I watched the ‘empty chair’ debate too (see Gary’s blog below). And it brought back old memories. Of old foibles. Years ago, in 1980, when John East ran against Robert Morgan he challenged Senator Morgan to a debate. And challenged Morgan to debate. And challenged Morgan to debate. And Morgan said No,…
Read MoreTime Warner Cable News made more news than it intended with the “empty chair” debate. One media critic said TWC “orchestrated a phony scandal and boosted Thom Tillis’s North Carolina Senate campaign by placing an empty chair for his opponent, Democratic Senator Kay Hagan, at an event it billed as a ‘debate’ — though…
Read MoreMy last blog raised the possibility that big money and negative TV ads increase voter turnout. Now let’s consider the radical idea that the same two evils have another happy effect: increasing the level of voter information. Denouncing the money and the ads, an N&O editorial said, “The ‘assault ads’ that bombard the viewer…
Read MoreAs good citizens, we all know that these two truths are self-evident in politics. First, as both editorial writers and Walmart moms agreed in the paper today, big money and “assault ads” are bad. Second, (as everybody but the Republican legislature, Governor McCrory and the State Board of Elections apparently think) higher voter turnout is…
Read MoreHere’s the worst thing about all those negative political ads on TV: They mirror our national psyche right now. You can blame the politicians and their consultants. But they’re giving you what they know works on you: fear and anger. On both sides. Democrats are angry about the North Carolina legislature for…
Read MoreThe paper’s print-edition changes were up for discussion at breakfast. Jim likes it: “That’s how I used to read the paper: front page first, then local and state news and Under the Dome. Now they’re all right there at the front.” Gil’s not so happy. “My wife and I used to divvy up the…
Read MoreIn the state where President Obama had his closest win in 2008 and his closest loss in 2012, why wouldn’t the U.S. Senate race be tight as a tick? Carter has posted a great series of blogs about the race (although he’s wrong on the education issue). My other favorite blogger, Thomas Mills, weighed…
Read MoreYou have to give Kay Hagan credit: A year ago the Swing Voters were ready to roll down the track and vote her out of office – and for a year Hagan kept those voters out of Thom Tillis’ camp. The one big change in the Senate race – Tillis’ rising unpopularity with Independents…
Read MoreAfter Hagan’s first round of attacks calling Tillis a Tea Partier, a few Swing Voters decided to vote for Hagan, a few decided to vote for Tillis, but most stayed Undecided. Ambivalently Undecided. They didn’t want to vote for Obama-Hagan. But they didn’t want to vote for Tillis either. The bad news for Tillis…
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