Posts by Gary Pearce
Winning Wars, Losing Wars
Seventy years ago, America (and allies) had beaten Nazi Germany and were battering Imperial Japan – after three and half years of war. Forty years ago, America pulled out of Vietnam. After 11 years of war. Today, we’re still fighting – and not winning – a War Against Terrorism. After 13 years of war. Why…
Read MoreSpecial EdNC
As newspapers shrink coverage and bleed talent, alternative forms of media pop up. Blogs like ours (“Wise and Balanced”), websites catering to the left and right, and even, occasionally, a responsible, informative and well-done news source like EdNC. EdNC is a daily online newspaper about education. That’s a short, clear and concise mission statement. Every…
Read MoreDems Get Clout
With two strokes of the pen – Governor McCrory’s vetoes – Democrats in the legislature suddenly got leverage. McCrory has split Republicans in the legislature. Now Democrats may have the balance of power when the legislature tries to override. The clout goes beyond the two bills the Governor vetoed. Democrats can use their leverage there…
Read MoreThe Power of the Veto
Give Governor McCrory credit. He did the right thing by vetoing the magistrates/same-sex marriage bill. And it’s good politics. This should be a wakeup call for Democrats who think he’ll be a pushover next year because he’s a doofus or because the legislature is too far right. Take it from me. An incumbent has a…
Read MoreVolvo and Alcoa Vs. NC?
Could it be that losing Volvo to South Carolina had nothing to do with the Republican vs. Republican battle over incentives vs. tax cuts? Could it be that North Carolina is doomed to NEVER get an automotive plant? Could it be that North Carolina lost out because of its long-running war with the company that…
Read MoreHagan Up to Bat Again?
There are about 100 million reasons why Kay Hagan may be Democrats’ Senate candidate again next year. You see, $100 million is what the race cost last year. And it’s hard to imagine another candidate playing in that league. In a National Journal story, an anonymous Hagan donor from North Carolina made an apt seasonal…
Read MoreSame Old, Same Old
Back when Democrats ran the legislature, Republicans swore that things would be different if they ever were in charge. No more high-handed rulings, no more procedural shenanigans and no more bosses using their gavels to ram through favored legislation. So much for that, says Boss Bob Rucho. Back when a Democrat was Governor, Pat McCrory…
Read MoreLiberals of the World, Unite!
Liberal Democrats are rejoicing at the discovery of kindred spirits within the North Carolina Republican Party. Join us, comrades! Together we can make a New World. The revelation comes courtesy of conservative super-donor Bob Luddy, who attacked House Republicans for their “liberal” budget. Apparently some of them believe the state should invest money in education…
Read MoreFennebresque on the Fault Line
John Fennebresque is the political equivalent of Nepal. He sits squarely astride the two giant, grinding tectonic plates of North Carolina’s political world as he leads the UNC Board of Governors’ search for a new President. This demands leadership skills, political skills and communications skills. And Fennebresque didn’t exactly get off to a great start…
Read MoreSend in the Bikers
A TAPster has an elegant solution to two problems facing our nation today: “Why don’t we take all the biker gangs from Waco and ship them to Iraq with their bikes to take on ISIS. If they win we win. If they lose we win. It can’t get any better than that.”
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