Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
Obsessions can be two-edged swords, like Ahabâs pursuit of the white whale. Mayor Meekerâs obsession is unusual. Heâs fixated on downtown. His current goal is to transform Hillsborough Street into an enclave of wide-sidewalks, English-style round-abouts and strolling pedestrians. But he has one problem. The âhead shopsâ and tattoo parlors along Hillsborough Street are not…
Read MoreConventional Wisdom says the 2008 Presidential nominations will be decided by money. Especially with a de facto nationwide primary looming in early February. CW (that’s “conventional wisdom,” not Carter Wrenn) says a campaign will have to raise $100 million this year to be viable next year. CW says this Saturday, March 31, is a critical…
Read MoreDavid Stockman lied to the American people about the federal budget a quarter-century ago. This week, he got indicted for doing essentially the same thing to investors. As Ronald Reagan’s budget director, Stockman promised that we could cut taxes and balance the budget. It didn’t turn out that way. Stockman later admitted to a reporter:…
Read MoreCancer is cruel. Politics is cruel. John and Elizabeth Edwards now must live at the intersection of both. Much of the reaction to her cancer falls along predictable political lines. Supporters see admirable courage and determination. Opponents see breathtaking ambition and denial. The most misguided criticism is that John Edwards is pressing ahead because of…
Read MorePresident Bush says there was “nothing improper” about the U.S. Attorney firings. Strictly speaking, he’s right. U.S. Attorneys come and go with every administration. Karl Rove says of the whole flap: “It’s all a lot of politics.” He’s right: A lot of politics by the Bush Administration. Bush likes to pose as the principled leader…
Read MoreRudy Giuliani continues his own version of a surge, widening his lead over John McCain again in the latest polls. A Republican frontrunner who supports tax-funded abortion and gay rights is unusual – it’s a little like waking up and finding the red states have taken on a bluish tinge – and a lot of…
Read MoreWith great ballyhoo (and a keen eye for the fast buck) Hollywood has announced it has discovered Jesus’ tomb. It has also found Jesus’ wife and son – who didn’t exist until now except in fiction. But just as Hollywood was getting up a head of steam Good Morning America (3-6-07) did them one better.…
Read MoreThe 2008 Presidential campaign has been described as a freak show, a demolition derby and a two-year exercise in the politics of personal destruction. The race is already being decried by the high-minded journalistic and academic elite for its length, cost and brutality. Baloney. What we actually have here is the perfect process for picking…
Read MoreHere’s the latest example of Mayor Meeker’s double standard. Concord-Empire Davie Street, LLC wants to build a mixed-use development downtown and it wants the mayor to build a parking deck to help. John Kane also wants the city to build a deck to help his new project at North Hills. The Mayor gave Kane’s project…
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