Archive for February 2013
The Only Casualty
War’s broken out in Raleigh. The Republican County Commissioners launched a blitzkrieg, hiring a lobbyist (for $25,000) to get the Republican legislature to redraw the districts of the Democratic School Board members – then the Democratic School Board struck back (to keep their districts) by spending four times as much ($100,000) to hire their…
Read MorePerfectly Clear on Twitter
There’s a full throated debate going on in Washington – Republicans are saying ‘the Sequester’ wasn’t their idea, it was Obama’s idea, and the White House is saying, ‘Obama’s idea! John Boehner not only voted for the Sequester, after it passed he bragged he’d gotten 98% of what he wanted.’ Meanwhile the Republicans, after…
Read MoreBilling and Cooing
After three days on a retreat at a spa near Washington, and after meeting with President Obama, House Democrats headed home ‘billing and cooing’ like reconciled brides because they’d built a ‘closer relationship’ with the President. But in this case the path to reconciliation wasn’t romantic: It was money. To sooth the Congressmen…
Read MoreDiamond Jim Gardner
Jim Gardner almost changed political history twice – 20 years ago and 40 years ago. In 1972, he was the fair-haired boy of the North Carolina Republican Party. Six years earlier, he had unexpectedly defeated a long-time Democratic congressman from the East, Harold Cooley. How big an upset was it? Cooley was chairman of…
Read MoreObama and LBJ
Didn’t we see this movie in the Sixties? The President and his aides huddle over maps and pick targets. Jets drop bombs or drones launch missiles. Our enemies die. So do innocent civilians. The natives hate us and we make more enemies. As Congressman Walter Jones asks: Why are we still in Afghanistan? …
Read MoreTea Party
George Washington supposedly said the Founding Fathers created the Senate to cool House legislation just as a saucer cools hot tea. In North Carolina, it looks like the House and Art Pope are cooling the Senate’s hot tea. The House promised to take a long second look at the Senate’s boards and commissions…
Read MoreA Hasty Retreat
Pre-K foe Diana Lightfoot has hot-footed it out of the pre-K job. (See blog below.) Give the McCrory administration points here. There’s only one way to fix a disaster: fast. Now maybe Ms. Lightfoot can get to the bottom of these ultrasonic waves from China and North Korea. And here’s two words…
Read MoreThe War on Education
The way things are going, Pat McCrory may end up as the Uneducation Governor. First he questioned a liberal arts college education. Even Carter had trouble swallowing that. Now his administration appoints an early-childhood director who opposes early-childhood education programs. Democrats should welcome the chance to take this one to the voters.…
Read MoreLegislative Privilege
The N&O headline said “Bill would give McCrory, legislature control of some state boards.” Democrats and environmentalists howled “power grab.” But Governor McCrory might not be so happy with the bill. Because the legislature is taking appointments away from him and increasing its own. Exhibit A: the bill cuts the Coastal Resources Commission…
Read MoreReal Reform
Finally the State Department of Health and Human Services is cracking down on a crisis. What’s that, you ask? Mental health? Rising Medicaid costs? Funding for adult-care homes? The uninsured? No. The dress code. I especially like this: “Daily grooming and bathing are required. Clothing should be clean, pressed and in good condition…
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