Issues
Edwards’s Revenge
Wade Smith wisely advised that John Edwards plant a garden and bide his time before finding a new endeavor. A less philosophical and forgiving soul might have a different suggestion for Edwards’s new life. No, there won’t be any return to politics. But suppose Edwards bides his time until his nemesis George Holding (former…
Read MoreThe Verdict
John Edwards wasn’t found guilty, but the federal government certainly was – of overreach, incompetence or both. Here’s how bad the U.S. Attorneys Office and Justice Department bungled: They indicted the most despised politician in America – a man a jury might want to convict just on general principle. The government throws at him…
Read MoreThoughts
A Tapster submitted this blog about the John Edwards verdict.: The John Edwards verdict hopefully ends a decade-long parade of Democrats doing the perp walk to federal and state courthouses to atone for political and financial misdeeds. Our ears ring from the sound of judges’ gavels banging down on the careers of Mike Easley,…
Read More166 Hours a Day
WRAL News received a tip about Medicaid fraud in Governor Perdue’s mammoth Department of Health and Human Services, then spent weeks pouring over stacks of Medicaid bills, then reported the department had run amok again. For instance: WRAL found one licensed therapist, a psychologist, whose name was “linked to 22,984 hours of therapy last…
Read MoreAs If By Magic
Awhile back, like incubi of old, mischievous Anony-mices descended on the News and Observer’s website and set up camp; giving themselves colorful names (the way wrestlers on TV do) like Tarheel Crusher, Yosephus and Agent Pierce (who describes himself as Agent Pierce, News Personality, Legendary Cyber Commando) they set about tormenting any hapless victim who…
Read MoreNobody Likes a Bully
Contrary to how things looked after North Carolina passed the marriage amendment, Gay Politics Week may end up hurting Mitt Romney far more than President Obama. It’s telling that Republicans didn’t pile onto Obama after Joe (Gabby) Biden forced him to come out of the closet. Then the story exploded about Romney organizing…
Read MorePrequel to November?
Four years ago, the May primary thrust North Carolina into the national spotlight. An unexpected surge of new voters clinched the Democratic presidential nomination for Barack Obama. The tide raged on into November. It lifted Democrats to one of their biggest election victories in decades. This year, we’re back in the spotlight. This time,…
Read MoreNot Losing Our Religion
Yes, the gay-marriage amendment has “revealed generational and urban-rural divisions,” as The News & Observer reported Sunday. But, as is so often true in North Carolina politics, the fundamental divide is over religion. Note how often supporters of the amendment say or write something along the lines of one bumper sticker: “It’s in the…
Read MoreJustin Guillory Responds
Following is Justin’s response to my blog (see below) about his N&O op-ed: “Thanks for taking an interest in my op-ed. Here is my take on your questions: “First, I disagree that progressive politics are not business friendly. The current Republican leadership has taken us so far to the right that we need…
Read MoreBy the Neck, Bob
A Democratic TAPster has an intriguing idea for a Bob Etheridge ad: “I know what to do about the schools. I did it in the legislature and as State Superintendent. And I know how to handle the Republicans in the legislature. “If they give me any trouble, I’ll grab them by the scruff…
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