North Carolina – Democrats
Ten Years After
Ten years ago this month, Mike Easley was elected Governor of North Carolina. Today … well, you know. I’ve been reminding people this week that I was a Dennis Wicker man in the 2000 Democratic primary. Despite that, I never disliked Easley. But I recall one thing from the campaign that may have…
Read MoreWho’s Next?
The Mike Easley affair had so much foreplay and so little climax that everybody was left frustrated. His enemies gripe that he got a slap on the wrist. His lawyer says he was “trashed” by The News & Observer. The N&O’s editor fervently defends the coverage. After nearly two years of big investigations,…
Read MoreA Sour Note
Bob Etheridge hurt his reelection campaign by losing his temper on a Washington, D.C. street when accosted by Republican dirty-tricksters. He hurt his lasting reputation by showing a singular gracelessness when he conceded to Renee Ellmers: “The combination of the national tide that swept the country, massive amounts of secret corporate cash funding…
Read MoreDems Gone Wild
Both parties are busy with the usual post-election rituals. The winners fight over power, and the losers fight over blame. As usual with Democrats, the left and the center blame each other. Heath Shuler, Larry Kissell, et al blame Speaker Pelosi – and, by implication, President Obama – for pushing the party too…
Read MorePolitical Disconnect
Politicians in Raleigh and Washington are spending their time and energy debating an issue that, I suspect, few Americans spend much time and energy worrying about: the budget deficit. Yes, the average person probably would say something has to be done about the deficit. But the real concern is the economy: jobs, paying the…
Read MoreDoing the Impossible
After pouring millions into campaigns to elect Democrats from Chris Dodd to local Congressman Bob Etheridge, the Wall Street Banks are now rubbing their hands together and purring over the prospect of the new Republican Majority repealing the President’s new banking regulations – like the legislation the Democrats passed that cut debit card fees for…
Read MorePerdue Off and Running
The smoke hasn’t cleared from the last election and Governor Perdue’s already off and running in the next one which, if you think about it, makes pretty good sense because we’ve never had a Governor more unpopular than Beverly Perdue. After lagging for two years, this fall Governor Perdue’s popularity hit rock bottom: She…
Read MoreWOWW, Part 2
WWOW: Where Obama Went Wrong One thing I always enjoy about working with Governor Hunt is his passion and enthusiasm for new ideas. From primary-reading programs to Smart Start to new industry, he never stops pursuing bigger and better things for North Carolina. So, naturally, he had a thought about what Obama might…
Read MoreRecount
Just when I thought I’d seen it all out of the blue I ran head-on into a living breathing piece of devilment called the Recount. In North Carolina the recount medusa only raises its head if a candidate wins by less than 1% of the vote. In Renee Ellmers’ race with Congressman Bob Etheridge…
Read MoreErskine’s Grenades
In business, government and education, one of Erskine Bowles’ great strengths – and, as a politician, one of his great weaknesses – was a fondness for speaking blunt truths. He relishes telling people what they don’t like to hear. But now he has truly surpassed himself. First, he set North Carolina on its…
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