Carolina Politics Online

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, who heads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, called Kay Hagan a good challenger, but the race is close, he told Dome on Wednesday.

Schumer put North Carolina on par with other senatorial races he called “even or close” in states such as Oregon, Minnesota, Mississippi, Kentucky and Maine.

That mirrors the predictions of other political punditry outfits such as the Cook Political Report, which recently shifted North Carolina into the “leans Republican” category and away from solid Republican.

The N&O

This is a bad year to be a Republican, especially in a state that can doesn’t have a problem sending someone like John Edwards to the Senate and Mike Easley to Raleigh. Hagan should not be taken lightly.

In the presidential race, various pollsters are getting similar results.

The race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama shows little change, despite advertising by both campaigns in recent weeks. In all the polls, McCain holds a tiny lead, often within the margin of error. The inclusion of Libertarian Bob Barr does not seem to have a major effect on the results.

JULY 14-16: McCain 43, Obama 40, Barr 2

JULY 15: McCain 48, Obama 45

JULY 12-14: McCain 50, Obama 45

CARTHAGE - State Rep. Joe Boylan has pleaded guilty to driving while impaired.

The Fayetteville Observer reports that Boylan entered the plea Wednesday. The Moore County Republican was charged with DWI after he drove his pickup truck off a road and hit a tree in April.

Police measured Boylan’s blood alcohol level at .17 - more than twice the legal limit of .08.

He sentence includes a 60-day suspended jail term, 12 months unsupervised probation and a $100 fine.

The N&O

Authorities say a man attempting to shoplift steaks from Food Lion in Haw River Tuesday afternoon ran from police and was found about 30 minutes later without a pulse on a back porch on Green Level Church Road.

Ronnie Lee Hayes, 47, of Dixon Lane, which is in the Green Level community, was later pronounced dead at Alamance Regional Medical Center.

The Times-News

Hyped up on drugs I’m sure.  One less hood rat on the streets.  Gee, too bad.

Raleigh – State lawmakers from North Carolina and around the country will consider energy, transportation and other issues facing state governments at a summit starting today in New Orleans.

The conference will provide a forum to discuss drivers license security, global warming, the mortgage meltdown and transportation funding, according to Haire’s office.

Asheville Citizen-Times

In other words, they’ll all sit around brainstorming for new ways to milk the taxpayers out of their money to bail out the irresponsible and to fight invented crises like “global warming.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 23, 2008
Contact: Brock McCleary
(202) 225-2576

McHenry Opposes $5 Trillion Mortgage Bailout

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry issued the following statement in response to the forthcoming vote on H.R. 3221, the Mortgage Bailout Bill.

“Every Western North Carolina taxpayer is going to foot the bill for a $5 trillion bailout of irresponsible financial institutions. That is just plain wrong. I have been fighting this corporate bailout every step of the way and will vote against it.”

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I am going to add in my own note here.  I’m pleased to hear that McHenry stood against this travesty.  This astronomical bailout is going to put money in the hands of failed CEOs and suits on Wall Street courtesty of you and me.  We’re no longer heading down a road to Socialism.  When our tax dollars are being used to prop up corporations and pay off peoples’ mortgages we’re already there.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aaron Groen

July 23, 2008
202-225-2071

Foxx co-sponsors groundbreaking American Energy Act

Legislation increases energy supply, improves conservation, promotes new energy technology

Washington, DC-Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today joined House Republicans in introducing a comprehensive energy bill to reduce the price of gas.  The legislation, the American Energy Act, aims to increase the supply of American-made energy, improve conservation efforts, and promote new technology that will help bring down the cost of gas.

“High gas prices are hitting North Carolinians hard and we must take bold action to wean America off foreign sources of oil,” Foxx said. “This legislation offers a broad set of solutions, with everything from
new drilling to new investment in the fuels of the future.”

The American Energy Act tackles high gas prices in three key areas: increasing supply, reducing demand and investing in alternative energy sources.

It increases supply by opening deep water resources, the Arctic coastal plain and shale oil resources and by reducing the bureaucratic hurdles blocking construction of new refineries.  It is estimated that these sources hold the potential to provide an additional 6.5 million barrels of oil per day.

The legislation aims to reduce American demand for oil by improving energy conservation and efficiency.  It provides tax credits for the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles, home-based solar power and biomass, energy efficient buildings, and energy efficient appliances.  The American Energy Act also offers a cash prize for the development of the first mass-produced car that gets 100 miles-per-gallon.

By way of promoting renewable and alternative energy, the American Energy Act creates a renewable energy trust fund with federal revenues from deep sea and Arctic coastal plain oil exploration. Additionally, it repeals the “Section 526″ prohibition on government purchasing of alternative energy and promoting coal-to-liquids technology.  It also makes the expiring tax credit for alternative energy
production-including wind, solar and hydrogen-permanent.

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Several Virginia Commonwealth University administrators are stepping down following an investigation into the improper awarding of a bachelor’s degree to the police chief in Charlotte, N.C.

University officials aren’t linking the resignations to the investigation.

WBT

Huh?  So let me get this straight.  They discover that Rodney Monroe was improperly awarded a Bachelor’s Degree from the university and now these guys are resigning their positions.  One of them is actually the one who awarded Monroe the degree, but none of these resignations have anything to do with the degree.

And tomorrow monkeys will fly out my ass.

I said before that quite frankly, I don’t care if Monroe has a degree or not.  College is extremely overrated.  Rodney Monroe has the experience and the record of getting the job done and that is far more practical and valuable than any piece of paper.  If he delivers for Charlotte that is all that matters.

What we witnessed was a system out of control, especially in our Senate. A handful of Senators made decisions behind closed doors and shoved them through to approval with only token opposition from other Democrats, who supposedly hold majority control. One longtime observer remarked that this year’s Basnight-Rand run Senate was far worse than the infamous “gang of eight” led by Liston Ramsey and Billy Watkins back in the 1970’s and ‘80’s.

It is time that we take back our state from the back room politicians of Basnight, Blue and Rand. The members of the Democratic caucus have had more than ample opportunity in the last two years to speak up about what is the right thing to do.

Our children are dropping out of school at a alarming rate, over one third. The mental healthcare fiasco is directly the responsibility of the Democrats in charge. And our roads are falling apart even after only a few months after bring built. Do we need to have a disaster like what happened to the interstate bridge in Minnesota?

I agree with Tom Campbell, we cannot wait till next year, we need to make changes to who goes back to the NC state legislature next year.

Sanford Herald

The Republican hopeful for governor from Charlotte was on a fundraising mission when he stopped on his way in Sanford, North Carolina.  He spoke about the gang problems in the state and about the absence of talk for public safety. He also publically asked that Perdue participate in more debates and forums so the voters can understand where the two candidates are coming from.

The Charlotte mayor also called on his Demo­cratic opponent, Lt. Gov.
Beverly Perdue, to agree to more debates.
“I believe I’m a candi­date who is accessible to the public. I’m willing to showcase my opinions,” he said. “Beverly Perdue is not willing to do that, and it’s an extension of the last eight years of state government, where we’ve had a governor who we never see.”

Big business and special interest PAC’s like labor unions and George Soros funded PACS have Perdue’s attention and demand it on a daily basis. McCrory has solutions and leadership, Perdue has $60 cheeseburgers to live up to.

A group of veterans declared their support for John McCain today.

At a half-hour press conference in front of the state legislature, nearly 40 volunteers and members of Veterans for McCain withstood 97-degree heat as they argued the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has the right plan for Iraq.

I am a United States Army veteran who supports John McCain. I really have serious misgivings about Barack Obama’s experience and judgment. So much so that as a North Carolina state house candidate, I find it very important to bring my opinion here. My district is majority-minority and gerrymandered to guarrantee the election of  a democrat.

My opponent has openly endorsed Barack Obama twice and has both declarations recorded in the News&Observer. Do you think they would record my support and endorsement of John McCain?  A big fat NO.

The Asheville city councilman said he would resume his bid once at least eight county GOP parties in the 15 counties that make up the Western North Carolina district committed to what he called “core Republican Party principles.” He wanted the county parties to promise to hold elected officials accountable to those values.

Mumpower said Monday that he has received word that eight counties had signed on to his plan. But he plans to press GOP officials across the state to commit to the same values.

The News & Observer

I said back when Mumpower suspended his campaign that I didn’t think it was a good idea and I’m still not sure that I agree with his methods here, but nevertheless he seems to have gotten what he wanted out of it.  Agree or disagree, I do admire the man’s committment to what he believes in.

CONCORD - A Harrisburg warehousing and distribution company was given a $177,132 incentive grant from Cabarrus County for an expansion of its facility.

Saddle Creek plans to make an $11 million investment in real estate and equipment at its facility on Saddle Creek Court.

The 300,000-square-foot expansion may create 31 full-time jobs, with an average wage of $16 per hour.

The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners approved the industrial grant 4-1 on Monday.

Commissioner Coy Privette cast the opposing vote.

Independent Tribune

Leave it to Privette to cast the sole opposing vote in all its irony and stand up for the taxpayers.  A possible creation of 31 jobs hardly makes this investment worthwhile and even if it was it doesn’t change the immorality of taking money from the hardworking taxpayers and handing it over to a multi- million dollar company.  It’s irresponsible.  Saddle Creek is already investing $11 million so what would another $177,000 be to them?

WASHINGTON — Rep. Patrick McHenry loaned $175,000 of his personal funds to his congressional campaign, a sign that the North Carolina Republican hasn’t raised as much money as he thinks he needs to win re-election.

“It’s nothing more than a sign that he’s willing to make a personal investment in his fight for good jobs and lower gas prices for North Carolina,” McHenry spokesman Brock McCleary said.

McClatchy

::cough:: bullshit! ::cough::

What it means is that McHenry is not happy with the current situation in his race.  He obviously feels he needs more money to beat Johnson than is what is at his disposal.  Johnson has been slowly catching up to McHenry in the polls.

WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Robert Conrad of Charlotte is either an arbitrator so honest that he would rule against his own brother or a conservative extremist who would “turn the clock back” on people’s rights.

Whether his friends or foes are correct – or the truth is somewhere in between one thing seems certain: He is no closer to sitting on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, or even getting a confirmation hearing, than he was on the day President Bush nominated him a year ago.

Charlotte Observer

Americans should really be outraged about this.  There have been four seats vacant on this court for years.  Both parties have engaged in judicial obstructionist tactics in the past, but it has never been nearly as bad as what we have seen in the Bush administration.

Conrad is more than qualified.  He received a “Well Qualified” rating from the American Bar Association.

Liberal judicial advocacy groups cite a record of “radical right wing positions,” including arguing for the death penalty and opposition to abortion.

There is nothing radical about supporting the death penalty and opposing abortion.  Those are very mainstream views.  It’s quite clear what is going on in the Senate.  The Democrats are obstructing these judicial picks in hopes of an Obama victory this year in the election and then they can fill these courts with left leaning judges.  Meanwhile, the 4th Circuit Court is understaffed and overburdened and it is undermining our nation’s system of justice.  People really need to demand more from their elected representatives.

Monday, July 21, 2008
Contact:  Brent Woodcox, Communications Director, 919-828-6423

Rangel Pays Big for Trial Lawyer Johnson’s Support of Higher Taxes on Middle Class Families N.Y. Congressman under investigation for ethics violation

RALEIGH-North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Linda Daves today called attention to the Federal Election Commission quarterly report of 10th District Democrat Congressional candidate and trial lawyer, Daniel Johnson.  Johnson’s report reveals that his biggest individual campaign contributor is New York Congressman Charlie Rangel, who has given $7,000 to Johnson.

Mr. Rangel is the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee which is responsible for establishing tax policy in this country.  As a freshman Democrat Congressman, Daniel Johnson can be expected to reciprocate Chairman Rangel’s financial generosity with votes in support of his tax agenda, which includes higher taxes on small businesses, middle class families, and retirement pensions.

“The last thing the families of Western North Carolina need is for Charlie Rangel and Daniel Johnson to enact job-killing tax hikes on small business employers and middle class workers.  Western North Carolina simply can not afford trial lawyer Daniel Johnson’s liberal policies,” Chairman Daves stated.

Additionally, Chairman Daves noted that Chairman Rangel recently admitted that he may have violated House ethics rules when he used his official stationery to solicit private donations for a foundation he is
building in honor of himself.  Rangel is accused of soliciting financial contributions from businesses with a large stake in the tax policies that his committee writes.  Even the liberal advocacy group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, is calling for an investigation of Chairman Rangel’s misconduct.  (Retter, Daphne, “Begging Rangel Cops to a Mail Dysfunction
<http://www.nypost.com/seven/07162008/news/nationalnews/_begging_rangel_
,” New York Post, July 16, 2008)

“By choosing to support corrupt D.C. politicians like Charlie Rangel, Daniel Johnson is already making it painfully clear that he does not represent the values of Western North Carolina families,” Chairman Daves concluded.

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NEWS&OBSERVER

      Click on the link and see a story about Wake County’s drop out rate falling slightly.  Wake County historically has a higher graduation rate that the North Carolina statewide average. The statewide average has not been released but last year it was 69.5%.

      It is apparent to me that the current administration and state government run by the Democrats has thrown money at a problem and failed. The one area where they have not thrown money at is actually bring teacher’s pay to a competitive level. The people need to look for other options in educating their childdren. When the voters decide to remove the Democrats from office is when we will start on the path to success.

An investigation by the N.C. Board of Elections has determined that State Rep. Joe Kiser, R-Lincoln, broke campaign financial disclosure laws in a mailout supporting three candidates for Lincoln County Commission.

However, Kiser will not be fined for the violation and has properly disclosed his role in the letter, according to Amy E. Strange, campaign finance compliance specialist.

Denver political activist and former commission candidate Martin Oakes filed a complaint against Kiser in May  alleging that a mass mailout supporting Carrol Mitchem, Buddy Funderburk and Louis McConnell violated state law by not containing required “paid for by” statements.

News @ Norman

I think we have way too many restrictions in campaign laws, but I suppose I can understand the concern of the public knowing who is sponsoring the ads they are receiving.  Who a political candidate associates with says a lot about their own character.  Apparently, the state isn’t overly concerned about violations of this particular law, however.  Kiser didn’t get fined or anything.  He was just required to have a correction printed in the local newspaper.  Well, how many people are actually going to see that?  What’s done is done.

A few days ago I wrote about the lawsuit won by Duke Energy and the State of North Carolina over a cap and trade provision in the Clean Air Interstate Rule. I wrote the Carolinas Clean Air Coalition requesting more information on their sources for some of the statistics they cited. I received a response from Kelly Picarsic, the Online Communications Manager with the organization. She directed me to the Clean Air Task Force Web site that has several links to the EPA and other Federal environmental organizations. If you visit some of those sites and read through them there is some interesting information in there.

The session of the North Carolina State Legislature came to a close last night after two months of a pretty heavy agenda.  They managed to get some good proposals through such as Jessica’s Law and stricters probation guidelines, the lack of which arguably caused the death of Eve Carson.  However, they dropped on some stuff too.  They failed to address the state’s growing congested highways and while they didn’t raise taxes, they didn’t really reign in spending either.  In fact, they authorized over $800 million in debt spending.  What’s striking about that is that there was no reason to if they cut out the needless pork.

The Civitas Institute has a complete list of the $159 million in pork spending the General Assembly authorized for this fiscal year.  Some of my favorites are the $2 million in taxpayer money for the Oyster Sanctuary Program, $800,000 for industry promotion funds to the Wine and Grape Growers Council, and $2.9 million to renovate and expand the polar bear exhibit at the North Carolina zoo.

Bear in mind that Mike Easley was opposed to the Senate’s plan to cut some taxes because he we are in a recession and the state needs the money.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2008
Contact: Brock McCleary
(202) 225-2576

McHenry Named “Hero of the Taxpayer”

WASHINGTON - Congressman Patrick McHenry recently received the “Hero of the Taxpayer” award by the nation’s leading taxpayer advocacy group, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR).

“Commitment and dedication to taxpayer’s interests, has been imperative in the fight against excessive taxation in the 1st session of the 100th Congress,” said Grover Norquist, President of ATR. “These Congressional ratings allow taxpayers to see, when it comes to their hard-earned money, exactly who the heroes and the ‘villains’ are in Congress. It is clear that Patrick McHenry has proven to be a hero.”

ATR double-rates the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” in all its Congressional scorecards. The Pledge is a written promise offered to every incumbent and candidate opposing “any and all tax increases.” Patrick McHenry signed the Pledge when he first ran for Congress in 2004.

“I have never voted for a tax increase on Western North Carolina families and never will. With a federal budget that is expected to grow to $3.1 trillion next year, there is no reason why the federal
government can’t meet its obligations, and then some, without raising taxes,” Congressman McHenry stated.

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