Posts by Gary Pearce
Mandate?
Trump boasts that his election – by 1.5% in the popular vote – gives him a “mandate.” Which reminds me of what Jim Hunt said after one of his four elections as governor. (I forget which one, but I do remember that his margins of victory ranged from 9.5 to 31%.) A reporter asked Hunt,…
Read MoreCourage
Instead of obsessing over Trump’s Cabinet picks, I read the story of a man who gave his life pursuing freedom and happiness for his country. The book is Patriot, by Alexei Navalny, the Russian politician who stood up to Putin and as a consequence was harassed, arrested, charged with multiple made-up crimes, poisoned and ultimately…
Read MoreTrumpenStein
Back in the last millennium, the paradox of North Carolina politics was: How can the same state elect Jim Hunt and Jesse Helms? Today, it’s: How can the same state elect Donald Trump and Josh Stein? They’re not just political opposites; they’re two of the most opposite people on planet Earth. Call us TrumpenStein. The…
Read MoreThe View from Iceland
If you seek political asylum the next four years, try Iceland. We went there last week and loved it. Yes, it’s cold, dark half the year and expensive. But it’s also beautiful and historic; the people are friendly, peace-loving and progressive-minded; and it’s a six-hour direct flight from RDU. Still, don’t give up on the…
Read MoreMistakes and Miss-Takes
Bert Bennett of Winston-Salem, the legendary political godfather to Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt, had a terse dismissal of election post-mortems: “When you win, everything you did was right. When you lose, everything you did was wrong.” Democrats can select from a lengthy list of excuses and explanations for Kamala Harris’ loss. Like, “It was…
Read MoreDon’t Give Up
This is bad. Bad for America and for the world. Bad for women, for immigrants, for LGBTQ+ people and for all marginalized people. Bad for the Democratic Party nationally. But North Carolina proved that Democrats and progressives can win. Good candidates who ran good campaigns won: Josh Stein, Rachel Hunt, Jeff Jackson, Mo Green and…
Read MoreA Tale of Two Rallies
The contrast couldn’t have been more stark. And it could easily swing a close election. Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden Sunday was hateful, divisive and mean-spirited. Kamala Harris’ rally in front of the White House Tuesday was hopeful, unifying and uplifting. She drew the contrast in her speech: “I pledge to you to…
Read MoreTwo Warriors
There are newer names and bigger stars campaigning for Democrats this year: the Obamas, Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé. But two veteran warriors, Bill Clinton and Jim Hunt, were back together this month doing what they’ve done for decades: campaigning for progress, fairness and equal opportunity. Hunt and Clinton were at a get-out-the-vote event in Hunt’s…
Read MoreCarville is Right: We Will Win
James Carville was the first and loudest Democrat to say President Biden should step aside. I disagreed, but Carville was right and I was wrong. Now he’s written an op-ed in The New York Times: “Three Reasons I’m Certain Kamala Harris Will Win.” This time, I agree. He’s right again. His three reasons: “Mr. Trump…
Read MoreFree Speech and Football
I went to Berkeley last weekend for football. I got an unexpected lesson in free speech – and a reminder that freedom is on the ballot this year. Because wannabe dictator Donald Trump would terminate the First Amendment in a minute. My son James and I were exploring the University of California’s beautiful, hilly campus…
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