North Carolina – Republicans
3 Strikes,You’re Out
Like Charlie Brown, Governor Perdue and Democratic legislators took three mighty swings at the Republicans’ best pitches. And whiffed on every one. It was an inglorious end to the party’s first legislative session out of power. And maybe a taste of how things will be for a while. Some Democrats thought Governor Perdue…
Read MoreWhose Economy?
Speaker Thom Tillis says Republicans “own the economy” and is optimistic: “I think we are seeing some green shoots.” But Pat McCrory says Governor Perdue owns the economy and it’s “broken.” Nationally, of course, Republicans say President Obama owns the economy and it sucks. Obama avoids sounding too optimistic. Democrats say it’s…
Read MoreBullies
When you get political power, you feel important. When you feel important, you throw your weight around. When you throw your weight around, you look like a bully. Like Senators Tom Apodaca and Buck Newton. Whatever the outcome of their Lettergate “witch hunt,” the lasting image will be that of Vicki Stanley, executive assistant…
Read MoreLogic
Over in the General Assembly the legislators want to pass a law that says folks can tote pistols in bars because, they say, whether a customer can take his pistol into the ‘Twist and Shout’ ought to be up to the bar’s owner not the government. Which sounds fine except… …the same legislators…
Read MoreDalton’s Strategy
Walter Dalton’s strategy at the first gubernatorial debate tells you two things: He thinks Pat McCrory can’t take a punch. And he has to dramatically change the contour of the race to win. Attacking might work. A big reason McCrory lost in 2008 was that he failed to answer the Perdue campaign’s late attack…
Read MoreEveryone Has Their Own Point of View
The Good Lord gave everyone their own way of seeing things but he also gave them the ability to stand in another person’s shoes (or at least to get close enough to where another person’s standing to see what he’s seeing). But there are exceptions. For instance, when people get into politics. And join…
Read MoreTree’d
Senator Tom Apodaca, the last of the old-fashioned Bull Moose in the State Senate, has tree’d Prior Gibson. Just before the General Assembly voted on the budget a letter landed on legislators’ desks from the Secretary of Transportation saying it was urgent to spend $63 million to build a parkway in Gaston County. Only…
Read MoreTalent or Lightning Striking?
After two terms in the State House Thom Tillis soared to being the second most powerful politician in Raleigh after the Governor and the oohing and aahing that followed probably wasn’t as lethal (or as likely to turn a fellow’s head) as a blonde whispering in his ear but, still, all that adulation had to…
Read MoreRepublicans Rooting for Failure?
Four years ago, Republicans accused Democrats who criticized the economy of “rooting for failure.” Now, one Democratic TAPster notes, it’s Republicans rooting. Item 1, from Florida: “Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign asked Florida Governor Rick Scott to tone down his statements heralding improvements in the state’s economy because they clash with the presumptive Republican nominee’s…
Read MoreFear the Voters
Here’s a fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats want to make it easier for people to vote. Republicans, harder. In Florida, Republicans are desperately trying to purge voters before November. In North Carolina, the Republican legislature doesn’t want to help counties improve and maintain voting systems. A party that doesn’t trust the…
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