The public is over the outrage and over Trump
Washington is all atwitter over the classified documents found at Joe Biden’s private office and Delaware home. Republicans are giddy, comparing Biden’s situation with Trump’s. They’re hoping to muddy the water despite the obvious differences. Trump ignored a subpoena...
The Oppression of Mentally Ill People is Ongoing
Mayor Eric Adams has announced a policy that amounts to the mass internment of mentally ill people in New York. Clarifying openly that they need not pose a threat to anyone's safety, Adams has decreed that hundreds or even thousands of people with disabilities will be...
Thoughts on guns, transportation, and extremism
As the legislature kicks into action, I don’t have any deep thoughts about a specific topic. Instead, I’ve got a lot of little thoughts about several things happening around the state and nation. Last week, a six-year-old boy brought a gun to school and shot his...
North Carolinians supporting roles
Well, my first prediction of the year came true, even though I had serious doubts. Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker on the 15th ballot. I expected the vote to get ugly but was surprised how ugly it got. By the time McCarthy won, the GOP tensions had reached the...
Patrick McWho?
We’re heading into day four of the vote for Speaker of the House. As of this writing, Kevin McCarthy has lost eleven times. This morning, though, the media says there’s a framework of a deal. We’ll see, but if it happens, North Carolina Congressman Patrick McHenry...
Why The South is Still Deeply Red
Like a blazing sunset over an old magnolia grove, the South continues to burn bright red. Democrats had hoped that former Confederate states such as Texas, North Carolina, and Florida would return to their long-lost Democratic roots in the 2020 election. Every one of...
Burning down the house
“Hold tight. Wait 'til the party's over. Hold tight. We're in for nasty weather. There has got to be a way. Burning down the house." David Byrne, describing yesterday’s Speaker votes. I had more fun watching Republicans prove their incompetence yesterday. Kevin...
Maybe I’m wrong
Happy New Year! I’m wary of getting into the prediction racket since I’ve been wrong so often in the past. Donald Trump’s election in 2016 convinced me that I know less than I thought. However, I do have a few thoughts and, if not predictions, then possibilities,...
North Carolina Democrats’ job in 2023
For Democrats in North Carolina, 2023 needs to be a building year. Nationally, the party exceeded expectations, adding to its majority in the U.S. Senate and keeping their loss of the House to single digits. Here, Republicans gained a veto-proof majority in the state...
Dan Bishop’s Gleeful Villainy
Dan Bishop may be the most reprehensible figure North Carolina has elected to Washington since his compatriot in hatred, the late Jesse Helms. A showman and a provocateur, Bishop conceives of his public purpose in terms of creating spectacle. That spectacle consists...
A good read in the down time
I'm taking a bit of time with the family. My daughter, grandson, and son-in-law are visiting from Sweden, so I'm not writing much. However, I'm still reading a bit. The series from WFAE on why Democrats keep having trouble winning in North Carolina is a good read. It...
Righting wrongs and aggrieved white people
Earlier this fall, the Supreme Court heard a case about race-based admissions to the University of North Carolina. Conservatives argue that affirmative action programs discriminate against White applicants by giving minorities unfair advantage in admission programs....