Smoocheroo

"Leadership Malfunction in the 5th District." Click to view.

They're So Miserable, They Could Gloat

First saw the link to the Forbes article , "America's Most Miserable Cities," on EdCone.com. Charlotte ranks 9th, behind...

1. Detroit
2. Stockton, Calif.
3. Flint, Mich.
4. NYC
5. Philadelphia
6. Chicago
7. Los Angeles
8. Modesto, Calif.

Well, at least Modesto is worse.

We're gonna hear howls of protest about this, from none so vociferously perhaps as the Pat McCrory campaign.

The Forbes formula for calculating "misery" includes scores for unemployment, personal tax rates, commute times, weather, crime, and "that toxic waste dump in your backyard." Some score well on weather (Los Angeles has a near-perfect climate) but are pulled waaay down by traffic or crime or SuperFund sites. You know.

Apparently, all those freakishly large banks can't buy you love.

28 and Counting

Rep. Tom Davis made it 28 yesterday ... 28 Republican Congressmen -- some of them in the top leadership -- who are giving up their seats in Congress rather than face the tide of history this November.

Davis was a "moderate" representing northern Virginia, the D.C. suburbs, which is strongly Democratic these days.

Only five Dems have announced their retirement, making the open-seat calculus very unfavorable for the Republican Party this year. (NYTimes piece on the situation here)

Daniel Johnson Gets a Little Attention

Long profile article about Daniel Johnson in today's Charlotte Observer. Johnson is the chief Democratic challenger hoping to get the party's nod in May to run against NC-10 Congressman Pat McHenry in November. He's already shown impressive fundraising abilities and has attracted the interest of Washington party insiders.

"There's a lot of discontent in [the 10th] district, just as there is nationwide," Johnson told the Observer's Lisa Zagaroli.

He also said of Patty McHenry, "His style of politics is an old style of politics that people are tired of, which is to be divisive, and to not come up with solutions but to bicker about the problems, to continue the inertia that has kept Washington from solving any of those problems. [He] is a huge part of stirring up that partisan rancor in Congress."

McHenry's response (through his press secretary) was revealing -- "McHenry defends traditional family values" and "some Washington politicians don't like the fact that Congressman McHenry won't accept the broken status quo, and it's telling that someone would criticize him for that" -- since Johnson didn't say a word about "family values."

McHenry perhaps protests too much, especially since its his leading Republican challenger in the May primary who's been making comments about McHenry's (lack of) family values. Republican Lance Sigmon said of McHenry, "If people knew he did things ... they might find he is not the person they think he is."

Zinger.

Edwards Is Out

Well, I'll be deep-fried in peanut oil.

Politico had the first bulletin we saw.

Alas, Poor Mittens

With the Florida results, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx's Chosen One, Mitt Romney, is now a certified neo maxi zoom dweebie, no matter how much of his sons' inheritance he continues to spend. Pity.

With John McCain, the Democrats have a much tougher race ahead this fall. It could come down to a contest between The Old and The Young, depending on who the Democrats end up with. Or a contest between The Old, The Unelectable, and Ron Paul.

And all the North Carolina Democrats who've been moaning that it'll all be decided before our May primary, you might want to be keep your powder dry, 'cause North Carolina may very well be crucial in the delegate count after all.

Rush Limbaugh has been saying that John McCain as the nominee will be the death of the Republican Party. We could always pray that once in his career Limbaugh is right. But it's doubtful.

Why Is This Man Smiling?

Yammer on. Nobody's listening.

Except maybe Madam Virginia Foxx, channeling a 15-year-old autograph hound crazy in love.

Foxx had her press release ready to go. Allow us to translate what Madam Teapot had to say:

My fellow Americans, until the Republicans took over Congress and George W. Bush took over the White House, most Americans did not know what an "earmark" was. Now I'm proud to say, the public is educated, having watched the Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham scandals evolve and a hundred other pay-to-play moments in recent history, and I know you'll appreciate our efforts to change things now that the dastardly Democrats are in control. At least appreciate our effort to sound pious.

Diane Hamby's Announcement of Candidacy

The sound quality is very poor, but if you're interested in seeing the other announced Democratic candidate in the NC-5 congressional primary, there's video of her here.

Roy Carter has been running since last summer.

Hamby's website is here.

Romney Ahead in Florida?

Public Policy Polling has new numbers up this a.m. showing Romney widening a lead over McCain in Florida's primary today.

Public Policy Polling accurately predicted the Obama landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, a hallmark distinction compared to other national polling outfits.

So, PPP, I'm counting on your not to break my heart here. Let alone Madam Virginia Foxx's!