State Democratic Convention

The press wasn't barred, as it was from the Republican state convention a few weeks ago, so the N&O did what it could with the red meat of an abortion debate among Democrats at yesterday's state convention in High Point. "Debate," such as it was. Anti-abortion Democrats can claim "back of the bus" status if it pleases them. But Democrats aren't forcing anyone to have an abortion, while the official position of the N.C.G.O.P. WOULD force women to procreate against their will.

So it wasn't much of a flap ... is what we're saying.

Better copy, though, if you're looking for controversy among the Ds, was the Black-ening of the party by a certain state House speaker, and of course the continuing snit that Gov. No-Show Easley seems dedicated to, like Achilles sulking in his tent.

We choose to fasten on the trivia instead, the meaning of "blue-moon election," which happens in North Carolina every 12 years when there is no national or state-wide race on the ballot to galvanize the parties and bring the voters to the polls ... no governor, no senator, no president. The N&O points out that the last blue-moon election was 1994, and we know what happened THAT year. The speculation is that it might happen again ... only this time to a bunch that has so richly EARNED it.

(On whether the Dems likewise earned the 1994 drubbing ... we'll defer that discussion, though we have to warn you: you'll get no argument here to the contrary. If Easley bears an uncanny resemblance to Achilles, we're totally into Amos today! ... "...because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes -- they that trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted..." You get it, right?)