Posts by Gary Pearce
Will Democrats Blow It?
Over and over, Trump demonstrates why Democrats must – and should – win in 2020. And Democrats demonstrate how they can blow it, by blowing up each other over identity and ideology. The identity question is stark: Must the nominee be female or nonwhite? Are white men – Biden, Beto, Delaney, Brown, et al –…
Read MoreCourt Politics
Since 2010 Republicans have worked mightily to engineer a Republican Supreme Court in North Carolina. Now they’re shocked, shocked, that a Democratic governor appointed a Democratic Chief Justice. Elections have consequences, as they say. A longtime court-watcher (a Democrat) told me that while Paul Newby has been on the Supreme Court longer than Cheri Beasley,…
Read MoreDelaney in the Middle
John Delaney believes there’s a middle lane in the Democratic presidential race. Last Saturday his path brought him to Raleigh, and I had a chance to sit down with him. While some Democrats lurch to the left, Delaney says, “I’m a moderate.” He positions himself as a centrist problem-solver who can actually achieve the bipartisanship…
Read MoreThe New Democratic Faces
The contrast was stark when the new Congress convened this month. The Republican side was monochromatic: white men in dark suits. The Democratic side was diverse, varied and colorful – in clothing and complexion, age and gender, background and life experience. You’ll see the same contrast in the North Carolina General Assembly. You’ll see it…
Read MoreStoned and Stonewalled
Friday wasn’t Trump’s best day. Before dawn, Roger Stone surrendered to the FBI. Mid-afternoon, Trump surrendered to Nancy Pelosi. Stoned and stonewalled in less than 12 hours. Trump looked corrupt, clueless and – worst of all for him – weak. Corrupt because, even if there wasn’t a criminal conspiracy with Russia, there was a coverup.…
Read MorePlay to win, Tar Heels
I’m a Wolfpack fan, but I’m pulling for Carolina to win this game. I just hope the Heels know what game they’re in. It’s hardball politics. Since the 2010 election, my UNC friends have griped and grumbled about how the Republican legislature treats their beloved school. Now there’s a crisis. Boss Berger & Co. are…
Read MoreRun, everybody, run
Run, Joe, run. Run, Elizabeth, run. Run, Beto, run. Run, Kamala, run. Run, Kirsten and Julian and Cory and Amy and Donner and Blitzen, Prancer and Dancer, Bluto and Pluto and Rudolph and all the Democratic 2020 hopefuls. If Democrats make a mistake this time, it’ll damn sure be a different mistake from last time.…
Read MoreReporting from the basement
A long-time veteran of the Legislative Building (not with the media) sent these thoughts about reporters being banished to the basement: “The dawn of a new legislative session spawned a kerfuffle about relocating the office space of the legislative press corps to an undesirable hole in the ground. Everyone’s complaining about how mean the Republicans…
Read MoreWinning message wars
Two communications innovations propelled Trump to the Presidency: reality TV and Twitter. Now three Democrats – wildly different in age and style – are pioneering the next wave. • Nancy Pelosi, 78, is the star of the Shutdown Showdown. She’s tough, stylish and sharp. She’s turned the West Wing press scrum into performance art. She…
Read MoreTear down this wall
Trump may never get his wall with Mexico, but he’s built a hell of a wall between Americans. It has bitterly divided Democrats and Republicans in Washington, it has shut down government, and it divides the American people. And it’s not even a real issue. It’s an imaginary solution to an imaginary problem. Even if…
Read More