Jim Hunt’s Gift to Mike Easley

Governor Easley’s spokesman said the Governor plans to spend this month reading all the bills enacted by this year’s legislature and deciding whether to sign them or veto them. For which he can thank my old boss Jim Hunt. Jim Hunt first took office as Governor 30 years ago this year – in 1977. Back…

Read More

Video Poker and Strippers

I’ve got to – for once – agree with Gary. The most feared name in Democratic politics today is Joe Sinsheimer. There’s no substitute for good research and Mr. Sinsheimer’s carving out a niche all his own. His particular bone of contention is corruption. How effective is he? Ask Jim Black, Rep. Thomas Wright and…

Read More

Democracy: It’s Like Making Sausage

Here’s a story about how democracy works that’s a far cry from what they teach in high school civics class. Two years ago, three big waste management corporations decided to build mega-garbage dumps here in North Carolina. Not for garbage from North Carolina. But for garbage from Massachusetts and New York. They promoted their idea…

Read More

Give Back the Dirty Money

The North Carolina Democratic Party needs to shed the stink of video poker money. A federal grand jury in Asheville has indicted 21 people for illegally operating video poker machines in 15 western N.C. counties. The allegations include bribery of two Buncombe County sheriff’s deputies. Joe Sinsheimer’s complaint to the State Board of Elections this…

Read More

Governor as Snake Oil Salesman

Governor Easley has turned into the ultimate huckster. The suckers in North Carolina won’t buy enough lottery tickets, so, like a shill in a carny, he wants to jack up the prizes apparently on the theory that if he baits the hook with enough fool’s gold the suckers will part with more of their money.…

Read More

Sonny Boy Joyner

It’s one of my favorite political trivia questions: In 1972, George McGovern carried only two of North Carolina’s 100 counties against Richard Nixon. What are the two counties? Most people can guess Orange (Chapel Hill). But few guess the other: Northampton County in northeast North Carolina. Sonny Boy Joyner was the man responsible. He put…

Read More

Joe Sledgehammer

Joe (the Sledgehammer) Sinsheimer may be the most powerful person in Raleigh today. On Monday, he files another campaign-finance complaint with the State Board of Elections. On Tuesday, it’s the lead story in The News & Observer. Last year, Sinsheimer had the guts to take on Jim Black when no one else would. For his…

Read More

A Job with a Great Future?

The News & Observer says: “Perhaps the most competitive contest in North Carolina next year will be the one for state treasurer.” I’ve counted six Democrats and three Republicans being mentioned for the race. It’s no mystery why. Richard Moore has shown that the Treasurer’s Office has the keys to a treasure chest full of…

Read More

The World Turned Upside Down

I’m out of the country two weeks and the political world turns upside down. I had long assumed that my Democratic Party had the market cornered on sex scandals. From Wilbur Mills to Gary Hart to Bill Clinton. And that Republicans had the monopoly on money scandals. Warren Harding, Richard Nixon and Jack Abramoff. I…

Read More

Send in the Clowns

While Democrats have been plagued by money scandals (former House Speaker Jim Black, Rep. Thomas Wright and Rep. Mary McAlister) and DMV scandals (Director George Tatum’s abrupt resignation), Republicans – at least for the past week – seem fixated on sex. First, Rep. David Almond resigned amid rumors he had sexually harassed a state employee.…

Read More