Broken politics and posturing politicians present one degree of mendacity when it comes to passing a budget – but the moment a war appears on the horizon that same devilment turns lethal. A few days ago the President declared that, as leader of the oldest constitutional democracy on earth, he needs the support of…
Read MoreA local CEO was shocked by Governor McCrory’s comments in Rob Christensen’s Sunday N&O story (“During session and beyond, McCrory has rough start”). Here’s the message he left on voice mail: “I can’t tell you a CEO in any organization who could get away with saying I have no agenda, I have no…
Read MoreIn the desert land where the Lord struck St. Paul blind then showed him a vision, a pair of skunks are fighting a Civil War and five-thousand miles away in the world’s oldest democracy a great hue and cry has arisen to bomb one of the skunks. Now in the oldest democracy politics is…
Read MoreWhat did Governor McCrory pay the DHHS Gold Dust Twins when he was spending his money, not the taxpayers’? A curious TAPster decided to find out. The answer: You (the taxpayer) are paying the two 24-year-olds a lot more than Pat did. Maybe twice as much. The TAPster looked at McCrory’s campaign reports…
Read MoreAn Old Wise Lobbyist (OWL) gives me a Labor Day break by sharing this: “Contributors to Rep Edgar Starnes’ campaign should be disgusted and dismayed that he used their contributions to beautify his Raleigh legislative office. “The Republican House leader used $7,000 of campaign money for furniture and other niceties at the legislative…
Read MoreThere is growing talk in Raleigh – by Republicans and Democrats – that Governor McCrory will be one and done. And he’s not going to the NBA. The consensus, which could always turn out wrong, is that he’s over his head. Some people even say he won’t run again. The job isn’t what he…
Read MoreA long-time Raleigh veteran warns that next year’s short legislative session could bring a “hopeless muddle” in the office of speaker Thom Tillis. I quote: “Tillis is forsaking the best political job in the state to run for the US Senate. If he remains speaker for the short session, the possibilities are endless for conflicts…
Read MoreTwo Southern Governors were mentioned in speeches at the March on Washington. In his speech just prior to MLK’s, Roy Wilkins said, in part, “My friends, we are here today because we want the Congress of the United States to hear from us in person what many of us have been telling our public…
Read MoreDo Republicans want America – and North Carolina – to fail? That’s the only explanation that makes sense. If they starve public schools, they can say public schools don’t work – and abandon them. If they derail Obamacare, they can say it’s a train wreck. If they kneecap cities, they can say cities aren’t…
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One bleak visual at the inauguration summed up Joe Biden’s presidency: Biden sat silently – seething…
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State Representative Joe John, who died today, looked something like a friendly but fierce bulldog. He…
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Some of my friends didn’t watch Trump’s inauguration. One went to church. One went to every…
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