North Carolina – Democrats
$200,000 versus $2.5 Million
Down at the Charlotte Observer they’re lamenting – editorially – about the state using no bid contracts to buy $200,000 in equipment from Senate Democratic Leader Tony Rand’s company. (They also point out Governor Perdue, former Governor Easley, the former Secretary of Transportation and the former head of the Division of Motor Vehicles all own…
Read MoreAn Attitude Adjustment
It turns out the eminence grise behind the $30 million no-bid contract to Prodigy Corporation (whose owners – Ramzi Abuldhai and Rich Admanj – were found guilty of patent stealing, went bankrupt and then were accused of transferring millions out of the bankrupt company to hide their assets from creditors) is Secretary Lanier Cansler’s aide…
Read MorePolitics Getting Stranger
With the State Board of Elections and a Federal Grand Jury investigating Mike Easley, and the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission asking questions about Tony Rand manipulating penny stocks Democrats can’t catch a break — and now a state Grand Jury has found probable cause Senator R.C. Soles, one of the Democratic old bulls…
Read MoreNo Bid Contract Backfires
Secretary Lanier Cansler’s gone and landed Governor Perdue in the soup again with one of his no bid contracts. This time Cansler got caught by WRAL giving a $30 million contract to a company that’s only been in existence two months and whose owners – Ramzi Abulhaj and Rich Admani – got sued in…
Read MorePutting the Fun back in Politics
The cat is out of the bag – Bernie Reeves may run for Congress against Brad Miller. Bernie, who publishes Metro Magazine, is a sort of irrepressible force of nature – brash, charming, outspoken and not at all impressed with a single politician walking around on two feet. I’d buy a ticket to watch…
Read MorePerdue and the Courts
Editorial writers, defense lawyers and letter-writers claimed that Governor Perdue was defying the courts and the “rule of law” in the life-doesn’t-mean-life brouhaha. But now one judge has agreed with her – and the Supreme Court has decided to review the matter. In truth, her critics’ rhetoric was just as overheated as the…
Read MoreKissell’s Bad Bet
The Washington Post had a story Sunday about how Larry Kissell’s vote against health care reform – and President Obama – has angered passionate Democrats who elected Obama and Kissell. The story concludes with a quote from me about Kissell: “That’s why they call them freshmen — because they make freshman mistakes. That’s why…
Read MorePenny Stock
It looks like – from the newspaper – Democratic Senate Leader Tony Rand had a scheme to turn 140,000 shares of ‘penny stock’ he owned in Law Enforcement Associates (where Rand serves as Chairman of the Board) into a windfall. First, it seems, Rand tipped (or otherwise persuaded) a few of his political friends…
Read MoreHumble Cal
Poor Cal Cunningham; the young man has had so much ‘humbling’ lately if he wasn’t a politician he might be facing the possibility of sainthood. First, before he announced he was running for Senate, he said he’d been ‘humbled’ by how many folks wanted him to run. Then, after he declared he was running,…
Read MoreA Ray of Sunshine
These have been dark and stormy days for Democrats. Every day, the headlines bring more gloom. Ruffin Poole takes the Fifth. Mike Easley hires Joe Cheshire. Tony Rand is accused of insider trading. Marc Basnight is forced to defend his political and physical health. Bev Perdue’s ratings are low. R.C. Soles faces trouble. David…
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