There is some – more – bad news about the lottery. Last year, just about every major Democratic politician promised loud, long and repeatedly that every penny of the $400 million in lottery money would go for new education spending. They even told voters they wrote that into the law: the lottery money would only…
Read MoreShould Western newspapers act “responsibly” – as the Bush Administration has suggested – in deciding whether to publish cartoons portraying Muhammad? My opinion: absolutely not. In fact, it downright angers me that so many Western political leaders are so intimidated by violent Muslim protests against the cartoons – and that some papers have fired editors…
Read MoreIt is one thing for President Bush to claim the executive power to spy on Americans without a court order or Congressional approval. It is another thing for him to claim that the American people – and their elected representatives – shouldn’t debate the issue. But that is what I understand him to say. According…
Read MoreThe News and Observer reports, “Raleigh-Durham Airport officials just approved a $257.6 million contract to replace the red-roofed Terminal C,” and the total cost of the project is “expected to reach $555 million.” So we have taxpayers funding: • $555 million for a terminal at the airport;• $215 million (and still rising) for the downtown…
Read MoreIf Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker runs for reelection next year, he might face a challenge from a Democrat to his left. Like maybe Thomas Crowder. Meeker and other Council members aren’t happy with Crowder putting the issue of Marriott Hotel stucco on the front page. Not a team player, you know. And word is The…
Read MoreI’m sorry, but I just can’t let go of the Cheney shooting accident. And here’s why. When a person acts like they’re hiding something, they’re usually hiding something. And I think Cheney is hiding something: drinking. In his Fox interview Wednesday, “Shooter” (as opposed to his old aide Scooter) was asked if anybody in his…
Read MoreThe price of Mayor Meeker’s downtown Convention Center just soared again: to $215 million. The City Council just approved spending another $23 million on the Convention Center without a blink or hardly a nay vote. In fact, every County Commissioner and every City Councilman but one – Councilman Tommy Craven – voted for the increase.…
Read MoreHow easy is it to make fun of Dick Cheney shooting a fellow hunter? Here are just a few of the jokes and one-liners I’ve heard since his hunting mishap: • The White House says it wants to make up with Hillary Clinton. So they’re inviting her on a hunting trip with the Vice President.…
Read MoreThe News & Observer recently called my old boss, Jim Hunt, the closest thing North Carolina has to a “policy Pope.” (I assume they meant Benedict of Rome, not John and Art of Raleigh.) Unfortunately, I’m afraid Pope Jim has taken on a tough crusade with tax reform. The Institute for Emerging Issues that Governor…
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