The News and Observer reports when the City Council met last week to consider the new budget and a property tax increase plenty of folks showed up “with their hands out” wanting city funds for their organizations (News and Observer, 06-07-06). Legal Aid needs $35,000 more this year, the Symphony Orchestra wants $100,000 and the…
Read MoreThe Charlotte Observer (6-11-06) reports Governor Easley brought a piece of North Carolina ocean front paradise on Bogue Sound at the entrance of a 75-slip marina near Emerald Isle. And he got a deal. According to the Observer, Easley bought the lot “last year for $549,880.” Which was just 3 percent above its assessed tax…
Read MoreThe ground can shift quickly in politics. And I believe it has – on both the state and national levels. Here was the conventional wisdom not long ago – like, last week: A national tsunami will hit the Republicans in November. Jim Black’s ethical troubles will sink North Carolina Democrats in November. But I believe…
Read MoreNot long ago when Democrat leaders in the State House were testifying before the State Board of Elections they said optometrists giving blank checks (with the amount filled in but the recipient’s name blank) to Speaker Jim Black – for him to distribute to candidates – was fine. There was not one thing wrong with…
Read MoreAfter weeks of lobbing grenades – on video poker, eye exams and the teapot museum – at their fellow Democrats in the House the state Senate just lobbed one at Governor Easley. For years, going back to the days of Governor Hunt, the governor has been chairman of the N.C. Progress Board which reports to…
Read MoreGas prices are rising again and gas tax revenues to the state are soaring but it appears some local officials – including Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker – are supporting toll roads in Wake County. The tolls would cost drivers $600 million to complete parts of the Triangle Parkway and I-540. So now in Wake County…
Read MoreLast year, after seeking bids the state took its $171 million Medicaid billing contract – its biggest contract – away from EDS and gave it to rival ACS (both of Texas). EDS sued and said among other things that the bids weren’t handled fairly and ACS couldn’t deliver what it promised. The state fought EDS…
Read MoreRepublicans just held their bi-annual State Convention. I spoke to a friend who attended. He has been active in politics for years and he’s pretty glum about Republican chances in the election this fall. He’s looking at the national trends and remembering 1994, 1982, and 1974 when one party (Republicans in ’94 and Democrats in…
Read More“Liberals hunt down heretics, while conservatives happily chase converts.” Michael Kinsley, as quoted by Joe Klein I don’t know whether Kinsley is right. It seems to me that right-wingers have spent a fair amount of time since 1964 hunting down heretics. But I’m only concerned with us liberals – or progressives, or whatever we’re supposed…
Read MoreRecent Articles
Back when Rod Blagojevich ran for governor of Illinois, Obama endorsed him and Trump gave his…
Read More
Does a message about “workers,” “working families” and “working-class voters” really work for Democrats? Or does…
Read More
I’ve resisted the temptation to rail every day about Trump’s cruelty, corruption and incompetence – and…
Read More