BlogNetNews.com » North Carolina

Squall Lines: Slow down on health care legislation

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:15:18 -0500

That’s the argument William Killough advances in the latest edition of the Carolina Beach Island Gazette:

Why does this legislation have to be composed of so many pages of text? Entire individual Town’s and Counties are governed by laws and ordinances that don’t take up 2,000 pages of text. Leo [...]

Under the Dome blog: Health care battle to focus on Hagan

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:11:45 -0500

After an intense three-month campaign for the votes of North Carolina's House members, players in the health care debate including business, labor and the administration are now likely to focus their full attention on Sen. Kay Hagan. (N&O)

The state's new Racial Justice Act, which allows capital [...]

Squall Lines: Open government in Wrightsville

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:11:17 -0500

Writing in the Lumina News, Pat Bradford sums up the poll results in Wrightsville Beach, one of several area communities where mayors and other incumbents went down to defeat on Election Day. The turnout was high in the town, despite pre-vote predictions to the contrary, and the winning candidates [...]

News 14 Carolina: Bill Clinton meets with Senate Dems on health care

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:09:06 -0500

Former President Bill Clinton knows just how high the political stakes are in the fight to overhaul America's health care system. [...]

Squall Lines: The NAACP’s strange priorities

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:03:36 -0500

The NAACP, born when governments segregated people by race and enshrined oppression in law, now exhibits some strange priorities. In recent years, it has taken on causes either far removed from its original mission or lacking in practical significance.

I think an example of the latter phenomenon is the investigation of [...]

Piedmont Publius: Newsflash: Media don’t like Foxx

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:03:15 -0500

I’m just looking for more information on the story only WSJS has reported so far —- that an envelope containing a suspicious white powder was sent to Rep. Virginia Foxx’s Clemmonsville office yesterday.

The suspicious substance turned out to be baby powder, but it was obviously meant to be a [...]

Right Angles: Not Even a Whimper From the Blue Dogs

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:38:27 -0500

Day 3 following the House vote on HR 3962 and still not a whimper from the Blue Dog Democrats on their Web site. Saturday night, the majority of the group (28 of 52 by my count) voted FOR the trillion-dollar, freedom-killing takeover of the U.S. health care system. This [...]

News 14 Carolina: Obama to speak with families of Fort Hood rampage victims

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:24:31 -0500

President Barack Obama and the first lady will travel to Killeen, Texas, to meet with those most affected by the Fort Hood shootings. Obama will then address the Fort Hood community during a memorial service. [...]

Right Angles: More Political Intrigue in Chapel Hill

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:57:15 -0500

We’re still waiting to find out if the counting of provisional ballots in the Chapel Hill mayoral race will lead to a recount request from Matt Czajkowski who, at this point, is just 141 votes behind unofficial winner Mark Kleinschmidt, according to WCHL.

But there’s another interesting situation brewing [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Top of the morning

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:55:37 -0500

Number of comments: 1

Finally an answer to why Wall Street financial companies are getting the swine flu vaccine before most of the rest of the country.

It is the same answer to why Goldman Sachs and several other financial firms that received federal bailout money are paying huge bonuses to [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: New Carolina Journal Online features

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:39:00 -0500

The latest Carolina Journal Online exclusive features Karen McMahan's report on FreedomWorks' "March on Raleigh" scheduled for Saturday. John Hood's Daily Journal... [...]

Right Angles: Sunday’s the Big Day for James Oblinger

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:14:40 -0500

Former NC State Chancellor James Oblinger is heading to Las Cruces for his job interview. He’s vying with four others to be the new president of the university. This document from the NMSU Web site indicates things get going Sunday with a tour of Las Cruces. On Monday, his [...]

BlueNC blogs: On Paying For Immoral Things, Or, Is Stupak On To Something?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:02:34 -0500

There has been a great wailing and gnashing of teeth over the past day or so as those who follow the healthcare debate react to the Stupak/Some Creepy Republican Guy Amendment.

The Amendment, which is apparently intended to respond to conservative Democrats’ concerns that too many women were voting for the [...]

Thunder Pig: Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!!! Protecting Since November 10, 1775

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:54:00 -0500

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference...the Marines don't have that problem."

- President Ronald Reagan, 1985

Commercial featuring US Marines returning home

[...]

Under the Dome blog: Cunningham won't run for U.S. Senate

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:02:35 -0500

Cal Cunningham, a Lexington Democrat who had been exploring a U.S. Senate bid for months, said late Monday that he will not run.

The decision is a possible indicator the U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. Richard Burr in 2010. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall [...]

The Wild West: By Special Request

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:46:21 -0500

Cynthia Wadsworth of Keepers of the Blue Ridge asked that I post an advert for two events. They will be held November 11 at 6:00 pm at Owen Hall, UNCA and November 12 at 6:00 pm at Maryland Community College in Spruce Pine. The Keepers have reportedly fought very hard [...]

The Wild West: Alternative Attempts to Reach Legislators

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:36:30 -0500

Are you tired of unresponsive government? You may stand around and get counted like a dork, and maybe even talk to a legislator by joining the Taxpayers’ March on Raleigh this Saturday. Also, Senator Richard Burr will be in Asheville Thursday and Friday.

[...]

BlueNC blogs: Thank You

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:30:05 -0500

Dear Friends,

After giving a serious and thorough look at a race for the U.S. Senate, I have decided not to seek office at this time. This has been a very difficult decision, but I’m sure there will be another day and there are many other ways to serve.

I am [...]

BlueNC blogs: America's biggest problem: The lack of integrity of our elected officials?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:24:49 -0500

I subscribe to a free service that delivers, in their words, "eclectic little excerpts delivered to your email every day." It's called Delancey Place and I really enjoy the diversity and depth of the entertaining, informative, and thought provoking material they send. Today's email really hit me hard. The article [...]

Right Angles: More inconvenient Hasan jihad evidence

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:31 -0500

While the President and most of the media wonder just what possibly could have prompted Maj. Maj. Nidal M. Hasan to do what he did last week, evidence keeps surfacing inconveniently and pointing to jihad:

The Army psychiatrist believed to have killed 13 people at Fort Hood warned a roomful [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Dissecting the latest Blue Cross anti-reform mailer

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:41:01 -0500

The ink is barely dry on the health reform bill that passed the House, and Blue Cross already is out with a new attack mailer on health reform. [See the front and back here.] This mailer boldly proclaims “we can’t tax our way to affordable health care.” The [...]

InterstateQ.com: The anti-gay plan to undo hate crimes law

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:16:58 -0500

Both Queerty and Bilerico have commented on a WND story about a challenge next week to the new hate crimes legislation signed by Obama on Oct. 27. They say anti-gay activists are attempting to call for violence against LGBT people. I think the plan is much simpler and less sinister, [...]

EdCone.com: Wheels within wheels

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:09:53 -0500

Fec deals with the pushy sales staff at a time-share. Same weekend, the epic South Park episode about the pushy sales staff at a time-share runs again on teevee. Coincidence? There are no coincidences. "Asspen" also includes a spoof of... [...]

Civitas Review Online: Wake Scores Shatter Conventional Wisdom About Diversity Plan

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:02:04 -0500

Though it’s far from perfect, the North Carolina School Report Card is usually a helpful place to get information about how students are performing in public schools across the state. Last week the Department of Public Instruction released the 2008-2009 data. One of the most interesting tidbits to come out [...]

Carolina Politics Online: Joe Wilson Headlining York County GOP Christmas Fundraiser

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:01:21 -0500

Congressman Joe Wilson will be the guest of honor at the York County Republican Party’s Christmas fundraiser. Interesting choice. The event will take place on Friday, December 11th in the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek beginning at 6:30PM. More details below courtesy of The Herald.

This year’s [...]

Right Angles: SAS Report on Wake Schools Isn’t Going Away

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:29:24 -0500

Kudos to Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley for not letting the SAS report on Wake schools fade into the background. It matters not that Gurley is a Republican, as the N&O blog seems to imply. The SAS report is about getting to accurate data about the performance of low-income [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Where'd the Easley dough go?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:26:00 -0500

WTVD-TV has the answer: Last month, the North Carolina State Board of Elections slapped former Governor Mike Easley with a $100,000 fine and referred his case to a prosecutor after investigating flights Easley took on the private planes of supporters. $60,000 of that was for the... [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: The social implications of end-of-life care

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:17:00 -0500

Matthew Schmitz, writing in the Witherspoon Institute's publication Public Discourse, makes some good points about modern society's closeting away of the elderly from the young, and the resulting impact it's having in the health care overhaul debate. I've often pondered how the Boomers' kids will handle end-of-life... [...]

The Progressive Pulse: North Carolina high risk insurance pool will soon be more affordable

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:01:15 -0500

Although Inclusive Health, the state’s insurance plan for people with preexisting conditions, is valuable, the monthly premiums are still unaffordable to many individuals and families.

But a new $1.5 million federal grant will help provide premium assistance for Inclusive Health enrollees beginning today. For approved applicants the discounts will range [...]

News 14 Carolina: Health care bill heads to Senate; Burr, Hagan react

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:36:33 -0500

With health care reform proposal now on its way to the Senate for consideration, North Carolina's senators say they suspect it will get even less support in their chamber. [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: US Airways expands Charlotte service

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:31:05 -0500

US Airways Group Inc. will resume daily nonstop service between its Charlotte hub and Melbourne, Fla., after a 12-year hiatus. (LCC) [...]

Under the Dome blog: Don't read the instructions

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:24:19 -0500

State Board of Education chairman Bill Harrison said the education agency didn't mean to make it hard for former students who failed competency tests to get diplomas, or for schools to give them out.

The state Department of Public Instruction told school districts to find former students, going to [...]

Under the Dome blog: Forbes headlines GOP dinner

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:57:56 -0500

Steve Forbes, the former GOP presidential candidate and the publisher of Forbes Magazine, will headline the N.C. GOP's Hall of Fame Dinner in Raleigh later this month.

He will join Doug Hoffman, the former conservative congressional candidate from New York, at the dinner to be held November 21st at the North [...]

Carolina Politics Online: Civitas Releases Conservative Rankings

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:53:40 -0500

The Civitas Institute has released its 2009 Conservative rankings and the result is that the North Carolina State Legislature isn’t all that conservative. Well, there’s a shocker. This is the state that constantly raises taxes, hands out corporate welfare, and allows dangerous criminals to appeal their death sentence based [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Blue Cross Postcards – The NEW campaign

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:33:40 -0500

They are at it again. If they hadn’t made people mad enough, here they are sending out yet another round of a new design. This one complains about high fees and taxes as a part of health reform. That would be taxes on millionaires – like BCBS CEO Bob Greczyn [...]

Under the Dome blog: Pension fund bumps up

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:09:36 -0500

North Carolina's state pension fund was buoyed in the third quarter by the stock market's slight rebound, State Treasurer Janet Cowell announced Monday.

Third quarter returns were 10.44 percent, and the fund's returns for the year are 12.26 percent.

The fund's value rose from $60.2 billion at the [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Libertarian gubernatorial candidate recaps the year since the 2008 election

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:01:00 -0500

Few would argue that North Carolina is a better place to live now than it was in November 2008, when voters elected Beverly Perdue to serve as governor. The man who ran as the Libertarian candidate, Michael Munger, recapped political developments of the past year during today's presentation to the John [...]

Under the Dome blog: State must dig deep for tanks

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:58:56 -0500

North Carolina will have to spend more than a half-billion dollars to clean up a backlog of 6,500 deteriorating underground storage tanks, a legislative evaluation group reported Monday.

The state already has spent $544 million since 1985 to clean up leaking tanks, which often hold petroleum products, but it [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: KPMG names managing partner

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:43:14 -0500

KPMG has named John Switzer as managing partner of its Charlotte office. [...]

Civitas Review Online: Rand Helped Reshape Parole Board

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:43:02 -0500

Sen. Tony Rand, who announced last week that he was stepping down from the NC Senate to become Chairman of the state’s Parole Board played a large part in reshaping the board to its current configuration.

In 2005, Rand introduced S 897 which changed the makeup of the parole board [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: "nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:32:00 -0500

The final result of the US Supreme Court's Kelo v. New London eminent domain decision. Is this "public use" as defined by the 5th Amendment? See more pictures taken by Dan Simmons of the location of Susette Kelo's house here. And an article by Tim Carney in the Washington Examiner [...]

Under the Dome blog: Grants short on accountability

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:20:35 -0500

North Carolina hands out hundreds of millions of dollars to non-profit organizations each year but fails to adequately keep track of the money, according to a legislative report released Monday.

The legislature's Program Evaluation Division reported that the state awarded $694 million in state and federal funds to non-profits during the [...]

EdCone.com: Good habits, waiting to be unlearned

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:13:45 -0500

"The recession may be over but companies that cater to consumers believe people are digging in for a long, frugal winter." The body of the article is behind the WSJ paywall, but you get the point. Left unsaid: mightn't this...' [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Really vital academic research!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:13:00 -0500

Duke professor Dan Ariely is engaged in research on attitudes towards sex toys and according to this N&O story a few people are upset. This reinforces my view that faculty research ought to be put on a free-market footing. That is, the norm should be a full teaching load (let's say [...]

Right Angles: Pfizer abandons Kelo land

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:11:44 -0500

Number of comments: 1

And what does the city of New London, Conn., tell Suzette Kelo? “Uh, our bad”?:

The private homes New London, Conn., took through eminent domain from Suzette Kelo and others, are torn down now, but Pfizer has just announced that it closing up shop at the research facility that led [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Never mind

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:09:00 -0500

Pfizer, one of the villains in the infamous Kelo eminent domain case, has decided it doesn't want the property seized through eminent domain after... [...]

Public Policy Polling: It's early but Booker looks good

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:09:00 -0500

Almost every time in 2009 that we've polled on a politician for the first time and been surprised by the numbers it's been because that person is more unpopular than we expected. We are in a recession period for the popularity of politicians, and that's been par for the course.[...]

Under the Dome blog: Clodfelter boxed out

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:52:06 -0500

Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight's endorsement of Sen. Martin Nesbitt, of Asheville, for majority leader has left Sen. Dan Clodfelter, of Charlotte (right), with few directions to go to pursue the job.

Basnight, of Manteo, wrote to his Democratic colleagues (see link below) on Friday encouraging [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Public-private partnership to complete I-485 loop in Charlotte

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:49:00 -0500

Gov. Bev Perdue announced at a press conference in Charlotte this morning a public-private partnership to finish the I-485 loop earlier than expected. The governor's office claims the plan will save $50 to $100 million taxpayer... [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: N.C. gets $1.5M for insurance premiums

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:38:07 -0500

The federal government has given the N.C. Health Insurance Risk Pool $1.5 million to subsidize monthly premiums for those unable to afford to participate. [...]

WataugaWatch: Hmmm

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:33:00 -0500

Former Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook, who is now employed in Catawba County as Captain of Detention under Sheriff David Huffman, has registered to vote in Watauga County, using his parents' address as his "place of residence" ... thus ushering in rampant speculation that he plans to run again for' [...]

Under the Dome blog: Post: Kissell vote 'inexplicable'

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:07:40 -0500

U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell's vote against health care reform legislation ranked as one of the toughest votes in the House, and also one of the most bizarre, according to Washington Post blogger Chris "The Fix" Cillizza.

Cillizza gamed out the five toughest votes for the [...]

Squall Lines: Big Education saves energy

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:56:08 -0500

The Wilmington Star-News editorial page editor recently praised efforts by the UNCW to save energy under “A powerful example” headline. Fine. Conservation good, waste bad as every third-grader in America is taught.

Why the big deal about the university turning off lights and turning down thermostats? Doesn’t [...]

Under the Dome blog: Diploma diplomacy

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:39:21 -0500

They're taking the heat for something they say they didn't do.

An online commentary published by a Washington, D.C. think tank essentially calls the legislature a bunch of dunces because some adults who left school nearly three decades ago without high school diplomas will be able to [...]

The Meck Deck: US Airways to Melbourne

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:07 -0500

As in Melbourne, Florida. Three flights a day. Begins in February. The airline had previously served Melbourne from 1989 to 1997.

Bonus Analysis: US Airways last went on a Florida expansion spree in 2008. Melbourne was the one place that you could make an argument for that the airline didn’t [...]

Public Policy Polling: Some interesting health care numbers

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:58:00 -0500

Is it possible that the health care issue has gotten Republicans/conservatives so fired up that they're going to be more energized to go and try to vote out Democrats next year whether a substantive bill actually passes or not?

We put that theory to the test in New Jersey' [...]

Right Angles: Cognitive dissonance

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:55:54 -0500

Number of comments: 1

FBI: Hasan tried to contact Al Qaeda.

Law enforcement official: We’re not sure what his motive was.

This kind of politically correct denial has gotten a lot of people killed.

[...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: S.C. bank forecloses on Crosland property

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:54:37 -0500

Carolina First Bank has foreclosed on land in Nashville, Tenn., where a Crosland affiliate planned to develop a 280,000-square-foot mixed-use project. [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: CEI's President, Fred Smith, remembers the Berlin Wall

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:50:00 -0500

Competitive Enterprise Institute president, Fred Smith, provides his thoughts on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall here. (Also see the JLF post on the CEI video.) So put yourself in their shoes. Think what they thought. Look right in the eyes of those separated families as they... [...]

Charlotte Business News - Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal: Survey: U.S. doctors want tort reform

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:40:42 -0500

Seventy-four percent of U.S. physicians say they have less control over the way they practice medicine than they did five years ago, mostly because of malpractice litigation. [...]

Under the Dome blog: Salaries not on the label

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:39:02 -0500

The New Hanover County ABC Board won't tell how much they pay their employees.

The board has so far refused a request from the Wilmington Star-News for salary information on the board's employees, the folks that run the liquor stores. The newspaper is assembling a database of public employee [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: CEI marks 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:35:00 -0500

[...]

JLF > The Locker Room: You might be a progressive if...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:31:00 -0500

...you don't know what all the fuss is about when it comes to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. (Obama declines to attend the commemoration ceremonies.) [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Hydrogen Barackside

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:27:00 -0500

[...]

Piedmont Publius: Classic Lorraine Ahearn

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:21:47 -0500

I read with interest N&R bleeding heart Lorraine Ahearn’s Sunday front-pager on the plight of Myanmar immigrants struggling to make a living by commuting 90 minutes to the Perdue Farms chicken plant in Rockingham.

Despite describing repeatedly the horrors the Twan Har family endured in their “impoverished and repressive” home [...]

JLF > The Locker Room: Thoughts about the Berlin Wall

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:21:00 -0500

The Berlin Wall fell twenty years ago today. Here are some photos that I took during my service in the Army in Berlin in the early 1970s. ... [...]

Public Policy Polling: Vote on where we poll

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:20:00 -0500

One thing I want to say up front before getting to this month's options is that I don't really believe in doing blended primary/general election polls when an election is less than a year away. It's really two entirely different electorates so to do both well you have to conduct' [...]

Civitas Review Online: U.S. House Approves Health Care Bill: How Did Your Representative Vote?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:14:43 -0500

WRAL has the breakdown of how North Carolina’s Representatives voted on the PelosiCare monstrosity over the weekend:

Eight of North Carolina’s 13 representatives, including three Democrats, voted against the health care overhaul bill approved by the House of Representatives Saturday.

According to the House’s online records, Democratic Reps. Larry Kissel, [...]

The Progressive Pulse: Get your tickets early

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:09:59 -0500

Number of comments: 3

Share and Enjoy: [...]

Civitas Review Online: Thank you for smoking

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:06:36 -0500

A new law signed by Gov. Purdue in May 2009 prohibits smoking in public restaurants and bars. North Carolina’s Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law takes effect January 2, 2010 but local business owners are already getting ready. The N.C. Division of Public Health and the N.C. Association of Local [...]

WataugaWatch: Black Bart

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:04:00 -0500

To get the Democratic votes for the narrow victory on Saturday for the House's "Affordable Health Care for America Act," Speaker Nancy Pelosi was forced into a corner by the Blue Dogs, led by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan. She allowed a vote on the [...]