Posts by Gary Pearce
How Obama Wins
Two reasons: the speech he gave this week and his record. In 2008, Obama had a gift for giving exactly the right speech at exactly the right campaign moment. He did it again yesterday with his speech echoing Teddy Roosevelt’s Square Deal (Click here for the full text): “I believe that this country…
Read More99 to 1
There’s something almost mystic about the numbers. We call 911 when we’re in trouble. America remembers – and avenges 9/11. Herman Cain had 9-9-9. Now the numbers have a new political significance: the 99 percent and the 1 percent. People who say the Occupy movement had little impact miss how it imprinted…
Read MoreFeeling the Pinch
Last week Republicans were chortling over campaign-law indictments of Democrats. Now they’re complaining about a campaign-law probe of Pat McCrory’s 2008 campaign. Welcome to the NFL, and strap on your helmets. From now on, every campaign is going to be under scrutiny for potential violations – not just by the state, but also by…
Read MoreMOHOPs Do in Cain
Herman Cain may heed my wish and stay in the presidential race, but he has fallen prey to a political form of termites that I call MOHOPs – for headlines and stories that begin “Members of His/Her Own Party….” In Cain’s case, MOHOPs are fellow Republicans who say things like “he’s a zombie; he’s…
Read MoreFaison Takes a Swing
Bill Faison is like a boxer who took a knockout swing, missed and left himself wide open for the counterpunch. The day after Monday’s indictments, Faison told Laura Leslie at WRAL-TV: “I think, ultimately, Gov. Perdue will do the right thing and decide not to run. I don’t believe you’ll ever see her file.” …
Read MoreStay the Course, Herman!
Spermin’ Herman Cain needs to ignore the lamestream media – and the parade of women – and stay in the presidential race. It will be a sad campaign without him. His entertainment value knows no bounds. What would this year have been like without his electrified border fence, his halting uncertainty about Libya and…
Read MoreWhat’s the Fallout?
Monday’s campaign-finance indictments gave everybody something. Republicans, of course, are chortling over the potential problems for Governor Perdue. Although, notably, Reps. David Lewis and Skip Stam sounded cautionary notes over how hard it can be to interpret campaign laws. As well they should, for some Republican will get tripped up. Count on it. …
Read MoreDark Deeds Indeed
It sounds like a Seal Team Six operation: “As North Carolina Republicans tell it, the Obama for America volunteers stole in under cover of night and stayed, undetected — noticed belatedly only because of election results across the state.” That’s the New York Times account – “Team Obama Gears Up for 2012” – of…
Read MoreWho’ll Be Giving Thanks in 2012?
A year from now, Republicans or Democrats will be celebrating victory in the Presidential race. But a recent breakfast exchange suggests neither side is confident now: A Republican: “Romney is bound to get the nomination, and he won’t excite the Republican base. Obama will win, he’ll carry North Carolina, and he’ll pull Perdue in…
Read MoreThanks for Thanksgiving
It’s my favorite holiday. No presents, no carols, no decorating (until you start on Christmas), just food and family. Also, for me this year, some golf and the State basketball and football games. It’s the quintessential American celebration. Plus, it’s always on Thursday. So you get a guaranteed four-day weekend, or maybe five,…
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