GrokWATCH: Right To Know Request – Water Sustainability Commission – Update 3

WSC-Logo Water Sustainability CommisionI ended the last dispatch with this:

“Guess how long it took to get a response???”

Answer:  10 days simply to have an email recognized and returned (emphasis mine):

On 8/12/2012 11:11 PM, John A. Gilbert wrote:

Mr. Murphy

With this email I am acknowledging receipt of your August 2, 2012 Right to Know request.  Given the scope of your request, it is anticipated that it will take as much as 30 days from the date of your request to identify whether such documents exist, and if they do, to gather and review them.  There may be a cost for reproducing them for you, but we will let you know more precisely what the cost might be once we have a better understanding of the scope and number of these documents.  If you do not wish to incur theses costs, it may be possible for you to review them without incurring the cost of reproduction.  Again, we will let you know that too.

Best regards,

John

John A. Gilbert
President
Synchrony Advisors, LLC
10 Myrtle Street
Exeter, NH 03833
Tel. 603-219-6538
Email john@synchronyadvisors.com
www.synchronyadvisors.com

Well, THAT didn’t go over too well:

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American Exceptionalism – hoping it is more than a campaign slogan

This caught my eye as one of the things that Romney said after announcing that Paul Ryan was to be his Veep pick:

“I love America. We’re going to restore American principles. We love this country. We don’t want to change it. We don’t want to transform it. We want to restore the principles of America that made us the hope of the earth.”

Again, I ask you, loyal reader, to compare that, going back to our Founders vision, to what Obama has said:

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Medicare Fraud – [Updated and Bumped – Again…]

When I say “Medicare Fraud,” I’m not referring to the corrupt practices of people and professionals who are milking taxpayers by running fast circles around the bureaucratic behemoth that is Medicare.  I am referring to the left-wing Democrat lie-factory that has nothing in its barren campaign quiver but fear tactics.   That is the fraud I am referring to.   That and the fraud they will perpetrate on every aspect of the Ryan Budget.

I just hope Harry Reid has nothing to say about the Ryan budget…you know…that might get awkward.

Here’s a short clip from CBS news c/o Hot Air on Romney/Ryan and Medicare…

[Update(s) on the jump]

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Blogosphere Line of the Day – on Greed

From Instapundit “A higher form of justice” translates as “give me the money regardless of the law.” “Greedy” means “you won’t give me what I want, just because it’s yours, not mine.” So Occupyish…yet from Sweden.  Or, the DNC / Obama Administration for that matter  

GrokTV Event – Seacoast Republican Women Congressional Forum – Question 4

To recap: five of the questions asked of the Candidates at the Seacoast Republican Women Congressional Forum were contributed before and during the event by the actual attendees with the lone exception of the last Question by Stella Scamman, the moderator.  The Candidates answering were:

NH First Congressional District – Rick Parent, Vern Clough                           NH Second Congressional District  – Will Dean, Dennis Lamare

“NO SHOWS”: Incumbents Congressmen Frank “Stiffing the SRW at the last moment” Guinta and Charlie “It’s not worth my time” Bass.

Much has been made of the annual debt (now all of the years of Obama’s Presidency have had $1 Trillion deficits) and the debt, but little on how to pay that $16 Trillion debt (which soars to over $130 Trillion if you count unfunded future liabilities) – Question 4: How will you work to reduce the debt limit?

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Mysterious Folder Conundrum

Love Birds

Suppose you fall in love with someone who is good looking, well groomed, and has lots of potential.  Let’s say you two lovebirds decide to get married.  Giddiness and joy all around…congratulations.

One day, you are at the supermarket, casually buying grapes (so you can feed them to your love, like they do in the old-timey movies), when a shadowy person comes up behind you and hands you a sealed folder.  The mystery person whispers in your ear and says…

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Democrat Contradictions – Out Of State Influence in Local Elections

Democrats in New Hampshire take a lot of money from outside the state.  Don’t take my word for it, just go look it up.  Millions and Millions.  They use candidates, campaign committees, so-called non-profits, and even have super wealthy out of state special interest donors making personal donations here and there to move money around the campaign finance camp fire, often right into the state Democrat party coffer, then back out to your local races.

No one should be surprised or even taken aback at this because it is all part of the business of politics, every party does some of this, it is all perfectly legal, and everything was fine up until the point when the New Hampshire Democrat party decided to make it a recurring campaign issue against Republicans.   It wasn’t Democrats who were affected by objects of out of state money and influence, just the Republicans.

Democrats are clearly guilty of hypocrisy on the  issue (no surprise there), but whenever they start a narrative like this it is usually because they are doing something else that might be worse, that they need you to be distracted from.  And guess what?   They were.

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GrokTV Event: Belknap County Republican Committee “Contested Primaries”- NH Executive Council

Going from the top race and proceeding “down ticket” at the event is that of the NH Executive Council and two candidates showed up for that: long time (in the tooth) politician and holder of the seat, Ray Burton) and Jerry Thibodeau who believes that he can overcome this ossified dinosaur and Master of the Patronage handshake (in my opinion) and change the name of the District 1 Executive Council seat back “to the people” (yeah, I’m biased – and have no problem in admitting it – I say what most other won’t DARE to about Burton).  Especially with this:

These were not asked as a member of the New Media.  Rather, they were submitted because I am a Member of the NH GOP State Committee:

To Ray Burton and Jerry Thibodeau (Executive Council, District 1):

Does it hurt the Republican “brand”, in your opinion, when an elected Republican official publicly endorses a Democrat in a race where there are Republicans running?

As in Ray Burton endorsing a Democrat up North?  Like Dick Green (in running for NH State Senate now, who was a member of “Republicans for Lynch)”?

Why does Ray Burton get a pass from other Republicans – and why does Leadership do nothing as the Public looks on (often, with the mantra on their lips “There’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the two parties”) instead of cleaning up and cleaning house?  Sheesh….

Here is the video of Jerry Thibodeau and Ray Burton:

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Following the Trail from Sustainability…to Tyranny (Part 2)

Sustainability Ferris Wheel

This is part-2 of a series that breaks down the “sustainability” movement, and explains how some in NH are working to constrain individual liberties with it.  Read part-1 here.

The consummate community organizer, President Obama, knows the value of urban voters.  He knows that urban living, with its clustered, infrastructure-heavy, and herd-like nature, depends on government more than suburban life, and far more than self-sufficient, independent rural living.  He knows that more urban (or urban-like) voters mean utter dominance of the Progressive political class, at all levels.

He also knows that people have flocked away from cities, especially since the 1970’s, forming concentric suburban rings, referred to as “sprawl” (a word you will hear used quite a bit), which provide resistance to his urban, democratic-socialist ideals.

“The suburbs will define the outcome of the 2012 Presidential election”

Continuing to use the environmental movement as cover, and using the Presidency for credibility and funding, Barack Obama and his fellow community organizers are advancing the simmering ideology of “sustainability” by attacking the suburbs.

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The Promise of The Democrat Police State

Inconvenient Speech Equals handcuffs in the Democrat Police State
Inconvenient Speech Equals handcuffs in the Democrat Police State

Democrats obstructing speech they object to continued… after yesterdays post, which produced some necessary followup.  Obama campaign officials obstructed a Pennsylvania reporter from speaking to Obama supporters waiting outside, in line for an Obama rally.  A Commenter, C. dog, responded with a link to this story from 2008, at the Democrat National Convention, in Denver.

ABC reporter Asa Eslocker was filming for a story about the financial influence of lobbyists and wealthy donors.  While taking pictures of Democrat Senators and others on a public sidewalk he was arrested and detained by the police.

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Jerry Thibodeau for Executive Councilor, District 1

I  support and endorse Jerry Thibodeau for Executive Council. I speak as me alone and not as the voice of Granite Grok.I personally know Jerry and count him as a close personal friend.

Jerry is a native to the Granite State. He has raised a family, built a successful business and served the Manchester community on many levels. I, in particular,  worked closely with Jerry during his tenure as  chairman of the Manchester GOP City committee. Additionally, I knew Jerry as a board member for the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation, an organization very dear to me. Jerry served there with distinction as well. Jerry is now running for the Executive Council.  He is would make a great Councilor.

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Maggie’s World -or- It’s Good to be the Duchess

Sustainability Ferris Wheel

Democratic candidate for governor, Maggie Hassan, was recently endorsed by New Hampshire’s largest union*, the National Education Association (NEA-NH).

In their press release, the union stated that “Maggie shares our belief that good public schools are the foundation for strong communities and a vibrant economy and that for our students and schools to thrive, we all need to be held accountable — teachers, parents, students and elected officials.  She knows that continuing to slash school funding risks losing an entire generation of students who won’t get a second chance…”

Union President, Scott McGilvary, also stated that “it became very apparent that there was one candidate that can stand up for public education and bring us forward and that Maggie Hassan is our candidate.”

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GrokWATCH: Right To Know Request – Water Sustainability Commission – Update 1

WSC-Logo Water Sustainability CommisionBack on August 2, we launched an RTK (Right To Know) request against Gov. Lynch’s parting gift, the Water Sustainability Commission.  Specifically, we wanted copies of all of the surveys that the public had filled in that the WSC presented via SurveyMonkey.

I am happy to report that John Gilbert did respond positively and sent a PDF containing those results within two days of the request.  And yes, I was / am behind on posting this up.

But, from there, I decided to ask for more – the contract between the State of New Hampshire and his firm, Synchrony Advisors, LLC, to no avail:

From: Skip Murphy
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2012 4:28 PM
To: John A. Gilbert
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information Request – NH Water Sustainability

Chairman Gilbert,

I have received your email and will be reviewing all of those surveys; we do appreciate your willingness to quickly comply with our request.

An additional request: again, under the auspices of RSA 91-A, we are requesting a copy of the signed contract between your company and the State of New Hampshire.   Further, as you are acting as an agent of the State, we are also requesting electronic copies of all the correspondence (e.g., such as, but not limited to email, paper mailings, recorded phone conversations and video conferences, websites) pertaining to that contract.

Kindest regards,

-Skip

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When the Left starts “Memory Holing” pictures and stories, you’re on the Right track!

Mike Kruglik - Obama in the White HouseThe ‘Grok is doing its part on exposing what has been run on a semi-stealth process here in NH – the Federal Government’s implementation of President Obama’s promise made just before his inauguration: “We are five days from fundamentally transforming the United States”.

As Tom’s post / series thus far has been pointing out (Part 1, Part 2), there appears to be an effort by HUD / EPA / DOT to subvert local control and local zoning for environmental and “sustainable” reasons only.   But the real story is not just subverting local control with Federal control of the Environment.

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GrokTV Event: AFPF Defending the American Dream – Adam Nicholson

Events the size of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s Defending the American Dream Summit 2012 take a lot of project management – setting up the overall theme, what workshops to offer (what are the activists needs all up and down the experience levels?), what speakers can energize and inform the attendees, what venue is big enough to handle all this not just with meeting rooms and big halls, but with food, beds, power, video provisioning, audio provisioning, ISDN lines, tables, chairs, lights, power cords (yes, sufficient power can be a BIG deal – the Hilton Washington DC had to bring in a massively huge trailer with diesel generators to supply all the additional power!) – you name it, somebody has to realize that it is needed, get it, put it into place or have it ready when needed, set it up, fix it when it fails, and make sure it doesn’t grow legs and walk off (yes, Security).

Here, we talk with Adam Nicholson, State Communications Director for AFP.  His gig for for the event was to plan and provision Radio Row while creating the schedule all of the live and recorded broadcasts for all of the radio shows that decided that the cost of doing remotes at Defending the American Dream was a great idea (as well as your lowly blogger!).  While we worked with him on getting our slots for Radio Row and getting guests to interview, this Project Management gig for the event is not what he usually does – have a listen!

Interested in joining and helping to defend Free Markets, Economic Freedom, Individual Liberty and Freedom, and Constitutional values?  Click here for the NH Chapter of AFP.

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GrokTV: Conservative Republican Candidate Home Event – Kevin Smith

Last nite, Liberty and Freedom activist Barbara Aichinger and her husband Ed opened their home to a number of Candidates that are Conservative as well as championing legislation and actions that protect and enhance Individual Liberty and Freedom.  They are willing to downsize the size and reach of Government, feeling that Government should be the … Read more

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