Issues
Hoist by Their Own Petard
You can’t have a temperance meeting in a bar. And a group that wants to reform lobbying and fund-raising can’t have a fundraiser sponsored by lobbyists. But that’s what the N.C. Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform is doing. The result: Governor Perdue – who, hard as she tries, can’t satisfy the N&O…
Read MoreMartin Nesbit Floats Like a Butterfly
There is no political spectacle quite like watching a politician duke it out with a reporter; like when Charlotte Observer reporter Mark Johnson interviewed Senate Democrat Leader Martin Nesbit about cleaning up corruption in state government. Only Nesbit wasn’t punching. He was floating like a butterfly. Like Mohammed Ali. Johnson took the bull by…
Read MoreReverend Graham in the Parking Lot
Ms. Kathleen Parker doesn’t like Reverend Franklin Graham one bit and she let him have it with both barrels in her column Sunday saying she’s delighted Graham had to do his praying in the Pentagon parking lot – on National Prayer Day – while the respectable religious leaders were doing their praying inside. What…
Read MoreAnother Odd Bit of Political Logic
With a new budget looming the Governor is once again off in hot pursuit of billions from the Obama Administration and, since the President’s a fan of Charter Schools, North Carolina’s Charter School parents saw their opportunity and took it. They went to a recent State Education Board Meeting and suggested to Chairman Bill…
Read MoreLanding in an Odd Place
There’s a political war going on in the Republican Primary for State House down in Jacksonville. Martin Aragona, a former County Commissioner, is running as is Phil Shepard who, it turns out, is supported by the local leaders of the Perdue-Easley political machine (including a former Easley Highway Commissioner). At their first debate Aragona asked…
Read MoreReeves versus Miller
It’s no secret I’ve been supporting my old friend Bernie Reeves in his race against Congressman Brad Miller. Here’s Bernie’s ad:
Read MoreBarking Yellow Dogs
When a Washington Post reporter asked me about Democratic congressmen from North Carolina voting against health-care reform, I told him: “You buy a dog, don’t be afraid when it barks.” When Nancy Pelosi, Rahm Emanuel and the DCCC recruited Health Shuler and Larry Kissell to run in 2008, they knew what they were getting.…
Read MoreThe Trust Deficit
It’s bad news for Democrats when only 22 percent of Americans say they trust government. That number comes from a Pew Research Center poll, which found “a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government — a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan-based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.” …
Read MoreState of the Arts
When it comes to art and music, I’m as uncultured as you can get. But even I can appreciate the new North Carolina Art Museum. It’s a stunning achievement for a state. And it’s mostly due to the persistence and political savvy of Larry Wheeler. I suppose the Tea Party types would say…
Read MoreTea Time Part II
The revealing New York Times/CBS poll on the Tea Party demographics turned up two golden nuggets. One explains their anger. The other exposes their hypocrisy. The anger: 63 percent of Tea Partiers say Fox is their main news source. Even among Republicans, only 46 percent depend mainly on Fox. A steady diet…
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