Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
When Jim Hunt was Governor no one could open a Seven-Eleven without Hunt adding a new page to his new job recruitment statistics. By the time Governor Hunt left office he’d announced so many new jobs – some promised, some real – the unemployed were in a state of shock. He also made “Smart Start”…
At first I thought it might be shock, or embarrassment, or not wanting to kick a fellow when he’s down: Democrats, led by Governor Easley, were silent as stones about Jim Black’s bribery conviction. Then I asked a friend who knows legislators, ‘Why aren’t Democrats howling from the rooftops in outrage at Jim Black rather…
The massed armadas of political correctness have descended on the head of a hapless social studies teacher at Enloe High. Robert Escamilla, the ACLU says, has strayed and must be pummeled. His crime: Inviting an Egyptian Christian – who was tortured in Egypt for his beliefs – to speak to his class. The greater crime:…
Suppose Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & Co. had spent less time plotting revenge against critics of their pre-war intelligence hype – and more time making sure wounded troops received decent medical care: Scooter Libby wouldn’t be a convicted perjurer. Brave men and women wouldn’t have suffered so tragically. And this administration’s reputation for competence and trustworthiness…
I’m thankful for Ann Coulter. Every time she opens her mouth, she hurts Republicans and conservatives with the general voting public. This weekend she slimed John Edwards with the “faggot” slur at a national conservative conference in Washington. Tellingly, no Republican has summoned the decency or courage to call her down. I’ve had a little…
A men’s room is not a safe place to be if they’re in it with Jim Black or a chiropractor. But there’s still one unanswered question. While all this money was floating around between Black and Michael Decker and chiropractors and optometrists where were all the other Democrats? I don’t mean why weren’t they in…
Mayor Meeker just stood City government on its head. For six years, he’s been on a spending spree, giving taxpayer subsidies to all types of corporations – hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. Now, suddenly, he’s stopped. Or, at least, he’s finally found one corporation he doesn’t want to subsidize. The Mayor and his bosom-buddy-allies on the…
Richard Moore’s reaction to his Forbes hit was fast and aggressive. Beverly Perdue’s campaign needs to wake up. This was much like the Hillary-Obama exchange over David Geffen: an early look at which campaign is on its game and which isn’t. Coverage of the Forbes article clearly hurt Moore, the State Treasurer and would-be Governor.…
Iraq Contracts There is a silver lining report in every dark cloud – even electing a Democratic Congress. Federal investigators report $10 billion – and probably a lot more – has been squandered in Iraq on contractor overcharges, unsupported expenses and payments for work never done. The bottom line, they say, is no accountability and…
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…