North Carolina – Democrats
What Comeback?
Gary is taking a break from blogging. In his absence, he asked Thomas Mills to fill in. Thomas blogs at www.politicsnc.com where this article is cross-posted. Republicans in Raleigh have a problem with their storyline. They keep insisting that North Carolina is on a “Carolina comeback” but nobody’s feeling the benefits–except the rich. They cite…
Read MoreAn Issue from the East
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here’s a guest blog from Joe Stewart, Executive Director of the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation; a nonpartisan non-profit organization that conducts research on candidates, campaigns and voter attitudes in North Carolina. Once the match up in the US Senate race was known on primary election night, a reporter asked…
Read MoreCapitol Police: Out to lunch?
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here is a post from a guest Tapster: We recently complained that the State Capitol Police wasted taxpayer money to install a radar gun in one of its cruisers. It seemed absurd that the Capitol Police need this capability when there are plenty of other police organizations…
Read MoreTillis and Sting
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here is a blog from a Tapster: We wonder if Speaker and Candidate Tillis thinks his opponent in the fall is the singer Sting: “Every step you take, every move you make, I’ll be watching you.” How can the speaker possibly govern effectively while campaigning for US Senate…
Read MoreKeith Crisco
We were reviewing the Board of Elections’ schedule and making plans for the fall campaign. Then Brad Crone called to say Keith Crisco would concede this morning. Then we were sent reeling by the shock of Keith’s death. Suddenly, campaigns, vote counts and elections-board canvasses seemed not so important. I remembered meeting with…
Read MoreA Perplexing Dilemma
A group of politicians called Justice for All North Carolinians have had an ad on TV slamming liberal Judge Robin Hudson for ‘siding with child molesters’ in a Supreme Court decision. Now if that sounds like a little political fact twisting – it is. Here’s what happened: The state legislature passed new laws…
Read MoreOne Kind of Thinking
There’s been a lot of political foolishness going on over in Greensboro and I’ve been watching it pretty closely, working with one of Phil Berger Jr.’s opponents in the Republican Primary, Bruce VonCannon. The other day Berger’s Super PAC broke bad and issued an edict: Voters, they said, ought not to trust Bruce VonCannon to…
Read MorePaul Tine
Paul Tine is a rare and endangered species: a centrist Democrat who represents a Republican-leaning district in the N.C. House. The Democratic Party needs him – and more like him. I met Paul for the first time at a fundraiser this week. He’s young, smart and candid. I know his district, House 6, which…
Read MoreRich and Ruthless
Democrats contemplating a comeback need to contemplate this. The Republican Party is spending at least $650,000 on “a blistering attack” against Justice Robin Hudson of the state Supreme Court. Democrats need to face a sobering reality: They are up against a rich and ruthless opponent, one who will spend any amount and say anything…
Read MoreMore Tillis Scandals Ahead?
Thom Tillis is already vulnerable over the sex scandal in his office, and he will invite more scandals if he remains Speaker in the short session. Those scandals will be about legislation, campaign contributions and pay-to-play. It’s obvious why he wants to stay as Speaker: So he can raise money – either for a…
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