Archive for 2006
Jim Black: What Can Republicans Do?
With only 52 votes Republicans don’t have much voice in choosing Jim Black’s successor as Speaker of the House. But here’s a suggestion: Challenge the Democrats to elect a new Speaker who is not part of the current House leadership. Why? Because a ‘fresh face,’ without ties to the current leadership, can best clean up…
Read MoreSchools and City Government
Last year, an eighth grader on her way to East Millbrook Middle School was struck by a car. The principal immediately asked the City to put a crossing guard on Spring Forest Road in front of the school. Months passed and nothing happened as the Mayor and City Council debated issues like new regulations on…
Read MoreA Kind Word for Jim Black
Speaker Jim Black did not invent the political system that embroiled him in the scandals that led to his announcement, yesterday, that he will not seek an unprecedented fifth term as leader of the State House. Instead he inherited the system (the press calls it ‘pay to play’) just as other Democrat and Republican leaders…
Read MoreRaleigh Political Outlook
The political pot is boiling for Raleigh’s elections next year. Here’s a sampling of what we’ve heard – via emails and conversations – since we first blogged on the topic: There is talk of a Republican running for Mayor – maybe Tom Fetzer or Phillip Isley. But with registration 50-35 Democratic, I don’t see it…
Read MoreLook at Me, I’m Harry Truman
Here’s how you can tell how much trouble George Bush is in because of Iraq: he’s comparing himself to Harry Truman. I always know a Democratic candidate is doomed when he starts comparing his race to Truman’s upset over Dewey in 1948. It’s a sure sign of sheer desperation. Now Bush is comparing his place…
Read MoreBackstage Politics: The Legislature and Waste Dumps
Four waste disposal companies propose to build mega-dumps in North Carolina and haul, literally, mountains of garbage from New York, Massachusetts and other states here and dispose of it. Democratic strategist Joe Sinsheimer has filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections against Representative Thomas Wright, which gives a glimpse of how the ‘backstage…
Read MoreA Twist on Nepotism?
Contributions to political campaigns are not bribes, because the money is not personal income to elected officials. But what if a Congressman puts his wife or a relative on his campaign payroll? Technically, that’s perfectly legal, too. But it’s harder to argue a Congressman has no personal benefit when his wife is on his campaign…
Read MorePresident Edwards?
The Washington-focused national press corps has anointed Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama as front-runners in the Democratic presidential race. They’re making a mistake overlooking John Edwards. Here’s what Edwards has going for him: Strong labor ties, which are important in the early Iowa and Nevada contests; A good glow left in Iowa from 2004, when…
Read MoreMayor Meeker Turns Developer
Mayor Meeker’s said some unkind things about developers (especially when it comes to higher impact fees) in the past, but, now, the Mayor’s about to try his hand at the development business himself. He’s gotten the green light from the City Council to proceed with his plan to spend $40 million (most of it from…
Read MoreWhat If’s on Iraq
Now that we seem to have started down the path of getting out of Iraq, letâs ask âwhat ifâ the worst happens. We won the military war in Iraq in a matter of weeks. But we lost the âpost-war peaceâ to the terrorists. Why? According to one analysis recently declassified documents show British Prime Minister…
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