Posts by Gary Pearce
Gary Praises the President
Brace yourself. I have something good to say about George W. Bush. But I’ll probably end up taking it back. Bush went to Orange County, California, Monday. He talked about immigration. And he spoke out clearly against the anti-immigrant demagogues in his own party: “I know this is an emotional debate…but one thing we cannot…
Read MoreBad Signs for Bush
How much trouble does President Bush think he is in over Iraq? A lot. Witness three news items: Bush’s photo op in California eating with GIs and their families. A clear response to the generals’ criticism of Rumsfeld. James Baker heading up a high-level group of review Iraq policy. Which Condi Rice reportedly resisted. I…
Read MoreDemonizing Immigrants
I’ve posted several items about anti-immigration politics. And immigrant-bashing clearly is the strategy of at least one wing of the Republican Party. It may work. Enough voters may be xenophobic enough – or even racist enough – to buy it. But here is a history prediction: In decades to come (maybe even sooner), Republicans will…
Read MoreGovernor 2008: Money Talks
There are two ways to keep score in politics: polls and money. By the money measure, Democrat Richard Moore and Republican Bill Graham should be the leading candidates for Governor in 2008. Moore has raised $1.3 million to Beverly Perdue’s $1 million and Roy Cooper’s $760,000. Graham reportedly is spending $1 million of his own…
Read MoreGOP Looks for a Star
My old friend and adversary Jack Hawke sponsored a conservative gripe-a-thon in Durham last week.“It is a travesty that North Carolina is controlled by the Democrats,” U.S. Representative Virginia Foxx told the N.C. Conservative Leadership Conference.I disagree, of course. I believe it’s a credit to the good judgment of North Carolinians that Democrats hold the…
Read More$3 Gas. Where’s Bill Graham?
A few days ago I saw Republican Bill Graham’s TV ads blasting the state gas tax increase. He and his ads are still running. About the same time, I saw $3-a-gallon gas signs pop up. Even the CEO of Chrysler has now accused the oil companies of gouging consumers. But Graham, good Republican he is,…
Read MoreWhy Bush Is Tanking
President Bush’s poll numbers are tanking because he forgot how he got to the White House. The background is summed up well in an excellent piece in Time magazine this week by Joe Klein. Klein is one of the best political reporters going. Klein’s article – in which he says consultants have ruined politics –…
Read MoreMystery Calls and Mystery Fees
To me, there are two mysteries in the debate over Raleigh’s impact fees: Who paid for the calls supporting higher fees? Why would downtown development be exempt from higher fees? First the calls. The News & Observer says this is a partial text of one call: Hello. If you are a taxpayer, it is urgent…
Read MoreToday, DeLay. Tomorrow, the House?
My Democratic friends are not only ecstatic about Tom DeLay’s fall, they are certain it presages the fall of the Evil Empire. They’re convinced a Democratic “tidal wave” is about to engulf Washington and restore our party to its rightful majority in Congress. I’m afraid they’re wrong. Three reasons: 1. Voters don’t believe Democratic politicians…
Read MoreBob Geary and Lou Dobbs
I mentioned Raleigh writer-activist Bob Geary in an earlier post. And he’s been kind enough to read and comment on our blogs. Bob has done something I admire. He started out as a newspaper reporter – for the Independent Weekly. He writes a lot about Raleigh politics. And, apparently, he has been active in local…
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