Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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.
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…
Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…