Passing the Test

The 2008 Presidential campaign has been described as a freak show, a demolition derby and a two-year exercise in the politics of personal destruction. The race is already being decried by the high-minded journalistic and academic elite for its length, cost and brutality. Baloney. What we actually have here is the perfect process for picking…

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Meeker’s Double Standard

Here’s the latest example of Mayor Meeker’s double standard. Concord-Empire Davie Street, LLC wants to build a mixed-use development downtown and it wants the mayor to build a parking deck to help. John Kane also wants the city to build a deck to help his new project at North Hills. The Mayor gave Kane’s project…

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Who’s Minding the Store?

Last year, when he was warming up for his run for Governor, State Treasurer Richard Moore blasted pay-day lenders by saying, “A civilized society does not allow these kinds of interest charges.” A year later, the News and Observer reported that when Moore said those words he had $11 million in state pension funds invested…

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Brave New World

The 2004 Presidential campaign brought politics Internet fundraising, 529s and “swift-boating.” You ain’t seen nothing yet. For a taste of what’s to come this time, go to YouTube and see the “Hillary 1984” ad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWvHbOoG3tI. It’s clever, creative and cutting. It goes right to the heart of Hillary’s weakness with younger, Blog Democrats. To them,…

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Politics Trumps Logic

It’s easy to understand President Bush’s stand on the war in Iraq. He says: Let’s fight it out until we win. It’s also easy to understand the anti-war Democrats’ stand. They say: The war is wrong. Let’s get out. Now. But Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s stand is puzzling. She says: The war is wrong. But let’s…

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Over-Downtowned, Part 2

A blog I wrote about Mayor Meeker’s focus on downtown stirred up some heated comments. So I have another question. A reader regularly forwards me copies of an online publication from the city called the “Livable Streets Newsletter.” And it’s all about downtown. You would think the only livable streets in Raleigh are downtown. My…

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Giuliani Should Strap On His Helmet

Debates between presidential candidates about issues can be pretty vicious. But they’re mild compared to campaigns where one candidate decides to attack the other’s character. Rudy Giuliani is the leading Republican candidate for President because of the character he displayed when the terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, so, inevitably, as he begins his presidential…

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A Republican Crackup?

Back when he was a Democrat, former Senator Lauch Faircloth used to say there were two things he didn’t understand: electricity and Republicans. I still don’t understand either one. I especially don’t understand the Republican presidential contest: John McCain seems to be shrinking before our very eyes. The strong, straight-talking, independent maverick of 2004 now…

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Mayor of One Raleigh — or Two?

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker must decide whether he wants to be mayor of all Raleigh – or just part. Tom Fetzer got elected mayor in the 90s by mobilizing North Raleigh against Inside the Beltline. With Carter Wrenn’s help, Fetzer tapped into a feeling that the city was spending too much money downtown and paying…

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