Posts by Gary Pearce
A Tale of Two Conventions
This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site. There may not be, as John Edwards famously said, “two Americas.” But there sure are two parties with diametrically different views of America. That’s the value of conventions. Cynics may dismiss them, and TV viewers may ignore them. But the conventions…
Read MorePicking – and Picking On – Charlotte
This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site. Over the past few weeks, a stream of state and national reporters asked essentially the same question: “Was it a mistake for Democrats to come to Charlotte?” Let’s set aside the existential question of whether it’s ever a mistake to come…
Read MoreAre You Better Off?
The Romney campaign won a 24-hour news cycle on the “Are you better off?” question, but they may lose the election over it. Team Obama and the Democrats should relish this fight. And not worry about having been caught off guard – although that was inexcusable. Who won or lost the news cycle matters…
Read MoreNo Empty Chairs Here
This blog is also posted on The Charlotte Observer’s DNC blog site. There’s one problem with the Clint Eastwood line that Carter likes: This week, the chair will talk back. Even better, President Bill Clinton probably will talk back. And say something like: “You’re right, Clint. When somebody doesn’t do the job,…
Read MoreRyan Caught Again
I wonder if Paul Ryan claimed in Greenville today that he once ran a four-minute mile? It wouldn’t surprise me, given his tenuous grip on the truth. If political lying was an Olympic event, Ryan would get the gold. And that’s saying a lot this year. Fresh off his fact-challenged convention speech (see “GOP…
Read MoreGOP Convention Triage
Mitt was Mitt, Clint was crazy, and Paul Ryan did the most to damage himself of any speaker at the Republican convention. Let’s review the main players. Romney had a good line: “I want to help your family.” But he didn’t shed the label Obama’s ads have stuck on him: Rich, stiff and out…
Read MoreNo-Show in Charlotte
A friend asked if I’m going to the convention next week. No way. I’ve been to two national conventions – one in New York and one in San Francisco. And I’ve been to Charlotte. I’m staying home like any sensible person and watching it on TV.
Read MoreCloset Centrists
They may be the Republican nominees, but Mitt Romney and Pat McCrory seem out of tune with the party in Tampa. That party loves the hard-edged, right-wing rhetoric of Paul Ryan and – before his bellyflop Tuesday night – Chris Christie. The conventioneers celebrate Romney, but their hearts don’t seem to be in it.…
Read MoreWhat Do They See?
Political junkies like me and you pay attention to what convention speakers say. We get into the issues, the rhetoric, the charges, claims and counterclaims. But that’s not what matters. Voters watch conventions for what they say about the candidates and the party. They watch it like just another TV show, and they look…
Read MoreStorm Signals
Isaac busted up the Republican convention schedule. It’s competing for TV coverage. Therein lies another danger to the GOP: Is it good to bash government when a lot of people may need government help? One story said the federal government spent $10 billion building levees to protect New Orleans. Did Governor Bobby Jindal reject…
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