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Waiting for the Doctor

By Gary Pearce June 26, 2012

Right now President Obama is like a patient waiting for the doctor to bring back the test results. And the signs aren’t good.   In fact, it looks like the Supreme Court is going to give his health-care reform a death sentence on Thursday. Talk about “death panels.”   There are three ways this will…

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Low Road at RDU

By Gary Pearce June 25, 2012

A TAPster who apparently is a Frequent (Unhappy) Flier writes:   “Critics of the Raleigh-Durham Airport and its management rolled their eyes last week when the airport authority voted to name a road after the long-time airport director who is finally retiring. “It will be a fitting tribute if the gentleman’s namesake road is torn…

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Talent or Lightning Striking?

By Carter Wrenn June 25, 2012

After two terms in the State House Thom Tillis soared to being the second most powerful politician in Raleigh after the Governor and the oohing and aahing that followed probably wasn’t as lethal (or as likely to turn a fellow’s head) as a blonde whispering in his ear but, still, all that adulation had to…

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A Well Kept Secret

By Carter Wrenn June 25, 2012

If the Ethics Commission has ever found anyone guilty of an ethics violation it’s one of the best kept secrets in North Carolina. But, nonetheless, now the Commission says it’s going to investigate two lobbyists who had affairs with two members of House Speaker Thom Tillis’ staff to find out what “things of value” the…

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Republicans Rooting for Failure?

By Gary Pearce June 25, 2012

Four years ago, Republicans accused Democrats who criticized the economy of “rooting for failure.” Now, one Democratic TAPster notes, it’s Republicans rooting.   Item 1, from Florida: “Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign asked Florida Governor Rick Scott to tone down his statements heralding improvements in the state’s economy because they clash with the presumptive Republican nominee’s…

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The Economic Choice

By Gary Pearce June 23, 2012

An AP story captured Democrats’ dilemma this election. It summarized where Mitt Romney and President Obama stand on the economy this way:   “On planet Republican: The economy is backsliding, and the president is to blame. His stimulus spending did more harm than good, and his big-government rules are strangling businesses. The answer is repealing…

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Who Gives the Orders?

By Carter Wrenn June 22, 2012

Last year when the politicians in Washington sent down an order to the politicians in Raleigh telling them to implement Obama-care the politicians in Raleigh saw red and said the whole thing was unconstitutional.   Which sounded pretty cut and dried until the other day when the Raleigh politicians gave an order of their own.…

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Hating Government

By Gary Pearce June 22, 2012

This week I spoke to the Association of Government Information Officers in Raleigh. About 25 people were there (all but three were women, by the way; the reverse from when I was in government over 30 years ago).   I asked two questions. First, how many think your agency (most all are in state government)…

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Fear the Voters

By Gary Pearce June 22, 2012

Here’s a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats want to make it easier for people to vote. Republicans, harder.   In Florida, Republicans are desperately trying to purge voters before November. In North Carolina, the Republican legislature doesn’t want to help counties improve and maintain voting systems.   A party that doesn’t trust the…

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A Show

By Carter Wrenn January 31, 2025

Addison McDowell worked for Ted Budd, worked as a lobbyist, 31 years old ran for Congress,…

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Chaos, Carnage and Cruelty

By Gary Pearce January 31, 2025

Trump doesn’t care how much chaos he creates, how much carnage he causes and how much…

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Two Pieces

By Carter Wrenn January 30, 2025

When the smoke cleared – after Jesse Helms’ second campaign – we’d raised more money than…

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