Archive for 2010
Obama Up Again
Several readers pounced on my blog about Obama’s favorable ratings in North Carolina: “Hope that kool-aid tastes good,” one posted. Another: “Wow. Keep spinning, Gary.” OK. How about the latest New York Times/CBS poll: “At a time of deepening political disaffection and intensified distress about the economy, President Obama enjoys an edge…
Read MoreWhat’s Up? Obama!
Every day I read how badly things are going for President Obama. Democrats and Republicans, the mainstream media and the bloggers all alike trash him, his staff, his health care strategy, his jobs plan, his position on the banks, on and on. Then I read a poll – commissioned by the Civitas Institute,…
Read MoreRead Her Hand
Sarah Palin is an unending source of entertainment. She’s nearly as funny as Tina Fey’s impression of her. There’s the scrambled syntax – a sure sign of a scrambled mind. The brassy denial of reality. Reading a speech ridiculing President Obama for reading a speech. Attacking the bailout that she and John McCain supported…
Read MoreThe Fox
The legislature handed Lanier Cansler $200 million more to spend this year than last year and he promptly spent it all plus $250 million more – so, now, his department’s in the red and he’s pointing fingers at everyone in sight saying it’s their fault: The Obama Administration, the flu, the recession. …
Read MoreThe Golden Rule
Last fall’s Wake County school board elections followed The Golden Rule of Politics: Them that has the gold rules. Bob Luddy and Art Pope – two of the biggest opponents of public schools – were the biggest contributors to school board candidates. Their side, according to The News & Observer, outspent the other…
Read More$6,700 Each
Last week a chill just stole out of the State Board of Elections and settled over the Republicans in the State House – Democrat Leader Joe Hackney filed his campaign’s financial report. And he has a healthy $418,000 in the bank – while Republican Leader Skip Stam has just $13,000. Representative Stam made the…
Read MoreGovernor Perdue on (Mis)Management
I have stumbled across a state agency that’s more mismanaged than Lanier Cansler’s. The Virtual Public Schools agency is (theoretically) leading North Carolina into the New Age of Internet education; students in rural areas will be taught in ‘Virtual Classrooms’ where they can learn anything from Chinese to Sanskrit – it’s technological innovation at…
Read MoreElection 2010
Republicans have reason to be confident as filing opens for the 2010 elections. But I’m yet to be convinced this will be another 1994. That year, Democrats – in Raleigh and Washington – were supremely overconfident, all the way to Election Day. Not a problem this time. Still, the cycle favors Republicans.…
Read MoreJust Say No
It’s the one thing you can count on in politicians: hubris. Exhibit A: John Edwards. Exhibit B may be the newly reenergized Republicans in Congress. They’ve gone gaga over Scott Brown – and their new-found ability to block anything President Obama wants. They’re convinced the November elections will be a rerun of…
Read MoreMystery Solved
Now we know why Mike Easley was so, well, weird. He wasn’t just Governor. He was Secret Agent Man. Instead of a number like 007, he had a nom de guerre: Ckin Regnad. This explains the need to keep his whereabouts secret and constantly change his schedule. It’s why he had to conduct…
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