Marie Antoinette in a Three-Piece Suit

David Hoyle, the former Democratic state senator from Gaston County whom many progressive Democrats loved to hate, became Gov. Perdue's Secretary of Revenue on Monday, the man in charge of collecting taxes.

He's also a man well known for his solicitous attitude toward the richest in the state.

According to an editorial in the Winston-Salem Journal, when jokingly asked "whether he would even collect any taxes from businesses and the rich," Hoyle jokingly responded, "God bless the rich; the poor can beg." The Journal editorial added, "He has made similar remarks before."

Marie Antoinette was also laughing out loud, reportedly, when she was told there was no bread for the masses: "Well let them eat cake." Sometimes a joke is an open window to inner character.

Worst appointment Bev Perdue has made.

The Future of the N.C. Senate

The two most powerful Democrats in the N.C. Senate already departing the premises ... Tony Rand and David Hoyle. Speculation now burning bright about arguably the most powerful Democrat in all of state government, Marc Basnight, president pro tempore of that chamber.

Lengthy article in today's Washington Daily News RE Basnight's health and the prospects of his running again next year.

David Hoyle Sneers at the Unemployed

One of the most powerful men in the N.C. General Assembly, Democrat David Hoyle, is sometimes more obnoxiously patrician than ... your average rich Republican. According to Rob Schofield, Hoyle was loudly signaling his disdain yesterday for anything in President Obama's stimulus package that doesn't enrich the Paving Lobby. Questioning a provision that will allow for the hiring of additional child-care workers (jobs, Senator?), Hoyle asked sarcastically, "What's that? Babysitting for people who lost their jobs?"

Jeez!