North Carolina – Democrats
Parker’s Folly
Character is destiny, especially in politics. The pressures and the spotlight inevitably show the world exactly who you are. So it was with David Parker yesterday. The N&O called it “an extraordinary act of political theater.” John Frank described Parker as “assured.” Those who know him use another word: “arrogant.” He has a…
Read MoreThe Party Mess
It’s said that “academic politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.” So it is with internal party politics. David Parker has been inside the Democratic Party long enough to know what happens when you stumble: All the old feuds, jealousies and resentments – and the sharp knives – come out.…
Read MoreSound Off
Most political people are word people. We pay enormous attention to the words we read and hear from politicians and the media, to facts, rhetoric and arguments. But much of human communication is non-verbal. It’s visual and physical clues: Does this person look trustworthy or sneaky, hostile or well-intentioned, strong or weak? So…
Read MoreAnother View of the Scandal
A TAPster takes a calmer view of the scandal enveloping the state Democratic Party with these “thoughts on the Big Mess at North Carolina’s Democratic headquarters:” “This isn’t really a “scandal,” for goodness sakes. It’s breath-taking management incompetence. The clumsy Democratic leadership gave a clinic in how to turn a one-day personnel matter into a…
Read MoreWho Let the Dogs Out?
Watching the Democratic debate was like going to the dog park. Bill Faison was a pit bull: feisty, but you’re not sure if he’s going to bite another dog, a dog owner or maybe you. Walter Dalton was an over-eager terrier, jumping up and down and barking, too eager to bring you all…
Read MoreBy the Neck, Bob
A Democratic TAPster has an intriguing idea for a Bob Etheridge ad: “I know what to do about the schools. I did it in the legislature and as State Superintendent. And I know how to handle the Republicans in the legislature. “If they give me any trouble, I’ll grab them by the scruff…
Read MoreStop the Cover-up
The Watergate break-in was almost 40 years ago. NC Democratic Party Chair David Parker is marking the occasion with his own cover-up. Memo to Parker: You can’t cover up sexual harassment. Democrats deserve to know what the hell happened – and how much money it’s costing. And don’t blame your political enemies. That’s…
Read MoreWrong answer
Gary used to tell a story about Tony Rand, running for Lt. Governor, debating Jim Gardner back in 1988: Gardner let fly and ripped into Tony saying he was a backroom politician who along with eight other backroom politicians (who called themselves the ‘Gang of Eight’) had written the whole state budget in secret in…
Read MoreNew Governor, New Legislature, New Reality
Here’s a question that should come up in the Democratic gubernatorial candidates – a question no Democratic candidate for governor has ever been asked: How will you deal with a legislature controlled by Republicans? The closest we came was 1996, when Jim Hunt was running for reelection and Republicans controlled the House. But Hunt…
Read MoreFailing Grade for the Legislature
Democrats now have their bumper-sticker message for 2012 – thanks to 25 North Carolina school superintendents. Republican legislators deny they cut any teachers. But the superintendents told a different story at a statewide hearing: “Superintendents said they had laid off teachers, teacher assistants, assistant principals and central office staff members during several years…
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