Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Where is Obama When We Need Him?
The monster is back. Last year the federal government, which will waste money on almost anything, refused to fund Lite-Rail for the Triangle because it was too wasteful. Humbled, Mayor Meeker and other Lite-Rail boosters appointed a study commission and they’ve given us a seminar on how government shouldn’t work. The commission studied the problem.…
The Mind Reels
North Carolina’s Democratic politicos and media types are in a frenzy over the presidential primary. As Rob Christensen wrote Sunday, the circus is coming to town! So here’s what we’re working on, as they say on TV. Will North Carolina pick the nominee? Has our time come? Or will our moment be stolen from us?…
Raleigh City Council District D
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker’s close amigo City Councilman Thomas Crowder has a plan to raise ‘Impact Fees’ – and it should warm the hearts of the Mayor’s developer-contributors downtown. Instead of raising the fees (taxes) on everyone Crowder wants a tiered plan. Which means different fees for different folks. Who pays more? And who pays…
Democrats: Marching Off the End of the World?
Itâs hard not to like Barack Obama. Or admire his success. Or perseverance. Or eloquence. But Iâm beginning to have a feeling of déjà vu. Every two decades or so the Democratic Party erupts and gives birth to a candidate who sets Democrats all aquiver in the pits of their liberal souls. Remember Eugene McCarthy?…
A New Democratic Scandal
If the News & Observer is not careful pretty soon folks on Governor Easley’s Board of Transportation are going to be calling it a Republican newspaper. The N & O has grabbed a tiger by the tail. A few years ago the legislature passed a law requiring DOT Board members to report how much money…
A Bit of Stress for Democrats
There are more cross currents in the Democratic Presidential primaries than a hurricane. It’s got everything. Race. Sex. Money. Brittany Spears must be next. Let’s – gingerly – explore race. Hispanics vote for Hillary (or, more to the point, against Obama) two to one. Asian-Americans vote for Hillary (and against Obama) eight to one. African-Americans…
Camelot Dreams
Even the most secular Democrats fervently await the Second Coming. Of John Kennedy, that is. Barack Obama is the latest in a long line of latter-day JFKs. There were Bobby and Teddy, of course. Also, Gene McCarthy, George McGovern, even Jimmy Carter, Gary Hart, Joe Biden (1988 model), Bill Clinton and John Kerry (who had…
McCain vs Huckabee
Mitt Romney has ‘suspended’ his campaign – which in plain English means he’s struck the flag. Romney out-fundraised, out-spent, out-organized and ran two or three times more ads than any other candidate. But there are campaigns – and candidates – who never find their message. And Romney was one. He was a governor with a…
Run This Ad Tomorrow
The News & Observer reports how the candidates for governor are spending their money. Republican Fred Smith led the way spending the most, including $360,000 to publish his book, A Little Extra Effort, $100,000 for Lee Greenwood to write a song about him and $90,000 for barbecue. The second biggest spender, Bill Graham, spent $1.5…