Lifetime achievement unlocked! Felt like I was in an Aaron Sorkin series last night when Louis and I went in person to the NBC studio to be interviewed as part of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of New Hampshire series. The two journalists who interviewed me are Alison King and Sue O’Connell. I wish we had more time to to explore some of the issues, but all things considered, I think it went as well as it could. I will be breaking down some of the issues on The Carla Gericke Show in the coming weeks.
One of the things I love about social media is how it captures our memories! I also believe this feature is contributing to rising censorship. It’s a lot harder to lie to people when we can juxtapose clips side by side over the years, and show the falsehoods, hysteria, lies and hypocrisy for what it is: A sham and scam. For example: climate change claims stemming from the 1970s that still haven’t materialized.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
Below, we have a Facebook memory from 6 years ago. If you want to learn more about the voices in my head, and how I healed myself, start HERE.
How aware are YOU of your own self-talk? Have you identified the voices in your head? Friends or foes? For me, identifying, and learning to disregard the meanies in my head, was a massive step towards restoring my mental balance. If you suffer from stress, anxiety, negative self-talk, or other mental issues, you can HEAL. But it starts with making YOURSELF YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, and regrouping from head-to-toe: your habits, your diet, your family, your friends, your exercise and self-care routines. If you want to get better, here’s the first thing to internalize: Be selfish. It’s okay, in fact, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself, and society at-large.
Yep, I said it: BEING SELFISH should be your #1 goal!
Next, we have a classic meme from 2012: The Philosoraptor! Here he is asking a valid question about marijuana prohibition. How people tolerate the illegality of a plant they want to consume is beyond me! How can Nature be illegal? Surely the people who deem it so are evil? Only Control Freaks, the most evil of evil people (those who think they own others or “know better”), would come up with a plan that legalizes alcohol, A NEUROTOXIN that rots your brain, and ban something for which you have receptors in your body. Philosoraptor gave me plenty of shareable memes over the years, and I even made a few myself. One of mine I can remember? “230 Million in Democide? Worth the Roads?”
I’m giving them hell on Twitter, even if no one can see! I was so shadow-banned, I don’t even show up on the lists of being shadow-banned, but then there was that one glorious week after Elon took over where my engagement went up 150% and I got 1,000+ new followers, then I said Fauci should hang, got suspended for a week, and now, well, it’s a slog again…
ICYMI, the storm in the teacup for the past 2 weeks was banning gas stoves. I posted the pic below on my Insta A DAY BEFORE JOE ROGAN. Ahem.
Finally, a bonus memory from 13 years ago, because then and always, and even now, in my Fifties, I will forever make unicorn jokes!
A voter recently asked me the following on Facebook: “So how would you make up the revenue short fall; this is a perennial problem in a small state like New Hampshire. It’s either super high property taxes, or high taxes on prepared food rooms and meals, what do you propose?”
Here’s my response:
“High taxes are the result of high spending, so I’d start there.
NH has about a $13B biennial budget, iirc, and I’m sure there’s all kinds of fat in there–maybe it’s time for an audit, plus some flow charts showing us what each department gets and how the money is spent, down to the salaries, pensions, and other liabilities (funded and unfunded). Also, when you allow markets to operate freely, prices go down (unlike when you get the government involved, where they only know one direction, and that’s UP, UP, UP! <–easy to spend other people’s money!).
We are also not getting our monies worth in the current education system, where enrollment and results are going down precipitously as costs go up, so that needs an overhaul too. Of course, when Democrats refuse allocated funds like the $46M that was supposed to go to PUBLIC charter schools, it’s easy to see where to place some of the blame.
So what do I propose? Embracing the NH Advantage in its truest sense, allowing our friends and neighbors to run their businesses as unfettered as possible, fixing the schools by introducing more parental choices which will drive down costs while improving actual educational outcomes (doesn’t seem unreasonable that for approx. $16K per child, the kid should be able TO READ), reducing business taxes, and auditing and possibly eliminating unnecessary programs.
Nothing is written in stone, of course, and should allowing more freedom not work, we can always tweak things, but here’s one thing I 100% know, more and more government involvement in our lives leads to worse and worse outcomes! I want us to #LiveFreeAndThrive. That starts with “Live free”!”
Catch my video asking Mayor Joyce Craig for a full, public inquiry into the deadly debacle at the Quality Inn last week.
Worried about the increasingly dangerous policing, lockdowns, and new police cameras being introduced without any public input? Join me at City Hall on Tuesday, April 9th at 5PM for a rally–1984 Is Not an Instruction Manual–to highlight these issues. You are also welcome to provide 3 minutes of public testimony at the Alderman meeting that starts at 6PM.
My LTE from today’s Union Leader:
“Demand full inquiry
To the Editor: Last week, Manchester SWAT working with the DEA deployed chemical weapons on two twenty-something small-time drug users in a hotel near Exit 1, where they died. News articles already fail to mention this use of gas, so I can only assume the official narrative will attempt to ‘memory hole’ this damning detail.
Should we believe the official version? We have no way to vet the information provided because after the unlawful 2016 West Side Lockdown, the police ‘solved’ our concerns about transparency by secretly encrypting their scanners, destroying years of tradition, and leaving law-abiding citizens in the dark.
How do we know these LEOs are ‘ones we can trust,’ rather than ones on the blacked-out Laurie’s List of misconduct the AG is actively fighting to hide from us.
Why is the DEA operating in Manchester, expending meaningful resources on small time drug users (the dead 26 year old was out on bail for 0.4 grams of crack cocaine).
Was the public at large more or less safe during this debacle? Someone doing coke in a hotel room puts me at 0% danger…
Who pays when businesses on South Willow, like Starbucks, are closed down for hours?
Who pays for the unlawful displacement of hotel guest and nearby residents?
Who pays for the damage to our Queen City’s reputation, based on what sounds like an operation that went rogue and escalated unnecessarily?
Manchester residents all pay, but the buck must stop at Mayor Joyce Craig’s desk: Demand a full public inquiry.
CARLA GERICKE
Hooksett Road
Manchester”
My sincere thanks to the voters of District 20 for their support yesterday. I did not win, but I did get 1.5% more votes than in 2016. My time will come.
Running against "the lion of the senate" was always going to be an uphill slog. I genuinely believed District 20’s voters were ready for someone new and principled, but you get what you vote for.
To my donors, supporters, and volunteers, thank you! I couldn’t have done it without you. From sign waves to lit drops to door knocking to providing moral support, having you by my side made it fun and worthwhile.
A special shout out to the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, the Get Involved PAC, and Young Americans for Liberty for your support. Glad to see so many candidates you endorsed did well!
Many great liberty friends and colleagues did win. Congratulations! I wish you luck in serving.
Governor Sununu won. I encourage the Republican party to stick to its platform and support policies that embrace "free people, free markets and free enterprise".
I leave you with this quote from Will And Ariel Durant:
“Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing things historians usually record; while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks. Historians are pessimists because they ignore the banks of the river.”
Peace out.
Are you tired of all this politics, politics, politics? Can’t wait for Election Day on November 6th to be over? Me too! 🙂
In order for me to win against my opponent, Lou D’Allesandro (80) who has spent the past 20 years in the senate restricting your liberties and raising your taxes, I need YOUR vote!
I’m a unique candidate: I filed for and am the Republican nominee for state Senate in District 20 (Manchester Wards 3, 4, 10, 11 and Goffstown). After a successful primary write-in campaign by Libertarian supporters, I will also appear on the ballot as the Libertarian candidate.
If you are a Republican-leaning independent voter, I ask for your vote on the Republican slate. Start at the top of the ticket with Governor Sununu, and vote all the way down the ballot–local candidates matter much more to your everyday life, so don’t skip us! I am eager to work with Gov. Sununu on his priorities, including educational freedom for all children, regardless of income or zip code.
If you are an independent voter who doesn’t feel comfortable voting Republican, I ask for your vote in the Libertarian column. I am willing to work across the aisle on issues independent voters care about, including marijuana decriminalization/legalization (with a homegrown provision) and healthcare costs which can be brought down through market competition.
To all voters: I will never support a sales or income tax because #LFOD! Our low tax/low spending culture is exactly what makes New Hampshire better than everywhere else, and I will work to protect this advantage!
EIGHT Letters to the Editor have appeared in the Union Leader in support of my candidacy: from small business owners, health care professionals, single mothers, techies, and more. Only one appeared for my opponent.
Hard working taxpayers want a representative who will look after their interests. You want a senator who is not bought and paid for. You want a fresh, independent voice, someone who is highly qualified and an independent thinker. That’s me!
Running against an institution like Lou is a David against Goliath struggle. I’m sure you, like me, have received a gazillion mailers from him. You will only be getting one from me, because this is all I could afford, and like you, I have to live within my means.
To put things in context, compare our most recent campaign finance filings:
Lou D’Allesandro CAMPAIGN FINANCES
Raised: $407,721
Spent: $179,462
Reporting Date: October 31, 2018
Carla Gericke CAMPAIGN FINANCES
Raised: $25,940
Spent: $9,174
Reporting Date: October 31, 2018
Money shouldn’t matter this much when we are trying to elect our local representatives, but it certainly buys a lot of misleading mail.
It’s incredibly hard to get your name out there on a limited budget, so please, tell a friend or family member in Manchester and Goffstown that there is a real choice for a fresh start on Tuesday.
I respectfully ask for YOUR vote on Nov. 6th. It’s time to vote like your rights depend on it (because they do! And Lou didn’t think you worthy of having a say at all!).
I, CARLA GERICKE, promise to serve with integrity, character, and compassion. Let’s get to work on building a better future for us all!
Last week was super busy, and I’m playing catch up on informing you about my race.
First, and most awesomely, my billboard on South Willow went up! 😀
Last Wednesday, I got to hang out with Grover Norquist (pictured) and many other candidates who support the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which I signed:
"I, CARLA GERICKE, pledge to the taxpayers of the state of NEW HAMPSHIRE, that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes."
The same day, I attended an informative session regarding the recent US Supreme Court Wayfair decision. In a nutshell, the Wayfair decision turns NH business owners into tax collectors for other states and 12,000 taxing jurisdictions in conflict with our own state sovereignty and no sales/income tax status. As your senator, I will work with Gov. Sununu to make sure we protect our business owners from this atrocious federal overreach.
On Thursday, I attended two sign waves. One on Route 114 at 7AM for Goffstown voters, and one at 5PM in Ward 10. Lo and behold, my opponent drove by. What are the chances!?! It was cold, wet and windy out, but the volunteers who came out, and the waves and honks of encouragement warmed my heart. Thank you!
After the last sign wave, I headed over to St. As in Goffstown to meet with Republican students. I received this email from one:
"I just wanted to reach out and thank you for coming, tell you that I will be out door knocking for you, and to wish you the best of luck with your campaign."
On Saturday morning, I attended the Candidate Meet and Greet at Jupiter Hall organized by Manchester Ink Link (read my op-ed for them here). Sadly, the voter turnout was low, but it did afford an opportunity to speak to other candidates, including Democrats. I was shocked that when I went to say "hi" to my opponent and his wife, he decided to give me an overly-crushing "power handshake." I couldn’t help thinking, Oh, you’re like that, huh?
On Sunday afternoon, I popped in at the Eddie Edwards campaign HQ to drop off more door hangers and say hello to the volunteers who were phone banking. There was a mix of candidates in the room, and we had an interesting conversation about the role of government with regard to non-violent, first time offenders, and whether restitution rather than incarceration is a better approach, as I believe. I genuinely cannot wait to have these exchanges of ideas at the State House where I can make a real difference!
You know the drill: I ask for your vote on Nov. 6th, and promise to serve with integrity, character and compassion. Onwards!
I was invited by School Choice for NH to share my views on school choice.
Every child is a unique individual and “one size” does not fit all when it comes to his or her educational path. Some children thrive in government-run schools, others do not. I support school choice and expanding options for parents who know what is best for their child…
The answer lies in freeing the education market to more choice and competition. In Nordic countries, often cited by Democrats as the future “democratic socialist ideal” for America, school choice actually forms the bedrock of their educational system.
School choice is a form of freedom, and improves your child’s chances for success. As your Senator in District 20 (Goffstown and Manchester Ward 3, 4, 10 and 11), unlike my opponent, Lou D’Allesandro, who opposes school choice, I will support legislation that provides more educational choices for your child, which is ultimately good for your kids, good for you, and good for New Hampshire. A vote for me, Carla Gericke, is a vote for a better, brighter future!
You can read the full letter here. I ask for your vote on November 6th. Let’s get to work!
The following op-ed appeared as part of "Granite State Debates" in the print version of today’s Union Leader:
I am the Republican nominee for state Senate in District 20, running against a 20-year incumbent, Lou D’Allesandro (80), the self-declared “Lion of the Senate,” who has seemingly unlimited funds from out-of-state special interests to send countless mailers to every door. This is a David against Goliath struggle. In 2016, when I first ran, I received 40% of the vote. This time, with your support, I can win.
When speaking to voters, I sadly hear: “I’m a lifelong Republican, but I vote for Lou.”
Why? My opponent usually votes Democratic party line, so he votes against your interests. He votes against your gun rights. He votes against free speech. He votes against a balanced budget. He votes for higher healthcare costs and higher taxes. He votes against Gov. Sununu’s priorities like school choice and lower energy costs. He is rated a “Constitutional Threat” by the NH Liberty Alliance and gets an “F” rating from the economic watchdog, Americans for Prosperity. His voting record does not reflect Republican values at all.
This past legislative session, D’Allesandro voted against his constituents on two commonsense Constitutional amendments that will appear on your Nov. 6 ballot, both which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Question 1 restores taxpayer standing, a 150-year-old New Hampshire tradition that was stripped away by the state Supreme Court in 2014.
“Yes on 1” means taxpayers can once again sue to hold our local government accountable to the people. D’Allesandro was one of only two senators who voted against this much needed taxpayer-friendly remedy. I urge you to vote for me, and to vote “Yes on 1.”
Question 2 protects your private and personal information from government snooping. D’Allesandro voted with Democratic senators against your right to privacy. If, like me, you are concerned about the growing surveillance state, you should vote “Yes on 2.”
This election is crucial to the future of our state. We cannot afford to continue to support “a nice guy” who has been stripping away our liberties for 20 years.
My opponent’s high-tax policies will result in a sales and income tax. If this happens, expect everything that makes New Hampshire exceptional to erode, and we will simply become a province of Massachusetts.
As a former lawyer for Silicon Valley high-tech companies, a nonprofit director, writer and volunteer with 25 years’ real-world experience, I have the skills, time, energy, and understanding of limited constitutional government to best represent you in Concord.
There is a lot of frustration in today’s political landscape. The stakes have become too high because government is too big, too involved in every aspect of our lives. President Reagan said: “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." I agree, and believe government that governs least, governs best.
My opponent should be judged not on his personality, but on his appalling 20-year voting record. If you are a lifelong Republican, why would you continue to support someone who works against Republican principles, and makes Gov. Sununu’s job harder?
[Carla Gericke is a former lawyer and writer who lives in West Manchester with her husband of 24 years. She is the Republican nominee for N.H. Senate in District 20, which includes Goffstown and Manchester Wards 3, 4, 10 and 11.]