Remember way back when Obamacare was passed? The GOP said they opposed it … would replace it … REPEAL AND REPLACE!!! … yet another damn lie from the GOP Establishment. Hat tip to my dear friend Mikey Graham at NH-NeverTrump Journal for a post he’s got up about the NHGOP Senate’s push to make OBAMACARE Medicaid expansion permanent.

In case you had forgotten, Mikey reminds us that:

Gov. Sununu worked with legislators in 2018 to deliver a five-year reauthorization of Medicaid Expansion

Actually, it was much worse than that … Sun-King and his legislative minions CODIFIED virtually all the rest of OBAMACARE too … that is, they made Obamacare … which the GOP was going to REPEAL AND REPLACE until in 2016 they actually got the ability to do so … state LAW in New Hampshire. Such LIARS.

Mikey’s post is instructive because it reveals the people/groups supporting OBAMACARE Medicaid expansion:

Extending Medicaid to low-income Granite Staters has been economically beneficial to the state’s hospital system, according to Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. …

Business & Industry Association President and CEO Michael Skelton said keeping Medicaid expansion in place is good for businesses … “Hospitals and other caregivers avoid catastrophic loss of revenue and employers and employees across the state will benefit from individuals being healthy enough to work.”

All the talk from the NHGOP about LIMITED GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, etc. etc. etc. is just that … TALK. There is no Republican Party in New Hampshire … it’s a corporatist party … you will own nothing (i.e. be dependent on government for everything) … and be happy.

The local Koch organization is actually on the right side … my side … on this issue, which I guess reminds us that even a broken clock is right a couple of times a day.

The post It’s Not Just The House NHGOP Making New Hampshire BLUER … The Senate NHGOP Is Too appeared first on Granite Grok.

Our readers are no strangers to reports, exposes, documentaries, or commentaries about one of the green movement’s biggest lies. It’s not only not green; it’s brown and black and killing brown and black people.

Related: The Green Dream and the Zero-Emission Fantasy Takes Yet Another Shot to the Gut

From so-called carbon offsets to offshoring emissions in the push to electrify everything, Western intellectuals are laundering your money through the hands of Chines Communists at the expense of human beings in far-off lands (and then eventually right here at home), so they can get rich and pretend to care about people and the planet.

Neither is true, and you can imagine my surprise when I followed a link to an article in WIRED Magazine of all places that explores and exposes the damage for which these Western mandates are responsible. WIRED is, well, wired into the Left’s propaganda machine, so this was…unexpected.

 

Meeting [Nickel] demand has come at a huge social and environmental cost. Workers claim that deaths and injuries are common at IMIP. Medical professionals and environmentalists say the polluted air and water are causing respiratory problems, sickness, and eye injuries and destroying forests and fisheries. The rush to expand production has pushed local communities and infrastructure to the brink of collapse.

“Labor exploitation, economic injustices, and environmental degradation are undermining the socio-ecological transformation promised by electric vehicles,” says Pius Ginting, coauthor of a report by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation think tank on the industry. “The public needs to know the reality of what’s happening.”

Kudos to WIRED for bothering to send journalists to Indonesia to dig into this environmental and public health disaster and then for publishing what they found. They can find similar stories in India, Africa, and China – not that China will let you anywhere near their mines IN China – and I’m surprised journalists are getting access to China-owned mines everywhere else.

China owns or owns part or most of all of these. Maybe someone should tell Joe Biden, and John Kerry, and then everyone else who thinks this mad rush to electrify everything is a good idea – even if we had the infrastructure and power generation to charge them – which we do not and will not. Probably ever.

As you also know, none of that is the point of any of this. The goal is to demobilize the population and starve it or energy. There’s no other logical end to any of this.

 

 

HT | PJ Media

The post WIRED Magazine Exposes the Social and Environmental Costs of the “Green” Agenda appeared first on Granite Grok.

Nearly 20% of those voting on HB581 yesterday in the full New Hampshire house session, voted for ending the insane war on drugs ENTIRELY! The bill came out of nowhere, filed by rep Matt Santonastaso with little fanfare or press attention, despite the epic attack on the War on Drugs it represents. The public hearing came-and-went with little support, or opposition.

Yesterday, at the full house session, the bill came up for a vote and reps Santonastaso and Jonah Wheeler made excellent speeches in favor of ending the failed war on drugs, while Terry Roy who positions himself as a incremental drug reformer used fearmongering language to scare the reps into voting to continue the destruction of our neighbors’ lives. They then voted 286-70 to kill the bill.

Here’s a link to the full roll call showing exactly how all the representatives voted. Kudos to the brave 35 Republicans and 35 Democrats who did the right thing. Sadly many “A+” rated “liberty reps” voted to continue the drug war. What were they thinking? Anyone with a “Yes” vote on the roll call voted to kill the bill, so feel free to reach out to them and ask why. You can watch the full hearing here:

Yesterday, the Vivek Ramaswamy For President Campaign held a number of events in NH, mostly in the Seacoast area. However, that swing ended last night at Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester, NH.

Abbreviated by the incoming storm, there were three opening speakers: myself (Skip Murphy), long-time conservative activist Karen Testerman, and former candidate for US Senate Jeremy Kauffman.

 



 

A later set of videos will have the panel discussion with Vivek Ramaswamy and Drew Cline.

Quite a few Groksters showed up as well. I knew that Mike was going to be there with camera, but Stephen and Beth Scaer, Ken Erying, Tom Murray, Chris Maidment, and given the surprise applause when I spoke, quite a few of our readers attended as well.  In fact, there were well over 100 that were in the room when I decided to do a room count.  Not bad, given the storm, highly touted by WMUR all week, was imminent to start in Manchester.

I did a quick poll of the Groksters in attendance. All of them, on a snapshot “good or otherwise” question, said “yes.”  No one is endorsing anyone yet.  After all (spoken in a true traditional NH backwoods twang from two old-timers who are masters in the NH First In The Nation tradition and mores):

Ebenezer: Well, Jebediah, whatcha think of this new feller we just saw last night

Jebediah: Well, Ebenezah, don’t know just yet. Only met him 5 times so fah.

And that is the traditional NH norm in evaluating candidates. Sure, there will be some in NH that will immediately say “yep, that’s the one for me!” right off the bat. Most, I’ve learned, play it a bit cagey and want to hear more and ask a lot of questions.  All of the candidates had better learn that while events like this are fine, they need to do house parties where they will get a REAL grilling.

 

The post 2024 Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Event: 2023-02-22 Opening Speakers appeared first on Granite Grok.

The Climate Cult is a belief system whose tenets or dogma are unassailable. Cooling is warming. More snow is the same as less snow. It causes rain and drought., extreme weather, or no weather.

Related: Read This, and You’ll Know More About “Sea Level” than 99% of Climate Cult Alarmists.

There is no contradiction they will not embrace, including this.

For years the cult’s Pharisees and their stenographers in the media have predicted the impact of coastline property values. WMUR rang this bell again just last fall. Locally, the greater Portsmouth area has long been a poster child for this nonsense. Rising tides will put price pressure on property owners whose investments won’t hold water.

It’s a global narrative, but investors, Hoteliers, and (often very liberal) home buyers have long ignored these apocalyptic prophesies, scooping up oceanfront property whose appeal has driven prices higher for decades. Obama and Biden, in recent years, to name but two climate hypocrites that recently dumped tens of millions on beachfront homes after years of fearmongering a narrative they are still working to this day.

Nothing new; coastline property prices rose steadily before the recent housing bubble, regardless of perceptions about our climate fate, so what to do? Flip it around and call that a crisis.

Scientific American (SA) is blaming those rising prices on (drumroll please) climate change.

 

Homebuyers nationwide are ignoring flood risk and paying inflated prices to create a housing bubble that could crash as climate change intensifies flood damage.

A study released Thursday says the climate-driven housing bubble threatens homeowners with plummeting values and municipal governments with losing a big chunk of tax revenue if local property values fall.

I have news for the experts who wrote the report and the editors at Scientific American. Homebuyers have ALWAYS ignored flood risk. They overlooked the chance of hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, the Santa Anna winds, drought, rain, heavy snow, extreme heat, avalanche risk, all alleged high-risk endeavors, and none of it has a damn thing to do with your stupid weather cult.

Coastal property, rivers edge, and large and small lakes come with flood risk. But people like the aesthetics so much that they will pay top dollar for the experience all the other days of their life. They assume the costs and the risks, as do the insurers who write their homeowner’s policies mandated by federal law.

They’ve named this crisis the climate-driven housing bubble and want policymakers to do something. The peasants have no clue about the risk, and when that bubble bursts (‘cuz angry climate gods and rising seas), it’ll be awful.

Related: NOAA’s Updated Tide Gauge Data Show No Sea Level Rise at NH Coast For The Past 10-12 Years

But aren’t coastal communities, Left coast and right, majority liberal? Advocates of the cult and the fearmongering over sea level rise. They are, and they know more than the thousands of actual scientists who are not part of the so-called consensus. They know more than what we can see with our own eyes. New Hampshire’s encroaching tides took the last decade or so off without telling the narrative, not that there was any real risk from Anthropomorphic-driven sea level rise.

It’s all BS, but we must give SA props for one thing. They do suggest that there is an inland housing bubble, and that is also from climate change.

This is also not true.

Not-so-liberal folks have been bailing on the coastal states. A shift by people with the mobility or means to work remotely, but these folks are not retreating from the inevitable rise of the seas. They are escaping the progressive cultural climate.

It’s not about rising seas. It is rising taxes, regulations, and crime catalyzed by crazy intrusive covid-era policies during the so-called pandemic. People who can are fleeing these places for peaceable country locales with fewer restrictions, less pollution, more liberty, and sanity, and many of them inland (except Florida). It’s a massive migration that should impact property values in the places they leave but not the coastlines. Never the coastlines.

The rich and connected are scooping them up without any fear. They did it when storms and flooding were just weather, and they keep doing it, and if the fearmongering manages to lower the values, they’ll gladly pay less for the same property.

That speaks much louder than the Climate Cult dogma about rising sea levels.

The post Sea Level Rise Blamed for Increasing Coastal Property Values Instead of Depressing Them appeared first on Granite Grok.

Forewarned is forearmed.  Thus, this is intended to be a compilation of articles, with my commentary, to try and get like-minded people to grasp what’s coming.  Even merely being aware of events in the world will make you better prepared than the hordes of sheeple. 

Note that these compilations are catch-as-catch can, and presented as is.  I make no guarantee of accuracy or complete coverage of the world.

Please follow both me, Nitzakhon, on Gab… as well as my blog host Granite Grok and also on Telegram Tommy Robinson Official plus his Urban Scoop site.  And don’t forget posts sometimes get cloned on American Reveille as well, which is a good site to check out in general.

For prep materials, please see:

Survival Sunday – PREP Edition – Granite Grok

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Walter Williams: Suffer No Fools – Full Video

 

 

I am very proud to have had a short and occasional correspondence with this great man, and have his autographed picture on my wall at home.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Top of the fold:

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Plans To Release Genetically Modified Self-Spreading Vaccines (2ndsmartestguyintheworld.com)

Scientific hubris like this is going to destroy us.  As will medical hubris in making this change:

Watch: Should You Be Worried About Flying with Vaxxed Pilots? Cardiologist Exposes 1 Sly Change FAA Made – Political Truth (politicaltruthnow.com)

And approving something that’s turning out to be an evolutionary driver of Covid:

Molnupiravir (Lageviro) antiviral treatment lead to the rapid accrual of hundreds of SARS-CoV-2 mutations; study demonstrates that Molnupiravir can ‘supercharge’ viral evolution potentially generating (substack.com)

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

ALERT! Russia Summons USA Ambassador, NUCLEAR tests to Begin, China “Joins Forces”, HELL BROKE LOOSE

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Deep State / Coming Tyranny / WEF / Globalists (broad):

No Vaccine No Food? Grocery Industry Merging with Big Tech and Big Pharma as New App Tracks Drug and Vaccine Purchases Along with Food (healthimpactnews.com)

Private industry creating your passport.  Just like it was private industry that masked you, and forced you to take The Jab.

 

 

 

—

Captured: Nikki Haley is One of Klaus Schwab’s ‘Young Global Leaders’ – National File

Not a fan of hers in general, but… is there ANYONE who is not bought by Schwab?  Anyone???

—

Bank to stop giving loans to fossil fuel cars… (substack.com)

It is happening ladies and gentlemen. We are now at the point where a major bank has announced they will stop giving loans for new petrol and diesel cars under the excuse of climate change.

From 2025, customers of Bank Australia will no longer get funding to buy new cars that run on fossil fuels.

Related, the price of cars will rise:

Critics: EU’s Euro 7 Vehicle Emissions Directive Will Make Automobiles A Luxury For The Rich! (notrickszone.com)

—

Attorney Brent Wisner Tells RFK, Jr.: Drugmakers Knew Zantac Caused Cancer But Sold It Anyway for 40 Years • Children’s Health Defense (childrenshealthdefense.org)

Injured and dead: just the cost of doing business.

—

1 in 4 Want Vaccine Passports Back in British Columbia

Sheep will be sheep.  And people will rush to CBDC and chips for convenience:

EU PARLIAMENT: Mandatory Chip Implants for EU CITIZENS published STUDY (substack.com)

—

Use Cigarette-Style Graphic Labels to Shame People Into Not Eating Meat, Scientists Say

Eat the bugs instead.

—

Global Sperm Counts Declining At Accelerating Rate: New Meta-Analysis | ZeroHedge

At some point men will simply not be fertile.  And IVF will be sabotaged.

 

=+=+=

Protecting Children:

The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) ignores allegations of vaccine injury in pregnancy (substack.com)

How can you ignore such plain data?  Is money that much of a motivator?

 

=+=+=

National Security (specifically):

This Is What the Navy Is Doing to ‘Improve Retention’ – PJ Media

The Navy has a big problem maintaining its strength. So the brass has decided to give a pass to sailors with Physical Fitness Assessment failures (PFAs) on their record.

 

=+=+=

On The Jab (and Covid)

The CDC Lied: The mRNA Wasn’t Meant to “Stay in the Arm” ⋆ Brownstone Institute

I know people who still think it does stay in your arm.  And that the mRNA goes away in a few days.

—

How Much Money Do Pediatricians Really Make From Vaccines? – WELLNESS AND EQUALITY

Don’t recall if this is a repeat.

—

Why antibody levels do not equal “immunity”: Part 2 (substack.com)

Immunity is a multi-faceted thing.

—

 

 

https://twitter.com/DrEliDavid/status/1627745366253703192

Entirely redacted.  Every word, unreadable.  This is “open” and “transparent”?

 

=+=+=

Inflation:

Nothing specific found this week.

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/an-uber-future.mp4

 

The goal is this: to eliminate private car ownership.  For greater dependence on The System.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Enemedia:

Nothing specific found this week.

 

=+=+=

Pro-life:

Encouraging the Voluntary Suicide of the Elderly Is the Last Stop Before Mandatory Euthanasia – RedState

Remember “Logan’s Run”?  Remember, to a Socialist, an individual is only of value when they serve The State.

—

Minnesota Democrats Push Bill to Legalize Infanticide, Let Babies Die Who Survive Abortions – LifeNews.com

How can a person holding a living baby let them die?  And now, thinking of this, if they’re willing to let a baby – the very emblem of innocence – what will people do to those of us unwashed deplorable anti-vaxxers who stand in the way of their planned Socialistopia?  We only need look at history to see what Socialist Missionaries do.

 

 

—

Ohio Amendment Would Make Abortions Up to Birth a Constitutional Right – LifeNews.com

No.  No no no.

 

=+=+=

Know your Leftist / Globalist / Islamic / RINO enemy:

European Parliament chiefs block public scrutiny of von der Leyen over Pfizer contract – POLITICO (ampproject.org)

Secret dealings do not inspire confidence.  But then, they have elections all sewn up, so they don’t care.

—

BREAKING: Speaker McCarthy Rumoured To Be Considering NOT RELEASING January 6th Footage (theamericantribune.com)

F*******CK ME.  Release all of it.  ALL OF IT.  And released not just to select journalists, but to everyone.

—

Oh Sh*t, They’re Actually Doing It

Remember, if it makes them feel superior and better and such – more educated and more intelligent – they’ll be in favor of it.

 

=+=+=

Immigration / Migration:

Too late, Merkel flooded Europe & set upon you your own funeral pyres, you Europe & Denmark are flooded by the wolf, raping across Europe, too late, you are being hollowed out, jihad by immigration (substack.com)

It’s not accidental.  Jihad by migration is official doctrine:

 

Bill Warner, PhD: Hijra, Islamic Migration

 

Youtube video – need to click through for some reason

 

—

Beware ‘Decent, Hard Working Young People With Children’: Germans Who Flee ‘Multicultural’ Cities to Countryside Labelled Extremists

Dirk-Martin Christian, who heads up the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Saxony, has described people who flee “multicultural life” as found in modern German cities as being “right-wing extremists”.

My wife, who is not white, was looking at school districts around as we considered moving some years ago.  One of the selling points FOR a local district was it’s low diversity score.

—

French clothing manufacturer offers ‘anti-knife neck guards’ and other safeguards against beheading (jihadwatch.org)

Gotta love “diversity”…

 

=+=+=

Economy at large:

Bureaucrats, over-regulation and community strangulation

When my wife and I moved to Texas, it was a major revelation to us how easy the Texas government makes it to attend to the official business of living – driver’s license, vehicle registration, property permits, and so on.  State and county officials appear to bend over backwards to make residents’ lives easier, not more complicated.  If one isn’t sure what to do, they’ll take extra time and trouble to coach you through the steps involved, and even lead you from station to station to make sure everything’s sorted out.  I’ve never before encountered that level of helpfulness when it comes to state and local government.

—

EU Reports Wave of Bankruptcies

The crash, it’s coming.  Related:

With 16 Chilling Words, Anthony Albanese Issues a Dark Warning About How the Nation’s Finances Are Groaning Under Pressure Because of the Cost of the NDIS and Interest Rates — as He’s Grilled Over Whether He Will Hike Taxes

 

=+=+=

Political War

 

6 Things You’re Being LIED to About to Preserve FAR-LEFT Power

 

 

—

15 FACTS on the Dozens of Federal Operatives Who Infiltrated the Trump Crowds on January 6th at the US Capitol | The Gateway Pundit

“Do Your Non-Uniformed Guys Have Any Identifiers” – SHOCKING Capitol Police Video Uncovered from Jan 6 Shows Undercover and Armed DOJ Onsite – IT WAS A SETUP | The Gateway Pundit

Do not forget – they’re MISSIONARIES.  And they plan to convert you… or kill you.

 

 

—

Population Collapse? – Liberty’s Torch (libertystorch.info)

You know what it is. We have to make cuts – drastic cuts – in public assistance. I’ve written about ways to make these changes before. It’s not the methods that are holding it up, it’s the ease with which those on the Left guilt the fiscally frugal that is stopping change.

I had my children in my 40’s.  Were I to go back with what I know now, it’d be in the 20’s.

 

=+=+=

US Stability (broad catch-all):

The only thing I can think of – without a specific article – is the economic and ecological fusterclark that is the East Palestine trainwreck.

 

=+=+=

World Stability (broad catch-all):

Unless We Abandon Globalism, China Will Win – Daniel Greenfield / Sultan Knish articles

Amen.

—

Report: Iran On Cusp of Ability To Make Nukes, Have Enriched Uranium To 84% Purity…

I know there will be people and think that its only target is Israel.  It’s not.  Remember, we are the GREAT SATAN and the Shiite version of the messiah cannot come back until there’s a world war.  A world war, with us and everything else, is a feature, not a bug.

Know your enemy.  More:

UN Inspectors Find Weapons-Grade Uranium at Iran Nuke Site (legalinsurrection.com)

—

Nuclear threat rising? Putin says Russia won’t cooperate with last remaining nuclear treaty with US – TheBlaze

Ruh roh.

 

Glenn: THESE signs show we’re moving toward WORLD WAR III

 

 

Quote: If you put western jets in Ukraine that is the final straw.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

EVERYTHING You Know Is About To Change

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Specific to energy:

 

How Long Would Society Last During a Total Grid Collapse?

 

 

“It depends” is my thought.  Interesting the absolute level of interconnectedness of it all.  And how difficult, even absent actual equipment destruction, it could be to restart things after a long-duration power outage.  Somewhat related, but broader:

 

How to Survive the First 90 Days After the Collapse

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

13 Things Not To Do During SHTF

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Big Tech in general:

 

 

What’s that quip?  If it’s free, you’re the product.

—

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/medical-tags-in-palestine.mp4

 

Convenient, oh so convenient, this gets trialed here.

And when they are, no doubt, shown to be effective they’ll be offered universally.  Then “nudged” universally.  And then mandated universally.  And then, because you can lose or misplace or forget it, it’ll get implanted.

 

=+=+=

Catch-all miscellaneous:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/canadian-government-confiscates-treasure.mp4

 

Doesn’t matter what government it is.  Government is assh*le.

—

Death of Clinton’s Epstein-Linked ‘Fixer’ Ruled ‘Suicide’ Despite Gunshot Wound & No Gun Found

The death of Bill Clinton’s former aide Mark Middleton has been ruled a “suicide,” despite the suspicious circumstances in which his body was found.

In early May 2022, Middleton, 59, was found dead attached to a tree with an extension cord tied around his neck.

He also had a gunshot wound to his chest but no gun was found anywhere near his body at the Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas.

In fact, the gun that fired the shot was never recovered.

“Suicide”.  Related:

The Clinton “suicide” curse strikes again – HotAir

 

=+=+=

Concluding thoughts if I’m moved to comment:

Yes Minister and The Thick of It were flagged by beleaguered counter-terror Prevent scheme | Daily Mail Online

Some of the sitcoms, etc., I’m not too worried about.  Calling foundational elements of western literature, from Shakespear to Tolkein, as verboten stuff?  This is the unmaking – the deliberate unmaking – of the West.  For without deep cultural roots and knowledge of our past, the good and the bad, how can we even think to advance and maintain what has been built.  The answer, of course, is we can’t.

And that’s the point.  Destroy a people’s history and replace it with what you want.  That’s clearly the goal.

How long before my book collection gets the Fahrenheit 451 treatment?

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

The ‘Great Reset’ Part One: TECHNOCRACY

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Palate cleansers:

 

—

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Please check out my MEME collections.  Here’s the last one.

 

The post Survival Sunday – Thursday SITREP Edition appeared first on Granite Grok.

At its core, the debate reflects two divergent ideologies. Authoritarians believe that the government must control everything people do, especially when those people are below 18. Voluntaryists believe that people should run their own lives and that parents and adolescents can jointly determine how to navigate life’s choices.

The post NH Dems Propose Taking Responsibilities Away From Adolescents appeared first on The Liberty Block.

The SAU21 School District earnestly asserts that without the citizens’ votes on 14 March 2023, the teachers in their schools will suffer and seek employment elsewhere.

We want to thank Diane Martin for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
You can review our ‘Op-Ed Guidelines‘ on the FAQ Page.

Representatives of SAU21 School District ask that citizen taxpayers in South Hampton, Seabrook, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, and Hampton approve by Warrant the updated and amended Collective Bargaining Agreement (the CBA) with the Seacoast Education Association (the SEA).

The District completed negotiations with the SEA in early November 2022 but only in January released the agreed terms of the agreement to voters. Based on the composition of the negotiating team, there was no party representing taxpayers. Only the interests of the District and its employees are represented. The information presented to the public concerning the amendments to the CBA, while factual, is superficial.

The District asserts that only with this Agreement has the District become competitive with nearby schools and Districts. Based on the longevity of the tenure of the employees in Hampton Falls, this seems unlikely. Nineteen of the twenty-five professional staff there have worked at Lincoln Ackerman for more than ten years – 14 have credit for 30 years of experience and are at the highest step for compensation and receive the maximum “longevity” bonuses.

No teacher has left the school, other than for retirement, in more than ten years. Equally, on point – academic achievement has declined over that same period, and the District no longer seeks and identifies gifted children, nor standard test achievement “with distinction.”

I will vote against this Warrant in Hampton Falls and ask other taxpayers to vote against it in their Towns.

I reviewed the CBA as well as other agreements for schools in this area and believe the District is misleading taxpayers: the SAU21 salary and benefits schedules have been very competitive with other Districts, and the proposed CBA extends and enriches benefits teachers enjoy, without any reductions, which would reflect economic pressure on taxpayers.

The CBA does not consider the job layoffs and cut-backs ongoing in the private sector and which affect many Town taxpayers. If private employers are not firing employees, they are granting raises approximating 3%, eliminating bonuses, have long had no provisions for defined benefit pension plans, and have reduced employer health benefit contributions. The amended CBA reflects the following:

1. The only reductions in the budgets presented by the District are the result of decreased numbers of students in all schools. The District has not acknowledged this ongoing trend and does not present any awareness of implications for the Towns in the District.

2. The District’s projected salary schedules reflect an increase in total District salary cost of 17% by 2026, at which time it estimates 73% of the credentialed staff will be at the highest step (earning approximately $99,000 per year, not including other annual stipends,) with all of those teachers having advanced degrees and also receiving degree bonuses.

3. Stipends schedule:
• Activities bonuses previously fixed (currently $800- $1,723) for three years; now increase by % salary increase each year; will range from $842 to $1,958 for clubs like jump roping and $3,896 for elementary athletics. High school athletics and clubs bonuses are higher.
• Advanced degree bonuses (currently $1,700 – 2100) increase annually at a percentage salary increase rate; maximum for Master’s equivalent will be $2,083; for Ph.D. $2,410.

4. Sick leave days increased from 12 days to 15; cumulative to 120 days.

5. Longevity bonuses:
• 10-year bonus ($550) added at the top step;
• 15 and 20-year bonuses increased: range from $2,369 at 15 years in 2023 to a maximum at 20 years in 2026 $2,986. The increase is 7% in 2023, 3% in 2024, 2.5% in 2025, and 2026; the cumulative increase is 16%. The contract increase in the CBA ending in 2023 was 8%.

6. From 2023 on, employees who do not use personal days in any year will be paid up to 300% of the rate paid to the substitute daily rate (budgeted at $110/ day.) Under this provision, Schools will pay more than the cost of the substitute if an employee does not use personal days.

7. Health insurance benefits remain generous and are increased: taxpayers pay 79-96% of plan costs and make contributions of $1,500 (single) to $3,000 (family) to employee Health Savings Accounts; dental maximum benefits were increased, and there are no deductibles nor co-pays.

8. All of the increased components of compensation are included in calculating pensions’ benefits at retirement. Employees will contribute 14% to that State plan, while taxpayers will contribute 19%. It’s not clear from the language in the Warrant whether additional compensation is reflected in the proposed increases.

Many tax-paying working parents in Hampton Falls will question the automatic salary, and benefits increases for school personnel requested in the Warrant article while they wonder if their own jobs will be secure in 2023-2026. They have not forgotten that no school staff lost jobs during the time the State locked down its economy, and businesses were closed for months, some permanently. In light of the long tenure of LAS staff, it seems unlikely the School is at risk for losing teachers who seek higher salaries elsewhere.

Diane Martin Hampton Falls

 

Note: Lightly edited and reformatted from the original.

The post I Am Voting Against the Collective Bargaining Agreement and ask Others to Do the Same. appeared first on Granite Grok.

The Swedish Government has decided that being allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is more important than the right to free speech or expression.

It’s not a prerequisite for membership. No NATO members other than the United States (that I can think of) have genuine constitutional protections for expression, association, or assembly. This is an oversight that each nation’s citizens increasingly regret as their elected officials expand infringements based on which way the wind is blowing (it’s always left if you were wondering).

Speech is limited across the North Atlantic Alliance, and the list of things that will get you a visit from the authorities continues to grow. Sweden, pining for a membership card, had – until recently – allowed the burning of revered texts without regard to the faith. No longer. Turkey reportedly told the Northern European ‘pledge’ that Qur’an burning needed to stop if it wanted their vote.

 

The Qur’an-burning protesters are out of business for the time being in Sweden, however, as the Swedish police, which quite recently allowed the burnings on the grounds of free expression, have just banned public burnings of the Islamic holy book. Sweden is under heavy pressure from the government of Turkey, which is opposing its membership in NATO unless it abandons the freedom of speech.

The Swedish-language news outlet SVT reported Thursday that in the last few days, “two applications for Qur’an burnings have been denied.” Police spokesperson Ola Österling was unequivocal: “As a rule in Stockholm, we will not allow burning the Qur’an during public gatherings.”

Some say that the police ban on Qur’an burnings violates the protection of the freedom of expression in the Swedish constitution, and Österling says that the police welcome this challenge: “We want to have it tested that our reasoning is legal.

There are other, more familiar concerns. Sweden has for years been a destination for massive migrations of Muslims. You may be familiar with stories of Swedish women attacked by rape gangs or week-long riots. Collective outrage is a character trait for enough of the transplants that it has become easier for European countries like Sweden to deny rights than defend them.

But you can burn everyone else’s holy texts.

 

If you burn a Bible, Christians won’t kill you, and the Leftist intelligentsia will applaud your courage and give you awards and grants. When it comes to the Qur’an, however, suddenly the most stalwart exponents of the freedom of expression start talking about how much we need to curtail that freedom in order to respect the rights of others. This is because if you burn a Qur’an, some Muslims will want very much to kill you.

 

It’s a convenient double standard with yet another edge. If Christians or Jews, or any people of any other faith, began harming people or property in response to alleged blasphemy, the local constabulary and their political masters would have them rounded up and imprisoned, which is telling.

The erosion of free expression is a necessary goal for the political left: a movement trait. A sign. Those who demand or accommodate it within their adult societies are advancing (deliberately or not) Leftism toward its final form—the despotic authoritarianism of tyranny. Or is it the tyranny of autocratic despotism?

You get the point.

Every exception is another brick in the wall meant to separate individuals from any right not granted by the tyrants and despots.

It will be interesting to see whether Sweden’s ‘Constitution’ – or, more accurately, those tasked with interpreting it – will see things favoring freedom of expression (natural rights) or political whim (creeping despotism).

My money is on the latter.

 

The post Would Sweden Give Up “Free Speech” for a Shot at Membership in NATO? – Yes! appeared first on Granite Grok.

There were three gatherings of note this past weekend, two in Texas and one in Kentucky. Two, unfortunately, were somewhat destructive, and one was full of joy, hope, and faith. Unless you are a loyal watcher Of FoxNews, you may not have heard of them.

The mainstream media does not like to cover situations involving young people and civil disobedience or destruction. They certainly do not cover events where young people gather to celebrate Jesus and faith. I want to touch on all three today.

One situation in Texas involves a relatively new phenomenon driven by social media. It is called a mansion rager and is the gathering, a break-in is more like it, of many people unlawfully entering somebody’s home to destroy and party. In this case, the crowd reached a wall and proceeded to party while the residents were away, this would typically be called breaking and entering, but now it is simply called a rager or get-together. The story’s fortunate part is that the homeowners and their young child were away and unhurt. The property, however, sustained thousands of dollars worth of damage.

The other situation in Texas, this one in Austin, involves car gangs taking over intersections in the downtown area and performing stunts with their vehicles. Large crowds gather while cars and drivers perform stunts. All are in danger of being badly injured by one of the speeding vehicles. When gang members were asked if they were ever concerned about being arrested, they responded that the police would never be able to catch them. They think they are immune to repercussions for the acts.

The third event occurred at a little-known college in Kentucky. Thousands gathered at one of the halls at Asbury University and spent thirteen days, 24/7, praying, singing, and surrendering to Jesus Christ. This particular revival got significant attention online, unlike the many similar events held at numerous different colleges and universities around the country. All the events deserve attention.

Over 50,000 worshippers gathered peacefully in Asbury, and the revival was moved off campus to relieve the pressure on the university infrastructure. Onlookers were amazed at the genuine passion, enthusiasm, and emotion in and around the hall. The university did not organize this event and was entirely driven by the students.

There is a hope that these gatherings of young Christians may be a positive sign that religion and spirituality may be returning to a society that has become very secular over the last 20 years. Recently, pro-Jesus commercials began on network TV, including two appearing during the Super Bowl. These ads drew criticism from some, including New York Congresswoman Alexandria Cortez. She claimed it was blasphemous and a true God would disapprove of money spent in this fashion. She could not see the value in a positive message broadcast. After the horrendous halftime show, we all needed a little religion and a positive message.

Religion had taken a hit in recent years, especially during the Pandemic when churches were closed in the name of health safety. They are now open and enjoying a resurgence. Maybe these campus revivals indicate that some young people are breaking through the anti-religious rhetoric in schools and media and looking for more meaning in life. We can only pray and support their efforts.

The post Three Very Different Gatherings This Past Weekend appeared first on Granite Grok.

Today is January 23rd, 2023, international dog biscuit appreciation day. A celebration of the treats your dogs eat. Toast, banana bread, diesel engines, digital learning, and chili also get a Day today!

Chili day does sound good – I make decent chili (IMO). And every day at my house, dog biscuits go to “The Lab” for testing.

In history, Johannes Gutenberg is credited with printing his first Bible on this day in 1455.  In 1836 General Santa Anna began his siege of the Alamo, which ended thirteen days later. US Marines raised the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, in 1945. The 1st mass inoculation against Polio with the Jonas Salk vaccine occurred at Arsenal Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1954. And in 1998, Osama bin Laden published a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders.

And Granite Grok shares some of the links received that I didn’t have the time or space to get to since the last Morning Mail.

Today’s Morning Mail

First up, someone besides us takes a whack at Governor Chris Sununu:

• Republican New Hampshire Governor Wants All Talk, No Action on CRT

 

B-B-B-Biden

• Biden’s Paying Ukraine Pensions While Ignoring Ohio Disaster
• Debunking Biden’s Malarkey: 7 Ways He Added $6 Trillion to Deficits
• Putin Calls Biden’s BluffP – Says he Will Suspend U.S. Nuclear Treaty
• They put a red spot on the ground for Biden’s photo op with fake sirens – 100% staged
• Pentagon Investigating Reported Leak of Emails From Military Server

 

COVIDIA

• Probiotic Strain Offers New Weapon in Fight Against Infectious Disease and COVID-19
• German health minister says ‘new pandemics are certain’ after meeting with Bill Gates, WHO director – LifeSite.
• UNLV Football Player Ryan Keeler Dies Suddenly at 20 Years Old
• Covid Jab Gets Permanent Liability Protection as Predicted
• Pfizer’s Clinical Trial Had More Deaths After Vaccination than Placebo
• NYC Forced to Scrap Equipment Former POTUS Told Them They Wouldn’t Need

CULTURE

• Clip of Putin speech laying out our insane Wokeness (YouTube – 3 min.)
• McDonald’s to introduce plant-based McNuggets.
• Canadian children may be euthanized without parental consent.
• Vanderbilt University ‘Diversity’ Deans Used ChatGPT to Write Letter Grieving MSU Mass Shooting

 

MISC

• Some Twitter footage about J6, shows police attacking people.
•  Expert says what Americans eat is “almost certainly” making them sick – CBS News.
• Mysterious 1.5-meter Object Resembling “Iron Ball” Found on Japan Shore
• PA Governor Demands Criminal Investigation Into Norfolk Southern Over Train Derailment (VIDEO)

The post The Morning Mail – Feb 23rd, 2023 appeared first on Granite Grok.

Camp Constitution was honored to sponsor recent speaking engagements in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for Pastor William Levi, founder of Operation Nehemiah Missions and the author of The Bible or the Axe.

We want to thank Hal Shurtleff for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
You can review our ‘Op-Ed Guidelines‘ on the FAQ Page.

His presentation tells the extraordinary story of how he and his family of ten siblings fled Sudan during its first Civil War in the early to mid-1960s, his life in a refugee camp in Uganda, and returning to a war-ravished Sudan to rebuild. As a teenager, his grandfather, a Christian minister, showed him a Bible and an axe, and he asked young Willian to choose one. While he was tempted to choose the axe, he picked the Bible. He explained that while he supports self-defense and the right to bear arms, he believes that the Bible is the best weapon because the battle is spiritual.

His Christian faith led to his arrest, imprisonment, and torture. His Muslim captors offered him his freedom if he would renounce Christianity and become a Muslim. His refusal led to more torture. He eventually escaped and made his way to Egypt, where he found employment as the manager of a farm. While visiting Cairo, he met an American missionary wearing a T-shirt that read “Jesus Is Lord.” The missionary helped him to Turkey, where he befriended a French Catholic priest who got him to France. He eventually made his way to the U.S. and lived with the missionary’s family in Milton, MA

Wanting to get his immigration status in order, he boarded an Amtrak train bound for Washington, DC but got off in Newark, N.J. He found employment in New Jersey, got his Green card, and attended college, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. He explained that he was living the “American Dream,” but God called him to create a ministry to help his fellow Christians in Sudan. He founded Operation Nehemiah Missions. The goal of the ministry is to rebuild the family, promote self-sufficiency, and, most importantly, making disciples of Jesus Christ. His ministry runs a 1,000-acre farm growing fruits, vegetables, and grain, solar water pumps, a radio station, and a school with an enrollment of 500 students.

He became a proud US citizen and voted for the first time in the 2016 election. He explained that the recently created nation of South Sudan has been under the malevolent influence of the United Nations with its anti-family and anti-freedom agenda and warned that while he loves Muslim people, Islam is not a religion of peace. At the Community Church of Alton, he gave a copy of his book to the youngest attendee Dan Pack where he was challenged to write a book report on it and give an oral presentation.

Pastor Levi resides in Lanesboro, MA. He is married and the father of eight children. A special thanks to Pastor Sam Holo of The Community Church of Alton and Pastor Bob Andrews of the First Parish Church of Lebanon, Maine.

A link to a similar presentation he gave at Camp Constitution’s annual family camp:

 

| Camp Constitution

The post The Bible or the Axe: A Presentation by Pastor William Levi appeared first on Granite Grok.

Something interesting has been happening Saturday mornings on the lot across from Market Basket in Plymouth, NH. This spot has been the location of an early Saturday am Flag Wave for over two years straight.

Not one Saturday has gone by without a loyal, hearty group proudly supporting freedom by standing for and with our country’s flag. Photos of this past Saturday’s event are attached.

In the early days of the flag wave, responses were about 60% positive. The negative 40% were crassly revealed by the scowls, middle fingers, curses, and thumbs down crowd. Positive responses were demonstrated by beeps, waves, and thumbs up. Some supporters demonstrated their support by donating coffee and donuts. Fast forward to today, we get high 90’s support. Really quite remarkable.

Subzero weather doesn’t deter, nor do important events. For example, a large number of the local flag wavers were at the State GOP Convention in Salem, NH the last Saturday in January. Yet the flags still waved despite a diminished presence. Why were these flag wavers in Salem? It so happens that a good many of the flag wave group were in Salem, NH, on official business. They were at the annual GOP convention as duly elected State Committee Members, not by accident. Some ran for and got elected as Delegates. These Delegates then made sure everyone from this group who wanted was nominated to serve as State Committee members. Other Grafton county Delegates saw the enthusiasm and voted every single flag-waver nominated onto the State Committee. Amazing.

We were all so proud to sit alongside our flag-waving friends in the Grafton County section at the GOP Convention. Our section loudly and proudly supported various issues, referendums, and our favorite candidates. We saved our loudest support to welcome President Trump as he stepped up to the podium.

One referendum that we helped pass was a censure of Mitch McConnell, who, you might remember, denied financial support for Granite State favorite General Don Bolduc. Although this censure was not well publicized, the positive reactions from the Grafton County contingent were a high point for many of us.

We gave the newly elected GOP State Chair Chris Agar, and Vice Chair Ryan Terrell strong support and a hearty Granite State welcome when results were announced.

Some have said that all politics are local. Our experience confirms that local politics do indeed exist and actually help make a difference.

Here’s a recent note from Mike McLaughlin, the de facto leader of the flag wave group;

 

Hello Patriots,

At times like this you have to admire the composure of The American People and restrain from lashing out due to our faith in God and country. Patience builds perseverance. Our greatest generations have proven that over history. That is exactly why our enemies are attacking our posterity. WE, above all else, have to protect our children.

If I were an enemy to the USA, I would be ecstatic over the path of weakening the psychological and physical demise of the future generations of the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world. Dousing the light of the last bastion of freedom is all any tyranny needs to prevail. Will our generation allow it to fall? What will our 250th year look like? That’s right around the corner in 2026. That’s the next POTUS’s term.

A highlight of my childhood was our bicentennial, 1976, growing up in the heartland, our fathers working in American industries, appreciating our history and how young WE really are, watching steamboats parade up and down the Ohio & Mississippi rivers, traveling freely across our great nation enjoying the beauty of it, the different cultures and learning new ones, the camaraderie of proud Americans, “baseball, hotdogs, apple pie & Chevrolet”… After our grandfathers and fathers fought bloody wars for other nations to ensure their liberties, they came and built a stronger nation at home to ensure their posterity (US) would not suffer the ravages of war they witnessed around the world.

WE went to sleep.

WE forgot that without the strength and resolve of We The People, insidious and nefarious people will seep in and slowly turn US right back into subjects, with our own money and using our own systems, beliefs and generosity against the USA. Good news, if you are American, truly American, and believe in our ideals and foundations, you are not a ‘racist.’ Start there, and start rising out of the holes we’ve been ducking in to avoid the confrontation that is desperately needed to counter the insurgence that is funneling into OUR federal government and acting against US.

Like President Trump said, “They think they are the elites. YOU are the elite! YOU are The American People!” WE need to start proving that again. For our children’s and grandchildren’s sake. Sooner, better than later.

Meanwhile, we’re shooting balloons and UFOs down with missiles. ….

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post A Loyal, Hearty Group Proudly Supporting Freedom by Standing for and with Our Country’s Flag. appeared first on Granite Grok.

It is an accepted fact. South Park will make fun of anyone, but not everyone makes it this easy. It is also true that not everyone is so easily broken by it when it happens.

For example.

 

In the episode, the red-headed prince and his wife – who wore a pink ensemble that clearly resembled one that Markle, 41, donned for the 2018 Trooping the Colour – decide to leave Canada after a falling-out with the royal family following the death of the queen.

The pair embark on a worldwide “We Want Privacy” tour before ending up in South Park, where they move into a house across the street from main character Kyle Broflovski to his chagrin.

Packed with jokes, innuendoes and thinly-veiled references, the episode ruthlessly skewers Harry and Meghan in traditional “South Park” style.

I’ve seen experts but not the whole thing, and it looks brutally brilliant. The Canadian Prince’s Book is titled Waaagh!

 

 

Two people who can’t shut up about wanting their privacy excoriated in classic South Park form. The We Want Privacy World Tour.

 

 

The well-deserved trashing is so on-point that there are rumors that they might sue South Park.

 

Though the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not directly named in the episode, it featured characters described as Canadian royalty and dubbed “the prince and his wife,” which clearly parodied the couple. In the parody, the young royal couple beg for privacy while drawing attention to themselves in a spoof-like way.

The show also calls the “wife” character a “sorority girl, actress, influencer and victim,” to which she replies, “Yeah, that’s totally me.”

 

Let’s hope they do (sue) and South Park demands legal fees for spurious lawfare. They can enjoy the company of Stormy Daniels, who sued Donald Trump and got stuck owing million in legal fees to Trump’s lawyers.

You can watch it on line here, but if you can wait, Sky News did a quick roundup of it with a few clips. You can find more if you go looking.

 

 

The post Royal Snowflakes Harry and Meghan Get Smoked by South Park … appeared first on Granite Grok.

Yes, this would be Patrick Hynes, an NH/DC-based political operative with an Op-Ed concerning Chris Sununu’s chances in the 2024 Presidential Campaign. For full disclosure, he was a founding member (with Doug Lambert) of Meet The New Press, our radio show here in the Lakes Region of NH.

And it continued until Lambert called NH Democrat Party Chair Ray Buckley a faggot on our livestream of the show and the rest was history well told in previous posts.

And Hynsie turned out to be one of the reasons why I harp on the fact that there’s no loyalty in politics – he PLEADED with me to remove all mention of him from Meet The New Press as he was throwing Lambert under the bus as quickly as he could – you know, like former NHGOP Chair Jennifer Horn (who was infamous from running away from any flying political mud lest a drop of it fall on her. She’s no longer a Republican grifter as the Lincoln Project helped her to “trans” to be a Democrat.  Bet the operative word is still “grifter”, however.).

But I digress.

SHOT: TO BE HONEST, I DON’T SEE SUNUNU AS HAVING A MOMENT: Patrick Hynes: “Sununu’s Moment”

GOVERNOR SUNUNU has been an effective and popular leader here at home, and as he takes his show on the road to share New Hampshire’s success story with other states his commonsense approach and upbeat disposition are attracting a fair amount of attention. It’s time to start thinking of Governor Chris Sununu as a serious potential candidate for President of the United States. And it’s okay for Granite Staters to get excited about the idea…

Chaser:  ElectionBettingOdds.com: Sununu isn’t even listed. “Other” (a grab bag of wannabees, I guess) shows up at 5.9%

Sununu doesn’t even show up in the list even after a month+ of running around the nation and going on all the Left-of-Center talking head shows.

US Senator Josh Hawley is the last one enumerated – with a rating of “< 0.01%”.  Which means Sununu doesn’t even rate that high.

Hangover: An “Evergreen” statement by Sununu himself on low-rated wannabes:

Mr. Sununu also warned minor candidates not to carve up the field.

“I think there’s a lot of hope and opportunity for good candidates to get in, drive the message where it needs to be,” he said. “But the discipline is getting out, too. The discipline and saying, ‘Look, you’re only polling at 5%, you got to get out.’ We don’t want a crowded field here.”

I have a feeling that this quote will get a lot workout over the next year as I think that “not listed” is a “minor candidate”. Remember, NH is still the Republican FITN and Sununu has been in the limelight as the “NH FITN Host” when the candidates rolled through – he’s not an unknown entity. But NH isn’t much larger than Delaware but at least its former Governor, Larry Hogan, is listed at BetFair.

Like I said, Hynsie is a paid political mercenary. Either he’s on the payroll or perhaps looking to be on it.

Otherwise, he’s lost his mind. Or delusional. Or both.

The post Really Hynsie? You’re Touting Chris Sununu as the Next Greatest President? appeared first on Granite Grok.

YOU MIGHT not realize how fortunate we are as Americans to be able to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day. Before 1988, when I was a young woman living in China, it never even occurred to me that such celebrations should even exist.

We want to thank Lilly Tang Williams for this Op-Ed. Please submit yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.

During the Cultural Revolution and many years beyond that, love was a forbidden subject. We were only allowed to show our “love” in public when it was our love for Chairman Mao, the Communist Party, and the motherland. Even expressing love to an immediate family member would be criticized. Couples caught holding hands together in public would be humiliated. My parents would call each other “male comrade” and “female comrade” instead of “husband and wife.”

Gender and beauty were canceled. Girls were required to wear unisex clothing and have approved hairstyles. Feminine clothing and behaviors were not tolerated. Wearing makeup was not accepted. Youths were strictly forbidden to date during school years. The girls were encouraged to rat out suitors by turning over love letters they received from boys. The boys would then be lectured by the teachers. Notes were sent home to their parents, with their violations recorded in their STUDENT FILE, a secret document kept on each student by the government.

I was forced to apologize in school for being too “sentimental” because I kept a photo album. When I had a “puppy love” during my middle school and high school years, I told myself to keep it quiet, as even my friends would turn me in.

Romantic songs and art were banned. We were only allowed to sing red songs to show affection to Mao and the CCP. The artwork on posters and walls was about collective love and loyalty to our leaders, never to family or friends. Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao were the focus of our directed “love.” For example, the lyrics to one popular song we had to sing in school went like this: “My parents are dear, but Chairman Mao is dearer.” Spouses were urged to report on each other. Children were brainwashed to turn on their parents.

In my college freshman year, we were warned by the Communist Party Law School Secretary, “don’t think about dating or marriage; focus on your studies to build China.” Of course, some of us rebelled against CCP rule, at least in secret. Things started to change publicly when a romance novel was published. It caused a national firestorm; the novel, “Love shall not be forgotten”, was about romance: a woman and a man who put their happiness first in a society that values sacrifice. Finally, the dating bans and dancing party bans were lifted.

After I came to America, I read a book written by a defector and former personal doctor to Mao. He revealed that Mao engaged often in dancing parties and had as many young women as he wanted during the Cultural Revolution.  At the same time, the powerless were being kept down by a party and told they should not live a “capitalist lifestyle.”

My family and I were eyewitnesses to the true communism that exists in reality. You see, the reality for the perfectible socialist man — is a place where utopian promises never come. It is, instead, a place of hatred, division, envy, oppression, poverty, and suffering. It is a place where there is the destruction of love, families, individuals, human nature, and humanity.

Today, in America and outside of China, I am free to wear whatever I want; I can pursue beauty and express my feelings and opinions freely. And yet, ironically, I see too many young people in America idealizing socialism and communism. Just recently, I was informed by a young Twitter commentator, “You did not survive REAL communism. Real communist society has never existed.” This is a shocking lie and propaganda. The real communism I lived in is the same one that has exterminated nearly 100 million people this last century. I sometimes wonder if the victims of real communism are turning over in their graves because of what many young Americans now believe. Have these real victims of communism been forgotten so easily?

Valentine’s Day is a time I will always treasure. I am happy to see people celebrate love. Love is a part of family life and individual freedom, expression, and desire that must not be suppressed or eradicated. So, I want to invite you to celebrate this Valentine’s Day with me, to celebrate one of our most profound, precious, and powerful human emotions — love.  It is love that will keep alive the memories of those millions.

—

Lily Tang Williams lives in Weare with her husband of 32 years. She is the chair of the N.H. Asian American Coalition. You can contact her at LilyTangWilliams.com.

 

 

The post A Late Submission: Happy Valentine’s Day in a Free Country! appeared first on Granite Grok.

I was invited to go to Vivek Ramasway’s event at St. A’s IOP last week by NH GOP Chair Chris Ager (the other videos are here and here, and Ray has a couple of posts on him as well). 

I spoke with him ahead of the event and started wondering during his speech, “is he running”?  His staff reached out to me afterward and asked if I’d be willing to be part of a panel discussion occurring tonite at Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester (see the ad on our right sidebar).

Note: PLEASE KNOW that because of the storm, it will end an hour early, at 8 pm.

His staff again reached out yesterday and asked if I’d be willing to speak individually as well – riiiiggghhhtt, giving a blogger like me an open mic?  Hope to see you there. Heh!

Back to the purpose of this post – last night, biotech and financial services entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced that he was the next candidate seeking the Republican nomination for President of the United States on Tucker Carlson.  First, however, his campaign’s announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2023
Press Contact: Tricia@vivek2024.com

Vivek Ramaswamy Announces Candidacy for President of the United States

COLUMBUS, OH– Today, business leader and New York Times bestselling author Vivek Ramaswamy announced he is running for President of the United States. The goal of his candidacy is to lead Americans to rediscover our shared national identity which he views as a requirement to overcome our key domestic and foreign policy challenges.

Visit Vivek2024.com to watch the full announcement video and to learn more about Mr. Ramaswamy’s policy positions, personal background, and vision for America. Mr. Ramaswamy announced his candidacy on Tucker Carlson Tonight and in a Wall Street Journal opinion editorial.

Vivek Ramaswamy issued the following statement:

“We’re in the middle of a national identity crisis. Our nation is hungry for a cause, for purpose, for meaning. The things that used to fill that void – like faith, patriotism, and family – have disappeared. Today the woke left preys on that vacuum. They tell you that race, your gender, and your sexual orientation govern who you are and what you can achieve in life. If you question that orthodoxy, they call you a bigot. A homophobe. A climate denier. A racist. And there is no greater damnation in modern America than to be called a racist.

“This is psychological slavery. And that has created a new culture of fear that has completely replaced our culture of free speech in America. The best measure of the health of a democracy is the percentage of people who feel free to say what they actually think in public, and right now we are doing abysmally.

“That is why today I am announcing my candidacy for President of the United States. This isn’t just a political campaign–it’s a cultural movement to create a new dream for the next generation of Americans.”

And his official video announcement:



 

 

*Editors note: there are more than three running in the Republican Presidential Primary, but only three that “might” have some national name recognition at this point in the primary campaign.

 

Reminder: Content about candidates or by candidates is not an endorsement by GraniteGrok.com or its authors.

The post Breaking: And Then Were Three* – Vivek Ramaswamy Is Running for President appeared first on Granite Grok.

As promised in the last Monday Memes, I have an overflow. My meme cup runneth over.  Certain about a Friday Overflow-Overflow.

Also, for those prepper-minded, my last two Survival Sundays:

Survival Sunday – Sunday PREP Edition – Granite Grok

Survival Sunday – Thursday SITREP Edition – Granite Grok

Now, let the mayhem, mockery, and ridicule resume:

 

*** Warning, a few possibly off-color ones, in case tender eyes are about ***

 

A hat trick of past essays:

Concealed Data: My BS Meter Pegs Out – Granite Grok

—

The Right to Disagree – Urban Scoop

—

The Right Way: The Leftist Sense of Self (obamasez.blogspot.com)

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

Virtually all fighting-age men.  Virtually no children.  Virtually no women.  Virtually no family units.

Just men.  Fit, young, healthy & strong men.

Prepositioned soldiers for when the fecal matter finally hits the shan?  For when the Globalists need to control the invaded countries and the militaries finally balk?  There are quite a number of people who hold that view, and IMHO not without justification.

 

>>>>>======<<<<<

 

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

I’ve seen videos of Chinese barriers to movement – you can only pass through with your digital ID and a green QR code:

 

https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/china-gate.mp4

 

And yet… there are people who think this ghettoization of cities is good and beneficial.  Cowards.  They want to be slaves.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

BILL WHITTLE: FERGUSON AND THE REAL RACE WAR

 

Click on it – it WILL play.

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

 

 

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Pick of the post:

 

 

I do believe he was killed.  Murdered.  Because he said the Constitution means what it says, and no more.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Neil Oliver: I don’t think governments value human beings anymore

 

 

I’m not sure, honestly, if any modern government really did.  If they did, it’s certainly an exception to the general rule.

 

>>>>>=====<<<<<

 

Palate cleansers:

 

 

—

—

 

The post Meme Overflow appeared first on Granite Grok.

Well … the NHGOP has lost ANOTHER House election … to another extremist. I am sure the bitter-clingers are in full denial mode … the Democrat was the incumbent … Democrats always do better in special elections; means absolutely nothing … Democrats always do better in cities … we were outspent … we still have the majority … blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Rather than reiterate the obvious … that New Hampshire is a BLUE State … not a swing, not a purple, and clearly not a Red State …  and getting BLUER by the day … I will just ask, AGAIN, why is the GOP having this BLUE State lead its Presidential Primary calendar.

The post Blue Wave Continues To Wash Over New Hampshire appeared first on Granite Grok.

I was saddened to learn of his passing this morning via an email from the NH GOP

Chairman Ager’s Statement Following the Passing of the Hon. Paul Mirski

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:‍ February 22, 2023
CONTACT: Chris Ager
(603) 318-4437

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Republican Party mourns the loss of former State Representative Paul Mirski of Enfield. Chairman Chris Ager issued the following statement:

“Rep. Mirski never met a conservative cause he wasn’t willing to champion. His legacy will be long lasting and his mentorship of so many Republicans will be missed dearly.

On behalf of the State Party, I offer my deepest condolences to Rep. Mirski’s family and friends.”

When I became politically aware (and then active), GraniteGrok was started. Of course, one of the items of interest was the NH GOP.  Paul, having already been familiar of what we had been reporting, held out his hand in friendship. He voluntarily offered (without specifically saying it out loud) to mentor me on the politics, the factions, the people, the relationship, and the politics encompassing all of those items. He also provided a lot of history of the NH GOP that assisted in setting a context for me for all that.  All done out of the goodness of his heart – he didn’t know me from a hole in the wall (even if it was a LOUD hole).

I haven’t spoken with him for a while – that love/hate relationship with the NH GOP that I’ve written about before.  That said, I will miss him.

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