North Carolina – Republicans
Deputy Art Pope?
A TAPster inside state government sends an intriguing follow-up to my blog about Governor McCrory calling Art Pope “deputy” budget director. That struck me as a bit defensive. (See “McCrory’s Picks.”) The TAPster saw a January 7 memo to all department heads and chief fiscal officers in state government. It was from “Art Pope,…
Read MoreJohn Ingram
The late Insurance Commissioner was a populist, an eccentric, a scourge of insurance companies and – regrettably – a big reason Jesse Helms was U.S. Senator for so long. Elected commissioner in 1972, Ingram waged a 12-year crusade against auto insurance companies, claiming they gouged customers. “Fighting for You” was his mantra. But his…
Read MoreCut, Forest, Cut
A TAPster reports that he “burst out laughing when new Lt. Governor Dan Forest quietly announced his staff over the weekend.” The TAPster goes on to ask: “Why does he need a chief of staff? And why on earth does he need a ‘director of operations’? To operate what? The copier? The office…
Read MoreMcCrory’s Picks
Some critics forget a big point about Governor McCrory’s appointments: He won. He gets to pick who he wants. No matter what you think. That said, three questions arise. First, Tony Tata? Really? The knock on Tata as Wake school head was that he was a bully who brooked no dissent or disagreement. And…
Read MoreKnee-Slappers
After Tony Tata’s appointment, a Republican friend said ruefully: “I hope he does better with DOT than he did with the school buses.” Speaking of jokes, Governor-elect McCrory’s apparently fell flat at the Economic Forecast Forum this week. In the spirit of bipartisanship, here’s a word of advice to the new Governor –…
Read MoreTwo Inaugurals?
Democrats should hold their fire here. Especially since a McCrory vs. media fight is brewing. Don’t get in the way. The North Carolina Press Association objects to the one-camera, one-reporter pool for the new governor’s swearing-in Saturday. The Henderson Daily Dispatch editorialized: “McCrory campaigned on openness and transparency. Granted, there’ll be no…
Read MoreCliffhanger
We avoided the dreaded fiscal cliff, only to fall over the cliff of confusion. I was stumped when two Democrats asked: Do we like the deal – or not? Well, we’re told it will prevent a stock-market panic and double-dip recession. That’s good, right? The Tea Party and House GOP Taliban are…
Read MoreOver the Cliff
While Republicans in Washington take their party and the country over the fiscal cliff, North Carolina waits to see if Republicans can govern. We’ve heard the cut-taxes/cut-spending mantra before. First from Ronald Reagan. He cut taxes, but never cut spending. Then he raised taxes. George W. Bush cut taxes. And raised spending. And…
Read MoreThe Real Reason: Another View
Carter wrote (“The Real Reason”) that “Democrats are having apoplexy” over Art Pope as Budget Czar because “Pope is dead serious about cutting government spending.” Well, that’s part of the story. The rest is that Democrats wonder whether he can cut government spending without hurting education (public schools, community colleges and universities), jeopardizing public…
Read MoreThe Real Reason
Pat McCrory called reporters down to the Albemarle building for a press conference and said two words and near about gave liberals from Murphy to Manteo apoplexy. He said, Art Pope. And five minutes later ole Chris Fitzsimmons was howling on Twitter, The Pope Administration begins…and about an hour later the Democratic Party…
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