Thursday • April 3 • 2025
Vol.XVII • No.XIV
Manchester, N.H.
Here is what should be obvious … painfully obvious … by this point. The GOP-swamp, the GOP-elites, the GOP-establishment … whatever you want to call them … have much, much more in common with the Biden-regime than they have in common with GOP voters. Stated slightly differently, the GOP swamp-creatures … Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Sun-King Chris Sununu, Kelly Ayotte, etc., etc., etc. … despise, detest, loathe GOP voters just as much as the Biden-regime does. THEY HATE TRUMP BECAUSE THEY HATE US.
The GOP-swamp’s imperative, mission, cause is wresting control of the GOP from Trump (and thereby from us) and returning it to themselves. So they can return to their grift. Defeating the Biden-regime with “their” nominee is merely extra icing on the cake.
But just keep pretending that we are all on the same team. Keep pretending that there are only two parties … when the reality is there are three because the GOP is really two parties: the GOP-swamp and the GOP voters.
The post The GOP-Swamp Cares ONLY About Destroying Trump appeared first on Granite Grok.
I was sitting at home Sunday afternoon with the TV on while preparing my Sunday sermon to be uploaded onto our church’s YouTube channel. Then all of a sudden, I see Hal Rafter, my Democratic opponent on my TV screen.
I did a double take, and sure enough, it was a political commercial addressing our General Election on Sept. 19th. During the next round of commercials, sure enough, Hal was back on, and this time I was able to record it on my phone. Let me share with you this, and I quote:
“All the issues that you care about are on the ballot: reproductive choice – climate change – and education. We came within ten votes in November, so every vote really does count.”
What I find concerning about this ad, and it should also concern the voters of Northwood and Nottingham, is this. Nowhere in this ad does Hal say that he wants to represent the people of District 1 at the State House in Concord. Hal’s implication is that he will represent a political agenda in the State House rather than the people of our great community of District 1. I am committed to representing the principles and values of the fine people of our community. I will be YOUR voice at the State House in Concord.
Yes – I am pro-life, and “reproductive choice” is not on the ballot. There is already a law on the books concerning abortion. I am against the “new green deal.” I do not believe all of our vehicles ought to be electric, and we need to remove our gas stoves and heating systems from our homes. I believe our educational dollars ought to follow our children, and parents have “rights” concerning the education of their kids. I also believe these are the common-sense values and principles held by those who reside in Northwood and Nottingham. It is clear from this ad that Hal Rafter will support a political agenda and not the principles and values of our community. I do agree with one thing Mr. Rafter said – every vote will count on September 19th. I want to remind our Northwood residents that our polling location has changed for this election. Northwood’s voting location will be the Town Hall in the main hall. If you are unable to vote in person, please get an absentee ballot from the Town Clerks’ office.
Are outsiders trying to influence our district’s election? Well, if you are a resident of Northwood, you may have received political postcards from New Jersey and Georgia. One of the fundamental principles of an election is that the people of that district get to choose a local resident to represent them. For too long, outsiders have been trying to impact and sway our district’s election. It is time we all stand up – get out and vote – and elect a representative of and for the people. I would consider it an honor to serve and represent you as your next State Representative for Rockingham District 1.
Humbly
James Guzofski
The post Outside Money and Influence in the Rockingham Dist. 1 State Representative Special Election? appeared first on Granite Grok.
Someone asked me to look into this a bit ago – another School District believing it could override the US and NH Constitution and numerous court decisions. It’s the same problem I fought for over two years and finally won in having my School Board.
That they couldn’t simply do what some Transgender Activists groups (The Trevor Project and GLSEN) demanded and make people “accept and confirm” their sexuality as adults and indoctrinate children as young as kindergartners.
Seriously – kids who are still potty-training in some cases and the Trans-Authoritarian set want to sexualize them at the K-3 ages? That’s grooming – and complacent school boards appear no longer willing to protect the innocence of the children placed into their care by unsuspecting Parents.
So, another Right To Know was launched based on the same Principle: where, in Law, can they do such things?
August 22, 2023
RE: Right to Know Request per RSA-91A: Legal basis for Milford’s Policy JBAB
[Art.] 8. [Accountability of Magistrates and Officers; Public’s Right to Know.] All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive…The public also has a right to an orderly, lawful, and accountable government…
Background:
In order to hold such “officers of government are their substitutes and agents”, there are incidents of outright lawbreaking and incidents of ethics complaints by which normal citizens are held responsible to use to “at all times” keep such people “accountable to them.
It is clear that SAU40’s Policy JBAB (https://www.milfordk12.org/apps/pages/JBAB-R) is unconstitutional and illegal in two areas:
1) IV. GUIDANCE C. Names/Pronouns
“A student has the right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to the student’s gender identity.”
2) IV. GUIDANCE A. Privacy
School personnel should not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation to others, including parents and other school personnel, unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure.
New Hampshire is a Dillon’s Rule State as opposed to a Home Rule State. The latter means that a subdivision of the State, in which a school board is a mere subdivision of the State, can enact rules, regulations, and ordinances as long as they don’t violate any State or Federal laws.
The former, however, strictly proscribes what a subdivision of a State can or cannot do. Thus, a subdivision’s actions must comport with enumerating / authorizing Laws duly passed by the State. Multiple court cases have affirmed this point of Law.
Demand:
Pursuant to the Right to Know Law (RSA. 91-A:4 (I) ), I am demanding access, within 5 business days, to the below enumerated governmental records for Citizen complaints against NH State Government staff members:
- To Item #1, above, that declaration concerning compelled speech, can be translated as:
In this Dillon’s Rule State, where does this mere subdivision of the State gain the Power (governments have Powers, Individuals have Rights) to grant a new Right to a minor child to coerce the speech of others and that it has the Power to subvert the First Amendment’s Freedom of Speech as well as the NH Constitution’s Article 2
Thus, given that many of the District’s other Policies cite specific NH State Statutes (“RSAs”) and/or Department of Education Rules (having the force of Law) and that your Policy JBAB has no such citation(s) allowing this Dillon’s Rule State subdivision to act in such a manner, produce such Governmental records (e.g., RSA(s) supporting the District’s actions in this matter.
- To Item #2 above, given that a “lie” can be accomplished either by commission (deliberately stating an untruth to deliberately mislead others) or by omission (withholding information so as to mislead others), Item #2 can be translated as:
In this Dillon’s Rule State, where does this mere subdivision of the State gain the Power to force/mandate that its Staff either directly lie (“commission”) to its students’ Parents about their child’s gender dysphoria/transgender status simply to make the Board members feel good about themselves? Or by withholding information (“omission”) so as to deflect, misdirect, or misinform a student’s Parents?
Thus, given that that your Policy JBAB has no such citation(s) allowing this subdivision to act in such a manner, produce such Governmental records (e.g. State RSA(s) supporting the District’s actions in this matter.
If this cannot be fulfilled within that 5 business day mandated window per RSA 91-A:2, II, please advise when the Responsive Record(s) will be made available.
Per RSA 91-A:4 IV(c) If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific exemption (RSA 91-A:5) used to justify the denial to make each record, or part thereof, available for inspection along with a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the information withheld.
Additional: It is not up to the Requester to be made to look up the subjects or materials that are the focus of this Right To Know (e.g., from the Respondent: “here’s the URL so do the search yourself”). It is the responsibility of the Respondent to fully supply all demanded materials.
As you are aware, in 2016, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that a governmental body in possession of records is required to produce them in electronic media using standard common file formats: Green v. SAU #55, 168 N.H. 796, 801 (2016). Unless there is some reason that it is not reasonably practical to produce such, explain why it is not practical to comply.
Please also note, per RSA 91-A:4 III, III-a, and III-b, you are required to maintain the safety and accessibility of such Responsive Records. This also includes such responsive records (e.g., emails, query files, policies) which may have been deleted from respective local hardcopy or software systems but are still available on the applicable servers or in application or archival system(s) either in-house or hosted.
Please let me know when these records are available for inspection or you may email the records to me at Skip@GraniteGrok.com. If the volume is turns out to be substantial, I’ll be happy to supply a backup drive sufficient to hold all of your responsive records.
Thank you for your lawful attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Skip Murphy
Founder
GraniteGrok.com
I really hope that this isn’t going to take another two years but, you know…
The post The Transgender Policy JBAB Hunt: This Time, It’s Milford appeared first on Granite Grok.
Many Donald Trump supporters I have had conversations and interactions with share an intense feeling of being cheated over what took place in 2020 that can only be assuaged by running – and this time winning – a Trump/Biden rematch in 2024.
While I share the anger and frustration stemming from the multiple injustices inflicted on the former president (and Republicans in general) over the past seven years, I respectfully disagree as to that remedy. A Trump candidacy in 2024 is not the best thing for the country, the Republican Party, or, for that matter, Donald Trump.
In order for justice to be meted out, Republicans need to re-claim all of the internal administrative levers of power necessary to reform the DOJ, the FBI, and other problematic areas of the federal bureaucracy, as well as, from the former president’s perspective, having someone in place to pardon him should that become necessary. This, of course, requires winning the presidency.
And let’s be honest, a man who is a 100 percent known commodity, who the voters have long ago made up their minds about, who lost his last bid for the same office, who is spending all of his campaign donations on legal expenses instead of campaigning, who has an approval rating in the 30’s, and a recent poll showed 53 percent of voters would not vote for him under any circumstances does not represent our best chance to win the upcoming presidential election.
Moreover, in addition to the presidency, Republicans must win back the Senate (as well as increasing – and not losing — their bare majority in the House), which is critical for confirming key presidential appointments, controlling the committees that have the power to investigate the crimes and potential crimes that have been perpetrated over the past several years, and passing any kind of a conservative legislative agenda.
And, again, let’s be honest. Donald Trump does not have a stellar track record when it comes to picking winning candidates and/or helping others win elections. With Trump as the head of the Party, Republicans lost the House in 2018, lost the Senate and the presidency in 2020, and in what should have been a wave Republican year in 2022, woefully underperformed, especially in Senate races. Another round of Hershel Walkers, Blake Masters, Dr. Ozs, etc. would be a disaster for the Party, the country, and the former president.
In 2020, Republicans lost the Senate largely because Donald Trump allowed his feud with the Georgia governor and secretary of state to overshadow, spill into, and negatively impact the two special runoff elections we needed to win to keep the US Senate in Republican control. The consequences of that failure were humongous.
It delayed, for example, any serious investigations into the Hunter Biden laptop scandal and hence the Biden family bribery scandal by two years until the Republicans were able to re-claim a house majority – barely – in 2022.
It also killed any chance of investigations into the very voting irregularities Trump was upset about to begin with, as well as the “Russia-gate” fraud, censorship of conservatives by social media companies, etc. It made it impossible for Republicans to stop the Biden Administration and the Democrats from passing their own devastating slate of legislative priorities, such as extended Covid lockdowns, the fraudulently named Inflation Reduction Act, and undoing Donald Trump’s own positive legacy on issues like border control and energy independence.
Too often the man gets in his own way and is his own worst enemy. Trump did, after all, appoint Christopher Wray to run the FBI taking advice from Chris Christie, no less! If there is any evidence that he has learned from these mistakes, that his judgement has improved, or that he has grown more disciplined as a result, I have not yet seen it.
I want to see the people who have abused the law and our institutions to mistreat Republicans, our agenda, and our country brought to justice. But, like the lawyer who has himself for a client, I am not convinced at this point in time Donald Trump is the right person to do this job.
So, as the other Republican candidates take the stage tomorrow night, I will be looking to see, first and foremost, who has the potential to appeal to a majority of American voters and win. Additionally, who has shown the ability to bring coattails to elections and help other conservatives win as well. Who can think and operate strategically not just for themselves but as the leader of a team. Who has a vision for the country that will turn us back toward small, constitutional government, and the managerial abilities to execute this vision through a series of policy successes.
Too much is at stake for this election to be about anything other than winning a broad mandate for a conservative policy agenda. If Republicans lose the House and fail to win the Senate in 2024 because the nominee for president drags down the ticket, all the investigations into the crimes of the past seven years go away, probably forever, and justice will never be served. Worse the agenda our country needs to heal itself will never have a chance to be implemented. In fact, quite the opposite — as we have witnessed over the past three years.
Rob Roper is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience in Vermont politics, including three years of service as chair of the Vermont Republican Party and nine years as President of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free-market think tank.
The post If You Really Care About Donald Trump, Don’t Let Him Be the Republican Nominee appeared first on Granite Grok.
As promised in the last Monday Memes, I have an overflow. My meme cup runneth over. And there will be a Friday Overflow-Overflow.
Let the mayhem, mockery, and ridicule resume:
*** Warning, a few possibly off-color ones, in case tender eyes are about ***
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From a Telegram contact:
German advertising billboard reads: “Future or climate killer?”
They’re encouraging the native to stop breeding and importing millions of third world men.
You still think it’s all a “conspiracy theory”?
More on the Great Replacement and migration in general:
About Sweden in particular:
Swedish rape crisis – INSANE court ruling! (substack.com)
It was observed that this girl may also be an illegal. That doesn’t mean she deserved to be raped or murdered. MHO? Execute this vermin by decapitation, then mount the skull on a pike at the border. Lather, rinse, repeat. Until there’s a forest of skulls, gleaming in the sun blindingly, as a lesson to the next illegals what happens when you break our laws to come in. And MHO again? Add in the skulls of the government officials and NGO staffers that are aiding this. And a personal request: Can I please please please be the one who “does” Barbara Spectre?
My reaction when I first heard her words here. And my taking my fellow Jews to task on their pro-migration stance:
An Open Letter to Pro-Migration / SJW Jews – Urban Scoop
A little more about Spectre (bolding added):
If she’s a Leftist, then her work for multiculturalism won’t really be done as a Jew; but as a Leftist or Left-Liberal. Most Leftist Jews are not Jews in a religious sense or in a cultural sense. And, obviously, they aren’t pro-Israel either. Thus they are only Jewish by blood — just like Chomsky. And if blood doesn’t matter, as Leftists claim, then they have no right to speak for Jews, when they talk about Israel. They are contradicting their own anti-racism and their criticisms of other people’s focus on race or blood. Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein are no more or less Jewish than George Bush or Mike Tyson. Most Leftist/Marxist Jews have rejected — despite what the Nazis claim — just about every aspect of Jewish culture, religion, and history, as well as Israel.
IF she’s a Leftist? I’ll bet every penny I have that she is.
And while this article is from 2019, the comments are spot-on: Jews helping to import people from anti-Semitic parts of the world. Jewicidal Yidiots!
Immigration has to stop!
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If Hawaii, which typically votes “D”, continues to do so – you get what you deserve IMHO.
Already writing The Potato out of the script, I see. And this is an interesting take on the Dem future:
WaPo columnist: If Biden retires and Harris doesn’t get nominated, watch out – HotAir
So what to make of this shipping bottleneck?
Huge backlog of 200 ships are stuck trying to enter the Panama Canal as they wait WEEKS amid slowed traffic due to drought: Delays set to wipe $200M off profits and cause spike in US grocery and parcel prices | Daily Mail Online
Back in the 2007 time frame I was at a NH GOP event with Dr. Paul as one of the candidates, with him actually present. Now let me state that from an ideological standpoint I like him a lot, though I do believe the capital-L Libertarian doctrine is more than a little naïve in terms of national defense, for one example. But he failed to say even a single word of reproach to his enthusiastic fans who were loud & quite frankly quite boorish, interrupted other speakers, etc. From that I came away as distinctly uninterested in him politically – can’t even control a small group who would have listened to him with rapt attention.
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PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA – PSA
Are you to the Right of Stalin? Understand that the Left views you as an enemy… and potentially soon, an enemy to be harassed and punished by the legal system.
MSNBC Says The Quiet Part Out Loud: “This is an indictment of the people who voted for Trump” – Pirate’s Cove » Pirate’s Cove (thepiratescove.us)
This is saying to you Americans “vote the way we tell you or face the consequences. If we can come after a former president this hardcore, we could come after you, and you stand no chance.”
The Trump Indictments Are Blunt Demonstrations Of Power (thefederalist.com)
This is about power — who has it, and who doesn’t. The people at the top are trying to tell you, the masses under them, that they can do whatever they want to you, at any time, and there’s nothing you can do to fight back. Just look what they’re doing to Trump, a former president. If they can do that to him, imagine what they can do to you.
Why do the words of JFK Jr. come to mind as the Left systematically thwarts millions of people from having a say?
Now understand, I am not advocating violent revolution. I just fear that – more and more – it’s becoming inevitable. The switch is getting close to being thrown…
And for no other reason than because we all wanted to be left alone, and they said no.
Actually, it’s not just being left alone. They really do believe themselves to be on a higher level, made from “finer clay”, and thus entitled to tell us what to do.
Remember how easily the sheeple turned on you because you didn’t wear a face diaper or refused an experimental gene therapy. They’ll do the same once you are tarred with “MAGA”.
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And we STILL don’t have the manifesto from the Nashville shooter made public.
Sorry if this is a bit of an “eye chart” – I’ve got it as big as it gets.
Well played, that last one!
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Covid, Jab, etc.:
Requirement to wear masks in hospitals may have had little impact on COVID-19 transmission during omicron wave (medicalxpress.com)
Don’t forget the 2 boys (Gill et al.) who were found dead in their beds, 3 & 4 days after receiving 2nd dose of Pfizer’s mRNA technology COVID vaccine; “Autopsy Histopathologic Cardiac Findings in 2 (substack.com)
The Vax-Gene Files: Have the Regulators Approved a Trojan Horse? ⋆ Brownstone Institute
Why so hard to resist? Dopamine and the pleasure hits you get when you comply.
Civilizational Collapse and Biology (Part 3) – Urban Scoop
On this last one, also a video:
https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/covid-ramp-up.mp4
With the text from the Telegram channel where I got this saying (bolding added):
The promotion of the new 793 variant of CONvid is gaining momentum across the planet. The number of publications on this topic has been growing exponentially in recent days. Information appears on the network that new lockdowns and other “sanitary measures” are waiting for Europe in mid-September. The population of the planet will again try to intimidate with a runny nose so that it agrees to put on muzzles again and stay at home. And when we remember that in less than a week (August 25) the law on disinformation on the Internet comes into force in the EU, which will oblige the media, social networks and platforms with video content to remove all publications that contradict the main narrative, we can conclude that we are waiting for a new rich round of intimidation and propaganda. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed.
On that last… another Telegram contact told me that a bitchute channel they regularly follow – they’re in Europe – is now blocked. Only by VPN setting to the US can they see it.
So, basically, prepare to be bombarded endlessly about the need for more Jabs, and masks, and lockdowns… and depending where you live, anything you post to the contrary will be removed by force of law. And now, consider one variant’s name:
They NEED chaos to hit, and hard – whether a virus, war, economy, etc. For only then – desperate and starving – will these words be prophetic:
(Link to AZQuotes per their policy.)
Don’t just have another Jab. Get two for good measure. And eat a choline-rich diet for at least a month before you do. Better: take choline supplements too.
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Plopping Jews
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The Coming Tyranny / Great Reset (Broad) – links and memes
UK government’s nefarious chemtrail programme EXPOSED – The Expose (expose-news.com)
How to Prep for a Cyberattack (theorganicprepper.com)
Avoiding a cashless society
I make it a point to pay cash whenever possible. The only time I use my card is when I don’t plan well and run out. Speaking of CBDCs:
The Brazilian Central Bank Goes LIVE with a CBDC (theorganicprepper.com)
https://granitegrok.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/15-minute-interview.mp4
“It’s absolutely catastrophic. Nobody ever voted for this. People are not allowed to use their cars outside of their 15 minute ‘zone’ more than 100 times per year. The idea is essentially to stop you travelling wherever you want.”
Red Meat Allergies from Tick Bites Are on the Rise (theorganicprepper.com)
How… convenient. Do not doubt me on this: maggot burgers, cricket chips, and sustainable algae cakes – not to mention their 3D-printed lab-grown tumor meat – will not be affected by this new “allergy”.
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“Climate Change” – links and memes
Note the date. Don’t forget the CNN guy caught on secret camera saying that “climate” would be the next scare. And now…
This one is important. It shows how measurements are differing from models. And I remember – but alas didn’t save – a NASA scientist saying that the data needed to be tweaked to make it comport better with the models.
No. No no no no no. That’s not how science works. Observations trump models. Period.
Also note the start date. The earth was noticeably cooling from the 1930s (very high points in the data) to the mid-1970’s. So they’re starting the graph precisely when the decline in temperatures turned around and started up again.
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Pick of the post:
Many good ones this entry, but this is the winner IMHO.
They never think it will come for them. Until it does. This happens time after time after time in history.
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Larry Elder SCHOOLS Woke Liberals | Larry Elder
And another by him (link only):
Debunking The ‘Trump is a Racist’ Myth | Larry Elder – YouTube
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Palate cleansers:
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The post Meme Overflow appeared first on Granite Grok.
We still believed in sovereignty and securing our Borders when Donald Trump was President. The equipment was purchased to build a Border Wall, the materials were delivered, and the contracts were signed. Illegal Border crossings were at an all-time low, and the Border Patrol and ICE Agents were respected.
Then came January 20, 2021, and President Joe Biden took office and began to dismantle America. One of the first actions by President Biden was to stop the construction of the Wall and cancel the signed contracts. The materials were stored in the Texas Desert to rot, and the locks were taken off the locks to open the floodgates of millions of illegal immigrants. On his first day, President Biden canceled our sovereignty and dashed the future hopes of most Americans.
Texas Governor Abbott has been evaluating all possibilities to ease the pressure and danger of illegal immigration on his state and residents. One of his options was to purchase the abandoned equipment from the Federal Government and for Texas to complete the Wall. It seemed like a good idea for all. The equipment would be used. The Federal government would recoup their expense, and the Border would be recovered. To which the President cried out, Not so fast there, folks. I’m having a flea market sale this weekend and selling all that surplus material.
The House of Representatives and the State of Texas are working on a transfer of the equipment and Texas cash so Texas can resume the Wall construction. Biden is selling off the abandoned fence components for pennies on the dollar as a preemptive move. If the material disappears, then no entity will be building the Wall, which is precisely what Biden and the Democrats want. The geographical Border states are under attack, and they have the right, and the obligation, to protect their territory and people.
One of the tools used by Governor Abbott is the floating fences running down the middle of the Rio Grande. These large armored rubber “balls” create a barrier above and below the surface, making them very effective in preventing illegal river crossings. These effectively prevent illegals from physically touching Texas/United States land. This tool works for Texas, so the Biden Administration is suing Texas for illegally blocking territorial waters. Texas must stop using this floating barrier and remove all existing sections if successful.
Can it be any clearer that Joe Biden and most Democrats do not want a secure Border or any obstacles preventing illegals from entering the United States? Like the bogus Inflation and Employment numbers, Joe Biden is manipulating the Immigration numbers. Biden claims there has been an enormous drop in crossings since the death of Title 42. It is a lie. The Biden Administration implemented a phone app that migrants could use to register before they reach the Border. Anyone who successfully uses the app is given unrestrained entry and is not included in the illegal entry count. They are still entering our country. They are just not counted in this sham former Southern Border.
Cities and states impacted by Biden’s immigration policies must band together and sue the President and the Federal Government for not protecting America’s Border and damages for the billions of dollars cities and states are spending to house and educate illegal immigrants landing in their area. The legal path is the only way to divert Biden’s effort to saturate our country with unvetted, unchecked, and unvaccinated people worldwide.
The post Biden Erased The Border And Sold The Wall appeared first on Granite Grok.
Back in 2020, many months into the Left’s presidential campaign strategy doing business as the COVID pandemic and Peaceful Protests, GraniteGrok predicted it could be the beginning of the end of big cities like New York.
What bad Democrat policies began, Covid-19 accelerated, Democrat lockdowns exacerbated, and Democrat-encouraged riots put into high gear: Productive citizens are fleeing the big cities, especially the Democratic Party’s strongholds, and even those who initially meant to return are finding that life is better in the suburbs, or even in rural America.
Weren’t we clever?
Nearly 160 Wall Street firms have moved their headquarters out of New York since the end of 2019, taking nearly $1 trillion — yes, that’s trillion with a “T” — in assets under management with them, according to data from 17,000 companies compiled by Bloomberg.
Looking to dodge rampant crime, stiff taxes and an increasingly exorbitant cost of living, 158 fed-up financial firms representing a whopping $993 billion in assets have packed up and left the Big Apple, taking thousands of high-paid employees with them, the data shows.
The lockdowns and rise of remote everything from learning to working brightened a light bulb (probably LED in earth-friendly packaging) over the pointy heads of corporate boards and small businesses alike. Why am I paying top dollar on office space for employees who can do the same job from home? As Mike Rogers noted back in September 2020,
When New York became unsafe in the 70’s and 80’s, there was no reasonable way for collaborative work, or trading which required lightning-fast responses, to be done from a home in the boondocks, but today, and indeed for more than ten years now, internet speeds have made it possible for anybody who does not need specialized machinery to work from anywhere a desk, a computer, and an internet connection can be set up.
The big cities have become increasingly expensive for high earners to live in, and people have been gradually making the choice between living comfortably for less versus crowded and expensive living conditions balanced by a lively social scene. The gradual walking away became a brisk trot with the Covid lockdowns, as anybody who had the option left the cities for quieter and less infected locales, but it became a stampede as the BLM/Antifa riots and looting wiped out large swaths of what made downtown worthwhile.
The housing crisis in many states these days started when urbanites tucked tail and ran as far from the monster they’d help create as possible. Biden’s open borders invasion has not helped, nor have the Demcorats’ economic priorities, which are littering vast swaths of America with Bidenvilles; homeless camps punctuated by rising property crime, violent crimes, sexual assault, and overdose deaths adjacent to high-rise hotels filled with illegal aliens.
A Democrat Socialists Normal Rockwell.
These Democrats have hardly had to do a thing to ruin America’s cities but be themselves a lesson for everyone everywhere who will listen as the people in them with the means are heading for the hills. Good for them, but not for the rest of us. While they are quick to abandon the results of decades of Democrat rule grasping how things got so bad is less common. Like a virus, they spread that progressive contagion to sleepy bergs or smaller states with quaint pastoral character, little bureaucratic burden, low crime, and high quality of life.
These fragile blessings crumble quickly under the marching boots of leftists who had the sense to get away from failure only to lack the reason not to duplicate it in their new environment.
Vermont invaded years ago and went down with very little fight. Maine is headed that way. And we’ve been fighting it in New Hampshire for decades, clinging bitterly to our liberties, low crime, high quality of life, low poverty, and above-average incomes. All the things you’ll lose if the Left gets its fangs in deep enough.
The added weight of urban refugees who don’t know how things got so bad where they were or stayed so good where they went can tip the scales to the Left, so it is left to the locals to get them with the program.
New Hampshire, the lone holdout in New England, is increasingly under outside pressure to give in to the progressive impulse.
The outsiders have been pouring in since before COVID, but the game is still afoot. House prices are high, but deep-pocketed urban Wall Street or Tech types have the money to free themselves from the inevitable decline that follows Democrat rule and, as it turns out, funds the campaigns of the same where they land.
Repeating lessons they’ve not yet learned. A different kind of invasion from which escape seems increasingly less likely. But that’s why we fight the fight, yes?
“The battle against tyranny is eternal, as is the desire for liberty, but tyranny never rests, so – like them – neither shall we.”
The post As Dying Democrat Cities Poison the Rest of America appeared first on Granite Grok.
Many people live highly stressful lives and find it tricky to switch off and get a sense of calm and serenity in their lives. There are plenty of different techniques for unwinding that you can practice, and the following blog post will check out just a few of the main options you have in front of you. This way, you can ensure that your mind and body get the recharge that it so badly needs.
Detox from techMany people think that the best way to unwind is to lose themselves in the latest boxset they have been watching, but this can have the opposite effect if you are not careful. Therefore, you should look to detox from tech as much as possible. You could simply curl up on the sofa with a good book. Perhaps you could listen to some music instead. If you want to unwind, there is always the option to create your own chillout zone complete with jumbo bean bags and anything that will help you to unwind.
Get some fresh airMany people spend all day cooped up indoors, and this is bound to have an overall negative impact on their mental well-being. Therefore, why not look into getting some fresh air instead? Whatever you are doing, you are bound to be getting your body moving at the same time. This could range anywhere from a short stroll to a gentle jog. If you need that extra motivation, it could help to get outside with a friend.
Speak to a friend or someone closeA lot of people live their lives in a way that is quite isolated from one another. While texting is all well and good, it doesn’t give you the same feeling as actually being able to interact with someone close to you. Therefore, speaking with a friend, family member, or someone close to you is worth regularly. Giving a call is going to be better than texting, but if you can see them in person, this will obviously be better.
Indulge in something mindfulOne of the main reasons so many people struggle to switch off is that they are either consumed by past events or paralyzed in fear about what is going on in the future. Therefore, indulging in mindful activities could be the ideal way to give your brain the break it needs.
This could include something more traditional such as yoga or meditation. Having said that, anything has the potential to be mindful. For example, cooking can be a very mindful activity, but it lets you be in the zone over a period of time, and you end up with a nice meal at the end of it all.
All of these are different techniques that can help you unwind at the end of a long day. They are all worth indulging in to see what works for you, and have the potential to leave you feeling recharged.
The post How to unwind at the end of the day appeared first on Granite Grok.
The 2024 presidential campaign is well underway, and New Hampshire voters certainly appreciate the unique and crucial responsibility we have in selecting the next President.
We want to thank Rep James Soti for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
As a conservative, I have searched for a GOP candidate who best embodies our state’s “Live Free or Die!” motto, someone who understands our deep commitment to individual liberty, personal responsibility, and the rule of law.
After examining an ever-growing list of candidates and meeting many of them, I’m proud today to endorse Larry Elder for the Republican nomination for president.
Larry isn’t a billionaire or a career politician. Like many New Hampshire residents, he’s from humble origins, the son of a hardworking small business owner who inspired him to chase the American Dream. His success story embodies that dream. Through a commitment to personal responsibility and hard work, Larry became one of the most influential voices for liberty in the country by using his various media platforms over the last 40 years to educate millions of Americans about limited government and public accountability.
In an election where the stakes are higher than ever before, we need a candidate who is battle-hardened. Perhaps no recent candidate understands this better than Larry Elder. As a black conservative running in deep blue California, his success positioned him as an imminent threat to the radical left-wing politicians and pundits who want us to believe that the American Dream is a myth. During his gubernatorial campaign, Democrats derisively referred to Larry as an Uncle Tom, a sellout, and, incredibly, “the black face of white supremacy.”
Despite these shameless attacks, Larry never wavered in his commitment to the enduring principles that make America great. This took extraordinary courage and dignity. Even as he has withstood unthinkable smears, Larry remains a true unity candidate with a plan to discredit and dismantle the DEI industrial complex that rejects our founding principles and regularly tells us that Larry’s story is simply an impossibility.
Larry’s candidacy is about empowering Americans to pursue the American Dream by expanding economic and educational opportunities and limiting the role of an out-of-control federal bureaucracy. That’s why he has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to oppose and veto any proposed tax increase while in office. More than any other candidate in this race, he has expressed a commitment to tackling the runaway spending that fuels the inflation crisis that’s making it harder and harder for young families in New Hampshire to get by. He also supports the expansion of school choice programs that would empower parents and level the playing field for families of all socioeconomic programs, giving them the freedom to choose the sort of education that works best for their children.
Larry understands that a free society requires a firm commitment to the rule of law. He is committed to securing our border and putting an end to the cartel-driven flow of dangerous drugs that are gutting our small towns and rural communities. His “Enforce the Law Act” is a bold legislative model that would protect American families by creating a system that holds ideological district attorneys and prosecutors accountable when they refuse to enforce the law.
We live in the greatest country in the history of the world. Here, we are free to be and do what we want and to achieve great things. But there are those who seek to weaken us, insisting our best days are fading into the past.
We must not squander what so many generations have toiled to preserve. With Larry Elder, we can forge the future of a Golden Age for America, where liberty and opportunity spark peace and prosperity for us all.
That’s why I’m proud to endorse him for President of the United States.
Julius Soti is a 2-term State Representative from Rockingham County District 35 Londonderry/Windham, New Hampshire.
Reminder: Content about candidates or by candidates is not an endorsement by GraniteGrok.com or its authors.
The post 2024 Presidential Campaign Endorsement: Larry Elder for President! appeared first on Granite Grok.
The summer season brings warmer weather and longer, brighter days, so being outdoors is far more pleasurable. A weekend walk to a local park or beauty spot can be a real joy when the sun shines, and there is no cloud in the sky.
Summertime also provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy your property’s outdoor and garden spaces. True pleasure can be gained by enjoying a favorite book in the shade on a hot day or even simply by tending to the garden or mowing the lawn.
This time of year provides the perfect opportunity to improve your garden’s and outdoor areas’ key parts. With a little bit of time and effort, you can make some meaningful improvements that will increase your enjoyment of being outside. This article will explore three top tips for improving your garden areas.
Consider the perimeterWhile many gardens have key focal points such as vibrant flower beds or an interesting path area, it is easy to overlook the perimeter of this space. Over time, fences can grow old and may sustain damage after years of exposure to the elements.
An old or damaged fence can really detract from the overall appearance and appeal of any garden, and it is important to consider replacing your fencing when it gets to this condition. Search online for fence builders to find suitable professionals who will be able to advise you on the ideal materials and styles of fencing that will complement your garden.
Choose treated wood as your material of choice if you are looking for a traditional feel to the garden, or consider composite materials if you are seeking a modern finish. Take a range of quotes from suppliers to ensure you are getting the best value, and look for customer feedback that will indicate the satisfaction of previous customers.
Build a fire pitIt is relatively easy to construct a fire pit in your garden and this will become the focal point for enjoying freshly cooked food outdoors in the summer season. There is a wide range of fire pit designs you can choose from, and ideally, you will want to make one that matches your DIY skill level. Most firepits can be constructed in a day or less and are usually made with non-combustible bricks to form the perimeter of the structure. They are easy to maintain and allow you to enjoy al fresco dining and barbecued food whenever desired.
Get the perfect lawnAs a final key improvement to your garden, it is important to consider the condition of your lawn. The lawn can quickly become spoiled when moss or weeds develop between the grass, which can detract from the overall appeal of these areas.
Thankfully, multipurpose lawn feeds can kill weeds and moss while improving your lawn’s quality. If you have pets at home, it is important to pick a lawn product that is not harmful to them if ingested. Always read the product description to ensure that the product you choose is pet friendly.
The post Top Tips for Improving Your Garden Areas appeared first on Granite Grok.
Captain Jack (Kimball) took me out on a boat Sunday (with my wife and his girlfriend), and we went looking for sea mammals. We’ve been out a few times and whale-watching once. We saw whales then, but the video was not much to see. This time, we did better.
We saw a lot of seals and half a dozen whales (Humpback and Minke) and had an overall great day, but because of the rock and sway of the boat, some of the videos I shot rank somewhere between the Zapruder Film and classic 70s “video” of bigfoot.
Given that it was water, perhaps the monster of Loch Ness would be a more apt description, but since I took a lot of videos, the odds landed in my favor, and a few of them were decent enough to share.
This is by far the best video, front to back, of one of our encounters with whales, of which there were many. We saw at least five or six different Humpbacks (I believe that’s what they were) and one Minke, all in the same vicinity, about 7 to 8 miles past the Isle of Shoals.
Here’s that above-average look from my reams of “footage.” You get a bit of whale tail at the end if you watch it all.
Earlier in the day, we sidled up to Boon Island in search of seals. At least 30 bobbing in the water near us, just checking out the boat. I shot several more videos, but most of them look similar. We’re looking at the seals, and the seals are looking at us, and plenty of me trying to get shots as they came near the boat (only for them to go underwater before I got the camera pointed that way).
That’s what all the side-to-side movement is. The up and down is the boat or me trying to compensate.
A beautiful day to be out on the water.
I lost my hat once while we were zooming out to see the seals, but we fetched it. It needed a bath. We also moored at Isle of Shoals after the whales to hang out and enjoy the afternoon.
And the Featured Image is NOT mine. It comes to us care of the Seacoast Science Center, which specializes in Marine Mammal rescue.
The post When I get a Chance to get Away from the Internet for a While … appeared first on Granite Grok.
Finally, the Union Leader appears to have returned to what it used to do: champion the Individual over the Government (with its Leftward bent lately, it has been taking the side of the Government).
In this case, however, contra to what the Southern Poverty Law Center would contend (that Government should always be foremost in any process or disagreement, especially those ending in court), Grokster Laurie Ortolano won her Right to Know case to get Government Records (emails) that the City of Nashua had in its possession/authority. After all, such a law as RSA 91-A (the Right To Know) was created to keep the Government in check.
Remember, the Government is supposed to be serving us and not the other way around. And I’m glad to have helped her by letting her know that:
The court system agreed with her several times. Nashua, however, refused to fork them over (and other “Responsive Records”) as well. Now the NH Supreme Court has laid the smackdown on Nashua’s Mayor Donchess and his flunkies. They wanted to play “hide the sausage” (e.g., the backup tapes), and NHSC brought out a meat cleaver and a blowtorch.
And yet, the SPLC calls GraniteGrok “anti-Government”? This case is just one in a long line of examples set by Nashua that end up with one conclusion:
Government cannot always be trusted to do the right things
Sometimes, accidents or oversights happen – and when corrected when pointing them out, great. However, there are those in Government that have gotten a ‘tude that they outrank the rest of us. In the case of Nashua, they’ve been proving it for years.
Laurie needs to be thanked by all of us for investing her time and money to root out malfeasance while being slimed by government and government-aligned slimeballs.
One has to wonder how much was spent by the City of Nashua, from the start to now, in refusing to Follow the Law.
Oh, WAIT – we can work that out!
The post The City of Nashua Gives Us Cause to Distrust Government appeared first on Granite Grok.
A UT Austin Journalism course has abandoned all pretense and objectivity. No more debate about whether the mostly liberal media is, in fact a partisan propaganda arm of the central planners and progressive plotters. They’ve embraced “be you.”
That means being partisan voices for whatever the latest thing is.
The “Solidarity Journalism Initiative” at University of Texas at Austin teaches students to “convey outrage” and and abandon neutrality with the funding of top tech companies and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
The initiative, which is part of the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Media Engagement, “helps journalists, journalism educators, and journalism students improve coverage of marginalized communities,” according to its website.
Marginalized communities suggest minority communities, but I feel comfortable saying that’s not true. No one reporting in, about, or from any of these “jurisdictions” is going to be talking about their white minority populations.
“List of U.S. communities with African-American majority populations in 2020”
Population over 100,000
Population 25,000 to 99,999
Population 10,000 to 24,999
Population 5,000 to 9,999
Population 1,000 to 4,999
Population 100 to 999
Population under 100
Much like the mantra that there is no such thing as racism against whites (or Asians unless it is by whites), the cultural revolution will not brook the notion of white minorities. Not here, not in South Africa, not anywhere.
And I’m not implying that people who have majorities in these places are not marginalized for any number of reasons, including the color of their skin. The point is that any pretense at reporting the world objectively has long been thought lost, and UT Austin is simply coming out of the closet.
The post The Debate over Biased Media Isn’t Just Over – The Left Killed It, and They are so Proud! appeared first on Granite Grok.
Excellent piece on Real Clear Politics (a Hugh Hewitt interview of David Sacks) showing the stupidity of the “Putin is Hitler” argument. Let me add a couple of points. Anyone who has done even a cursory examination of the relevant history knows that Hitler always intended to engage in a war of conquest in the East. Hitler said so in his books … that lebensraum thing.
Also we now know that Germany’s economic position in 1941 left it no choice but to attack the Soviet Union. Hitler’s socialist economic policies had wrecked the German economy by the late 1930s … which explains the timing of the invasions of Austria and Czechoslovakia. Add to that the British blockade and Germany was on the brink of economic collapse in 1941. There was no choice but to go East at that point … to the Soviet Union where the oil and the food was.
Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland were all stepping-stones to the ultimate objective … the invasion of the Soviet Union. France had to be dealt with before the Soviet Union in order to avoid a repeat of World War One’s two-front war.
The situation in Ukraine today is in no way analogous to Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland in the late 1930s. There is zero evidence that the invasion of Ukraine is a stepping-stone to westward expansion. The “evidence” presented by the warmongers is simply shrieking that “Putin is Hitler” and that anyone who does not support war against Russia has fallen for “Russian disinformation” and/or is a Putin supporter … which is NOT evidence in the least. Rather, it is uncontrolled hysteria/rage or LIES to justify their forever-war fetish.
From the interview:
HUGH HEWITT: I think if Winston Churchill could channel in right now, he would say you’re forgetting the Sudetenland, you’re forgetting the Anschluss, you’re forgetting Munich, David. You’re forgetting everything I tried to warn Neville about, and before him, Stanley Baldwin. How would you respond to that ghost?
DAVID SACKS: Well, I mean, this is always the neocon argument, is that it’s always 1938 and our enemy is always Hitler–
HEWITT: I’m not a neocon, I’m a Reagan conservative!
SACKS: Okay, well, let’s just say that this is always the argument that you hear, is that it’s always 1938, that our enemy is always Hitler, and engaging in any diplomacy whatsoever would be akin to appeasement, and you’re Neville Chamberlain. And so this is what I’ve been hearing throughout this war. And what I would just say is that every historical circumstance is different. I think, you know, I’m very familiar with what happened in World War II and what led up to it, and I just think that the situation we have today really bears no resemblance to that.
I don’t think the idea that Putin is Hitler is a serious argument. I don’t think that this is primarily a war of conquest. I think the cause, the causes of this war have been known for decades, which mainly has to do with Russian security concerns which the West continuously ignored. We ignored the advice of George Kennan in the 1990s in bringing NATO right up to Russia’s door. He predicted that would be a tragic mistake that would end in hostilities. We ignored the advice of our own ambassador to Moscow in 2008, Bill Burns, who is now the CIA director, who told us that expanding NATO to Ukraine was a red line for the Russians, not just Putin, but the entire Russian elite. It was absolutely a red line for Gorbachev and Yeltsin, as well as various liberal reformers inside of Russia. We ignored the advice of Kissinger and Mearsheimer, Professor Mearsheimer in 2014 who warned us we were headed for this war unless we agree to make Ukraine a neutral country.
And instead, we ignored all of this advice for many years, and we persisted in this crusade to bring Ukraine into NATO and basically turn it into a giant military base on Russia’s most vulnerable border. And not surprisingly, Russia reacted quite negatively to this, as was predicted many times over the years by all the experts I mentioned, including many others.
The post The “Putin Is Hitler” Argument Is … STUPID appeared first on Granite Grok.
Every time I think we’ve milked this cow for as much spoiled milk as it’s worth, something makes the political pressure to move everyone to electric vehicles more ridiculous, especially in places where it gets cold.
Related: Science Once Again Punches Net Zero In Its Stupid Face
Electric systems bleed power under normal circumstances through transmission loss, so every use or “fill up” of your Electric chariot is dumping some of that “fuel” onto the ground, so to speak. It can add as much as 13% to the cost of every charge. That’s generated electricity you pay for that you don’t get to use.
Multiply that by thousands or millions of vehicles.
You’ll have a further decline in efficiency in cold weather.
If you lose power – which will be more often than ever as “we” expand to inefficient weather-dependent generation – how then (genius!) will you charge that decreased-range paperweight in your driveway?
“How often in Maine do people lose power?” Morris posited. “Especially in the winter, if they lose power, they’re not going to be able to charge their vehicle.”
It is common in the Northeast to have storms knock out power for days or even weeks. Run the generators, but are you prepared for that additional load, and will you even have a generator (the same folks at war with your current ride are after those too)? Some of those folks are in Maine and on a mission to transition to electric vehicles, which are expensive and impractical, but especially in a state like Maine. Big, rural, wintery.
We just wrote about their insane proposal to begin a shift toward EV freight and delivery vehicles. It’s ridiculous, but the evil progressive heart wants what it wants without much thought to the details. One former California resident who now lives in Maine spoke at a hearing about the proposed EV plan.
“Don’t turn Maine into California,” he said defiantly.
Barkley wasn’t done, adding that Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) example is not one that Maine should follow.
“I am not a fan of any of these policies,” he explained. “We don’t need Gavin Newsom and the policies of California to come in here to Maine.”
John did not look at the small print before he chose Maine. It is a primarily rural landscape (yeah!) ruled by its progressive cities (boo!), much like Oregon and Washington State, and is “Pining” to follow Vermont into the same Liberal ‘sh!t hole.
Governor Mills is quick to point out that “she is against adopting the sort of policy proposed by the Environmental Protection Board,” but that is not entirely true. As a Democrat, her goal is to advance Democrat ideas. To be one of the collective. She doesn’t want to be some backward Dem from backwater Maine. The Newsoms of her party will make fun of her. No useless commuter rail to nowhere? No EV mandate? Well, I see you did pass abortion from conception until puberty. Still, you’ll need assisted suicide for the poor and people we label mentally challenged (political opponents), or you can’t come to the Trotsky Dance of the Commie Cotillion.
Related: Would You Drive an EV if You Knew The Human Cost?
So Maine’s got problems. Especially in an EV in January. Stuck in a traffic jam for hours. In the snow and cold. As the cars run out of charge. No way to charge them, no lights, no heat.
Only FEMA will have fuel-powered generators because the Biden administration regulated them into unaffordability or out of existence (or will). And in that situation, how do you get them where they are needed? Helicopters?
And John, those EV delivery and freight trucks Maine wants everyone in will also cost a fortune which will add another ‘cost of everything’ to the cost of everything because they will carry less (bridge and road weight limits), which means more of those trucks and all the carbon emitted to make them and break them when they die way before their time, like us, which as we know is the true goal.
The post How do You Feel About Getting Your EV Stuck in a Snowstorm or Traffic Jam? appeared first on Granite Grok.
One of the ‘Grok mantras: Spank’em when they’re wrong and thank’em when they’re right. Generally, it’s Kevin getting the latter and Sununu the former. However, after years of elected representatives doing the Hidden Tax Tango and sending our monies to ‘burn” in the Burgess Biopower plant (whichuses low-grade wood to fuel its boilers to generate electricity), three things are clear.
Related: It Would Cost NH at Least 135 million Less to Pay Burgess Biomass Workers to do Nothing Than to Renew the Planned Subsidy
…Oh wait – a note from the NH GOP on what the Party believes in.
From the Platform:
I’ll have more to add about why I plucked those “sincere beliefs” in a bit but back to the plot. First up – WHY did NH State Senator Kevin Avard (R) say this in direct contradiction to the above (emphasis mine, reformatted:
It is accurate, to be sure. House Bill 142 passed the New Hampshire House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. But, this bill is more than just legislation both parties can agree on. After years of study by Republicans and Democrats, House Bill 142 represents the best of the legislative process: a solutions-based bill that preserves a critical baseload power producer and economic engine, while at the same time protecting ratepayers.
Governor Chris Sununu will have his say on House Bill 142 soon and I stand with dozens and dozens of my Republican and Democrat colleagues in encouraging him to sign this important legislation.
Further, Burgess BioPower supports more than 240 jobs statewide, generates more than $70 million in annual economic activity, and it has been the chief catalyst in reinvigorating the local economy in Berlin and throughout northern New Hampshire over the past decade. Still, some try to boil Burgess’ biopower down to cost. Doing so is short-sighted and completely misses the mark on both the value Burgess provides, and the way in which previous legislation impacts the plant.
Burgess sells its energy to Eversource at a fixed price under a long-term contract. When the plant first began operating, Eversource (then PSNH) used Burgess’ power for default service, the price most residential customers pay…
…Opponents say a veto of this bill would benefit ratepayers. That is just not accurate. If House Bill 142 fails, customers are not going to see lower electricity rates as a result, as costs associated with HB 142 have already been paid.
Let me address the points in the Platform and apply them to Kevin’s missive (to which I GREATLY disagree with):
And lastly:
…Democratic Administration has far exceeded our worst apprehensions in its measureless subserviency to the exactions of (special) interests
Well, well. Do I REALLY need to say any more? Oh yes, yes, I do:
Hypocrites all. All of you.
Republicans decided to send money, that wasn’t theirs, to an entity that became a parasite on Government. I predict that, as many entities before, it will become part of the “Creative Destruction” that gave us our leading economy. Well, it’s leading for the moment but as the Republicans join in with the Socialists-formerly-known-as-Democrats, that will continue to wither away – “slowly at first…” than what Xi is doing to China’s as he is injecting more and more Communistic control over its State enterprises and private entities.
Until it becomes “…and then suddenly”.
Of Course! Three of my County Reps voted FOR continued Government involvement in the marketplace just like almost all the Democrats in throwing away free market principles:
Winners and losers. Government should NEVER be in that position, but here we are. And this is just the small piece. Remember, Kevin mentioned the most damning part of winners and losers NH Government Policy:
That changed a few years into the contract, when the Legislature determined that Eversource should stop generating power and begin a competitive bidding process for default service.
And THAT result sent our electricity skyrocketing this summer in doubling as Eversource now had no control over the price it paid. And the Southern Poverty Law Center wonders why GraniteGrok is anti-[Big]Government? Yes, we happily earn that badge. After all, it was Government, as Kevin points out, did it to us all.
By continuing to demand subsidies from Concord, Burgess shows that for all of the chest-thumping on its website, it can’t compete on its own. Instead, it resorted, time after time, to not making itself better but relying on Crony Capitalism.
So when I saw that Sununu had done the RIGHT thing that should have happened from the get go:
Sununu vetoes continued taxpayer subsidies for Berlin biomass plant
Declaring “Enough is Enough,” Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed legislation to extend ratepayer subsidies for the Burgess Biopower Plant in Berlin, the region’s largest renewable energy project. In a highly critical veto message, Sununu said he has signed two state laws and given project owners five years to find a sustainable financial model to continue operating the plant, which produces energy from wood chips.
“To sign this bill (HB 142) would continue to allow Burgess Biopower to collect millions of dollars in ratepayer subsidies every month with no hope of a solution and wipe out their debt obligation to our ratepayers,” Sununu wrote.
“After a decade of continuous government support with nothing to show for it, such an ask is unconscionable. To sign this bill would violate my obligation to protect the consumers of New Hampshire from perpetual adverse financial investments. This company has failed the city of Berlin, the region, and the ratepayers of New Hampshire. Enough is Enough!”
The decision sets up a competitive veto fight when the Legislature returns in January. The project has a lot of bipartisan support, starting with Senate President Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, who helped broker the original deal.
Bradley hasn’t met an industry he didn’t like meddling in. If you REALLY want to point fingers, he’s the reason for the “electrical mess” that has roiled NH for years.
The veto should stand.
The post Burgess Biopower: Upon Which I Wag a Finger at Kevin Avard and a Thanks to Chris Sununu appeared first on Granite Grok.
Living in New Hampshire gives me early exposure to the Presidential Campaign Season. We have seen most of the candidates in the Granite State as they share their time between New Hampshire and Iowa. Most candidates must now be sick of Pulled Pork and Funnel Cakes.
The real season begins this week with Wednesday’s first GOP debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The moderators will be Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum of FOXNews. The number of candidates appearing onstage is still in doubt, as is whether front-runner Donald Trump will participate. It is a mistake and a disservice to the voters should he decide to stay away.
I understand the need for a diverse field of presidential candidates. Still, I do not see it making for a favorable, productive debate as it shortens the time for questions and rebuttals, which we want to hear in a debate. There is also much talk about each candidate’s strategy and whether the field will “gang up” on Ron DeSantis, who has a strong hold on second place behind Donald Trump. Getting ugly and personal in attacks does not serve the electorate well. I would like to see the bar set higher for a ticket to the debate stage. If you cannot muster more than one or two percent of the votes after weeks on the trail, you probably should consider dropping out rather than your opening line for debate night.
Nobody on the GOP candidate roster is saying anything new except Vivek Ramaswamy. He is not a politician, which should be a massive plus to voters disheartened by the Washington handling of Donald Trump and the negative impact on our country of lifelong politician Joe Biden. He is young and relates well with the critical millennial voters, but he is brilliant and focused enough for the more seasoned GOP voter. Vivek also appeals to the crucial independent block that will ultimately decide the winner in 2024. As of this weekend, some polls have him tied with DeSantis for second as he surges and the Florida Governor continues to slide. You may see fringe candidates shooting arrows at Ramaswamy, but he has shown himself to be confident and unflappable. Vivek does not shy away from any question and is prepared with a well-thought-out response to them all.
It will be interesting to see who moves the dial, and the real loser may be Trump if he does not show up. Baier and MacCallum are pros, and I am glad to see them with the first debate on the schedule. They will ask good questions and keep the large field focused. This is a big night for Republicans, but especially Conservatives. The 2024 election cannot be lost. A second term by Joe Biden, or even a first term by Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer, will be catastrophic for America we know, and another step towards the total transformational goal of Progressives. Our candidate cannot only be able to beat Republicans but attract Independents. Wednesday will give us a good idea of who that candidate will be.
The post Gentlemen, And Lady, Start Your Debate appeared first on Granite Grok.
I got this from someone that has provided me with reliable information. Yes, he’s a firehose of an emailer, but his missives generally check out, so even though this is coming from InfoWars, I’m going to go with it.
EXCLUSIVE: Biden Admin Preparing to Bring Back FULL Covid Restrictions, Rollout to Begin Mid-September.
The reason this might have legs is other emails saying the same thing, and yes, rumblings are being heard about “get your seasonal COVID shot.” It could end up being another Internet Trolling Gag (is 4Chan having fun again at our expense?), but even if it is, the operative question it generates for us all to answer for ourselves is interesting, infuriating, and scary all at the same time:
What will I do IF it is true? Will I march around like a faceless NPC or drone or act like the Citizen I’m supposed to be and demand that the Constitution’s restrictions on Government be followed?
It did turn out that those restrictions stemmed from the Trump and Biden (or should I just say Fauci and get it over with??) administrations as they weaponized their agencies to quash any dissent from their “guidance.” And that label ended up morphing into an amorphous rule of Law. Who knew that word had legal standing to us Normal people?
And who thought that Government would take control over our lives as they did?
Chris Sununu locked us all down here in NH and took Constitutional Rights away (e.g., keep the State’s liquor stores open but terminate our Right of Assembly and Religious Freedom of Worship and Expression away?).
My tipster made it clear:
No. We will not participate. We’ve been through this farce, and we know what their goal is. RESIST!
Which is to push us as far as they think we will bend – and, if we let them, martial law. “Show me your papers” will be a non-existent statement if they have clapped you into a jail cell.
Note the time – just as the Republican Primary season begins in earnest. They can only get one candidate off the table with the Democrat-honed tactic of Lawfare (yes, think Trump). But think of it – all rallies are brushed aside, people cannot gather, if the low level of campaigns can’t happen (think door knocking or meeting at campaign offices and a dozen other such activities), what does that do to Republican candidates?
Yeah, another way to clear the table. Mail-in voting, ballot harvesting, a few ways to watch the process, and all the kinds of shenanigans that have come to light since the 2020 election; would we end up with Biden and a Democrat “run of the legislative table” and this time, for good?
As an engineer, I hate sounding like a conspiracy theorist, but while the courts haven’t specifically declared outright fraud, there were a lot of “coincidences” that have everyone questioning if the election can or will be fairly administered. Again, just look at the Lawfare being applied against Trump and any lawyer trying to assist him. The Left is going all out to destroy these peoples’ legal careers – heck, I watched what happened here in Belknap County during the “Gunstock Incident” when the Left and Rich decided that THEIR best interests were being microscoped. There were a lot of political gallows erected and used against good men and women that didn’t have the means to fight back.
As the image states:
The lie you participate in today becomes the future you live in tomorrow
“Today” was yesterday and, again, if true, tomorrow comes in just a few short weeks”. We found out that we were lied to over and over and over again by a Government that is now confused as to why we lack trust in it. That they have to wage War over “misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation” and destroyed peoples’ reputations. And now, any doctor, for instance, can prescribe Ivermectin and what many of us said was true and we were called “science deniers” – that masks were useless too especially the cloth and paper ones.
Wag the Dog returns and this time, the Leftist dog will be out for actual blood.
EXCLUSIVE: Biden Admin Preparing to Bring Back FULL Covid Restrictions, Rollout to Begin Mid-September
TSA & Border Patrol whistleblowers have alerted Infowars of a Biden administration plot to unleash a FULL Covid lockdown that will begin in September.
We can stop this! Never let the establishment control the masses with fear again!
Whistleblowers from the TSA and Border Patrol have raised the alarm to Infowars that the Biden administration is setting the stage for full Covid lockdowns that will begin with incremental restrictions like masking TSA employees in mid-September.
The first source, a high-level TSA official confirmed and known to Infowars, reached out to Infowars and cited a Tuesday meeting in which TSA managers were told new memorandums & policies were being completed that would reimplement masking, starting with TSA & airport employees as early as mid-September.
The TSA official also said next week they will receive new guidelines on how the policy will escalate: by mid-October, mask-wearing will be required by pilots, flight staff, passengers, and airport patrons.
After hearing from the TSA manager, Infowars reached out to our trusted Border Patrol source who is also a manager. This source confirmed the same directives were being given to Border Patrol.
They were told it was not a matter of “if” but “when” official Covid numbers will go back up and they expect by mid-October a return to forced-masking policies that the Biden administration previously only reluctantly ended after massive pressure.
Both whistleblowers were told this rollout will be in tandem with the new Covid “variant” hysteria that the MSM has been reporting on this week.
Fear. Scare. Create chaos and use it for the wrong purposes (at least for us; for them, it’s just what the doctor ordered). Sure – and how many of the illegal immigrants will continue to tsunami over our borders with nay a check on THEIR COVID shot history?
Speaking of doctors, a doctor friend of mine said this in relationship to an article they received from a medical journal:
Is Masking Still Best Practice to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission in Clinical Settings?
The response was correct:
STILL? STILL!? What the f… are they talking about? It never f…ing was to begin with!!
Unbelievable (as of 6/16/2023):
Preventive measures, including masks (N95 respirators, surgical, and cloth), are recommended to reduce risk for COVID-19. Mask types vary in filtration efficacy, fluid resistance, and fit.
A new study urges people to continue wearing protective masks in medical settings, even though the US public health emergency declaration around COVID-19 has expired.
Masks continue to lower the risk of catching the virus during medical visits, says the study, published online May 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.[1] And there was not much difference between wearing surgical masks and N95 respirators in healthcare settings.
Researchers reviewed 3 randomized trials and 21 observational studies to compare the effectiveness of those masks and cloth masks in reducing COVID-19 transmission.
“[M]asking in interactions between patients and health care personnel should continue to receive serious consideration as a patient safety measure,” says an opinion article accompanying the study.[2]
“In our enthusiasm to return to the appearance and feeling of normalcy, and as institutions decide which mitigation strategies to discontinue, we strongly advocate not discarding this important lesson learned for the sake of our patients’ safety,” the opinion authors write.
Surgical masks limit the spread of aerosols and droplets from people who have influenza, coronaviruses, or other respiratory viruses, CNN reported. And although masks are not 100% effective, they substantially lower the amount of virus put into the air via coughing and talking.
The cynical side of me is asking the political rhetorical question of the day:
Whose water is this author carrying? Even better: if he has made political donations, to whom or what Party/PAC?
The post If Biden Gets That Lockdown Fever Will “Shutdown Sununu” Go Along With It Again? appeared first on Granite Grok.
Lots of laughter and mockery ensued last week when the International Chess Federation announced that trans women (men who call themselves women) would not be allowed to play in women’s tournaments.
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Even some conservatives opined that this is one “sport” where physical strength is not an issue, so who cares if men play women? I bet not one of these “experts” ever played chess, at least not seriously, or stopped to consider why women’s tournaments exist.
When I was a young teen, a family friend used to host a “friendly” chess tournament every year. Categories were simply adult and youth. The adults were always ALL men, and among the non-adults, I was usually the only girl. A lot of them took the game seriously—throughout the year, they read chess books and played-out famous games to improve their skills.
I rarely won a game at this neighborhood event, but when I did, it was often met with anger. Partly because I was a girl, of course, but mostly because I didn’t know or care about “opening gambits,” “end games,” and whatever comes in between. I just liked playing. In fact, I most likely won because I didn’t follow the expected pattern.
I pretty much stopped playing after high school, though I did teach my daughter the game. In middle school, she joined the chess club and actually went to some tournaments with timers and referees, and rule books. Sadly her experience was similar to mine, though worse as these were not “friendly” events. They were serious—no one chatted, some of the boys were very aggressive, and the kids were even expected to dress up. There were never more than a couple of girls, and as partners were chosen by draw, the girls rarely played each other even though they wanted to. My daughter didn’t enjoy the tournaments and soon gave up chess altogether.
I’ve never been to one, but I’m guessing the women-only events are run to encourage more girls to play and stick with the game. I read that only 12% of all chess players are women, so one can see that without a women’s category, a girl would rarely play another girl.
Any woman who wishes to can play in open tournaments. If a trans individual wants to play competitively, he/she can do that too. I applaud the chess federation’s decision to maintain women-only tournaments. I hope it encourages many girls and women to continue playing rather than drop out like my daughter and I did.
The post The Right Move for Women’s Chess appeared first on Granite Grok.
I haven’t done one of these kinds of posts for a while, and while going through my emails on Sunday after being OoO (“Out Of The Office”) on Saturday, these caught my eye as they each spoke to the REAL threat to our “Democracy.”
Sidenote: No, it’s not all the things that the Left is trying to blame being a threat or danger to our “Democracy.” First, we aren’t a Democracy. We’re a Constitutional Republic. Our Founders knew from studying history that direct Democracy always ended up badly. It should be telling that’s what the Democrats want – a direct Democracy so they would have the unbridled Power they so avidly seek at all costs.
Remember – WE who do not ascribe to the Left’s Narrative or philosophy are a danger to them and their continuing assault against the Constitution. It’s that decades-old redefining of our common language. In essence, getting the low-information voters to believe that the Constitution, and those that protect it, are the bad guys.
First up is the old Clinton “Hail Mary Throw” or “Wag the Dog.” When Bill was trying to distract the American public from his cheating on Hillary with his White House intern Monica Lewinsky. NHnative, in a comment on my “Jeanne Shaheen: “Snowfall Is A Thing of the Past” wrote,
Have y’all noticed that as the dollar crashes, the debt rises, the interest rates climb- and all we hear about is the weather and Ukraine?
Distraction. Self-importance. As if Government shouldn’t be telling us what’s really important (in this case, Ukraine)? We’ve been heading towards our Financial Bridge that Congress and <insert President so-and-so here> have been “termiting” for 50 years.
But as Mike Remski points out in “Vermont Doesn’t Have a Sales Tax Holiday Because …”
It’s always difficult to give up revenue in the state.
And there is the “government” in less than 12 words.
Effin morons. It’s not “revenue” it’s MY MONEY.
Ah yes, the “Bruce Currie question” – who’s money is it FIRST? Reminder: Bruce refused, for years, to answer my question until I finally caught him.
Put those two comments together, and it is clear that Government believes that it is set apart from the rest of us.
Actually, that’s EXACTLY what the Founders wanted – a separate and subservient government that only acted when Civil Society didn’t solve problems or in matters delineated in the Constitution. It has now decided (as in, those that claim superiority to us in all ways) that ITS survival and power should come before those who gave their consent to be government.
I really am starting to wonder about that last part. Are we the abused trapped in an abusive relationship, or is this why the Southern Poverty Law Center called us “anti-Government” (they forgot to put “Big” in front of “Government”)? WHY should we continue to give our assent?
Yes, I’m doing the head-scratching bit.
And to wind this up, let’s return to NHnative again on her comment in “It’s NOT Republican vs. Democrat … It’s The Rich Men North of Richmond Versus Us“:
This has 25 Million views right now and it’s been trending number one for days.
If you want your mind blown, start reading the comments here under the song..there are over 100,000 of them. You’ll float back and forth between mad as hell and broken-hearted.
It’s one American after another that is understanding that we’re busting our asses and being screwed over.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqSA-SY5Hro&ab_channel=radiowv
[Verse 1]
I’ve been sellin’ my soul, workin’ all-day
Overtime hours for bullshit pay
So I can sit out here and waste my life away
Drag back home and drown my troubles away
[Pre-Chorus]
It’s a damn shame what the world’s gotten to
For people like me and people like you
Wish I could just wake up and it not be true
But it is, oh, it is
…
I doubt that the SPLC owns enough electrons and pixels to adequately catalog everyone that is claiming the sentiment expressed by this song for themselves.
But then again, the SPLC is a swamp creature that continuously crawls up to Big Government denizens in saying “issss preciousss” in doing their bidding to get their gold.
‘Cept people are starting to rebel against both.
I am afraid that we have been in a Cold War for quite some time – will it go hot? Or is it when and not if?
Sidenote: Yes, I could have used Gollum as the Featured Image above. But I so wanted to use Jeanne Shaheen in my post about her talking about no more snow but went the other way with the skier. So I used it now.
So here’s Gollum:
A person who has lost his soul and being to Power that he cannot ever fully control. There are a lot of people in Government that get captured BY the Power of Government that never realize or are cognizant of what they have given themselves up to.
The post Promoted from the Comments: Wag the Dog, Who’s Government is it, and Rich Men North of Richmond appeared first on Granite Grok.
