Raleigh
Wakeup Call
It was a rout. Democrats were fired up and ready to go. They were mad about more than the school board. They were mad about the 2010 elections, the Republican legislature, the Tea Party, even Art (“I am not an heir”) Pope. Incidentally, Tuesday’s results show that Pope’s power was exaggerated by the…
Read MoreRunning With Randall
Dr. Randall Williams’ brief political career is liable to end in today’s election. Which I regret, because he could give Raleigh politics a refreshing – and recurring – regimen of: “What’s with that?” Like his haircut. (Click here.) What’s with that? Then there’s the odd, full-page ad in The N&O today. What’s with…
Read MoreHow to Win Friends Political Style (It Beats Dale Carnegie)
It didn’t work out too well when Congress went into the home loan business a couple of years ago – so it seems odd the Raleigh City Council wants to do the same thing. However, just about everyone in town seems to think passing a bond to borrow millions so the Council can make…
Read MoreHow to Make Friends the Political Way – Part II
The other borrowing the Raleigh City Council has put on the ballot is a Transportation Bond. Which sounds like the Council wants to borrow money to repair potholes and build new streets. Except the newspaper reported three-fourths of the money isn’t for roads. Almost everyone it seems is for this bond too. And if…
Read MoreThe N&O Misses One
Among my jobs at the N&O in the early 70s were copy editor and night city editor. I still read the paper with an editorâs eye. So I just about swallowed my eyeshade when I read todayâs N&O profile of Raleigh mayoral candidate Randall Williams. How do you write that story without mentioning…
Read MoreNo Sacrifice is too Small
We’re $14 going on $16 trillion in debt, the economy’s in the tank and the only way out is to cut government spending – so it didn’t seem unreasonable to save $2.8 million by closing the 134 year old Post Office downtown (when there’s a newer Post Office a few blocks away). But not…
Read MoreThe Saga of Bob Etheridge
Last fall Congressman Bob Etheridge lost his re-election bid and suddenly – after thirty-two years in public office – found himself out of a job. But only for a month. The nimble Congressman quickly landed himself a new job (earning $98,500) as North Carolina’s ‘Economic Stimulus Czar’ passing out President Obama’s ‘Economic Stimulus Funds.’ Then…
Read MoreScratching Their Heads
For a decade Raleigh’s Mayor’s elections have been tales of Democrats trouncing Republicans which isn’t surprising as Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one but this year there’s an unheard of twist in the Mayor’s race: No Democratic candidate. Instead there are two Republicans and an Independent. Democratic Mayor Charles Meeker – who’s retiring –…
Read MoreJudges and Legislators
You’ve got to admire Judge Howard Manning’s nerve – he’s only a state district court judge but for years he’s been issuing orders to Governors. Judge Manning’s modus operandi is simple: He looks at the State Budget, looks at the Constitution, then declares if the Governor doesn’t spend more on this or that program it’s…
Read MorePriorities, Priorities
A TAPster notes a striking example of where the state spends and where it cuts: “Did the Jones Street Honorables notice a political paradox during their recent visit to Raleigh? “Just a city block away from the Legislative Building, work is concluding on the construction of several gleaming new state government buildings and…
Read More