National Republicans
Birthers and Shariah Law
The N&O front page today showed how Republicans are frittering away their once-in-a-blue-moon political advantage. The more they talk about Obama’s birth certificate and the threat of Shariah law in America, the less they can take advantage of his real vulnerability, which was captured in an inside-page story: Americans are losing confidence in his…
Read MoreObama’s Missing Story
On the off-chance Republicans don’t nominate Donald Trump and hand him reelection, President Obama needs a better story. Not a better story about where he was born or how he grew up. A story line that explains the times we live in and where he thinks we should go. All great Presidents develop…
Read MoreRyan’s Express
Has it occurred to anybody in the Republican Party that U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan is driving them off a cliff? Think back one year ago. Republicans could smell victory in November. Why? Because President Obama and the Democratic Congress had given them the perfect punching bag: sweeping, comprehensive health care reform. Best of…
Read MoreObama’s Balance
An advisor to President Obama used a term recently that may be the theme – stated or not – of both his budget proposal Wednesday and his 2012 campaign: “a balanced approach.” He will no doubt contrast that to Republican “extremism.” And Republicans fell right into the trap. Rep. Paul Ryan’s dream budget gives Democrats…
Read MoreBoehner’s Forgotten Promise
The press – from CBS News to Human Events – has been singing House Speaker John Boehner’s praises as the conqueror of Barack Obama and Harry Reid – the Speaker they say ‘out-fought,’ ‘out-smarted’ and ‘out-negotiated’ the Democrats. (Whoever heard of out-negotiating a Democrat?) Meantime, oddly, not a word has been said about Speaker Boehner’s forgotten…
Read MoreWolves and Sheep
We’re about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the April morning in 1861 when a hot-head (some would say fool) in Charleston pulled the lanyard on a cannon and started what old southern maiden aunts used to delicately call ‘The Late Unpleasantness.’ A lot’s been said and written about why we ended up fighting…
Read MoreFor President…
Good Lord! This is truly hair-curling. NBC News and the Wall Street Journal have taken a poll and real estate developer turned reality show star Donald Trump is in second place in the Republican Primary for President. It’s enough to shake your faith in democracy – almost a fifth of the Republican Primary…
Read MoreThe Great GOP Budget Gamble(s)
In Raleigh and Washington, Republican lawmakers are moving forward confident in the belief that – this time – the American people are really, really ready to really, really cut spending. They better hope so. Historically, we elect politicians who promise to cut taxes and cut spending. Then we revolt when we see the…
Read MoreOut-organized?
State GOP Chair Robin Hayes says President Obama carried North Carolina in 2008 because of simple political mechanics. He told McClatchey reporters: “The president and his group did a much better job of organizing through the Internet, through social networking, through every possible means to identify and get their folks to the polls. They…
Read MoreBugs Bunny Always Beats Daffy Duck
Those six words may be the most brilliant I have ever read about political and media strategy. I found them in Jeff Greenfield’s new book, Then Everything Changed. The book is an interesting foray into “alternative history,” based on real events: What if JFK had been assassinated in December 1960, before taking office? What…
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