When Jim Hunt was
Governor no one could open a Seven-Eleven without Hunt adding a new page to his
new job recruitment statistics. By the time Governor Hunt left office he’d
announced so many new jobs – some promised, some real – the unemployed were in
a state of shock. He also made “Smart Start” North Carolina’s most legendary advertising slogan,
replacing ‘Plop-plop, fiz-fiz, oh what a relief it is’ and ‘Where’s the beef?’

But when it comes to
juggling of numbers Governor-for-life Hunt can’t hold a candle to Mike Easley.

The NC Budget and
Center is a very liberal
organization. It lavishes praise on Democrats – with barely a kind word for
Republicans. So when they say the Governor is all wet – well, it’s kind of like
your best friend saying you’re full of baloney.

The Governor brags
his new tax plan will eliminate taxes on 545,000 needy North
Carolinians.

Not so, says the
Budget and Tax Counter. The real number, it says, is 66,000. (They also say most
of the people the Governor claims he is eliminating taxes on don’t pay them
already.)

The Governor also
boasts he’s going to cut taxes in half for another 629,000 North
Carolinians. Not so, the Center says. The Governor wildly exaggerated
his numbers by 200,000 people.

Finally, the Governor
says his plan will cut taxes on a third of the people in North Carolina for only $63 million.

The Center says he
underestimated the costs by 600%.

How did the Governor
answer all this criticism? He and his “senior fiscal advisor” have vanished
from sight. But, in the meantime, his office is stoutly standing by his numbers.
(News and Observer; 3-6-07).

The Governor probably
has his eyes fixed on a completely different kind of numbers. Poll numbers. He’s
had his PR machine working overtime for weeks telling everyone in sight he’s eliminating
taxes on a third of North Carolina.
His mathematics may be all wet, but his poll numbers are sure to soar.