Wake School Bonds DOA

The Wake County school bond issue is dead. Done. Over. Stick a fork in it. That’s the only conclusion I can reach after reading the Chamber of Commerce poll released this week. To me, the killer is the third question in the poll. It’s a standard polling question: Do you think the Wake County schools…

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School Bonds – DOA? – Why?

If the School Bonds are DOA – Mayor Charles Meeker probably did more to kill them than anyone else. Inadvertently. County Commissioner Tony Gurley and Mayor Meeker have been leading the cheers for passing between $1.3 and $1.9 billion in School Bonds (and, of course, raising taxes to pay for them). The Chamber of Commerce…

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Those Darned Bush-Bashers

President Bush and his coterie are notoriously dismissive of people who question them. So here is a news quiz taken from separate stories in Wednesday’s New York Times: (a) What political figure said that– contrary to the President’s claims – Bush’s Medicaid drug plan has experienced startup problems? (b) What political figure said that –…

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What Now for Capital News?

The McClatchey chain, which bought The News & Observer from the Daniels family some years back, now has bought the entire Knight-Ridder chain. Knight-Ridder’s biggest paper in North Carolina is The Charlotte Observer. As they always do, the corporate execs promise that this will mean nothing less than a golden age for readers. Bull. The…

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The PR Wars

I served an eight-year tour of duty as Governor Jim Hunt’s press secretary (1977-1984), and it was the hardest job I ever had. So I’m reluctant to pass judgment on other press offices. But the North Carolina mainstream media is making much of this being “Sunshine Week.” And I thought the attached article deserved some…

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Update on Morgan

Earlier this year, the State Republican Party voted to oppose Republican State Representative Richard Morgan in his primary – because of Morgan’s support of Democratic House Speaker Jim Black. Now, filings closed, Morgan has one opponent in the primary, and State GOP Director, Bill Peaslee, says, “From our perspective, there’s one Republican in that race…

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Another Scandal?

State Treasurer Richard Moore led the pack of Democratic candidates running for Governor by raising an impressive $1.28 million for his campaign last year. But retired Deputy State Treasurer, Charles Heatherly, has raised some interesting questions about how Moore raised that $1.28 million. According to Mr. Heatherly, “Much of the money came from people who…

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John Edwards and Poverty

Presidential candidate John Edwards says, “Americans are looking for strength, idealistic strength” in our leaders. And, he adds, Americans want politicians with “core beliefs” – who are not subject to the whim of polls. Apparently, John Edwards’ idea of proving to Americans that he has that kind of “strength” is to lead a crusade against…

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Raleigh Republicans Stealing Democratic Issue

Here is the headline I did not want to see (from the March 3 News & Observer): “Isley wants to shift TTA funds –The Raleigh councilman says the money should go toward roads and schools.” Wake up, Raleigh Democrats. This should be OUR issue. The N&O reported: City Council member Philip Isley wants to cut…

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Carville Rages at D.C. Democrats and GOP

I’ve always liked James Carville. I got to know him when he did some early consulting on Jim Hunt’s 1984 Senate campaign. He’s not always popular with the D.C. Democrats. Which is one reason I like him. Today a friend sent me the Duke Chronicle’s account of his speech there Saturday. (Great scheduling move, James:…

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