Ben Bernanke Tossed Under The Bus

If you are unsure why government is too big and why the Fed must be audited and then dismantled –You Have To Watch This.      (H/T Big Government.com)

Sullivan’s Mea Culpa

Yesterday some of us were treated to the palate cleansing of former NHDP chair Kathy ‘Lawsuit’ Sullivan. She took the opportunity to fill her allotted Union Leader real estate with a “reform agenda for democrats.” If you get tired of shoving broken glass in your eye check it out.

Congressman-Elect Frank Guinta’s statement on the Republican’s Caucus Vote on Earmark Moratorium

November 18th, 2010 Washington D.C. – Congressman-elect Frank Guinta (R-NH) issued the following statement on his support of the Republican Caucus’ vote to implement an earmark moratorium for two years. Guinta made cutting spending and government transparency hallmarks of his campaign and will work tirelessly to see these principles implemented in Congress. “The earmark process … Read more

Breaking – The new Speaker of the NH House is Bill O’Brien

Breaking – The Republican Caucus Nominee for Speaker of the NH House is Bill O’Brien “I’m looking forward to working with Republicans and Democrats in the New Hampshire House to fulfill the mandate for a new direction that the people of New Hampshire voted for on November 2,” Voting Tabulation: Round  1 Gene Chandler: 129, … Read more

NECN, TEA Party, “Dancing with the Stars”, and Sarah Palin

OK, life can be bizarre at times – got an email from my friend Steve asking "would you be willing to go on TV and talk about the influence of the TEA Party on "Dancing with the Stars?" Riiiiggghhhhtt!  You ARE putting me on, right?  While TMEW is a fan, I pretty much am just … Read more

One last word: A Private Conservation with Bill O’Brien….

The race for Speaker of the House is almost concluded, and it was in many ways an even more hotly contested and more comprehensive political struggle than the general election battle against the Democrats. So, to wrap it up, I want to tell about a personal conversation I had with Bill O’Brien not too long ago. And I don’t think (I hope, at least) that he would see this as betraying a confidence. After all, it shows the essence of the man, and the difference between a New Republican and the GOP of yesterday….

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It’s Another “Can’t We All Just Get Along Coalition”

John DiStaso’s Granite Status alerts us to the formation of yet another group designed to help American’s ‘find a copacetic political medium.’  This one is called NoLabels. Like similar ‘groups’ (I’ll call them out in a moment) this one wants to bring the self-proclaimed rational people from both sides into the center.

From DiStato

A new advocacy group that disdains "hyper-partisanship" and promotes "the vital center" is trying to make in-roads in New Hampshire.

"Ultimately, unless we get rid of some of our ideological intensity, we are not going to be served by government."

The group is being fronted locally by former Portsmouth mayor and so-called centrist democrat Steve Marchand.  I’m not going to waste time on whether Marchand is centrist or not, in fact I think I’ll skip the preview reel altogether and get to the point.

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A Presentation of Ideas Concerning New Republican Leadership in the NH House of Representatives – Part 3

Part 3 of a three part series of Guest Posts by the Honorable Paul Mirski, member of the NH House of Representatives (and one of the Fathers of Conservatism here in NH). He is seeking to be the Majority Leader in the NH House of Representatives.

  •  Part Three suggests five or six overriding legislative themes and then goes on to provide a basket of  choices for legislative action that are drawn directly from our current Republican Party Platform.  If members consider all of the media focus on Tea Party initiatives over the last 18 months, they will see that those Republicans who began rewriting our platform eight years ago were well ahead of the curve.We’re ready right this minute to create change. We don’t have to go searching for ideas.

Previous sections: Part 1Part 2

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PART 3

Proposed Republican Initiatives for the 2011 – 2012 Legislative Session:

The idea that all individuals ought to be able to seek and achieve their unique destinies is our core belief.

The Republican Party was founded by abolitionists to end slavery. We should be proud of our Party’s freedom legacy.  We must re-dedicate ourselves to our Party’s originating ideas and ideals if we’re to grow and thrive once again as a political force.
 
In conformance with the broad range of ideals, goals, and objectives outlined within our Republican Party Platform, here’s a presentation of numerous legislative initiatives that have been suggested by legislators, candidates and activists that could form the nucleus of a 2011-2012 Republican legislative agenda. The first six address money issues and were drawn from the expanded list below their listing. The first year of the coming session should focus primarily on spending and taxation.

Six Initiatives to get control of State spending:

  • Prioritize ALL functions of government and analyze costs accordingly.
  • Repeal all unwarranted increases in size and cost of government enacted during the 2007–2008 and 2009-2010 sessions.
  • Repeal all related tax and fee increases enacted during the 2007–2008 and 2009 2010 sessions.
  •  Initiate Sunset Review for all state agencies.
  • Reform New Hampshire’s State Employees’ Pension System
  • Return oversight and control over curriculum, administration, and funding of education to the smallest forms of political subdivision capable of educating New Hampshire’s children.

Education Reform:

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Picking Up The Gauntlet

The morning after I had taken my first casual whack at eliminating the deficit–The New York Times has a nifty interactive form you can use (here) to check off items it chose from the debt commission report to see if and how you might solve the problem–I wake up to a Google Alert that’s practically calling my name.

"Where Will Frank Guinta, Granite Grok, The Republican Liberty Caucus Of New Hampshire & The NH Tea Party Movement Come Down On Bowles-Simpson?"

The link leads to content from Heather Mac Donald (great last name) via the The Monday Morning Clacker--which is where we find out that "this is our last chance to meet Heather’s challenge."

That’s a bit dramatic, and hardly accurate.  If it wasn’t for Google Alerts, the mention of Guinta, and the fact that Heather and I share a last name I never would have even known about it, or the imagined arbitrary deadline.  Be that as it may, I accept.

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Palin Bashing

I stumbled across an open letter by (former?)’Young Democrat’ Douglas Lindner, a primary candidate for Manchester Ward 1 back in 2008.  Lindner narrowly lost the primary (his words).  Narrowly is 268 to 330,350 and 406 for three seats in Manchester Ward 1; I’m thinking he might not have been liberal enough.

But I believe he’s found a fix for that.

In his letter he first congratulates the Republicans on their victory (a very gracious set up), commends the Republicans for selecting the moderate train wreck John McCain in the past two presidential primaries, (even though it was the moderate/independents that swung those victories) and then proceeds to embark on a Palin bashing screed. 

I told you he was trying to up his cred.

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Governor Rapes School Funding To Hide Budget Shortfall

Again, we see the smoke clear over the wreckage of the Lynch budget.  In this mornings UL Tom Fahey reports on how the Legislative Fiscal Committee plans to pilfer half of the $41 million dollar federal educations stimulus meant to save teachers jobs and the minds of our future leaders. They voted for a plan … Read more

A Presentation of Ideas Concerning New Republican Leadership in the NH House of Representatives – Part 2

Part 2 of a three part series of Guest Posts by the Honorable Paul Mirski, member of the NH House of Representatives (and one of the Fathers of Conservatism here in NH). He is seeking to be the Majority Leader in the NH House of Representatives.

  • Part Two discusses how  the Republican Caucus ought to be organized in order to use and enhance the array of skills represented within our caucus and in a way that will encourage each and every member to play a constructive and satisfying part.
  • Part Three suggests five or six overriding legislative themes and then goes on to provide a basket of  choices for legislative action that are drawn directly from our current Republican Party Platform.  If members consider all of the media focus on Tea Party initiatives over the last 18 months, they will see that those Republicans who began rewriting our platform eight years ago were well ahead of the curve.We’re ready right this minute to create change. We don’t have to go searching for ideas.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Part 1 is here.

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PART 2
 
Reforming The Republican Caucus in the N.H. House

To succeed in passing and implementing an agenda the 2011-2012 Republican Leadership must become focused.

If we want to restore New Hampshire as the preeminent state for economic growth, personal freedom, development of personal wealth and individual opportunity then our guide ought to be our Republican Party Platform.

Republican Caucus unity. 

We’re rich in bright, intuitive, imaginative, and dedicated members. Each member’s skills and abilities must be enlisted and applied to accomplish specific objectives if we’re to achieve our common goals. Unified, we can restore a vibrant entrepreneurial environment, preserve our treasured natural environment, create the best schools, produce the most able and well prepared graduates as well as encourage the growth of the most motivated and well rewarded workforce of all the states.

The Republican caucus must be made relevant.

Where, in the past, the “Republican Caucus” simply referred to the aggregate of elected Republicans in the House and where, in the past, Republicans were for the most part, only called together on infrequent days during session so that leadership could inform its members of the House on how to vote on session day, our new caucus must meet regularly and frequently so all members can help organize, develop and flesh out leadership goals and then help coordinate and achieve our unified, legislative objectives.

ORGANIZATION:

Our Republican Leadership Team must immediately organize a set of what it feels are generally achievable Goals and Objectives for Year One and Year Two of the forthcoming session that will in turn, generate legislation reflecting the ideas, goals and objectives articulated in the Republican Party Platform.

Republican Leadership must then organize a set of long and short term initiatives on the following suggested format.

FIRST YEAR – FIRST TIER BILLS:

Legislation having to do with the looming state budget deficit must take precedence over all other considerations, and would comprise the core of the first year – first tier legislative effort.

Legislation having to do with reorganizing government, promoting efficiency, and reducing waste that would help reduce the cost of government must be promoted within that first year – first tier initiative as well.

FIRST YEAR – SECOND TIER BILLS:

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Yeah Baby!

Liberal educators tell a kid he can’t have an American flag on his bike because he rides it to school and it stresses people out. (Stresses out the liberal educators, says I). Avalanche of public outrage crushes unsuspecting "smartest people in the room."  They backtrack on the flag ban. Real American’s show support for the … Read more

Frank Guinta In DC

Speaking at the AFP event, Congressman-elect Frank Guinta says a few words guaranteed to piss of Manchester democrats…which to be honest, is why I posted it.

Notable Quote – Fyodor Dostoevsky

On socialism: The socialists want to regenerate humans, to liberate them. They conclude that having forcibly changed the economic way humans live they will achieve their goals. But humans are transformed not from external reasons but only from moral changes…. Lacking any spiritual basis for human brotherhood, the socialists must resort to compulsion to establish … Read more

Guantanamo Blues

Twenty-two months after announcing that the Guantanamo Bay detention facility would be closed in twelve months, the Obama administration has announced that they will now be holding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed at that facility, indefinitely, without any trial at all.

We’re in the Best of Hands – the TSA’s, that is – literally!

"Homeland Security: We Get To Touch Your Junk"

(H/T:  Boing Boing)

I’ve been a long term frequent flier – over the years, I’ve racked up close to 500,000 miles in the air.  No, not as much as some, but WAY more than the vast majority of the folks that ever squeeze into that thin metal tube now called a flying cattle car.  I can remember when flying was still a bit elegant and when even Coach got a hot meal with real silverware. 

To be honest, I still miss going somewhere else on an occasional basis but given the outcry of the last few days over the "enhanced" security, I’ll stay planted on terra firma for as long as I can.   I’m QUITE sure that good old Ben was right:

They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security

I remember what it was like, right after 9/11, to watch the crowd getting on the plane, the eyes staring at me as I got on the plane, and where my eyeballs were as everyone else was getting on.  And I still do.  Racial Profiling may well be the accusation hurled at me for doing so, but I had a reason – like most everyone else, they wanted to be able to go home and hug their families.  Still do.

I’ve endured a number of pre-board searches – certainly have had to go "oops, …

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[Updated] Why You Should Contact Senator Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell[ UPDATED Senator McConnell has officially come out against earmarks:“Today, I am announcing that I will join the Republican leadership in the House in support of a moratorium on earmarks in the 112th Congress,” he said].

NYT Link Here

Original post

Senator Mitch McConnell (R- KY) is said to be working to undermine an effort at banning earmarks in the US Senate.  This is not surprising.  Senators, as a rule, abuse the privilege more.  And while appropriations of this nature amount to a fraction of the total budget, it is an impressive fraction that rarely serves the interests of anyone more than the Seantor themselves.

Was it Carol Shea-Porter, 2012 congressional candidate in waiting who said that earmarks are necessary so that the state can get back it’s fair share of the federal taxes it’s residents pay?  Or was that Hodes?  Does it matter? Sure, congressman abuse them as well, even those who swear they have sworn them off.

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