General
Gay-Marriage Surprises
Constitutional amendments banning gay marriage passed overwhelmingly in other Southern states, I’m told, so one is likely to pass here, too. But think of the unintended consequences that may result. Republicans apparently realized that a November 2012 referendum might bring out a group of anti-gay marriage voters the GOP doesn’t want to encourage:…
Read MoreDraft Hillary?
As far as some Democrats are concerned, the only thing wrong with James Carville’s “Panic, Fire, Indict, Fight” advice for President Obama is that, for once, old James didn’t go far enough. It’s time, they say, for President Obama to consider standing down next year and letting another Democrat (read, Hillary Clinton) take the…
Read MoreCarville: Panic!
James Carville has a way of cutting to the chase. A TAPster sent along what he said on CNN this week: “People often ask me what advice I would give the White House about various things. Today I was mulling over election results from New York and Nevada while thinking about that very question.…
Read MoreJudges and Legislators
You’ve got to admire Judge Howard Manning’s nerve – he’s only a state district court judge but for years he’s been issuing orders to Governors. Judge Manning’s modus operandi is simple: He looks at the State Budget, looks at the Constitution, then declares if the Governor doesn’t spend more on this or that program it’s…
Read MorePriorities, Priorities
A TAPster notes a striking example of where the state spends and where it cuts: “Did the Jones Street Honorables notice a political paradox during their recent visit to Raleigh? “Just a city block away from the Legislative Building, work is concluding on the construction of several gleaming new state government buildings and…
Read MoreWho Runs the GOP?
After the Tea Party debate this week, a Florida Tea Party leader put it bluntly: “The Republican Party isn’t going to pick the presidential nominee. We’re going to pick the presidential nominee.” The candidates then fell all over each other to show their fealty to the crowd. A crowd that, when a moderator asked…
Read MoreNY Wipeout
Given President Obama’s visit here today, this is a timely and well-put rant from a North Carolina Democrat: “The head of the DNC - Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz - attributed last night’s staggering loss in New Yorks’ 9th CD to ‘a large number of people who went to the polls tonight who didn’t support the President to…
Read MoreOutsmarting Themselves?
Democrats are high-fiving President Obama’s “American Jobs Act.” Progressive pundits and editorial/op-ed writers are applauding because he took their advice. He’s taking the fight to the Republicans, they all say: bearding the elephant in its own den. For months, the pundits have been preaching that Americans don’t care about arcane things like deficits and…
Read More9/11 Tragedy
At some point this weekend I reached 9/11 overload. It was wall-to-wall remembrances, reflections and recollections. No media outlet, no sporting event and no advertiser could miss the chance to milk as much heartfelt soulfulness as possible. The focus, of course, was on the heroes, the fallen and the families: “Never forgotten.” “Never forget.”…
Read MoreEchoes of the 80s
The Republican presidential candidates today remind me of Democrats in the 1980s: so in thrall to interest-groups within their own party they’re forced to undermine their chances to win a general election. In 1984 and 1988, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis were crippled by their kowtowing to labor, liberals and Jesse Jackson. By the…
Read More