On the way to the coronation…
The 2016 presidential field is taking shape almost two years before the election. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton appears to have a clear path. And her campaign is behaving far more like she's already the Democratic nominee than someone pursuing the...
Swingin’ for the fences
The 2016 political environment will likely be much different from 2014. Last year, voters we dissatisfied with state of the economy and the dysfunction in Washington. While most economic indicators showed an improving outlook, most working families still had not, and...
It’s time to make things work, not just tear things down
The UNC Board of Governors made a mess of firing UNC President Tom Ross. Clearly, it was amateur hour. Board Chair John Fennebresque met with the press without any answers to the most obvious questions. He couldn’t give any reason that the Board dismissed Ross. Then,...
Mapped out
Ok. I’m a bit offended. Civitas didn’t mention me as part of the vast left wing conspiracy. I mean, I’ve beaten up on the legislature, the governor, Art Pope and, yes, even Civitas as well as anybody. How could I have not made the list? I’m mean, hell, even AARP is...
Following Pope’s lead
In 1990, when Art Pope set up the John Locke Foundation, North Carolina’s second Republican governor since Reconstruction was in the middle of his second term. In the state house, a group of rebellious Democrats had engineered a coup by forging an alliance with...
The next 30 years
In his State of the Union speech, Republicans and pundits have accused Obama of cynically trying to shape the 2016 presidential election with proposals that he knows won’t get much traction in a GOP congress. His proposals may well play out in 2016 instead of in this...
His brother’s keeper
(Note: Photo on the left is Phil McCrory's twitter icon. For the record, I stand with the people, not the power.) Somebody needs to take away Pat and Phil McCrory’s shovel so they quit digging that hole any deeper. We haven’t seen such cunning and savvy since Don...
Run, Tom, run
Whenever a door closes, another opens. And today, the University of North Carolina’s loss could be the Democrats’ gain. They’ve been looking for a Senate candidate to take on Richard Burr and few people fit the bill as well as UNC President Tom Ross. He’s got the...
Art Pope is no Bill Friday
We’re about to find out the truth about Art Pope’s ambition and power. For months, rumors have circulated around Raleigh that Pope wants to be president of the University of North Carolina. Now, according to news sources, current UNC President Tom Ross is being forced...
Hillary Clinton and the emerging Democratic agenda
Barack Obama has proven to be a resilient politician. Despite frequent declarations of his political death, he stays in the game. He was certain to lose re-election but managed to win despite a pessimistic country and relatively low approval ratings. The loss of the...
