McCrory Missteps

A veteran Raleigh observer says “Governor-elect Pat McCrory is off to a surprisingly rough start.”   Here’s the TAPster’s critique:   “He’s a seasoned politician but acts like an amateur (or a Wake school board member). Here are three examples of conflict where he should’ve known better:   “The N&O busted him for not quitting…

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When the Sky’s the Limit

Up in Washington, right after Obama won reelection, House Speaker John Boehner held a press conference to announce he’d seen the light and was ready to compromise and accept more tax revenues (which translated from political speak into plain English means higher taxes).     Next the House Republicans set off in hot pursuit of…

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Legacy Time

As their time in office winds down, Governors and Presidents often come down with LLS – Legacy-Leaving Syndrome.   Symptoms include a sudden fever to leave on a high note, a thirst to do something big and memorable. Side effects include a tendency to overreach (see Haley Barbour and Bill Clinton).   LLS actually can…

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Kicking the Can down the Road

It was like watching the rerun of a bad old black and white movie: Obama won reelection then, the next day, at a press conference in Washington John Boehner stood up and announced he was ready to compromise and accept new taxes – but only on one condition. Obama had to accept big spending cuts.…

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Dix Politics

This isn’t the first Dix land fight. And it’s not the first time the state did the right thing despite short-sighted politicians.   Exactly 28 years ago, in late 1984, another outgoing governor had plans for Dix land. Governor Hunt wanted to give a chunk of it to N.C. State University for a research park.…

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How Politics Works

Back in 2005, Governor Mike Easley pulled strings and got his wife a job at North Carolina State University running what he called a ‘speakers series;’ then the Governor pulled more strings and got his wife a new job paying more, $170,000 a year; then the Governor’s string-pulling landed on the front page of the…

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How Democrats Can Win on Voter ID

It’s shameful that Republicans believe their political future rests on voter suppression. But Democrats can turn this chicken shit into chicken salad.   First they tell voters: “Republicans are doing all they can to make sure only angry old white men can vote. If you’re young, old, a minority or anyone who doesn’t look like…

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Another Perdue Gift

Well, Governor Perdue’s stepped in another mess. She’s announced she’s going to sidestep the normal nominating process (she set up) to pick a new Supreme Court Judge before Pat McCrory takes office.   Perdue explained how her plan made sense, saying, I can’t imagine that the person I select will be anything but the finest…

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Perdue’s Last Gift

For Republicans it was like old times – just when they were getting into a funk because they won’t have Governor Perdue fumbling through press conferences anymore, instead of riding quietly in the sunset the Governor held one last press conference. And it was like manna from heaven. Senator Phil Berger (meta-phorically) let out a…

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No to Senator No

Maybe I should be more forgiving when it comes to naming a building for Jesse Helms. Maybe I should let the past go, let bygones be bygones and let go of old grudges.   No way.   Helms was a racist. He was a gay-baiter. He was a hater. On television and in the Senate,…

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