Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
I hereby declare a Democratic victory in the much-hyped Pelosi/Murtha affair. Here’s why: Pelosi stuck by Murtha because he helped her and stood up to Bush on Iraq. Loyalty is good. But the Democratic caucus rejected Murtha because he’s not good on ethics. Ethics are good. And the Democrats showed they’re independent, not beaten-down sheep…
Nancy Pelosi got off to a good start after Election Day. But she’s about to blow it. Here is hoping the Democratic caucus saves her from herself today. What is she thinking: Supporting the ethically challenged John Murtha for the No. 2 caucus position? The man who told the Abscam bribers he wasn’t interested “at…
The talk-show blowhards want to know if Republicans and Democrats can work together in Washington. I want to know if Democrats can work together.Senator Charles Shumer and Congressman Rahm Emanual did a smart thing: They put winning ahead of ideological purity. They recruited candidates like: Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, who is pro-life. Health Shuler in…
Why not get out of Iraq now? Immediately. No phased withdrawal. No graceful exit. No fig-leaf of victory. Here’s the first argument: Iraq will fall into chaos. Well, it’s already in chaos. Argument No. 2: America will be humiliated in the world. Could we be more humiliated? Actually, I’m not sure getting out is right.…
There is a theory about that The News & Observer/WRAL pre-election poll on the Wake County school bonds lulled opponents into complacency and spurred supporters to victory. Whether or not it did, the newspaper needs to take a hard look at why the poll was so far wrong. The explanation by the pollster – Del…
This has nothing to do with politics. The News and Observer reports (10-25-06) two scientists have determined millions of years ago the Amazon River flowed in the opposite direction. I know it’s akin to heresy to question anything scientific but, sometimes, it’s hard not to wonder about scientists. How can they be so certain what…
During the Republican primaries, former State Representative Art Pope contributed heavily to a group opposing Representative Richard Morgan. Morgan lost but, now, according to the News and Observer, he’s launching a ‘Legal Fund.’ Morgan says he’s afraid left unchecked, “Pope will destroy the integrity of the North Carolina State House.” We’ve had the Lottery scandal,…
It sounded like love in bloom on the cable political shows last night. Democrats and Republicans alike were talking about a new era of cooperation. Bush and Pelosi were making nice. The pundits pontificated about how the politicians of both parties had heard the voters’ yearning for partnership to replace partisanship. As Jon Stewart would…
George Bush ran a terrible midterm campaign, but he made a fast recovery the day after the election by dumping Rumsfeld. He stole the cable headlines and the front pages from Nancy Pelosi. In 1994, President Clinton stumbled and staggered for weeks while Newt Gingrich dominated the news. Bush was savvy enough to avoid that…
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…