Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Something about the combination of barbeque and politics makes political reporters salivate over writing a down-home story about how we’uns in Nawth Ca’lina don’t cotton to outsiders insulting our proud pork product. There has been a run of these stories since news broke that Rick Perry once dismissed North Carolina barbeque as tasting like…
How’s that for a headline to get your attention? But, seriously. One reason I enjoy this blog is I get insight into viewpoints that differ from mine. This week, I learned something about the attitude toward the gay-marriage amendment and, more to the point, gay people. I blogged (click here): “A business friend…
We’re $14 going on $16 trillion in debt, the economy’s in the tank and the only way out is to cut government spending – so it didn’t seem unreasonable to save $2.8 million by closing the 134 year old Post Office downtown (when there’s a newer Post Office a few blocks away). But not…
Rep. Bill Faison said out loud what Raleigh is whispering when he told WRAL’s Laura Leslie: “I certainly am aware that Perdue has her own problems, including the possibility of imminent indictments against some of her very close associates.” The rumor mill is churning: Will the Governor decide not to run in 2012? Then…
The other day at lunch a Democratic friend of old Will Patton’s was giving Mr. Patton down the river about Thom Tillis and Phil Berger cutting all the Democratic ‘Sacred Cows’ like ‘More at 4’ and ‘Smart Start’ and laying off teachers and when he’d heard enough Mr. Patton shot back, Well, one thing’s for…
In the 1980s, Democrats were in disarray and Ronald Reagan stood astride the political world like a colossus. Then, as today, Democrats comforted themselves by saying: “Polls show the American people agree with us, not him, on the issues.” Yep, they did. Go through a list of issues, just like today, and the…
Last fall Congressman Bob Etheridge lost his re-election bid and suddenly – after thirty-two years in public office – found himself out of a job. But only for a month. The nimble Congressman quickly landed himself a new job (earning $98,500) as North Carolina’s ‘Economic Stimulus Czar’ passing out President Obama’s ‘Economic Stimulus Funds.’ Then…
Constitutional amendments banning gay marriage passed overwhelmingly in other Southern states, I’m told, so one is likely to pass here, too. But think of the unintended consequences that may result. Republicans apparently realized that a November 2012 referendum might bring out a group of anti-gay marriage voters the GOP doesn’t want to encourage:…
For a decade Raleigh’s Mayor’s elections have been tales of Democrats trouncing Republicans which isn’t surprising as Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one but this year there’s an unheard of twist in the Mayor’s race: No Democratic candidate. Instead there are two Republicans and an Independent. Democratic Mayor Charles Meeker – who’s retiring –…
How do you get your news? Our statewide poll asked North Carolina voters what their primary…
Thom Tillis and Phil Berger fed the MAGA alligator. Then it ate them. Thomas Mills wrote…
Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had…