Archive for November 2008
Perdue’s Fresh Start
Governor-elect Bev Perdue is wrestling with two public images. One is the picture in Sunday’s N&O of her with Marc Basnight, with Basnight looming over her. The other is her vow election night to make a “fresh start.” Her speech was odd. She sounded tired, even touchy. She reprimanded the crowd for not listening. Clearly,…
Read MoreWhoops!
The morning newspaper was a blow to Obama supporters and the legions of young people who just voted for change: Because in the Obama administration, lobbyists are in. Back during the campaign Obama excoriated lobbyists by saying, “They won’t find a job in my White House” – but his post-election transition team is welcoming them…
Read MoreHe’s Back
What’s the definition of penance in modern American politics? We now know exactly. It’s three months without speaking into a TV camera. Three months ago, John Edwards confessed to an affair with a blonde aide, did one TV interview, then announced he’d said all he had to say about that and pulled up the drawbridge…
Read MoreEdwards Ten Years After
A young, fresh Democratic underdog upsets an older, entrenched Republican United States Senator. North Carolina Democrats take heart. Washington welcomes a promising new face. Today it’s Kay Hagan. Ten years ago this month it was John Edwards. Today Edwards gives speeches and the questions are pre-screened. Of course, the hosts insist, it has nothing to…
Read MoreAn Articulate President
The sight of Barack Obama and George Bush together at the White House was striking in many ways. For one thing, what will it be like, as Joe Biden would say, to have an articulate President, one who can speak clearly – and write powerfully? I don’t want to overdraw this comparison, but skill with…
Read MoreJosh Stein and New Raleigh
No race shows more dramatically how Raleigh has changed than Josh Stein’s smashing 3-to-2 victory over Johnny Mac Alexander in Senate District 16. Alexander is prototypical Old Raleigh. He and his family are pillars of the city’s long-time business and social elite. He graduated from Broughton. He and his family have done great work at…
Read MoreIf John McCain Had Won
No, not if he had won last Tuesday. If he had won eight years ago, in 2000. If he had withstood the Bush smear machine in South Carolina. If he had picked a true maverick with real qualifications, like Chuck Hagel, for his running mate. If he had beaten Al Gore fair and square, with…
Read MoreChange
Carter and I spoke this morning to Leadership North Carolina about the political landscape today. The questions were interesting – and pointed: What do the Republicans do now? How will Bev Perdue govern and position herself for 2012? How will the state solve its fiscal problems? How will the feds pay for Medicare and Social…
Read MoreWait a While
Yesterday morning, lifting a stack of emails my eye fell on the note written across the top of the first page, ‘This one looks serious.’ It was from Richard the Intellectual. All it said was, ‘Has the world ended?’ Richard is what he himself describes as a ‘decliner’ which, I can tell you from experience,…
Read MoreA Call for Respect
Race and politics can bring out the worst in people – and the best. My daughter Maggie, 15, is a high school sophomore. Like her older brother, who has posted blogs here before, she is an ardent Democrat – and fan of Barack Obama. Since Obama won, she has heard some ugly things from her…
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