Next Saturday, August 17, Photo Opportunist Dan Forest will officially launch his campaign for governor. We say "officially" because running for governor is pretty much all Dan Forest has done since he was elected to the least relevant job in state government. Week in and week out, Forest slimes around the state, getting his picture taken by lily white interns standing next to people who seldom realize they're being mugged.

Governor Cooper has come into the new year ready and willing to do the people’s work. I’m encouraged.

I’m a North Carolina Democrat.

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.

I stood in the small corral wedged in as close as possible for a couple hours. Then a large man in a nice suit stood in front of me on the other side of the fence, and I know my waiting was done. Well, at least that was the wisp on the fall air as Tim Kaine stepped onto the podium at UNC-A. There was nothing particularly spectacular about his speech, just broad strokes and bad jokes. Instead, what stands out was an odd statement he seemed to add off the cuff. He asked how many in the crowd had been told to wait their turn, to be patient, and less idealistic.

People keep asking me for some encouraging words in the face of all the GOP ugliness. There's really only one thing to say. Vote Democratic.