Posts by Gary Pearce
Government in inaction
A now-retired lobbyist who observed the legislature for many years offers this take on the current session: The revelation that the General Assembly needs more time to agree to a state budget is not startling and, frankly, shouldn’t be troubling. Sure, the school systems are in a knot about drivers’ ed and teachers assistants, and…
Read MoreThe faith of Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter certainly wasn’t our best President, but he’s clearly one of the best human beings to be President. At the core of his goodness is a powerful Christian faith that has sustained him throughout his life, even as it complicated his political life. My then-N&O colleague Ferrel Guillory was one of the first reporters…
Read MoreFun with Trump
Admit it. You love it. We all love it. That’s why the Donald Trump for President Show rolls on and on and on. That’s why all political news – from the New York Times to Fox News to MSNBC to Inside Edition and Entertainment Tonight – is all Trump, all the time. Staid, sober observers…
Read MoreRepublicans learn to love government
Republicans hate government. Too big and bloated, they say. Too many people on the public payroll. Too many seat-warmers, Governor McCrory says. But something magical happens when they get their turn at the tax-paid trough. To wit: Former state Rep. Nathan Ramsey got a job in the Asheville office of the state Division of Workforce…
Read MoreThe Carolina way?
After years of damaging disclosures and disastrous PR, you’d think there’s no way UNC could make its grades-and-athletes scandal worse. As George W. Bush would say, don’t misunderestimate them. They could make it worse by making Sylvia Hatchell the scapegoat and Roy Williams the escape ram. A Page One story by the N&O’s Dan Kane…
Read MoreI’m too old for this
Readers of a certain age will appreciate this. The rest of you can aspire to it. “There is a lot that is annoying, and even terrible, about aging. The creakiness of the body; the drifting of the memory; the reprising of personal history ad nauseam, with only yourself to listen. But there is also something…
Read MoreTears in the Mansion
Once upon a time, crying in public was political suicide. (See Ed Muskie, 1972, in the snows of New Hampshire.) Now, we’re more in touch with politicians who are more in touch with their feelings. (See John Boehner, anytime, anywhere.) So Governor McCrory’s tears at the departure of Aldona Wos (apparently, no tears were shed…
Read MoreKeeping it honest
Let’s hand it to Grady and Marie Jefferys. They’re braver than the rest of us. The rest of us wouldn’t be willing to publish a book baring all the pain – let alone all the mistakes, misfortunes and misjudgments – we’ve been through, and put others through, throughout our lives. We might – in fact,…
Read MoreDebate winners, losers and jokers
A liberal Democrat found little to like in last night’s debate, with one exception. So that’s no way to rate it. Instead, let’s handicap the horseflesh. There were two winners, two big flops and six jokes on stage. The winners were the only two who came across as thinking human beings rather than pre-programmed political…
Read MoreDebate prep
Get your pizza, popcorn and drinking games ready. This debate is going to be rich, really rich. Just like Trump. Which is why we’ll watch. Nobody would tune in to see Jeb Bush, Scott Walker or Marco Rubio. No, it’s all Trump, all two hours: How far will he go? Who will he attack? Will…
Read More