Posts by Gary Pearce
Mississippi Rising
To quote Slim Pickens in Blazing Saddles, “What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here?” What is politics coming to when a deeply conservative Deep South Senator rallies black Democrats to win a Republican primary? When a GOP bridge-builder beats a fire-eater? When a big spender beats a budget slasher?…
Read MoreIs Hillary Ready?
A lot of Democrats are “Ready for Hillary,” but is she? The doubts erupted after talked – and talked again – about whether she and Bill really are rich. The Washington Post headlined: “Some Democrats fear Clinton’s wealth and ‘imperial image’ could be damaging in 2016.” It quoted “multiple Obama campaign advisers” saying…
Read MoreA McCrory Comeback?
The prevailing Democratic view of Governor McCrory is summed up by this bumper sticker a friend saw: My child is an honor student. My Governor is a moron. But Governor McCrory has a chance to mount his own “Carolina Comeback” in the next few weeks. He could stand up to the legislature…
Read MoreCantor’s Pollster Explains
Great glee erupted among Democrats over Eric Cantor’s defeat – and also over the embarrassment to his pollster, who had predicted a landslide Cantor win. Cantor’s pollster is John McLaughlin of New York, a Republican with whom I’ve worked on non-partisan projects. Full disclosure: I like John personally, and I greatly respect him professionally. …
Read MoreRob Goes Hollywood
The most startling news of the day came at the very end of Rob Christensen’s column: “Full disclosure. Last year, I signed a contract as co-producer with a major Hollywood producer for a movie that may be made in North Carolina….” Zounds! Stop the presses! This is a bombshell. And inquiring minds demand to…
Read MoreGerrymandering and Immigration and the GOP
Eric Cantor’s defeat, immigration reform, gerrymandering and Republican presidential hopes all got rolled up together last week in a classic demonstration of the Law of Unintended Consequences. Cantor’s opponent, David Brat (I love that name), attacked him for being soft on immigrants. That struck fear in the hearts of other Republicans in Congress. That…
Read MoreTales of Corruption
Republicans made great hay in 2010 and 2012 over then-ongoing investigations of Democratic politicians, like John Edwards, Mike Easley and appointees of Bev Perdue. Suddenly the shoe is on the other foot. Such are the perks of high office. Now there are two investigations of possible illegal activity, one involving the coal ash spill…
Read MoreSmart Voters
Everybody has a theory about why Eric Cantor lost, one that usually reflects their overall theory about politics: It was about immigration. Cantor was aloof and arrogant. The Tea Party is still a force in the GOP. Voters lie to pollsters. Pollsters are stupid. Let’s consider another possible factor, one that echoes last month’s primaries…
Read MoreA Sign?
“This is a miracle from God that just happened.” – David Brat, who rocked the political world Tuesday by upsetting Eric Cantor in a Virginia Republican primary. Well, that’s certainly one explanation. A more earthly one came from former Representative Thomas M. Davis III, another Virginia Republican: “There are some very angry people upset…
Read MoreWho’s the Boss?
Governor McCrory is starting to look like Bev Perdue without the dress. He started out this legislature saying he’d be more assertive. Then Senator Berger released his budget and showed everybody who’s the Real Boss in Raleigh. McCrory clearly doesn’t like Berger’s budget. But it’s not clear what he’s going to do about…
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