Archive for February 2010
Stay Tuned
Tiger Woods ought to offer John Edwards a free golf lesson – a thank you for knocking him off the front pages of the newspapers. Last week there was a new twist in the saga of John and Liz and Andy and Rielle – and, surely, after this development the announcement the four of…
Read MoreTrick ‘Em
Back in her days in the General Assembly the Governor developed a sure-fire way to deal with legislators: Bumfuzzle ‘em. For instance: The Governor’s biggest department, the leviathan Department of Health and Human Services, has already plowed through its $200 million budget increase, plus spent another $250 million on no-bid contracts (a lot of…
Read MoreEnquiring Media
It must drive The News & Observer’s editors crazy. Every time the National Enquirer publishes a sensational new twist in the John Edwards soap opera, the N&O editors – like the rest of the mainstream media – have to decide whether to ignore it or check it out. Last week, they checked out…
Read MoreThe Great Satan
The other night, snowbound, I turned on the television: The Grammy Awards started with a gentleman dragging a blonde – I think it was Lady Gaga – across the stage. Then wearing pink glitter eye make-up and a kind of show girl costume with lime green wings the blonde went to bumping and grinding. Then…
Read MoreObama Up Again
Several readers pounced on my blog about Obama’s favorable ratings in North Carolina: “Hope that kool-aid tastes good,” one posted. Another: “Wow. Keep spinning, Gary.” OK. How about the latest New York Times/CBS poll: “At a time of deepening political disaffection and intensified distress about the economy, President Obama enjoys an edge…
Read MoreWhat’s Up? Obama!
Every day I read how badly things are going for President Obama. Democrats and Republicans, the mainstream media and the bloggers all alike trash him, his staff, his health care strategy, his jobs plan, his position on the banks, on and on. Then I read a poll – commissioned by the Civitas Institute,…
Read MoreRead Her Hand
Sarah Palin is an unending source of entertainment. She’s nearly as funny as Tina Fey’s impression of her. There’s the scrambled syntax – a sure sign of a scrambled mind. The brassy denial of reality. Reading a speech ridiculing President Obama for reading a speech. Attacking the bailout that she and John McCain supported…
Read MoreThe Fox
The legislature handed Lanier Cansler $200 million more to spend this year than last year and he promptly spent it all plus $250 million more – so, now, his department’s in the red and he’s pointing fingers at everyone in sight saying it’s their fault: The Obama Administration, the flu, the recession. …
Read MoreThe Golden Rule
Last fall’s Wake County school board elections followed The Golden Rule of Politics: Them that has the gold rules. Bob Luddy and Art Pope – two of the biggest opponents of public schools – were the biggest contributors to school board candidates. Their side, according to The News & Observer, outspent the other…
Read More$6,700 Each
Last week a chill just stole out of the State Board of Elections and settled over the Republicans in the State House – Democrat Leader Joe Hackney filed his campaign’s financial report. And he has a healthy $418,000 in the bank – while Republican Leader Skip Stam has just $13,000. Representative Stam made the…
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