Rules Archives - Granite Grok

ORTOLANO: Power Without Ideology

March 27, 2026 Laurie Ortolano

Nashua’s Selective Enforcement of “Shall” There’s a phrase often attributed, loosely and somewhat inaccurately, to Karl Marx: power without ideology. Whether or not Marx ever said it in those exact words, the concept is unmistakable: power exercised without consistent principle, without accountability, and without any obligation to apply rules evenly. That idea is playing out in real time … Read more

SMITH: People Not Being Heard; A Disturbing Trend

February 15, 2026 Julie Smith

Robert’s Rules, Mason’s Rules, and Moderator Gary Matteson’s own rules, I won’t get into the weeds or nuts and bolts of operations. Let’s just say that there’s a common structural design to maintain order. Maintaining order is vital to avoiding CHAOS, something that a lone wolf dissenting alderman was recently accused of being an agent … Read more

ED306 Education Rules Revision is a BIG Disappointment for Students in New Hampshire

May 27, 2023 Ann Marie Banfield

The Education Rules for New Hampshire Schools is up for revision. Unfortunately, this task was handed over to Fred Bramante, President of the National Center for Competency-Based Learning.

One Knee Equals Two Feet—and Football Rule Changes

January 25, 2023 Michael Moffett

As a citizen-legislator, I know very well how hard it is to pass a law. It shouldn’t be easy, but gosh, I sometimes wonder why it’s often so difficult. Still, it’s very rewarding to finally get a bill over the “goal line” and into statute.

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What’s going on between His Honor and Nashua’s Corporation Counsel?

May 24, 2022 Laurie Ortolano

The Mayor announced at the May 16th Budget Review Committee Meeting that a Right to Know (RTK) paralegal position was added to the Administrative Services budget. In December 2020, the legal office hired an RTK Attorney to manage requests. Attorney Neumann spent eight months in Nashua; his work resulted in four costly lawsuits. Aldermen John … Read more

EPIC! -> “Americans don’t get ruled!”

May 29, 2020 Skip

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat and a FABULOUSLY wealthy businessman is part of the family that owns the Hyatt Hotels. He Effectively “bought” the Governorship from what I have read. His problem, like many Governors at this time: they think they’ve been elected Kings and Queens.

Really, Union Leader, the House GOP “revolts”???

May 27, 2020 Skip

I would say that Republicans stuck to their guns (in some cases, literally) and said in effect “Decisions have consequences.” Steve Shurtleff, the Democrat Speaker of the NH House, YOU shut the House down and we don’t have to go along with rewriting YOUR rules to make it work.”

Nashua’s Politicians are Using the Coronavirus to Advance their Own Political Agendas

May 23, 2020 Laurie Ortolano

Everyone knows that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives, at least temporarily. This includes how we, the public, participate in local politics. With the pandemic-induced changes to how local politics works, I am a little concerned about the health of public participation during these unusual times.

President Trump Issues Executive Order to Reduce Regulations to Aid Economic Recovery

March 11, 2021May 20, 2020 Steve MacDonald

In the interest of getting things done, not always my favorite words when it comes to government, President Trump pushed to waive, suspend, or do an end-around on existing bureaucratic barriers. As he advocates for an economic recovery, he is asking agencies, where possible (EO Archived here) to take it one step further.

If the Standard Jeanne Shaheen Wants Applied to College Students Accused of Sexual Assault Were Applied to Biden … He’d be in Prison

May 8, 2020 Ed Mosca

This: The new rules: The Obama rules essentially established a Star Chamber proceeding where the accused was required to prove his innocence without the benefits of due process. From an op-ed in the Washington Examiner by Robby Soave of Reason: Even if the accused has solid evidence on his or her side, there is little … Read more

The Right is just using the Left’s new rules: Sean Spicer and ‘Dancing with the Stars’

November 12, 2019 Skip

I’ll admit it – I used to watch Dancing with the Stars on an occasional basis and yes, I wanted to see if some of these folks toted as Stars could really dance. TMEW, on the other hand, for some strange and unknown reason, still has some affection for the show and is a regular … Read more

The Impeachment Process… So, What Happens?

September 29, 2019

The Framers intended for removal from office to be the final step in a two-part process. The process begins in the House of Representatives. Articles of impeachment approved by the House are similar to a criminal indictment by a grand jury: they are a list of unproven accusations.

NH Dems Diversity Olympics

September 29, 2019 Christopher Maidment

The New Hampshire Democrats submitted their plan for delegate selection to the National Democrat Party, and it was accepted. The 76-page document (76 pages?) can be read here. Luckily they included comments at the end on the overall delegate selection rules put forth by the DNC. Some, including Senate President Donna Soucy (D- Manchester) are … Read more

We Now Know Which Nashua Democrat Tried to Shut Down GraniteGrok (And Failed)

September 12, 2019 Skip

So our hosting company coughed up the email complaint against GraniteGrok as requested. Much surprise as to who it was – not.

Trump’s Bright Idea for Bulbs – Light ‘Em If You Got ‘Em

September 8, 2019 Steve MacDonald

From the days when G.W. Bush wasted his majority, the feds got an itch to tell you what sort of light bulbs you should use. Obama made the mandate worse. But Mr. Trump is rolling it all back. His strategy? Light ’em if you got ’em.

NH State Rep Jan Schmidt – the mind logic of a Socialist? “Extortion”?

September 7, 2019 Skip

“Extortion?” To recap: Some started up a Facebook page consisting of just quoting Nashua Alderman and NH State Rep Jan Schmidt’s own words NH State Rep Jan Schmidt’s daughter, Heather Day, issues what seemed to be a threat against the admin of the “Musings of Alderman Jan” simply for quoting her mother’s words Grokster Kimberly … Read more

A Study in Contrast: Heartfelt apology vs “EXTORTION!” NH State Rep Jan Schmidt does not disappoint

September 2, 2019 Skip

On one hand we have someone that returned to offer a heartfelt apology; it wasn’t asked for, nor sought out. And it was offered to those directly affected. It didn’t have to be offered – but it was. Nothing was asked for in return – it was a gracious exchange. And on the other hand, … Read more

Senate Republicans Change Rules for Presidential Appointees to a Simple Majority Vote

April 6, 2019 Steve MacDonald

Democrats have been wasting time for the last two years in the Senate. Instead of helping transition the government to a new President they’ve been doing everything they can to prevent that. The Senate Republicans have said enough.

Highlights of the New Democratic House Rules

January 5, 2019January 5, 2019

If we want to understand what is changing in the District of Columbia we need to grasp the changes the Democrats have made in the Rules of the House of Representatives. Ready Here goes. 1. Motion to Vacate the Chair Under current House rules, a Member may offer a privileged motion to vacate the chair … Read more

How Did Merrimack NH House Reps Vote this Past Week?

January 5, 2019 Steve MacDonald

The Town of Merrimack has something it has never had in all the years I have lived here. More than one Democrat in the New Hampshire House. We may have two at one time. But with eights seats to fill, for the first time I can recall, Merrimack sent four Democrats to Concord. It might … Read more