Archive for 2006
The Photo-Op Presidency
Here’s all you need to know about George Bush’s depth. Last week he invited to the White House an all-star crew of old Washington foreign-policy and defense gurus – all the way back to Robert McNamara and Mel Laird, for Pete’s sake. Ostensible purpose: a useful exchange of views on Iraq. The discussion with Bush…
Read MoreShortsighted Republicans Shortchange North Carolina Drivers
Bill Graham, the NC GOP’s new poster boy (and, apparently, John Edwards wannabe) has jumped on the 2.8 cent increase in the state gas tax. He wants to ride it to statewide office. Democrats in the legislature are so nervous they created a special committee to look into “the state’s largest gas tax increase in…
Read MoreA Scary Thought for Politicians
Here is a paragraph – from The New York Times’ story about superlobbyist/supercrook Jack Abramoff – that should chill the spines of politicians throughout our great land. It comes from “a former Republican leadership aide who insisted on anonymity:” “There’s a lot of talk coming out of various quarters that the Justice Department is going…
Read MoreThe ‘Task Force’ Meets
What is terrifying about government appointed ‘Task Forces’ – like the one just appointed by the Wake County Commissioners – is they’re like legislators. Almost. They can only propose to spend money. They can’t actually spend it. This new ‘Task Force’ is supposed to come up with solutions to all – or almost all –…
Read MoreRichard Moore
I actually read part of Richard Moore’s little speech to the NCCBI in the Winston-Salem Journal. It turns out he’s not quite the towering populist I thought when I read Gary’s blog. There are a lot of good arguments that can be made for increasing the minimum wage. Here’s what Mr. Moore told the NCCBI…
Read MoreRichard Moore’s (Unofficial) Campaign Kickoff
I read on the Blue NC blog that “State Treasurer (and likely gubernatorial candidate) Richard Moore is calling for a $1 increase in North Carolina’s minimum wage.” Click here to read the article: The website post says Moore: “made the call at a meeting of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, a pro-business…
Read MorePlanning Commission Fallout
I missed it if it ran in the paper, but I understand that the City Council last night appointed Paul Anderson and Charles Walker to the Planning Commission – by eight votes and five votes respectively. That suggests the anti-growth faction of the Council remains a minority – at least through last night. But it’s…
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