North Carolina – Democrats
Executive Dilemma
Aside from death-penalty cases, it’s the toughest decision governors make. And that’s so regardless of whether they are Republican or Democrat, named Holshouser, Hunt, Martin or Perdue. The dilemma: A gubernatorial appointee is accused of an ethical – or even criminal – violation. Immediately, the media demands that heads roll. Political opponents…
Read MoreFraud and Politics
Governor Perdue waltzed over to Rex Hospital the other day and held a good old-fashioned photo-op (to boost her once again sagging poll numbers) and standing right there in front of the operating room in front of the cameras she morphed into Jesse Helms – announcing that one way or the other, come heck or…
Read MoreRace to the Bottom
Several months ago, Governor Perdue summoned North Carolina business executives to an emergency phone call. The subject was a mystery. But when the Governor calls, you answer. Instead of a big economic announcement, the CEOs listened patiently as the Governor proclaimed that the state was putting in its bid for “Race to the Top”…
Read MoreBev’s Bad Break
A wise old Democrat told me recently that Bev Perdue’s biggest problem is: “She’s broken too many promises.” The recession and the budget crater are mostly to blame. She’s had to disappoint her friends in education, health care, aging services and mental health. But her promise to run an ethical administration doesn’t cost…
Read MoreProtesting Politics
In Washington, Republicans vow to fight on against health-care reform. In WakeCounty, school-diversity supporters vow to fight on against the new board’s reassignment plans. In Washington, reform opponents marched on the Capitol, and some spit on congressmen and called them not-nice names. In WakeCounty, diversity supporters protested, demonstrated and even got arrested.…
Read MoreThe Traits of Anony-mices
A while back two meandering tribes of ‘anony-mices’ – as Ms. Joan Troy once called them – set up camp over on the Talking About Politics Forum and, for the past year, these diminutive creatures have made war on one another and just about anyone else they lay eyes on – which brings us to…
Read MoreRevisiting 1994
Fred Heineman’s death takes us back to the Republican tidal year of 1994, when a titanic health-care battle led to a Democratic debacle so huge Heineman temporarily unseated David Price. The big difference this year: Obama succeeded where the Clintons failed. It takes three ingredients to make an electoral revolution: (1) One side…
Read MoreShut Up
John Edwards hasn’t asked for my advice in 10 years. If he did now, I’d tell him: Keep your mouth shut. The more the players in this tragedy/drama/farce talk, the worse it gets. First came Edwards’ admission – through a spokesman – of paternity. Then came the dishing in Game Change. Then came…
Read MoreAn Unhealthy Vote?
Public Policy Polling says that – on health care reform – Democratic Congressmen Bob Etheridge and Health Shuler “both have to decide between voting the way that folks in their party would like them to, or voting the way voters in their district as a whole would like them to.” But I’m not convinced…
Read MoreMoney Flowing Flowing in Circles
Governor Perdue’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Lanier Cansler has out done himself. Here in North Carolina we’ve got a State Ethics Commission, a House Ethics Committee, a Senate Ethics Committees, dozens of watch-dog groups and a free press all ferreting out chicanery by the politicians in state government – and all of…
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