Crime and Politics

My blogging partner Carter Wrenn hit the big time yesterday. He had the “Quote of the Day” in The New York Times: “I’m old fashioned, but anytime somebody may have broken the law, it’s appropriate for the state to look into it.” Carter was quoted (as “the dean of North Carolina’s Republican strategists”) in a…

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#NC09

The election-fraud story in the 9th Congressional District has a long way to go, but three things are clear. First, real news and real journalism are alive and well. I won’t single out any reporter or news outlet, because so many have performed so well. A salute to each and every one of you. A…

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What’s that smell?

As its decade of political dominance nears an end, the Republican Party reeks of the stench of corruption from top to bottom, from Washington to Wisconsin to Georgia to Raleigh and all the way to Bladen County. The Bladen scandal once again puts North Carolina at center stage – and Republicans in the spotlight. The…

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Who’s Not Gullible?

Last July a Super PAC ran an ad telling voters George Holding wanted to deny insurance coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Three weeks later, when Holding’s campaign polled, only a few voters had believed the ad. It hadn’t worked. But Linda Coleman and Democratic Super PACs didn’t give up. They continued to hammer away…

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An Unexpected Gift

We knew George Holding’s race for Congress would be close a year ago and, three months ago, George actually trailed in the polls by three points – then a month before the election the unexpected struck. When an election’s over it’s human nature for people to say, I did this, or, I did that –…

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They’re cooperating!!

The Raleigh political world is abuzz and agog! The legislature and the Governor are cooperating! Democrats and Republicans are working together on hurricane relief!! Oh, happy day!!! Has a new age dawned? Have we entered an era of bipartisanship, brotherly love and dogs and cats living together? Not so fast, my friend. Pardon my cynicism,…

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Disaster politics

Governor Cooper excelled at his first three tasks in the wake of Florence: command (resources), communicate (be safe) and comfort (we’re with you for the long haul). Now comes the long haul. And politics. And bureaucracy – federal, state and local. And inevitable human frustration at the pace of relief. Nearly 20 years ago, after…

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The Election, a Summary

This year, after four elections with Obama in the White House, the political world has changed. We’re in a Blue Moon election where Democrats are voting heavier than usual and where Republican voter turnout is likely to be lower than usual. Independents blame both Republicans and Democrats for the political mess in Washington and, back…

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The Election, a Summary

This year, after four elections with Obama in the White House, the political world has changed. We’re in a Blue Moon election where Democrats are voting heavier than usual and where Republican voter turnout is likely to be lower than usual. Independents blame both Republicans and Democrats for the political mess in Washington and, back…

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Two More Issues

More people say yes than no when asked whether they’d vote for George Holding because he supported the Republican tax cuts – but not as many more as you might expect. On the other hand, when asked whether they would support Linda Coleman if they knew she wants to repeal the tax cut and raise…

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