It’s a gas, gas, gas
Before North Carolina Democrats got unceremoniously run out of power, they left a few important things undone that are now coming back to bite them. The first was redistricting reform. They were either so arrogant that they assumed they would always be drawing the...
Another corporate hijacking
So the airlines industry is calling on the legislature to exempt them from paying sales tax on fuel. They say that gas is their largest expense and if we don’t give them an exemption, we’ll be at a disadvantage competing with states that don’t tax gas. Well, call...
Carrboro: From the Cradle to the grave
"From Day One, that's one of the reasons for doing the project, to give the Cat's Cradle some more space." Developer Laura Van Sant, to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, October 1, 2008 When I arrived in Chapel HIll in the summer of 1981, downtown was a happening place...
Keever’s challenge
Former State Rep. Patsy Keever is the new chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. That’s good news for Democrats. Keever understands politics, having run campaigns for Congress, state legislature and county commission. She knows the activists and the donors....
More poll dancing
Over the past week, I’ve seen three separate polls that look at the political environment in North Carolina. While some numbers differ, the trends are basically the same. North Carolina voters are starting to feel better about their personal situations. The mood of...
Republicans on parade
North Carolina Republicans had a big night last night. First, Governor Pat McCrory gave us a look at his re-election campaign masquerading as a State of the State address. Then, Thom Tillis made the Daily Show! He’s been US Senator for only a month and he’s already...
Politics and hypocrites
Yesterday, a bi-partisan group of house members unveiled two plans to reform the redistricting process. One proposal would have legislative staff draw districts that would then be voted on by the legislature. The other would set up an independent commission appointed...
Thoughts on vaccinations, science, and skepticism
For the past few days, my twitter feed has been filled up with a debate about vaccinations. Leaving children unvaccinated has led to a measles outbreak in the western part of the country. The White House, the vast majority of doctors, and most pundits are criticizing...
The NCDP’s Jonestown moment
In his column this weekend, the News & Observer’s Ned Barnett wrote, “The Democrats have been vanquished, undone by their disorganization and lack of conviction and gerrymandered into irrelevance.” The backdrop to that statement is a race for chair of the...
Winning hearts and minds, not just elections
The Koch Brothers announced this week that their network will spend almost $1 billion during the 2016 elections cycle. In response, Democrats announced they’ll spend almost that much talking about it. The Koch’s announcement is certainly cause for alarm and deserves a...
