Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Just Another Moral Monday
One protestor waved a sign calling for legalizing medical marijuana and another held up a sign “Stop the War on Women” and Reverend Barber looked out at the multitude of marchers, lifted his arms, and thundered into the microphone how he meant to save the school children and save the poor and see that everyone…
Fighting to Lose
Instead of exploiting the Tea Party’s war on Establishment Republicans, Randy Voller seems set on replicating it in the Democratic Party. Behind this week’s chaos is a history of hostilities between some party activists and what they see as the Establishment Enemy: elected officials in Raleigh and consultants who help elect them. It goes…
Feed the Birds
This blog is a tribute to my late father, Jim. He was a printer all his life, first at Parker Brothers Newspapers in Ahoskie and then at The News & Observer. For many years, he was foreman of the N&O composing room. Those were the days when newspapers were produced with hot metal…
Taking Them to School
Jim Hunt still drives Republicans crazy. Governor McCrory and GOP leaders scheduled their pay-raise rollout in Jamestown just as Hunt’s Emerging Issues Forum was starting in Raleigh. They wanted to steal the spotlight. But they just spotlighted their own shortcomings. Just as Hunt was saying ALL teachers should get a raise, McCrory & Co.…
Big Casino
It sure seems like Wallace Cheeves down in Greenville, South Carolina has had his share of ups and downs. Right out of college, Cheeves went to work for the video ‘poker king’ of South Carolina. Then he went a step further and opened his own video poker company – which went out of business when…
Thanks, Randy
Democrats should be feeling good today. Then Randy Voller comes along. First, tens of thousands of people march in Raleigh. Their numbers show the depth of anger at Republicans in Raleigh – and the potential impact in November. Then Governor McCrory and Republican legislative leaders reveal two things: They’re scared that voters will…
Blame the Press Secretary
It’s a sure sign a politician is in trouble: He gets a new press secretary, communications director or whatever you call it. So Governor McCrory shipped Kim Genardo to Commerce and replaced her with Josh Ellis. I know nothing about the inner workings of this Governor’s Office, nor about the performance of his communications office. I…
Biting Michael Vick
This blog comes from a long-time, active Chamber member. I approve this message: “There’s a political lesson for all of us in the needless maelstrom that has engulfed the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: You get fleas or worse when you lie down with dogs and dog killers, and you can destroy your credibility in…
Yes, Clay Aiken
Your first reaction was probably the same as mine. Clay Aiken? The singer? For Congress? Then I met him. He’s the same person you meet in his announcement video. He’s smart, serious and genuine. He clearly has thought deeply about policy matters. He has a unique voice that is a breath of fresh air in…