North Carolina – Democrats
They’re Fed Up
The instantly iconic front page of The Daily Tar Heel tells you three things about their generation: They’re fed up with gun violence and school lockdowns They’re fed up with politicians who protect guns, not people They’re so fed up they printed the text “GUYS I’M SO FUCKING SCARED” in big, bold red type. That…
Read MorePPP to the Rescue
I certainly don’t begrudge the Raleigh consultants who took PPP relief during the pandemic. If they’d gone under, the economic consequences could have been devastating for certain Capital City watering holes, fine dining establishments and upscale clothing stores. Danielle Battaglia revealed the deals in The News & Observer (“How US allowed pandemic relief to go…
Read MoreRolling the Dice
Twenty years ago, Republicans opposed the North Carolina Education Lottery on “moral” grounds. Now they can’t break ground fast enough on casinos across the state. Campaign donations are flowing like free drinks on a casino floor. Lobbyists are hitting the jackpot. It’s not just Republicans. Some Democrats say casinos are good for North Carolina. I’m…
Read MoreYoung Voices
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is closer to my age than to young voters, but he gets why Democrats should listen to them – and understand their life experiences. On our Zoom conversation last week with state Democratic Chair Anderson Clayton, Fontes said: “I didn’t grow up in a world where I had to…
Read MoreOur Better Angels
“If we’re ever going to find our better angels again, it has to start with us setting the example of how to disagree better.” – Utah Governor Spencer Cox Republicans and Democrats now live in separate worlds; each watches their own cable news network; they quarrel, bicker, every day in Congress; political wars are meaner…
Read MoreGo Young, Democrats
Last week, I moderated a Zoom conversation that turned to Democrats’ huge opportunity with voters under 35 – the later Millennials and Generation Z. I’m a Gen Geezer, and my generation should listen up. The conversation was with state party Chair Anderson Clayton and Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who last month gave the…
Read MoreWolfpack Howled, Too
A fellow N.C. State alum emailed that it wasn’t just UNC students who protested the infamous Speaker Ban Law in the 1960s – a precursor to today’s legislature squelching free speech at our universities. My blog “Free Speech Under Attack – Again” (link below) was inspired by Hugh Stevens’ story of how the Speaker Ban…
Read MoreRun Everywhere?
A reader wrote about North Carolina Democrats’ 2024 strategy: “I question the wisdom of trying to recruit Democratic candidates in all 170 legislative districts. Precincts and counties that voted overwhelmingly for Trump seem like lost causes to me.” Indeed, some places are 70 percent Republican. Why run there? Here’s why. Josh Stein won the 2020…
Read MoreFired Up!
Less than 24 hours after I blogged that Democrats in the legislature seemed “beat down,” I got corrected. One of the House Democratic leaders called Saturday morning to tell me that caucus members are fired up, energized and getting organized for 2024, 2026, 2028 – and for taking the majority by the end of the…
Read MoreDemocrats’ Split Personality
There are two wildly divergent states of mind – and emotional states – among North Carolina Democrats today. I saw one at last Saturday night’s Unity Dinner in Raleigh. I see and hear the other among Democrats in politics and government in Raleigh. At the dinner, 400-plus eager, energized and enthusiastic Democrats jammed the reception,…
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