North Carolina – Republicans
Ethics or Taxes
Tom Campbell at NC Spin has an interesting alternative to my Perdue Comeback Plan. I suggested she gamble on tax reform. Tom suggests ethics reform. He’s right. She should. But I doubt that gets her far enough. Cynical voters will never believe the stable has been cleaned up. For good reason. Pass a…
Read MoreWho’s Corrupt
An alert reader spotted this “Income Opportunities Available” banner on the WakeUp America TV ads about “corrupt Democrats.” The reader followed the link to: http://www.wakeupamerica.com/income-opportunities. There he read: If you are interested in becoming a Team Leader, and building a team of commission fundraisers to help air Wake Up America TV…
Read MoreRadical Socialists?
I got worried when I saw the “corrupt Democrats” ad sponsored by the North Carolina conservative group Wake Up America. But I felt better once the ad ended. The ad’s beginning goes right at a real Democratic vulnerability in North Carolina: the combination of corruption and higher taxes. “Are state Democrats the most…
Read MoreThe Raleigh City Election
First time candidate for City Council Champ Claris has spoken the tabooed words ‘Don’t build it downtown.’ Since Charles Meeker was elected Mayor (which seems like it was not long after General Sherman marched through Raleigh) Meeker’s been trying to turn downtown into the southern equivalent of the ‘Great White Way.’ It’s a mystery…
Read MoreGiddy GOP
A Democratic friend who was in Washington recently reports that Republicans there are “giddy.” They’re convinced they have Obama and the Democrats on the run, certain they’re finally headed for a big election. But they may have miscalculated. The election is next year, not this year. And they may be overreaching. Especially if…
Read MoreThe Surprising Congressman Jones
Walter Jones Jr. always surprises me. I first met him in 1977, when he was Governor Hunt’s “eastern North Carolina representative.” It was understood that he was hired as a favor to his father, Congressman Walter Jones, and that young Walter was preparing to take his father’s seat eventually. That was no surprise.…
Read MoreMarshalling No Enthusiasm
Excuse the big yawn from many Democrats at the news Elaine Marshall apparently will run for Senate. I say apparently because, as the N&O noted, her consultant announced her candidacy. She was not available to speak for herself. Not a good sign. And not the sign of a committed candidate. Yes, she is…
Read MoreBev’s Money Dilemma
Governor Perdue has plenty of education-budget headaches – like whether local school districts are laying off teachers. Getting less attention is the near-panic among health and human-services advocates over draconian state budget cuts. Especially with North Carolina facing swine-flu fears, an aging population and serious mental-health needs. Budget reform – whatever that…
Read MoreWhat to do this Friday Night
On Friday night at 9 o’clock turn off MSNBC and Fox and CNN and click over to Channel 4 and you’ll have a once in a lifetime experience: Gary’s being interviewed on Bill Friday’s program. This could turn out to be like having a front row seat at a movie about North Carolina politics.…
Read MoreThat Dog Won’t Hunt
Whenever a lady starts a sentence by saying with perfect politeness, I just wanted to point out…well, any male who’s dealt with southern women knows he’s in deep trouble. A very nice lady called from state government the other morning about a blog I wrote about the State Department of Transportation spending $29,000 to…
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