North Carolina – Democrats – Page 116

Recipe For Trouble

By Gary Pearce | February 28, 2011 |

You can see this ad coming: “Unemployment is at double-digits. The state has a $3 billion budget deficit. North Carolinians have a hard time making ends meet. What did Governor Perdue do? She hired a new chef for the Executive Mansion. Salary; $76,000.” Gulp. Yes, the Governor must entertain. Dignitaries must be…

The “Pryor Punch”

By Gary Pearce | February 23, 2011 |

Last week, a reader – clearly crazed by alcohol or the legislature, or both – suggested a new cocktail named for the Governor: the “Bevtini.” (See Gov on Ice, below.) Now he submits a libation in honor of intense, energetic, often frenetic Rep. Pryor Gibson, who is leaving the House to work for Perdue:…

The Voters’ View

By Gary Pearce | February 23, 2011 |

A focus group this week brought into clear focus the opportunities and challenges facing North Carolina Democrats and Republicans. A couple of participants said they’re feeling more optimistic about the direction of the state. Why? “For the first time in a hundred years, we have a legislature that understands where the revenue comes…

Power Plays

By Gary Pearce | February 22, 2011 |

These aren’t lofty matters of principle. They’re raw, partisan power politics. In Wisconsin and New Jersey, the battles are between Republican governors and public employee unions. In North Carolina, the battles are over voter IDs and – soon – redistricting. Even Democrats who don’t like public employee unions see unions – and…

This Year’s Tea Party?

By Gary Pearce | February 21, 2011 |

The seeds for the 2010 election were sown in August 2009 by the raucous public protests that morphed into the Tea Party movement. Will the public employee protests in Wisconsin sow the seeds for the 2012 election? Democrats hope so. Public employees are a big part of the party’s constituency. Democratic office-holders around…

A Healthy Debate

By Gary Pearce | February 18, 2011 |

Set aside the predictable posturing and apocalyptic doom-saying from both sides. North Carolina’s budget debate is a debate we need. Governor Perdue’s proposed budget is a classic North Carolina Democratic progressive budget. It’s a balance of program cuts, higher revenues and protection for education. It’s essentially the same approach that Democratic governors and legislators…

Gov on Ice

By Gary Pearce | February 18, 2011 |

One legislative observer didn’t share my rosy view of Governor Perdue’s State of the State. In fact, her performance inspired him to think of a new mixed drink: The “Bevtini” Short glass Shaken, not stirring Bland, but bitter aftertaste You’re out after only one Clearly, this is someone with too much time…

Bev Wins Round 1

By Gary Pearce | February 15, 2011 |

Strong speech. Smart strategy. And Governor Perdue won her televised faceoff with Senator Berger. Today, Republicans should be asking: Did we misunderestimate her? She is criticized for not saying how she’ll pay for it all. But that’s good sequencing: The headline today is her cutting business taxes – as the N&O said,…

Ethics Questions for WTVD

By Gary Pearce | February 14, 2011 |

Steve Daniels of WTVD last week broke the story about the FBI’s “political corruption probe” of Governor Bev Perdue some 15 years ago. But Daniels left out an interesting angle: his own. Daniels interviewed Frank Perry, whom he identified as a former FBI agent. But Daniels didn’t tell us that Perry is “director…

Earth to Tillis

By Gary Pearce | February 11, 2011 |

Mr. Speaker, didn’t you guys learn anything from the Democratic scandals of the last decade? Lesson 1: Don’t stiff-arm Andy Curliss and the N&O. Ask Mike Easley how that worked out. Lesson 2: Don’t have a closed-door “policy committee” meeting at the Legislative Building to hear from special-interest lobbyists. Lesson 3: Especially when you’re…