Bush’s First Veto

President Bush has not vetoed a single bill in five years in office. But, yesterday, it seemed at last he had found an issue so important it merited his first veto. What? The President wanted the United Arab Emirates (or, to be technically correct, a company owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates)…

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No Port in This Storm

President Bush’s decision to let Arab companies provide security for American ports confirms what I’ve always suspected: the one thing stronger than Bush & Co.’s fear of Arab terrorism is their greed for Arab money.

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Democratic Hypocrisy in the Pews

Jerry Meek, Chairman of the State Democratic Party, denounced the N.C. Republican Party for seeking church membership lists. Jerry said churches are “sacred” places that should be free of politics. As a Democrat, I know how heavily Democratic candidates have depended on African-American pastors and their churches at election time. Will Jerry now call on…

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Whoops – The Lottery!

There is some – more – bad news about the lottery. Last year, just about every major Democratic politician promised loud, long and repeatedly that every penny of the $400 million in lottery money would go for new education spending. They even told voters they wrote that into the law: the lottery money would only…

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Torching Free Speech

Should Western newspapers act “responsibly” – as the Bush Administration has suggested – in deciding whether to publish cartoons portraying Muhammad? My opinion: absolutely not. In fact, it downright angers me that so many Western political leaders are so intimidated by violent Muslim protests against the cartoons – and that some papers have fired editors…

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Can’t Debate This?

It is one thing for President Bush to claim the executive power to spy on Americans without a court order or Congressional approval. It is another thing for him to claim that the American people – and their elected representatives – shouldn’t debate the issue. But that is what I understand him to say. According…

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Another $555 Million – Not Being Spent on Schools

The News and Observer reports, “Raleigh-Durham Airport officials just approved a $257.6 million contract to replace the red-roofed Terminal C,” and the total cost of the project is “expected to reach $555 million.” So we have taxpayers funding: • $555 million for a terminal at the airport;• $215 million (and still rising) for the downtown…

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A Challenge to Meeker From the Left?

If Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker runs for reelection next year, he might face a challenge from a Democrat to his left. Like maybe Thomas Crowder. Meeker and other Council members aren’t happy with Crowder putting the issue of Marriott Hotel stucco on the front page. Not a team player, you know. And word is The…

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What Is Cheney Hiding?

I’m sorry, but I just can’t let go of the Cheney shooting accident. And here’s why. When a person acts like they’re hiding something, they’re usually hiding something. And I think Cheney is hiding something: drinking. In his Fox interview Wednesday, “Shooter” (as opposed to his old aide Scooter) was asked if anybody in his…

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No Lack of Money

The price of Mayor Meeker’s downtown Convention Center just soared again: to $215 million. The City Council just approved spending another $23 million on the Convention Center without a blink or hardly a nay vote. In fact, every County Commissioner and every City Councilman but one – Councilman Tommy Craven – voted for the increase.…

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