Politics Perdue Style

  Governor Perdue either has a new public relations guru or, suddenly, she’s started thinking in slogans because she’s firing them off rapid fire.   The other day down in Charlotte she let fly announcing her new education slogan: Ready. Set. Go.    Then she let loose on jobs chirruping our number one priority has…

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Ducking a Political Fight?

  Up in Washington, DC the Democrats on the City Council have put the Democrats in Congress on the hot seat by passing a law to make gay marriage legal in our nation’s Capital.   Now how on earth does that affect, say, Congressman Bob Etheridge who’s running for reelection here in North Carolina?  …

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Lanier Stumbles Again

  Over at DHHS High Lama and former lobbyist Lanier Cansler has promulgated a whole new set of rules governing folks who care for Medicaid patients.   For instance before a doctor can provide care to a Medicaid patient Lanier is going to check out his character, conduct, competence, criminal history, mental and physical health…

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Mass Hysteria

The polls hadn’t even closed in Massachusetts when Democrats formed up the requisite firing squad to fix the blame.   In truth, there are three factors here.   1. Scott Brown had the greatest gift in politics: an inept and overconfident opponent. Did she really go on vacation in the Caribbean last month?   2.…

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Obama Can’t Lose

Health-care reform may die in Massachusetts today, and Democrats across the country may panic, but a loss in the Senate race won’t be the death blow to the Obama Presidency that Republicans dream of.   In fact, Obama wins either way. A Democratic win in Massachusetts guarantees enactment of reform. A Republican win gives him…

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Basnight’s Pier

I figured ole’ Marc Basnight just loved fishing piers, so he passed a bill to build the grandest one you ever saw – with a ballroom and restaurant – in his district. But it looks like Senator Basnight had a more practical reason: Basnight Construction Company is building the $25 million pier.   Next explaining…

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The Real Campaign

Nearly 50 years ago, Theodore White wrote a book, The Making of the President, that changed how campaigns are covered.   Now Mark Halperin and John Heilemann have revolutionized the genre again with Game Change – in a way that says a lot about today’s politics, communications and culture.   White told the inside story…

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Quote of the Year, So Far

Governor Perdue this week at the ribbon-cutting for a “green” McDonald’s in Cary:   “I love McDonald’s. I eat here all the time, as you can see from my butt.”

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A Defense of Janet Cowell

A reader says my blog about Governor Perdue and Treasurer Janet Cowell “is a misread.”    Here is the reader’s take on Cowell – and her battle with Perdue and DOT over Charlotte loop funding:   “She’s a straight shooter, Gary, as close to pure and simple as you’ll find at that level of political…

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Council of State Headaches

You’d think Governor Perdue had enough problems with Republicans. But two of the biggest obstacles in her first year have been Democrats – Council of State members.   This is nothing new. All Governors get to where they want to call a constitutional convention to abolish the Council of State.   The conflict is inherent…

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