Posts by Gary Pearce
In praise of budget slowness
Democrats are surely and sorely tempted to blast Republican legislators for dallying and delaying the budget. Not so fast, my friends. Here, slow is good. Especially after Senate Capo Tom Apodaca blasted the House for (horrors!) not even meeting with the Senate on the budget. He complained that the House is spending too much time…
Read MoreMcCrory’s troubles
There are few sure things in politics. So it’s no sure thing that Governor McCrory will lose reelection. But it is a sure thing he’s in what Poppy Bush would call deep doo-doo. Carter pretty well summed up what the new fundraising numbers mean: “You very seldom see a challenger outraising an incumbent when it’s…
Read MoreFoxwatcher
A TAPster visiting relatives had to watch Fox News this morning and provided this report: “Fox news is incredible. Beating Kasich to death for ‘joining forces with Obama’ and expanding Medicaid.” Then, “Did you know there are some jobs married women can have but still be true to their roles as wives?” Next, “After the…
Read MoreTurnaround ideas for McCrory
A contributing blogger, noting that Governor McCrory has had a run of bad news lately, offers five ways he can turn around “his disappointing governorship:” Get focused. Choose three priorities and make them the theme of your administration. Don’t allow other things to distract you. Wear out your veto stamp. Veto every single bill that…
Read MoreTrump’s show
Some pundits predicted Donald Trump’s hot-air balloon would crash after he criticized John McCain for crashing and being captured in Vietnam. But no. He rose even higher in some polls. As Slim Pickens asked in Blazing Saddles, “What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on here?” Some pollsters will tell you it’s…
Read More‘She’s better than Bill!’
That was the enthusiastic assessment of one wise old Democrat after Hillary Clinton’s fundraiser in Raleigh last week. Another attendee, who never has stars in her eyes and has been skeptical, was won over by Clinton’s message and presence. Which raises two questions: First, will she run better in North Carolina than Bill? Second, will…
Read MoreMcCrory’s numbers
With his polling numbers low, Governor McCrory needs to be way ahead in the upcoming fundraising numbers. Or he’ll be bleeding like an unlucky swimmer at Shark Week. PPP’s recent poll “finds Pat McCrory hitting his lowest approval since he took office,” just 33 percent, with 48 percent disapproval. He’s trailing Roy Cooper 43-41. Polls…
Read MorePoor Pat
Now his “friends” in the legislature have given him two more chances to prove that, as Senator Tom Apodaca said, “The governor doesn’t play much of a role in anything.” Governor McCrory has to decide whether to veto the bill protecting Confederate statues and monuments. He hasn’t said, but he did take a forthright stand…
Read MoreThe legislature’s amazing achievement
You’ve got to hand it to ‘em. You thought it was impossible. But the North Carolina legislature did it: They made South Carolina look progressive. South Carolina took down the Confederate flag, while our legislature is making it impossible to take down Confederate statues and monuments. Falling behind the rest of the South is par…
Read MoreDefending Andy Jackson
First Rob Christensen defended keeping Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. Then I suggested taking Andrew Jackson off the $20. Now a TAPster speaks up for Jackson. Old Hickory, he said in a voicemail, was “a man of the people who saved America from a plutocracy.” Plus, when Jackson was President, “the common man could…
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