$3 Gas. Where’s Bill Graham?

A few days ago I saw Republican Bill Graham’s TV ads blasting the state gas tax increase. He and his ads are still running. About the same time, I saw $3-a-gallon gas signs pop up. Even the CEO of Chrysler has now accused the oil companies of gouging consumers. But Graham, good Republican he is,…

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Lottery Advertising

Sometimes politics seems to slip from the unusual to the absurd. The Lottery Commission is spending $10 million on advertising. But, according to the Winston-Salem Journal (3-15-06), under state law “No advertising may have the primary purpose of inducing persons to participate in the lottery.” So why is the Lottery Commission spending $10 million on…

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Why Bush Is Tanking

President Bush’s poll numbers are tanking because he forgot how he got to the White House. The background is summed up well in an excellent piece in Time magazine this week by Joe Klein. Klein is one of the best political reporters going. Klein’s article – in which he says consultants have ruined politics –…

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Mystery Calls and Mystery Fees

To me, there are two mysteries in the debate over Raleigh’s impact fees: Who paid for the calls supporting higher fees? Why would downtown development be exempt from higher fees? First the calls. The News & Observer says this is a partial text of one call: Hello. If you are a taxpayer, it is urgent…

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Ambush in Wake County

Supporters of former State Representative David Minor on the Wake County Board of Commissioners, ambushed their Commissioners on Monday (April 13) to get Minor hired as the county lobbyist. Earlier, Commissioners had decided not to retain Minor after several Raleigh legislators – the people Minor would be lobbying – said, in effect, ‘This isn’t going…

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Today, DeLay. Tomorrow, the House?

My Democratic friends are not only ecstatic about Tom DeLay’s fall, they are certain it presages the fall of the Evil Empire. They’re convinced a Democratic “tidal wave” is about to engulf Washington and restore our party to its rightful majority in Congress. I’m afraid they’re wrong. Three reasons: 1. Voters don’t believe Democratic politicians…

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Straightening out the Mess in the House

Three Republican legislators have a remedy to the scandals in the State House. Representative Nelson Dollar, Paul Stam and Russell Capps say each party’s Caucus should appoint its members of House Committees. That the Democratic Caucus should appoint the Democrat members, and Republicans the Republicans. Instead of every Committee Member being picked by House Speaker…

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Bob Geary and Lou Dobbs

I mentioned Raleigh writer-activist Bob Geary in an earlier post. And he’s been kind enough to read and comment on our blogs. Bob has done something I admire. He started out as a newspaper reporter – for the Independent Weekly. He writes a lot about Raleigh politics. And, apparently, he has been active in local…

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John Edwards and Hillary

The News and Observer (4-4-06) reports the ‘buzz’ in Washington is that John Edwards is running second in the Democratic race for President – behind Hillary Clinton. According to the Washington Newsletter Hotline, Edwards is “the only major candidate who seems comfortable going to Hillary’s left.” I didn’t know there was such a place. Not…

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Tax That Fellow Under the Tree

The current debate in Raleigh over higher impact fees reminds of a political-consultant friend who liked to tweak his politician clients. When the politicians agonized about whether to support any tax increases, my friend would suggest – with a straight face: “Tell them you support higher taxes on foreigners who don’t live in the United…

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