Election 2010

It's not me, it's you:

Hawke said he parted ways in part over D'Annunzio's posts on a blog called "Christ's War," which combines politics with Biblical references and end-times theology. Hawke said he advised the candidate to take it down after a February Observer story quoted passages from it.

"He took it down, told me it was down and down to stay," said Hawke, who advised former Gov. Jim Martin and gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory. "Next I knew it was in the N&O telling me it was back up. ... I don't think any candidate should get up at 3 or 4 in the morning, sit down in front of a computer and pour your heart out. It's just not a smart thing to do."

Jack, you just can't reason with a megalomaniac.

Just when you think you've heard it all:

Pantano was charged with a capital crime for slaying two Iraqis during a raid in 2004 and hanging a sign over their bodies with a Marine slogan, "No better friend, no worse enemy." Ultimately cleared of the charges, Pantano went on to write a book about the experience. He hopes the notoriety will help him win the Republican nomination.

"This is my effort to turn a negative into a positive," Pantano told The Associated Press during a recent interview at his Wilmington home. "I think that the voters in this district will see a life story ... of a guy who has chosen to serve over personal gain."

Once again, Richard Burr and his Republican colleagues oppose helping those who need it the most:

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) said yesterday that he is willing to hold an extension of unemployment benefits hostage in the Senate unless he is given the opportunity to cut taxes for the very wealthiest estates in the country. And other members of the GOP caucus are not making things any easier.

First, Reid attempted to pass the extension by unanimous consent late last night, only to see the attempt thwarted by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), who blocked the measure because of “a dispute over how it should be funded.” Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), meanwhile, said that he would support a short-term extension of benefits, but doesn’t want to accommodate Reid’s request for a full-year extension:

"If we intend to have some immediate impact on the economy through what we’re doing, why would we be extending unemployment insurance for a year??"

In light of the recent Supreme Court decision empowering corporations to engage in wholesale electioneering in favor of specific candidates, I decided to revisit a story Greg Flynn covered back in 2008. Since it involves both state and national realty ticks, be prepared to roll down your socks and check your head after reading, to avoid any exposure to lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

In his newest effort to mislead voters, Richard Burr tries to shift the blame for legislative gridlock onto the other guys:

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr said Monday the November election may be the only way to break the partisan logjam in Congress.

Speaking to reporters on the day he filed for re-election, the N.C. Republican blamed most of the gridlock on Democrats, particularly what he called the "dictatorial" style of Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

If any of those reporters are reading this, follow me below the fold so you can understand the implication of this statement.

Mark Binker does the necessary:

Gillenwater was a Tea Party organizer and helped organize a “tax day” last year and helped with a couple of rallies elsewhere.

Gillenwater says the United States is "moving in the direction of socialism." I asked him to talk about that assertion: “We’re getting too much government involvement in people’s personal lives, too much bureaucracy, too many agencies being created. They’re getting too much control of our money…This is crazy. We need to restructure our tax system. The IRS needs to be eliminated because to me they’re nothing but a punitive arm the government anyway.”

by waging war against dreadfully evil anonymous posters:

Hiding behind these web sites as "anonymous" is the same as hiding under a the white hood, COWARDS. You wouldn't dare say these things to my face, but I wouldn't have any trouble telling you this same thing to yours, if you dared.

Well, at least he's consistent:

Marcus Williams filed as a Democrat in the US Senate race. He actually really surprised some folks and got 13% in the primary two years ago, coming within five points of the much more heralded Jim Neal. I don't think he's a serious threat to win the nomination but he could have some impact on the race.

That 13% was 170,865 votes...

Some startling (if true) political realities:

The GOP needs nine seats for control in the 120-member House. Minority Leader Paul Stam of Raleigh says among the Democratic seats he's targeting, 14 are in districts carried last year by Republican John McCain.

Last month Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling found voters split. A slight majority favored Republican legislative candidates. But independents, a crucial swing vote, preferred the GOP 45 percent to 23 percent.

Senator Larry Shaw of Cumberland County announced today that he will not run for reelection:

State Sen. Larry Shaw of Fayetteville announced today this will be his last year in the General Assembly.

The seven-term Democrat said he won't seek re-election, ending speculation for months about his political plans.

"It's time to move on," Shaw said. "It's time to let someone else have a shot at it."

Some unknown -- but potentially decisive -- number of Congressional Democrats have tentatively concluded that their electoral chances this fall are improved by avoiding further debate on health care reform. Let's prove them wrong.

Not that one, the other "f" word:

D'Annunzio has called himself a "conservative first and then a Republican second." He blasts what he calls President Obama's "radical socialist" agenda.

"I don't tiptoe around that, that's what it is," he said Monday. "I do it a favor calling it 'socialism.' What we're experiencing is more a combination of socialism and fascism."

One more thing to watch out for when the propaganda wave crashes over us:

The American Majority Project (AMP) is the new kid on the block, a 527 group -- meaning it is allowed by law to accept unlimited contributions -- formed in recent days with the backing of Republican heavyweights such as former Florida governor Jeb Bush and an advisory board that includes former congressman Robin Hayes (N.C.), former Republican National Committee chairman Mike Duncan and GOP superlawyer Ben Ginsberg.

Ladies and Gents of BlueNC:

I wanted y'all to be the first to know that I am taking up the call and will be running for the appointment and election to the soon-to-be vacated at-large seat on the Cumberland County Board of Commission. I'll be giving y'all more information about this exciting campaign as it gets off the ground, but for now just wanted to share our press release announcement. Please join us on Facebook and feel free to contact me as we promote our ideals at the local government level. See ya on the campaign trail!

Phillip

I'm sure a few of you have seen Rob Christensen's 2010 Predictions, which makes for some pretty depressing reading, this part especially:

The North Carolina Senate has been in Democratic hands for 110 years. The Democrats hold a 30-20 lead, and the GOP needs to pick up six seats. With a number of veteran Democrats retiring, this is possible...Edge Republicans.