Fred vs Bill

If you've driven recently on US 70 from Raleigh to Kinston, you faced the extremely unpleasant burden of seeing gigantic billboards plastered with the grinning mug of NC Senator Fred Smith, a proud "conservative" who makes a living slopping at the public trough for highway contracts.

And of course you won't be surprised to see on his website that one of his big issues is ... you guessed it ... building more highways! If only the mean old liberal Democrats would get out of the way and let his company pave over the rest of the durn state, all would be well and good. (You really have to read where Fredly whines about "liberal Democrats" three times in two short paragraphs. It's a hoot.)

But the very latest addition to the senator's over-engineered site is a high-flying slam at the vaunted profession of his most likely gubernatorial opponent, Mr. Bill Graham, the ambulance-chasing government-hater from Salisbury.

The biggest obstacle to real tort reform in North Carolina is that the trial lawyers, a wealthy special interest group, has the Democratic Party in their pocket. The result is that we have a system which promotes getting lawyers rich instead of providing affordable health care. Increasing insurance premiums are driving good doctors out of business and frivolous lawsuits are clogging our courts – which slows down justice for those who need it most. The doctors that do remain in business must pass those costs onto the patients making health care extremely expensive, out of reach for many residents of North Carolina. Businesses are also suffering worker compensation lawsuits that prevent them from expanding and lower economic.

You can just see all the holier-than-thou bulloney spilling from Fred's he-man lips as he sets his sites on Bill Graham, a neocon trial lawyer who's spending a boatload to plaster his face all over North Carolina too. Graham was quoted earlier this year in the Conservative Voice when only Judson Cox (edited - RP) was paying attention:

Graham: I've been around politics for a long time. I have worked on Senator Helms' staff and supported good candidates like George W. Bush, Elizabeth Dole, Richard Burr, as well as many of our Republican Members of Congress. I have for years supported state and local candidates. I will certainly continue to support good candidates and I will see what may happen in the future.

Many in Raleigh say you will/should be our next governor; how do you respond?

Graham: Running for Governor is a possibility I am considering. It is too early to make that determination. I will make a decision on that sometime early next year. For now we want to advance innovative ideas for the good of our party and the people of our state.

Innovative ideas? That should be interesting. I sure hope they're more innovative than supporting "good candidates" like the moron in the White House or the Very Senior Invisible Senator from North Carolina. I can hardly wait to see how fast little Billy runs away from his gushiness over George Bush. Can you say "back-pedaling?"

In any case, there you have it. The Asphalt King and the Anti-Gas-Tax Ambulance Chaser going head-to-head in the Party of Greed 2008 primary for governor. Should be fun.