General
Bambi in the White House?
Several times during the presidential campaign, opponents and commentators dismissed Barack Obama as “Obambi.” John Edwards privately told friends he thought Obama was weak. The Clintons believed he was too soft. So did John McCain. At every turn, Bambi turned out to have sharp teeth. His path is littered with his opponents’ bones. But now…
Read MoreThe Governor’s Next Press Conference
The governor’s been doing a lot of talking lately about cleaning up the probation mess and Senator Phil Berger’s just announced he’s taking her at her word and introducing a bill to help. First, Senator Berger wants the legislature to pass a law to make it legal for all “probation and law enforcement officers…
Read MoreThe Hagan Edge
How key was North Carolina in the 2008 election? Well, it’s possible the stimulus package might not have passed the Senate if Kay Hagan hadn’t beaten Liddy Dole. The bill passed 61-58, with the help of three Republicans. Without Hagan, the vote might have been 60-59. Cut it that close, and President Obama might not…
Read MoreResegregating Raleigh’s Schools?
It’s always seemed there might be a little bit of hoax about the Wake County School Board’s ‘diversity’ policy – that the policy was really about race and not academics (as the board has argued for years). The board has made its case like this: It says it buses students based on their family incomes…
Read MoreHeath’s Errant Play
As an NFL quarterback, Health Shuler had a reputation for making bad throws. As a politician, he may have just thrown himself out of the 2010 Senate race. Shuler voted against the stimulus bill in the House, one of a handful of Democrats to cross party lines on the vote. That’s not inconsistent with the…
Read MoreA Strange Cure
Most times, to me a Jamaican voodoo doctor rattling chicken bones makes as much sense as an economist, and I’d say there is a greater probability the voodoo doctor’s predictions will come true. The fact is I simply do not understand economics. It’s as much a mystery as astrology. Or tarot cards. Or a scientist…
Read MoreObama Dancing the Two-Step
Well, Gary gave President Obama rave reviews about Monday night’s press conference. I had a different – and apparently partisan – reaction. There was a time, not so long ago, when Obama talked a language that sounded a lot like plain everyday English but now, well, he’s taken to talking political-ese. High quality political-ese but…
Read MoreWho Cares What Wall Street Thinks?
So Wall Street wasn’t happy with Obama’s bank-rescue plan. As one of my breakfast pals pointed out: “Didn’t Wall Street get us into this mess? Who are they to complain that the rescuers aren’t doing enough to save them from themselves?” The real question is what the American people think. Public Policy Polling found that…
Read MoreObama in the Minefield
Well, itâs like déjà vu all over again. A Democratic congressman stands up, looks the president in the eye and says, Iâm not for sending any more troops to fight until I see an exit plan. Only, this time, the president heâs looking in the eye is Obama and the warâs in Afghanistan, not Iraq.…
Read MoreThe Great Grab
President Obama spent a lot of time last election railing against lobbyists. He said when he was elected he was going to tie them in knots. Curtail their mischief. Send them into political exile. But three months later, more than ever, government in Washington is about ‘the great grab.’ Lobbyists for special interests are lined…
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