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Running with Rand
Submitted by James on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 9:41am
As you have no doubt read, Senator Tony Rand announced his retirement yesterday, spawning a wave of spinning from the chattering classes that will continue for months to come. Even the Wakers are weighing in, with nonsense like this from McClatchy reporter Mark Johnson, channeling Senate minority leader, Phil Berger.
Flanked from the left
A leftward shift in the Democratic caucus that controls the Senate made his role as majority leader more difficult. A growing coalition of more liberal Democrats in the Senate helped push through laws this year that allow more comprehensive sex education, specifically protect gay students from bullying and allow death penalty challenges based on race.
"Sen. Rand increasingly found his views at odds with his more liberal Democratic colleagues, and that may have led to this decision," said Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger of Eden.
It's sad enough that we live in a media market where basic human rights get defined as a "leftward shift," but what's sadder still is anyone's willingness to accept Herr Berger's comments on face value. You can count on one hand the number of true progressives in the North Carolina Senate, and from what I can see, Tony Rand didn't give a damn about them one way or the other. He got their votes on things that mattered to him, and whatever concessions he made were simply part of doing deals. For better and for worse, he always got his way.
There's no doubt we'll miss Senator Rand in the years to come. Our university system, in particular, has benefited greatly from his stewardship. I wish him well in retirement.
Just to be clear
I don't know and have never met or even seen Senator Rand. These views are based on watching from the nickel seats, miles from the action, through blurry binoculars. My wife, who works at UNC, views him as a tireless champion for the University, a leader who has been indispensable in protecting her institution from right wing assaults. She's most certainly correct about that.
Mr. Rand has also been an effective and tireless fundraiser for the North Carolina Democratic Party, as I noted earlier.
Rand
Rand is not particularly ideological. He helped a lot of progressive measures pass. Berger's "left flank" analysis is typical repubthink. I guess if you think Obama is a socialist, then the Senate dems can look like liberals. I think Rand opposed some progressive legislation because he had promised powerful opponents of the legislation he would do so, and/or he thought it could be used by the repubs to pick up Senate seats. Rand is a very practical politician. I think this means Basnight is likely to leave soon and Rand could not become President Pro Tem or hold his majority leader position under a new President Pro Tem.
Old Blue
Mark Johnson and "leftward shifts"
As if any more evidence of Mark Johnson's bias was needed...
A majority of NC voters and the population at large both supported more comprehensive sex ed AND the anti-bullying bill. This information was reported by McClatchy-NC, the conglomerate Mark Johnson "works" for.
Yet Johnson ignores his colleagues' own reporting to characterize a majority opinion of NC citizens as a "leftward shift"
Mark, you are a liar and a poor reporter. May more and more people continue to see your declining skills and/or declining will to "report" for the farce it is.
And if anyone thinks the anti-bullying bill or the pitifully watered-down Senate version (not the House version) of the sex ed bill passed without Tony Rand's blessing, puh-leez!
When I think of the good reporters who have been let go...
but that guy still has a job.
Makes no sense.
"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be." -Voltaire
A problem with the Dem plan of organization
4 people - the two senate district committee members from both Cumberland and Bladen County - will decide who replaces one of the 3 most powerful politicians in NC. No matter how great those committee members are (I know one of them, and she is great), that's really undemocratic. That should be changed at the next SEC meeting.
I always wanted to be the avenging cowboy hero—that lone voice in the wilderness, fighting corruption and evil wherever I found it, and standing for freedom, truth and justice. - Bill Hicks
My first thought...
...on Rand's out-of-the-blue retirement was something along the lines of "what mess has he gotten into," particularly as investigations of Mike Easley continue to drag on. I'm not suggesting in any way that Rand and Easley are linked in any way, but that an emboldened election commission or other investigative body might be actively seeking new targets of opportunity.
20 miles east of the rock slide.
On left ward shifts
Berger's quote shows how out of touch both he and his Party are with working families.
The whole country has taken a "left ward" shift. Most Democrats and Independents, including the fine people on this blog, say they are angry with us because we aren't liberal enough.
In North Carolina, Democrats maintained and/or expanded their majorities in Charlotte, Winston Salem, Asheville and Wilmington.
Virginia and New Jersey were anomalies. The party in power in the White House hasn't won the Governor's office in Virginia since 1977. In New Jersey, the party in power in the White House hasn't won the Governor's office since 1985.