion trying to undermine opposition to abortion by raising rare cases of rape and incest, or more recently, using the existence of intersex persons to try to undermine natural sex/gender.
Many of us have friends or family whose situation is exactly one of those examples, but their efforts are a compassionate response to a crisis, not something that we should set as a legal standard.
Second, articulating an ideal is not exclusionary.
By Jeff Chidester
“Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said he will sign the recently passed bill” – The public accommodation provision (of HB1319) was a bridge too far for me and many others. Shame on those that could not support a commonsense measure that would have respected the right of privacy. This is not about equality, but a capitulation to stupidity.
I won’t bother reexplaining my position, should it matter you can refer to an article I wrote. If you are a running for office, please do not bother asking for my support, vote, or endorsement, unless you have made a public statement against this idiocy. If you are a candidate running for office who has already received my endorsement, please make a public statement condemning this folly, or consider my endorsement withdrawn.
(or to keep them from leaving?)
By Dan Moriarty
Have you ever visited the Grand Canyon? If you were there would you ask yourself how you can spend people’s taxes to attract more visitors? While waiting in line to enter the sold-out Zion National Park would you think of ways to get more millennials to visit?
New Hampshire has many fine qualities. Near the top of my list is its low population which results in rare traffic problems and short lines virtually everywhere. Even in the heat of summer, it’s not too hard to find a place to spread out on the beach at Wallis Sands State Park. In the fall rush, a person can hike the trails of Pack Monadnock and still enjoy seclusion in the woods. In the summer, a family can get a ticket to the minor league ball game for cheap and not get turned away due to a sell-out.
At no point do I ever say to myself “I wish there were more people here.”
By Aaron Day
Today the Republicans lead the charge to re-authorize Obamacare Medicaid expansion. The budget for New Hampshire for the past 27 years is built on a funding mechanism that borrows billions from children and ignores making real structural changes. Our healthcare system would be better and less expensive if we didn’t rely on the Federal Government and opened up the state to free markets in healthcare.
Here is a brief history of how New Hampshire got here. We will have to deal with this eventually. It is up to us to decide if we will address proactively or from a position of absolute crisis.