North Carolina – Republicans
‘Bailout Burr’
I talked to two seasoned and smart Democrats recently who think that – contrary to all the talk about 2010 being a Republican year – Richard Burr will be vulnerable. One, who watched Burr’s race in 2004, thinks he is a weak campaigner. That year, Burr did in fact campaign as far under the…
Read MoreRuffin Poole and $500 Million
I’ve never laid eyes on Joe Sinsheimer. Politically he and I walk on opposite sides of the street. But if you ever get the feeling North Carolina politics has turned into a swamp of no-bid contracts and corrupt politicians stop a moment and consider what Sinsheimer has single-handedly done with good old-fashioned hard work –…
Read MoreThe New Republican Strategy for 2010
Back after Obama rolled into the White House and North Carolina turned into a ‘Blue State’ overnight Gary told me wryly, Don’t worry, we’ll find a way to blow it. Now that Republicans are leading in the polls Gary’s looking a bit clairvoyant but, on the other hand, it’s now Republicans who seem…
Read MoreThey All Do It
This is why Republicans won’t get far running against corruption in Raleigh. The Greensboro News & Record reports: “The State Board of Elections has asked Sen. Phil Berger to explain at least three dozen problems found with his campaign finance reports since 2004, ranging from a lack of information to apparently illegal contributions.” Berger’s…
Read MoreNo Bid Contracts
Over the last several months Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Lanier Cansler at DHHS has handed out a couple of hundred million dollars in contracts – many of them no bid contracts – to his former clients from the days when he was a lobbyist. But, now, he’s done…
Read MoreThe Looniest Department: Putting Infants in Nursing Homes?
They’re a lot of things going on at DHHS that are just plain odd, even for a state agency. For instance, Governor Perdue put a health care lobbyist in charge of DHHS’ budget – which includes granting billions in health care contracts. Then the lobbyist – Secretary Lanier Cansler – put a gynecologist in…
Read MoreGet Out of Jail
Governor Perdue didn’t need this flap about dangerous killers being let out of prison. She’s done everything she can think of to protect herself politically – even saying she’ll go to jail before she lets them out. That’s going a bit far, but it tells you how worried her team is. Republicans…
Read MoreHe Drives Them Crazy
One thing I appreciate about Jim Hunt is that he still drives Republicans crazy. I see that – and enjoy it – in their comments on my blog. Now comes Tom Fetzer. With a straight face, he blames everything that’s wrong in Raleigh today with Jim Hunt passing succession 32 years ago. …
Read MoreBowles and Burr
Some Democrats will no doubt grumble about Erskine Bowles joining ex-foe Senator Richard Burr’s economic-development summit. Burr no doubt welcomes the bipartisan image as he begins his reelection campaign. Bowles no doubt would tell critics he’ll work with anybody to help the university and the state. Truth is, Bowles was never comfortable…
Read MoreHere’s How Government Works
Money’s tight the Democrats in Raleigh say, so the state’s flailing away to cut health care costs – it’s slashing home care, nursing home care and hospitals. But one group is safe. North Carolina Medicaid spends $1 billion a year on prescription drugs. But North Carolina is one of six states without a Medicaid ‘Preferred…
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