Submitted by Betsy Muse on Sun, 09/07/2008 - 10:44pm.
We've had a couple of SNAFUs with the upgrade. That's to be expected. Thank you for hanging in there with us.
Another gubernatorial candidate for the Party of Greed
Submitted by James Protzman on Fri, 12/15/2006 - 9:45pm.
The wires are buzzing today with news about the potential entry of yet another candidate into the Republican race for North Carolina governor. This time, it's former State Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr.
Orr, 60, has been calling Republicans and plans to spend the next two or three months moving around the state to see whether his candidacy is viable. "I have been encouraged by the limited response so far," Orr said. "If the response is as encouraging as the initial foray has indicated, then I would probably jump in the race."
For the past two years, Orr has headed the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law, which has brought unsuccessful legal challenges against how the state lottery was enacted and against the use of taxpayer subsidies to lure businesses to the state.
Orr said he would run as a reform candidate, hoping to bring about improvements in public education, the state's tax structure, the way the state recruits businesses and in ethics, lobbying and campaign finance. "I've talked to a lot of folks who are discouraged and fed up with the way state government operates," Orr said.
Do those talking points sound eerily familiar? They should, because they come straight from the lips of . . . you guessed it: The Puppetmaster!
He said he has discussed a possible bid with Raleigh businessman Art Pope, who was instrumental in creating the institute and hiring Orr.
Wow. Bob Orr is on the payroll of the Puppetmaster. That makes him a full-fledged, card-carrying member of the Art Pope Puppetshow, a sprawling organization passionately dedicated to crushing government and destroying the common good. Truly amazing, because for all his talk about constitutional law, Orr has aligned himself with a man who seems to believe that rich people should be able to buy and sell elections like hog bellies.
I wonder which of his two Puppets Art Pope will decide to support in the primary? At the end of one of the Puppetmaster's strings you'll find Bill Graham, an evil trial attorney and tax hater. And on the other string you have, an ex-judge who doesn't have enough sense not to brag about his conversations with Art Pope. Given Pope's apparent ability to "launder" corporate money through his own private 527, the stakes will be extra high.
And what will Fred "the Asphalt King" Smith make of all this? Will he get left in the construction dust?
I'm guessing the Puppetmaster has studied the lay of the land and determined that neither Graham nor Smith deserves his electioneering support. He's probably determined that Orr has that patina of ethics that would make him a strong contender against the mean old Democrats. Which means he's betting that his own trail of sleaze won't taint Orr's chances.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Richard Morgan's court case against Pope's 527. And if the Puppetmaster comes out on the short end of that stick, it'll be fun to watch just how fast the gubernatorial rats abandon his stinking ship.
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I kind of liked Orr
I've never been too impressed with his politics, but he's clearly a very smart guy, and competent jurist. I sat in on NC Supreme Court arguments about a complicated issue of insurance regulation. While one justice slept outright and another appeared to be nodding (and while the creepy guy with the bow tie asked questions that displayed a complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand), Orr asked questions that not only showed that he'd read the briefs, but went right to the heart of the parties' disagreement.
On the other hand, I find his association with the Pope front (in general) and his loser argument against the lottery (in particular) to be shameful.
All of which is to say that he might well be a formidable opponent — sharp as a tack and politically connected. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Orr would be the guy to finally provide Pope with a difficult win.
Free Market Bob Meets Art?
He said he has discussed a possible bid with Raleigh businessman Art Pope, who was instrumental in creating the institute and hiring Orr.* AP Wire Service or friends of Art
This is hilarious. Frivolous Bob roaring out of the Political Gate from the Pope Palace HQ's.
I can see the conversation from the meeting with Art.
" Listen Bob, We are 0 for 3 with your damn lawsuits and out of pocket for a million or so in chump change. Damn't man, you promise me results and tons of Media PR that would fire the voters to action in this State from the last election." * Art
"I know Mr President! But those damn democrat judges toss out all of my suits, not counting them sticking me with a dry cleaning bill for my former judical robe for filing Frivolous lawsuits"* F Bob
" I really don't want to hear your excuses anymore Bob, but I don't want to have your private welfare ass on my payroll anymore without legal results. As a corporate CEO and freethinker like me, you would centainly understand profit and losses and the bottom line of foundation thinking politics." *Art
" But! But! Art! What are I going to do, if I can't dream in my Ivoy Tower like all of those Liberal Chapel Hill Law Profs." * F Bob
" Screw those Dudes, I just bought their football team cheap and at discount with the new coach and I can tell you they will produce results and wins for conservative values against those Heathen Duke Blue Devils" * Art
" But Art! Didn't you finish Duke law school? And didn't Duke go winless for the 2 nd year in a row. listen Art! I was at the Duke Carolina Game two weeks ago trying to hustle tickets for the game and got this great idea about taking back Carolina from the Duke Democrats, when a old college frat buddy show up for the game and offer me his tickets for nothing, if I watch his Cadillac in the Stadium parking lot during the game."
" That's the ticket Bob! We run you for Gov demanding reform in the frat Le Crosse ticket business under a new party label" * Art
" Great boss! I will contact that dumb conservative editoral writer in Winston-Salem to plant a story like it is his idea." F Bob
" Well move it Bob and remember one thing, Nobody knows who you are period and we got a lot of work to do. Now get down to Charlotte and hang with our party foundation boys and the local bankers to move your career and be sure to call it "tour to listen to the people" sorted like President Bush is doing Right now. By the way if the N&O calls you. Say you are running up a trial balloon to see if your Good Ship Lolly Pop floats with Fast Freddy Smith supporters in Johnston County"* Art
"But Art! Isn't Bush poll or approval rating at 24% since he started the tour to listen to the American people" *F Bob
" WTF cares Bob! He is like you since nobody cares a rat ass about him anymore. With you nobody knows who the hell you are.
Hells bells Judge! The last name ID poll I did on you by my pollest Slick Jack Hawke with his funny Latin slogan show that most people thought you were hockey player from Boston. And Buddy, that is good since you are starting from O." *Art
" By the way Bob close the door when you leave in order save the heating cost here. I am trying to show you how to cut government expenses as an example in your first speech to the Federalist Law Society on simple free market ideas in government."* Art
" Right Boss! But I thought we were into secret state fascism as our free market principle to the people." * F Bob
" Get the f### out of here and shut up!" * Art
Max!
This is your best ever. Most readers won't understand that 90% of this is grounded in real, on-the-ground events that have happened lately.
Hilarious!
This is your best ever.*A I
This is your best ever.*A
I am justing warming up on the SOB's
Most readers won't understand that 90% of this is grounded in real,*A
True! But I got another Legion that understands major numbers for the future.
on-the-ground events that have happened lately.* A
The nice part is that this will keep them busy trying to find out who the snitch in their camp.
Hilarious!* A
I bet John is really piss now after reading this and not laughing anymore about my senior moment speeeling and garrrmmar errorrrrrs. Mash those teeth John and get rid of that phony batshit smiley face on NC Spin
"Sponge" Bob
Latest character in the Puppet Show: "Sponge" Bob. Next week on Lord of the Wingnuts, meet Bilbo Grahams.
Citizen Pope
Remember Orson Wells and his great film "Citizen Kane?" Art Pope reminds me of a smaller more shriveled version of Charles Foster Kane. He plays out his desires for political power on the much smaller stage of North Carolina.
True to the character he imitates in miniature he sullies and diminishes everything he touches. Kane tried to bully a nation with his newspaper empire, while Pope tries to purchase just one Southern State with the proceeds from five and ten cent stores.
Hungry minions with ambitions of their own smile and bow to the bald little poser; needing his money even as they hope for the advantage of personal and political distance. Like the Charles Foster Kane of old, he will one day pass into a lonely infirmity without a genuine friend, a caring brother or a decent achievement to show for his father's wasted fortune.
Maybe then he too will have some small talisman to remind him of a time when he was young, other people mattered, and he lived in a State that was good to him.
Rosebud
I know there's a connection between Roses and Rosebud somewhere.
Citizen Pope
Brilliant, George. This may be a much more productive path for our ongoing skewering.
What's saddest of all is to see his energy and passion directed in such destructive ways. People who know him say he's very bright and was a decent person when he was in Raleigh years ago. He treated staff fairly and worked hard.
And then something happened. It may have been rejection by the electorate when he ran for Lt. Gov., who knows, but his ability to spend money to control others has made him a legend in his own mind.