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One-Party Rule

By Gary Pearce April 30, 2013

Raleigh has never seen this kind of one-party control.   Hold on, you say – especially my Republican friends: Democrats had one-party control for over 100 years.   No, not like this.   For most of those years, the Democratic Party was two parties. Think Terry Sanford and I. Beverly Lake. Or Jim Hunt and…

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In All of America…

By Carter Wrenn April 30, 2013

Up in Washington, Senate Leader Harry Reid and House Leader John Boehner and a handful of politicians have been sequestered in secret meetings, trying to agree on a solution to one of Washington’s most burning problems: How to exempt Congressmen and their staffs from ObamaCare.   Then, to their surprise, word of the meetings leaked…

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Pay to Play, the Sequel

By Gary Pearce April 29, 2013

Within just a few days last week, the Perdue campaign-fund serial wrapped up, Sweepstakesgate ramped up and Governor McCrory cleaned house at the Board of Elections.   Grab a big bag of popcorn and settle in. This will take a while.   Especially since a majority of the previous board called for an investigation. And especially…

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What Would Jamie Do?

By Gary Pearce April 28, 2013

If you need comfort or inspiration, take an hour to watch the moving memorial service for Jamie Kirk Hahn. If you’re pressed for time, watch Nation Hahn’s remarkable eulogy (at 34:00) and Anthony Quillar’s powerful rendition of the Lord’s Prayer (1:04).   Looking at the oversized portrait in the sanctuary, you’re overwhelmed by the impact…

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Worrying About Primaries

By Carter Wrenn April 26, 2013

A legislator looked at a bill, winched, looked at another legislator and said, ‘Well, if I don’t vote for it I guess I’ll land in a primary.’   ‘You think,’ the second legislator said, ‘that Republicans in your district are for people carrying guns in bars?’ The bill allowed people carry guns in bars, restaurants…

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Jamie Kirk Hahn

By Gary Pearce April 24, 2013

Absolute good met absolute evil in a quiet Raleigh home Monday evening. Early Wednesday morning, Jamie Hahn lost her fight to live.   Her husband Nation and her family are devastated. But, as always happens at times like this, the best in people comes out. All day Tuesday, friends streamed into WakeMed to do what…

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Got Him, The Sequel

By Gary Pearce April 22, 2013

Once again jubilant Americans take to the streets to celebrate the end of a terrorist. Crowds cheer police officers and military personnel. Fans at ball games chant “USA, USA!”   Last time it was a diabolical international terror mastermind hiding in an expansive compound right under the noses of the Pakistani military. This time it…

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‘I Am The Senator’

By Gary Pearce April 19, 2013

Dwane Powell’s return to the N&O captured in one cartoon – a depiction of the Republican elephant gone wild – what thousands of words fail to describe.   (Congratulations, incidentally, to Powell on being selected for the N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame.)   Even a Republican TAPster wrote: “This cartoon just about sums it up.…

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School Daze

By Gary Pearce April 18, 2013

The Republicans’ education agenda finally comes into focus: It’s about creating a market for private enterprise. They want to privatize Medicaid and privatize the Department of Commerce, so why not privatize schools?   It’s the only thing that makes sense. You might be wondering: How do they propose to make public schools better when they…

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Education Governor

By Gary Pearce March 13, 2025

With a better General Assembly, Josh Stein could join Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford on North…

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The N&O Story

By Gary Pearce March 12, 2025

Once upon a time, there was a great and powerful newspaper: The News & Observer. Everybody…

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How Democrats Win Again

By Gary Pearce March 10, 2025

The shouting, sign-waving and cane-wielding by congressional Democrats at the State of the Union isn’t a…

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