Answer: Climate Convergence on Raleigh is coming next weekend, April 20-21. It’s a major coming-together of the growing network of people and groups working on climate change and related issues (e.g., fracking) in North Carolina. If you’ve been looking for a chance to link up with this movement and with 350.org, the great grassroots organization […]
Bob Geary
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Conscience, Raleigh: Protesters highlight Gitmo prisoners still in hell though “cleared”
Jule Shanklin, Peggy Misch and Christina Cowger (in the picture below, from right to left) were part of the anti-Gitmo protest contingent at the federal building on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh today. Did you know that 80-some prisoners at Guantanamo have been “cleared for release” — i.e., they’ve never been charged with anything, because […]
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How 2013 became 1984: A one-act play in which NC GOP lawmakers write bills using Newspeak
SETTING: A secret meeting at an undisclosed location in Raleigh. Republican legislators have been summoned to review “GOP branding” after two of them sponsored a ludicrous bill calling for an official religion in North Carolina. As we enter, we see Reps. Harry Warren, from Salisbury, and Carl Ford, from China Grove, shame-faced and wearing dunce […]
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The common good is in the way of Republican goals
Stay committed Scholars for a Progressive North Carolina (SPNC) plan more forums on campuses statewide. To help or for information, see their website. The state NAACP and allied groups plan to lobby in the General Assembly against HB 451 on Tuesday, April 9. Gather at 9 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 101 S. Wilmington St., […]
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[Updated] Wake County voters are 2-to-1 for Dix Park plan, strongly oppose state reneging: Public Policy Polling
indyweek.com [Update, 10:30 a.m. Dix Park supporters are gathering on the site this afternoon at 5. See below for more.] Wow, if there was any question about whether the Wake County Board of Commissioners — the Republican-led board of commissioners — were representing their constituents or their political party by coming out against the Dix […]
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Prognosis good: Raleigh Councilor Crowder being treated for testicular cancer
Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane began today’s budget preview session with news about District D Councilor Thomas Crowder: He’s been diagnosed with testicular cancer and will be enduring chemotherapy treatments over the next few weeks. His prognosis is good for a full recovery. He’s out of action today and for tomorrow’s regular Council meeting. I spoke […]
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A Good Friday note: Resurrection will “Save Our State” (plus two upcoming events in Raleigh)
First up, there’s a strategy meeting set for 6 p.m. next Tuesday, April 2 at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh — 1801 Hillsborough St. If you are among those outraged by what’s going on in the General Assembly these days, and especially with the new voter-suppression legislation — this will be the NAACP and […]
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Fitzsimon: State Republicans aim to reduce voter turnout — because more voters bad for GOP
The bill Chris Fitzsimon is talking about in the tweet below is House Bill 451, introduced yesterday by Rep. Edgar Starnes, a Republican from Hickory. (Democracy NC calls it the “Screw the Voter Act of 2013” — like!) As brazen as so much of what the Republicans have been doing is, this legislation is quite […]
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The Dix disaster
I’m addressing these remarks to my old friends in the Wake County Republican Party, but especially to Wake Commissioners Joe Bryan and Paul Coble and state Sen. Neal Hunt. Each of them might have been expected to stand with their constituents in the battle for Dix Park, but instead they cast their lot against their […]
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Senate Republicans to Raleigh: Drop dead. (Contract? What contract?)
As expected, Senate Republicans this morning started the wheels in motion to tear up the state’s lease with the City of Raleigh for the Dorothea Dix tract because, the GOP legislators said, former Gov. Perdue shouldn’t have signed it. Perdue, as is required for contracts involving state land, won the approval of the Council of […]
