Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
It’s one thing to be a political rock star. It’s another thing to turn stardom into real money. And Barack Obama did it. Obama proved he’s for real when he raised almost as much money as Hillary Clinton in the first quarter – $25 million. Obama’s showing jolted Hillary’s campaign – and John Edwards’. As…
Republicans claim that Democrats are making the same mistake on Iraq that Newt Gingrich made when he shut down the federal government a decade ago. They say the Democrats will emerge from the congressional showdown over Iraq looking weak and untrustworthy – just like in the 70s and 80s. Not happening. The Republicans are dreaming…
Gary wrote on Tuesday that State Treasurer Richard Moore faced a moment of truth. His first campaign crisis. Moore failed.Last month, Forbes Magazine revealed that Treasurer Moore has been shaking down the State’s Pension Fund managers who he hires for campaign contributions. Last week, the News and Observer (4-1-07) reported Moore’s also shaking down the…
I wrote earlier about the personal dominating the political in the presidential race – witness Elizabeth Edwards’ cancer. Coincidentally, I spoke to two groups recently and got a question about that – one I get asked almost everywhere. Carter and I got it at a business group. Then I heard it from a group of…
Eighteen Wake County parents, disgruntled about year-round schools, have filed affidavits criticizing the School Board. Here are examples of what they’re saying: “My son won’t be able to attend Roy Williams basketball camp.” “My two sons won’t be able to bond.” “We have to visit my mother in Pennsylvania; she has Alzheimer’s.” “Obesity is a…
John McCain reminds me of an old calendar that is still hanging on the wall. McCain was a phenom in 2000. Today he’s a tired old face. As his campaign falters, he begins to look more and more like a bitter, beaten man. His first-quarter fundraising was so bad his campaign didn’t even try to…
Mayor Meeker’s Sancho Panza, Councilman Thomas Crowder, sees a new threat developing to Raleigh neighborhoods: Pawnshops. Crowder announced last week that he sees a trend. Pawnshops are moving into residential neighborhoods (News and Observer; 3-31-07). That seemed to puzzle Raleigh police detective Rich Bargfrede, who was testifying before Crowder’s committee. Barfrede – who is apparently…
Richard Moore is facing his first campaign crisis. How he responds in the next month could decide whether he’s elected Governor next year. Carter has blogged before that the State Treasurer is at risk of replacing Jim Black as the new “pay to play” poster boy in Raleigh. Moore hasn’t done anything illegal. But sometimes…
Dubai is one of the seven princedoms of United Arab Emirates (UAE). It bars Israeli citizens from setting food in its country. It “bans all products made in Israel and even ones with parts made in Israel.” Half the 9/11 hijackers flew to the United States from Dubai. And $234,500 of the $300,000 wired to…
Senator Phil Berger was out of touch with voters in his district – and suffered the…
A reassuring lesson from our trip to Germany and Czechia is that dictators, despots and tyrants…
Gwyn and I just returned from a 12-day journey through 1,000 years of history in Germany…