News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Ron Tunning was our guest this weekend on Meet the New Press (you can listen to the discussion here). Ron is the chairman of the local Democrat committee. He is also a fierce advocate of gay marriage. I—as you can clearly tell in the Podcast—am not. I am just as adamant in my defense of … Read more
. After many years of watching the Sunday morning talking heads shows, this weekend, I’ll be staring back FROM the set. Arnie Arnesen, former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and long-time liberal NH political pundit hosts a program about NH politics called “Political Chowder.” I was invited to be a member of the panel discussion hosted by … Read more
Today’s Pravda-on-the-Merrimack’s political column has this gem from Fergus Cullen on Fran Wendelboe’s plan to start a group to recruit candidates who believe in Ronald Reagan’s principles: "We already have a Reagan organization in New Hampshire. It’s called the Republican Party." Nice try, Fergus, but no cigar. Reagan Republicanism is anathema to the majority of … Read more
Fellow Granite Staters Mark Steyn and Jay Tea have weighed in with some perspective on the murder of Corporal Bruce McKay, to which I can add very little if anything. My only contribution is that events like this one tend to catalyze political debates and I suspect it will not be long before our Democrat-controlled … Read more
Our friend Pat is often lecturing me and Skip about the need for Republican unity. "Now is not the time for purges," he tells us, whenever we start to discuss those Republicans that represent a big part of the problem the GOP has had in sticking together on core issues. I believe that just being willing to … Read more
. AT the very last minute, we find out that Mrs. Bill Clinton, NY Senator and Democratic presidential wannabee will be in our neck of the woods tomorrow (Laconia, NH) for a private meeting with the head of the local nonprofit medical industrial complex hospital and our local Democrat State Senator Kathy Sgambati. … Read more
The golden "Independent Man" atop the RI (Doug’s birthstate) statehouse dome . Bob Jones weighs in with some thoughts on the war and the so-called "pull-out" of troops from Iraq. Bob is one of the most "independent" fiercely non-partisan people I know. We respect his thoughts and views, and are happy to post them here … Read more
In today’s Union Leader, we learn that a group of "retired generals, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and peace activists are taking aim at Sen. John Sununu" It is part of an ad campaign criticizing Sununu and other Senators and House members for supporting President Bush’s Iraq policies. Oh really? Sununu? Now, don”t get me wrong, I … Read more
Boston Tea Party. Is it time for NH to dump the Democrats overboard? . Some arguments are just made to go beyond face value into the realm of high philosophical debate. Such is the union-building legislation passed by the New Hampshire state Senate, SB-88. Consider the details, as reported by Bob Cook of the … Read more
Today on our radio show, Meet the New Press, we interviewed David Burton of the Americans for Fair Taxation group. When properly explained with enough detail, The "Fair Tax" seems to make a great deal of sense. In a few words– it replaces all federal taxes with a national sales tax at the end sale … Read more
Is anybody out there considering the result of increasing the size of NH’s traditionally frugal state government by a whopping 16%? Where does it end? What happens in an economic downturn? I can’t believe I’m pining for the days of an 11% Shaheen budget. Once we giveth, it is impossible to taketh away. Unfortunately, by … Read more
Several days back, I cross-posted a story on our local blogsite about a grant for items requested by our local fire department under the guise of "homeland security." . Writes Michael Kitch in today’s [the April 26th] Laconia Daily Sun: [Gilford, NH] Deputy Fire Chief John Beland asked the board [selectmen] to authorize the department … Read more
Yesterday Pravda-on-the-Merrimack (Concord Monitor) ran an op-ed by Professor Marcus Hurn of Franklin Pierce on civil unions. He makes two points. One is "Civil unions are not like mandatory seatbelts, smoking prohibitions, insurance mandates or the minimum wage. A civil union restrains no one’s liberty. It affects no private contracts." The other is "Unlike some … Read more
. Tom Poston, known best as handyman George Utley on Newhart, died Monday at age 85. We don’t do a whole lot of pop culture here at the ‘Grok, but always happened to like this particular fellow. He always seemed such a natural in his many roles as a character actor. May he rest in peace. … Read more
A society needs its heros, and a person that puts themselves last – after the needs of their family, their friends, their comrades, and their country. While this is not an endorsement of John McCain, one can only thank him for his service to the country – militarily and in civilian life. I thank him … Read more
I would like to know more about this little nugget from Tom Fahey’s State House Dome column in this morning’s Union Leader: [Democrat Party Chairman Ray] Buckley had made the only outburst during Thursday’s Senate debate. As Sen. Martha Fuller Clark finished her speech, he loudly told two men behind him to keep their comments … Read more
District 4 state Senator Kathy Sgambati is a person of unquestionable competence. Immediately upon winning election she was recognized in Concord as a valuable resource on matters relating to Health and Human Services, a state department she essentially ran for years. And I believe the motives that guide her decision making in Concord are pure. … Read more
I was recently invited to join a Facebook group called “Draft Joe Kenney for Governor 2008.” Joe Kenney, of course is New Hampshire’s District 3 State Senator from Carroll County. While I am hardly prepared at this point to join the Draft Joe Kenney movement, I think the Granite State could do a whole lot … Read more
Do tough-on-crime death penalty advocates have a new hero in state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte? Perhaps. Ayotte is seeking the death penalty against John A. Brooks for allegedly engineering a 2005 murder-for-hire scheme. New Hampshire Union Leader reporter Kathryn Marchocki points out in her story, "[t]his is the second time Ayotte has sought the death penalty … Read more
Check out the op-ed in today’s Foster’s by Republican State Rep Dave Hess on education funding. Hess is part of the "leadership" of House Republicans, so you know his views reflect the views of the House Republican leadership. The gist of the op-ed is that we, the Republicans, know how to spend your money more wisely … Read more