I’ve been critical of President Obama lately. His poll numbers keep dropping, and he looks like a 97-pound weakling being pushed around by (of all people) John Boehner. I even called him “Jimmy Obama” in one blog, comparing him to a famous one-term Democratic President. So now it’s time to predict a comeback.…
Read MoreTed Vaden, Deputy Secretary, Internal and External Affairs N.C. Department of Transportation, responds to my criticism of DOT’s 511 line and website during Irene: “We’re big boys and girls at NCDOT, and we’ll take our hits when deserved. Certainly our 511 system can be better, but keep in mind that 511 updates were being…
Read MoreCarter was mistaken when he wrote (“A Call From 60 Minutes,” below) that Bob Harris’ authorship of the “where do you stand, Jim” ads in 1984 “has been lost to history.” Actually, I wrote about that in my Hunt book, and Carter was my source. But that’s not the reason for this post. Nor…
Read MoreIf you’re up at 7 a.m. Sunday and desperate for entertainment, listen to Don Curtis and me on “Carolina Newsmakers” on WPTF. We about covered the waterfront on politics: redistricting, money, Governor Perdue and the legislature, 2012, etc. The show will also be available at www.carolinanewsmakers.com.
Read MoreThe other morning on one page of the newspaper Governor Perdue (or rather the Perdue administration), pleading hard times, announced the Department of Health and Human Services will no longer pay for eye exams, and eyeglasses and dental care to Medicaid patients. On top of that times are so hard the department’s also limiting physical…
Read MorePresident Obama better connect this time. His much-hyped economic speech next week may be his last chance. For all his strengths, Obama has one great failing: He hasn’t been able to forge an emotional connection with the American people since the election. He did it during the campaign by fulfilling a yearning…
Read MoreBack in 1985 I got a call from George Crile a producer at 60 Minutes who said he and Mike Wallace wanted to come to Raleigh to interview Tom Ellis and me. I thought, An interview with 60 Minutes – what’s the difference in that and sticking your head in a lion’s mouth? I…
Read MoreOvernight Rick Perry has soared from unknown to Republican frontrunner; — it’s reminiscent of four years ago when another unknown appeared out of nowhere, soared into the lead in the Democrat Primary, then rolled straight into the White House. Now, Rick Perry – Governor of Texas, Air Force pilot, rugged cowboy – is the…
Read MoreA new issue of North Carolina DataNet, published by the Program on Southern Life at the UNC J-School, is available now. Click here for a link to the report. The focus is what report calls the “metropolitanization’’ of North Carolina’s population, and the impact that has on the state’s economy, culture and politics. …
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