National Democrats
Congress could censure Trump
Many Democrats are torn over impeaching Trump. They think he deserves it, but fear it may reelect him and decimate them in 2020. Here’s an alternative from an unlikely source, Reagan speechwriter and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan: Congress should censure Trump. She wrote: “The harrowing part of the Mueller report is part 2,…
Read MoreFire first, facts last
Civic debate in America has become little more than a fast-draw contest, as demonstrated anew by the runup and the reaction to the Mueller Report’s release. Our motto: Ready, fire, aim. We hardly notice that our real enemy has taken dead aim. And hit his target squarely. The enemy is Vladimir Putin. His target was…
Read MoreThe Earth Shifted
When Mark Harris bowed out of the Republican Primary for Congress in the 9th District Dan Bishop had to make a decision quickly – a State Senator, Bishop had a little name identification in Charlotte but he wasn’t well known in the rest of the District. He decided he’d run but with the election only…
Read MoreThe Perils of Purity
One of the hardest things to do in politics is to tune out the loud voices of insiders so you can hear the real voices of real voters. Used to be, the loud voices were hangers-on at headquarters and regulars at rallies and fundraisers. Now they’re on social media, Facebook and Twitter. A report in…
Read MoreWill Democrats Go Young?
2020 will mark 60 years since America elected its youngest President, John F. Kennedy. He succeeded America’s then-oldest President. JFK was 43; Ike was 70. Next year, Trump will be 74. Just saying. Will the torch be passed to a new generation? That depends on two things: Will Democrats go young with their nominee? And…
Read MoreMarc of Honor
Some OBXers don’t like naming the new Oregon Inlet bridge for Marc Basnight. As a part-time resident and lifelong lover of OBX, I say they’re wrong, DOT is right and no one is more deserving of the naming honor than the long-time Senate leader, OBX advocate and education champion. One objection you hear: Basnight was…
Read MoreWill Democrats Blow It?
Over and over, Trump demonstrates why Democrats must – and should – win in 2020. And Democrats demonstrate how they can blow it, by blowing up each other over identity and ideology. The identity question is stark: Must the nominee be female or nonwhite? Are white men – Biden, Beto, Delaney, Brown, et al –…
Read MorePelosi Saying No
Last month in an internet ad run by his campaign during the shutdown President Trump said: ‘I want to be able to show Senate Democrats a list of the many American voters that will NOT be happy if the Wall isn’t built. I need YOUR NAME on the list. Sign our official petition to the…
Read MoreMoving Pelosi
Before the government shutdown President Trump, defying the Democrats, walked out of a meeting and announced he’d continue the shutdown “for months or even years” – but Nancy Pelosi didn’t budge and then Ann Coulter, aghast when Trump folded and reopened the government, tweeted Trump was a ‘wimp’ and the Daily Caller added ‘Trump Caved.’…
Read MoreDelaney in the Middle
John Delaney believes there’s a middle lane in the Democratic presidential race. Last Saturday his path brought him to Raleigh, and I had a chance to sit down with him. While some Democrats lurch to the left, Delaney says, “I’m a moderate.” He positions himself as a centrist problem-solver who can actually achieve the bipartisanship…
Read More