Posts by Gary Pearce
Beth Wood’s Crash
State Auditor Beth Wood obviously made a mistake when she crashed her state car onto another car in downtown Raleigh the evening of Dec. 8. She made another mistake when she left the scene without reporting the crash to the owner or police. Another mistake when she didn’t fess up, in full, the next day.…
Read MoreThanks, Joe
Three years ago this month, they said Joe Biden was too old and too out of touch to be elected President. Then he won South Carolina, swept the nomination and whipped Trump. Two years ago today, when he was inaugurated, they said he couldn’t get anything done with a 50-50 Senate and a thin House…
Read MoreJosh Stein’s Fighting Start
Josh Stein’s announcement signals a different kind of Democratic campaign for Governor: an aggressive fight over values. Values usually are Republican turf, but Stein seized that ground. From the get-go, he defines his likely opponent, Mark Robinson, as having the wrong values for North Carolina today. Stein’s start promises Democrats the kind of tough, inspiring…
Read MoreRepublicans Will Overreach … Again
Two issues that pundits pooh-poohed – abortion and the threat to democracy – helped President Biden post the best mid-term in 2022 since FDR in 1934. Both issues rose from Republican overreach: the Supreme Court ruling on abortion and the Trump-MAGA attack on legal elections and the Capitol. Have no doubt. Kevin McCarthy’s House Republicans…
Read MoreJim Hunt, 50 Years On
Last Wednesday, former Governor Jim Hunt was on the floor of the state Senate, holding the Bible for the swearing-in of his daughter, Senator Rachel Hunt. Almost exactly 50 years before – on Wednesday January 10, 1973 – newly elected Lieutenant Governor Jim Hunt presided over the swearing-in of the Senate. Things were different then.…
Read MoreI’m Back
Start the presses. I’m blogging again. I took a break in August 2021 to work on a book about my life and my experiences in politics and newspapers. I’ve written 200+ pages, and there’s more to come. One day I’ll get around to publishing it. Some parts will have to wait until I’m gone. For…
Read MoreGary Hahn’s Bad Call on “Illegal Aliens”
NC State sports announcer Gary Hahn got suspended when he called migrants in El Paso “illegal aliens.” Some of my fellow Wolfpack fans jumped to his defense: “What’s wrong with that?” And, “They are illegal aliens.” Here’s what’s wrong. “Illegal aliens” is a dehumanizing term. No human being is “illegal.” They may do something illegal…
Read MoreZelensky and Trump
One is a man of profound moral courage. The other is an arrested adolescent of profound moral cowardice. One is a patriot. The other, a traitor. One proudly unfurled his country’s flag. The other dishonors his country’s flag. One stands for democracy, freedom and the rule of law. The other, for one-man authoritarianism. One stood…
Read MoreAnother Senate Whiff for NC Democrats
Once again, Lucy (North Carolina voters) pulled the football (a Senate seat) away from Charlie Brown (Democrats). In the 50 years since 1972 – when the two-party era began in North Carolina and Jesse Helms won the first of five Senate elections – there have been 18 Senate elections. Democrats have won four and lost…
Read MoreNational Relief, But NC Disappointment
The election left me feeling better about our country than I have for six years. But worse about North Carolina. 2022 showed that Americans are tired of the Trump Show, which has been running nonstop at full volume for seven and a half years since he rode down the golden escalator on June 16, 2015.…
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