Posts by Carter Wrenn
Governor as Snake Oil Salesman
Governor Easley has turned into the ultimate huckster. The suckers in North Carolina won’t buy enough lottery tickets, so, like a shill in a carny, he wants to jack up the prizes apparently on the theory that if he baits the hook with enough fool’s gold the suckers will part with more of their money.…
Read MoreA Portrait of America from the Morning Newspaper
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez – according to the press this morning – mislead to the Senate yesterday. (Even one Republican Senator, Arlen Specter, asked Gonzalez, incredulously, “Do you expect me to believe that?”) The House of Representatives – according to the press – is about to bring contempt charges against President Bush for illegally hiding…
Read MoreBeat This?
When I read The News and Observer headline – “Tax Enriches Cellular Carriers” –I had to ask, ‘How does a tax enrich anyone but the government?’ The answer turned out to be simple. The government collects a tax on your phone bill then pays the money to telephone companies (in theory for providing phone service…
Read MoreLawyer Strikes Gold
An enterprising Wilmington attorney read how the Attorney General of New Jersey won a settlement from Sears for overcharging customers for wheel alignments and promptly brought his own class action lawsuit against Sears (The News and Observer, 7-23-07). And Sears promptly settled. The lawyer received $950,000 in fees. And Sears consumers received $2,402. (Not each,…
Read MoreCACs and Campaign Volunteers
There was a short story in The News and Observer last week about the CACs (Raleigh ‘neighborhood groups’) asking the City Council for $25,000 to recruit new members. As a practical matter these semi-official groups have long since turned into adjuncts of Mayor Meeker’s political apparatus. The Council giving them $25,000 to recruit members is…
Read MoreThe Great Democratic Debate
Last night on CNN and the Democratic Candidates ‘You-Tubed’ their way through the latest debate. Afterwards the pundits said Obama won. Then they said Hillary won. Then they said Edwards and Biden won. So much for pundits. Here’s my two cents worth. I hate to say it but I thought John Edwards won. Hands down.…
Read MoreEdwards and Poverty
Leaving aside all the falderal about John Edwards’ $400 and $1250 haircuts, beneath Edwards’ posturing about poverty there may be a subtle – and powerful – political point. While Edwards pirouettes through Mississippi, New Orleans and Appalachia with reporters in tow, his stance on poverty is providing a positive window-dressing that allows him to talk…
Read MoreWhat Democrats Are Really Saying: Stay in Iraq
Democratic leaders in Congress say they want to get us out of Iraq. Now. Asap. But look at the fine print in the bill they passed in Congress on July 12th. That’s not what it says at all. First, they don’t say pull out now. They say start to pull out. And they don’t say…
Read MoreLucifer
Because of two stories about crimes I’m wondering what people think about ole’ Lucifer? Does he really exist? Both stories – about particularly brutal crimes – were reported in The News and Observer. The first was the Wake County District Attorney’s summation in the trial of Byron Waring, asking the jury to give Waring –…
Read MoreSend in the Clowns
While Democrats have been plagued by money scandals (former House Speaker Jim Black, Rep. Thomas Wright and Rep. Mary McAlister) and DMV scandals (Director George Tatum’s abrupt resignation), Republicans – at least for the past week – seem fixated on sex. First, Rep. David Almond resigned amid rumors he had sexually harassed a state employee.…
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