Carter Wrenn
Gary Pearce
I don’t know whether Art Pope is going to knock off Richard Morgan in Tuesday’s primary. But I’m willing to bet that Morgan beats Pope in the State Board of Elections. For years now, Pope Republicans and Morgan Republicans have fought a civil war. It’s like the Shiites and Sunnis without the bombings. Pope has…
The fall elections have been looking pretty bleak for Republicans, lately. After President Bush’s stands on the United Arab Emirates ports deal – letting a company owned by the Emirates run U.S. Ports – and immigration proved to be unpopular, even with Republicans, his standing in the polls plummeted to a low ebb. For the…
Before Iraq, there was Vietnam. Before America got bogged down in a war in the Middle East, we got bogged down in a war in Asia. Before America had a President trying to prove he is tougher than his father, we had a President trying to prove he was tougher than his predecessor. Before America…
Brace yourself. I have something good to say about George W. Bush. But I’ll probably end up taking it back. Bush went to Orange County, California, Monday. He talked about immigration. And he spoke out clearly against the anti-immigrant demagogues in his own party: “I know this is an emotional debate…but one thing we cannot…
How much trouble does President Bush think he is in over Iraq? A lot. Witness three news items: Bush’s photo op in California eating with GIs and their families. A clear response to the generals’ criticism of Rumsfeld. James Baker heading up a high-level group of review Iraq policy. Which Condi Rice reportedly resisted. I…
I’ve posted several items about anti-immigration politics. And immigrant-bashing clearly is the strategy of at least one wing of the Republican Party. It may work. Enough voters may be xenophobic enough – or even racist enough – to buy it. But here is a history prediction: In decades to come (maybe even sooner), Republicans will…
Someone once quipped the two greatest lies are ‘the checks in the mail,’ and ‘I’ll still love you in the morning.’ He might have added, ‘We’ll tax someone else.’ The great debate over ‘Impact Fees’ is underway in the Raleigh City Council. The smallest amount being considered to increase this tax is 72%. Even that…
There are two ways to keep score in politics: polls and money. By the money measure, Democrat Richard Moore and Republican Bill Graham should be the leading candidates for Governor in 2008. Moore has raised $1.3 million to Beverly Perdue’s $1 million and Roy Cooper’s $760,000. Graham reportedly is spending $1 million of his own…
Whether or not you agree with Congressman Walter Jones you have to admit he has a rare trait among politicians. There are many elected officials who are clever, intelligent or articulate – but there are not many whose courage matches their other skills. Congressman Jones have has stood up and disagreed with his own President,…
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…