Archive for 2009
Here’s How Government Works
Money’s tight the Democrats in Raleigh say, so the state’s flailing away to cut health care costs – it’s slashing home care, nursing home care and hospitals. But one group is safe. North Carolina Medicaid spends $1 billion a year on prescription drugs. But North Carolina is one of six states without a Medicaid ‘Preferred…
Read MoreHow Government Works – 1,300 Oxycodone Pills
Here’s a factoid: Because of the so-called budget ‘crisis’ Governor Perdue’s cutting health care spending on home care for the elderly, people in Nursing Homes and children on Medicaid – at the same time, up in Washington the Government Accountability Office reports eliminating prescription drug fraud would save $63 million “in North Carolina and…
Read MoreRace and Jimmy Carter
The comic strip Mallard Fillmore – as well as Democrats and Republicans alike – is still beating up on poor Jimmy Carter for speaking the truth about race and President Obama’s critics. Even Bill Clinton piled on. But he’s never been a Carter fan, Carter overstated the case, as he often does.…
Read MorePerdue’s Polls
Governor Perdue’s team is working to counter the drumbeat of bad poll numbers. They make some good points: Yes, her numbers are low. But so are those of Senators Burr and Hagan. North Carolina has had the worst one-two punch in the country – high unemployment and the budget crisis. Perdue is paying…
Read MoreNorwegians for Obama
It’s hard to fault President Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize – after all, he was the first to admit he was as surprised as anyone and, beyond that, he’s giving the money to charity. In the end what else could he do but smile and say, Thank you, politely. There’s also no…
Read MoreBad Move, Bad Excuse
This is why Governor Perdue has problems. She is one of six Democratic governors who didn’t sign a letter supporting health-care reform. That makes Democrats mad. But her spokesperson says Perdue agrees with the points made in the letter: “She did not sign it, but wants to make it clear that…
Read MoreThe Beltline Divide
Inside the Beltline may be the place to live. But it wasn’t the place to be in Tuesday’s elections. One new school board member summed it up after Charles Meeker, Jim Goodmon and other prominent people spoke out for the diversity policy: “Do you know who cares about those people? People inside the…
Read MoreFlimsy Perdue
Here’s one reason Bev Perdue has collapsed in the polls: Today’s headline in the News and Observer reads – Perdue Too Busy on Trip to Back Health Reform. The Governor told the press she was too busy on a trip to New York to join other Democratic Governors in signing a letter to support…
Read MoreThe Politics of Resentment
Sometimes I hate to be right. Like on the Wake County school board races. But you could see it coming. Even supporters say the present board has been arrogant and high-handed. Exhibit A: One diversity supporter explained the election by saying, “It’s the result of people not knowing what the issues are.”…
Read MoreEthics or Taxes
Tom Campbell at NC Spin has an interesting alternative to my Perdue Comeback Plan. I suggested she gamble on tax reform. Tom suggests ethics reform. He’s right. She should. But I doubt that gets her far enough. Cynical voters will never believe the stable has been cleaned up. For good reason. Pass a…
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