Stormy politics

When winds howl and waters rise, political careers can soar – or sink. And elections can turn upside down. The fall of George W. Bush began the day in 2005 when he flew over Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, looking distant and detached. He never recovered. Nor did New Orleans. On the other hand, even a scoundrel…

Read More

Quick hits

So much is happening so fast. So let’s fire away at several juicy targets – er, topics. Trumped Just when you think he can’t get worse, he does. His 77-minute tirade in Phoenix was True Trump. The estimable Economist pegged him for who and what he is: “politically inept, morally barren and temperamentally unfit for…

Read More

Two takes on Cooper

Because he’s a Democrat who won in a state that Trump won and Republicans rule, Roy Cooper is getting national attention. Last month it was The New York Times. This week it’s Politico (“Can Roy Cooper Show Democrats How to Win Again?”), which proclaims: “North Carolina’s governor is unveiling an audacious plan to oust his…

Read More

Still searching for a win

Even with Trump’s troubles, and even with some close finishes, Democrats can’t turn the corner. We came close in Montana, close in Georgia and close even in South Carolina. But a loss is a loss. And we’re still looking for a W. Which makes must-reading of an article in this coming Sunday’s New York Times…

Read More

Teacher pay politics

“If teachers were motivated by money, they wouldn’t be teachers.” – A motivated teacher Republican legislators brag about their pay raises for teachers. Governor Cooper says teachers deserve more. But what do teachers want? It’s more than more pay. If you talk with concerned, motivated teachers, they care more about: too much testing arbitrary standards…

Read More

Roy’s long game

A Democratic warrior read that Governor Cooper’s job-approval rating is 61 percent. And the Republican legislature’s reelect rating is only 30 percent. So, he asked, “Why isn’t Cooper whacking the Republicans harder every day?” First, it’s not his style. He’s not one to bang his shoe on the lectern. And Cooper is playing a long…

Read More

Jim Hunt at 80 and 40

Former Governor Jim Hunt celebrated his 80th birthday last week. And this year marks 40 years since his first year as Governor. Last Thursday evening, Governor and Mrs. Cooper hosted Governor and Carolyn Hunt, their family and about 200 “Hunt alumni” – from 16 years of staff, Cabinet and campaign teams – for a wonderful…

Read More

2 Tyrants, 1 Leader

Trump saw the FBI on his trail. So he fired Comey. Senate Boss Berger was enraged that Democrats had the gall to propose amendments to his budget. So at 3 am he rammed through an amendment taking money away from schools in Democratic districts. Those were the actions of tyrants. There’s another way. Governor Cooper…

Read More

Sellout or Step Forward?

Governor Cooper’s office calls the HB2 repeal “an important step forward for LGBT rights” even though it “wasn’t a perfect compromise or the Governor’s preferred solution.” LGBT leaders call it a “sellout” and an “insult.” This is the oldest debate in politics. Not liberal/conservative. Or Democrat/Republican. But “compromise” versus “all or nothing.” The Governor had…

Read More

Sports and HB2

Roy Williams won another NCAA title. And Roy Cooper may have won us more NCAAs. Which highlights the big part that sports played in the HB2 repeal. Give the NCAA and ACC credit for an assist. Point to them. They stood up and spoke out against HB2 from the start. For that they got grief…

Read More