Posts by Gary Pearce
The Golden Rule
Last fall’s Wake County school board elections followed The Golden Rule of Politics: Them that has the gold rules. Bob Luddy and Art Pope – two of the biggest opponents of public schools – were the biggest contributors to school board candidates. Their side, according to The News & Observer, outspent the other…
Read MoreElection 2010
Republicans have reason to be confident as filing opens for the 2010 elections. But I’m yet to be convinced this will be another 1994. That year, Democrats – in Raleigh and Washington – were supremely overconfident, all the way to Election Day. Not a problem this time. Still, the cycle favors Republicans.…
Read MoreJust Say No
It’s the one thing you can count on in politicians: hubris. Exhibit A: John Edwards. Exhibit B may be the newly reenergized Republicans in Congress. They’ve gone gaga over Scott Brown – and their new-found ability to block anything President Obama wants. They’re convinced the November elections will be a rerun of…
Read MoreMystery Solved
Now we know why Mike Easley was so, well, weird. He wasn’t just Governor. He was Secret Agent Man. Instead of a number like 007, he had a nom de guerre: Ckin Regnad. This explains the need to keep his whereabouts secret and constantly change his schedule. It’s why he had to conduct…
Read MoreA Titanic Issue
People who care about North Carolina’s economy are closely watching Governor Perdue on an issue that will say a lot about her leadership. It’s the proposed Titan concrete plant near Wilmington. Fans say Titan, based in Greece, is one of the best companies in the world, ranking high on corporate accountability, environmental responsibility…
Read MoreBlaming Bush
I have a real problem with the way President Obama blamed George Bush for the budget deficit in his State of the Union speech. But my objection is directly opposite Republicans’. I don’t think Obama blamed Bush enough. As I recall, Ronald Reagan was still blaming Jimmy Carter and the Democrats for everything…
Read MoreShelter From the Storm
A reader was not impressed by Governor Perdue’s performance this weekend: “She returned from her warm weather vacation to be a leader and then didn’t look much like one.” At least she came back. I don’t begrudge a governor ever taking a vacation. But you take a chance when you go someplace warm…
Read MoreAnother Victim
I told myself I wouldn’t post another word about John Edwards. But then I spent an hour on the phone with a disillusioned former staffer from Edwards’ presidential campaign. This young man now finds himself unemployable. “Former John Edwards staffer” doesn’t look so good on a resume. He began to have doubts…
Read MoreHandcuffed
I don’t know Ruffin Poole well, but he never struck me as a fellow who posed a physical danger to the populace. So why did the feds force him to make a well-photographed “perp walk” in cuffs? I put that question to a Democratic lawyer friend of mine who has done considerable work…
Read MoreBev’s Buzzwords
“The jobs governor.” “Setting government straight.” “Career and college – ready, set, go.” “Safe communities.” You may as well get familiar with all these phrases. You’ll be hearing them from Governor Perdue – presumably for a good while. Team Perdue has carved out those words as her roadmap to political…
Read More