Boone dentist Jerry Butler has filed to run against incumbent Democratic state Senator Steve Goss. Nothing surprising there, since Butler announced back last November that he intended to run. What's surprising is the absence (so far) of perennial candidate David Blust, whom Goss beat in 2006.
Goss has been an incredible work-horse in the Senate, so even in this heavily Republican district, his defeat would be an uphill climb for even a well-known politician.
Democratic state Representative Cullie Tarleton was the first to file this morning. He, too, gets high marks for his legislative work ethic and for his responsiveness to district constituents. So far, no Republican has stepped forward to challenge him.
Incumbent Democratic county commissioners Winston Kinsey and Jim Deal both filed for reelection. No Republican challengers yet.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Obama in NC Today or Tomorrow
But it's not a campaign stop. No rallies. No speeches. Just a one-on-one with Sen. John Edwards. NYTimes reported this a.m. that Obama will be at Edward's home tonight: "Mr. Obama is scheduled ... on Monday night, Obama allies say, and is also flying to Mr. Edwards's home in North Carolina."
Hillary was here Thursday night. Same mission: get Edwards' endorsement.
Even without an official endorsement, seems as though the Edwards supporters are already flocking Obama's direction, judging from the last four caucuses/primaries (and not counting what's expected tomorrow in Virginia & Maryland).
Hillary was here Thursday night. Same mission: get Edwards' endorsement.
Even without an official endorsement, seems as though the Edwards supporters are already flocking Obama's direction, judging from the last four caucuses/primaries (and not counting what's expected tomorrow in Virginia & Maryland).
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Virginia Foxx Gets Woozy on the Perfume of Her Own Righteousness
Madam Virginia Foxx has regaled us with another hee-lariously self-serving public message about her own born-again religion RE "Congressional earmarks," and she is showing the strain of maintaining (now) two wholly conflicting narratives about Life in These United States During the Regime of the Littlest Angel.
To wit, this strangely revealing paragraph of hers: "Our historically strong economy showed signs of slowing at the end of 2007 and in January employers trimmed payrolls for the first time in 52 months. The specter of a bump in the economic road has Congress buzzing -- and rightly so -- about an economic stimulus package."
Translation: "Our economy is wonderful, rewarding those who are right with God. Therefore, we immediately need an economic stimulus package passed by Congress."
But Foxx's admission that something has gone screwy under the ministrations of George W. Bush & Friends (that little bump in the road) IS progress of a kind. Foxx has never before admitted that the Republican management of the economy was less than divinely inspired.
Her explanation of a "slowing" but somehow still "strong economy"? Those dastardly Congressional earmarks. Earmarks. I kid you not. Virginia Foxx wants to blame the recession on earmarks. Not on a two-front war, one front of which was entirely a neo-con fantasy. Not on a vastly expanded Federal entitlement (Medicare Part D) passed by the Republicans. Not on the wholesale militarization of our entire society by a philosophy of preemptive bullying.
In the process of blaming earmarks, she leaves out one key fact: earmarks reached a high of 15,000 items in 2005, after ten years of Republican control in Congress. They were actually down in number this year to around 9,000 under the Democrats. An improvement, if not a definitive turn-around. Foxx doesn't mention that.
Watching her parse the economy while holding onto her "conservative" ideology is akin to watching someone try to paddle a boat with only a starboard oar.
To wit, this strangely revealing paragraph of hers: "Our historically strong economy showed signs of slowing at the end of 2007 and in January employers trimmed payrolls for the first time in 52 months. The specter of a bump in the economic road has Congress buzzing -- and rightly so -- about an economic stimulus package."
Translation: "Our economy is wonderful, rewarding those who are right with God. Therefore, we immediately need an economic stimulus package passed by Congress."
But Foxx's admission that something has gone screwy under the ministrations of George W. Bush & Friends (that little bump in the road) IS progress of a kind. Foxx has never before admitted that the Republican management of the economy was less than divinely inspired.
Her explanation of a "slowing" but somehow still "strong economy"? Those dastardly Congressional earmarks. Earmarks. I kid you not. Virginia Foxx wants to blame the recession on earmarks. Not on a two-front war, one front of which was entirely a neo-con fantasy. Not on a vastly expanded Federal entitlement (Medicare Part D) passed by the Republicans. Not on the wholesale militarization of our entire society by a philosophy of preemptive bullying.
In the process of blaming earmarks, she leaves out one key fact: earmarks reached a high of 15,000 items in 2005, after ten years of Republican control in Congress. They were actually down in number this year to around 9,000 under the Democrats. An improvement, if not a definitive turn-around. Foxx doesn't mention that.
Watching her parse the economy while holding onto her "conservative" ideology is akin to watching someone try to paddle a boat with only a starboard oar.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
NC DOT: Sump Pump
Democracy North Carolina has facts and figures about the outrageous cash-machine-and-influence-peddler that is the 19-member Department of Transportation board (is and has been for mainly Democratic office-holders and candidates).
It's an embarrassment. Hell, it's a disgrace.
And it doesn't help one whit that other people report from across the nation that other states and their departments of transportation are similarly infamous for party hacks, money-laundering, and special favors.
Doesn't appear to matter, either, which party is in power, though in North Carolina's case, the long-ruling Democrats have much more than their share of penance to pay.
It's an embarrassment. Hell, it's a disgrace.
And it doesn't help one whit that other people report from across the nation that other states and their departments of transportation are similarly infamous for party hacks, money-laundering, and special favors.
Doesn't appear to matter, either, which party is in power, though in North Carolina's case, the long-ruling Democrats have much more than their share of penance to pay.
GOP Congressional Candidates Behind in Fundraising
Politico.com is reporting this a.m. that Congressional Republicans in several swing districts are lagging far behind in fundraising, while their Democratic opponents in "targeted districts" are forging ahead. "Targeted" in this instance means by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
"A senior aide to a prominent House Republican requested anonymity to explain the significance of this fundraising downturn. 'You're going to see all these members in tough shape,' the aide said."
Those Republican House members considered to be in danger do not include either Madam Virginia Foxx nor little Patty McHenry, as neither the NC-5 nor the NC-10 have yet to be targeted by the DCCC. But both Roy Carter and Daniel Johnson, the first Democratic candidates to announce against the incumbents in those districts, are doing well in both fundraising and in name recognition. Carter was very competitive in the first round of the Democracy for America "all stars" voting, in which supporters register on the DFA site and voice support. The "all stars" program is meant to reward Congressional challengers who can demonstrate a wide and intense following.
Politico also reports this: "These latest fundraising numbers, combined with a raft of Republican retirements, explain why many top Republicans are bracing for the possibility of losses in November that could stretch into double digits."
"A senior aide to a prominent House Republican requested anonymity to explain the significance of this fundraising downturn. 'You're going to see all these members in tough shape,' the aide said."
Those Republican House members considered to be in danger do not include either Madam Virginia Foxx nor little Patty McHenry, as neither the NC-5 nor the NC-10 have yet to be targeted by the DCCC. But both Roy Carter and Daniel Johnson, the first Democratic candidates to announce against the incumbents in those districts, are doing well in both fundraising and in name recognition. Carter was very competitive in the first round of the Democracy for America "all stars" voting, in which supporters register on the DFA site and voice support. The "all stars" program is meant to reward Congressional challengers who can demonstrate a wide and intense following.
Politico also reports this: "These latest fundraising numbers, combined with a raft of Republican retirements, explain why many top Republicans are bracing for the possibility of losses in November that could stretch into double digits."
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Mysteries of the Ron Paul Revolution
It's astounding news: Republican candidate Ron Paul raised more in the last quarter of '07 than John McCain and Mitt Romney did, combined.Now if he could only get a clue about how to spend it.
But he has been spending, you say, and you would be right. According to federal finance reports, he's raised $28 million and spent already $20 million. On what, one wonders. Gold bullion? He hasn't bought any TV time to speak of (though who knows what's on the air in Super Tuesday states). Even the famous blimp, he didn't pay for himself. Yard signs? Yeah, that's the ticket! Yard signs! Like the ones that showed up in Watauga County, irrationally as well as illegally, months ago in 2007.
What has $20 million done? Well, at least there are the bragging rights that Paul has six delegates to Rudy Giuliani's two! That's economy for you.
Obamacans
So far it's little more than rumor, the moderate Republicans who say they would vote for Obama this year, but Newsweek is trying to follow the story. Newsweek reporter Richard Wolffe found Susan Eisenhower, the late president's granddaughter, who would speak on the record, and a former Republican staffer for Strom Thurmond. Both are enthusiastic about Obama.
Beyond those two willing to be named and quoted, the pickings are slim and mainly anecdotal ... like Joe Scarborough's repeated tale of getting calls from conservative Republicans -- not moderates, conservatives -- who admitted that they were very attracted to the Obama candidacy.
Has any national journalist or pundit yet written about Republican women drawn to Hillary? Because there's bound to be a story there too.
Beyond those two willing to be named and quoted, the pickings are slim and mainly anecdotal ... like Joe Scarborough's repeated tale of getting calls from conservative Republicans -- not moderates, conservatives -- who admitted that they were very attracted to the Obama candidacy.
Has any national journalist or pundit yet written about Republican women drawn to Hillary? Because there's bound to be a story there too.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Ain't It Ironic?
...that the Republican Party is ending up with a presidential candidate who considered leaving the party as recently as 2001?...that the Republican Party, for all its breast-thumping about illegal immigrants, is ending up with a presidential candidate who is the most liberal on the question of illegal immigration?
...that the Republican Party, which has shown the internal strain of the Iraq War (witness the candidacy of Ron Paul), is ending up with a presidential candidate who proudly proclaims more war forever but fewer jobs as part of his mantra?
Preacher Teacher
Al Gore was preaching to several thousand Baptists yesterday in Atlanta at the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant, the gathering organized by former President Jimmy Carter to give new direction to fragmented Baptists nationally (and to provide an alternative to the Southern Baptist Convention). Gore spoke about creation care, particularly the threat of global warming:"Too many in the faith community, too many of those who call ourselves Baptists, too many spokespersons who don't speak for me but claim to speak for me, have said global warming is not real. This is just a myth .... When did people of faith get so locked into a ideological coalition that they have got to go along with the wealthiest and most powerful who don't want to see change of the kind that is aimed at helping people and protecting God's green Earth?"
The N&O's reporter at the meeting in Atlanta focused on a college student at Campbell University, Sarah McCoy, under the headline "Young Baptists Are Going Green: Environment Is Their New Priority."
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