Posts by Gary Pearce
Outside Agitators
A reader notes the irony of Republicans rejecting Common Core because it’s from Washington, or “Big Government” or President Obama. The implication is that state- and local-level thinking is by definition better. He points out: “The irony is that the GOP resists Washington’s direction while its leaders in North Carolina warmly embrace the political…
Read MoreOde to the State Helicopter
Selling the state helicopter may make dollars and sense, but Governor McCrory is totally missing the Helicopter Coolness Factor. Nothing says cool like that sleek bird swooping down from the sky someplace far from Raleigh. Crowds gawk, school kids go gaga and cameras go click. When the copter comes, Big News is happening. …
Read MorePaul Tine
Paul Tine is a rare and endangered species: a centrist Democrat who represents a Republican-leaning district in the N.C. House. The Democratic Party needs him – and more like him. I met Paul for the first time at a fundraiser this week. He’s young, smart and candid. I know his district, House 6, which…
Read MoreArt Pope Responds
I received a response from Art Pope to my blog yesterday (“Rich and Ruthless”). He said: “Feel free to post this to your web site.” I am happy to reprint it in full below, and I thank Art for responding – and for reading: It is a rough game, but it has not cost me…
Read MoreRich and Ruthless
Democrats contemplating a comeback need to contemplate this. The Republican Party is spending at least $650,000 on “a blistering attack” against Justice Robin Hudson of the state Supreme Court. Democrats need to face a sobering reality: They are up against a rich and ruthless opponent, one who will spend any amount and say anything…
Read MoreLife After ObamaCare
The ice melting under Republicans’ feet isn’t climate change, it’s Obamacare. The issue on which they bet the house this year may be disappearing. A poll this month in North Carolina, Louisiana and Kentucky found that, while people don’t like Obamacare, they want Congress to improve it, instead of repealing and replacing it. …
Read MoreUNC vs. N&O
This is a story guaranteed to go on a reporter’s wall – and to set teeth gnashing again in Chapel Hill. The New York Times reported on the long-running battle between UNC-Chapel Hill and The News & Observer – and, specifically, investigative reporter Dan Kane. Kane comes off best, as in this passage: …
Read MoreMcCrory’s Core Test
Will Governor McCrory stand up to the rising Republican revolt against Common Core (they call it “Obamacore”)? Rushing to pander to the Tea Party, Republican legislators who once embraced the standards now denounce them. The philosophy seems to be: “Everybody should be as dumb as us.” Chris Fitzsimon at NC Policy Watch summed…
Read MoreMore Tillis Scandals Ahead?
Thom Tillis is already vulnerable over the sex scandal in his office, and he will invite more scandals if he remains Speaker in the short session. Those scandals will be about legislation, campaign contributions and pay-to-play. It’s obvious why he wants to stay as Speaker: So he can raise money – either for a…
Read MoreNarrowcasting
Watching the Republican Senate debate, it would not have been surprising if all four candidates had sworn that the earth is flat. Because they went right over the edge. You saw four candidates who would pay any price, bear any burden, destroy any branch of government, defend any outlandish right to have a gun…
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