The death of former UNC Chancellor Bill Aycock reminds us that today’s legislature isn’t the first to ram through bad laws, that today’s attacks on higher education aren’t the first and that today’s athletic scandals aren’t the first. As John Murawski noted in the N&O, Aycock was Chancellor in 1963 when the legislature passed the…
Read MoreRoy Cooper can go two ways against Governor McCrory in 2016: call him “wrong” or call him “weak.” “Wrong” says McCrory hurt the economy, hurt the schools, hurt health care and hurt the environment. It blames him for taking the state in the wrong direction, including on social issues. But Cooper might look negative and…
Read MoreIt’s remarkable how a pet can become a member of your family. Our house feels empty today because we had to let go of Annie, a 13-year-old rescue mutt of mixed and mysterious lineage who captivated us with a fierce independence, a sweet but often confounding quirkiness and a bottomless appetite for treats, especially red…
Read MoreSince a reprehensible rogue like Donald Trump has zero chance of being elected President, or even nominated, we should all sit back and enjoy the spectacle. Especially Democrats. If Trump gets on the debate stage, the GOP contest becomes a clown-car demolition derby. His announcement was a triumph of untrammeled egomania. “I’m really rich,” he boasted.…
Read MoreHillary Clinton’s and Jeb Bush’s campaign kickoffs were notable not so much for what they said, but for what their campaign logos did NOT say – “Bush” or “Clinton.” Jeb’s logo is “Jeb!” Hillary’s is an “H” with an arrow. Pointing right. So you know that both campaigns’ polling has found real concern about political…
Read MoreWhen a fellow goes on the Obamacare Exchange to sign up for health insurance he’s asked: Do you qualify for a subsidy? Click here. 515,000 lower-income North Carolinians clicked and qualified but any day now the Supreme Court may decide – in the King vs Burwell case – those subsidies are illegal. And, if it…
Read MoreBoth ended last week looking weak and ineffective, even within their own parties. The President was abandoned by Democrats on a big trade vote, and the Governor was run over again by Republicans on a big veto. McCrory looked strong and savvy when he vetoed the misnamed “ag gag” law and the law that lets…
Read MoreIf you want to see a politician who’s a real human being, take a long look at Joe Biden. You may never ever see another one like him. Tragedy has bookended Biden’s long public life. Just weeks after he was elected Senator at age 29 in 1972, his wife and daughter were killed in a…
Read MoreDespite being heavily outnumbered by the Iraqi Army ISIS rolled right into Ramadi and after the Iraqis skedaddled the Secretary of Defense told CNN it sure looked like our allies had lost the “will to fight.” Then Baghdad announced it had stopped retreating and was counter-attacking – then Baghdad announced it had Ramadi surrounded –…
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