General
The Flying Insult
John McCain said Donald Trump’s supporters were ‘crazies;’ Lindsey Graham said Trump was a ‘jackass;’ Trump called Graham an ‘idiot’ and McCain a ‘dummy’ and said McCain ‘wasn’t a war hero.’ Then, a couple of days later, when the Last Socialist (Bernie Sanders) and Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley got up to speak at the National…
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 MoreSentiment and Respect
Senator Tom Apodaca who’s gregarious and jovial and hard-nosed told the reporters, “The House went a little crazy with its budget” – then they asked about the Governor and he said, “The Governor doesn’t play much of a role in anything.” He probably didn’t mean it unkindly – it probably read a lot meaner in…
Read MoreThe Press Event of the Year
It’s about the last thing President Obama needed: At the end of his Presidency he’s on a sentimental journey to Kenya to visit his father’s homeland and, when he arrives in Nairobi, he’s going to be greeted by 5,000 naked anti-gay Kenyan protestors. Now there is a right way and a wrong way to do…
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 MoreA Hollering Contest
John McCain said Donald Trump’s supporters are ‘crazy.’ Trump fired back McCain’s not a war hero. Lindsey Graham called Trump a ‘jackass.’ And Trump gave out Graham’s cell phone number on TV. Who won? This morning the Washington Post released a poll showing Trump surging into the lead in the Republican Presidential Primary – with…
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…
Read MoreThe New N&O
Long-time reader J. Fred doesn’t like the new-look N&O. “They can spin it all they want, but all I see is less news. It looks like a coloring book, not a newspaper.” I didn’t know whether to be offended or complimented when he added, “Hell, you and Carter have more to read in one of…
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