Gary’s stepfather, Joe Dickerson, was interviewed by David Crabtree of WRAL last week. To watch this moving interview, click the link below: http://www.wral.com/as-d-day-anniversary-approaches-survivor-recounts-vivid-memories/13649342/ The WRAL story follows: As D-day anniversary approaches, survivor recounts vivid memories Joe Dickerson nearly died twice in 1944 – first from a near drowning and then from shrapnel. Dickerson, 91,…
Read MoreGary is taking a break from blogging. Here’s a guest blog from Joe Stewart, Executive Director of the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation; a nonpartisan non-profit organization that conducts research on candidates, campaigns and voter attitudes in North Carolina. Once the match up in the US Senate race was known on primary election night, a reporter asked…
Read MoreGary is taking a break from blogging. Here is a post from a guest Tapster: We recently complained that the State Capitol Police wasted taxpayer money to install a radar gun in one of its cruisers. It seemed absurd that the Capitol Police need this capability when there are plenty of other police organizations…
Read MoreGary is taking a break from blogging. Here is a blog from a Tapster: We wonder if Speaker and Candidate Tillis thinks his opponent in the fall is the singer Sting: “Every step you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you.” How can the speaker possibly govern effectively while campaigning for US Senate…
Read MoreWhen you watch the evening news, you learn two things about people who watch the evening news. First, we vote, because we drown in political ads before elections. And, second, we have every disease and bad health condition known to medicine, especially the pharmaceutical industry. We’re at risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood…
Read MoreWe were reviewing the Board of Elections’ schedule and making plans for the fall campaign. Then Brad Crone called to say Keith Crisco would concede this morning. Then we were sent reeling by the shock of Keith’s death. Suddenly, campaigns, vote counts and elections-board canvasses seemed not so important. I remembered meeting with…
Read MoreYears ago a Democratic gnome sitting in a cloister pouring over reams of polls and demographics had a profound revelation: Most of the people who didn’t vote were Democrats. The word spread from gnome to pollster to politicians where it led to scads of mischief (all dressed in the trappings of government) as Democrats passed…
Read MorePolitical consultants are used to hearing – and ignoring – clients (and their friends and family) say: “People here don’t like negative ads. They don’t work.” But now there may be something to that argument in the Triangle media market. Exhibit A: The failure of the Republican attack strategy against Robin Hudson. Exhibit B:…
Read MoreI’ve been in politics longer than Clay Aiken has been alive (38 years vs. 35), but he took me to school this week. Everything I’ve learned tells me that if (A) you’re massively outspent by your opponent and (B) he runs three or four ads to your one and (C) one of those is…
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