Long ago, Republicans wrapped themselves in the flag and claimed they were the only true patriots.
Then they proclaimed only they had 'family values.'
Now, Dan Forest tries to convince us that only Republicans worship God.
He says Democrats worship an idol called 'big government.'
Forest, a likely Republican candidate for governor in 2020, said “the left” marches and lobbies for bigger government with “religious fervor.”
Some good friends here in Chapel Hill hosted an informational meeting yesterday, featuring Verla Insko, Graig Meyer, and Darren Jackson. Attendance was off the charts, people were eager to find a way to take action in the face of so much ugliness and overreach by Republicans in Raleigh. There was plenty of chit-chat about the national scene as well, but the focus was on North Carolina in general, and the NC House in particular.
I had two takeaways from the meetings. First, I was encouraged by the level of energy of people to take action. Second, I was deeply frustrated by the "strategy" that seems to be driving the Democratic Party. I was looking for bold, fresh thinking. What I heard was "give money, host fundraisers, make phone calls."
Like for so many folks, a good strong public education and programs created by Democrats helped me succeed in life. My public school teachers, my church and my family raised me in rural Richmond County and made me who I am today.
In fact, there hasn’t been a time when politics – the art of the possible – did not mean a great deal to me.
In the Senate race Richard Burr continues to have his requisite mediocre approval numbers with only 29% of voters giving him good marks to 39% who disapprove. Deborah Ross is now polling within 4 points of Burr, 43/39, following the announcement of her candidacy.
Burr has [slightly] wider leads over the other Democrats in the field- it's 44/35 over Kevin Griffin and 45/34 over Chris Rey. None of the Democratic candidates have greater than 27% name recognition at this point...
Here is a clear argument between Left and Right in the Democratic Party at this time, and going forward. It is interesting that the Third Way, successor to the DLC as the center right of the Democrats, is co chaired by Kay Hagan, and most of the losing Democratic senators were blue dogs.
And, as pointed out by the article, this has implications for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton in 2016, which many take as a given, which would put the War Party back into the saddle (even more than current events) and pandering to Wall Street and the banksters would increase. Can you spell oligarchy, on steroids. Total surrender to the GOP would be slightly worse. President Cruz anyone?
Here is a great article by Tom Hartmann pointing out that the GOP strategy was to make Obama THE ISSUE, and it worked thanks to Democrat leaders and others who did not counter and point out the billions spent since 2008 on that single effort with the media. It is clear that the down ballot Teabillies and echo-chamber media on the right did get the word. This was one massive unforced error over six years on part of Democratic Party.
Making fun of the mentally ill is never OK. I do not care who you are, ridiculing people living with an illness or disability is despicable. Unfortunately, Thursday, that is exactly what an elected NCDP Congressional District chair and popular liberal blogger did in an open, public post on Facebook.
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