You Couldn’t Make This Up…

20/20’s story the other night about John Edwards and mistress Rielle Hunter was brutal; after watching Edwards die the death of a thousand cuts I thought, This fellow needs a break and if he doesn’t get one this may end more badly than anyone’s imagined.   You couldn’t make up what’s happened to Edwards:  Sitting…

Read More

Democrats Reforming Again

The pictures of young Ruffin Poole being led into the federal courthouse hand-cuffed has sent Democrats into a frenzy to pass another round of Ethics Reforms – and it’s like ‘déjà vu’ all over again.   After every scandal (from Jim Black fixing the Lottery Commission to Mike Easley’s wife getting a $170,000 a year…

Read More

A Titanic Issue

People who care about North Carolina’s economy are closely watching Governor Perdue on an issue that will say a lot about her leadership.   It’s the proposed Titan concrete plant near Wilmington.   Fans say Titan, based in Greece, is one of the best companies in the world, ranking high on corporate accountability, environmental responsibility…

Read More

Corporations and Politics

I’ve been reading about the recent Supreme Court decision that says corporations can spend as much as they want to elect politicians.   Now, pragmatically, there’s not much to doubt this ruling is going to be a financial windfall to anyone in the political consulting business. And, theoretically, I’ve got to say more freedom of…

Read More

Brad and the Banks

Here’s another example of a politician trying to have his cake and eat it too: The other day Congressman Brad Miller bemoaned the Supreme Court ruling on corporations spending money in elections then wailed he’s in hot water because he’s made the banks mad, saying, “I’ve made a real nuisance of myself to the most…

Read More

Blaming Bush

I have a real problem with the way President Obama blamed George Bush for the budget deficit in his State of the Union speech.   But my objection is directly opposite Republicans’. I don’t think Obama blamed Bush enough.   As I recall, Ronald Reagan was still blaming Jimmy Carter and the Democrats for everything…

Read More

Just Another Washington Politician

Over the last year with every breath he’s  taken the President’s shown a burning faith in government (led by enlightened politicians) as the engine of progress – his faith has been so overwhelming he’s fearlessly taken government into recesses of American life where no President ever dared tread.   But, the other night, Obama the…

Read More

Sex in Juvenile Prison?

Awhile back the newspapers were running horror stories about patients in state mental hospitals being sexually attacked, beaten and even dying due to neglect – the whole thing sounded like a nightmare straight out of 19th century mental asylums.   Now the newspapers are running horror stories about juvenile prisons for young girls – and…

Read More

Shelter From the Storm

A reader was not impressed by Governor Perdue’s performance this weekend: “She returned from her warm weather vacation to be a leader and then didn’t look much like one.”   At least she came back.   I don’t begrudge a governor ever taking a vacation. But you take a chance when you go someplace warm…

Read More

Another Victim

I told myself I wouldn’t post another word about John Edwards.   But then I spent an hour on the phone with a disillusioned former staffer from Edwards’ presidential campaign.   This young man now finds himself unemployable. “Former John Edwards staffer” doesn’t look so good on a resume.   He began to have doubts…

Read More