School Choice

For all the millions of dollars and words expended, elections always come down to simple choices that can be captured in a few words. In the governor’s race, it looks like the choice will come down to Pat McCrory’s “fix the problems” versus the Democrat’s “invest in education.”   That could be a disastrous framing…

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Should Bob Get Out?

The TAPster who wrote the blog below reflects what several Democrats have said privately about Bob Etheridge. If Bob’s campaign or a supporter will respond, I’ll post it.   “For the sake of Democrats everywhere in North Carolina, Bobby Etheridge must step aside.   “He needs to leave the governor’s race to someone who has…

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Holding George Accountable

The ads from George Holding’s campaign and super-PAC make it clear: He wants to cut federal spending, cut federal spending and then cut federal spending again.   Just for the record: How much did Holding’s Ahab-like pursuit of John Edwards and Mike Easley cost taxpayers?   And want to bet on whether you’ll see those…

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More Odd Facts

When Paul Coble, Bill Randall and George Holding debated at the Civitas Debate, when Paul Coble finished describing his conservative record Bill Randall shot back, In 2009 when Barack Obama, President Obama, came to Raleigh, North Carolina, Randall Williams, a Republican physician, was welcoming President Obama to promote Obama-care. Paul Coble endorsed Randall Williams for…

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The Right Fight

This is the debate North Carolina Democrats want: Did the Republican budget cut jobs?   It’s the debate we want going hot and heavy when federal funds dry up and school districts across the state lay off teachers next fall, right before the election.   And it’s a debate challenge Governor Perdue should accept. Take…

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The New Face of Journalism

Mark Binker is not necessarily a pretty face. But he’s the face of where journalism is going in North Carolina. And that looks like good news.   Binker is former capital reporter for The Greensboro News & Record. He has left to work for WRAL-TV. That’s a story right there.   TV political/governmental news used…

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Amendment Politics

Why did President Obama announce he’s against Amendment One? Because African-American voters strongly support it.   Since African-Americans lean so strongly Democratic, an oft-overlooked fact is that they are the most church-going, religious and even evangelical voting blocs in a religious, church-going state. And polls show they strongly oppose same-sex marriages.   The recent Elon…

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The New John Edwards?

A Democratic operative (not in the governor’s race) says Bill Faison may place a statewide TV buy of nearly $1.5 million in April. Will Faison be the John Edwards of 2012?   That’s not fair to Faison. I don’t mean the John Edwards we came to know. I mean the Edwards we met in 1998,…

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Calling Out a Skunk

Paul Coble reared up on his hind legs and slammed an evangelical, born again, Spirit moving Baptist by calling him a liberal gay marriage supporter – then added that’s the kind of no good varmint who’s supporting his opponent’s campaign and that’s all the reason anyone needs to know to vote against George Holding.  …

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Two Masters

You could earn a bachelor’s degree in political science just talking to the two of them: former Governor Jim Hunt and Congressman (and Minority Whip) Steny Hoyer.   They were together last night at a fundraiser for Congressman Larry Kissell hosted by Heather and Bruce Thompson in Raleigh.   Hoyer has represented Maryland in Congress…

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