Posts by Gary Pearce
Raleigh Republicans Stealing Democratic Issue
Here is the headline I did not want to see (from the March 3 News & Observer): “Isley wants to shift TTA funds –The Raleigh councilman says the money should go toward roads and schools.” Wake up, Raleigh Democrats. This should be OUR issue. The N&O reported: City Council member Philip Isley wants to cut…
Read MoreCarville Rages at D.C. Democrats and GOP
I’ve always liked James Carville. I got to know him when he did some early consulting on Jim Hunt’s 1984 Senate campaign. He’s not always popular with the D.C. Democrats. Which is one reason I like him. Today a friend sent me the Duke Chronicle’s account of his speech there Saturday. (Great scheduling move, James:…
Read MoreThe Ports Deal and ’06 Politics
Carter and I spoke to a class of aspiring political operatives this week. Just before we started, CNN broadcast the story about Bush’s approval rating dropping to 34 percent. Apparently, he is about where Nixon was when he resigned. But Democrats shouldn’t start celebrating. Bush’s 10-point drop came because his administration wants to let a…
Read MoreMayor Meeker a Schools Convert?
It looks like our crusade to get the Raleigh City Council focused on schools is making progress. In his annual State of the City address this week, Mayor Charles Meeker laid out three goals for 2006: reduce fuel consumption, fight homelessness and – according to The News & Observer – “push Wake County to solve…
Read MoreAbortion Opponents May Regret This
For some time now, the political tide has been running against supporters of abortion rights. That’s because the opponents got smart. They started focusing the battle on issues like parental notification and late-term abortions. I’ve watched these polls for more than 20 years now. Americans are fundamentally split about abortion. They don’t like it, but…
Read MoreProperty Tax Revolt Coming in NC
From the first taxpayers’ revolution in California in 1978, North Carolina has escaped a full-scale rebellion over local property taxes. I predict that is going to change soon. Specifically, this fall. And specifically right here in Wake County over the school bond issue. The issue is popping up all over the country again. South Carolina…
Read MoreHoist By His Own Petard
I’m enjoying watching Republicans put President Bush on the hot seat for letting a Middle Eastern company run American ports. And I have a sneaking suspicion that beneath all this hoorah – as one of the commenters on our blog suggested – there might be nothing wrong with the arrangement. But you can’t blame me…
Read MoreAnswering Bill Graham on the Gas Tax
A painful lesson Carter taught me in the 1984 Hunt-Helms race was the power of using your opponents’ own words against him. I thought of that when – for the first time – I saw Bill Graham’s ad against the state gas tax increase. His last line – after saying the politicians want him to…
Read MoreOn the Public Doles
I believe The News & Observer was dead wrong Thursday morning about Senator Elizabeth Dole, her husband Bob Dole and the Dubai ports fiasco. The N&O, like other news outlets, reported that Bob Dole “has been hired by Dubai Ports World to help shepherd the company through a $6.8 billion deal to control terminals at…
Read MoreNo Port in This Storm
President Bush’s decision to let Arab companies provide security for American ports confirms what I’ve always suspected: the one thing stronger than Bush & Co.’s fear of Arab terrorism is their greed for Arab money.
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