The Binary Budget Choice

Every now and then you read a sentence that hits you like a hammer. So it was the other day when I thumbed through the April 17 Newsweek, which I hadn’t picked up in many moons.   I chanced upon an essay by Niall Ferguson, “Doing the Right Thing: America finally comes to its senses…

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Birthers and Shariah Law

The N&O front page today showed how Republicans are frittering away their once-in-a-blue-moon political advantage.   The more they talk about Obama’s birth certificate and the threat of Shariah law in America, the less they can take advantage of his real vulnerability, which was captured in an inside-page story: Americans are losing confidence in his…

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For Sale

A TAPster notes that the House’s proposed budget includes a provision that would direct the Department of Administration to look into selling “state-owned land, buildings, and other assets that are unused, underused, or do not involve a core function of government.”   It did not take this wag long to come up with some suggestions:…

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Mayoral Jockeying Begins

An active Raleigh Democrat and TAPster reports “there is quite a flap among the local Dems” over reports that outgoing Mayor Charles Meeker will back Nancy McFarlane, because she reportedly is registered as unaffiliated.  But our source adds, “Apparently McFarlane’s husband is a Dem, and has given lots of money to the party,” which makes…

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Perdue-McCrory Poll Nuggets

A TAPster found the nuggets below in Public Policy Polling’s crosstabs on 2010 Governor’s race between Pat McCrory and Bev Perdue.  They illustrate the challenge the Governor faces. 29% of self-identified President Obama voters disapprove of Governor Perdue’s job performance 18% of self-identified Obama voters say they will vote for McCrory for Governor over Perdue…

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The Party of Lincoln No More

Suddenly I feel for Responsible Republicans.   There is such a breed. I know some of them personally. Some of my best friends are Republicans!   They’re more conservative than I am – on most things. But they’re responsible people. Generally, they feel that America would be better off if government spent, taxed and regulated…

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Follow the Money

Well, Gary, at least no one can say we’ve gotten more close minded as we’ve gotten older: Here you are (Putting Pocketbooks First – below) saying Republican Representative and lawyer Leo Daughtry voted against ‘Med-Mal Caps’ to protect his own legal fees and here I am saying, Hold on – you’re following the wrong money…

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Tata Quiets the Class

Have you noticed that, since Anthony Tata became Wake schools superintendent, the decibel level has dropped dramatically?   Has he muzzled the school board? Put them in detention? Resorted to corporal punishment?   Whatever his abilities as a superintendent, Tata seems to have a talent for reassuring people. Not long ago, this Fox-commentating, Sarah Palin-endorsing…

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A Predictable Train Wreck

Jack Betts writes that Republicans in the legislature are about to “blow it.”Mark Binker writes that – despite promises of bipartisan cooperation – “the state’s chief executive and top lawmakers are at loggerheads.”   Is anybody surprised?   Of course they had to promise to get along. No politician wants to be the first to…

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Politics to Make the Gilded Age Proud

Republican House Leader Skip Stam, according to the newspaper, has introduced a new law limiting how much corporations with state contracts can give to politicians who grant the contracts. Surely a step in the right direction.   But, that said, while Representative Stam’s limiting donations to the Democratic Governor and folks in the Executive Branch…

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