Free Speech Archives - Page 28 of 36

Unenforced Buffer Zone Law Remains on the Books

January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 Ellen Kolb

The New Hampshire House voted “inexpedient to legislate” this morning on a bill to repeal the buffer zone law giving abortion providers authority to determine access to public property around their facilities. The tally was 228-141 for the ITL motion. See the roll call at this link, noting that since the motion was “inexpedient to … Read more

The Covington Kids Edition of Free Speech and Why Donald Trump is Our President

January 28, 2019 Steve MacDonald

I apologize for going back to this well (and the mixed metaphors). But the Covington cow continues to provide lessons worth milking. The actual event. The professional victim named Nathan Phillips. The media misrepresentation. The Left’s over-the-top response. Liberal Hollywood’s rush to embrace. The violence, intolerance, and anger. I’m still waiting for Kathy Griffin to appear … Read more

Kamala Harris: But Wait, There’s More

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 Ellen Kolb

Two and a half weeks into the six-year Senate term with which her constituents entrusted her, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) has announced that she’s setting her sights on a different field of play. Bring on the 2020 presidential campaign. Granite Grok’s Steve MacDonald has already outlined Sen. Harris’s distaste for the First Amendment and her … Read more

Making “Conservatives” Out of Perfectly Fine Liberals

January 13, 2019 Steve MacDonald

Kira Davis has a great piece at Townhall.com. She examines a trend brought on by the radicalization of the left. The growing number of perfectly fine liberals who are being pushed to the right. People who vote Democrat, from famous Hollywood types to your own friends and neighbors, who have become targets of the progressive-mob and the far-left agenda.

Federal Ambassador to New Hampshire (aka, US Senator) Jeanne Shaheen hates our Freedom of Speech

January 10, 2019 Skip

So Jeanne Shaheen is telling us that anytime there is anything she doesn’t like, it’s an illegal “loophole” and she wants to ban it. Yep, she said exactly that in her latest eblast (yes, I am on it). I was rather astonished that she would be that open about it – I know that many … Read more

Russians Abused Free Speech to Help Trump Win the 2016 elections

December 22, 2018 Steve MacDonald

The establishment press. The mainstream media. Google, Twitter, Facebook. The professional left. They are forever finding cause to quiet ideas to which they object. Even the First Amendment itself. If not for that outmoded protection foreign interlopers might not have aided in the rise of Mr. Trump. Yes, Free Speech is now to blame for … Read more

Delivered Every Day Thanks to “Free Speech,” (While it Lasts)

May 12, 2023November 6, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Granitegrok was accused earlier today of being (for the sake of brevity) Republican Party bitches. Anyone who has spent any amount of time here, even just this past legislative session, will know how absurd the notion is.

For $100.00 Name A Time Conservatives Tried to Shut Down a Liberal Speaker…

October 18, 2018 Steve MacDonald

As the Left try to contradict the Mob narrative being used to describe them and their tactics, what better time than now for Campus Reform to make the point stick. In the past year, dozens of speakers on college campuses around the country have been shut down as a result of violence, protests, and intimidation. … Read more

Harassment Statute Violates First Amendment – Court Fails to Fix It

October 12, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Texas passed a law meant to address abuse (let’s call it bullying) in the digital age. But as written the law can be interpreted to limit the ability of citizens to criticize government officials. Another overstep, another opportunity to learn something, just don’t rely on the court (not that you should) to do the teaching. … Read more

98% of New Hampshire Democrats voted against free speech…

October 8, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Did you know that 98% of New Hampshire Democrats voted against free speech for therapists … and voted against rights of conscience for medical professionals? 97% of New Hampshire Democrats also voted against free speech near women’s health clinics. Tell Republicans, Independents, and even working-class Democrats to get out and vote Republican on November 6th because Government should not … Read more

Dartmouth’s Ideological Free Speech Divide: Why Democrats Need to Lose Again in 2018

September 27, 2018September 21, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Reposted: Originally Published May 30, 2018

A few days ago, we reported on a survey of Dartmouth student’s that questions their tolerance and diversity when it comes to dating, befriending, or just interacting with someone who has opposing political beliefs. There were no surprises. Democrats shunned the idea while Republicans were much more accepting.

Further down in the same survey were data about how these students view Free Speech on campus.

Where Colleges Ignore Free Speech Violations and the Legal System Helps

January 28, 2019September 16, 2018 Steve MacDonald

I’ve had a few things to say about free speech. More than a few. Campus “speech” is one of the more common places to land. The inclusion and diversity movements (hypocritically) invest so much time and energy limiting speech to a very narrow set of approved words and ideas that the fruit is heavy and very low.

But University administrations, as it turns out, are no better. They’ve taken to using the courts to keep from having to protect their own student’s first amendment rights.

Corporations are ‘People’ Too!

September 26, 2018September 6, 2018 Steve MacDonald

The left works hard on their corporate speech, corporations aren’t people, campaign finance reform song and dance narratives. But here’s a quick and easy way to explain to friends and family why it’s all just a bunch of left-wing hooey.

Are corporations – which are just a bunch of people working collectively toward a shared interest- subject to taxes and regulations? Yes?

So, who’s next?

The New Old ‘Speech Police’

September 26, 2018August 30, 2018 Steve MacDonald

You’ve heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know but who you know.” Connections. Networking. The insiders game.

How about, “it’s not what you’ve done but who you follow?” Could who you track on social media, regardless of whether you just lurk or engage, get you excluded from things in the real world like jobs or admission to a college? This lawyer says yes.

Free Speech on Campus In Our Lifetime? Not If They Can Help It.

September 26, 2018August 26, 2018 Steve MacDonald

I stumbled across an article by Fred Lucas titled, “Supreme Court decisions could curb campus censorship.”

Lucas shares some insights into recent court decisions that might reach their tendrils into the collection and use of student activity fees and the relationship between those expenditures and viewpoint discrimination. Fingers crossed but every path leading to that goal will require a grueling uphill battle.

A reference Lucas includes to remarks in an American Association of University Professor report tells us why.

“Tolerant” Left Goes After Queer Eye Star Who Says ‘Not All Republicans Are Racist’

September 26, 2018August 17, 2018 Steve MacDonald

It cannot be emphasized enough that liberal governance will be a reflection of its priorities. To bring that point home consider the recent plight of a homosexual Democrat television personality (HDTP) who dared to suggest that the left shouldn’t go too far left.

Van Ness noted that “luckily” more than a few “extreme right people won yesterday,” which he said means “center left candidates” can reclaim control of the House of Representatives and Senate as well as state legislatures.

If the Internet is a ‘Public Utility’ You Can’t Just Ban Alex Jones

September 26, 2018August 8, 2018 Steve MacDonald

I don’t pay any attention to Alex Jones. It’s not a value judgment he’s just not anywhere in my top-ten, twenty, or perhaps even 100 (500?) political talkers, writers, or thinkers for whom I make time. I am aware of him but not overly familiar.

Others think he’s the bee’s knees. I’m not here to tell you one way or another, but recent actions by social media tech giants against Mr. Jones have demonstrated another potential layer of liberal hypocrisy worthy of our exploration.

Maybe it’s Sununu who should resign

September 26, 2018August 5, 2018 Ian Underwood

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On Friday, Governor Sununu called for the resignation of state senator Jeff Woodburn, saying:

[His] morally reprehensible, violent behavior has no place in public service, or anywhere else. Domestic violence will not be tolerated in New Hampshire. Senator Woodburn must resign. Immediately.

The problem, of course, is that Senator Woodburn has been accused of violent acts (including throwing a cup of water at someone’s face, and striking her in the stomach), but not convicted of anything. He says that he intends to fight the charges, which means that we must presume that he is innocent unless and until he is found guilty in court.

I would hope that, if the governor had given it a little more thought, he would have issued a somewhat different statement, like:

“I’m so angry that he put us in this situation. I’m in no mood to help him right now.”

September 26, 2018July 22, 2018 Skip

That from an ally over NH Gov. Chris Sununu signing HB1319, the latest Bathroom Bill (aka “today I feel like a women even without the lady bits so I’m going into the ladies room”) and HB587 (gotta let gays be gays and no talking them out of it) which is a sop to the gay lobby and is an affront to both the First Amendment and NH’s Constitution in the matter of denying free speech and free conscious. I wrote this at the time:

So Governor Chris Sununu just told his Conservative and Faith-Based base to buzz off. You just told those that brung you to the dance that you’re in love with another. OK, buzz off we shall – like a buzzsaw. You asked we’ll deliver.

So how do I tell him and NH State Rep Mindi Messmer apart, who is running for US Congress with pretty much the same message

ANTIFA Invokes “Rights” for Itself It Would Deny To Everyone Who Disagrees With Them

September 26, 2018July 14, 2018 Steve MacDonald

Progressive arguments for campaign finance reform (see also, the false getting money out of politics narrative) have nothing to do with transparency or money. They are about exposing donor lists to intimidation by left-wing thugs to suppress donations, and the speech they would afford political opponents.

Alternately or should I say Alt-Lefternately, Antifa, one of the Progressives thug armies hides its identity while actively suppressing speech Democrats (coincidentally) oppose. They attack people, destroy property, and use intimidation to suppress actual speech. Some GOP lawmakers have proposed legislation to amp up the penalties for those who actually commit certain crimes while “masked.”

Antifa is not happy.