Issues
A Titanic Issue
People who care about North Carolina’s economy are closely watching Governor Perdue on an issue that will say a lot about her leadership. It’s the proposed Titan concrete plant near Wilmington. Fans say Titan, based in Greece, is one of the best companies in the world, ranking high on corporate accountability, environmental responsibility…
Read MoreCorporations and Politics
I’ve been reading about the recent Supreme Court decision that says corporations can spend as much as they want to elect politicians. Now, pragmatically, there’s not much to doubt this ruling is going to be a financial windfall to anyone in the political consulting business. And, theoretically, I’ve got to say more freedom of…
Read MoreBlaming Bush
I have a real problem with the way President Obama blamed George Bush for the budget deficit in his State of the Union speech. But my objection is directly opposite Republicans’. I don’t think Obama blamed Bush enough. As I recall, Ronald Reagan was still blaming Jimmy Carter and the Democrats for everything…
Read MoreThe Artful Dodger
I don’t recall hardly ever seeing eye to eye with State Representative Mickey Michaux but the other day he hit the nail on the head. Governor Perdue’s favorite Cabinet Secretary Lanier ‘The Artful Dodger’ Cansler traipsed over to the legislature for a meeting and after a fair amount of hemming and hawing admitted he…
Read MoreCongressional Malpractice
President Obama made exactly the opposite mistake from Bill and Hillary Clinton on health-care reform. The Clintons drew up a sweeping reform plan in secret, then sent it to Congress, where it died. Obama let congressional Democrats come up with a reform plan. The first time it went to the voters, they voted…
Read MoreLet’s Bribe the Taliban
Here’s a sure sign we’re in deeper trouble in Afghanistan than anybody’s letting on: The Afghan government (no doubt with U.S. taxpayers’ money) is offering the Taliban soldiers cold hard cash to surrender or, better yet, switch sides; of course being blossoming Afghanistan politicians are wrapping all this up in Washington style rhetoric calling their plan…
Read MoreSheriffs as Chauffeurs
The other day over in Charlotte Governor Perdue called herself the ‘Jobs, Jobs and More Jobs Governor’ then chirruped she’s the education Governor but it doesn’t look like she’ll be calling herself the ‘Tough Crime Governor’ any time soon. At least not according to the newspaper and – inadvertently – her Secretary-and-Former- Lobbyist of…
Read MoreThe Reverend Whacks the Chairman
One of the more dangerous varmints walking around on two legs is the good old-fashioned morally outraged Southern Demagogue and right now Reverend William Barber (head of the NAACP) fills the bill and he’s as mad as hell; the Reverend’s razor-tongued and ’fraid of nothing and he’s chomped down on school board Chairman Ron Margiotta…
Read MorePolitics Perdue Style
Governor Perdue either has a new public relations guru or, suddenly, she’s started thinking in slogans because she’s firing them off rapid fire. The other day down in Charlotte she let fly announcing her new education slogan: Ready. Set. Go. Then she let loose on jobs chirruping our number one priority has…
Read MoreDucking a Political Fight?
Up in Washington, DC the Democrats on the City Council have put the Democrats in Congress on the hot seat by passing a law to make gay marriage legal in our nation’s Capital. Now how on earth does that affect, say, Congressman Bob Etheridge who’s running for reelection here in North Carolina? …
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