North Carolina – Republicans
GOP Sheep
The sheep, not the elephant, should be the symbol of today’s Republican Party. N.C. House Speaker Destin Hall said this last week about who will replace Senator Thom Tillis: “We must unify behind whoever President Trump picks.” “Whoever President Trump picks”? As of last week, there were 2,290,923 registered Republican voters in North Carolina. But…
Read MoreNever Boring…
You see a lot of strutting, and the truth can fly out the window in the blink of an eye, but the one thing you have to say about politics is…it’s never boring. Ole Thom Tillis sat in the Senate happy until the day Trump posted on Truth Social ‘he’s got to go’ – so…
Read MoreTillis and Cooper
Thom Tillis and Roy Cooper now have the opportunity – no, the obligation – to turn the tide of history against Trump. Tillis made a political decision not to run for reelection. Now he should make a patriotic declaration of conscience. For the next 18 months – unbound by reelection concerns – Tillis can be…
Read MoreConflicts of Interest
When I covered the legislature for The News & Observer, we reported on a House member who sponsored a bill that directly benefitted his business. We asked him, isn’t that a conflict of interest? He was defiant: “This bill doesn’t conflict with my interests.” This week, Lucille Sherman reported in Axios, “House Rules Chairman Rep.…
Read More“Rank Hypocrisy”
It was poor judgment for Democratic state Rep. Julie von Haefen to post a picture of a “beheadings” protest sign. She had the character and courage to admit it and apologize on the floor of the House (photo). Republican Speaker Destin Hall professed outrage over the post and admonished House members to “hold yourselves to…
Read MoreIt’s Odd…
Decorating the walls with gold filigree, lining the mantle with gold ornaments, Trump set the stage for ‘Live from the White House.’ The cabinet met, cameras rolled, around the table, somber, differential, smiling, Bondi, Hegseth, Noem lauded Trump. Zelensky walked onto stage – it was like watching a wrestling bout, Trump, Vance pounding, Zelensky dodging.…
Read MoreCooper Must Run
“It’s not that Roy Cooper should run for Senate,” my friend Sam said over lunch. “He has to run.” He’s right. America’s house is on fire, and we all have to pick up a hose or a bucket. Governor Cooper has the best chance to unseat Senator Thom Tillis next year and become the decisive…
Read MoreAchilles Heel
Last week, opening a poll, turning pages I read about voters in a NC district: Trump’s approval rating was Approve 51%, Disapprove 47% – not bad. But buried between the lines was a subtle hitch: The voters who approved of Trump split into two groups – 70% liked both Trump’s policies and his character. But…
Read MoreCheering the Lesser Sin
Leaning back smiling, a devout Christian, Chris praised Trump for stopping wokeness – I asked how he saw Trump’s religion. He paused, said thoughtfully, Getting wounded probably deepened Trump’s faith but he grew up in New York as a real estate tycoon. He’s got religion. But he’s got a ways to go. He laughed, then…
Read MoreM-O-N-E-Y
The billionaire head of Amazon paid $40 million to buy the rights to a film about Trump’s wife – Melania Trump stands to make a $28 million profit. Of course, politicians using their power to make money is an old story. For years Joe Biden did it to help his son Hunter make money. But…
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