YouTube Politics

I didn’t know what YouTube was until my wife and children introduced me to it. Now, my 17-year-old, James, uses it to keep me current on what’s really happening in politics. Once again, the potential power of the Internet amazes me. Go to this link and you’ll see what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE-S1bA_Rsc It’s a clip…

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Jim Black: Dodging Hand Grenades

In an odd sort of way it’s a tribute to House Speaker Jim Black that after the Video Poker scandal, the Optometrists scandal, the Lottery scandal and Representative Mike Decker’s bribery conviction, he has survived. But, in fact, the Speaker has more than survived. He has retained power without a single serious challenge. Kevin Geddings…

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A Fumble

The non-profit foundation that sponsored the North Carolina A & T “Aggie” vs. North Carolina Central University “Eagle” football classic has fallen on hard times. Attendance at Carter-Finley stadium fell in 2005 when the game was moved to Monday, to avoid a conflict with NC State’s first home game and the foundation ended up in…

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More Year-Round Schools Coming

Parents who oppose mandatory year-round schools also oppose the Wake County school bonds. But they may be the biggest losers if the bonds lose. Especially if you look deeper into the WRAL/News & Observer poll on the bonds. The bonds are losing 54-35, the poll says. But the internal numbers are even more interesting: Most…

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UNC Health Care Pays Big Bonuses

Last month, the News and Observer reported the UNC Health Care system filed a lean on a man’s home when he was unable to pay his bill, after being struck by a crippling disease. Now, the newspaper reports the UNC system has paid executives $2.5 million in bonuses. Its CEO received a bonus of $110,000…

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The D’Amato Strategy

In New York, they used to say of Senator Alfonse D’Amato, one of the legendary pork-barrellers, ‘He’s a crook, but he’s our crook.’ In other words it wasn’t the scandals it was the pork that mattered. After House Speaker Jim Black’s debate with opponent, Hal Jordan, Black told the press, “This is not about Kevin…

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Urban Correctness: Meeker Style

When it comes to downtown Raleigh Mayor Meeker has his own version of political correctness – it could be called “urban correctness.” The Mayor and two of his allies on the City Council, Russ Stephenson and Thomas Crowder, have very definite – and rigid – views about what they do and don’t want downtown and…

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No More ‘Stay the Course’?

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow says the words “stay the course” may never pass his lips again. But does that mean the President’s policy in Iraq has changed – or is Mr. Snow simply abandoning what has become an unpopular phrase, two weeks before the election? It’s not exactly clear. Has the policy has…

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Morgan vs. Pope

Excerpted from attached Morgan letter: “If left unchallenged, Art Pope with his corporate millions, is a danger to the values North Carolinians hold dear. If successful, Pope will destroy the integrity of the North Carolina House of Representatives. “ “So I want you to be among the first to know that I have formally set…

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Pope versus Morgan

Excerpted from attached Morgan letter: “If left unchallenged, Art Pope with his corporate millions, is a danger to the values North Carolinians hold dear. If successful, Pope will destroy the integrity of the North Carolina House of Representatives. “ “So I want you to be among the first to know that I have formally set…

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