Kathy Sullivan was the NH Democrat Party Chair and long-term mucky-muck within the Democrat National Committee apparatchik. She also has had a columnist slot at the Union Leader for quite some time.
Frank Guinta
Corky, “Uncorked” and the Rest of the Cabal
Notice the hypocrisy from the following establishment elite: Messner, “the GOP must rally around its candidates.” The NHGOP Chair Stephen Stepanek “I understand there are a number of qualified possible candidates mulling over a potential run, and at the end of the day, we will be offering assistance to any and all candidates who announce they’ll be running.”
So Much For Republican Unity
Former House rep George Lambert joins us to discuss the Republican war against one of their own in New Hampshire. We talk about the players and the political cost at the local level, all (apparently) so Senator Ayotte can clear the battle space to run for re-election as a RINO.
Finally, Frank decides to listen.
I have been ragging on Frank Guinta since he voted to support the first Continuing Resolution that raised the debt limit (and did not stand with the Patriots who said “No” as in “no more spending” and “this is not how we fund Government). And then duplicated it again with the second Continuing Resolution. And … Read more
Decisive Flip Flops From Candidate for NH-GOP Chair
Given all we know already about Andy Leach (Senator Ayotte’s Office) making calls to candidates running against Jennifer Horn for NH-GOP Chair, who then suddenly dropped out of the race for NHGOP chair leaving Jennifer to run un-opposed, until Andrew Hemingway stepped up, this seems relevant.
Candidate Horn, on her Facebook page, provided two updates (one last night and one before lunch today) in which she provided details on the impending Fiscal Cliff deal in the US Senate. The first included some specifics from Congressman Guinta’s Office (see also deals on continuing resolutions and debt ceiling that lead to the fiscal cliff), and a second update in which she summarized her continued displeasure with the deal.
But then it was learned that Senator Ayotte voted for the deal. Did Jennifer get a phone call from Andy Leach as well?
Frank Guinta – perhaps a last thought
GraniteGrok worked extremely hard for Frank back in the 2010 campaign – both in the primary as well as during the general. He said the right things and said them in such a way that was convincing. Yes, the TEA Party and the 9-12 Project folks got behind him and helped in doing the online work, and the normal grunt work that is a part of any campaign. We supported him.
As he went to DC, we told him to stand tall and stand strong – keep your promises. Number one for us at the ‘Grok was the promise to do what he could to decrease the spending, to cut government. We said that we would guard his back with pikes if necessary. But we warned him that the pikes would go the other way, TO his back side, if promises weren’t kept (here, here, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).
This was a prescient prediction…
Guinta Calls Shea-Porter
Congressman Guinta called Congresswoman-elect Carol Shea-Porter to congratulate her on her win. (From the Guinta Press Release) “I would like to congratulate President Obama, Governor-elect Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman-elect Anne McLane Kuster and Congresswoman-elect Carol Shea-Porter on their victories. “What’s important in these races is the future of New Hampshire. I am committed to continuing my … Read more
Honoring Ambassador Joseph and Augusta Petrone – Part 4
And the list of folks that came to speak continued at the event to honor Ambassador Joseph Patrone and his wife Augusta. This post has Congressman Frank Guinta (R, NH-CD1), former NH State Rep. Fran Wendelboe and former radio host Jennifer Horn:
Congressman Frank Guinta
Fran Wendelboe, Jennifer Horn after the jump
GrokTV: NRA President David Keene at the Londonderry Fish & Game – Part 2
Continuing with the event, having received the NRA Endorsements from David Keene, Ovide Lamontagne (Republican Nominee for NH Governor), Congressman Frank Guinta (R, NH-CD1, running for re-election), and Charlie Bass (R, NH-CD2, running for re-election) had their opportunity to address the NRA members at the Londonderry Fish and Game Club :
GraniteGrok Endorsement: Rick Parent for US Congress
We had endorsed Ovide Lamontagne in the Republican Primary for NH Governor early in this election cycle; it is now time to roll out additional endorsements. We reviewed a number of races, talked with a number of candidates, reviewed objective ratings done by groups that mirror the ‘Grok philosophically (e.g., Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, NH House Republican Alliance, and HRA, New Hampshire Liberty Alliance), and then talked / voted amongst ourselves. Now, we are asking for your votes for them.
This cycle, we are endorsing Rick Parent to be the next US Congressman representing New Hampshire in the First Congressional District.
We first met Rick last cycle as he ran then as well – a nice guy but not sure of the process, what he had to do to be successful, how to articulate his positions, and the best ways to get his message out. We liked him as a person but really didn’t feel that it was his time – while his heart and his intent was there, he was not ready.
This time, he is better situated – and we believe that he is much improved! He has always been a Patriot – as Chief Engineer on a cargo ship that supplies our troops in the Middle East, he is a down to earth guy that knows the value of hard work and showing up. A plus for me – I wish MORE Engineers would run instead of just politicians looking for the next rung up the political ladder – he has spent years learning his craft in the private sector. I “get” his campaign tagline: “Engineering the future, one step at a time” – Go back to fundamental principles, consider the problem in the light of those principles, break the problem down to more manageable pieces, make sure those pieces will work individually and as a whole knowing that a SYSTEM is better than a point solution, and then roll it out incrementally instead wholesale changes. While politics is much less deterministic than engineering software, electronics, or hardware, the point of considering the whole and how even the smallest legislative changes can impact Society is a skill that many (if not most) politicians never learn. It is never good to start a runaway train…
Rick knows from personal experience what it is to get his hands dirty and keep things running – his is the responsibility to ensure that both the lives of his shipmates are safe and that our Armed Services get the supplies to keep them safe. He has spent his time in the Gulf better learning the issues and how to explain his stances based on the Constitution as “his system”. Oh yes, big time on the Constitution – and we believe that will not change just because the election is over. He understands that the Constitution is not just legal foundation but now IS our lifeboat.
We did an interview series with Rick Parent – links after the jump. Oh, and for those that remember that we endorsed someone else last time…
Where Congressman Frank Guinta helps to make Congress even MORE irrelevant and Obama more powerful
“Or are you that hellbent in giving Obama and the Progressives the tyrannical Administrative State they so ever desire?“
US Constitution, Article II, Section 2, paragraph 2:
…shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments
This is one of those posts that all bloggers have – start it, something else grabs the eyeballs, and it just sits. Unlike some of my others, though, there was a little voice saying – yeah this is important. Why? All during the campaign back in 2010, it was “Constitution Frank” Guinta; I remember that because I interviewed him often. He realized which way the political way the wind was blowing and decided to ride it. Problem was, we all believed what he said (and knew what Carol Shea-Porter would do if re-elected – and still do). The problem is that when you go to the mat for someone, which the ‘Grok did during the primary and the general, when you come across stuff like this, you end up doing more than merely wince and cringe (reformatted and emphasis mine):
GrokTV Event – Seacoast Republican Women Congressional Forum – Opening Remarks
Last night, the ‘Grok had been invited to cover the Congressional Forum sponsored by the Seacoast Republican Women – a well respected non-partisan (with respect to the Republican Party events) organization whose events are usually open and well attended as their execution in having an event is normally flawless. The event, held at the most beautiful Elks Lodge I have ever been in (on an inlet in Portsmouth, NH), had six four Candidate attendees:
NH First Congressional District – Rick Parent, Vern Clough
NH Second Congressional District – Will Dean, Dennis Lamare
There should have been two more:
- Incumbent Congressman Frank Guinta (the guy who decided to stiff Diane Bitter at the last moment and be a “no show”)
- Incumbent Congressman Charlie Bass – who declared “I am not coming; it would be a waste of my time”
The videos of the Opening Ceremonies and Candidate Opening Remarks after the jump. There were six questions asked of the Candidates – they will be in subsequent posts.
GrokTV Special Interview – Rick Parent (candidate, Congress NHCD1) – Question 4: Vote yes on bills that would raise the national debt?
The fiscal maw of the US Federal debt crisis is staring us in the face – $16 Trillion dollars and not one peep of a credible plan to pay it back; All we get is platitudes about winding down the annual deficit of $1 trillion-plus that is plaguing our nation’s future year after year with … Read more
So, are Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass Conservative heros or zeros for their voting records?
Over at RedState, I learned of this new site, The Madison Project, whose purpose is to measure our Federal Representatives to see if they measure up to their districts. Put it another way, are they acting as Conservative as their District is, worse, or better. For instance, if a Rep is very Conservative Republican but is from a very Democrat leaning district, consider them a hero (for as long as they can stay elected, that is). Or, if they are underperforming (i.e., in a district that is evenly split, but as a Republican, their votes show them to be a squish or vote like a Democrat) consider them a Zero. Especially when election time comes around:
Worse yet, during every election cycle, nearly every single Republican candidate is quick to promote cherished American values such as free enterprise and individual liberty while out on the campaign trail. However, once elected, a disheartening majority of these elected officials end up abandoning the very principles that got them elected. They talk the conservative talk at home and walk the statist walk in D.C. Worst of all, many of these members of Congress represent strong conservative states and districts. They’ve been able to hide their not-so-conservative performance…until now.
Through conservativevotingrecords.com, the Madison Project is committed to putting an end to this duplicity by exposing Republicans whose liberal voting actions speak louder than their words. Our goal is to give voice to the millions of Americans who demand that their elected representatives govern by conservative values … and to aggressively primary out those that shamelessly pander to them during elections.
Indeed! So I looked up Frank Guinta (R-NH CD-1) and Charlie Bass (R-NH CD-2; hey didn’t he promise to NOT run this term last time???). Based on their methodology (using, in part, Club for Growth and Heritage Action scores):
That WMUR mention last night? Enthusiasm Drop-down?
“I can tell you that there is an enthusiasm drop-down compared to last time around. Now, what will happen as we get close to the race, who knows?”
In trying to get caught back up from the weekend in Providence, I failed to see this email when it first came in (reformatted here):
Skip —
Was hoping to run into you at tonight’s Guinta kick-off. Just looking for some perspective on the Congressman from the GOP/Liberty side of things. If you can give me a call tonight for a phone interview before 10pm, I’d greatly appreciate it. Sorry for the short notice! I’m at XXX-XXXX. Thanks!
Adam Sexton
Reporter, WMUR-TV
To be honest, I knew that Frank’s office was opening, but given that I was away the entire weekend, I just couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to let TMEW know: “Oh, btw, I’ll be in Manchester tonite”. There’s times when a man has to know his [wife’s] limits, but more realistically, it was that enthusiasm gap – I just could not pump myself up to overcome the inertia to just stay home. Adam has proven himself to me to be a fair reporter so I called him up and chatted for a little while and then he recorded a couple of sound bites. Yes, the one that went over air was indicative of my current outlook. A lot of TEA Party type folks got behind him in the last cycle – and so did GraniteGrok. Expectations were high when he took office – me, the other Groksters, and a lot of those Liberty and Freedom activists that worked their butts off to the point that Frank beat Carol Shea-Porter in her hometown.
We activists promised that even if he voted “wrong” according to the Dems and the Republican Leadership, we’d have his back. Promised.
Breaking News: Rick Parent is going to challenge Frank Guinta in NH’s First Congressional District.
Rick, a chief engineer on a ship that has been ferrying supplies to our troops in the Middle East, signed on for the campaign yesterday at the NH Secretary of State’s office. While he ran in the last election cycle, and held good positions on issues, he just did not have the name recognition to … Read more
GrokTV Event: Live blogging at the Rye Republican Town Committee
There’s GOT to be a conservative TEA Party leaning person showing up for RRTC (Diane Bitter, Chair (and new NH GOP Assistant Secretary) at this event, so GraniteGrok is here. We were asked if we could provide live stream and record the event by ‘Grok friend Diane, so we are attempting to oblige. Unfortunately, the … Read more
Last I remember, NH sent both Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass to CUT THE SPENDING.
Low expectations for Charlie on my part – am not enthused that he has failed to meet that height challenged standard. For Frank, however, who campaigned hard with TEA Party constituencies, the bar was higher – MUCH higher. Sigh….Today, I get to repeat my lament: why isn’t your name among the other Conservatives that voted against spending more? Oh, to be sure, I got both eBlasts about H.R. 4628:
- Charlie’s: Earlier today, the House passed, on a bipartisan vote, legislation to extend the current student loan interest rate of 3.4 percent for one year. Without Congressional action, the rate would double on July 1st, making it even more difficult for students struggling to find jobs in such a weak economy to pay back their loans. I strongly supported this fully-offset, fiscally-responsible legislation and hope the Senate moves on it as soon as possible.
- Frank’s: Representative Frank Guinta (R, NH-01) today voted for the passage of H.R. 4628, the Interest Rate Reduction Act. It would extend the current 3.4 percent rate for college undergraduate recipients of Federal Direct Stafford loans. Without congressional action, that rate will double on July 1. The bill was approved in a 215 to 195 vote.
I note with no small irony that Obama has recently visited over 120 colleges and universities. My response concerning this out-and-out-pander vote back at Frank’s office (NH CD-2 is not my district and I’ve given up on Bass):
So, we’re taking money from a program that most of us want to kill, for which we had no money for it in the first place, to fund a program that Obama nationalized.
Er, where am I wrong here?
Two Congressmen And A Free Throw
The US House just finished it’s work on HR1, cleaning up after democrats who in 2010 abrogated yet another obligation when they found themselves incapable of writing the budget they really wanted right before an election.
The liberal-progressives wanted more spending but that was not politically advantageous. And since the single driving-force behind all Democrat decisions is politics the budget got relegated to the back of the bus, where the electorate’s short attention spans were meant to forget that democrats were never fiscally conscious representatives–they just tried to play them on the campaign trail.
But avoiding the high profile budget battle was more evidence that they had something to hide. The Democrat House majority was appropriately sedated and placed under observation, while the Senate saw minor adjustments but no change in leadership. So the process of changing our spending ways would still have to go through a Democrat controlled Senate and across the desk of a President who thinks the words "spending cuts" are just a rhetorical flourish used to provide cover for more spending.
Obama’s budget is proof enough of that.
But Obama only proposes a budget. The House is in charge of spending. So the new Republican congress went to the back seat of the Hopey-changey bus and picked up the budget obligations abandoned by the 111th congress. This wwas a free shot at changing the fiscal direction of the country before writing their own first official budget, which was not due until later in 2011. It was a gimme, a free throw, but one that had to survive the democrat Senate and the Spender in Chief.
So how did it turn out?