Edwards and Poverty

Leaving aside all the falderal about John Edwards’ $400 and $1250 haircuts, beneath Edwards’ posturing about poverty there may be a subtle – and powerful – political point. While Edwards pirouettes through Mississippi, New Orleans and Appalachia with reporters in tow, his stance on poverty is providing a positive window-dressing that allows him to talk…

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The YouTube Debate

I was skeptical about the CNN-YouTube Democratic presidential debate. The buildup struck me as too cute, too self-promotional, too self-congratulatory. In short, too Anderson Cooper. But I liked the debate. For one simple reason: The questions were great. And the credit goes to YouTube. Most debates that feature “real people asking real questions” flop. Real…

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What Democrats Are Really Saying: Stay in Iraq

Democratic leaders in Congress say they want to get us out of Iraq. Now. Asap. But look at the fine print in the bill they passed in Congress on July 12th. That’s not what it says at all. First, they don’t say pull out now. They say start to pull out. And they don’t say…

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The World Turned Upside Down

I’m out of the country two weeks and the political world turns upside down. I had long assumed that my Democratic Party had the market cornered on sex scandals. From Wilbur Mills to Gary Hart to Bill Clinton. And that Republicans had the monopoly on money scandals. Warren Harding, Richard Nixon and Jack Abramoff. I…

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Lucifer

Because of two stories about crimes I’m wondering what people think about ole’ Lucifer? Does he really exist? Both stories – about particularly brutal crimes – were reported in The News and Observer. The first was the Wake County District Attorney’s summation in the trial of Byron Waring, asking the jury to give Waring –…

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Send in the Clowns

While Democrats have been plagued by money scandals (former House Speaker Jim Black, Rep. Thomas Wright and Rep. Mary McAlister) and DMV scandals (Director George Tatum’s abrupt resignation), Republicans – at least for the past week – seem fixated on sex. First, Rep. David Almond resigned amid rumors he had sexually harassed a state employee.…

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Same Mistake: Third Time

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, just told Congress the military is “weighing new directions for Iraq, including an even bigger troop buildup.” Before anyone gets all lathered up, what the army really seems to be doing is studying all the alternatives. Sending more men. Sending fewer. Leaving the same…

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Phony Politics

You have to say this for the Internet: It’s making life more dangerous for politicians. The whole foundation for Rudy Giuliani’s campaign for President is his record on 9-11. In that vein he recently boasted New York’s Firefighters “have no greater friend” than Giuliani (Cox News Service, 7-15-07). It turns out the Firefighters don’t agree.…

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A Third Black Eye

First, the School Board’s Administrators got a black eye from the press for buying land without getting appraisals. Then they got one from the County Commissioners for raising their own salaries. Now they’ve gotten one from the U.S. Department of Education. Ten Wake County schools have failed to meet ‘No Child Left Behind’ standards, so…

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The School Board’s Second Black Eye

The Wake County School Board got a second “black eye” from County Commissioners. Commissioner Kenn Gardner blasted the Board for reducing teacher pay raises at the same time it was boosting Administrative spending 11% – twice the increase in school enrollment. Not so, Chief Business Officer of the School Board David Neter, shot back. He…

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