Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
An interesting fight is shaping up over real estate transfer taxes. It has implications for a lot of municipal elections this year, including Raleigh’s. Opponents – Realtors and homebuilders – label the idea the “home tax.” Their website – http://www.itsabadidea.org/ – says: “Bills now being considered in the State Legislature would force the home sellers…
For an interesting story on a newspaper being covered by a newspaper, go to the Independent Weekly’s story about ongoing changes at The News & Observer. Here’s the link: http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A48019 The N&O editors sound just like government or corporate officials sound when they’re caught in an uncomfortable situation they have a hard time explaining. If…
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…
Conventional 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…
David 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:…
Cancer 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…
President 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…
Rudy 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…
With 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.…
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…