Issues
Outsmarting Themselves?
Democrats are high-fiving President Obama’s “American Jobs Act.” Progressive pundits and editorial/op-ed writers are applauding because he took their advice. He’s taking the fight to the Republicans, they all say: bearding the elephant in its own den. For months, the pundits have been preaching that Americans don’t care about arcane things like deficits and…
Read More9/11 Tragedy
At some point this weekend I reached 9/11 overload. It was wall-to-wall remembrances, reflections and recollections. No media outlet, no sporting event and no advertiser could miss the chance to milk as much heartfelt soulfulness as possible. The focus, of course, was on the heroes, the fallen and the families: “Never forgotten.” “Never forget.”…
Read MoreEchoes of the 80s
The Republican presidential candidates today remind me of Democrats in the 1980s: so in thrall to interest-groups within their own party they’re forced to undermine their chances to win a general election. In 1984 and 1988, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis were crippled by their kowtowing to labor, liberals and Jesse Jackson. By the…
Read MoreNot-So-Gay Politics
Gay-rights supporters are fighting hard to keep the gay-marriage amendment off the state ballot. That’s understandable. Who wants to have prejudice against themselves enshrined in the Constitution? But I hope the Republicans succeed in scheduling a statewide vote. Not just because Public Policy Polling predicts it will lose. But also because it will hurt…
Read MoreThe Comeback Kid
I’ve been critical of President Obama lately. His poll numbers keep dropping, and he looks like a 97-pound weakling being pushed around by (of all people) John Boehner. I even called him “Jimmy Obama” in one blog, comparing him to a famous one-term Democratic President. So now it’s time to predict a comeback.…
Read MoreObama’s Last Chance?
President Obama better connect this time. His much-hyped economic speech next week may be his last chance. For all his strengths, Obama has one great failing: He hasn’t been able to forge an emotional connection with the American people since the election. He did it during the campaign by fulfilling a yearning…
Read MoreGet Your Data Dump
A new issue of North Carolina DataNet, published by the Program on Southern Life at the UNC J-School, is available now. Click here for a link to the report. The focus is what report calls the “metropolitanization’’ of North Carolina’s population, and the impact that has on the state’s economy, culture and politics. …
Read MoreSoaking the Rich?
There’s always been a healthy dose of class warfare in the debate over maintaining roads to barrier islands like Hatteras. It exploded in letters to the N&O today. Said one writer: “Why is it that we all have to cater to the rich and their Shangri-Las at the coast? Isn’t it time that we…
Read More911 For 511
This will make my friends at DOT mad, but face it: When it comes to informing the driving and tax-paying public, your 511 line – and your website – flunked the Irene test. Anybody who tried Sunday to get updated information on specific roads from DOT knows that. Apparently, the 511 line is…
Read MoreObama’s Job Test
Instead of getting him back on the high road, President Obama’s bus tour left him deeper in the ditch. What to do now? Of course, give a Big Speech on Jobs! Clearly, the Obama team is back to the 2008 playbook: When the chips are down, the chief will come through with a powerful,…
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