I’m optimistic that the next few years will see the Dem Party well equipped to take the fight to Republicans in the state who’ve basically had their way with lower and middle class North Carolinians. The Harris campaign will leave behind a small army of young, trained political operatives. Shame on this columns readers and other activists across the state if the Party isn’t pushed to retake the state legislative majorities in the next cycle. At least put up a damn tough, organized and financed fight!
Shame on this columns readers and other activists across the state if the Party isn’t pushed to retake the state legislative majorities in the next cycle.
⬆️
Bill, I don't think you understand how it works in NC.
Unless/until we flip the NC Supreme Court, the NC legislature will remain gerrymandered and we will have a GOP majority in the NC legislature. (NC doesn't have citizen led ballot initiatives like AZ, FL, KS, OH, etc.). There is NO path for the Democrats to regain the majority of the NC Supreme Court until the 2028 election. What we can do this election is to eliminate the GOP supermajority in the NC House and Senate which give the GOP a veto-proof supermajority!
We lost the Supreme Court majority because of a combination of lackluster Democratic turnout and ballot drop off (where voters don't vote in down-ballot races especially for judicial races). Encourage everyone to vote early Oct 17 - Nov 2 and Vote UP and DOWN the entire ballot!!
It is not yet up, but you will be able to find your entire ballot by simply entering your address here: https://www.vote411.org/ballot
Thomas, you should send a copy of this article to Anderson Clayton immediately and also Gov Cooper and the Democratic legislative leaders. Delay in getting their ballots might anger some of our servicemen and women, especially those overseas. As for the opportunity scholarships there's a saying attributed to Punkett of Tammany Hall" "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em. " My friend outgoing NC Sen Mike Woodard of Durham told me GOP legislative leaders were getting negative feedback from some of their supporters over the opportunity scholarship impasse. As for the lack of funding for public schools, a comment attributed to Lyndon Johnson by the late Bill Moyers, his press secretary when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed comes to mind :"There goes the South." As the late Jessie Jeremiah Jubilation Day Helms might say if he were still alive "you ain't just whistling Dixie." (Yes, Thomas, I do remember Chubb Sewell from those WRAL commentaries).
For two terms I have voted for Kathy Manning-Dem for US House of Representatives, and she won. She is not even running this time because of gerrymandering, she says no way she can win. So, I have no Dem rep in my district 6 to vote for. Its only a Repub or an off brand. This is what the cheating GOP is doing in NC in addition to ALL the things mentioned in this article. And a lot of times biased courts let them get away with it.
I highly resent my tax dollars going to rich kids. Heck, education is the most important factor in having a more intelligent electorate. NCer's, as a whole, are undereducated. Our public school system is terrible, mainly due to GOP slights, and low teacher pay. WHEN will NC Dems get smart enough to level this playing field?
See my reply to Bill Nasso's post above. The GOP had a long-range plan to stack the NC Supreme Court and Democrats were asleep at the wheel. Now the party has woken up, but the damage cannot be undone quickly!
Spot on about vouchers. And yay for the polling that shows Harris with a lead going into tomorrow.
I’m optimistic that the next few years will see the Dem Party well equipped to take the fight to Republicans in the state who’ve basically had their way with lower and middle class North Carolinians. The Harris campaign will leave behind a small army of young, trained political operatives. Shame on this columns readers and other activists across the state if the Party isn’t pushed to retake the state legislative majorities in the next cycle. At least put up a damn tough, organized and financed fight!
Shame on this columns readers and other activists across the state if the Party isn’t pushed to retake the state legislative majorities in the next cycle.
⬆️
Bill, I don't think you understand how it works in NC.
Unless/until we flip the NC Supreme Court, the NC legislature will remain gerrymandered and we will have a GOP majority in the NC legislature. (NC doesn't have citizen led ballot initiatives like AZ, FL, KS, OH, etc.). There is NO path for the Democrats to regain the majority of the NC Supreme Court until the 2028 election. What we can do this election is to eliminate the GOP supermajority in the NC House and Senate which give the GOP a veto-proof supermajority!
We lost the Supreme Court majority because of a combination of lackluster Democratic turnout and ballot drop off (where voters don't vote in down-ballot races especially for judicial races). Encourage everyone to vote early Oct 17 - Nov 2 and Vote UP and DOWN the entire ballot!!
It is not yet up, but you will be able to find your entire ballot by simply entering your address here: https://www.vote411.org/ballot
FYI, NC Democrats are sponsoring a Zoom this evening from 7 - 8 pm on Taking Back the Courts. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/ncdems/event/671978/
Thomas, you should send a copy of this article to Anderson Clayton immediately and also Gov Cooper and the Democratic legislative leaders. Delay in getting their ballots might anger some of our servicemen and women, especially those overseas. As for the opportunity scholarships there's a saying attributed to Punkett of Tammany Hall" "I seen my opportunities and I took 'em. " My friend outgoing NC Sen Mike Woodard of Durham told me GOP legislative leaders were getting negative feedback from some of their supporters over the opportunity scholarship impasse. As for the lack of funding for public schools, a comment attributed to Lyndon Johnson by the late Bill Moyers, his press secretary when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed comes to mind :"There goes the South." As the late Jessie Jeremiah Jubilation Day Helms might say if he were still alive "you ain't just whistling Dixie." (Yes, Thomas, I do remember Chubb Sewell from those WRAL commentaries).
For two terms I have voted for Kathy Manning-Dem for US House of Representatives, and she won. She is not even running this time because of gerrymandering, she says no way she can win. So, I have no Dem rep in my district 6 to vote for. Its only a Repub or an off brand. This is what the cheating GOP is doing in NC in addition to ALL the things mentioned in this article. And a lot of times biased courts let them get away with it.
I highly resent my tax dollars going to rich kids. Heck, education is the most important factor in having a more intelligent electorate. NCer's, as a whole, are undereducated. Our public school system is terrible, mainly due to GOP slights, and low teacher pay. WHEN will NC Dems get smart enough to level this playing field?
Excellent article btw!
See my reply to Bill Nasso's post above. The GOP had a long-range plan to stack the NC Supreme Court and Democrats were asleep at the wheel. Now the party has woken up, but the damage cannot be undone quickly!