North Carolina – Republicans
Nipples and College
While I was gone, Governor McCrory came out against college education and Republican legislators came out against women’s nipples. These are two (or three?) big reasons I’m not a Republican. In fairness, the Governor took it back. He said he was for college education after he was against it. Kind of like John Kerry.…
Read MoreSurprise, Surprise
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Our guest blog today is from a Tapster. Republicans won control of the NC General Assembly with a promise to create jobs and improve the state’s economy. So, where is the proposed legislation to do that? Of the 100 or so bills introduced in the…
Read MoreAmong the Freshmen
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Our guest Tapster today is Joe Stewart of JRS Strategy Group. Part of my work as former Political Director at NC Chamber involved seeking out solid business-minded people to run for the General Assembly. Someone I met in 2010 pursing this goal was Rick Catlin.…
Read MoreA Simple Prayer
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Here’s one from another Tapster. When the legislature makes its biennial return to town, our usual tendency is to ridicule the members’ narrow mindedness, laugh at their lack of political sophistication and hold our collective breath that they won’t destroy the state. The gavel drops…
Read MoreA Train Wreck
The other day down at the News and Observer John Dresher wrote about the most enticing opening to an article I’ve seen in awhile. He wrote: “For their first date, Pat and Tiffany walk to a neighborhood diner for dinner. Pat orders Raisin Bran. Tiffany, perhaps already giving up on Pat, orders tea. They proceed…
Read MoreTwo Views of the World
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Our guest blogger today is Nation Hahn. In recent weeks North Carolinians have heard two inaugural addresses. One, from Governor Pat McCrory spoke to “Unlimited Opportunity.” The other, from President Barack Obama, was a call for the “country’s reasonable majority” to act. For North Carolina Democrats,…
Read MoreMcCrory’s Mouthpiece
Gary is taking a break from blogging. Today’s pinch-hitter one of our Tapsters. The choice of a press secretary is a blip on the personnel radar of North Carolina’s new governor, but this choice provides insight into the kind of governor Pat McCrory may become. McCrory’s choice for media mouthpiece has plenty of…
Read MoreJim Hunt’s Pope
Gary’s taking a break from blogging. Pinch-hitting today is a TAPster with a long memory: Re your blog posting about Art Pope (“The Budget Pope”): A lot of people either aren’t old enough to remember, or simply don’t know, that another wealthy Raleigh businessman was indispensable to Jim Hunt in that role. John…
Read MoreRepublican Tax-Raisers
This headline is off-message: “NC Republicans want tax hikes on food, services” (WRAL). At a time when Washington Republicans are cementing reputations as anti-tax hardliners, how did Raleigh Republicans get plunged into this morass? The answer: a member of their caucus, Senator Bob Rucho, dragged them to the cliff. Question: Will Governor McCrory,…
Read MoreTax Gamble
North Carolina Republicans are stepping out on a political high-wire. Surely, most people love the idea of not paying personal or corporate income taxes. But then you start looking at the details. Every business would pay a receipts tax. Everybody would pay (and businesses bill and pay) a tax on services – medical…
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