North Carolina – Republicans
Patience
Sometimes the hardest and smartest thing to do – in politics as in life – is just to watch and wait. Some patience now will pay off in the long run for North Carolina Democrats. Governor McCrory already stumbled by giving his new Cabinet big pay raises. Dick and Jane at home get…
Read MoreWhere’s the Party?
As Carter notes in his blog below, the boom in outside political groups is eclipsing the traditional parties. You can see three recent examples in Raleigh. The big event Inaugural weekend wasn’t the traditional Junior League Ball or a Republican Party event. It was the Foundation for North Carolina (“F”-NC) fundraiser. Last week,…
Read MoreGrumpy
The Democrats in Raleigh are grumpy because Speaker Thom Tillis has set up a new nonprofit to be the ‘Voice of House Republicans.’ Now, like ‘em or not, Super PACs, IE’s, and 527’s are the new political reality – Obama had ‘em, Romney had ‘em, and now Speaker Tillis has one. The more curious…
Read MoreGame Time
Raleigh was electric Saturday. The crowd was huge and enthusiastic. The stars outdid all their fans’ hopes. Not the inaugural. The State-Duke game. (Go Pack!) Governor McCrory’s early-season performance is like a basketball team that makes a brilliant play on one end, then commits a bonehead turnover. His speech and its “Main Street”…
Read MoreDeputy 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 More