Posts by Gary Pearce
Marital Woes
The institution of marriage is clearly in trouble. A new poll says nearly four in 10 Americans believe marriage is obsolete. It seems like the only people who want to get married are gays. And the Republican Party is determined to stop them. This is disheartening news for the cake, catering, flower and…
Read MoreA Whiff of a Waffle?
The N&O reported that one of Sen. Phil Berger’s five goals for the new Republican Senate is: “Write a state budget with no tax increases and with the intent of letting temporary sales tax and income tax surcharges expire on schedule” (italics added). Saying that’s your “intent” is a lot different from promising…
Read MoreDems Gone Wild
Both parties are busy with the usual post-election rituals. The winners fight over power, and the losers fight over blame. As usual with Democrats, the left and the center blame each other. Heath Shuler, Larry Kissell, et al blame Speaker Pelosi – and, by implication, President Obama – for pushing the party too…
Read MoreOutgrowing the Deficit
Let me keep pounding the drum I beat yesterday. A front-page article in The New York Times today reinforces the need for politicians to talk about economic growth, not just budget cuts. David Leonardt writes: “We look back on the late 1990s as a rare time when the federal government ran budget…
Read MorePolitical Disconnect
Politicians in Raleigh and Washington are spending their time and energy debating an issue that, I suspect, few Americans spend much time and energy worrying about: the budget deficit. Yes, the average person probably would say something has to be done about the deficit. But the real concern is the economy: jobs, paying the…
Read MoreWOWW, Part 3
WOWW: Where Obama Went Wrong So here’s my theory, keeping in mind that when you’re a hammer, everything is a nail. I’m a political media guy, so I see a political-media answer. Yes, Obama should have done a better job explaining what he was doing. Yes, he made a mistake letting Pelosi,…
Read MoreWOWW, Part 2
WWOW: Where Obama Went Wrong One thing I always enjoy about working with Governor Hunt is his passion and enthusiasm for new ideas. From primary-reading programs to Smart Start to new industry, he never stops pursuing bigger and better things for North Carolina. So, naturally, he had a thought about what Obama might…
Read MoreErskine’s Grenades
In business, government and education, one of Erskine Bowles’ great strengths – and, as a politician, one of his great weaknesses – was a fondness for speaking blunt truths. He relishes telling people what they don’t like to hear. But now he has truly surpassed himself. First, he set North Carolina on its…
Read MoreMillions of Reasons for Hope
Here’s some tonic for Democrats depressed about last week’s elections. In North Carolina, 2.7 million people voted Nov. 2 – a turnout of 43 percent. In 2008, 4.3 million North Carolinians voted – a 70 percent turnout. That’s a drop of 1.6 million voters. Nationally, 75 million people voted last year. In 2008,…
Read MoreWOWW, Part 1
“WOWW” stands for “Where Obama Went Wrong.” Beginning today, I will present various theories I have heard from Democrats. Then I will unveil my own super-secret, foolproof answer. Obama’s theory – articulated by him before the election and by several Democrats since – is that he “got the policy right and the politics wrong.”…
Read More