One of the most insidious aspects of the destruction of government and governmental competence is the intention to privatize some of its most critical functions. And why? So cronies can profit privately. Everything proposed by those who claim to want smaller and deconstructed government based on “principle” should be viewed in this way.
The most important articles you should write, Thomas, are those about the other candidates on the Republican Council of State ticket, urging voters to show up and cast their ballots
Hard to know what the political implications of this terrible disaster will be. Western NC tends to vote heavily Republican, but Asheville is a Democratic enclave. Can FEMA make things visibly better by election day? Questionable. Republicans will soon start to blame the Biden administration for a slow response even though roads are destroyed or impassable. TN Republicans are already trying to do that, though TN Gov Bill Lee did not declare a state of emergency seeking federal assistance until the evening of Sept. 27 after a day of prayer and fasting. to "seek God's hand of mercy." Biden approved it immediately. Sadly and cynically, a PR war will now be waged. Expect Fox News reports on how Biden is asleep at the wheel.
There *is* something that could have mitigated the impact of the tropical storm that came on the heels of record rainfall: flood-control reservoirs in the French Broad, Pigeon, Little Tennessee, and Broad river basins -- which also would serve as much-needed drinking water supplies for growing communities. More hurricanes will surely hit the mountains. Let's mitigate their painful and costly impact before they strike.
Voters in Western North Carolina won’t be thinking about the upcoming election. They won’t be seeing campaign ads on TV or posts on social media. No door knocking or phone banks will urge them to vote. Surrounded by devastation and struggling to recover, many won’t get to their polling place despite their previous intention; where they would vote is not likely to be the same place as before the storm.
It’s reasonable to expect a significantly lower turnout from the hardest hit areas. So it’s up to the rest of the state to vote with what Thomas points out in mind.
It may be an old, trite saying but in this election the stakes are critically high.
If it weren't for RFK Jr's shenanigans, many NC Voters woud have already received their mail in ballots by now.
Does anyone know the fate of Board of Elections offices in effected counties? I'm pretty sure you can drop by a BoE offices request the form for an absentee ballot and pick it up while you are there. If not they should be working on that capabiity. Hopefully power will be restored by the time EV starts on Oct 17th
If ever PoliticsNC has provided us with straight, no-nonsense reality, this post does and then some. It's been a "gut check blast" to comprehend the distress/destruction/disaster one bad storm can quite quickly create--anywhere in our nation or beyond. And the timing? Sobering. ANYONE who chooses not to see who and what MAGA means, ANYONE who will cast votes for a former president whose appetite for violence and cruelty IS fact, and whose acolytes are frothing over themselves for power--and some doozies are on our NC ballot--, I pity more than loathe.
One of the most insidious aspects of the destruction of government and governmental competence is the intention to privatize some of its most critical functions. And why? So cronies can profit privately. Everything proposed by those who claim to want smaller and deconstructed government based on “principle” should be viewed in this way.
Thank you for this article! Spot on!
The most important articles you should write, Thomas, are those about the other candidates on the Republican Council of State ticket, urging voters to show up and cast their ballots
This evening, UNC-TV (Spectrum Ch-13) has a State Lines special at 7pm featuring the AG candidates Jeff Jackson and Dan Bishop.
Hard to know what the political implications of this terrible disaster will be. Western NC tends to vote heavily Republican, but Asheville is a Democratic enclave. Can FEMA make things visibly better by election day? Questionable. Republicans will soon start to blame the Biden administration for a slow response even though roads are destroyed or impassable. TN Republicans are already trying to do that, though TN Gov Bill Lee did not declare a state of emergency seeking federal assistance until the evening of Sept. 27 after a day of prayer and fasting. to "seek God's hand of mercy." Biden approved it immediately. Sadly and cynically, a PR war will now be waged. Expect Fox News reports on how Biden is asleep at the wheel.
Utterly predictable and shameless.
There *is* something that could have mitigated the impact of the tropical storm that came on the heels of record rainfall: flood-control reservoirs in the French Broad, Pigeon, Little Tennessee, and Broad river basins -- which also would serve as much-needed drinking water supplies for growing communities. More hurricanes will surely hit the mountains. Let's mitigate their painful and costly impact before they strike.
Voters in Western North Carolina won’t be thinking about the upcoming election. They won’t be seeing campaign ads on TV or posts on social media. No door knocking or phone banks will urge them to vote. Surrounded by devastation and struggling to recover, many won’t get to their polling place despite their previous intention; where they would vote is not likely to be the same place as before the storm.
It’s reasonable to expect a significantly lower turnout from the hardest hit areas. So it’s up to the rest of the state to vote with what Thomas points out in mind.
It may be an old, trite saying but in this election the stakes are critically high.
Fully agree
If it weren't for RFK Jr's shenanigans, many NC Voters woud have already received their mail in ballots by now.
Does anyone know the fate of Board of Elections offices in effected counties? I'm pretty sure you can drop by a BoE offices request the form for an absentee ballot and pick it up while you are there. If not they should be working on that capabiity. Hopefully power will be restored by the time EV starts on Oct 17th
He is such a charlatan. Unforgivable.
If ever PoliticsNC has provided us with straight, no-nonsense reality, this post does and then some. It's been a "gut check blast" to comprehend the distress/destruction/disaster one bad storm can quite quickly create--anywhere in our nation or beyond. And the timing? Sobering. ANYONE who chooses not to see who and what MAGA means, ANYONE who will cast votes for a former president whose appetite for violence and cruelty IS fact, and whose acolytes are frothing over themselves for power--and some doozies are on our NC ballot--, I pity more than loathe.
All so very, very true.