Posts by Carter Wrenn
‘Smart Growth Democrats’
About a week ago, I got a copy of an email from a group that calls itself ‘Smart Growth Democrats’ urging their supporters to support two candidates – Rev. Renee Bethea and Rev. Paul Anderson – for openings on the Raleigh Planning Commission. The third candidate, according to the ‘Smart Growth Democrats,’ is unqualified because…
Read MoreIt Goes Beyond Jim Black
Newly elected Democrat State Chairman – and Howard Dean supporter – Jerry Meek has sounded off on behalf of besieged House Speaker Jim Black. Meek says: “There have been no allegations of wrongdoing against Jim Black and it’s a shame Joe Sinsheimer [the Democratic consultant who set up www.Blackmustgo.com] put his time and energy into…
Read MoreMayor Meeker’s Folly – Part II – The Triangle Transit Authority
Sometimes I think the folks over at the Triangle Transit Authority must be living in ‘Cloud Coo-Coo Land.’ This morning there’s a picture in the newspaper of a spiffy ‘mock-up’ they’ve built – sitting in the middle of a Raleigh warehouse – of the engine of the train they want to build to bring ‘lite-rail’…
Read MoreDebate on Iraq
New York Times columnist David Brooks gave President Bush a great piece of advice (News and Observer, 11-22-05) about the debate in Congress on Iraq. My problem on Iraq is I’m beginning to suspect we’ve gotten ourselves into a real mess. And the only thing that makes sense is to get out of it. But…
Read MoreHarry Potter Promotes Global Understanding?
Exploris is a non-profit museum in downtown Raleigh “dedicated to promoting global understanding” (News & Observer, 11-14-05). How is it doing that? By showing “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” And who paid for Exploris’ IMAX movie theatre? Well, taxpayers. By giving the museum $11.9 in tax money to build it and an annual…
Read MoreBeavers: 2, Environmentalists: )
You’ve got to love a beaver. According to the News and Observer (11-14-05) the pesky little critters are causing a problem for the environmentalists who care for the scenic Eno River – by building dams. For some reason I don’t pretend to understand this has provoked a ‘dam war’ between the environmentalists and the beavers.…
Read MoreAnother Lottery Commissioner Resigns
Lottery commissioners are dropping like flies. Gordon Myers of Asheville became the third commissioner to resign. Three of the original seven appointees have now bitten the dust. Myers cited conflicts of interest because he owns stock in Ingles Stores which may want to sell lottery tickets. Myers is also director of the North Carolina Economic…
Read MoreLegislative Follies
State legislators receive a $104 per diem for expenses (in addition to their salaries). According to the News &Observer, this per diem is supposed to pay for legislators’ board, meals and other costs while they are in Raleigh.But it turns out that’s not how Republican Representative Harold Brubaker sees it. Rep. Brubaker – who missed…
Read MoreDowntown
I don’t know Ms. Betsy Kane – who was the only member of the Raleigh Planning Commission to vote against the Glen-Tree Westin Hotel at Crabtree Valley – but I give her kudos for honesty. Just before the city council voted to approve the hotel Ms. Kane set forth her views in an opt-ed in…
Read MorePolitics and Finding the Lord
The News & Observer (11-14-05) headline blared: “Democrats: Jesus Wouldn’t Cut Aid to Poor” The story told of a curious development: it seems politics has brought three Democratic Congressmen to Jesus. In fairness to Congressmen David Price, Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller they probably found the Lord years ago and I expect that what they…
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