Archive for November 2010
Recount
Just when I thought I’d seen it all out of the blue I ran head-on into a living breathing piece of devilment called the Recount. In North Carolina the recount medusa only raises its head if a candidate wins by less than 1% of the vote. In Renee Ellmers’ race with Congressman Bob Etheridge…
Read MoreErskine’s Grenades
In business, government and education, one of Erskine Bowles’ great strengths – and, as a politician, one of his great weaknesses – was a fondness for speaking blunt truths. He relishes telling people what they don’t like to hear. But now he has truly surpassed himself. First, he set North Carolina on its…
Read MoreMillions of Reasons for Hope
Here’s some tonic for Democrats depressed about last week’s elections. In North Carolina, 2.7 million people voted Nov. 2 – a turnout of 43 percent. In 2008, 4.3 million North Carolinians voted – a 70 percent turnout. That’s a drop of 1.6 million voters. Nationally, 75 million people voted last year. In 2008,…
Read MoreWOWW, Part 1
“WOWW” stands for “Where Obama Went Wrong.” Beginning today, I will present various theories I have heard from Democrats. Then I will unveil my own super-secret, foolproof answer. Obama’s theory – articulated by him before the election and by several Democrats since – is that he “got the policy right and the politics wrong.”…
Read MoreThat’s The Spirit
Republican legislators say they’ll balance the state budget by combing through every item. Now comes Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler – a Republican. The Greensboro News & Record reports that he “says there’s nowhere left to cut in his department and he has refused to give Gov. Bev Perdue recommendations on where to cut…
Read MorePerdue’s Choice
Governor Perdue faces a critical policy and political choice. The media is focused on what the new Republican legislature will do to balance the budget. But the Governor has to make the first move. She proposes the budget. And the course she takes could decide whether she becomes North Carolina’s first one-term…
Read MoreTransition Trials
First Carter and Renee Ellmers go to war with Washington Republicans over funding her recount fight. Then Republicans begin jockeying for legislative leadership positions. It proves the truth of James Carville’s old age: “Transitions are when you stop fighting your enemies and start fighting your friends.” Except he used a more colorful…
Read MoreDid the Dam Break?
North Carolina Democrats have survived three near-death elections: 1972, 1984 and 1994. But will 2010 be the one when the dam finally breaks and we go the way of the rest of the South? Some smart Democrats here think so. They see a decade – or more – of Republican dominance ahead. They believe…
Read MoreReset
The great thing about political blogging is that the game never ends. For the next two months, we get to watch the positioning for the legislative session. Governor Perdue’s first statement got it right: We need to work together in a time of economic and fiscal crisis. But she’ll have conflicting advice. Move…
Read MoreAn Education in Washington Politics
Election night, after the ten counties in her district reported their votes, Renee Ellmers led incumbent Congressman Bob Etheridge by 2,100 votes. (That number is crucial because under North Carolina law Congressman Etheridge is not entitled to an ‘automatic recount’ if he trails by more than 1% – or 1,888 votes.) Then the afternoon…
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