Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
When I read this morning about Tony Tata’s school-assignment plan, I recalled what one supporter of the diversity policy told me after meeting Tata earlier this year: “I don’t think this school board knows what they’ve got.” Tata seemed much more progressive than the board’s Republican majority. Perhaps the majority was seduced – and…
We already had one: the commission chaired by Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson. Here’s a link to their report, The Moment of Truth: Report of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Since Bowles is a straight shooter and Simpson a plain speaker, I was curious what they say about taxes, which appears…
From a message standpoint, Governor Perdue is stronger now than President Obama. The New York Times Sunday captured the White House’s dilemma: combat or compromise? The story said: “As the economy worsens, President Obama and his senior aides are considering whether to adopt a more combative approach on economic issues, seeking to highlight…
This is how it’s going to be for the next 14 months. Last week, the hot political story was Democrats mad at President Obama. Now, the story is his would-be opponents – especially Romney, Perry and Bachmann. And therein lies a lesson. Here’s what dominated the media/blogosphere chatter this weekend: How weird are Bachmann’s…
Rick Perry is the Republican flavor of the month. He’s got it all: a record of bringing jobs to Texas, a direct line to God, money, hair, cowboy boots and support from every wing of the Republican Party, from the right wing to the extreme right wing to the off-the-edge-of-the-earth right wing. But now…
Here’s a TAPster who earns two beers by sending me two rants. First, on the debt-ceiling deal. “I respectfully disagree with one of your recent posts regarding the Republicans winning the budget and deficit funding battle. If they won, see what they have given us. Their precious philosophy, commitments to no taxes and…
Washington has done it again. They’ve appointed a ‘Super Committee’ to cut spending only there’s a hitch – the newspapers report the members of the committee have taken three million dollars in campaign contributions, from the special interests who’s spending they’re supposed to cut. Senator Patti Murray, who’s also taken an additional $1 million…
I made my maiden appearance on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show last night (regrettably, I can’t find a link for your viewing pleasure; somebody help me). Therein lie two stories: one about how news happens today and the other about how President Obama still might get reelected. First, the news. I was on – looking,…
A friend chastised me – and rightly so – for not taking note of the July 31 death of long-time (1973-2007) Rocky Mount Mayor Fred Turnage. It’s not just that Turnage was mayor for 34 years and not just that he was a progressive leader in difficult times. Rocky Mount has long been…
Carter Wrenn and I are moving to Substack. That’s where you’ll find our blogs in the…
The political sniping began even as chaos still reigned at the White House Correspondents Dinner. My…
A new nationwide poll shows that, if they could run against each other in 2028, Barack…