Archive for 2013
Trading Punches
When Reverend William Barber steps up to a microphone wearing his vestments and clerical collar and lets fly with a haymaker calling Republicans immoral or characterizing Republican legislators as George Wallaces who want to turn back the clock to the days of Jim Crow – it’s just natural some Republican’s going to feel an itch…
Read MoreA Tribute to Modern Politics
Up in Virginia they’re locked into a donnybrook of a Governor’s race – the Republican candidate’s saying the Democratic candidate’s a hypocrite and a poor family man and a threat to every woman in Virginia (because of something he said about abortion clinics). The Democrat’s wife is saying she’s fed up with the Republicans…
Read MoreWhere Do You Stand, Pat?
Governor McCrory’s waffling on the abortion bill recalls the old mountaineer who listened to a slick politician give a long-winded, on-the-one-hand, on-the-other-hand answer to a tough issue. Finally, the mountaineer demanded: “Son, are you fer it or agin’ it?” McCrory shouldn’t kid himself that he can pass off the bill as protecting women’s health.…
Read MoreShooting the Reasonable Fellow
Colon Willoughby, the District Attorney, is catching it from all sides. Faced with the chore of prosecuting hundreds of ‘Moral Monday’ demonstrators, Willoughby suggested to the protestors they were wreaking more havoc on the Wake County Courts than on Republicans and politely suggested maybe they ought to reconsider the virtues of getting themselves arrested…
Read MoreHagan for Governor
A TAPster offers an intriguing strategy for Democrats: “Kay Hagan should run for governor. “She should forget the US Senate, where nothing ever happens and there’s little chance to help her fellow North Carolinians, and come home. She can beat Pat McCrory, especially if his leadership continues to be weak or he is…
Read MoreHillary Reagan Clinton
In a sure sign of how much they fear her, Republicans suggest that Hillary Clinton would be too old – 69 in 2016 – to be President. (Hey, 69 isn’t so old!) “She’s been around since the ’70s,” one Republican operative said. Another: It would be “a rerun of ‘The Golden Girls’.” …
Read MoreHolding Rides Again
Congressman George Holding richly deserves a second blog-whacking for this. He wrote a letter to the N&O criticizing President Obama for spending tax money to go to Africa. (Why didn’t he criticize the President’s trip to Europe?) Holding wrote: “We need to rein in government spending – and this trip shows a lack…
Read MoreShades of Texas
Since Republicans stuck abortion restrictions on a bill about Islamic law, why don’t they go ahead and make women wear veils, scarves and robes? Apparently they’re inspired by Texas Governor Rick Perry. Now watch North Carolina women get fired up like Wendy Davis. This will be a test for Governor McCrory. Will he…
Read MoreArt Pope the Moderate?
A Republican lobbyist wondered: “What has the world come to when Art Pope is a voice of restraint on cutting taxes and spending?” Art Pope? The Democrats’ favorite demon? The radical, anti-government archfiend? Has he become a big government liberal? Or is this just a sign of how far off the edge of the…
Read MoreIf You Don’t Fight, You Can’t Win
Back during the Korean War, when the Marines were surrounded by the Chinese at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, a reporter asked Major General Oliver P. Smith if he was retreating and Smith said, “Retreat, hell! We’re not retreating, we’re just advancing in a different direction.” That was tough leadership. Back in the 1990’s…
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