North Carolina – Democrats
How Government Works – 1,300 Oxycodone Pills
Here’s a factoid: Because of the so-called budget ‘crisis’ Governor Perdue’s cutting health care spending on home care for the elderly, people in Nursing Homes and children on Medicaid – at the same time, up in Washington the Government Accountability Office reports eliminating prescription drug fraud would save $63 million “in North Carolina and…
Read MorePerdue’s Polls
Governor Perdue’s team is working to counter the drumbeat of bad poll numbers. They make some good points: Yes, her numbers are low. But so are those of Senators Burr and Hagan. North Carolina has had the worst one-two punch in the country – high unemployment and the budget crisis. Perdue is paying…
Read MoreBad Move, Bad Excuse
This is why Governor Perdue has problems. She is one of six Democratic governors who didn’t sign a letter supporting health-care reform. That makes Democrats mad. But her spokesperson says Perdue agrees with the points made in the letter: “She did not sign it, but wants to make it clear that…
Read MoreFlimsy Perdue
Here’s one reason Bev Perdue has collapsed in the polls: Today’s headline in the News and Observer reads – Perdue Too Busy on Trip to Back Health Reform. The Governor told the press she was too busy on a trip to New York to join other Democratic Governors in signing a letter to support…
Read MoreEthics or Taxes
Tom Campbell at NC Spin has an interesting alternative to my Perdue Comeback Plan. I suggested she gamble on tax reform. Tom suggests ethics reform. He’s right. She should. But I doubt that gets her far enough. Cynical voters will never believe the stable has been cleaned up. For good reason. Pass a…
Read MoreRadical Socialists?
I got worried when I saw the “corrupt Democrats” ad sponsored by the North Carolina conservative group Wake Up America. But I felt better once the ad ended. The ad’s beginning goes right at a real Democratic vulnerability in North Carolina: the combination of corruption and higher taxes. “Are state Democrats the most…
Read MoreTax-Hike Survival
Earlier this week I wrote that Governor Perdue should consider championing tax reform. To her advisers, that lifeline probably looks more like an anchor. But history suggests otherwise. Mike Easley raised taxes – and survived. At least, survived raising taxes. Jim Hunt raised the gas tax in 1981. Jesse Helms &…
Read MoreHail Mary for Bev
A few weeks ago, I thought Governor Perdue’s best strategy was a Dick Morris/Clinton-like series of small, popular initiatives. She’s been doing that lately, though I’m sure it wasn’t at my suggestion. She has rolled out a series of announcements on new industries, rural health care, nanotechnology and offshore energy. But offshore energy…
Read MoreStandards of The Times
I’m a big fan of The New York Times. It’s still the best newspaper going. But sometimes I wonder what happened to “All The News That’s Fit to Print.” Like last Sunday, when the Times ran a front-page story on the John Edwards saga. Must be something big, right? There was the page-one…
Read MoreWhere do you Stand Beverly?
If anyone’s wondering why Governor Perdue’s popularity is languishing at political rock bottom the answer may be zigging and zagging. Governor Perdue was for budget cuts, then she was against budget cuts. She told the legislature to raise taxes, any taxes, it didn’t matter to her which; then she blasted legislators for raising the…
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