Is Holding Starr-Crossed?

Whatever he does, Kenneth Starr will always be remembered for his obsession with Bill Clinton’s sex life. Will John Edwards likewise live on forever in George Holding’s bio? Today’s N&O story by Ann Blyth and John Frank reminds us that the trial might be over, “but one aspect of the case remains unexplained: Why was…

Read More

In the Doghouse

Where does the North Carolina Democratic Party rate with the White House? Here’s a clue: the Jefferson-Jackson dinner speaker isn’t the President, the First Lady, the Vice President or Mrs. Biden. It’s not David Axelrod or another big-name campaign official.   It’s the Bidens’ son, Beau.   Unless party HQ heard wrong, and the White…

Read More

Sweeping Taxes

Is Governor Perdue’s sweepstakes tax a smart idea?   At a time when she’s struggling to remain relevant, it put her back in the headlines. But the proposal, like her original budget, is headed straight for the legislative trash can.   It did put the focus back on school cuts – winning ground for Democrats.…

Read More

King Canutes

That’s one less thing to worry about.   The Republican legislature has decided that the ocean will not eventually take over our little place at Nags Head.   Wait until I tell my brother-in-law that on the golf course this weekend.   He’s a Republican himself; after all, he did very well in the oil…

Read More

Liars Sure Do Figure

The Romney campaign says: “Under President Obama, the nation has lost 552,000 jobs.”   But the New York Times notes, “that statistic includes Mr. Obama’s first year in office, and especially the months of February, March and April, when monthly job losses from the economic collapse were at 700,000 or higher.   “Just leaving out…

Read More

Reality Show

Richard who’s Irish and Catholic sat listening to Mike the Republican and Tom the Democrat arguing then laid down his fork, leaned forward and said: Let me see if I’ve got this right. Pat McCrory’s going to sue the Democrats. The Democrats are already suing Pat McCrory. And the Democratic Chairman is about to get…

Read More

Clout

A TAPster with a cruel sense of humor notes: “The Chief of the Cherokees has more influence in the legislature than the Governor of North Carolina.”

Read More

Nervous Nellies

Bill Clinton last week became the third big-name Democrat – after Ed Rendell and Cory Booker – to question attacking Mitt Romney’s Bain record.   Some North Carolina Democrats are similarly skittish about the ads attacking Pat McCrory’s record.   Now, we love Big Dog Bill. But he always seems to find inconvenient times to…

Read More

Sex and the Legislature

A male TAPster with years of lobbying experience took issue with Mandy Locke’s revealing (pardon the expression) story in the N&O, “Legislators, lobbyists mix business with pleasure.”   The TAPster writes:   “The N&O’s weekend story about the plight of women lobbyists was another new low point in the paper’s coverage of politics. It hit…

Read More

A Whole Different Kettle of Fish

We all know one of those ‘Eeyores’ who whatever happens can’t help seeing a dark lining in every silver cloud, but most times when a fellow’s handed a blessing he didn’t earn or expect he just naturally starts looking on his future with more optimism.   Since the last election there’s been a happy mantra…

Read More