Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Perdue’s Budget Choice
In the next few weeks, Governor Perdue will make a decision that could determine whether she is reelected in two years. She can go either of two ways in handling the budget and the new Republican legislature. She could work with the Republicans to cut nearly $4 billion. The political goal there would…
Bev’s Second Message
The other day Governor Perdue climbed on a jet airliner and flew to New York and drove straight to billionaire Ron Perelman’s Manhattan office and held a campaign fundraiser. Now why is a Wall Street tycoon raising money in Manhattan for the Governor? Well, the News and Observer points out Mr. Perelman sits on…
GOP: The Challenge and the Opportunity
Transitions are when winners strive to show they’re ready to take over. As Senator Richard Stevens of Cary, co-chairman of the Senate transition team, told the N&O, “The goal is to be ready day one.” Rob Christensen reported that “Republicans are hiring staff, choosing committees and committee chairmen.” They set up eight…
The Media and the Governor
Governor Hunt and I were in Wilmington last night for a book signing, which one TV station used to pursue a feud they apparently have with Governor Perdue over her accessibility to the media, or lack thereof. The same day, I got a call from a veteran Raleigh reporter complaining about the Governor: “I…
The Pit Bull
Some folks are wondering if North Korea’s ship sinking and cannon firing (into South Korea) is their idea of extortion – that this is the latest episode of North Korea growling and snapping like a pit bull, which will be followed by the Chinese brokering a deal and extracting another pound of flesh out of…
Fiscal Hari-Kari
Last week in Washington Republicans voted to ban ‘earmarks.’ Then a few days later the press asked Minnesota Congressman Michelle Bachman (a heroine of the Tea party) about the new transportation bill – a traditional source of earmarks for Congressmen – and Representative Bachman said she could see allowing some local transportation projects to ‘get…
The Coming Electorate
Want to know what North Carolina’s electorate will look like in another, say, 10 years? Look at what the public-school population looks like. The N&O reported recently that, for the first time, minorities make up a majority of the WakeCounty school population. And note: Hispanic students, now 14.6 percent of the enrollment…
Ten Years After
Ten years ago this month, Mike Easley was elected Governor of North Carolina. Today … well, you know. I’ve been reminding people this week that I was a Dennis Wicker man in the 2000 Democratic primary. Despite that, I never disliked Easley. But I recall one thing from the campaign that may have…
Senator Berger Responds
A reader passed along my post on taxes – “A Whiff of a Waffle” (see below) – to Senator Phil Berger. The reader received this response from the incoming Senate leader: “No waffle. No extension of temporary taxes. Phil.” All righty, then.