Archive for 2016
Down the Road
A Republican friend read me the riot act – he said: You ought to stop writing about Trump’s bragging and bullying and start harpooning Hillary. If liberals get control of the Supreme Court the country’s down the tubes. So who do you want appointing justices – Hillary or Trump? Hillary’ll probably appoint Obama. The prospect…
Read MoreA Genie
The four newspaper headlines told a troubling story. ‘Hillary Outraises Trump.’ ‘Cooper Outraises McCrory.’ ‘Ross Outraises Burr.’ ‘Stein Outraises Newton’ (for Attorney General). What the heck – has some evil genie appeared out of thin air showering money on Democrats? There was one glimmer of good news: Deborah Ross raised more than Richard Burr last…
Read MoreHeads in the Sand
Here’s one way Washington Politicians plant the seeds of a train wreck: Republican Leaders and Political Masterminds are telling anxious Senators and Congressmen the fall election is looking just fine: That the ‘Generic Ballot’ questions – like, ‘In the election for US Congress this fall are you more likely to vote for the Democratic candidate…
Read MoreCooper’s cash coup
There’s no need for Roy Cooper’s campaign to spin this one, and no use in Pat McCrory’s campaign trying to spin out of it. Cooper is crushing McCrory in fundraising. There are only two ways to keep score in politics before Election Day: polls and money. The polls are close in the Governor’s race. The…
Read MoreTrump Resigns
They may be fighting because they’re both from the same town and New York’s not big enough for the two of them but regardless of the root of their animosity there’s no doubt Donald Trump sets the New York Times’ teeth on edge. A few days ago the Times ran a front page story claiming…
Read MoreMatters of life and death
A nation already deeply divided by race and politics is now divided more deeply by race, murder and retribution. Videos show police officers killing black suspects. Videos show the carnage as a black sniper kills police officers in revenge. We line up: Black Lives Matter. Blue Lives Matter. All Lives Matter. To invoke one or…
Read MoreBoth Vices
Donald Trump keeps saying, When I’m President I’m going to make the greatest deals you ever saw and I’ll be the greatest jobs President God ever created and When I’m President you’re going to be so happy but America’s jaded voters have been fooled by too many politicians to believe a line like ‘I’m going…
Read MoreGrand Juries and Temptation
It’s pretty hard to convict a politician of corruption but a well-meaning soul over in the State House tried to change that by putting a provision in a crime bill to allow Grand Juries to investigate politicians in bribery and corruption cases. There was probably never a bill politicians were less likely to pass but,…
Read MoreGoing post-factual
Surveying the Presidential race and the Brexit vote, a smart young political pro observed this week, “We’re living in a post-factual world.” Facts and truth don’t matter. You can say what you want, and you can pick whatever facts, Internet rumors or just plain lies fit your opinion. Way back in the dark ages, when…
Read MoreChecks and Balances
Federal judges in Richmond deciding school board districts in Wake County sounds odd but in another way it’s a bit of time-honored Americana. Make no mistake: Redistricting is raw politics. It isn’t a fight between right and wrong. Or two philosophies. It’s a power grab. And every chance they get both parties grab for…
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