General
The Obama Bump
A caution for giddy Democrats who think the killing of bin Laden will reelect President Obama: This too shall pass. Remember President George Herbert Walker Bush. Eighteen months before the 1992 reelection, right after the four-day Iraq war, his approval ratings were at an astronomical level, near 90 percent. A friend reminded…
Read MoreMorning in Young America
The media and political elites’ reaction to Osama’s killing was predictable. Not so that of Real America. Especially Young America. Democrats – understandably – were all but gloating that it was President Obama, the supposed Muslim Manchurian Candidate, who “got” bin Laden. MSNBC endlessly reminded us that President Bush had minimized the importance of…
Read MoreIt’s Not a Tax…
Today’s new breed of politicians are a lot more versatile than the old-timers most of us grew up with. In the old days when Democratic politicians raised ‘fees’ – like the fee you pay for your car registration – they’d argue stubbornly it was not a tax increase and Republican politicians would argue back,…
Read MoreMission Accomplished
It’s been a bad week for the Obama-haters. First it turns out he was born in America. Then he orders the raid that kills Osama. Curses, foiled again! Now, how long will it take Donald Trump & Co. to question whether that really was bin Laden’s corpse? I was struck by…
Read MoreThe Binary Budget Choice
Every now and then you read a sentence that hits you like a hammer. So it was the other day when I thumbed through the April 17 Newsweek, which I hadn’t picked up in many moons. I chanced upon an essay by Niall Ferguson, “Doing the Right Thing: America finally comes to its senses…
Read MoreBirthers and Shariah Law
The N&O front page today showed how Republicans are frittering away their once-in-a-blue-moon political advantage. The more they talk about Obama’s birth certificate and the threat of Shariah law in America, the less they can take advantage of his real vulnerability, which was captured in an inside-page story: Americans are losing confidence in his…
Read MoreFor Sale
A TAPster notes that the House’s proposed budget includes a provision that would direct the Department of Administration to look into selling “state-owned land, buildings, and other assets that are unused, underused, or do not involve a core function of government.” It did not take this wag long to come up with some suggestions:…
Read MoreMayoral Jockeying Begins
An active Raleigh Democrat and TAPster reports “there is quite a flap among the local Dems” over reports that outgoing Mayor Charles Meeker will back Nancy McFarlane, because she reportedly is registered as unaffiliated. But our source adds, “Apparently McFarlane’s husband is a Dem, and has given lots of money to the party,” which makes…
Read MorePerdue-McCrory Poll Nuggets
A TAPster found the nuggets below in Public Policy Polling’s crosstabs on 2010 Governor’s race between Pat McCrory and Bev Perdue. They illustrate the challenge the Governor faces. 29% of self-identified President Obama voters disapprove of Governor Perdue’s job performance 18% of self-identified Obama voters say they will vote for McCrory for Governor over Perdue…
Read MoreThe Party of Lincoln No More
Suddenly I feel for Responsible Republicans. There is such a breed. I know some of them personally. Some of my best friends are Republicans! They’re more conservative than I am – on most things. But they’re responsible people. Generally, they feel that America would be better off if government spent, taxed and regulated…
Read More