Archive for October 2013
Prepare for the Worst
Every now and then Gary and I venture out of our respective sanctuaries to journey out into the broader world and, just the other day, we meandered all the way across Raleigh to speak to a very nice group of folks about politics (from our different perspectives). And, sure enough, during the meeting a…
Read MoreError Message
For a year we’ve heard how the digital geniuses in the Obama campaign demolished Mitt Romney. Now they can’t make the website work for the biggest thing in his administration? This might say something about the difference between campaigns and governing – or between the private sector and the public sector. Government IT programs…
Read MoreWho Won?
The post-mortem’s are rolling in from the wise heads in Washington over the government shutdown and the debt ceiling votes and their verdict is unanimous: Ted Cruz was crushed. The Tea Party was annihilated. But all these Washington pundits may be sailing right past one subtle fact. Heritage Action and Club for Growth…
Read MoreCivility or Civil War?
Don’t spike the ball too early, Democrats. The Tea Party may be a taste of what’s ahead for our party. Last weeks’ Armageddon – or maybe, “Armadebtaggon” – looks now like a disaster for the GOP. The episode turned Americans and many Republicans against the Cruz crusaders. But the Republican civil war may…
Read MoreCivility or Civil War?
Don’t spike the ball too early, Democrats. The Tea Party may be a taste of what’s ahead for our party. Last weeks’ Armageddon – or maybe, “Armadebtaggon” – looks now like a disaster for the GOP. The episode turned Americans and many Republicans against the Cruz crusaders. But the Republican civil war may…
Read MoreJamie Kirk Hahn Foundation
A point of personal privilege. We lost a bright light when we lost Jamie Kirk Hahn six months ago. Now, the Jamie Kirk Hahn Foundation has been established to honor her life and continue the work she cared about. Hundreds of friends, colleagues, family members and even people who barely knew Jamie have made…
Read MoreBlindness
Back in the throes of winter the State Auditor audited the North Carolina Medicaid Department and reported it had the highest administrative costs of just about any state Medicaid Department around – which sure sounded right because, as just about everyone knows, North Carolina’s Medicaid program has been a bollixed mess for years. But…
Read MoreFear Itself
Old FDR was on to something in March 1933. Eighty years later, fear itself drives American politics – and maybe is driving us into serious economic troubles. Fear lies at the bottom of the mean streak in politics today. You see it in the Tea Party: “I’ve got mine; the hell with you.” You…
Read MoreGOP Debacle
For Republicans, the shutdown turned into a slapdown and the default into their fault. The GOP lost the debate, lost the battle for public opinion and put itself in a deep, deep hole for the 2014 elections. Governor McCrory’s DHHS debacle, $87,000 salaries and $230,000 bathrooms pale in significance. The issues in the shutdown-default…
Read MoreA Sign?
In the 2006 election voters gave Republicans the boot. In 2010 they turned around and gave Democrats the boot. Now, according to a new poll, 60% of voters would vote to remove all the politicians in Congress. Democrats and Republicans. A sign of sanity?
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