Archive for 2007
The Man Who Isn’t There
Republicans aren’t happy with their presidential candidates. Thompson’s too lazy, McCain’s too old and flaky, Romney’s too Mormon and Giuliani’s too liberal and loony. But the perfect candidate (in theory) actually exists. Unfortunately, he ran into a little trouble on the way to the race. He’s George Allen, the former Senator from Virginia. Allen was…
Read MoreDissing the Voters
Republican presidential candidates are dissing any voters who are black, brown or – to the uptight candidates – a bit offbeat. Democratic candidates are dissing any voters from Florida. The Republicans – at least the Big Four – won’t go to any debate aimed at any special audience. Unless that audience is watching Fox News.…
Read MoreYou Can’t Keep a Secret
The highly respected consulting firm McKinsey & Co. – and the much-maligned North Carolina Department of Transportation – are both living in a dream world. They are under the delusion they can spend $3.6 million of the people’s money on an assessment of the department, then keep it secret. Not only keep the report secret,…
Read MoreJohn Edwards Finds a Principle
John Edwards said last February he would not take public financing for his campaign. Now, lagging Obama and Hillary in fundraising (he’s raised $23 million to their $50 plus million each) he’s reversed himself. He needs the money. So he’s taking it. Nothing really wrong with that except how Edwards gilded the lily, bragging on…
Read MoreRough Waters for Hillary
The Main Media just finished anointing Hillary as the front-runner. Now they’re attacking her for running as the front-runner. I predicted it in a blog last week, where I compared reporters to birds flitting from wire to wire. So now Hillary is excoriated for debate temporizing, cautious positioning and even her way of laughing. The…
Read MoreEdwards Scores?
Two strange things happened during the Democratic debate at Dartmouth College the other night. First, everyone of the major Democratic candidates (who have been harking about getting out of Iraq) said they couldnât guarantee theyâd bring the troops home by 2013 â at the end of their first term. So, the Democrats may leave troops…
Read MoreAiming at Liddy
Some Democrats worry that no big name is challenging Senator Dole. Don’t despair. The field has narrowed to Kay Hagan and Grier Martin. Both would be good candidates, and both are looking hard at the race. First, they’re looking at is money. Dole says she’ll raise $20 million for her reelection. That’s just bluster. Still,…
Read MoreUpside Down
As the British army surrendered at Yorktown its band played a little ditty called “The World Turned Upside Down.” I felt a little like that when I read the News and Observer interview with the City Council candidates in District A. There are two candidates. Incumbent Tommy Craven – a conservative Republican. And Nancy McFarlane…
Read MorePretty Downtown versus Capital Boulevard
Figure this: On any given day you can run into traffic snarls on Glenwood Avenue, Capital Boulevard or Wade Avenue. Real snarls. Real traffic problems. But, instead of solving those real traffic problems Meeker, Stephenson, Crowder and Company – the three Amigos on the City Council – are getting ready to spend $6 million on…
Read MoreDevelopers, Ballfields, and City Politics
Democrats have become so dominant in Raleigh elections City Council races have turned into a series of inner-party squabbles. Take the at-large race. Incumbent Russell Stephenson and Mary Ann Baldwin are slugging it out to prove which of the two Democrats is really anti-developer. The definition of developer in the District B race has taken…
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