Archive for July 2013
Branding Politics
“Employers must go where employees want to be” – Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst. Raleigh City Councilman Randy Stagner quoted that line this week. It sums up the challenge that Raleigh and all North Carolina face today under the state’s new management. Rob Christensen captured it in his strikingly strong column Sunday: “North…
Read MoreHard Day
Monday was a hard day for Reverend William Barber. For months, Reverend Barber has been leading ‘crusades’ for the poor, the needy, against racism, and against Republicanism. But Monday, the Civitas Institute put a dent in his image – it reported the groups sponsoring Reverend Barber’s ‘Moral Monday’ protests have received over $100…
Read MoreTrading Punches
When Reverend William Barber steps up to a microphone wearing his vestments and clerical collar and lets fly with a haymaker calling Republicans immoral or characterizing Republican legislators as George Wallaces who want to turn back the clock to the days of Jim Crow – it’s just natural some Republican’s going to feel an itch…
Read MoreA Tribute to Modern Politics
Up in Virginia they’re locked into a donnybrook of a Governor’s race – the Republican candidate’s saying the Democratic candidate’s a hypocrite and a poor family man and a threat to every woman in Virginia (because of something he said about abortion clinics). The Democrat’s wife is saying she’s fed up with the Republicans…
Read MoreWhere Do You Stand, Pat?
Governor McCrory’s waffling on the abortion bill recalls the old mountaineer who listened to a slick politician give a long-winded, on-the-one-hand, on-the-other-hand answer to a tough issue. Finally, the mountaineer demanded: “Son, are you fer it or agin’ it?” McCrory shouldn’t kid himself that he can pass off the bill as protecting women’s health.…
Read MoreShooting the Reasonable Fellow
Colon Willoughby, the District Attorney, is catching it from all sides. Faced with the chore of prosecuting hundreds of ‘Moral Monday’ demonstrators, Willoughby suggested to the protestors they were wreaking more havoc on the Wake County Courts than on Republicans and politely suggested maybe they ought to reconsider the virtues of getting themselves arrested…
Read MoreHagan for Governor
A TAPster offers an intriguing strategy for Democrats: “Kay Hagan should run for governor. “She should forget the US Senate, where nothing ever happens and there’s little chance to help her fellow North Carolinians, and come home. She can beat Pat McCrory, especially if his leadership continues to be weak or he is…
Read MoreHillary Reagan Clinton
In a sure sign of how much they fear her, Republicans suggest that Hillary Clinton would be too old – 69 in 2016 – to be President. (Hey, 69 isn’t so old!) “She’s been around since the ’70s,” one Republican operative said. Another: It would be “a rerun of ‘The Golden Girls’.” …
Read MoreHolding Rides Again
Congressman George Holding richly deserves a second blog-whacking for this. He wrote a letter to the N&O criticizing President Obama for spending tax money to go to Africa. (Why didn’t he criticize the President’s trip to Europe?) Holding wrote: “We need to rein in government spending – and this trip shows a lack…
Read MoreShades of Texas
Since Republicans stuck abortion restrictions on a bill about Islamic law, why don’t they go ahead and make women wear veils, scarves and robes? Apparently they’re inspired by Texas Governor Rick Perry. Now watch North Carolina women get fired up like Wendy Davis. This will be a test for Governor McCrory. Will he…
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