Archive for 2008
Reality Check
Political insiders always overestimate how much attention voters are paying to campaigns. Here was my reality check this week. I was talking to a fellow who does some work at my house. He’s a bright guy, a hard worker, successful in his trade, devoted to his family and his dogs. He knows I do something…
Read MoreA Catfight, Or: Anti-God in Boston
Kay Hagan must be catching up with Liddy Dole: Because Liddy just pulled out a mallet and whacked Kay over the head. She says Kay’s raising money from the Godless Americans political action committee in Boston (home of the Pilgrims). Kay whacked back, That’s nothing; Liddy’s raising money from George Bush supporters. Liddy’s spokesperson responded:…
Read MoreThe Year of the Woman
Michelle I’ll go out on a limb and agree with Gary and praise Michelle Obama. Even odder, Albert the Pollster, a died-in-the-wool Republican, says she hit a home run. Albert says undecided voters are set-in-stone determined to get shed of Bush-McCain – and all that’s holding them back are their doubts about Obama. That, ‘He’s…
Read MoreWhy Hagan Is Ahead
It’s called television advertising. Say what you want about the onset of the online age. TV ads are still the most powerful weapon in politics. The Public Policy Polling survey that showed Hagan slightly ahead surprised a lot of insiders. It wouldn’t if they had been watching TV. The ads attacking Liddy Dole are brilliant.…
Read MoreTo All the Young People on Shore
To all the young people on shore thinking Barack Obama’s the political savior who’s going to lead them to the Promised Land and change America – watch out. This is politics. You don’t remember, but President Nixon promised change – and gave us Watergate. President Reagan – a great president – promised change and whipped…
Read MoreRemain Calm. Attack.
Some Democrats are in despair. The national polls are even! The Republicans are up to their usual dirty tricks! Obama has to do something! Relax. But not too much. Of course the polls are even. No surprise. The country is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. And Obama is a fresh new face, with all…
Read MoreWhose Credibility?
Russian tanks rolled into Georgia and the earth moved on its axis so President Bush scowled real mean at Vladimir Putin during the Olympics then dispatched Condi Rice to give Putin his comeuppance. She didn’t scowl, she sniffed, and said, “The Russians are losing their credibility.” Credibility, I’d say, is just what the Russians are…
Read MoreBe Like Terry?
A spirited debate broke out at a book club this week about Bev Perdue’s vote to keep illegal immigrants out of the community colleges. A craven cave-in, fumed one (now-ex) Bev supporter. “I may as well vote for Pat McCrory.” Hold on, a still-strong supporter of Bev weighed in: “Don’t you agree that immigrants would…
Read MoreKeystone Kops
Letâs forget about who first slept with whom when and whether they stopped two years ago or last month â and talk about John Edwardsâ sheer incompetence. How on earth did he get struck so dumb he convinced himself he could keep a blonde in the closet for two years â with every other political…
Read More‘Dumpling’
Last night, right in the middle of a debate that would put an amphetamine junkie to sleep, there was a flash of near-clairvoyant revelation. Beverly ‘Dumpling’ Perdue (don’t blame me for the nickname; it’s what Mark and Tony and the boys over in the Senate have been calling her for years) and the gnomes over…
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