Raleigh was electric Saturday. The crowd was huge and enthusiastic. The stars outdid all their fans’ hopes. Not the inaugural. The State-Duke game. (Go Pack!) Governor McCrory’s early-season performance is like a basketball team that makes a brilliant play on one end, then commits a bonehead turnover. His speech and its “Main Street”…
Read MoreBaseball statistician Nate Silver suddenly became famous by writing articles for the New York Times – putting statistical models (like the models he used in baseball) to work predicting who’d win the Presidential Election. Then, the other day in an interview, Mr. Silver was asked which he found most frustrating – analyzing sports or politics?…
Read MoreWhen I read that Richard Ben Cramer died this week, I pulled down my dog-eared copy of “What It Takes” and started to read it. Again. If you’ve never heard of Cramer or his book, get it. Read it. You’ll thank me. It’s about the 1988 presidential campaign, but it’s timeless. Through 1,000-plus…
Read MoreA TAPster inside state government sends an intriguing follow-up to my blog about Governor McCrory calling Art Pope “deputy” budget director. That struck me as a bit defensive. (See “McCrory’s Picks.”) The TAPster saw a January 7 memo to all department heads and chief fiscal officers in state government. It was from “Art Pope,…
Read MoreRepublicans here are like kids at Christmas: giddy, gaga and eyes all aglow as they rip open their new presents. A Republican Governor! A week-long victory lap! Two inaugural ceremonies! The big bash at Carolina Country Club Saturday! (No, not the inaugural ball. The political fundraiser.) Then there’s the new legislature and all…
Read MoreThe late Insurance Commissioner was a populist, an eccentric, a scourge of insurance companies and – regrettably – a big reason Jesse Helms was U.S. Senator for so long. Elected commissioner in 1972, Ingram waged a 12-year crusade against auto insurance companies, claiming they gouged customers. “Fighting for You” was his mantra. But his…
Read MoreA TAPster reports that he “burst out laughing when new Lt. Governor Dan Forest quietly announced his staff over the weekend.” The TAPster goes on to ask: “Why does he need a chief of staff? And why on earth does he need a ‘director of operations’? To operate what? The copier? The office…
Read MoreSome critics forget a big point about Governor McCrory’s appointments: He won. He gets to pick who he wants. No matter what you think. That said, three questions arise. First, Tony Tata? Really? The knock on Tata as Wake school head was that he was a bully who brooked no dissent or disagreement. And…
Read MoreAfter Tony Tata’s appointment, a Republican friend said ruefully: “I hope he does better with DOT than he did with the school buses.” Speaking of jokes, Governor-elect McCrory’s apparently fell flat at the Economic Forecast Forum this week. In the spirit of bipartisanship, here’s a word of advice to the new Governor –…
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