Gov. Pat takes to state-owned media to bash his own party

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laugh
The ”I-told-you-so’s” from my conservative Charlotte amigos are reaching a crescendo.  They warned me — and anyone else who would listen prior to the election — that Pat McCrory would not hesitate to throw his fellow Republicans under the bus.

Over the last week, we’ve seen the Republican governor go after the GOP-run state Senate in a manner that would make Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, and Bev Perdue proud.  Gov. Pat went on UNC Public Radio today — a venue where a state government official is NOT likely to get hostile questions — to continue his assault: 

Republican Gov. Pat McCrory Monday stood by his threatened veto of a Senate budget bill, and compared GOP Senate leaders to past Democratic leaders Marc Basnight and Tony Rand.

“I think some of my Senate Republicans, when they got the majority, they’re trying to replicate (the Democrats),” the governor told Mike Collins of Charlotte radio station WFAE. “That’s frankly the culture I wanted to change. I don’t think two to three legislators ought to have that much power … that’s the stuff (Democratic Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid does in D.C.” […] huntpat

That’s ALSO the stuff Thom Tillis does in the House.  Talk to ANY currently-serving legislator.  They’ll tell you that, if Thom doesn’t like it, it doesn’t happen. I guess Thom is not a problem because he and Pat seem to be on the same page.  MORE: 

The Senate plan, he told Collins, is “just not financially reasonable.”

Really?  That’s what Mr. Berger says about Gov. Pat’s budget proposal.   MORE: 

[…] He also chided the Senate for bottling up some measures in committee. He singled out the so-called puppy mill bill, a favored initiative of the governor and his wife, Ann.

The House last year passed a measure setting minimum standards for people who keep at least 10 female dogs primarily to breed and sell offspring as pets. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly last May but has been stuck in a Senate committee ever since.

“That’s an example,” McCrory said. “Even the puppy mill bill … The Senate ought to vote on it and let senators vote on it. But the leadership is keeping that from happening. And that’s unacceptable.”[…]

Ah.  It sounds like someone is getting an earful from the missus. patbev

I am still having a hard time seeing the political wisdom in this strategy.  This is an unusual step to take if you want to be publicly perceived as the leader of the Republican Party.  Gov. Pat is doing the state Democrat Party campaign apparatus’ work for it.

Perhaps Gov. Pat and Speaker Thom are listening to all of the talking heads and consultants who are preaching the “wisdom” of campaigning against the “extremism” of the unpopular legislature.  Barry Obama got elected in 2008 while bashing the Congress he was part of.  Maybe a similar tactic will work for Speaker Thom.

You have to wonder WHY this is going on just FIVE months before a big Senate race.  The state GOP operation has been preaching the concept of party unity.  Poo-pooing conservatism and publicly attacking other Republicans is probably NOT the best way to encourage teamwork.