Archives

Categories

Robinson Unchanged on Abortion

By Gary Pearce August 5, 2024

The News & Observer headline said, “Mark Robinson changes his position on abortion law.” No, he hasn’t. His position is still the same. He believes politicians in Raleigh, not women, should make decisions about pregnancy. In a new ad about his wife’s abortion (photo), Robinson says, “I stand by our current law.” That doesn’t mean…

Read More

Pete for Veep

By Gary Pearce August 3, 2024

The safe, conventional-wisdom running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris is a middle-aged, middle-American Dad-type like Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania or Tim Walz of Minnesota or a military-astronaut guy like Mark Kelly of Arizona. The bold choice is Pete Buttigieg. No one can better build on the energy and enthusiasm Harris has generated. No one…

Read More

Biles vs Trump

By Gary Pearce August 2, 2024

On one screen, Simone Biles and the women’s gymnastics team were smiling, winning gold and bringing pride to Americans. On another screen, Trump was scowling, insulting Black women and sowing hate among Americans. Let’s turn off the Trump channel.

Read More

Getting Fooled

By Carter Wrenn August 2, 2024

Reagan battled Tip O’Neill for years but two Irishmen became friends. When Reagan was wounded O’Neill was one of the first men to visit him in the hospital, knelt by his bed, said a prayer, rising, leaning down, kissed Reagan on the forehead. George Bush and Bill Clinton, the younger Bush and Al Gore, Obama…

Read More

I Was Wrong

By Gary Pearce August 1, 2024

Being a stubborn old man myself, I didn’t want President Biden to quit. I was wrong. I feared the Democratic Party would descend into civil war. I was wrong. I feared Vice President Kamala Harris wouldn’t be a strong candidate. I was wrong. I’ve never been so glad to be so wrong. I’ve never seen…

Read More

Learning From Mistakes

By Carter Wrenn August 1, 2024

Raising more money, making stronger ads, Republicans once had an edge over Democrats in elections. But, of course, over time Democrats learned from their mistakes. Kamala Harris just raised $200 million in one week – no Republican’s done that. For years Republicans’ flashy ads full of melodrama worked but voters have now seen so many…

Read More

The Ground Beneath Trump’s Feet

By Carter Wrenn July 31, 2024

Winds change and without warning politics changes: In 1980 Reagan and Carter were running neck and neck ten days before the election – winds changed, Reagan won 44 states. Sitting in my office ten years later during Jesse Helms’ Senate campaign our pollster pointed to one question in his poll: 80% of the voters disagreed…

Read More

Dodging Won’t Work

By Carter Wrenn July 30, 2024

No one saw it coming: Running for governor, neck and neck with Josh Stein, Mark Robinson just got upended. Robinson’s family business – Balanced Nutrition – is paid by the state to provide meals for needy children in day care centers. Robinson’s wife, who runs the company, makes $160,000 in salary. Robinson, his son, daughter,…

Read More

Roy Put NC First

By Gary Pearce July 30, 2024

Like President Biden, Governor Roy Cooper put party and duty ahead of personal political ambition. The President did it when he stepped aside for Vice President Kamala Harris. The Governor did it when he stepped away from VP consideration. This is key from his statement: “This just wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and…

Read More

Categories

Archives

Recent Articles

What You Missed

By Gary Pearce January 21, 2025

Some of my friends didn’t watch Trump’s inauguration. One went to church. One went to every…

Read More

Women Warriors

By Gary Pearce January 19, 2025

The Democratic Party needs to get tougher, and that’s a job for Democratic women. Sydney Batch…

Read More

Lost Truth

By Carter Wrenn January 16, 2025

Back in the old days three TV networks – ABC, NBC, CBS – ruled the news;…

Read More