The offending — and offensive – Murry poll card. Short and sweet. Murry, the Republican in House District 41, is NOT — repeat NOT — supported by the N.C. Association of Educators. The NCAE, which represents teachers, endorsed Murry’s Democratic opponent, Cary Councilwoman Gale Adcock. This is not stopping Murry’s campaign from handing out cards […]
Bob Geary
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A voting scheme in Watauga County presages future challenges
Before you skip over that long list of judicial races on your election ballot, let me share the story of the Watauga County Board of Elections and the Eggers brothers, one of whom answers to the name Four Eggers. The story remains to be finished, and the state Supreme Court will write the next chapter. […]
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The legislature’s neo-Redeemers may have set us back half a century
The Republicans have a strategy for the 2014 elections in North Carolina. Call it their Stockholm Syndrome Strategy. Convince the hostageswe who are about to votethat they had our best interests in mind when they kidnapped our state. Take state Sen. Chad Barefoot, an aptly named foot soldier in the Wake County Republican army. Barefoot […]
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Republicans are silent after voting to allow firearms at the State Fair
Autumn is in the air, and elections are upon us. Early voting, trimmed to 10 days by the Republicans, begins next week. But first, the State Fair, which starts Thursday. There are few things I like more than the State Fair. The magic of the Midway. Tiny tots meeting their first goat or steer. I […]
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Thomas Crowder, longtime Raleigh Council member, died today
Thomas Crowder died this afternoon. I believe the funeral will be Saturday at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church. There’s also talk of a public memorial service on Friday, but I don’t think it’s set yet. I shared the news with some friends just now. Here’s what I wrote: I’m very sorry to report this. Thomas Crowder, […]
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A weekend in Raleigh doing good with the Jamie Kirk Hahn Foundation
JKHF in Raleigh Oct. 11: Second Saturday Daytime events in the downtown Raleigh Food Corridor, including a “Gathering for Good” in Moore Square at 9 a.m. Details: raleighfoodcorridor.org/secondsaturday Oct. 18-19: Weekend of Purpose Saturday, 8 a.m.–noon: Service projects for volunteers. 6:30-11 p.m.: Fundraiser at Contemporary Art Museum, 409 W. Martin St. celebrating the foundation’s 1-year […]
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Breaking: Amendment One is about to fall.
Because the Supreme Court declined to review it, the Fourth Circuit ruling striking down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage will also become law in North Carolina. photo by Bob GearyPaula Womack and Jane Weidig were married in Massachusetts. Soon, their marriage will be recognized in North Carolina. This means Amendment One will be unconstitutional as […]
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The GOP punishes women
Where to begin about women’s issues in North Carolina and the 2014 elections? I asked Janet Colm, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina and its advocacy arm, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund: She began with North Carolina’s progressive history on reproductive rights. When a federal court struck down the Comstock Law in 1936, […]
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Where “affordable housing” is a $269,000 townhome
It’s another season of self-congratulation for Raleigh. We’re No. 1 on this year’s Forbes list of “Best Places for Business and Careers.” We’re No. 2 for “Most Educated Cities,” trailing only Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Durham is third.) Concurrent with these accolades, Raleigh rolled out a new downtown plan, modestly dedicated to “supporting creativity, entrepreneurial growth […]
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Tillis feels the backdraft in the polls after the first U.S. Senate debate
I was not alarmed that Thom Tillis kept calling Kay Hagan “Kay,” and not “Senator Hagan,” in their first debate. Clearly, it was intentional. Tillis was trying to diminish Hagan, even as she unfailingly addressed him as “Speaker Tillis.” It would’ve bothered me, Mr. Speaker, except that it was so dumb. It was dumb, first, […]