Posts by Gary Pearce
A Sign
This is the perfect opening for Michelle Bachmann. In tonight’s debate, she should say that the Texas wildfires are God’s judgment on Rick Perry for stealing her momentum. That way, she can put all her opponents – and potential opponents – on notice.
Read MoreThe Comeback Kid
I’ve been critical of President Obama lately. His poll numbers keep dropping, and he looks like a 97-pound weakling being pushed around by (of all people) John Boehner. I even called him “Jimmy Obama” in one blog, comparing him to a famous one-term Democratic President. So now it’s time to predict a comeback.…
Read MoreDOT Defends 511
Ted Vaden, Deputy Secretary, Internal and External Affairs N.C. Department of Transportation, responds to my criticism of DOT’s 511 line and website during Irene: “We’re big boys and girls at NCDOT, and we’ll take our hits when deserved. Certainly our 511 system can be better, but keep in mind that 511 updates were being…
Read MoreThe New Politics
Carter was mistaken when he wrote (“A Call From 60 Minutes,” below) that Bob Harris’ authorship of the “where do you stand, Jim” ads in 1984 “has been lost to history.” Actually, I wrote about that in my Hunt book, and Carter was my source. But that’s not the reason for this post. Nor…
Read MoreGary On the Air
If you’re up at 7 a.m. Sunday and desperate for entertainment, listen to Don Curtis and me on “Carolina Newsmakers” on WPTF. We about covered the waterfront on politics: redistricting, money, Governor Perdue and the legislature, 2012, etc. The show will also be available at www.carolinanewsmakers.com.
Read MoreObama’s Last Chance?
President Obama better connect this time. His much-hyped economic speech next week may be his last chance. For all his strengths, Obama has one great failing: He hasn’t been able to forge an emotional connection with the American people since the election. He did it during the campaign by fulfilling a yearning…
Read MoreGet Your Data Dump
A new issue of North Carolina DataNet, published by the Program on Southern Life at the UNC J-School, is available now. Click here for a link to the report. The focus is what report calls the “metropolitanization’’ of North Carolina’s population, and the impact that has on the state’s economy, culture and politics. …
Read MoreSoaking the Rich?
There’s always been a healthy dose of class warfare in the debate over maintaining roads to barrier islands like Hatteras. It exploded in letters to the N&O today. Said one writer: “Why is it that we all have to cater to the rich and their Shangri-Las at the coast? Isn’t it time that we…
Read MoreThe Book on Bob Jordan
A biography of former Lt. Governor Bob Jordan, written by long-time North Carolina reporter and editor Ned Cline, is on the bookshelves. Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh will host a book signing and presentation by Jordan and Cline at 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday. The book, “The Man From Montgomery,” traces Jordan’s life and…
Read More911 For 511
This will make my friends at DOT mad, but face it: When it comes to informing the driving and tax-paying public, your 511 line – and your website – flunked the Irene test. Anybody who tried Sunday to get updated information on specific roads from DOT knows that. Apparently, the 511 line is…
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