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Caution to Business: Left Turn Ahead

By Gary Pearce May 29, 2008

Toe-sucking transpartisan consultant-turned-pundit Dick Morris, the only man alive who advised both Bill Clinton and Jesse Helms, is right about one thing: Politics in America is headed left. Race may keep Barack Obama from becoming President. But otherwise 2008 looks like 2006 continued. That could mean more Democrats in the Senate and House. It could…

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The News and the Observer

By Gary Pearce May 28, 2008

Some members of Governor Easley’s email study commission are privately critical of the news media – like the N&O – for both covering the story and being part of the story. The commission members believe the dual role has led to slanted coverage. They think media representatives have been unreasonable and inconsistent in their appearances…

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What Is John McCain Hiding?

By Gary Pearce May 27, 2008

John McCain’s Straight Talk Express has become the Double Talk Detour. First the scourge of lobbyists and special interests had to purge his campaign of some, but certainly not all, of the teeming special-interest lobbyists on board. Then Mister Integrity dumped his medical records and wife’s income taxes on the Friday before Memorial Day in…

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Dead White Males

By Carter Wrenn May 27, 2008

The world up and moved on its axis yesterday morning while I was listening to National Public Radio. It started innocently enough. Cokie Roberts was talking about her two books, Ladies of Liberty and Founding Mothers, when a lady called in to thank her for recognizing the ignored Female Founders of our nation – then…

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By the Numbers

By Gary Pearce May 27, 2008

Here are some numbers worth pondering as you ponder this year’s elections in North Carolina. On May 6, 1.58 million people voted in the Democratic presidential primary. That’s more than the 1.52 million who voted for John Kerry and John Edwards here in November 2004. Thanks to this year’s registration surge, there are now 2.6…

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The Mystery of 2008

By Carter Wrenn May 23, 2008

I had an argument with my friend the pollster. I told him – in no uncertain terms – Barack Obama’s a rerun of George McGovern, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. And said, We’ve seen this story before. The Democrats fall in love, young people swoon, then the day after the election they wake up and…

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School Boards and City Councils

By Carter Wrenn May 22, 2008

The Wake County Manager’s trying to hold the line on spending – but he’s getting no sympathy from the School Board. He offered to increase the school’s budget more than any other local government agency – but the School Board told him to take a hike. That just won’t cut the mustard; it wants another…

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McCrory and Perdue

By Gary Pearce May 22, 2008

Given that this should be a Democratic year and that Democrats have won the last four Governor’s races, it is surprising that early polls show the Governor’s race essentially tied. The polls may be underestimating the African-American vote. Early polls often show Democrats getting only 60-70 percent of that vote. But they always end up…

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Ted Kennedy and Ham Jordan

By Gary Pearce May 21, 2008

Cancer felled Hamilton Jordan and was found in Ted Kennedy the same day. Everybody knows Kennedy. But how many know Jordan – and his connection with Kennedy? Before Karl Rove, James Carville and Lee Atwater, Jordan – pronounced Jer-dan – was the original modern Southern-fried political operative. He was the strategic genius behind Jimmy Carter’s…

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Who Pays the Price

By Carter Wrenn February 5, 2025

Wiley lifted his cell phone, held it in the air in front of him, pushed a…

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Going Too Far

By Carter Wrenn February 3, 2025

Cheeks round, pudgy fingers fumbling, Ellmer took a newspaper article out of his briefcase, pushed it…

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Dividing Line

By Gary Pearce February 3, 2025

Trump has done America a big favor: in just two weeks, he’s drawn a bright line…

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