Posts by Gary Pearce
Political Drought
Governor Easley emerges from the Mansion to tell municipal officials we’re facing a drought emergency, but he doesn’t declare a state of emergency. City officials say they’re already taking action. Raleigh’s City Council waits until after the elections to take up a ban on all outdoor watering. Meanwhile, the sprinklers and hoses keep running. And…
Read MoreAl Gore’s Revenge
Al Gore won’t run for President. He doesn’t need to step down from the heights. No one has ever won an Academy Award and a Nobel Peace Prize the same year. His net worth is estimated at more than $100 million. And he doesn’t have to put up with the indignity of politics. Most of…
Read MoreRecycling Raleigh Politics
Raleigh’s election this year recycles the results from 30 years ago. In 1977, a pro-neighborhood, anti-developer grassroots rebellion elected little-old-lady-in-tennis-shoes Isabella Cannon over the incumbent mayor, Jyles Coggins, a builder known as “bomber Jack.” Two years later, Smedes York rode to the rescue of the real estate industry. He ran against Cannon and won. Then,…
Read MoreDunkirk for Developers
The Wake County real estate industry got handed its head in Tuesdayâs elections. The executioners were Mayor Charles Meeker, his political strategist Perry Woods and their allies. The real estate folks may be brilliant business people. But theyâre dumb politicians. If they got organized â and used their money wisely â they would have had…
Read MoreThe Mark of Kane
An anti-developer fire was smoldering in the Wake County political underbrush this year. Then North Hills developer John Kane threw on gasoline and lit a match. The N&O’s analysis this morning is right: slow-growth candidates won or led in Raleigh and Cary. But the real flashpoint was Kane’s request for a $75 million subsidy for…
Read MoreBad Week for Obama
You can feel the Obama balloon losing air. This was a bad week for him. He got flattened by the Hillary Machine. The Obama campaign had built up a big Iraq speech on the fifth anniversary of his speaking out against the war. But the speech fizzled. Two reasons: Team Hillary stole Obama’s thunder just…
Read MoreJosh Stein’s Fast Start
Josh Stein has always moved fast. And worked hard. He was the first hire in John Edwards’ 1998 Senate campaign – a novice who had never worked in politics before. By the time the primary rolled around, he was the campaign manager. And a great one. I know, because I worked with him every day…
Read MoreThe Man Who Isn’t There
Republicans aren’t happy with their presidential candidates. Thompson’s too lazy, McCain’s too old and flaky, Romney’s too Mormon and Giuliani’s too liberal and loony. But the perfect candidate (in theory) actually exists. Unfortunately, he ran into a little trouble on the way to the race. He’s George Allen, the former Senator from Virginia. Allen was…
Read MoreDissing the Voters
Republican presidential candidates are dissing any voters who are black, brown or – to the uptight candidates – a bit offbeat. Democratic candidates are dissing any voters from Florida. The Republicans – at least the Big Four – won’t go to any debate aimed at any special audience. Unless that audience is watching Fox News.…
Read MoreYou Can’t Keep a Secret
The highly respected consulting firm McKinsey & Co. – and the much-maligned North Carolina Department of Transportation – are both living in a dream world. They are under the delusion they can spend $3.6 million of the people’s money on an assessment of the department, then keep it secret. Not only keep the report secret,…
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