Shoo, Fly

An article in this morning's Charlotte Observer is entitled "Easley's pick no shoo-in for party chairmanship; Raleigh lawyer faces tough opponent, dissatisfied activists" (thanks to Hayes for the heads-up).

"Party observers expect a close race" between Gov. Easley's hand-picked candidate, lawyer/lobbyist Ed Turlington, and current 1st vice chair and semi-professional maverick Jerry Meek. That's what the Charlotte Observer says ... "a close race," but Jerry Meek is telling people he has over 300 votes on the state's executive committee, more than enough to win.

The Guv is marshalling all the big heads he can find to attend the meeting tomorrow in Raleigh, including ex-Guv Jim Hunt. The big heads are going to stand up there and lecture the members of the executive committee about doing the right thing, i.e., what the Guv wants them to do. That might have worked in the past. This year, not so much.

The big heads had best not try to pull any shenanigans in the vote. Manipulating the process to get Easley's desired outcome would have disastrous effects. What has been an incipient rebellion would likely blossom into full-scale and open revolt.