National Republicans
Birth of the Boaters
A Republican friend tells me that Florida Senator Marco Rubio is the GOP’s star of the future: the perfect 2012 running and/or perfect candidate for President in 2016. So – to go with the Birther movement that questions whether President Obama is really from around here – Democrats need to launch a Boater movement…
Read MoreDebating Debates
Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post opined that debates are “no way to pick a President.” I beg to differ. Her opinion is rooted in a media misunderstanding of what voters look for in debates. She wrote: “Now we judge a candidate’s worthiness for public office as much according to his stage performance as…
Read MoreTrial By Ordeal
In 1996 six months after Steve Forbes began his campaign for President his brother Tim told me, Here’s how Presidential campaigns work: They stand my brother up on stage then they strip all his clothes off and beat him to a pulp. But in a way it makes sense. Because, I guess, people figure if…
Read MoreSelective Credit
It was interesting watching Republicans react to the death of Gadhafi and the end of his regime. It pained them to give President Obama any credit. They strained instead to find a way to give credit to President Bush. Just like when Osama was killed. The Republicans were quick to credit Bush. …
Read MoreThe Last Two Candidates?
Judging by the Las Vegas debate, the seven guys and the one lady running for President in the Republican Primaries are getting testy. Right off, with no pleasantries, everyone lit into Herman Cain – which seems to be the paradigm for Republican Presidential campaigns. The pundits and bloggers and Fox News anoint a flavor…
Read More911 for 999
Taxes are to politicians as zappers are to bugs. They can’t resist the temptation, and they end up getting fried. Latest example: Herman Cain. Or, as he would say, “Herman Cain!” In their debate this week, his Republican rivals pretty well ripped apart his 999 tax plan. Turns out it would raise taxes…
Read MoreThe 2012 Stimulus
One industry in North Carolina is guaranteed to get a big boost next year: the political industry. President Obama’s two-day bus tour this week gave a glimpse of what’s to come. You’re going to see a lot of him the next 13 months – and a lot of the Republican candidate. And they’re all…
Read MoreSmiling Democrats
There’s fall in the air and, suddenly, there’s spring in the step of Democrats. Part of it was last week’s elections, especially the prospect of capturing the Wake school board. Part of it is the natural joy Democrats feel when Obama pillories Republicans and big, bad bankers. Part of it is seeing Herman Cain…
Read MoreOccupy Me?
The Occupy Wall Street/Washington/Raleigh/etc. protests are a classic example of a political movement that the general public may agree with, at least on some level, but not find agreeable. In politics, as in physics, every action generates a reaction. The Tea Party movement powered Republicans to victory in 2010, but may drag them to…
Read MoreThe Greatest Threat
There’s been an outbreak of populism on – of all places on earth – Wall Street. It started when a hardy band of protesters camped out in a small park near the Stock Exchange, waving anti-Obama, anti-Republican, anti-Democrat and anti-Wall Street greed signs. For a while no one paid attention. Then, suddenly, the protesters became…
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