New Poll Presents A Compelling, Alarming Picture of the NCGOP
From time to time it is important to peruse a statistical portrait of the nation's politics. Politics cannot be reduced to a science, at least not yet; it is too raw and human for perfect quantification. But we need data to debunk false popular impression and partisan...
Narrow majorities and massive ambitions
Wall Street Journal columnist and former Bush speechwriter Peggy Noonan wrote a piece this week blistering Joe Biden for his voting rights speech in Georgia. She called it a “breaking point” that would unify support against Biden. Noonan cited Mitch...
The Decline and Fall of Mark Walker
Odd though it now seems, Congressman Mark Walker once appeared to be a savvy politician. He was a former preacher and strong social conservative who presumably could attract the support of North Carolina's many white evangelical Christians, but, at the same time, he...
NC-06 Primary is a Ray of Hope for North Carolina
"The heart and soul of North Carolina's industrial future is the Research Triangle," said former Governor Luther Hodges. Hodges and several heavy-hitting Triad businessmen had the audacity to form a high-tech research park in the patch of hardwood forest lying in a...
Clay Aiken Adds to a Strong Field in NC-06
Earlier today, singer and former American Idol star Clay Aiken tossed his hat into the ring for North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District. Aiken, a Raleigh native and UNC-Charlotte graduate, had previously run against Renee Ellmers in a far more conservative...
Democrats get a little good news
Things change fast in politics. After months of political pundits predicting doom and destruction for Democrats in November, the narrative may be beginning to change. Redistricting doesn’t appear to be the disaster that so many people, me included, expected. A poll...
Catherine Truitt Trash-Talks Critical Thinking
In my years of following state politics, I have heard North Carolina Republicans say stupid, outrageous, incomprehensible and otherwise foolish things. Pat McCrory said Caitlin Jenner would have to use the men's shower if she ran track at UNC-Chapel Hill. Larry...
No, Justice Ervin shouldn’t recuse himself
Reading the GOP’s motion to have Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Ervin recuse himself, it’s hard to tell whether the legislators are trolling Democrats or the Carolina Journal. Regardless, it’s clearly not a serious proposal. Their reasoning lacks reason and their logic...
In support of a broad-based, pro-democracy movement
Today is the anniversary of the attack on the Capitol. Despite those who would downplay the assault, it was an attempt to overturn our government, regardless of how amateurish. The people who breached the Capitol and the people who encouraged it wanted to stop the...
Government schools
Back when Democrats controlled the legislature, they threatened that if Republicans ever gained a majority, the GOP would harm public schools. Republicans angrily claimed that Democrats were using scare tactics and that Republicans were committed to “fixing” public...
The Red Dog Dilemma
During the Donald Trump presidency, suburban areas were a goldmine for Democrats. Across the Sun Belt and into the North and West, well educated suburban voters moved sharply toward the Democratic Party. It wasn't just a thermostatic reaction manifest in the midterm,...
Thoughts on 2021 and 2022
Well, the New Year is off with a bang. After a week of 70+ degree weather, we’ve been hit by ferocious storms that have left me typing in the dark and the promise of snow. Don’t worry, though, the market will take care of it. I’m not into making predictions much...