“The Power of Profit” by my favorite economics professor

Dr. Walter E. Williams is one of my favorite people to read and listen to – able to take complicated issues, strip them down to their essence, and tell the story in a way that brings out the important stuff that others don’t even think of.  This video is a great example – an explains … Read more

GraniteGrok Endorsement: Ovide Lamontagne for NH Governor

Ovide Lamontagne For NH Governor 2012We have known Ovide Lamontagne for a number of years now, and the longer we have known him, the surer we are of his Conservative Principles and his stances on current events based on those Principles.  We have seen him refuse to take more politically expedient paths, ways the could yield better political outcomes for him personally, simply because it meant that he would have to cut corners instead of following those foundational guiding philosophies.  Many times, you might hear that a politician is a man of his politics.  That’s not Ovide; instead, you get a politician of steadfast convictions.  Enough so that we endorsed him for US Senate this last cycle.  Every stance is a Conservative one – we like an appreciate it. You know us – and we know Ovide Lamontagne.

Have no doubt, the Democrats will be putting up an extremist Progressive – and our bet is that Ovide will present the best alternative to those that will try (and make no mistake – they are campaigning on it right now) to recreate the Big Government go-round of 2006 / 2008?

Is this still the Live Free or Die State?  If you agree that it is, but that it hangs in the balance, consider this: It needs a Live Free or Die Governor!  One that not only can say the words but means, that lives, the philosophy behind it. That person, that Governor, is Ovide Lamontagne, the Happy Warrior!

We ask that when it comes to vote in the NH Republican primary in the Fall, please vote for Ovide.  And then again in November.

*****

When NH State Senator Jeanne Forrester had house event back February, Ovide Lamontagne was gracious in granting us an exclusive interview after having already spent  a couple of hours giving a talk to those present and then answered questions from them.  Both parts of that interview:

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You know, it would be good to get it right, Mr. Kitch

Yesterday was a “day off from work / a day of blogging activities” for me as I had promised a lady in our town, Barbara Aichinger,  to video record a Supervisor of the Checklist hearing.  The back story is just before our local election last month, local Democrat activist and public employee  Joe “No Show” Wernig decided on a crass political stunt and accuse her of not being eligible to vote here in town.  Which,  as it turns out, meant that she could not run for office to. More on this later (full video of the hearing is here at the ‘Grok’s “little sister” blog I keep just for local activities) and in my opinion, an attempt to silence a strong voice that advocates for exactly for everything that Wernig stands for: smaller government, less taxes, and more personal liberty.  Why else call a press conference when issuing a voter challenge based on flimsy Internet based information?

Well, two of the local pro-scribblers showed up; Michael Kitch from the Laconia Daily Sun filed his report and did a decent job (after having a “discussion” with Barbara, but that’s for another post) but got something wrong:

David “Skip” Murphy, who video recorded the session for his blog — Granite Grok — upon learning that Miller’s services cost the town $160 per hour wondered if there was any means of compelling Wernig, who has complained about the cost of frivolous litigation to the town, to foot the bill.

“No,” said Miller. “There is no recourse.”

Er, no.  This is why one brings a recording device to such an event – as he got this part of the my “public input” absolutely wrong:

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GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate on Freedom, 10th Amendment, Party Platforms

Even though the last question was the last formal question, Pam and I kept on talking after I had turned off the camera.  Here, you will see that I picked it up and turned it on again as what we were discussing I thought were important.  So, just call this “The Questions after the Last Question” edition.  We talked about the concept of Freedom, the value of the 10th Amendment, and the importance of the Party Platform:

Previous Questions: (on the jump)

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Bwahahahahaha!

Project Veritas strikes again.  This time, in Attorney General Eric Holders own Precinct.

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Question 11 – Get the NH GOP to become more active in local elections?

Since this series of questions was done, most towns have had their local elections (be they SB2 based or the traditional formats).  This season, a number of conservatives and libertarians who are Republicans lost their bid for local offices and were replaced by rather hard-left leaning folks (e.g., Carla Horn, a real self-avowed Leftist that would fit in well with the Democrat Socialists of American won over a really good conservative, Colette Worseman up in Meredith; I and a few others lost in Gilford).  Many politically active folks on the Right have been watching the ‘staff up’ being done by the Dems, ostensibly for the Presidential election – it is now evident that they had active hands in organizing in these elections too (as well as the Unions).

Thus, this question,  a future-now-past,  proves that there is a problem: Can you, as Committeewoman, help nudge the NH GOP to better assist local elections “below the NH House races (think: farm team)?

Previous Questions: (on the jump)

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Smart Girl Politics Action: “They don’t speak for us”

Smart Girl Politics Action launches “They Don’t Speak for Us” asking women to put the conversation back on real issues important to women. Women are forced everyday to make sacrifices and its time that we put pressure on Congress and this Administration to stop playing games and get back to work for the American people. … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Question 10 – TEA Party and 9/12 Project?

Next to last question and again to the grassroots organization.  As with the other interviews, the idea is to get a sense of what people in leadership within the NH GOP (as she is the Deputy Speaker) are thinking about the Liberty and Freedom groups that have a stand off view of the NH GOP.  Can and will these pitches be believed – and should the L & F groups once again think there is a place for them other than as shock troops:

Your message to the TEA Party and 9/12 Project members?

Previous Questions:

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Am betting that the Teachers Unions ain’t liking this all that much!

From California: …The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a legal challenge filed against Proposition 209, the 1996 initiative approved by California voters, which argued that the law discriminates against minority students in admissions to California universities. The three-judge panel said that the court was bound by a 1997 9th Circuit ruling that upheld … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Question 9 – Will the NH GOP defend Grassroots Ideals?

OK, getting near the end of the questions.  This one was dear to me, coming out of the Conservative grassroots here in NH where many believe that the “Established” (sometimes called “The Five Families” right now) have some lip service but little regard for what “the little people” believe and work for in the trenches.  The common complaint is “Why won’t you stand up for what I believe in?”.  Sure, the Established makes the right syllables vocal during the campaigns, does the requisite backslapping to urge the boots on the ground onward, the election happens, everyone does the “Happy Dance” – and then don’t bother with syllables again.  Bills come up that would implement (or get closer to) what the regular folk worked for, and took arrows for from family, friends, and neighbors – and then watch Republicans take a walk.  Much more in the NH Senate but also happened in the NH House.  So why should the grassroots support the Party as this happens over, and over, and over again?

Previous questions:

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GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Question 7 – As RNC Committeewoman, how can you sharpen the diferences between Republican and Democrat positions?

Continuing on the same theme as our sixth question (“How verbose will you be in defending Republican ideals as Committeewoman during the election season?”)to Pam Tucker as she is striving to be the next RNC Committeewoman from NH  is still oriented to the upcoming election season as we know that the Democrats are now cranking … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Question 8 – Republicans have said that they have eliminated regulations; got that list?

In addition to seeking to be the next RNC Committeewoman, Pam Tucker has something that her opponent cannot claim to have: experience as the current Deputy Speaker of the NH House where she has been intimately involved with policy and the legislation.  One of the claims this session is that the Republicans have been concentrating on fiscal matters and making NH more biz friendly even as the media is hyping the social issues (to which my retort is “there is ALWAYS a fiscal cost to every social issue!”).  So, I challenged Pam: “show me the list!”

A couple days later, she sent the list – take a look after the jump!

Previous questions:

  • Q1 – Why are you running?
  • Q2 – Why should the ordinary Republican care who their RNC Committeewoman is?
  • Q3 – Is defending the NH GOP platform part of the role of the Committeewoman’s role?
  • Q4 – Why vote for you over your opponent?
  • Q5 –  What part of the NH GOP Platform is in danger and why should people rally around it?
  • Q6 – How verbose will you be in defending Republican ideals as Committeewoman during the election season?
  • Q7 – As RNC Committeewoman, how can you sharpen the diferences between Republican and Democrat positions?

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Part 2 – Candidate Gary Krupp for Merrimack Town School Board

Here is part two of my interview with Gary Krupp, candidate for the Merrimack School Board.  We continued to talk about his qualifications, experience,  with an emphasis on finding efficiencies, working with unions and bargaining units, and some other facets of his candidacy. Note: Thanks to my video editor this is now in three parts … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-Candidate RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Q6:How verbose will you be in defending Republican ideals as Committeewoman during the election season?

Given that my opinion is that the current NH GOP Chair is not being all that vocal concerning Republican ideals and stances into the public square, this was a natural question for me to ask – heck, all Republicans ought to be asking their NH GOP organizational “higher ups” (like Chairs, Secretaries, Treasurers, and the … Read more

GrokTV Special Interview: Pam Tucker-Candidate RNC Committeewoman Candidate. Q5: What part of the NH GOP Platform is in danger and why should people rally around it?

More questions, and more answers.  I picked up on something that Pam had said earlier and bluntly asked – what needs to be protected in the NH GOP platform?  And here was her response: Note: Also, we have been getting some observations and questions in the previous posts’ comments, mostly from Commenter “C. dog e. … Read more

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