President Bush’s poll numbers are tanking because he forgot how he got to the White House. The background is summed up well in an excellent piece in Time magazine this week by Joe Klein. Klein is one of the best political reporters going. Klein’s article – in which he says consultants have ruined politics –…
Read MoreTo me, there are two mysteries in the debate over Raleigh’s impact fees: Who paid for the calls supporting higher fees? Why would downtown development be exempt from higher fees? First the calls. The News & Observer says this is a partial text of one call: Hello. If you are a taxpayer, it is urgent…
Read MoreSupporters of former State Representative David Minor on the Wake County Board of Commissioners, ambushed their Commissioners on Monday (April 13) to get Minor hired as the county lobbyist. Earlier, Commissioners had decided not to retain Minor after several Raleigh legislators – the people Minor would be lobbying – said, in effect, ‘This isn’t going…
Read MoreMy Democratic friends are not only ecstatic about Tom DeLay’s fall, they are certain it presages the fall of the Evil Empire. They’re convinced a Democratic “tidal wave” is about to engulf Washington and restore our party to its rightful majority in Congress. I’m afraid they’re wrong. Three reasons: 1. Voters don’t believe Democratic politicians…
Read MoreThree Republican legislators have a remedy to the scandals in the State House. Representative Nelson Dollar, Paul Stam and Russell Capps say each party’s Caucus should appoint its members of House Committees. That the Democratic Caucus should appoint the Democrat members, and Republicans the Republicans. Instead of every Committee Member being picked by House Speaker…
Read MoreI mentioned Raleigh writer-activist Bob Geary in an earlier post. And he’s been kind enough to read and comment on our blogs. Bob has done something I admire. He started out as a newspaper reporter – for the Independent Weekly. He writes a lot about Raleigh politics. And, apparently, he has been active in local…
Read MoreThe News and Observer (4-4-06) reports the ‘buzz’ in Washington is that John Edwards is running second in the Democratic race for President – behind Hillary Clinton. According to the Washington Newsletter Hotline, Edwards is “the only major candidate who seems comfortable going to Hillary’s left.” I didn’t know there was such a place. Not…
Read MoreThe current debate in Raleigh over higher impact fees reminds of a political-consultant friend who liked to tweak his politician clients. When the politicians agonized about whether to support any tax increases, my friend would suggest – with a straight face: “Tell them you support higher taxes on foreigners who don’t live in the United…
Read MoreLast year, Democrat leaders in the General Assembly put $400,000 in the budget to give to the Sparta Teapot Museum. Earlier the foundation they (Mike Easley, Mark Basnight and Jim Black) appointed to give out the tobacco settlement money gave the Museum $590,000. Now Congress has given the Teapot Museum another $500,000. In fact, Congress…
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