One Up on P.T. Barnum
2009-09-14 - by
As if Governor Perdue’s not singlehandedly doing enough to sink the Democrats next election (with her 25% Favorable to 50% Unfavorable) former Governor Easley is lending a hand.
Not even P.T. Barnum pulled off what Easley ahs done: Going to a real estate closing to buy a half-a-million dollar lot with borrowed money then walking away with $135,000 in cash.
If you find flim-flams entertaining this one’s a classic story: Back in June of 2005 the ‘Cannonsgate’ (rhymes with Watergate) beach front developers got a crucial state permit from Easley – just in the nick of time. Twelve days later Easley plunked down $5,000 to reserve a lot on the beach. Six months later Easley walked out of the closing on the lot with $135,000.
Is America a great country?
Since then Easley and his press spokesman and Easley’s real estate buddies and Ace Smith, Easley’s ace political consultant, have all been saying Easley absolutely paid the full $550,000 price for the lot. No deals. No kick-backs.
Now, lo and behold, some gnome handed the News and Observer a copy of Easley’s ‘closing statement’ and right there in black and white it says Easley’s buddies gave him a $137,000 discount on the lot – so Easley walked off with the cash (which never made it onto any of the Governor’s financial disclosure reports).
Plus Easley appointed one of the three ‘Cannonsgate’ partners to the Wildlife Resources Commission, another to the Transportation Board and a third to the Board of North Carolina State University where (between flying Easley around free of charge in his airplane) McQueen Campbell got Mary Easley her job at NCSU and an $850,000 contract.
Friday the News and Observer’s put the closing documents on page one and a sure sign it’s bad news for the Governor is not even his lawyer is talking.
Ole Ace Smith did his best to clean up the mess, allowing as how there was sure as blazes not one thing unusual about a $137,000 discount and how it would be just plain ridiculous for anyone to suggest cutting the price on the lot was the same as a gift for Easley.
So here’s politics North Carolina style: Easley’s wife gets an $850,000 job at State. Easley gets $50,000 in free Country Club dues at an exclusive club in Chatham County. Easley gets $137,000 from his developer-buddies at the beach. And free cars from auto dealers, free plane flights from political appointees and free vacations from businessmen he supported subsidies for.
This beats anything P.T. Barnum ever pulled off.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats
One Up on P.T. Barnum
2009-09-14/
As if Governor Perdue’s not singlehandedly doing enough to sink the Democrats next election (with her 25% Favorable to 50% Unfavorable) former Governor Easley is lending a hand.
Not even P.T. Barnum pulled off what Easley ahs done: Going to a real estate closing to buy a half-a-million dollar lot with borrowed money then walking away with $135,000 in cash.
If you find flim-flams entertaining this one’s a classic story: Back in June of 2005 the ‘Cannonsgate’ (rhymes with Watergate) beach front developers got a crucial state permit from Easley – just in the nick of time. Twelve days later Easley plunked down $5,000 to reserve a lot on the beach. Six months later Easley walked out of the closing on the lot with $135,000.
Is America a great country?
Since then Easley and his press spokesman and Easley’s real estate buddies and Ace Smith, Easley’s ace political consultant, have all been saying Easley absolutely paid the full $550,000 price for the lot. No deals. No kick-backs.
Now, lo and behold, some gnome handed the News and Observer a copy of Easley’s ‘closing statement’ and right there in black and white it says Easley’s buddies gave him a $137,000 discount on the lot – so Easley walked off with the cash (which never made it onto any of the Governor’s financial disclosure reports).
Plus Easley appointed one of the three ‘Cannonsgate’ partners to the Wildlife Resources Commission, another to the Transportation Board and a third to the Board of North Carolina State University where (between flying Easley around free of charge in his airplane) McQueen Campbell got Mary Easley her job at NCSU and an $850,000 contract.
Friday the News and Observer’s put the closing documents on page one and a sure sign it’s bad news for the Governor is not even his lawyer is talking.
Ole Ace Smith did his best to clean up the mess, allowing as how there was sure as blazes not one thing unusual about a $137,000 discount and how it would be just plain ridiculous for anyone to suggest cutting the price on the lot was the same as a gift for Easley.
So here’s politics North Carolina style: Easley’s wife gets an $850,000 job at State. Easley gets $50,000 in free Country Club dues at an exclusive club in Chatham County. Easley gets $137,000 from his developer-buddies at the beach. And free cars from auto dealers, free plane flights from political appointees and free vacations from businessmen he supported subsidies for.
This beats anything P.T. Barnum ever pulled off.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats