“Conservative media” in New Hampshire … Mikey Graham’s NH-NeverTrump Journal, Jack Heath’s radio show, Drew Cline’s radio show, etc., etc. … are primarily shills for the NHGOP elites (which they are a part of) and the NHGOP Establishment (of which they are also a part).

A recent post in NH-NeverTrump Journal shows that the elites/Establishment think it is normal for the judiciary to set education policy:

 

 

In the post linked to in the tweet, NH-NeverTrump Journal states:

Could the next 60 days see an end to New Hampshire’s school funding system as we know it?

Rockingham Superior Court Judge David Ruoff told lawyers Wednesday he is set to rule sometime in the next 60 days

… Ruoff initially ruled in ConVal’s favor, agreeing the state is not paying enough per pupil, but he left setting a particular amount to legislators. On appeal, the Supreme Court ruled Ruoff needed to hold a trial and set a specific dollar amount.

New Hampshire upped its per pupil adequacy grant this year to $4,100. But the plaintiffs in the ConVal case are looking for just short of $10,000 per pupil. Ruoff listened to weeks of testimony this year; his highly anticipated ruling is pending.

With approximately 160,000 students in the state’s K-12 public schools, a $10,000 adequacy payment would cost state taxpayers $1.6 billion yearly.

This definitely is NOT normal. How much to spend on public education and what taxes should fund that spending is questions of POLICY, not questions of law … and as such, are supposed to be decided at the ballot box, not in a courtroom. Yet NH-NeverTrump Journal, and by extension, the NHGOP elites and the NHGOP Establishment, think it is totally normal for the judiciary to usurp the democratic-process.

But no appeal to common sense, no amount of legal argumentation demonstrating yet again that the NH-judiciary’s education decisions are totally illegitimate will matter. If Judge Ruoff says $10,000 is the number required by our sacred constitution, the NHGOP elites/Establishment will once again sonorously proclaim that while they disagree with the decision, we must all respect the decision.

And then most everyone will fall in line … just like you wore your little masks, and kept to your six-foot “social distancing” and took your COVID “vaccines” … blithely ignorant to the fact that they are supporting autocracy, not the “rule of law,” by normalizing a blatant violation of the separation of powers.

And when the elites/Establishment tell them “only a constitutional amendment” can save us, they’ll repeat it as their mantra, blissfully unaware that what they are really saying is that judges get to rewrite the constitution as they see fit as long as they can get one-third of the voters to agree with the rewrite.

Pathetic.

The post NHGOP Elites/Establishment Are Normalizing Autocracy appeared first on Granite Grok.

I feel certain that the FBI, CIA, CDC, WHO, and others, have been encouraging Marxist meat puppet Mark Zuckerberg-er Meister Berger to replace Twitter with something they can control ever since Elon bought Twitter—a suitable propaganda tool of equal measure.

But will it? Measure up? Facebook/Meta launched Threads with much hoopla and acclaim from the disinformation media, but it is beginning to look like Zuckerberg’s Threads are the emperor’s new clothes.

 

“Twitter Killer” is dying already.

Twitter vs Meta’s New App (Google Trends) pic.twitter.com/nBy0luFbOI

— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) July 13, 2023

 

To its credit, someone once said, if you don’t like it build your own, so they did, but it almost immediately entered rubber-necker territory. Well, will you look at that? What a terrible accident. I hope everyone’s okay…and back to life as it was before Threads.

Facebook, sorry, Meta has to be optimistic ‘cuz it is just getting started, and that’s fair. They may still need to get the bot accounts up and the fakebook fact checkers – checking, but no shadow banning. Facebook is upfront about throttling your reach and limited access to your thoughts on its other anti-social media platforms, and Threads is no different. There are community standards and something about polite discourse that will justify censorship to secure the partisan echo chamber.

Threads did come out the door hot with about 100 million sign-ups, but interest and interaction began to wane almost immediately.

 

“[T]he first 72 hours of Threads was truly in a class by itself.” However, Bartolacci also pointed out that recent data suggests a significant pullback in user engagement since Threads’ launch. Tuesday and Wednesday saw a 20 percent decrease in daily active users compared to Saturday, and a 50 percent decrease in user time spent, from 20 minutes to 10 minutes.”

 

Everyone on Instagram likely got many hints to get in early and check it out, and they did. Threads is Instagram’s text app, and you have to have an Instagram account to have a Threads account. Built-in users and multi-platform growth made the boom of an opening easy, but they can’t make you use Threads. Instagram users took a bit of the serpent-offered apple, set it down, and walked away – at least for the moment. But Meta, as in I never ‘Meta’ Zuckerberg platform that didn’t censor content, appears to have done a lot right with the interface and integrations, according to reports. Will it be enough?

Time on page is a big deal, and while it is fair to say that Threads hasn’t been around long enough to be all that interesting, it won’t get that way if people do not stay on the platform and give others a reason to use it and stay on it. And while Twitter’s claim to fame is a series of car wrecks people look at as they drive by, Threads can’t expect to be or beat Twitter without being the same thing but better and promising to be the gatekeeper of what passes for congenial interaction isn’t inviting, even to most liberals – especially when so many familiar and established left-wing echo chambers are already in place.

Threads might be another social to keep up with from a customer base with no bandwidth left to engage, even if they are self-proclaimed members of never-Twitter. It reminds me of online news startups that promise to deliver something new but look and act like every other digital media doorstep. I already get that propaganda. Why would I need yours?

Time will tell, of course, and Threads will likely hang on for years, but Google came late to the social platform game with their own branded Facebook-like engagement product. I used it, but very little. It is gone, and I can’t even remember what that was called.

It’s as if it didn’t ever exist.

 

 

The post From the Emperor’s New Clothes to The Mark Zuckerberg’s New ‘Threads’ appeared first on Granite Grok.

With the son of the man who introduced the New World Order to America in place, George W. Bush’s mandate was to further his father’s agenda of extending government control over American citizens and empowering the tentacles of a One World Government into foreign lands.

Recognizing that no Collectivist movement can succeed unless it has control over the direction of its citizens and insider intelligence of those who oppose them, Globalists and President G.W. Bush needed a Pearl Harbor “crisis” to move their agenda forward.

9-11

That crisis came compliments of a group of Muslims, perhaps even orchestrated by the CIA and FBI on Sept. 11, 2001.

Globalists everywhere celebrated the attack on America as their goals were now being accomplished before their very eyes. Their desire to instill fear into the hearts of Americans has been achieved as Americans became willing to exchange their freedom for a false feeling of security. Their goal to destroy our free constitutional Republic is accomplished as we allow the government to further intrude into our private lives in the name of “national security.”

Following the events of that day, Americans have experienced a wholesale loss of personal freedom in payment for a manufactured security “crisis.” The Bush administration introduced its NEW NORMAL, the “War on Terror.” Within weeks, Americans saw their constitutional guarantees of freedom stripped away by the “Patriot Act” with its plethora of legislative changes, significantly increasing the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States.

In what could be described as a coup d’état, globalists in our government also created a new fascist government initiative dubbed “Homeland Security.” They renewed their criminal government intrusion into the private lives of Americans once used by Richard Nixon in his war on anti-war protesters, environmentalists, and civil rights activists.

It Will Never Happen Again

In the wake of the Globalist manufactured attack on America, we keep hearing, especially politicians saying, “We must do what needs to be done so that it never happens again.”

No, we don’t need to ensure it never happens again… we need to get to the root of the problem and why we allowed it to happen. While some may feel a sense of security giving up their rights as American citizens, the result will be… It WILL happen again. It MUST happen again because their agenda is not yet complete. Only next time, it will be more significant and even more dramatic.

As expected, the next stage of globalism is related to our money. Given the looting of the American economy in recent months and years by the corporate banks, along with Barack Obama’s favorable Socialist view of transferring wealth, the world will once again be brought to her knees by a change in our banking system, transferring more power and money to the International banksters and moneychangers. Obama’s change was used to set up hyperinflation, destroy the dollar, and introduce a global currency expected to come soon.

Covid-19

Early in 2020, the world was to be introduced to a novel coronavirus. And, it was to prove even more significant and dramatic than previous crises. This one not only struck America but the world. Economies everywhere were devastated; many industries shut down, millions were thrown into unemployment, and a new normal for conducting ongoing business was introduced with more state control through private/government partnerships.

When it comes to civil liberties, freedom, and the Constitution, recent American presidents have brought change… not the kind most people wanted but more of the same erosion of personal freedom, invasion of privacy, and dismantling of the Constitution.

Hate crimes and other Orwellian thought crime is likely next on the new world order agenda. We already see the seeds being planted for the next Pearl Harbor Event. Something will explode on the world scene, taking the suppression of dissent of those who oppose the New World Order agenda to a new normal.

The post Facts, Reality, Wake Up. We Are in Deep S***! appeared first on Granite Grok.

On July 10, 1752, St. George Tucker was born. He wrote the first systematic commentary on the U.S. Constitution and was one of the most influential jurists and legal scholars during the formative years of the United States.

Tucker was born near Port Royal, Bermuda. His father, Col. Henry Tucker, was a prominent merchant. His grandfather on his mother’s side was a future chief justice of Bermuda.

Tucker moved to Virginia in the fall of 1771 to attend the College of William and Mary. He studied natural and moral philosophy under Reverend Thomas Gwatkin. At the end of 1772, he dropped out due to a lack of funds and took on an apprenticeship in the office of George Wythe, a prominent Virginia lawyer who mentored Thomas Jefferson and other influential Virginians.

In the spring of 1774, Tucker was admitted to the Virginia Bar and launched into law. But after the passage of the Stamp Act, many Virginia county courts closed, along with the General Court of Virginia. With few legal business opportunities in the colony, Tucker returned to Bermuda.

During the American War for Independence, Tucker initially got involved with a family-run smuggling business on behalf of the Patriot cause, helping move food and supplies between the colonies, the Caribbean and Europe. In the spring of 1779, he enlisted in the Virginia militia as a private. With his political connections, he was quickly commissioned as a major. Tucker fought in the battle at Guilford Court House, North Carolina, and suffered a bayonet wound to his leg. He was also later wounded by an exploding shell during the Battle of Yorktown while serving as an interpreter for French officers.

After the war, Tucker resumed his legal career and eventually become one of the most influential jurists in the United States. He served as a judge in the General Court of Virginia (1789–1804), the state Court of Appeals (1804–1811), and the U.S. District Court for the District of Virginia (1813–1825). He also served as the rector and a professor of law at the College of William and Mary where he revolutionized legal education.

In 1803, Tucker published a five-volume edition of Sir William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England titled “Blackstone’s Commentaries: With Notes of Reference to the Constitution and Laws, of the Federal Government of the United States, and of the Commonwealth of Virginia.” It was the first major treatise on American law.

That same year, he also published “View of the Constitution of the United States with Selected Writings,” the first comprehensive commentary on the U.S. Constitution. The book became one of the country’s primary sources on constitutional law, informing the opinions of judges, lawyers and politicians for the next 50 years.

Tucker viewed the Constitution as a compact between sovereign states delegating limited power to the general government.

“[Federal] jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects, only, and leaves to the several states a residuary and inviolable sovereignty over all other objects.”

As historian Clyde Wilson put it, “His strongest point of insistence is on the necessity for governmental power to be restrained within specifically delegated limits.”

Tucker argued that since the federal government had “no existence but under the Constitution, nor any rights, but such as that instrument confers,” it could not wield any power “but such as is absolutely necessary for the performance of a duty prescribed and enjoined by the constitution.”

That being the case:

 “The powers delegated to the federal government, are, in all cases, to receive the most strict construction that the instrument will bear, where the rights of a state or of the people, either collectively or individually, may be drawn in question.”

Tucker was also publicly opposed to slavery, an extremely radical position for a Virginian in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In 1796, Tucker published a pamphlet A Dissertation on Slavery: With a Proposal for the Gradual Abolition of it, in the State of Virginia. It was later appended to his edition of Blackstone’s Commentaries. Tucker wrote that the abolition of slavery was of “the first importance, not only to our moral character and domestic peace, but even to our political salvation.”

“Whilst America hath been the land of promise to Europeans, and their descendants, it hath been the vale of death to millions of the wretched sons of Africa. . .Whilst we were offering up vows at the shrine of Liberty…whilst we swore irreconcilable hostility to her enemies. . .whilst we adjured the God of Hosts to witness our resolution to live free or die. . .we were imposing on our fellow men, who differ in complexion from us, a slavery, ten thousand times more cruel than the utmost extremity of those grievances and oppressions, of which we complained.”

Tucker went so far as to submit his proposal for gradual emancipation to the Virginia Assembly. It was unsurprisingly, rejected.

Tucker died in 1827 after suffering a stroke.

 

Mike Maharrey | The Tenth Amendment Center

The post St. George Tucker: Our Original Originalist? appeared first on Granite Grok.

The Conway Public Library got an RTK from me. Given how the Director answered a Conway resident and patron of the library, I decided to vary from my normal laid-back replies (“strains of “I’ve got to be ME, I’VE GOT to be MEEE!” wafting in the background).

It’s also clear Director Smolen has a bit of a problem either with reading retention or comprehension, as my answer had “Your library management system, Aspen Discovery, is able to generate such a file” in it. Or he just doesn’t like being challenged.

—— Original Message ——
From “Skip” <Skip@granitegrok.com>
To “David Smolen” <dsmolen@conwaypubliclibrary.org>
Cc jcousins@conwaypubliclibrary.org; jlaracy@conwaypubliclibrary.org; “kbennett@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <kbennett@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; jcicero@conwaypubliclibrary.org; “cgenest@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <cgenest@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; “alibby@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <alibby@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; jwright@conwaypubliclibrary.org
Date 7/11/2023 11:23:57 AM
Subject Re: response to your RTKL request

Director Smolen,

Apparently you have not read the actual text of RSA 91-A or understood its precepts. For remedial training (which should be done for all public officials; elected, appointed, or hired), I would suggest you contact the New Hampshire Right To Know (RTKNH -> https://righttoknownh.wordpress.com/need-help/)

It is not up to the Requester to do the work outlined in a Right To Know Demand. It is the responsibility of the Responder (that would be the Conway Public Library with you as the Director) to Follow the Law and supply that which is being demanded. That would be a file containing the data elements enumerated the RTK – that would be an EXCEL or  CSV file as outlined in my RSA 91-A letter to the Conway Public Library.  Your library management system, Aspen Discovery, is able to generate such a file.

Seeing that you have had your LMS in place for a while, I have to believe that you know how to carry out that operation;  a correct assumption? If you are unable to carry out that operation, I’m sure that your Support folks at Aspen can assist you.

FYI, “LMS” standing for “Library Management System”.

Thus, your answer below does not satisfy my request and you need to try again to honor the Law.  When will you have the Responsive Record (the card catalog) sent to me?

-Skip

Heh! Not TOO bad, I’d say. Just Follow The Law, if you would please – with a wee bit of emphasis.

However, David Smolen was not pleased and tried what a couple of other librarians have done in refusing to abide by RSA 91-A: like the “Limited Public Forum” phrase usage back here, he’s thrown chaff into the wind, thinking I’d be blinded by his brilliance. Yeah, sure – been there, done that, so just answer the dang question. At this point, he’s either that stupid in not knowing his own system or believes “I’m blinded by [library] Science!” that he’s pitching.

This guy is special (emphasis mine), so a fisking is in order:

—— Original Message —— From “David Smolen” <dsmolen@conwaypubliclibrary.org> To “Skip” <Skip@granitegrok.com> Cc jcousins@conwaypubliclibrary.org; jlaracy@conwaypubliclibrary.org; “kbennett@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <kbennett@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; jcicero@conwaypubliclibrary.org; “cgenest@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <cgenest@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; “alibby@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <alibby@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; jwright@conwaypubliclibrary.org Date 7/12/2023 3:07:40 PM Subject Re: response to your RTKL request

Hi, Mr. Murphy, library records are not kept in .csv or .xls format. They are kept in the .mrc format. 

I said generate. Anyone doing a professional level LMS development effort would never use CSV or LMS files – but he thinks this is a chance to lecture me. However, he’s trying the bluffing game thinking I’m stupid in this area.

The library is under no obligation to provide you with an alternative file format. I am happy to export the files to you in the .mrc format. You can then download an editor here https://marcedit.reeset.net/ to view the records. 91-A:4 Minutes and Records Available for Public Inspection. –VII. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a public body or agency to compile, cross-reference, or assemble information into a form in which it is not already kept or reported by that body or agency.

You know,  I truly believe he doesn’t know his own system – it is considered to be a point source entity even has a lot of moving parts (display files, query files, storage files, index files, txt files, menu files, code files, code libraries, et al).  Notice that he’s spending more time to debate me than just pushing the button to generate the file (3-5 minutes top, two minutes to email or upload to Dropbox).

I did speak to our vendor about turning the info into a .csv file. The charge would be $250 per hour which would be your responsibility to pay. Please let me know how you would like to proceed. Sincerely, David

So he wanted to know how to proceed – so I told him EXACTLY. HOW. TO. CREATE. THE. FILE. After all, since Aspen Discovery is open source, so all of the code and documentation is there. Thus, I told him where to go (snicker), took him to task and to the woodshed:

—— Original Message ——
From “Skip” <Skip@granitegrok.com>
To “David Smolen” <dsmolen@conwaypubliclibrary.org>
Cc jcousins@conwaypubliclibrary.org; jlaracy@conwaypubliclibrary.org; “kbennett@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <kbennett@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; jcicero@conwaypubliclibrary.org; “cgenest@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <cgenest@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; “alibby@conwaypubliclibrary.org” <alibby@conwaypubliclibrary.org>; jwright@conwaypubliclibrary.org
Date 7/12/2023 4:30:52 PM
Subject Re[2]: response to your RTKL request

I spent 40 years in the computer industry with an MS in Software Analysis and Design.  I know that almost all Library Management systems can export their contents of some manner to CSV files.  Aspen Discovery has the ability to create the desired .CSV file demanded: https://help.aspendiscovery.org/help/users/lists#Cell-1001-PanelBody

And Aspen Discovery has the ability to create lots of types of lists – including one that would have the data elements listed in my Right To Know. And your use of RSA 91-A:4 is off base and let me tell you why:

91-A:4 Minutes and Records Available for Public Inspection. –VII. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require a public body or agency to compile, cross-reference, or assemble information into a form in which it is not already kept or reported by that body or agency.

And given that I have read ALL the documentation (after all, Aspen Discovery is open source software so ANYONE can read and use it), and that I know how DBMS systems work, you’re attempt to hide behind 91-A:4 is about as stupid as your word salad about “limited Public Forum” (btw, you got it the meaning of that backwards). Anyways, I digress…

Are you informing me that the data records and associated data elements within your library system’s schema don’t exist? Are you claiming that the distinct data tables residing in your single library system (normally and customarily considered to be “a point source”), along with the keys linking that data to other related tables for the entity colloquially known as a “book”(or other media types) within that same database system are to be viewed as “numerous sources”?  Or are you claiming that none of that exists?

That’s a bit of a stretch and doesn’t pass the computer science smell test.

Are you also telling me that the file that traverses the necessary and existing data tables, linked by existing keys, that provides the demanded “list of Responsive Records” (e.g., the Card Catalog) at the push of a button as “output” also doesn’t exist (e.g., a “Report”) in the CPL System?

I HAVE the instructions that (see above, Open Source Software) as long as that query file has not been removed from your system (which would ALSO be a violation of RSA 91-A:4, III concerning on record retention) with a single button press tell Aspen Discovery to execute that query file (e.g. a Report query file) output that list of demand data element to a .CSV file.

Are you saying that such directions don’t exist?  Or saying that you are refusing to use that which is already part of your system? Or simply making a play to be seen as being ludicrous in attempting to make me think that you would have to scurry around inside your server (or your hosting service server(s)) to gather such information manually?

Thus, I am not demanding records from “numerous sources” but are found with ONE source – your library system. Running a report is not “assembling data from “numerous sources”.

The Conway Public Library has a digital catalog of all the books/media in the library and can be produced in a manner shown above.

Thus, your answer is insufficient for the purpose of my demand. I will repeat – it is for a listing of the books (and the demanded data elements as title, author, ISBN, et al) contained within the Conway Public Library electronic card catalog.  The receiver of such a demand is required to supply that demanded set of Responsive Records. It is not up to the demander to find them.  The burden is on the receiver to comply.

This is no different than when I have, in the past, demanded complete Municipal or School District payroll information from their accounting systems.  Or are you holding that there is no similarity other than the subject matter? Remember, RSA 91A specifically calls out this kind of demand. I can start doing so if you continue to be recalcitrant. After all:

I-a. Records of any payment made to an employee of any public body or agency listed in RSA 91-A:1-a, VI(a)-(d), or to the employee’s agent or designee, upon the resignation, discharge, or retirement of the employee, paid in addition to regular salary and accrued vacation, sick, or other leave, shall immediately be made available without alteration for public inspection. All records of payments shall be available for public inspection notwithstanding that the matter may have been considered or acted upon in nonpublic session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3.

And as the demander, I do not have to tell you WHAT I am looking for – your duty is to provide the information and not force me to do searches on your system to find out what I am looking for. Or are you going to dispute that as well?

Oh, and before I forget, your OTHER claim?

The library is under no obligation to provide you with an alternative file format.

Er, yes you are and – I want you to follow the Law as written and as described in my Right To Know:

V. In the same manner as set forth in RSA 91-A:4, IV, any public body or agency which maintains governmental records in electronic format may, in lieu of providing original records, copy governmental records requested to electronic media using standard or common file formats

This was affirmed in the Green case that mandates that such electronically kept information must be provided using common file formats.  Your existing query file (e.g., “Report” can output a .CSV file that can contain all of the information that meets the specification I have provided. A CSV file is a common file format – a .MRC file is not UNLESS is it one of these:

• A script file for IRC
• 3-d grid of voxel for CryoEM or ET
• Python library files (think programming code)

Or a few others. I admit, acronym usage within the computer industry is often “overloaded” and must be determined which definition is meaningful only by context. There are other uses for “MRC” as well.

Ball is now back in your court. Just remember, RSA 91-A has “teeth” that I would have no problem employing.

Have a nice evening!
-Skip

So that was two days ago. Thus far, radio silence from Director Smolen. I’m betting that he’s reached out to a lawyer. Good – I’ll RTK those transactions as well.

The developing-lesson is this: it is far easier and far less stressful to just do what is demanded in an RSA 91-A.  It would have cost him 15 minutes top.

However, I’m betting that he’s hunched over his keyboard removing certain database records right now. Sorry, Director Smolen – if you ARE doing that, I’ve already got markers all set in place.

The post Conway Public Library Needs Remedial Instruction in NH’s Right to Know Law and Then Some … appeared first on Granite Grok.

How was the 2020 election rigged? Let us count the ways … or better yet let’s just peruse this article in the Federalist:

… 2020 was unlike any election in American history. One need not declare that it was “stolen” to admit that it was obviously rigged. After all, the people and institutions that rigged it have freely admitted what they did. They suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story, censored what Americans could say on social media, introduced unprecedented changes to our voting system under the pretext of pandemic precautions, and poured hundreds of millions of dollars into putatively nonpartisan local election offices through Mark Zuckerberg-connected nonprofits for the sole purpose of turning out Democrat voters in swing states.

Yet even Republicans who are aware that the 2020 election was rigged seem to believe that somehow 2024 will be different … that somehow Election Month will revert to Election Day; that the Communists Democrats and their allied groups won’t ballot-harvest; that the voters whose reality is shaped by social media will somehow see the Biden-Regime as it really is; in short, that it will be a free and fair election.

This kind of thinking is DELUSIONAL. It’s like sending the cavalry to charge the Panzers again and again. The GOP needs to change its symbol from the elephant to the ostrich.

The GOP has no plan to deal with the ballot harvesting scam and no hope of catching up with the party that implemented it in the first place

In the classic cycle Dems change the rules and benefit from being the first mover

— Auron MacIntyre (@AuronMacintyre) July 14, 2023

 

The post GOP Should Replace Elephant With Ostrich appeared first on Granite Grok.

I listened to RFK Jr speak at PorcFest. I listened to Vivek being interviewed by Tucker Carlson at the Family Leadership Summit. I have some deep disagreements with both of these candidates on what I take to be fundamental issues.

I don’t want either of them to be President. Although to be fair, I don’t really want anyone to be President other than Ron Paul or John Valera. But what impresses me about them is that, in terms of raw intellectual power, they seem to be head and shoulders above anyone else who is trying to get the job.

So here’s what I would love to see. Not a debate in which each tries to show that his prepared answers are better than the other guy’s prepared answers.

Rather, a discussion in which they try to identify (1) what they actually agree on and (2) for the things they disagree on, the underlying principles (e.g., on what the purpose of government is and what the legitimate sources of government power might be) that lead to those disagreements.

Not Bobby versus Vivek. Rather, Bobby and Vivek.

That is, I’d love to watch them learn something from each other in real-time — something I think is pretty much impossible for any of the other candidates in the race on either side.

What’s interesting is that I think both of them would say, if asked, that what they really want from their candidacies — win or lose — is for certain ideas to be heard and seriously considered.

I think you could guarantee a huge audience for this kind of conversation. And it would provide a lasting record of what substantive political conversation could be, in contrast to the scripted, focus-tested, pandering crap that we usually get.

Does anyone out there know how to get these two guys into a room with a thermos of coffee (or a pitcher of beer) and a video camera?

 

The post Bobby and Vivek appeared first on Granite Grok.

The events of the past decade have underscored one clear reality, corporations are overly greedy and must be checked by governments. Indeed, that is the sole purpose of good government when it comes to overseeing the marketplace— to prevent large corporations from preying on the citizens.

Individual action is rarely effective in checking what is often known as vulture capitalism or predatory capitalism. It takes the strong collective action of a central federal government to employ law and force in protecting citizens’ life, liberty, and prosperity.

The USA was born and developed through its infancy as a bastion of free market capitalism. The 20th century’s most well-known stalwart defense against capitalism’s economic inverse, socialism, was spearheaded by McCarthyism — the effort to root out communists and communist-leaning forces from the federal state. In the past fifty years, however, communism and socialism— the authoritarian-leaning economic models— have insidiously crept into American political economic thought and culture. The advance was apparently so slow that nobody noticed until it was too late. What was begun during Obama’s presidency has continued under the Biden junta.

This effort is nothing short of a communist revolution in slow motion. You would think that school-aged children and collegebound folks would study about free markets— Rothbard, Locke, Von Mises, Hayek. But no, that’s not what is typically read in high school social studies classes’ sections on economics. Most professors assign Marx, and not Das Kapital, that treatise on the nature of capital and the backbone of capitalist literature. US students study the Communist Manifesto, which is essentially an essay on revolutionary ideology and class warfare and a seminal text of the global communist movement.

There is a distinct difference between Marxian communism, the revolutionary ideology designed to act as a wedge to facilitate political change and true communism, the small-scale kind practiced in monastic cultures. One is very stable and harmonious, and the other leads directly to installing puppet regimes. That is precisely what happened in the USA in 2020— the Democrat Party, backed by the Nine Eyes countries and China, conspired to force an extralegal electoral victory for Joe Biden.

Many US citizens rejoiced without understanding the implications of the result. Any who had qualms on economic grounds about the future of free market capitalism in the USA was in the minority. Capitalism is deeply unpopular in the USA and worldwide. It is so unpopular in China that the CCP brands it “socialism with Chinese characteristics”. Although China’s model is more state influenced than pure free market models, the point is important. Capitalism is not trendy. But why?

Why do people despise capitalism so much? This economic system is the one that is capable of bringing millions out of poverty. When an entrepreneur is able to freely build a business empire without being bound by necessary political favoritism and insularism that comes with socialist government administrations and bureaucracies, the entire society benefits, and many are lifted out of poverty. One would posit that capitalism is disliked simply because it is not widely understood. It takes a specific mindset to become a successful capitalist and to participate in the free market economy. If advanced economies like the USA do not tend their education systems and their cultures properly, the laziness and malaise that inevitably develops are perfect for breeding the kind of fat cat mentality that supports the socialists. Ask an American what capitalism actually is, and few would be able to tell you a clear, educated answer. Most have been trained to slander it.

The main primary cause of distrust of capitalism is that it is not practiced properly and intelligently. Whether by design or by destiny, most all capitalist models practiced around the world today lack governing systems to sufficiently redistribute capital and fail to protect citizens from vulture corporations with dynamic regulation. This is enlightened capitalism. The global economy’s structure has naturally permitted massive amounts of vultures, and enlightenment is nowhere to be seen.

Look no further than the recent COVID project for a clear example. The pharmaceutical industry gradually captured government regulatory agencies over a fifty-year period, starting with Nixon’s action protecting the pharma corps from downstream liability on vaccines and culminating in an engineered planetary plague that was essentially no more than a rebranding of the common cold but shook the foundations of the human civilization and unleashed a horde of petty tyrants. Pharma is an industry that sorely requires regulation. Some of the corporations there are notorious for nefarious business practices and have been sued cumulatively for hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet those companies still exist and come back again with bigger, more devastating effects.

Enlightened capitalism dictates a much stronger government policy framework surrounding business development. Corporations are not permitted to engage in money-making endeavors that involve harming humans. A more extreme version extends government protections to animals as well. All human business ventures should aim to promote the well-being and prosperity of all humans. Anything else is prevented. Adopting such an economic model would end war and reorient human civilization away from internal violent conflict and towards nurturing planetary culture that looks outwards to the stars. All industries can reorient to discover ways for massive opportunities to profit without relying on the negatives that the vulture capitalist model continues to inflame.

This is not a purely free market ideal, but it would certainly set guide rails on human economic activity toward a course for a much healthier and happier planetary civilization.

 

The post Enlightened Capitalism appeared first on Granite Grok.

Just when you think it can’t get any worse, the Federal Government is now attempting to change the rules on Medicaid billing for school services, and that will harm the most vulnerable children in our public schools. This would change whether school districts must obtain parental consent before billing medical services for special ed services that occur within the schools.

Parents in New Hampshire are asked to give their permission for schools to bill Medicaid for certain health services provided to eligible students. State and federal regulations require this consent. Federal regulations state that consent and notification must be obtained before using a student’s Medicaid benefits for the first time and annually after that.

So what would this change in rules do to children receiving special ed services in the schools?

The US DOE is stating:
“As there are no comparable consent requirements prior to accessing public benefits for children without disabilities, the removal of this consent requirement would align public benefits consent requirements for children with disabilities to those for children without disabilities and ensure equal treatment of both groups of children.”

This does not tell the whole story. School districts don’t ask for Medicaid information for children without disabilities because they don’t provide services for those students. But we are seeing comments from school administrators that indicate that asking for consent from parents is an “administrative burden.”  Parents have to consent when their Pediatrician requests insurance benefits, but it’s too burdensome for school districts to do the same?

A friend explained it this way:
First, the focus should be on fully funding IDEA; not on drawing from other needed funds. Mixing the funds from IDEA with Medicaid is a terrible idea, and only hurts the special needs child and their ability to get outside services paid for by Medicaid.

Second, the school accessing a child’s medical insurance could have the effect of hindering the child from receiving desperately needed services outside school. VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Schools do not provide clinic equivalent services and therefore should not receive funding intended for medically-necessary clinical services.

For example, if your child is evaluated by a neurologist or treating physician and recommends 5 units of speech per week, and the school system is only recommending 3 units of speech per week, then under the Current Rules, your child is entitled to receive the additional 2 units of speech per week through a private provider under Medicaid based on “prior authorization.” However, under the Proposed Rules, Medicaid can (and will) deny the additional services because it will treat the school-provided services as “medical services” and deny any other “prior authorizations” based on your treating clinician. (Sorry if that is confusing.)

Third, EQUAL treatment of children with and without disabilities is essentially discriminatory since ADA requires EQUITABLE treatment, allowing children to receive treatment according to their level and type of need. One size fits all changes to existing IDEA policy is a step backward for disability and education rights.

Parents need all the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about their children’s healthcare. Parents currently have the right to withdraw their consent to bill Medicaid for school services if they have any concerns or preferences that warrant such a choice.

The fundamental right they have is the right to privacy. If you have any reservations about sharing your child’s personal and medical information with the school and Medicaid, you can choose to withdraw your consent. Protecting their children’s sensitive data and making decisions that align with their comfort levels is essential.

Additionally, suppose you feel that the Medicaid-funded services provided by the school have limitations or restrictions that don’t meet your preferences or expectations. In that case, parents have the right to explore alternative service providers. Their children’s care should align with their specific needs and offer comprehensive support. Parents have the power to seek out services that better meet those requirements.

Parents have access to other healthcare resources or private insurance that they prefer to use sometimes instead of solely relying on Medicaid for services provided at school. It’s within their rights to make decisions that they believe will offer their children more specialized or higher-quality care.

As parents of children with disabilities, they have the right to ensure the smooth implementation of their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. If parents are concerned that billing Medicaid for school services could impact the coordination between Medicaid-funded services and their child’s educational accommodations, parents have the right to withdraw their consent.

It’s important to note that if parents withdraw their consent, the school district will continue to provide all the necessary services required for their child’s education at no charge, as the relevant regulations are required for appropriate education (34 CFR § 300.154(d)(2)(v)(D)) . Their decisions won’t impact the quality of education and support their children receive.

Parents can request billing and claim records from their Managed Care Organizations (MCO) and their child’s school if they wish to review the details of the Medicaid billing.

NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICAID TO SCHOOLS BILLING AND POLICY GUIDANCE Reference Number SFY 2020-

———-

NH Medicaid to School, also known as the School Medicaid Administrative Claiming (SMAC) program, is a New Hampshire program allowing public schools to seek reimbursement from Medicaid for certain health-related services provided to eligible students. These services can include various activities such as screenings, assessments, counseling, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and transportation related to medical services.

Under this program, schools can bill Medicaid for services provided to students who are eligible for Medicaid and receive special education or related services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a Section 504 plan. NH Medicaid to School aims to ensure that students with disabilities or special healthcare needs can access the necessary services and supports to succeed in the educational setting.

The Medicaid reimbursement obtained through NH Medicaid to School can help schools offset the costs associated with providing these services. It is important to note that parents typically need to provide consent for their child’s school to bill Medicaid, and they have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

Specific procedures and guidelines for the NH Medicaid to School program may be outlined by the New Hampshire Department of Education or the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Parents seeking to withdraw their consent for Medicaid billing should follow the steps outlined by these agencies and consult with relevant professionals or legal experts to ensure they navigate the process properly.
———
As a parent, it’s important to know that you have the right to consent or withdraw consent for your child to receive Medicaid-funded services through their school district. If you want to withdraw your consent for your child to receive these services or for the school district to bill Medicaid for your child’s services, follow these steps:

1. In writing, notify your child’s school district by emailing your superintendent, carbon copy(cc:) your entire IEP Team, and your Managed Care Organizations (MCO); WellSense, NH Healthy Families, AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire that you are withdrawing consent for Medicaid billing or services.

Your written notice should include the following:
**Your child’s name
**Date of birth, and
**A clear statement that you are withdrawing consent for Medicaid-funded services.

2. Suppose your child is currently receiving Medicaid-funded services through the school district. In that case, in writing, you should also notify the service providers and any other relevant school staff in writing that you are withdrawing consent for Medicaid billing or services.

Your written notice should include the following:
**Your child’s name
**Date of birth, and
**A clear statement that you are withdrawing consent for Medicaid-funded services.

Complete the section below ONLY if parent/guardian is withdrawing consent to access to the child’s Medicaid.
WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT
Student Name: ____________________________________ Date of Birth______/_______/______
Medicaid ID Number______________________________________

As the parent/guardian of the above student, I withdraw my consent to allow the school district to access the child’s Medicaid. I understand that this means that the school district will no longer be able to use my child’s Medicaid to help pay for my child’s special education and related services. This withdrawal of consent is effective upon the school district’s receipt of the parent/guardian’s signed Withdrawal of Consent form.
Parent’s Signature _________________________________________
Today’s Date _________________________________________
Original to student’s file—–copy to parent/guardian(Page 34 New Hampshire Special Education Procedural Safeguards Handbook)

3. Once the school district receives your written notice, they should stop billing Medicaid for your child’s services. They should not provide further Medicaid-funded services to your child unless you provide written consent again.

4. Request that your letter withdrawing consent is added to your child’s education file. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Please add this document to my child’s educational file.

5. It is important to note that withdrawing consent for Medicaid billing or services does not impact your child’s eligibility to receive special education or related services through their school district. The school district is still responsible for providing these services to eligible students with disabilities, regardless of Medicaid funding.

If you have any questions or concerns about withdrawing consent for Medicaid-funded services or billing, contact your child’s school district’s special education director or Medicaid School Director for guidance and support.

NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MEDICAID TO SCHOOLS BILLING AND POLICY GUIDANCE Reference Number SFY 2020-

 

 

The post Another Attack on Parental Rights That Will Hurt Special Needs Students appeared first on Granite Grok.

Geraldo Rivera left FOXNews last month after a twenty-year stint. It was a stint that may have gone on a bit too long. That statement has nothing to do with Geraldo’s age but his performance and contribution to the network and the programs that involved him. I have a couple of disclosures before I continue.

Geraldo owes me two hours of my life back since I wasted them years ago waiting for him to disclose the contents of Al Capone’s vault. I sat in suspenseful anticipation for him to enter the vault, only to be disappointed when it was empty. Such a disappointment and a waste of programming for someone who calls himself a journalist. The other disclosure is I am an avid fan of The Five. The show just celebrated its twelfth anniversary, and I have never missed an episode. The Five has outlived Bob Beckel, Juan Williams, and Geraldo Rivera.

Geraldo had lost touch with the audience. He was to fill the role of the Liberal piece of the band. He certainly accomplished this task well but had gone too far with his personal stories. During one recent episode, Geraldo watched intently as a very Liberal individual tried to defend their position. The topic discussed was the plan to force America to use Electric Vehicles. Geraldo went too far and claimed he was not only a supporter of EVs but was also in the market for a Bentley EV. Greg Gutfeld nearly came out of his seat. The two members of the cast continued to debate, and this may have been the confrontation that sealed Geraldo’s fate.

Geraldo could not leave quietly. He appeared on The View on Thursday and aired his grievance with FOXNews for ending his role with the network. Geraldo acknowledged his contentious relationship with both Greg and Jesse Watters. He believes that the management consistently sided with the others when the conversation passed debate. As a viewer, management was right. Geraldo was funneling his narcissism going on The View to disparage The Five.

Rivera patronized the ladies of The View as they fed off each other, taking shots at the number one daytime show on Cable News. Geraldo took the opportunity to air his thoughts on Donald Trump. He said he was once a fan of the former President but after Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection of the Capitol. He says he will use all his efforts to ensure that Trump does not return to the White House.

Geraldo Rivera had a long career, from his start as a war correspondent to his role as a political pundit. He was the first journalist to unearth the conditions and handling of patients in mental health institutions. It is time for Geraldo to leave, and at 80 years old, he should have just kept his mouth shut and gone home to Cleveland to enjoy his Bentley EV. That would have been the classy way to end his decades of work. Geraldo’s ego would not allow that, and he needed another dose of spotlight before calling it a day. He got it, but at the expense of his reputation. The View was not worth the effort and was another bad decision on his part.

 

 

The post Geraldo, It’s Time For The Curtain appeared first on Granite Grok.

Join us for this Constitution Day Celebration on September 15th, 2023, from 6-8 pm; at the American Legions at 188 Eastern Ave, in Rochester, NH.

Please Submit Group communications or Press Releases to editor@granitegrok.com.
Submission is not a guarantee of publication – Publication is not an endorsement.

FREE tickets HERE!

Why? When we frequently return to the basics, as in sports, we must also return to the foundational principles of our Nation! How else will we know how to behave in society?
Here is your opportunity for your entire family to unite with your community and renew the founding principles that have given Americans the freedoms we enjoy today!

• Where did our Founders come up with this philosophy for our Constitutional Republic?
• How did such individual sovereign divided states agree to work together for the common good? (Can we apply their wisdom today in our society?)
• What was the founders’ educational experience that has withstood the test of time and produced the beloved national documents?
• Did the founders leave us any clues on how to preserve our Republic?
• What duties are you required to complete to be a good citizen?

We will play some games at this event. Other activities you will take home for later. This Constitution Day Celebration is a fun family event for all ages!

Want to volunteer? Email clmcc2befree@yahoo.com

Here is the link again for the free tickets. 

The post Constitution Day Celebration! appeared first on Granite Grok.

Yep. Another one. And I’ll keep rolling through them as well. So given the controversy at the Conway Public Library (no, not the Conway School District SAU9)  with (what I think) was an illegal shutting of a public facility because of a sexuality event that also served as discrimination against normal library patrons at the behest of Library Director David Smolen,  I figured that I was going to see how deep this goes. So naturally, yet another RTK – a citizens best tool to get information from our (in their eyes) “betters”.

July 10, 2023

Right to Know demand per RSA 91-A: Conway Public Library Card Catalog

[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…

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:

The card catalog used in the Conway NH Libraries for any and all media. The information for this Responsive Record shall include:

• Name of the book
• Name of the Author(s)
• Content Summary
• ISBN identification (or other such designated ID)
• Name of the Library

Otherwise, if this cannot be fulfilled within that 5 business day mandated window per RSA 91-A:2, II, please advise when the Responsive Record will be made available.

Per RSA 91-A:4 IV(c) If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific exemption used to justify the denial to make each record, or part thereof, unavailable for inspection along with a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the information withheld.

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. I am asking that the Responsive Records be returned in a spreadsheet file (e.g., EXCEL, OpenOffice) which your library system can produce.

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) which may have been deleted from respective local hardcopy or software system 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 will be sent to me for inspection. You may email the Responsive Records to me at Skip@GraniteGrok.com. If the volume turns out to be substantial, I have already set up a Dropbox folder to use in uploading those Responsive Records.

Thank you for your lawful attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Skip Murphy
Skip@GraniteGrok.com

After all, if they are willing to host childrens’ reading by men making sport of women, what other degeneracy can be found in the Library

Now, I did send the above to the Library Trustees. I did get an answer back from Smolens not much different than other Library Directors:

—— Original Message ——
From “David Smolen” <dsmolen@conwaypubliclibrary.org>
To Skip@granitegrok.com
Date 7/11/2023 10:55:01 AM
Subject response to your RTKL request

Hi, Mr. Murphy, the library catalog is available to be used and viewed at the following address:

https://conway.aspendiscovery.org/

I think this answers your request.

Sincerely,

David Smolen

So, dear readers, do YOU think that satisfied my RTK – “look it up yourself”?

Of course you didn’t – you know me too well. What they all seem to do is send me to a page at which a book search can be done – not giving me what is requested which is the card catalog itself. It should be obvious – I didn’t ask to “search”‘s anything. Since their job is to manage BOOKS TO BE READ, that their primary job, one would surmise they’d know the difference. SEARCH  is not a card catalog. Do I really need to start DEFINING what a card catalog is to that level? I find it hard to believe that “card catalog” doesn’t have a definition that these people would recognize.

So I sent back a message that he didn’t like, but that’s in the next post in this series.

 

The post Conway Public Library – Right To Know: Card Catalog appeared first on Granite Grok.

We have the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Protection Bureau, Consumer Product Safety Commission, USA.gov, and even state-level agencies, claiming an interest in consumer protections, but no one is investigating the hidden costs of owning an electric vehicle (EV).

Related: Consumer Reports: EVs are Some of the Most Unreliable Vehicles Sold In America

Nor are they working to educate the public on the truth.

The front-end and end-of-life carbon footprints (if you care about that sort of thing) are massive. There are humanitarian concerns over how the raw material is mined (conflict EVs!). They can be dangerous to drive even when not damaged. EV car fires create a significant toxic pollution risk and are difficult or impossible to extinguish. The extra weight adds stress to roadways and bridges.

The higher average cost unfairly prices most people out of the vehicle market. You are more likely to charge them with electricity from oil, coal, or gas. Estimated fuel savings can take up to ten years to break even on the purchase price if the battery lasts that long; extreme heat and cold affect efficiency and battery life. Replacing a damaged or worn-out battery can cost 15-30,000 dollars, and because of that (and some new and daunting facts below), insurance premiums for EVs can be 5-15 percent higher annually. That number is only going to rise.

Bad to worse

No one seems to know how to fix them when they’ve been in an accident, and the risk of fire from damage means repair shops may not want them on their premises. An EV car fire can easily ignite adjacent vehicles and property. In the UK, the risk is so great they require you to separate EVs from other cars and each other by at least 15 meters.

The US has yet to implement these or similar cautions, but it is inevitable. They represent a significant uncontrollable fire risk.

And while a simple combustion engine fender bender might cost the owner a few bucks (their deductible) and a matter of days or weeks for repair, EVs will cost more to fix, take longer to repair, and might get written off as totaled due to the risk of battery damage even when the car is still relatively new.

You can wreck and repair a combustion engine car numerous times, while an EV might be done after one minor front-end collision. There’s nothing earth-friendly about scrapping a low-mileage vehicle, even if some gets reclaimed.

Here’s a video by a car guy from the UK who – clearly not a fan of EVs – lays out some of the cost/replacement/repair issues I just mentioned, but he does it with an accent.

 

 

 

 

 

The post The Bad News for Electric Vehicle Owners Keeps Getting Worse appeared first on Granite Grok.

So back on 6/27, I posted up the video that was taken by activists during the White Mountain Pride’s Drag Queen Children Hour event in which, in spectacular fashion, Director David Smolen covered himself with a legal word salad in trying to CYA himself in denying access to regular Conway Public Library patrons. It reminded me of my sons (and your children as well, I bet) in trying to persuade me that they hadn’t broken something of mine that was rather valuable. The phrase used was “Limited Public Forum” in which he was right (it is a legal term) but completely botched how it is actually used.

Well, a Conway activist reached out for help in trying to make him live up to his words in that video (paraphrased) “I gotta go but I’ll get back to you on that” – and never did. She had seen the RTKs I’d been putting up but couldn’t write on herself. So of COURSE I helped her write a Right To Know to present to the Conway Public Library Trustees last night at their meeting speaking exactly to that.

July 10, 2023

Right to Know demand per RSA 91-A: Conway Public Library: “Limited Public Library”

[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…

RSA202-A:3-a Records and Meetings Subject to Right-to-Know Law. – A public library established or accepted by a town or city shall be deemed a “public agency,” and the library trustees a “public body,” for purposes of RSA 91-A, and they shall be subject to all applicable provisions of that chapter; provided, however, that any books, documents, records, or other information maintained by a public library that is exempted or protected from disclosure by other provisions of law shall not be subject to disclosure under RSA 91-A.

202-A:5 Status. – Every public library shall remain forever free to the use of every resident of the town wherein it is located.

Background:

On a video captured by citizens and hosted on GraniteGrok (https://granitegrok.com/blog/2023/06/so-about-that-drag-queen-at-the-conway-public-library-last-friday-part-2), Director David Smolen, while conversing with a Conway Citizen said that the reason she was disallowed from attending the White Mountain Pride Drag Queen Reading was that the Conway Public Library (“CPL”) was a “Limited Public Forum” as the reason for preventing her entrance. She was also disallowed from entering the building environs exclusive of the reserved room for the WMP meeting.

The sense of “Limited Public Forum” is not mentioned in RSA 202-A which proscribes how Public Libraries are to be managed and act. Neither is that description mentioned in RSA 201-D.

Demand:

Given that NH is a Dillon’s Rule State, 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:

• Provide the NH Statutes (“RSA”) that label or define that a NH Public Library is legally defined as a “limited public forum”
• Provide the NH Statutes (“RSA”) that can disallow residents access to the CPL in the whole for reasons that a meeting held in a given room
• Provide the NH Statutes (“RSA”) that can capriciously and arbitrarily set conditions as to the manner of entrance. In this case, only those adults accompanied by a child would gain entrance.
• Provide any and all CPL Policies that cover the above and the reference to State Statutes authorizing the actions in the Policies.

Otherwise, if this cannot be fulfilled within that 5 business day mandated window per RSA 91-A:2, II, please advise when the Responsive Record will be made available.

Per RSA 91-A:4 IV(c) If you deny any portion of this request, please cite the specific exemption used to justify the denial to make each record, or part thereof, unavailable for inspection along with a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the information withheld.

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 will be sent to me for inspection. You may email the Responsive Records to me at butterfly91011@yahoo.com. If the volume turns out to be substantial, I have already set up a Dropbox folder to use in uploading those Responsive Records.

Thank you for your lawful attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Wendy Richardson

Now, there seems to be several backstories that surfaced when she went to the meeting last night and personally delivered this RTK to the Trustees.  She also asked them some questions to which the response was “deer in headlights” and a few feeble “er, no”. I’ll be getting the details from that later on. Some of those “no’s” seemed to be markers of “something ain’t right here” so yet another project.

Oh, and I wrote an RTK for myself – and the Director’s response.  So I couldn’t help myself with my response. Hilarity ensued.

To Be Continued…

The post About that Drag Queen Story Hour at the Conway Public Library Last Friday…Part 3 – Prove Your “Proof” Is Legal appeared first on Granite Grok.

I have written before about the recent tendency of US Democrat Party members to act to subvert the idea of democracy in attempts to rile up citizens, cultivating and nurturing democracy in the process. Like stoking a fire, except it is not as simple as poking some embers with a stick to send up a shower of sparks.

The Democrat Party technique on display is more akin to dumping toxic flammable chemicals on the fire, with the result that the vaporized fumes become so noxious that people are driven away. The end result is that there is less competition in controlling the reigns of power. Whether this is intentional or not, it appears to be the only rational ideology behind the Democrat Party’s otherwise intense obsession with enacting the most aggravating, stupifying, amorally abhorrent policies.

Look no further than the US Supreme Court case Moore vs. Harper, which recently produced a decision on states’ rights pertaining to the autonomy of state legislatures. Therein, the Republican-led North Carolina State legislature’s efforts to redraw congressional district lines were rebuked because they produced a result favorable to Republicans. The state Democrats criticized those results as gerrymandering and forced a redraw which led to a near-even split.

Which is gerrymandering?

Looking at a map of the congressional districts might be the best way, as gerrymandering is most evident when the lines of the districts make such a convoluted shape that it appears to be lizardesque in nature, like a salamander. But is it gerrymandering to draw a map arbitrarily or to intentionally draw a map that balances the division of elected representatives? If the state is actually more Republican-leaning by the percentage of the population, then it is surely gerrymandering to adjust the lines so as to favor the Democrats.

Inevitably, the federal-level Supreme Court has stepped in to overturn states’ rights. The Economist, a left-leaning, subtly partisan magazine, noted that “the Supreme Court has stood up against a subversion of democracy.” Yet, in this case, SCOTUS has exercised federal will over states’ rights. That in itself is a subversion of democracy! An unelected, 9-person judiciary body somehow thinks that whatever it does protects democracy by default?

The one action at the federal level that most champions democracy is for federal actors to take a poll of the citizens affected by the issue, in this case, North Carolina residents, and follow the majority’s will on the issue. Today’s Democrat Party too often has followed the minority’s will, which is frequently subject to bigotry, misunderstanding of the values and traditions of the nation as a whole, and intent on attacking the majority rather than building the prosperity of the entire nation.

It is a great tragedy when a minority group thinks that the best way forward is for a majority group to lose, be destroyed, or be weakened. That is dangerously myopic, zero-sum thinking. That is not the best way forward in a true democracy of upstanding, intelligent citizens. An enlightened minority would recognize that their fellow citizens in the majority should also gain from the steps forward taken. The majority is not in the way of the minority necessarily. The best way forward is one where all benefit.

Joe Biden and his junta administration have constantly used the hyperbolic statement that “democracy is under attack” and that they must “defend democracy” in an effort to rally support in a national political struggle. The idea is that anyone opposed to Democrat Party policies is, by default, attacking democracy. The Democrat Party, by this rationale, can do whatever it wants, carte blanche and those actions are automatically in support of democracy.

This is a twisting of words and ideas that is repulsive, despicable, and only works on the most sycophantic and idiotic. It is fundamentally incorrect and wrong. It depends on citizens’ inaction, cowardice, and disinterest, which it also coincidentally seeks to bolster.

Specifically, we must divide our understanding and pay special attention to the difference between a capital-D Democrat and a small-d democrat. At the moment, the former is nothing more than petty tyrants, Nazi-supporting authoritarians, speech-censoring fascists, and the mentally deranged projecting their mistakes onto everyone else. They are fortunate that the other citizens of the planet are so tolerant, and we are all praying that the 2024 election comes soon enough to prevent matters from getting worse.

Real cultivation of democracy involves compassionately building a political arena with multiple (i.e., five or more) political parties that ensure that everyone’s needs are met and that the duties of government are fulfilled. We need more of that mindset in Washington, DC, which necessarily requires forcing the democracy subverters to move somewhere else.

 

The post Weeding Out the Subverters of Democracy appeared first on Granite Grok.

After eleven days, the Secret Service closed the investigation of the mysterious bag of Cocaine found in the White House. The Service claims they have no facts about the illegal drugs found in the West Wing that could lead to the person responsible. Is no one in the Biden White House ever accountable for anything?

Nobody should be surprised by the announcement on Thursday. The Secret Service is charged with protecting the President and his family from harm, and ending this investigation without finding does just that; covering for the First Family.

In an embarrassing statement, the Secret Service reported the following:

• No fingerprints were discovered on the bag
• No DNA could be lifted from the poly bag
• There were no video cameras in the area where the plastic bag of Cocaine was found.
• Visitor logs indicate at least 500 people had access to the drop area over the Fourth of July weekend

You might ask why it took eleven days to come to a conclusion that could have been made in minutes with the same feckless effort. Supposedly, the FBI worked with the Secret Service on this case, meaning the most sophisticated equipment was available to investigators. Yet with all the resources available, we have a bag of drugs left in the White House by someone with no fingerprints or DNA, and we are expected to buy their story. I don’t think I’m buying.

It is alarming that we have not heard the President show concern with this matter. He should be insisting on answers to assure the American people of the security of the White House. It was quietly leaked yesterday that this was the third such find in the White House during Biden’s term. Why are we hearing of these situations now? Wasn’t this to be the most transparent Administration ever? This is becoming a House of Mirrors, Cocaine Mirrors.

Nothing is light or funny about this matter, from the initial discovery to the bogus investigation. If anyone could place an evidence-free bag of Cocaine in the White House, what would stop someone from leaving Anthrax, Ricin, or Fentanyl? This investigation fits perfectly with the many other slow-walked or ongoing issues. We saw many times during FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony in front of Congress his reluctance to answer direct questions about the Biden family. Whether questioned about the Biden Laptop, Bribery, Money Laundering, or the Cocaine discovery, his escape was that the investigation is ongoing, and he cannot comment. Ongoing is the new safe word. This explains why there is no urgency to close any of these investigations, as they are the perfect legal cover for the Biden Crime Family. 

The American people are waking up and tired of the legal manipulations by our government to mask the obvious illegal activities of the First Family. The credibility of the Justice Department, FBI, and now the Secret Service is being destroyed, all to protect a corrupt lifelong politician and his family that have used their positions to reap fortunes from around the world. They have also been shown to cheat the tax system, which I guess means fair share only applies to law-abiding citizens and not their slimy political leaders.

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An attorney in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been arrested for possessing thousands of images of child pornography. He is an attorney who represents the DNC and was active against sex abuse.

We want to thank Claire Best for this Contribution – Please direct yours to Editor@GraniteGrok.com.
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West Palm Beach is where Monsignor Edward Arsenault has a business called Da Franz with his husband Francesco Bolignini-Arsenault West Palm Beach is where Autofair sold to. Andrew H Crews, the CEO, was on the board of Children’s Advocacy Centers and Granite One Health tied to Catholic Medical Center tied to Edward Arsenault

West Palm Beach is where Jeffrey Epstein lived – tied to 10 Ferry Street Concord NH, which ties his business via International Peace Institute/International Rescue Committee to Edward Arsenault’s Virtus LLC business and Maximus, Policy Studies, DCYF, Kathleen Kerr, Sylvia Gale, Police Detective James F McLaughlin, Veritas, Children’s Trust Fund, Dataminr.

Didn’t Eric Spofford of Granite Recovery Centers move to West Palm Beach too? Isn’t it curious that Edward Arsenault was released only 17 months into his 4-year sentence and in home confinement in Salem, where Eric Spofford Enterprises was?

As Cindy McCain said after Epstein was suicided, “Everyone Knew.”  But in New Hampshire, when Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested, everyone claimed not to know.  That’s not possible – her house sale was recorded by the registrar of deeds, who came out of the banking department and endorsed the sheriff of Merrimack County and is at an address next to his. Ghislaine’s company Granite Reality LLC shares a name with Red Granite Reality in Maryland which can be traced to ownership by Glenn Perlow of NH Trusts.

Everyone knew about Patrick Rose in Boston Police as a predator, too, since 1992 or so. AG at the time in Mass. was Scott Harshbarger, who got caught out after the McMartin Pre-School Satanic Panic scandal. He was hired to do the investigation into St Paul’s School that was published while the State (lobbied by the NHCADSV) decided to keep its own report for the period when AG Michael Delaney and AG Joseph Foster were there private.  And David Vicinanzo, providing legal counsel to the NHCADSV who got a contract out of it all, thought that was just dandy.

Let’s not have fake non-profits that actually protect child sex predators, please. Let’s not have AGs or Chief Justices or Judges who protect corrupt police officers posing as sex crimes officers but actually child traffickers and pedophiles and drug traffickers.

Let’s keep our children and our society safe from dangerous fakes.

 

The post Let’s Talk About Sex Trafficking and That New Hampshire/West Palm Beach Connection appeared first on Granite Grok.

Early in the year, I prepped the battlespace for what typically happens around New England. Everyone yells “drought” and “climate change!” But by year’s end, we have our average annual precip or more. This year has been wet. You could say there’s been a systemic lack of drought.

But drought is still a scary thing. It feeds the fear and false narratives upon which the Climate Cult props up its fraud.

Too much water has the same effect. Flooding. Massive flooding. Holy stormwater runoff Batman! It’s mostly hyperbolic nonsense, as is how the Cult peddles the transition from one to the other. Extreme weather. Climate chaos! It’s your fault! But what doesn’t prove global warming? Even normal is wrong because their faith is unassailable, and any refutation is sacrilegious. As for the lack of drought, you’ll have seen a lot of headlines about flooding, mostly in Vermont but in New Hampshire as well.

After a barely above-average month for precipitation in May, New Hampshire rocked the following month with the 14th wettest June on record. Not exceptional, but worthy of note. Vermont’s June 2023 was the seventeenth wettest, while July could be a record breaker. July has seen significant rainfall and flooding in both states, blowing the NOAA spring-summer prediction to high heaven (if such a thing exists for climate cultists).

But back to New Hampshire.

 

 

Five of the wettest Junes in New Hampshire have been since 1998, which aligns with the annual trends over the past 50 years. The Granite State has been wetter more often since 1969 than the 75 years of record prior.

 

 

CO2, if anything, has made the state wetter and greener (which naturally reduces CO2 if that concerns you), but we’re due for a change, sois one coming? Since 2005, annual totals have been above the 100-year average but declining since 2005.

 

 

Approaching the historical norm, as in normal. Not too much, not too little, not having anything to do with your lifestyle in either case.

Boring? Maybe, but we are at war with the left on these issues, and you, dear reader, wading through these sorts of articles, have more information than most when discussing the realities of climate.

Not always exciting but invaluable.

No hyperbolic venting required. Just point to the science.

 

 

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On the 4th of July, 1976, 124 U.S. Senators celebrated their loyalty to the United Nations by signing a Declaration of Interdependence, a complete repudiation of the Declaration of Independence.

On 9/11/1990, our 41st President, George H. W. Bush, boldly challenged the eternal wisdom of our Founders by saying: the U.N.-directed Gulf War was intended to create a “new world order.” Sadly, only The John Birch Society and several patriotic organizations challenged this ultimate betrayal of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution by our Commander in Chief, who surrendered his war powers to UN/NATO control, now a “no-win war’ for 20-plus years.

Blind trust in government invites despotism. The result is peace without freedom. Over the past century, the apathetic voting habits of the American people have followed this fatal trend. In 1945, Americans starving for peace were deceived by this “cheese in the mousetrap.” The mousetrap was the framework of world government, the UN Charter. Who could argue against it in those chaotic times? Both parties and political candidates supported the promise of peace. The phony promise of “no more wars” won Senate ratification of the UN Charter with only two descending votes.

The lack of accountability by the UN thrived under the honeymoon of world peace. It wasn’t exposed until years later when, in 1960, the John Birch Society initiated their “Get Us Out Of The U.N. and Get The U.N. Out Of The U.S. campaign to expose this betrayal.

“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.”

Today Edmund Burke’s advice challenges our complacent indifference to what is really happening. Trusted bad men have combined against liberty under the banner of peace in a generational plot that never made N.Y. Times headlines even after, In 1980, the State Department issued a document entitled Postwar Foreign Policy Preparation 1939-1945 …:

“… key government figures in UN planning within the U.S. State Department and Treasury Department: Alger Hiss, Harry Dexter White, Virginius Frank Coe. Dean Acheson, Noel Field, Lawrence Duggan, Henry Julian Wadleigh, John Carter Vincent, David Weintraub, Nathan Gregory Silvemaster. Solomon Adler, Abraham George Silverman, William L. Ullman, and William H. Taylor.” G. Edward Griffin reveals this in his 1964 book, The Fearful Master: that all these men except Dean Acheson have been identified in sworn testimony as Secret Communist agents.

Americans must not remain ignorant of the true purpose of U.N. peace. We cannot continue to elect self-promoting globalists to office. Which world do you choose: the Godless tyranny of the U.N. or freedom under God secured by leadership obedient to the Constitution? Answering that question with party votes, waving the flag, and firecrackers are insufficient for the sacred fire of independence and liberty to reign. Restore Americanism by demanding your Representation sponsor the American Sovereignty Restoration Act. Get the truth at Go to JBS.org.

 

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is one of the most conservative politicians in Texas. He has been a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, religious freedom, and traditional values. However, in recent months, Paxton has been betrayed by some of his own Republican colleagues.

Indictment and Impeachment
Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges. The charges stem from a 2011 investment deal that Paxton was involved in. Paxton has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges. However, the sham impeachment has injured his reputation and made it more difficult for him to do his job.

Despite the indictment, Paxton has continued to be a vocal critic of the Biden administration. He has sued the administration over several policies, including its vaccine mandates and immigration policies. Paxton has also been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump.

Paxton’s conservative views have not favored him over his Republican colleagues. In recent months, some Republicans have backstabbed him. They have argued that the indictment has made it impossible for Paxton to do his job effectively.

Tinderholt’s campaign also sheds light on the role of individual lawmakers in shaping public opinion and the political narrative. As a respected Republican representative, his actions carry weight and resonate with the party’s base. By actively engaging with Republican voters and encouraging them to express their opposition to Paxton’s impeachment, Tinderholt seeks to counter the negative perception of the charges brought against Paxton. His efforts are a powerful reminder that individual lawmakers can play a significant role in influencing public opinion and shaping the outcome of critical political events.

Moreover, the consequences of Tinderholt’s mobilization efforts extend beyond the immediate impeachment trial. They highlight the broader significance of public engagement and political activism in our democratic process. Grassroots mobilization allows citizens to participate in politics actively, express their views, and influence decision-making. These efforts can strengthen the bond between elected officials and their constituents, deepening democratic engagement within the Republican Party and beyond.

The Betrayal
The betrayal of Paxton by some of his Republican colleagues is a sad day for Texas. Paxton is a man who has dedicated his life to fighting for conservative values. He is a true conservative warrior, and he deserves the support of his fellow Republicans.

Paxton has defended dozens of lawsuits related to election fraud. Democrats wanted to open the elections to mail-in ballots and ID-free elections and sued Texas for instituting these unconstitutional practices in our elections. He and his office won every single one of these cases and prevented Democrats from stealing Texas as they did in Georgia, Arizona, and many other states.

When progressives left across the country, including in Texas, attacked our freedom of religion daily, he stood firm and stopped them. He has defended the rights of religious Texans to worship freely, without government interference.

At a time when both parties and too many activist judges play politics and refuse to defend our constitutional rights, his strong stance is particularly welcome. He has been a tireless advocate for the Constitution, and he has always put the rights of the people first.

The allegations against Paxton are still unproven. He has not been convicted of any crime and has the right to a fair trial. However, the indictment has damaged his reputation and made it more difficult for him to do his job.

Unveiling the Viciousness
Some blame Karl Rove and the Bushes for using their power against him. Their tactics were not merely the result of political competition but deliberate acts of aggression. Rove’s relentless pursuit of power and the Bush family’s disregard for the nation’s well-being has left lasting scars on American democracy.

By highlighting the viciousness of these individuals, it becomes apparent that their actions were driven by a thirst for power and a willingness to manipulate the system to their advantage. The negative consequences of their policies and decisions cannot be understated. From the lives lost in unnecessary wars to the erosion of civil liberties, their viciousness becomes apparent when we delve beneath the surface.

Karl Rove, the Bushes, and their political legacies are riddled with deception, self-interest, and a relentless pursuit of power. Their tactics have left a lasting impact on the American political landscape, with repercussions that continue to resonate today. By shedding light on their Machiavellian strategies and destructive policies, we must remain vigilant, ensuring that such individuals are held accountable and that our democracy is safeguarded from their insidious influence. We can only strive for a more just and equitable political future through an informed and critical assessment of their actions.

The betrayal of Paxton by some of his Republican colleagues is a sad day for Texas.

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