So THIS is what the underside of the bus looks like
An awful lot of us on the right worked hard to get Pat McCrory into the governor’s mansion in Raleigh. There was a lot of excitement in 2012 about the potential for fundamental change a GOP majority and GOP governor could bring to state government.
Since the inauguration, Republicans have bent over backwards to not step on Gov. Pat’s toes. It’s too bad that Gov. Pat has ZERO problem with throwing his fellow GOPers under the bus. Let’s review:
The Marriage Amendment: Many observers saw the proposed amendment to the state constitution — establishing the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman — as a great tool for bringing out the religious right to help the GOP ticket in 2012. McCrory was asked by the legacy media for his opinion on the amendment — but repeatedly evaded those queries. Eventually, he grumbled that he was probably going to vote for it. As you know, the amendment PASSED with 61 percent of the vote. Not exactly something to run away from.
ObamaCare: While grassroots activists and Tea Party-aligned legislators were talking about defunding ObamaCare, McCrory grumbled that ObamaCare is “the law of the land” and we all just need to move along. After much heat from the grassroots, the legislature ended up refusing the federal money to set up the health exchanges.
Voter ID: The media and their leftist comrades really turned up the heat on legislators seeking to protect the integrity of our election process. Wanting to set the process of voting on par with the legal process for buying beer, cigarettes, and guns was attacked as racist and oppressive. Gov. Pat started waffling — suggesting that he would be OK with things like student IDs and utility bills at polling places.
Driver license for illegal aliens: Gov. Pat’s DOT secretary moved forward on issuing driver licenses to illegal aliens residing in North Carolina. Instead of fighting this dubious policy, Team Pat fell right in with the bureaucracy.
Taxes: The state Senate came up with a very thoughtful plan aimed at reforming our regressive and oppressive tax code. Ol’ Pat had made tax reform a major issue in the 2012 campaign. Yet, at the end of budget talks on Jones Street — Gov. Pat spoke out about keeping enough revenue in government coffers to fund all of the great stuff he wants the bureaucracy to do. No encouragement to shrink government. No missives about letting people keep more of their hard-earned money.
It’s clear Gov. Pat’s handiwork intimidated enough House members to weaken the tax-cutting provisions in the budget, and keeping it from being passed in time for the start of the new fiscal year.
Abortion: Legislators have been debating a bill that does things like: (1) protect health care worker’s right to refuse to participate in abortion procedures, (2) allows the state to refuse to fund abortion under ObamaCare, and (3) bringing state standards for abortion clinics in line with the state standards governing outpatient surgery clinics. Lefties and the media went bananas. Some cabinet members were trotted out expressing unspecified concerns about the legislation. Gov. Pat steps out and says the legislature needs to talk about the bill some more. He then says his — unspecified — concerns about the bill are going to force him to veto the bill.
Why are Republicans so worried about offending Gov. Pat — or making him look “bad.” Reality check: He’s clearly not worried about your feelings.
A friend of mine — and faithful reader — from Charlotte warned me prior to the 2008 gubernatorial race about McCrory:
“We had high hopes for the guy when he first went in as mayor. But he ended up breaking our hearts. He’s very impressed with bureaucracy and government. Not so much with the idea of limiting government.”
My friend has offered up scores of examples about then-Mayor Pat undercutting and double-crossing activists and councilmen seeking to push conservative initiatives. One such case involved a grassroots initiative to repeal a tax increase passed by the city council to fund light rail expansion. Mayor Pat took to the streets to aggressively campaign AGAINST the tax repeal effort.
When McCrory took office as mayor, Charlotte was a very competitive locale for Republicans. Just four years after leaving the mayor’s office, the Democrats OWN Charlotte. I saw an interesting analysis pointing out how, in the 2008 governor’s race, McCrory won precincts in Mecklenburg County where Obama trounced McCain and Hagan trounced Dole.
It appears McCrory’s outlook on politics and government has very little to do with ideology or principle. I believe he views it as a competition between rival supper clubs or fraternities, each taking turns at “handling” other people’s money.
The North Carolina Democrat Party is in shambles. The GOP has super-majorities in the legislature, and a stranglehold on the state’s most powerful offices. Yet, the establishment is hugging the status quo tightly — keeping the tax-and-spend train running on time. Gotta keep the media happy, and keep that rabble out in the lobby getting zip-tied QUIET.
We’ve gotten a lot of tough talk. But all it seems to take is for the media and some lefties to start howling for the GOP to fold and concede the fight.
How are we to grow the GOP in this state when principles AND the baby are being thrown on with the bath water? There is NO evidence that a pro-life position is an election loser. (Jesse Helms got 30 years in Washington while running as a passionate pro-lifer.) There is plenty of evidence that tax cuts and de-regulation spur economic growth. Yet, the GOP powers-that-be in Raleigh are being pushed all over the field on that issue by the media and the Democrats.
The NCGOP got to where it is today thanks to the passionate, rock-ribbed, consistent conservatism of leaders like Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan. Those guys made it OK to cross the aisle and vote Republican. They gave people fed up with high taxes and overbearing government a place to go. Why are the powers-that-be in Raleigh listening to the Democrats and the media and watering down much-needed reforms?
The GOP legislature just needs to go ahead and pursue the conservative, limited government agenda and ignore this Charlotte RINO. They have the votes to override anything he vetoes.
I agree. It would be great to see real conservative legislation and flush the governor’s veto out if necessary. There should be enough votes to override that veto. Of course, the House bills would have to get by gatekeeper Tillis.
This thread is an interesting discussion of another concern on the McCrory administration:
http://www.talkingaboutpolitics.com/CommentDiscussionForum/tabid/74/aft/756/Default.aspx
Based on the decidedly underhanded and unstatesman like actions of Stams and Samuelson this morning, I would say the legislature is the one doing the throwing and Pat is the one looking up at the underside of a bus. What pray tell is “limited” about the state sanctioning ANY kind of marriage, imposing real estate transfer taxes and business licensing fees on small businesses and attacking women? What is “limited” about taking bribes from the usury lobby to allow them to rape poor people? What is “limited” about giving away our roads to the builders of toll roads? At this rate there will be no bath water from which to throw the baby…
I know you mentioned Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan in the kindest of ways, but you did them both a disservice by even comparing them to ANYBODY in Raleigh. We don’t have a single statesman in Raleigh as near as I can tell.
Hold on now….I’m on the right blog…I have posted here before. I consider myself a Republican and have all my life. But I am today ashamed to be one. Like the man said, I didnt leave the party, the party left me.
What we have in Raleigh are Repugnantcans. Men who cant be trusted or whom you cant turn your back on in a second.. We have men who have sold out their families, their communities, their church, their values, and their integrity for a stray buck on the come. These men have nothing to be proud of because of the decisions they have made to be corrupt. They work and socialize together and feed off each other so much, they only know the crooked way, and have lost touch with reality. I’m talking about 90 percent of them. Look at the scandals. Worse, look at the scandalous stuff out there that should be dealt with by honest men, but isn’t.
By far, it is worse to operate in the ramrod way they have than the substance of what they do.
Putting abortion regs in a deft move was not the way to do it. And are any one of them proud that they did the same the next day with a motorcycle safety bill? Some probably are. But they are making all of us Rep and Dem and unaffiliated look like bumpkins. They are tarnishing the state’s credibility almost as much as their own. I am reminded of what some comic said are the memorable words of a redneck, “Hey yall…watch this!” They dont care about polls, public sentiment, emotion, honesty, or transparency. All they have to say is we are conservative and we are going to turn this state around and save it. I’ve got news for yall….yall could all stay home a session or two, and the state would move along just fine. We dont need the volume of laws and regulations you are passing. We will be fine. Just do what you promised and can the more regs and get gubmint our of our lives and protect the constitutution. Like you claim. Make gubmint smaller and stay home. You are not helping but hurting.
My last prediction….you have pissed off many more people than you know. By snubbing and ridiculing ANY protest especially of the magnitude that has occurred, you have solidified the perception of being cold and tyrannic. Many like myself who could not or have not actually participated have watched you diss those who did, and imagined ourselves being called names like moron etc by learned men who want to be respected.
When the civil disobedience is maxxed out, and the powers that be dont take notice, but instead mock, it is only a matter of time before the disobedience becomes uncivil, and then everyone will quizzically ask, how could that happen?
This Republican is still a Republican. The party left me to become Repugnicans. The wake up call is when they run again.
“Men who cant be trusted or whom you cant turn your back on in a second.. We have men who have sold out their families, their communities, their church, their values, and their integrity for a stray buck on the come…” Describes these despicable “lawmakers” perfectly. They care NOTHING about the constitution or limiting government but want us all to live in their fascist utopia under a “Christian” version of Sharia Law.
Forcing illegal immigrants to get drivers licenses and more importantly insurance is a good idea. If they have a license and insurance, they will at least be able to pay for the damage they do when they inevitably wreck and harm or kill a citizen. A license also makes it easier for the federal government to track them down, if the federal government ever gets around to doing its duty and enforcing the immigration law.
Walt-in-Durham
Giving illegal aliens drivers licenses makes North Carolina a magnet for illegals. We need to discourage their violating our laws, not make it easier for them. Getting a license also does not mean they would get insurance. An illegal alien in Mexico would NOT get a drivers license. Thom Tillis is a sell out on illegal immigration because of his pushing these drivers licenses for illegals.
They WANT NC to be a magnet for illegals – if only a fraction get insurance it will fill the coffers of insurance companies and provide cheap labor for Tillis’ corporate masters….
Raphael, I hear you about NC becoming a magnet for illiegals. But, my friend, it already is. The issue now is how do we control them. I think making them get a drivers license will help. I know that when I got my NC drivers license, I had to show proof of insurance, that little card that came with the paid up policy. Even if a drivers license doesn’t make every illegal get insurance, it will make many get it. And yes, corporate interests will profit. But, where I come from profit is not a four letter word.
Walt-in-Durham
With drivers licenses, illegals will take even more jobs from citizens. They already have taken lots of construction industry jobs from black and white citizens who would like those jobs. Anyone who coddles illegals is making the problem of our country being invaded and overrun with illegals that much worse.
Surprise, surprise? How can anyone be surprised when a duck quacks like a duck and walks like a duck? Those who follow the R just as faithfully as the Dims follow the D were big McCrory supporters. If one pays attention to what McCrory does versus what McCrory says then they are NOT surprised.
It’s the rare politician who actually puts State or country before their own nefarious desires. Their yearning for power drives them and the opportunity to feather their own nest gets them awake every morning.
Until we elect leaders who truly believe their first responsibility is to protect our liberty, then we will continue to get people like McCroy, Tillis, McLame…and a list that would fill the pages of this blog. That won’t happen until voters start believing the same ideal; freedom is taken for granted as we have an electorate who thinks just like those they elect.
How has McCrory limited freedom? He is not the one racing to pass one overreaching nanny-state law after another…
McCrory is clearly working in cahoots with Tillis. It’s clear that the two are on the same page on every key issue. And they also get money from the same corporate and special interest donors. If McCrory is so worried about keeping campaign promises, he should remind Tillis that during the election McCrory said he was opposed to tolling. But we’re now hearing Tillis and the NCDOT discuss toll plans for highways all over NC. It’s disgusting to see his determination to keep abortion operators in business while being silent on almost every other issue. Until the abortion legislation, he was hands-off — except for shaking hands with his corporate buddies. Now when there’s legislation that threatens his agenda, he talks to the media and puts pressure on the GA to legislate to his liking. The worst liberty he is taking away is the life of unborn babies. The other liberties that his partnership with Tillis are stealing include overtaxing the middle class, selling off our infrastructure and assets to corporate partners, and giving us high-priced energy via his renewable energy buddies. The guy is the perfect politician (not leader): he smiles and waves to people while working through a scoundrel like Tillis to do his dirty work of dismantling our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
This editorial explains the electoral math on the abortion issue:
http://newsok.com/on-abortion-lefts-stance-is-far-afield-from-u.s.-general-public/article/3860303
Jack Hawke, who has been McCrory’s consultant understands that very well as I have heard him discuss the polling data on this issue. Is Hawke no longer advising McCrory or is McCrory just not listening?
It only took one campaign speech to understand the real McCrory. Folks in Charlotte learned the hard way. Now, the legislature must go forward and treat him as another Perdue’ite. When he’s with us, fine. When he plays Rino, ignore him. But, for God’s sake, don’t give him a scond term hust because he is there already..
You guys make me laugh. I mean collectively, not you personally, Mike. Look, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed but I still can’t figure out why everyone is only now looking at McCrory like they should have looked at him four years ago. I just thought he was so obviously a moderate even when he ran against Dumplin’. I also noticed that his veneer of conserva-talk got thinner and thinner from that time forward to the time he took office.
Disclaimer: I voted for Paul Wright. 😉
McCrory isn’t the only one throwing the people who voted him into office under the bus. Evidently Tillis has forgotten that pro-gun voters helped give him an overwhelming majority in the House. And we can’t get HB937 passed with solid majorities in both houses?
News flash for Tillis: we WILL remember this come primary time.
We need to focus on identifying the handful of corporate fact cats who REALLY control our state and find their vulnerabilities, and topple them from power. They won’t respond to “political pressure,” except to make the politicians they own do a better job of suppressing the righteous anger of the people.
: “For so great is the natural ambition of men that they are never satisfied with power; and if one order of men, by pursuing its own interest, can usurp upon every other order, it will certainly do so and render itself, as far as possible, absolute and uncontrollable.” – David Hume
If we do not get rid of Tillis, McCrory and all of the other souless pols who care for nothing but personal financial gain, accomplished under the cover of the smokescreen of abortion and gays, then the bankers, insurance companies, energy cartels and other corporation’s power in our present system will remain absolute and uncontrollable. We cannot reason with them, we MUST replace them with uncorruptable (if thats possible in the current system) public servants to restore our freedom.
This is what a re-election campaign looks like in a purple state. McCrory has traded his support from the Republican base for support from the moderates. Keep these issues in mind (and add to them as I’m sure it’s not over yet) when he runs in the primary for re-election.
Um…Amendment one, Sharia Law, Abortion, 500 billion in tax breaks for Fat cats while the middle class and small biz gets raped? How is that “moderate”?
We have sure experienced some sad days since Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan. Speaking as one of many who worked so hard to finally make North Crolina Republican, the underside of the bus doesn’t look so good.
Waffling on Obamacare (both McCrory and Tillis), drivers licenses to illegal alines (both McCrory and Tillis), failing to cut spending and programs (both McCrory and Tillis), watering down the Voter ID bill (Tillis), and keeping the ”renewable energy mandate ripoff for consumers (Tillis) are all liberal, not moderate. What we have seen in Raleigh is a big disappointment, and if one of the main faces of that disappointment, Thom ”Toll Road” Tillis is the Senate nominee,, it will prompt a lot of conservatives to sit home.