A Bump On The Road To Unity

As a Blogger I am encouraged by the calls for unity from the NH-GOP leadership.  But I do not believe they have a clue about how to get there from here.  And blaming bloggers is clearly not the answer.  In fact, it is exactly the opposite of "the answer."  I make that quite clear in the status update I posted on Facebook this morning.

"...the NHGOP is very bad at messaging.  They are terrible at policy support during the session.  They are not aggressive at all when it comes to going after Democrats.  They never use the media resources at their disposal effectively.  And they do a poor job of supporting local candidates.  Meanwhile, 'Bloggers" are doing all of those things...for free.  But rather than thank me for the 1200 articles a year I might write attacking left wing policy, narrative, legislation, or commentary; or thanking me for supporting the platform, conservative principles, good legislation, or local Republican candidates, they piss and moan like children over the fifteen or so articles where I call out the GOP for acting like progressives."

The first step toward recovery is accepting that you have a problem.  The NH-GOP has a problem and it is not bloggers.

Until the NH-GOP accepts that it is bad at almost everything it is supposed to be good at, there can be no recovery.

Now I am more than willing to promote conservative and Republican principles, to provide policy support, promote small government, connect activists to local candidates, encourage discussion and debate, but let's be honest--I already do that.  I've been doing it for years and I do not need the good graces of the NH-GOP to continue doing it.  In fact, I will continue to do it regardless.  But I am willing to help them get on board with what we as bloggers already do and what we can offer.

We offer access and distribution of any message that we all support.  We provide an opportunity to get that message to rank better in search engines so that more people will see it.  We are adept at using social media and getting content on to upper level blogs with even larger, national audiences.  And we do not require a pound of flesh in return.  And the New Hampshire media...a lot of them check in to see what we are writing about.

But be warned. We are not the lefty media.

I, and I believe I can speak for everyone else at GraniteGrok,  am not going to report and support a candidate or idea simply because the party says so.  Principle comes before party.  If you can see your way past that bump in the road then there is hope.

But before we get there, the state Republican party had best give itself a thorough exam, top to bottom, and answer some questions honestly.  The most important of those is...who they are and why are they here?

I'm writing over 1000 articles a year attacking left wing policy, narrative, legislation, or progressive commentary while  supporting the ideas in the Republican platform, conservative principles, good legislation, and local Republican candidates--and I don't earn a dime or spend a dime to do it.

I know why I'm here.  I know why I blog.  Someone has to keep that message alive, try to reach out and share it in new and even entertaining ways.  And to do battle across the blogosphere for the heart and soul of the Live Free or Die State.

If you don't get up every morning and understand that the NH-GOP should be leading that charge in New Hampshire instead of a bunch of bloggers, then you are involved for some other purpose.  If that is true, fine, but have the spine to admit it--and then get the hell out of my way.

You are reading  "A Bump On The Road To Unity"   by  Steve Mac Donald originally posted at GraniteGrok.com (Home)

Steve has been recognized as the Americans For Prosperity Blogger of the month for December 2012

Decisive Flip Flops From Candidate for NH-GOP Chair

Given all we know already about Andy Leach (Senator Ayotte's Office) making calls to candidates running against Jennifer Horn for NH-GOP Chair, who then suddenly dropped out of the race for NHGOP chair, leaving Jennifer to run un-opposed, (until Andrew Hemingway stepped up), this seems relevant.

Candidate Horn, on her Facebook page, provided two updates (one last night and one before lunch today) in which she provided details on the impending Fiscal Cliff deal in the US Senate.  The first included some specifics from Congressman Guinta's Office (see also deals on continuing resolutions and debt ceiling that lead to the fiscal cliff), and a second update in which she summarized her continued displeasure with the deal.

But then it was learned that Senator Ayotte voted for the deal.   Did Jennifer get a phone call from Andy Leach as well?

I can't answer that question.  What I do know is that Joe Barton says he posted a comment on Jennifer Horn's Facebook page after Ms. Horn cried foul about the last-minute deal, asking if Senator Ayotte had voted for it (and mentioning that she did), with a link to the Senate roll call.  Mr. Barton's reward for sharing was being banned from the page and our reward was another update from the candidate for NH-GOP Chair...

Unfortunately Republicans were put in a "no-win" situation last night- while these tax hikes are untenable at best, they were forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. No deal would have led to tax hikes worth many times this much that would have impacted 100% of Americans. I think there is a worthy debate to be had if perhaps that would have been the better path, but I am not going to hold it against anyone who felt they were at least trying to protect as many taxpayers as possible. My focus will continue to be on the President and the Democratic leadership who refused to offer a balanced, fair plan for the American people.

So we went from...

100 billion in tax increases a d(sp) NO SPENDING CUTS .... But millions in spending for alternative energy, Hollywood movie producers, and the usual Washington favors ... Some deal ...

To...

Unfortunately Republicans were put in a "no-win" situation last night...

Speaking personally, I am not without regard for the problems and potential of a Kobayashi Maru no-win scenario, but it seems a bit suspicious to me for someone who posted all the negatives about the deal to do a 180 right after she found out that the Senator from New Hampshire whose staffer cleared the playing field for her race for chairman (until Andrew Hemingway jumped in the race) voted for the thing she was just so clearly against.

I can't find Joe's comment or link so it appears that this was removed along with Joe.  That could suggest that observations or input from certain wings of the party might not be tolerated in her NH-GOP; that's the party where a US Senator's staffer threatens to make sure the party money dries up if her opponent wins.  See where I'm going with this?

Whatever the particulars, and with or without Joe's timely removal from Jen's Friends list, Ayotte did vote for the deal, and Horn did do a 180 when she found out.

Denials may be forthcoming.  We love those so fire away.

You are reading  "Decisive Flip Flops From Candidate for NH-GOP Chair"   by  Steve Mac Donald originally posted at GraniteGrok.com (Home)

Steve has been recognized as the Americans For Prosperity Blogger of the month for December 2012

O’Brien to Endorse Gingrich; Horn will Endorse Romney

The Manchester Union Leader is reporting today that House Speaker Bill O’Brien plans to formally endorse Newt Gingrich today.  This was noted last week but not formally stated.

“I want a candidate who has a clear understanding of conservative philosophy. I look for someone who has good instincts, someone who is intelligent and has great leadership and an ability to articulate the philosophy of our party and his own goals.

“Speaker Gingrich has all of that,” O’Brien said.

Former CD-2 Congressional candidate Jennifer Horn will endorse Mitt Romney today, and has been selected as co-chair of Romney’s national grass-roots committee.  (Let’s see – Ayotte is on the VP list, endorses Romney; Horn gets national committee co-chair, endorses Romney– Oh, did I write that out loud?)

Horn said she is backing Romney because “it is very important that we have a nominee who will not only lead from the right but has also lived the kind of life of integrity and character that we expect from our national leader.”

She even manages to get a dig in at Newt.  Although I have to say, “lead from the right” is just a bit too vague for my primary tastes.  Mittens tends to lead from whichever direction he thinks will get him the most votes or he tosses some of that ample cash around to grease the skids.

So nothing new to see here.  TEA party liberty folks who are not Ron Paul Zombies, like Jack Kimball and Bill O’Brien, are going Newtular, and beneficiaries of TEA party liberty momentum are lining up for Romney-establishment hand outs. (Did I write that out loud as well?)

Gotta love primary season in New Hampshire.  The real question, of course; whose feelings will get hurt most?

cross posted: O’Brien to Endorse Gingrich; Horn will Endorse Romney

The Next GOP Chair...Part II

Cross Posted From Granite Grok

by Tom Flaherty

On December 13, I wrote passionately about my desire for Jennifer Horn to run for, and become the next Chair of the New Hampshire GOP.  I was even more serious due to the fact that Juliana Bergeron was the only formally announced candidate.  Julianna is the current chair of the Cheshire County GOP and has been successful in nurturing an organization in a very liberal area.  That said, she's not what I call a "strong, true Conservative."

Unfortunately, Jennifer has decided to place her energies and influence in other directions, outside the formal party structure.  While this is disappointing, she knows better than anyone how and where she can add the most value to this powerful, burgeoning Conservative movement.

That said, another strong, true Conservative player has emerged from the shadows; one who equals Jennifer in his energy, passion, consistency, and loyalty to the cause of fighting for our State and our Nation.  Leading by example, he has inspired an army of grassroots followers to become active, educated, and outspoken, against the radical left movement that has been trying to bankrupt the soul, balance sheet, and spirit of New Hampshire and America.

Jack Kimball has announced that he is "seriously considering" putting his hat into the ring to succeed Governor John Sununu as GOP Chair.

Jack has also scheduled a meeting, tomorrow, inviting specific friends and supporters to come, counsel, and discuss this option with him.  If you would like to go, I suggest contacting Jack on Facebook.

It is widely accepted that whomever wins the GOP Chair is essentially precluded from running for office in 2012.  While it is technically possible, it would be extremely bad form to accept the chair, then be forced to resign after only one year to begin the business of running an election campaign.  The Republican Party cannot afford the turmoil and scorn of having to elect a new chair half-way through the term. 

I spoke to Jack, and he realizes this, and is factoring this into his decision-making process.

I suspect that if Jack decides to run, the very same army of supporters who worked to help him in the 2010 Gubernatorial primary (and a lot more people), will put their boots back on, and get busy, working to help him win this fight.

We'll find out how this all unfolds this coming Monday, when he has committed to make a final decision.

What The...?

Did anyone happen to notice the names bandied about in this (past) Weeks Granite Status for the job of New Hampshire GOP state chairman?  John DiStaso mentions Jim Bender again, who I was told is not as interested as people think (always subject to change depending on whom you are speaking to); Jennifer Horn--who is getting nudged by the more conservative/libertarian elements along with Ovide Lamontagne who was an early favorite with the new Republicans; and then there's Juliana Bergeron and Jim Foley--both of whom are (as far as I can tell) from the Fergus Cullen wing of the party.

That would be the broken wing, the one in decline.  The one that gave away the store for acting more like Massachusetts Republicans than 'Live Free or Die' Republicans.  The one that benefits  from the 24/7 activism of the tea party, free staters, and the like.

Yes, I am picking a fight.  For two reasons.

First, now that we have these names it is time to do some serious vetting.  Second, understand that if the convention chooses to elect a squish who is inclined to ignore the party platform despite any vetting process that produces RINO-like inclinations, we have to accept that verdict, but reserve the right to bring them out to the proverbial woodshed as needed.

We are committed to the new younger breed of pro-liberty conservatives who are rising up to defend our Island of sanity in a Blue New England sea.  And if you think we're going back, you might just find yourself voted off the island.

Principle before Party creates a party strong on principle.   There is too much at stake to do this any other way.