Thought-provoking article by Frank Luntz in the Washington Post. I’ll link here, but you may need to register to access. Below are some excerpts, and my comments.
LOSING THE NH ADVANTAGE
The State Senate yesterday passed a bill to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. I find smoking disgusting, but what about the principle that private property is, well, private?
Apparently, the seven Republicans who voted against the bill offered several amendments designed to point out that the Democrats were being unprincipled. "If we’re not prepared to protect seniors and children that are in foster homes, then we shouldn’t be worrying about a cocktail waitress who can get another job," said Senate Republican leader Ted Gatsas of Manchester. Click here. Of course, under the Democrats’ logic, why stop with nursing homes and foster homes. How can we let any children be exposed to second-hand smoke? To be sure, I think that parents that smoke in the presence of their children are selfish, idiots. But once we start down this path, where do we stop? Shouldn’t it also be illegal for parents to cook with trans-fat? Shouldn’t there also be a limit on how much "fast-food" parents can serve their children?
Apparently, some Democrats are ready to head in that direction. That bastion of bombast, Peter Burling, said he intends to bring back some of the Republican amendments as a separate bill.
The smoking ban apparently is supported by 79% of state residents. Which shows how tempting it is to take away the liberty of others. However, if you believe that it is legitimate for government to take away the liberties of others, then you have no principled basis for complaining, and only yourself to blame, when government takes away the liberties you value.
THE ACCIDENTAL CONGRESSWOMAN
Shea-Porter continues to stumble and bumble. On the one hand she says that cutting funding for the armed forces in Iraq wouldn’t make them more vulnerable, while on the other she says that the armed forces in Iraq are "seriously strained." If you say so, Carol. On another note, she wants to start a 10-year plan … Read more
JOE W. CAN’T ADD
An editorial in today’s Union Leader praises Governor Lynch because "he had the guts to cut education spending at a time when that was considered politically unthinkable." Lynch’s "plan," however, does no such thing. It increases education spending across the board by five percent over last year’s spending. Repeat after me, Joe. W., a reduction in … Read more
SHEA-PORTER SUPPORTS MORE TROOPS IN IRAQ?
According to Sea-Porter, she has the moral authority to opine on the Iraq war, but Fergus Cullen does not, because she is a "military spouse," but Fergus has not served either directly or through transitivity as Shea-Porter did. But wouldn’t that give George W. Bush, who served, albeit not in combat, more moral authority than Shea-Porter? … Read more
THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN
The "joint legislative task force" charged with developing a definition of an adeqaute education was in Manchester last night. Here are some of the gems of wisdom the speakers provided: "Education cannot be "adequate" unless it considers the needs of the individual child — and also includes kindergarten for all, provides curriculum for gifted students, … Read more
WHAT A LOSER AND WHY REPUBLICANS ARE LOSERS
Here is what Rep. Dave Hess, a "leader" of Republicans in the N.H. House had to say about the Supreme Court’s ultimatum to the Legislature that it define an adequate education: "’There is no way to back away from the position. We have to adopt something,’ said Rep. David Hess, R-Hooksett. He and other Republicans … Read more
SHEA-PORTER SUPPORTERS LOSING IT
Check out this at the far-left website "Blue-Hampshire": "Given that the Union Leader and the Republican Party have already begun their smear campaign toward Carol Shea-Porter, I am encouraging folks to attend her "Report Home" event at St. A’s Institute of Politics, Goffstown NH. Let’s show Carol that we are behind her, and that one of … Read more
SHEA-PORTER’S HYPOCRISY
In response to criticism by NH GOP Chair Fergus Cullen to her vapid Davy Crockett speech, Carol Shea-Porter had this to say: "If Fergus Cullen has the courage of his convictions, he should go enlist, because they’re having trouble meeting their quota. He’s young, he’s single and he’s healthy. If he needs to know where … Read more
“Murder Inc. dba Planned Parenthood”
Friend Bill Asbell of Dover forwarded the following note to me, reacting off the story getting widespread attention throughout the New Media this week: the premature baby born 21 weeks and 6 days after conception. He has agreed to share it with GraniteGrok readers. Science is making abortion "rights" or as some would euphemistically call … Read more
MITT THE WIMP
MA Governor Mitt Romney has gotten credit for opposing the MA Supreme Court’s decision to require same-sex marriage. Does he deserve this credit? His opposition has been limited to criticizing the Court and pushing for a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision. Criticism of the Court is an important pedagogical tool, but is not an effective counter to a … Read more
OUR GREATEST PRESIDENTS
Washington, Lincoln and Reagan. Yes Reagan. When he came into office the Soviet Union was advancing everywhere, even in our own backyard. We foolishly had neglected our military, largely because we were in a foolish denial about the intentions of the Soviet Union and the evil of communism. Domestically, we were in a malaise, suffering double-digit inflation … Read more
MORE ON SHEA-PORTER
Here is a condensed version of some remarks I previously posted regarding Carol Shea-Porter’s recent diatribe about Iraq.
Romney and Schwarzenegger — Nixon (not Reagan) Republicans
Here is a link to a good article by John Stossel on CA Governor Schwarzenegger’s universal health care scheme. It should be required reading for anybody who thinks MA Governor and Presidential wannabe Mitt Romney is a Reagan Republican. Some highlights: "This ought to dispel any notion that Schwarzenegger is a believer in small government. … Read more
THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS A BULLY
The more we learn about Carol Shea-Porter the less there is to like. Here is a link to a story in today’s Union Leader regarding Shea-Porter’s attempts to bully citizens who don’t buy into her far-left views on national defense and foreign policy. Also, check out my post from yesterday regarding Shea-Porter’s illogical and pointless … Read more
CAROL SHEA-PORTER’S ILLOGICAL AND POINTLESS RANT
Did you catch the illogical and pointless rant that our Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter gave during the phony debate on the “surge” in Iraq? Here it is, with my comments:
It’s been a while…
It has been quite some time since the prestigious GraniteGrok "Dope of the Week" award was last bestowed. Not that there haven’t been any deserving candidates, mind you. We just, you know… forgot. . The wait is over! Let the white smoke puffs billow from the chimney! Sound the klaxon! Ring all the bells! Hooray! (well, not … Read more
LYNCH’S RISKY SCHEME
John Lynch claims he wants to define an adequate education first, and then “have a discussion as to its cost.” Don’t believe him. He already has a good idea of what his definition will cost, and he already knows how he wants to fund it. The problem we face is that the cost is in excess of $2 billion, which means we’re looking at an income tax if Lynch then doesn’t get his targeted-aid constitutional amendment passed. To borrow a phrase from Al Gore, Lynch’s approach to education funding is a risky scheme.
Bush on energy and how the Dems will help. Sure they will.
In his radio address this week, President Bush speaks about energy. It all sounds good, but I can’t help but think that all of the planning that’s aimed at curbing consumption of oil and its refined products is ultimately going to consume greater amounts of my shrinking take-home earnings. My apologies for sounding so cynical about this, but I think you’ll agree with my assesment. Read on…
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning..Last Saturday, I addressed the annual retreat of Democrats from the House of Representatives. I thanked the Members of the new majority for their service in Congress. And we discussed our responsibility to work together on a wide range of issues — from fighting the global war on terror, to making health care more affordable, to balancing the Federal budget.
Of course, the Dems want to surrender instead of trying to win the war, nationalize 1/6 of the US economy, and "balance" the federal budget by raising taxes on "the rich", AKA anybody with a job. Other than that, though, I’m sure they’ll "work together" with President Bush to make things right. He continues:
One area with great potential for bipartisan cooperation is energy policy. The need for action is clear. Our Nation’s reliance on oil leaves us vulnerable to hostile regimes and terrorists, who could damage our economy by disrupting the global oil supply. A spike in oil prices anywhere in the world could lead to higher prices at gas pumps here in America. And burning oil and gasoline creates air pollution and greenhouse gases.
Which may or may not be a bad thing, depending on whose scientific "evidence" one believes. I agree with being vulnerable by relying so heavily on oil that comes from bad places. That’s why, even though we don’t like it, we have to "fix" the bad places. Oh, and we should just drill for more oil in our own backyard, like in ANWR and offshore.
Republicans and Democrats both recognize these problems. We agree on the solution: We need to diversify our energy supply and make America less dependent on foreign oil. The best way to do that is by developing new energy technologies here at home. So the Federal government has provided more than $10 billion over five years for research into alternative sources of energy. Our scientists and engineers have made great progress, and our Nation is now on the threshold of dramatic breakthroughs in clean energy technology.
I’m not sure we "agree on the solution", as I’m pretty sure the Dems would have us riding bicycles or driving lawnmower-like cars (other than your Algore types who are just too darned important) while at the same time banning windmills and tearing down dams to save the fishes.
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JOHN LYNCH’S SINISTER PLAN TO DESTROY NEW HAMPSHIRE
This is one of those times when it’s not pleasant to say I told you so. But, as I’ve been predicting, Saint John a/k/a Governor Lynch has "proposed using New Hampshire’s school approval standards and curriculum frameworks to define the constitutionally adequate education that the state must provide schoolchildren." You can also read about it here and here.
Having correctly predicted what the definition would look like, I will now predict its cost and what Lynch’s constitutional amendment will look like, and how he is going to get it passed. I will also explain how Lynch has inoculated himself against an income tax, if the amendment doesn’t pass.
Start looking for property down South, my dear conservative friends; 2007 marks the year that New Hampshire, as we know it, died.