Capital Potty-Break Putsch?

Are Washington Republicans learning from Wake County Republicans?   Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a leading opponent of the health-care reform bill, said Sunday: “What the American people should pray is that somebody can’t make the vote.”   Democrats protested that Coburn was wishing misfortune on a Senator.   Maybe Coburn was just hoping that…

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Politics Getting Stranger

With the State Board of Elections and a Federal Grand Jury investigating Mike Easley, and the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission asking questions about Tony Rand manipulating penny stocks Democrats can’t catch a break — and now a state Grand Jury has found probable cause Senator R.C. Soles, one of the Democratic old bulls…

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No Bid Contract Backfires

Secretary Lanier Cansler’s gone and landed Governor Perdue in the soup again with one of his no bid contracts.   This time Cansler got caught by WRAL giving a $30 million contract to a company that’s only been in existence two months and whose owners – Ramzi Abulhaj and Rich Admani – got sued in…

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Putting the Fun back in Politics

The cat is out of the bag – Bernie Reeves may run for Congress against Brad Miller.   Bernie, who publishes Metro Magazine, is a sort of irrepressible force of nature – brash, charming, outspoken and not at all impressed with a single politician walking around on two feet. I’d buy a ticket to watch…

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Perdue and the Courts

Editorial writers, defense lawyers and letter-writers claimed that Governor Perdue was defying the courts and the “rule of law” in the life-doesn’t-mean-life brouhaha.   But now one judge has agreed with her – and the Supreme Court has decided to review the matter.   In truth, her critics’ rhetoric was just as overheated as the…

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Kissell’s Bad Bet

The Washington Post had a story Sunday about how Larry Kissell’s vote against health care reform – and President Obama – has angered passionate Democrats who elected Obama and Kissell.   The story concludes with a quote from me about Kissell:  “That’s why they call them freshmen — because they make freshman mistakes. That’s why…

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Penny Stock

It looks like – from the newspaper – Democratic Senate Leader Tony Rand had a scheme to turn 140,000 shares of ‘penny stock’ he owned in Law Enforcement Associates (where Rand serves as Chairman of the Board) into a windfall.   First, it seems, Rand tipped (or otherwise persuaded) a few of his political friends…

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Humble Cal

Poor Cal Cunningham; the young man has had so much ‘humbling’ lately if he wasn’t a politician he might be facing the possibility of sainthood.   First, before he announced he was running for Senate, he said he’d been ‘humbled’ by how many folks wanted him to run. Then, after he declared he was running,…

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A Ray of Sunshine

These have been dark and stormy days for Democrats.   Every day, the headlines bring more gloom. Ruffin Poole takes the Fifth. Mike Easley hires Joe Cheshire. Tony Rand is accused of insider trading. Marc Basnight is forced to defend his political and physical health. Bev Perdue’s ratings are low. R.C. Soles faces trouble. David…

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Kill the Bill

My friend and New Media guru Matt Gross argues that President Obama is wrong to keep pushing health-care reform up the steep Senate hill.   Instead, Gross says, Obama should kill the bill, blame the Republicans and go to war over the public-option issue in the 2010 elections.    The White House is hostage to…

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