North Carolina – Republicans
Who Runs the GOP?
After the Tea Party debate this week, a Florida Tea Party leader put it bluntly: “The Republican Party isn’t going to pick the presidential nominee. We’re going to pick the presidential nominee.” The candidates then fell all over each other to show their fealty to the crowd. A crowd that, when a moderator asked…
Read MoreNot-So-Gay Politics
Gay-rights supporters are fighting hard to keep the gay-marriage amendment off the state ballot. That’s understandable. Who wants to have prejudice against themselves enshrined in the Constitution? But I hope the Republicans succeed in scheduling a statewide vote. Not just because Public Policy Polling predicts it will lose. But also because it will hurt…
Read MoreThe New Politics
Carter was mistaken when he wrote (“A Call From 60 Minutes,” below) that Bob Harris’ authorship of the “where do you stand, Jim” ads in 1984 “has been lost to history.” Actually, I wrote about that in my Hunt book, and Carter was my source. But that’s not the reason for this post. Nor…
Read MoreHuh?
The email from David Parker, state Democratic Party chairman, promised a rip-roaring attack on Republican leaders: “Tillis, McCrory and Berger: Turning Back The Clock On NC Schools.” Then came the first line: “Last week, Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly decided to challenge a court ruling on pre-kindergarten access could lead to an…
Read MoreTillis’ Moves
A TAPster who is a veteran observer of legislators has a good take on State House speaker Thom Tillis: “Tillis who squirted from obscurity to the state’s most powerful politician in record time, is an adroit organizer, manager and fundraiser and is as politically sophisticated as most of us have ever seen. He’s made two…
Read MoreNo Friends at All?
No doubt the Governor can explain to her fellow Democrats why she’s fighting Republican legislators ‘tooth and nail’ but how on earth can she explain to Democrats she’s been bushwhacked from behind by the Obama Administration? The problem, Obama’s Justice Department says, is the Governor (or rather her minions who run Medicaid for her)…
Read MoreTillis and the Gay Marriage
Speaker Thom Tillis again shows signs of being soft (if you’ll pardon the term) on gay marriage. According to the Charlotte Observer, Tillis was pressed at a town meeting this week about the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. “Can you explain to us why you’re squandering taxpayer resources on this…
Read MorePoor Rick Perry
Rick Perry is the Republican flavor of the month. He’s got it all: a record of bringing jobs to Texas, a direct line to God, money, hair, cowboy boots and support from every wing of the Republican Party, from the right wing to the extreme right wing to the off-the-edge-of-the-earth right wing. But now…
Read MoreTwo Fisted TAPster
Here’s a TAPster who earns two beers by sending me two rants. First, on the debt-ceiling deal. “I respectfully disagree with one of your recent posts regarding the Republicans winning the budget and deficit funding battle. If they won, see what they have given us. Their precious philosophy, commitments to no taxes and…
Read MoreDisputing Pat
A TAPster takes on Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory over McCrory’s op-ed in the Charlotte Observer on voter ID: “I think there are some interesting facts that McCrory failed to share in his piece – and I’m surprised a paper like the Observer would publish without asking him some questions on his sources. Notably McCrory…
Read More