Posts by Gary Pearce
‘People of Earth!’
What do Marco Rubio and Larry Hall have in common? They made the mistake of giving their party’s response to the State of the Union and State of the State speeches, respectively. Inevitably, this ends up looking like a hostage tape or the speech given by the leader of space aliens who just invaded…
Read MoreHe Likes Ike!
Tea Party types must have gone into cardiac arrest last night when Governor McCrory said he’s “kind of an Eisenhower Republican.” Just not as ambitious. Ike built the Interstate highway system; Pat wants to “fix the lights” on the Interstate. And, like Ike, he’s afraid to confront the Joe McCarthys in his party. …
Read MoreNot So Fast
The Economist newspaper says North Carolina has bid “farewell to purple.” But an article in The New York Times Magazine gives Democrats reason for optimism. The Economist notes: “North Carolina has a Republican governor, a conservative majority on the state Supreme Court and Republicans controlling both legislative chambers.” Plus, Republicans have nine of our…
Read MoreGOP ‘Compassion’
“We are being compassionate,” said state Rep. Mike Hager of Rutherfordton. “We have a mindset of pulling…government burden off these small businesses.” Well, that sums it up. Republican compassion is for businesses and corporations, not people. Remember: People aren’t corporations, my friend. First North Carolina Republicans slashed help for people who can’t find…
Read MoreListening to McCrory
After receiving a typically enthusiastic introduction from former Governor Jim Hunt Tuesday, Governor McCrory said, “Note to staff: Never have me speak after Jim Hunt again.” Here’s another note he should send them: Know my audience. McCrory was speaking at N.C. State’s Emerging Issues Form on manufacturing. He seemed to think he was…
Read MoreObama’s Edge
Thanks to the 2012 campaign and Mitt Romney, President Obama has found his voice. That gives him a big advantage over Republicans the next two years. For all his writing and oratorical skills, Obama never found a way in his first term to effectively tell his story – and sell his message. That led…
Read MoreStupid Is As Stupid Does
Some Republicans seem determined to be “the stupid party,” in Bobby Jindal’s memorable phrase. Like U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx. The Sunday New York Times took a look at how some students today pay for college. The story focused on Steve Boedefeld, an Appalachian State University student who wants to avoid graduating with a…
Read MoreDiamond Jim Gardner
Jim Gardner almost changed political history twice – 20 years ago and 40 years ago. In 1972, he was the fair-haired boy of the North Carolina Republican Party. Six years earlier, he had unexpectedly defeated a long-time Democratic congressman from the East, Harold Cooley. How big an upset was it? Cooley was chairman of…
Read MoreObama and LBJ
Didn’t we see this movie in the Sixties? The President and his aides huddle over maps and pick targets. Jets drop bombs or drones launch missiles. Our enemies die. So do innocent civilians. The natives hate us and we make more enemies. As Congressman Walter Jones asks: Why are we still in Afghanistan? …
Read MoreTea Party
George Washington supposedly said the Founding Fathers created the Senate to cool House legislation just as a saucer cools hot tea. In North Carolina, it looks like the House and Art Pope are cooling the Senate’s hot tea. The House promised to take a long second look at the Senate’s boards and commissions…
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