Berger and The N&O

A TAPster who has watched a succession of politicians tangle with the N&O was struck by Senate Leader Phil Berger’s letter to the editor Tuesday, especially the end:   “Interestingly, the editorial opines that the state’s Legislative Building is a ‘hot-air factory where opponents of the Racial Justice Act seemingly will say anything …’ Clearly,…

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Play that Video

I’m old-fashioned enough not to have much faith in these new ‘automated telephone polls’ that the Democrats at Public Policy Polling do, but you have to give them credit – those polls have turned their company into a P.R. juggernaut. They’re in the newspaper just about every day.   Their latest poll on the Democratic…

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Mitt as Pretzel

Mitt Romney has to be the most phony-baloney politician in American history. If there was an Olympics for Flip-Flop, he’d hold the Gold. If he did yoga, he’d be a pretzel. He is the Mickey Mantle of Political Switch-Hitting, the Oscar Robertson of Obfuscation, the unchallenged champion of the George Orwell Trophy for Double-Talk.  …

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The Dark Side

Economic numbers are brightening a bit, so President Obama’s ratings are a bit brighter. But the most striking thing about the election climate nine months out is the darkness on the Republican side.   Listen to them – and to what their words and their expressions say about their mood, their attitude and their vision…

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It’s Free!

I wonder, sometimes, if Obama believes what he’s saying? He ordered the Catholic Church to provide contraceptives to its employees;― the Bishops said No, outrage followed, and Obama realized he’s bitten off more than he could chew.   So Obama announced he had a solution. The Church, he said, wasn’t going to have to provide…

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Politics 101

A lot of times people ask me about political campaigns: How are they run? What matters? What doesn’t?   In fact, most political campaigns are simple. More often than not they boil down to one fact: Who voters know. Because when a voter walks into a voting booth if he knows one candidate and not…

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Media Blitz

Bill Faison got a rude welcome to statewide politics. The N&O story about his ex-wife’s divorce allegations – published the day Faison filed – was like blitzing a rookie quarterback on his first play of the season.   The divorce apparently dogged Faison’s race against David Parker for state party chair – and cost him…

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A Little Gunpowder

One thing’s for sure: If Dan Blue runs for Governor it’s going to make the Democratic Governor’s Primary a lot more interesting.   Interesting, first, because of mathematics. Because over 40% of the Democratic voters are African-Americans and Senator Blue would be the only African-American candidate.   Interesting, second, because of history. Because Obama proved…

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Moore’s Choice

In some ways, no candidate is better positioned for the now wide-open Democratic governor’s race than Richard Moore. He’s a smart, charismatic candidate with enough personal resources to be an instant front-runner.   Moore has strong credentials. He was Governor Hunt’s Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety. He was state Treasurer for eight years.…

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Charging for the Exits

The exodus of Democratic legislators stampeding out of Raleigh multiplied again Tuesday when three more Democrats (Linda Garrou, Jennifer Weiss and Edith Warren) announced they’re not running for reelection.   Granted, Democratic House and Senate candidates face plenty of tough challenges – new districts, empty campaign coffers, befuddled leaders. Plus, over the past year they’ve…

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