Archive for 2012
Another View of the Scandal
A TAPster takes a calmer view of the scandal enveloping the state Democratic Party with these “thoughts on the Big Mess at North Carolina’s Democratic headquarters:” “This isn’t really a “scandal,” for goodness sakes. It’s breath-taking management incompetence. The clumsy Democratic leadership gave a clinic in how to turn a one-day personnel matter into a…
Read MoreWho Let the Dogs Out?
Watching the Democratic debate was like going to the dog park. Bill Faison was a pit bull: feisty, but you’re not sure if he’s going to bite another dog, a dog owner or maybe you. Walter Dalton was an over-eager terrier, jumping up and down and barking, too eager to bring you all…
Read MoreBy the Neck, Bob
A Democratic TAPster has an intriguing idea for a Bob Etheridge ad: “I know what to do about the schools. I did it in the legislature and as State Superintendent. And I know how to handle the Republicans in the legislature. “If they give me any trouble, I’ll grab them by the scruff…
Read MoreStop the Cover-up
The Watergate break-in was almost 40 years ago. NC Democratic Party Chair David Parker is marking the occasion with his own cover-up. Memo to Parker: You can’t cover up sexual harassment. Democrats deserve to know what the hell happened – and how much money it’s costing. And don’t blame your political enemies. That’s…
Read MoreCongratulations
This evening Gary will be inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations at the UNC School of Journalism. It’s an honor and a much deserved one. Gary was already in my hall of fame but now it’s official. Congratulations, Gary.
Read MoreRomney Versus Romney
The Obama campaign’s “Truth Team” kicked into gear as Mitt Romney wrapped up the Republican race. They’ll have plenty of material to work with, starting with Romney pioneering Obamacare, which he now promises to “kill.” This video, “The Anniversary of Romneycare,” lays bare Romney’s hypocrisy.
Read MoreWrong answer
Gary used to tell a story about Tony Rand, running for Lt. Governor, debating Jim Gardner back in 1988: Gardner let fly and ripped into Tony saying he was a backroom politician who along with eight other backroom politicians (who called themselves the ‘Gang of Eight’) had written the whole state budget in secret in…
Read MoreThe War Over Women
Often in politics it’s your friends – not your enemies – who do you the most damage. Democrats were on a roll with the Republican “war on women.” Then a Democratic operative, Hillary Rosen, let slip a comment that some people heard as a “war on moms.” Rule One, as President Obama observed,…
Read MoreA Debatable Primary
Here are two questions that answer all you need to know about the Democratic primary for governor. Have you seen a TV ad by any of the candidates? Do you plan to watch any of the three back-to-back debates next week? With no ads running, the debates will give most primary voters…
Read MoreAn Example of Spin
For the last month Paul Coble’s been running a TV ad criticizing Congress for raising the national debt 50%. Then, the other day, The American Foundations Committee (which is running an independent campaign supporting George Holding) ran an ad pointing out Coble has supported raising Wake County’s debt 93%. Coble’s response: He told the press…
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