No, not Carolina Politics Online.

DURHAM - Abby Alger mentioned she was a Republican during a dinner gathering one night. A friend quickly apologized to the rest of the group on her behalf.

“Saying you’re a Republican is kind of saying a dirty word,” said Alger, a rising senior at Duke.

To Alger, 20, a public policy major from New York, this reflexive recoiling is a result, at least in part, of Republican party doctrine that doesn’t ring true to college-age people, even those who may lean to the right on many issues. It is the impetus behind Real World Republicans, a new Web site and blog Alger co-founded to encourage young people to discuss politics outside the echo chamber.

The www.realworldrepublicans.com site went live last week. Alger hopes her target audience — the 16- to 25-year-olds known as Generation Next — will use the site to talk about the election, health care, Iraq and other issues. The discussions will be serious, but she doesn’t intend them to be lectures. It should be fun, even quirky. The home page features 10 multicolored elephants — a modern twist on the staid GOP icon.

The N&O

Good for her. Blogs like this one are only going to increase in importance. I checked out her site and it looks pretty interesting. I only wonder how she managed to get a write-up in the N&O, while CPO has to get by on word-of-mouth? Who do we talk to about our own article???

Alger thinks many people her age have a mishmash of values spanning the political spectrum, voters who can be snared by either major party. She points to a 2007 Pew Research Center for People & The Press study of Generation Next, which found many young people support gay marriage and accept interracial dating, but are also less critical of government regulation of business and are more likely than other generations to support privatization of Social Security. The report, citing other Pew studies, said just 35 percent of these young people identify more with the Republican Party.

I think the Republican Party is in deep trouble if it doesn’t drop its Theocon and Drunken Sailor wings and get back to a more Coolidge/Goldwater/Reagan conservatism; a quasi-libertarian, small-government, liberty-first platform. I wish this young lady luck in her efforts to do just that.

Come on down if you’ve got time…

RALEIGH - A coalition of conservative groups is headed to the Legislative Building to tell lawmakers they’re disappointed with their work.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory are scheduled to speak at a rally today to discuss state lawmakers’ progress this year.

Conservative groups say they’re frustrated by government corruption and high taxes.

They want lawmakers to create more charter schools and reform the state’s annexation laws. The groups also want lawmakers to give the public the opportunity to vote on a proposed Constitutional amendment addressing gay marriage.

www.TakeBackOurState.org

Are You Tired Of Not Being Heard By State Elected Officials?
Let’s Take Our Conservative Message To Them!
Together We Can Take Back Our State!

Take Back Our State Rally

June 25, 2008
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Halifax Mall, Raleigh, NC

(Located Behind the General Assembly)

FREE FOOD!
LIVE!
BEACH MUSIC WITH THE CRAIG WOOLARD BAND!
FREE T-SHIRTS!
FAMILY FUN!
RAIN OR SHINE!

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Take Back Our State Expanded Poll Luncheon with Americans for Prosperity and the John W. Pope Civitas Institute

Click here to register for the lunch
(Requires separate registration from rally and is not free)

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Legislator Visits

4:30 pm
Rally in Halifax Mall starts.
(Must register to receive free meal ticket)

Bring the Family, Neighbors, and Friends to Show Our Elected Officials That You Want to TAKE BACK OUR STATE!

Click to download and print a flyer to post on bulletin boards and give to your friends!

Bus Trips to Take Back Our State Rally

Coming from Asheville/Greensboro? Ride our bus for only $10.00.
For more information Register Here.

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Coming from Jacksonville / New Bern / Goldsboro? Ride our bus for only $10.00.
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DIRECTIONS

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Eastern North Carolina residents unhappy to be living near hog lagoons gave Gov. Mike Easley what’s inside those pits.

Members of environmental groups dropped off what they said was a gallon of hog waste at Easley’s office Thursday. Lower Neuse Riverkeeper Larry Baldwin says they left the jug there after they couldn’t get an answer at the Executive Mansion.

The Herald Sun

They do say that it rolls down hill…..

McCrory Addresses North Carolina VFW Annual Meeting

Charlotte, N.C. – Today Pat McCrory addressed the North Carolina Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) annual meeting in Greensboro.  His opponent, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, sent a representative but chose not to attend.

“I am committed to taking care of the brave men and women who served our nation honorably and protected the freedoms we hold so dear,” said McCrory.  “That is why I cleared my schedule to speak to our state’s veterans and listen to what is on their minds.  As Governor, I will always be accessible to our veterans and I will always advocate for their best interests.”

McCrory discussed a number of issues including his support for modernizing the Montgomery GI Bill, increasing space in the state veterans’ cemetery and improving mental health services for returning veterans. 

RALEIGH - About 30 death penalty opponents marched through the city Sunday, with a small number of them planning to walk all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.

The walk was sponsored by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation and the Capital Restorative Justice Project. Marchers started the afternoon at Central Prison, then planned to walk to the Capitol and into North Raleigh before calling it a day.

The N&O

Really? And the point of all this was…? Honestly, I think all these people accomplished today was to burn some calories.

John P. Comer, state coordinator for Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, planned to walk Sunday from the prison to the Capitol. Sunday evening, walkers and supporters planned to meet for supper and prayer at Church of the Nativity on Ray Road.

Wearing a T-shirt that said, “The death penalty only makes more victims,” Comer said he hopes the march will bring more attention to the fight against the death penalty.

“It’s not right,” he said of capital punishment. “It’s not just.”

I actually agree with these people in principle. I too am against the death penalty. This is in contrast to Sam, the site administrator, who strongly supports it. But I think this march was useless and futile. This is a very emotional (and in my case, philosophical) issue, and you’re not going to change anyone’s mind by walking around Raleigh all day feeling sorry for the thugs and murderers on death row.

I oppose the death penalty for three simple reasons. One is philosophical, and the other two are practical.

1) As a Christian, I believe all life is sacred, even the lives of thugs, rapists, murderers, and similar prison scum. Life is the very breath of God, and as only God is allowed to give it, only God is allowed to take it away. It’s not our place to met out life and death.

2) Christian or not, I’m not above wanting to see these vile creatures suffer for their crimes. In my opinion, life in prison, especially a tough prison (no Tv’s, no weight room, etc.) is a whole lot more painful than a quick needle in the arm.

3) Even with DNA evidence, mistakes happen. Just recently, a death row inmate in North Carolina was exonerated after it was revealed that the arresting officer lied on the stand and fabricated evidence. Luckily we got it right and didn’t put that innocent man to death, but that was too close a call for my taste. I don’t like the “Oops Factor” associated with the death penalty. If you get it wrong, you don’t get do-overs.

Oil hedge funds and oil speculators are in part largely responsible for the high prices at the pump. We should not go after the oil companies at this time because taxing them will be simply passed on to the consumers.

The hedge funds and oil speculators do give in a 2 to 1 margin donations to Democrats over Republicans. The far left of the Democratic party is also responsible for preventing the exploration and aquisition of vast amounts of natural resources here in the United States.

The solution is to go after the speculators and oil hedge funds that are artificially inflating the costs to our citizens. While I do appreciate Rep. Kucinich’s efforts, he needs to concentrate on the speculators now and then reevaluate the US economy before going after Oil companies. Cutting subsidies and encouraging oil companies to invest in alternative enegies is needed. It is time to be concerned but not punitive.

The anti-annexation folks want the legislature to approve a one-year freeze on forced annexation. They said they did not want to be forced to pay taxes for services they don’t need.

The protesters have some legislators behind them. Forced annexation “hurts families, hurts individuals, hurts taxpayers and doesn’t benefit our community in any significant way,” said Republican Sen. Phil Berger of Eden.

The N&O

Sen. Berger is correct. I can’t believe something as undemocratic as forced annexation is even allowed in this country. If I buy a house in the suburbs, I’ve chosen NOT to live in the city. And yet here comes the city, gobbling up land, annexing me without giving me any say or vote, and inevitably causing my taxes to skyrocket. It’s unbelievable!

Susan Burgess, Charlotte mayor pro tem and league president, said she did not sense any decline in legislative support for annexation.

Annexation has served the state well for nearly 50 years, she said, and is one of the reasons for the success of its cities.

Forced annexation has served Charlotte well, that’s for sure. One of the reasons I couldn’t support Pat McCrory in the primary was because of his atrocious record on this issue. He made a big deal about his record of low taxes- but neglected to mention that one of the biggest reasons he was able to keep them low was because Charlotte literally ate all its surrounding suburbs!

Residents should “participate in the support of the city from which they derive a lot of services,” she said, and cities should be ready to provide services to areas they annex.

Bull. I live in the Raleigh suburbs- not Raleigh.  I contribute to Raleigh when they offer something that draws me in from the ‘burbs, such as theater, sports, restaurants, nightlife, and more. When Raleigh offers these things, I go and give them money by choice. If Raleigh doesn’t offer anything, I choose not to give them money. That’s how it works- it’s called capitalism. Raleigh doesn’t have the right to make me give it anything.

Fliers mailed out in the last few days have singled out S.C. House District 81 candidate Tom Young Jr. of Aiken, and he’s not happy about it.

South Carolinians for Responsible Government’s Political Action Committee sent the fliers, in part branding Young as a trial lawyer supported by trial lawyers who want to sue doctors and drive up health costs.
“I was totally blindsided by this attack,” Young said. “I think they singled me out because we’re winning the race.”

The Aiken Standard

I’m not able to substantiate their claim regarding Young. The law firm for where he works says he specializes in “General Practice, Business Litigation, Personal Injury Law, Products Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Insurance Bad Faith, Real Estate Litigation, Residential and Commercial Real Estate Transactions.” It specifically lists medical malpractice for some of the other attorneys in the firm, but not for Young. Working in a law firm that handles medical malpractice suits does not in itself implicate Young in the SCRG’s claim.

If you read Young’s positions on the issues, he sounds like a very good candidate to me. He has stressed the need for limited government and low taxes, an excellent Reagan style view.

In an April 26 memo to trustees, Burgess wrote, “It is inappropriate to place a general ban on the image of the Confederate Battle Flag being worn on articles of clothing and/or accessories. Such a ban will cause a larger concern than the high school administration has expressed in an e-mail, to me, dated April 17, 2008.”

Burgess, who is black, recommended dealing with students who use the image of the Confederate Battle Flag in a provocative manner on an individual basis.

The Independent Mail

The Confederate Battle Flag is not a symbol of hate, but as Burgess has the sense to see, there are always some people who will abuse just about anything. He has the right idea by dealing with only those who display the flag as such. For most southerners, it is part of a proud heritage that will not be forgotten, nor should it be. It is wrong to punish any of these kids for displaying that pride and teaching them that they should be ashamed of that heritage.

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright - Sen. Barack Obama’s former pastor thrust into the national spotlight - is scheduled to participate in a revival at Second Baptist Church in Aiken on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to media reports.

Wright reportedly has visited the church four times previously.

The Aiken Standard

Who on Earth would come out to see this nut job?  Oh, but I bet the place will be packed from wall to wall.

State governments across the country have stepped in to help families who are facing foreclosure, creating emergency loan funds and designating millions of dollars for counseling efforts. The response stems from a lack of action from federal lawmakers, who have yet to agree on a plan.

However, South Carolina lawmakers have rejected a $3 million request from local nonprofit groups who say they need more money to help families who face foreclosure.

“It’s very disappointing because we count on our politicians to do what’s right for our community, and foreclosure is a very large problem in South Carolina as well as other parts of the country,” said Debbie Kidd, executive director for Family Services Inc., a North Charleston-based nonprofit that provide foreclosure counseling.

The Post and Courier

Kidd’s got it all wrong.  The politicians are doing what’s right for the taxpayers and responsible home owners of South Carolina.  None of these people who are faced with foreclosure are entitled to or deserve a bailout, be it Federal or state.  They knew the terms of their agreements when they signed their mortgage papers and if they didn’t, well that’s natural selection at work.  People need to bare the consequences of their actions.  Providing a taxpayer funded escape will only encourage continued risky behavior down the road.

McCain blasts as offensive

CHAPEL HILL - A midday gun protest expected to draw 32 participants instead drew about 60 to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus today.

The protest, one of about 80 taking place in 33 states, came on the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. Organizers wanted to draw attention to what they believe are lax gun laws.

Th plan was for 32 participants to lie on the ground for three minutes, acknowledging the 32 victims of the shooting. But nearly twice that many participated in Chapel Hill, including one young boy and a chocolate labrador retriever.

The News & Observer

We can’t all be blessed with intelligence and it’s amazing how many of those less fortunate in the intellectual realm manage to get accepted to higher educational institutions. One can only hope that as these children enter the real world after Duke and blossom into adulthood a few cells in their heads will split, multiply, and eventually become a thinking brain.

The tragedy of last year’s incident of Virginia Tech occurred for many reasons, but certainly not because of lax gun laws. These demonstrators for some reason continue to forget that most college campuses in this country, VT included, are “gun free zones.” Guns are already banned there, which makes them perfect targets for people like Fu Man Chu who decided to use the school as his personal target practice last year. He certainly wasn’t worried about anyone fighting back during his rampage because he knew he’d be the only one with a gun. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

The issue here is over regulation of the Second Amendment rights of every one of those students. Had they been allowed to have a gun as the Constitution guarantees there is a good possibility that none of these deaths may had even occurred as the shooter may have thought twice about it. Now granted, since he killed himself when he was done, that may not have mattered to him anyway, but the death toll may have been far less if one of the students in the building that he tore through like Rambo could have pulled out their own firearm and shot him dead in his tracks.

Perhaps some day these kid will learn some lessons in logic, but when their Dean is out their engaging in this silliness with them it’s not hard to understand how these young, impressionable minds are getting filled with this kind of gobbledygook.

PEMBROKE — More than 70 Lumbees demonstrated near the tribal headquarters on Monday, using placards to sound their complaints about housing programs.

As she stood by the curb on Union Chapel Road, 73-year-old Rachel Maynor stretched her arms out clutching a sign that read, “I WANT A BATHROOM.”

“They came to my house twice,” said Maynor, who lives on Emma Jane Road near St. Pauls, referring to contractors for the tribe. “They said it can’t be repaired. The floors fell through. I’ve slipped and cracked my ribs. It’s a mess and they won’t help me.”

One after another, tribal members shared their frustrations with several members of the media. But tribal officials say the waiting list is long and they have fewer dollars to help people.

The Robesonian

Are you kidding me? They are being given everything for free and they have the nerve to complain? You want a bathroom? Go buy your own damn house! Get a job! Take care of yourself, already! Stop sitting around doing nothing for yourself and then complain about your circumstances. What makes you deserve a hand out for anything, Ms Maynor?

The European colonization of this country was completed well over 100 years ago. None of the American Indian natives who were run off of their land are alive today, yet the Federal Government continues to subsidize their descendants with government subsidies and look at the result, a pathetic bunch of leeches.

You people want help? Try helping yourselves! You deserve nothing for free.

Waynesville – Town officials on Monday told a Waynesville church to take down an anti-liquor display featuring a car demolished in a deadly wreck because it broke local sign rules.

The N.C. Highway Patrol even got involved, sending a trooper by twice to tell church leaders that the display would be towed if it wasn’t moved from the public right-of-way.

The church’s pastor said the real reason wasn’t the law, but politics.

“This is about the mayor and the Board of Aldermen,” said Rev. Jack Holland of Barberville Baptist Church on Russ Avenue. “They just wanted it out of the public view. It is just part of the spiritual warfare.”

Asheville Citizen-Times

While I do not agree with the Reverend’s position to continue the prevention of selling alcohol by the drink, I do agree with his opinion that the force to remove the display by the town council and highway patrol were politically motivated and not about a sign ordinance. Holland is correct in that the display in question sends a very powerful and certainly a non-politically correct message to voters and I imagine the town council was quite uncomfortable with it.

While the death of Mrs. Foster at the hand of a drunk driver is tragic, not allowing responsible citizens to order a drink at a bar will not stop it from happening again. Alcohol is a part of our society and has been with most civilizations since biblical times. We saw with Prohibition the harm that trying to ban it will cause. The key is teaching responsibility and harsher penalties for those who abuse it behind the wheel of a car.

MOYOCK — U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones said Saturday that he continues to oppose Navy plans to study a site in Camden for a jet airfield. The congressman also said he doesn’t think the county site will be seriously considered for the project.

However, Jones declined to commit now to opposing federal funding for the OLF if the Camden site is ultimately selected.

Read more from The Daily Advance

One set of calls came from South Carolinians for Responsible Government (SCRG), a Columbia-based group targeting moderate Republicans across the state through direct mail, advertising and phone calls.

SCRG sent automated messages, or “robo calls,” to several thousand voters to bring attention to Gullick’s past support for tax increases, SCRG President Randy Page told The Herald on Friday.

“Rep. Gullick has a pretty pathetic record when it comes to taxes,” Page said. “I’m not sure he’s met a tax increase that he didn’t like.”

The Herald

I do not have a land line phone so I have not received any of these of robo calls, hence I cannot comment on their accuracy. Stating an opponent’s voting record is not negative campaigning, providing that the record is not being distorted in a dishonest way. The Boyd campaign has denied any involvement on them, but York County Republican Chairman Glenn McCall does have a valid point. The PAC is making the calls to dampen Gullick’s chances of being reelected, thus to advantage Mr. Boyd. Some voters will make a mental connection to Boyd whether rightful or not.

The Charleston NAACP called for school board Vice Chairwoman Nancy Cook to apologize or resign Tuesday for suggesting that unfit parents should be sterilized.

After meeting with Cook about her controversial comment over the weekend, the group said she should enroll in sensitivity and diversity training, and urged other members of the county school board to condemn her comment.

“Ms. Cook’s remarks show an arrogant and uncaring attitude toward single parents and their children that could easily have a negative impact on the funding, staffing and equipping of their schools,” NAACP branch President Dot Scott said during a press conference.

“Her words are especially offensive in the American South, where poor women were once involuntarily sterilized and often, with prejudice, labeled as unfit mothers because of their color or economic class.”

The Post and Courier

Anyone who heard Cook’s remarks know full well that there was nothing racial about them, but the NAACP has to somehow keep itself relevant.  You have to understand that they really have no legitimate purpose today, therefore they must come out to wail and cry and insenuate racial strife to even the most remote stretch they can even when it isn’t really there.  They don’t want their funding to dry up, after all.

As far as the sensitivity and diversity training goes, that’s the feel good term for Marxist brainwashing.

Dozens of people spoke at a hearing in Raleigh about the pros and cons of North Carolina’s municipal annexation law.

More than 300 people packed at public hearing Wednesday night before a state House committee that will recommend any changes to the law.

A strong majority in the meeting room at the Legislative Building opposed the current law, particularly a provision that allows towns and cities to swallow up unincorporated areas without a referendum of the landowners being annexed.

But municipal elected leaders and planning directors who spoke said the law works well as written and helps North Carolina manage growth effectively.

The Fayetteville Observer

These municipal leaders supporting this practice are nothing more than wolves in sheeps’ clothing. They could care less about managed growth. Forced annexation is all about a tax grab by the city officials. They want to reach into your wallet and snatch some of your money. People live in these areas precisely to avoid the higher costs of city bureaucracy.

Private property is one of the fundamental principles of a free society. When a city government can come along and forcibly redraw their borders to encompass your property they are infringing on your property rights. This needs to be made illegal and it is a travesty that it has gone on this long.