To the national party’s credit, Young’s remarks were roundly denounced by Republican leaders, and Kincannon has basically been disowned by the state GOP. But every story like this reaffirms the exact stereotypes the party is working so hard to combat right now, and until the party can get its members under control, even a superficial rebranding is likely to be unsuccessful. The larger issue, though, is whether the Republicans’ electoral base actually wants it to change. The early evidence isn’t very promising. source
Many of our crime stories involving robberies include a description of the suspects when provided by police. White, black, Asian, it doesn’t matter. If that description helps with an arrest, we are glad to help. But lately, when the suspect was black, it brought out the most vile, repulsive and offensive comments we have ever had on our website. In fact, it has now got to the point that we are turning off commenting on crime stories when they appear on our website.Mike Johnston, the editor of DunhamRegion.com, discussing why the site chose to turn off comments on crime stories. (ht Romenesko)
We’re still waiting for the full impact of Hurricane Sandy. But we’ve got at least a sense for what lies ahead in the next hours and days.
The National Weather Service has issued a series of warningsup and down the East Coast.
Below, we take a geographical look at the five most politically important areas in the path of the storm:
1. Philadelphia: This is where Democrats win elections in Pennsylvania, and it’s smack-dab in the middle of where the hurricane is supposed to make landfall. There is currently a flood warning in place for Philadelphia. The question is whether whatever happens over the next week hurts turnout in this vital area of the state. There is no early voting, so Democrats won’t be losing votes before Election Day, but they’ll need this area to come out strong on Nov. 6. If it doesn’t, that could give Republicans a better chance in a blue-leaning state (and a huge electoral vote prize).
The Post’s list of potentially affected regions also includes Boston, southwest Virginia, western and coastal North Carolina, as well as both northern and eastern Ohio. The storm is expected to leave tens of thousands, possibly even millions, of residents without power, and has already forced the cancellation of early voting in some parts of North Carolina. Could all this bad weather have an effect on the final results?
— Scott @ ShortFormBlog
Our first post on Election. We tried to make it count.
Here’s a clip of what Hurricane Sandy is currently kicking up in the Outer Banks. Still early, but those waves are looking pretty choppy.
Yes, he can! After failing to win the hearts of Republican primary voters, former New Mexico GovernorGary Johnson will appear as the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate on 47 states’ ballots this year. While we feel confident that Johnson won’t win the presidency, it’s not unfeasible that he could have an effect on the outcome. As Politico points out, 2008 Libertarian candidate Bob Barr received over 25,000 votes in North Carolina last cycle. John McCain lost the state by less than 15,000. (Photo credit: AP).
Archive find of the day: Regional newspaper The Virginian-Pilot, within shouting distance of Andy Griffith’s home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, shot two sets of photos of the legendary actor and sitcom star in the late 1950s — many of which went unpublished for nearly six decades. Both predate his time as Andy Taylor, though one set was released a month after his tour-de-force role in “A Face in the Crowd.” Now those photos have been uncovered once again, giving folks a chance to see the lifelong North Carolinian in a whole new light. Griffith died earlier this month at the age of 86. (The Virginian-Pilot file photo)
How does a bill become a law? In the case of today’s vote to legalize hydraulic fracking in North Carolina, by means of an accidental button push. State Rep. Becky Carney, a longstanding opponent of fracking, accidentally voted “yes” instead of “no” on an override of Governor Bev Perdue’s veto of a previously passed, pro-fracking bill. And even though she realized her mistake immediately, apparently that’s just bad luck in North Carolina — her unintended vote was locked in. And hers was the deciding vote. Meaning that, since it was a veto overturn, her slip-up was the single, literal difference between fracking and no fracking in her state. “I feel rotten, and I feel tired,” Carney said. “And I feel that mistakes are made constantly when people are tired. And I feel rotten about it, but I take responsibility for my vote.”
» A sample of some of the nicknames: “Rat,” “Bruce-Bruce,” “Brooklyn Donnie,” “Lightning,” “Yard Owl,” “Big Fred,” “Gravel Dave,” “Diamond Dan” and “Diesel.” According the the Charlotte Observer, crime among Hells Angels members is on the rise, with some of the members tied to Mexican drug cartels. The Carolinas have a long history of biker gang-related arrests, with a raid of the Outlaws gang taking place in Charlotte just two years ago.
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A Homeland Security official says US Airways flight 787 from Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris, France, to Charlotte, North Carolina, has been diverted to Bangor, Maine, out of caution due to a “security issue,” NBC News reports.Updates on breakingnews.com.
Will keep an eye out for details.
That the president has chosen today, when LGBT Americans are mourning the passage of Amendment One, to finally speak up for marriage equality is offensive and callous.Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper • In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, condemning President Obama for what they perceived as manipulation of the LGBT community. “Log Cabin Republicans appreciate that President Obama has finally come in line with leaders like Vice President Dick Cheney on this issue,” said Cooper, adding, “this calculated announcement comes too late to be of any use to the people of North Carolina, or any of the other states that have addressed this issue on his watch.” source (via • follow)
The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples…He believes the North Carolina measure singles out and discriminates against committed gay and lesbian couples, which is why he did not support it. President Obama has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples and is disappointed in the passage of this amendment. On a federal level, he has ended the legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act and extended key benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.North Carolina press secretary for Obama for America, Cameron French, speaking to the Washington Blade. President Obama expressed his disapproval with the North Carolina ballot measure that amends the state constitution to ban same sex marriage before Tuesday’s vote, and on the night it passed into law by a wide margin the Obama campaign once expressed the president’s dismay. (via tpmmedia)
» The opposition pulled out Bill Clinton: As you can see above, the poll (taken by Public Policy Polling) strongly suggests that same-sex marriage advocates are facing an uphill battle. Which is why the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families pulled out the former president to say this about the amendment: ”If it passes, it won’t change North Carolina’s law on marriage. What it will change is North Carolina’s ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs.” What do you guys think?
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