If you follow Charlotte politics you know that ultra-conservative Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James (R-District 6) is no stranger to putting his foot in his mouth. Well, he’s been at it, yet again. Tuesday night the County Commission debated and passed a law allowing for same sex couples to receive [...]
Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has picked up the endorsement of two national women’s organization’s in her bid to win the May Democratic Senate primary.
She has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women and the Women’s Campaign Forum, Rob Christensen reports.
The group’s national affiliate, the National Women’s Political Caucus, [...]
State Treasurer Janet Cowell told her employees in March, about two months after she’d been sworn in, that they and future employees couldn’t do business with or lobby the treasurer’s office for a year after they’d left their jobs.
Asked in August about the new policy and which employees had gone [...]
The owner of a Chapel Hill hookah bar says he will defy the state’s new smoking ban that has ensnared his business but exempted other types of smoking establishments. Adam Bliss, owner of Hookah Bliss, believes the ban is discriminatory. He will continue to sell hookahs and alcohol beginning Jan. [...]
Senator Jim DeMint has taken the lead in the Senate over the past couple of years to promote responsible government spending and sound the warning siren on the waste and excess in the Federal government that is slowly bankrupting our nation. It is for that reason that I am supporting [...]
There was a bit of suspense in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday morning about whether newly-elected city council member Cecil Bothwell should or would be sworn into office. Bothwell, who was elected last month, is an atheist. The North Carolina constitution still bars atheists from holding elected office.
“I’m not [...]
The following is a press release from the Voice for School Choice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Neil Mellen
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
(803) 212-1051
The public schools in Fairfield County have been placed on “probation.”
That’s according to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the accreditation organization tasked with reviewing [...]
Just a few hours ago the U.S. House of Representatives passed The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, House Bill 4173, which if passed by the U.S. Senate will do the following:
The House voted 223 to 202 today to approve the most sweeping overhaul of financial regulations [...]
Just a few days after Governor Sanford stated that he wanted to reconcile with his wife, despite the fact that he admitted she was not his true soul mate earlier this year, Jenny Sanford has officially gone and filed for divorce. Good for her. I’ll bet she has a [...]
It would appear that Mick Mulvaney’s candidacy has inspired the Republican powers that be. They’ve now officially added the SC-05 race to their “Dem Retirement Assault List.” The Fifth was narrowly won by John McCain last year even though Spratt won reelection comfortably. However, since Obama entered the White [...]
The latest polling from Public Policy Polling of the South Carolina gubernatorial race shows the Republican candidates with comfortable over the Democrats. AG Henry McMaster at this point seems to be the best prospect for the GOP as he leads Democrats Jim Rex 40 - 31, Vincent Sheheen 41 [...]
R.C. Soles Jr., a N.C. State Senator from Tabor City will be indicted by a grand jury. This was reported in the News and Observer today.
The grand jury wrote in its presentment that it had reason to believe that Soles had committed a crime:
Twelve or more grand jurors concur [...]
Heh, I really thought they were going to go for it. Instead they censured him, which is basically the political way of shaking your finger at someone and saying naughty, naughty and that’s about all the weight it carries too.
[...]While the General Assembly gets ready to vote for whether or not to impeach Governor Sanford, several pollsters have been reporting surprising opinions from the electorate. Overall, South Carolinians aren’t all that supportive of throwing Sanford out of office. Democrat pollster Public Policy Polling shows that 58% of the [...]
A Charleston woman was charged with shoplifting after she made a hot dog at a Myrtle Beach store, offered to pay for it tomorrow and then threw it away because she said it didn’t taste good, according to a police report.
Shelia Diane Anderson, 60, was charged with [...]
You might remember a month ago after the Republicans swept the Wake County School Board elections that Clay Aiken came out and publicly denounced their plans to do away with “diversity” busing. His words caused him a minor controversy of his own as he was outed (yet again) as still [...]
The city of Charlotte has agreed to settle a lawsuit by the family of a Weddington woman killed when a tree fell and crushed her SUV on East Boulevard in the spring of 2008.
Kay Plyler, an assistant town manager of Matthews, was driving with her 14-year-old daughter, Taylor Yeaton, when [...]
And here I thought this only happened in Oakland.
Cpl. Johnathon Clinton Rodriguez, 21, an aircraft electrical systems technician at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, was shot in the chest around 1 a.m. at an off-base home in Havelock, according to an air station news release. He was pronounced dead [...]
I didn’t think the girl in the pink was going to fall for it.
WASHINGTON — Eight states and the District of Columbia don’t have laws that specifically bar insurance companies from using domestic violence as a pre-existing condition to deny health coverage, according to a study from the National Women’s Law Center.
The states are Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, [...]
Who’s the biggest Jackass of 2009? Respond to this post or email me at press7forceltic@carolinapoliticsonline.com with your nominations. Nominate as many people as you want!
NOMINATIONS END ON FRIDAY!!!
[...]Cal Cunningham has reversed course from a month ago and has now decided that he is jumping into next year’s U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. Cunningham is a Democrat who will be vying for his party’s nomination to take on incumbent Republican Senator Richard Burr.
Another Republican candidate has jumped into the race to secure the Republican nomination and rights to run against Congressman Larry Kissell of North Carolina’s Eighth District. Harold Johnson, a former sports anchor for WSOC Channel 9 in Charlotte for 26 years officially announced this past Friday that [...]
See? I knew this stuff was coming.
At least four state agencies bought expensive high-tech surveillance gear from a private security firm tied to Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand.
The powerful Fayetteville Democrat has served as board chairman for Raleigh-based Law Enforcement Associates Inc. since 2003.
The state bought at [...]
Morgan Bruce Reeves, a former college football star and construction company CEO, is running for governor as an independent.
Reeves criticized both Republicans and Democrats for not finding common ground to solve the state’s urgent issues, and said one of his objectives would be to extend term limits to lawmakers.
“We need [...]
Congressman Watt was quoted in the [...]
DURHAM — Democratic Senate candidate Kenneth Lewis criticized Republican Sen. Richard Burr’s position on health care legislation Thursday, saying he was part of the Washington establishment that had blocked efforts to make health care more affordable.
I’m not trying to defend Burr because his performance in the [...]
North Carolina’s high unemployment rate has stuck the state with $1.4 billion in debt - money that officials don’t know how they’ll pay back.
It gets worse. The debt is still rising.
The problem is that with about one-half million people out of work, the state has more unemployment claims than it [...]
President Barack Obama late Monday nominated Charlotte lawyer Thomas G. Walker to replace U.S. Attorney George Holding, who has spent months overseeing federal probes of two of the state’s most prominent Democrats: two-time presidential candidate John Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley.
Walker, 45, has worked at Alston & Bird since [...]
When Tony Rand announced he was stepping down from the Senate he gave the reason that he was accepting a position as Chairman of the State Parole Board. However, like others, I imagine, I couldn’t help to wonder if we’d be hearing about some nefarious activity shortly down the [...]
Don’t cross your fingers just yet. In 2003, Peter Gilchrist told the Charlotte Observer the same thing about 2006 and yet he ran for another term, unopposed. Gilchrist retiring would be the best thing to happen in Mecklenburg County since the invention of the wheel. Perhaps next year the [...]
In the House, Budget Committee chairman John Spratt on Tuesday (D-S.C.) said he would not support a tax because of the recession. Spratt said a measure introduced by Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) would do so.
“We don’t want to raise taxes, especially a surcharge on income taxes in the [...]
State Representative Nick Mackey (D-Charlotte), one of our favorite punching bags here, has got himself a primary challenger in next year’s election. Mecklenburg County Democrat African American Caucus Chairman (wow, that’s a mouth full) Rodney Moore announced yesterday morning that he’ll challenge Mackey for the Democrat [...]
As the next campaign for governor in our state continues to move forward, State Representative Nikki Haley is getting more and more high profile attention from the major media and players throughout the state. In addition to this article in The Washington Post, she has also been written about in [...]
Remember all the hubbub about Joe Wilson exclaiming “You lie!” to the President during the State of the Union address earlier this year? Of course you do. Despite the chastising he has taken since then by the left and even some on the right for his outburst there is one [...]
Remember when Tony Rand unexpectedly stepped down as Senate Majority Leader? Remember when Bane, myself, and many other pundits called ‘bullshit’ on his explanation that he just wanted to move on? Remember when we said that there must be something out there that he doesn’t want exposed?
Ahem…
New information developed by [...]
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally, something the stuffed shirts have done something right. Most of the time when I am behind someone driving too slow on the highway or generally just encounter someone on the road not paying attention it’s because they are yapping away on a cell [...]
It’s Christmas season once again! How do you know? Well, you’re shoving Thanksgiving leftovers into your refrigerator, untangling Christmas lights, wondering where you’re going to put your tree, and asked to decide which of 2009’s large collection of losers and assholes is the biggest, baddest, most obnoxious of them all- the [...]
I am relaxing the rest of the week in Florida. Like most of you, I’m sure, I won’t be thinking about this Web site for the next few days. Have a good Thanksgiving.
Press 7 for Celtic here... I too wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, and remind you that turkeys should [...]
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman plunged into one of the most contentious topics in public education last month by announcing his intention to begin basing teacher pay on effectiveness in the classroom, rather than on experience and academic degrees. But if experience is any guide, he’ll face plenty of [...]
The findings of the State Ethics Board are in and it is looking dismal for our dear leader. According to the board, Sanford has misused campaign funds to attend a meeting of the Republican Governors Association and a trip to Ireland among others. It also found he used the [...]
Apparently in Atlantic Beach if you challenge the status quo and win, their buddies on the Election Commission throw out your votes. OK, I don’t really know for certain it’s a case of the “ole boys club” or in this case, girls. They claim there are voting “irregularities.” [...]
Raleigh, NC-
I want to let everyone know that the NCGOP State Executive Committee voted to keep Republican primaries open through out the state. This was completed in a over whelming majority voice vote.
There were impassioned speakers on both sides in a very civil debate. The biggest complaint was about conservatives who [...]
I needn’t remind you of the necessity to kill this health care bill so that in the future true reform can be done. This bill will bankrupt the country by creating a whole new entitlement program we can’t afford, will oppress the freedom of the American people by imposing an [...]
Furthermore, the Charlotte Observer is reporting that Democrat Party leaders in the Eighth Congressional District have had their phones ringing off the hook from angry party faithful pissed off over Kissell’s decision to vote no. There are already talks of primary challenges, which if successful would probably [...]
The big news out today in Charlotte are the record level of students enrolled in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system living in “poverty.” Around 68,000 students in the school district, or roughly 51% of the school population, get taxpayer funded lunch aid, according to the Charlotte Observer.
First off, I want [...]
Like I’ve been saying, they aren’t going to rest until Sanford is pushed out of the governor’s office one way or another.
COLUMBIA — A South Carolina ethics panel said Wednesday that Gov. Mark Sanford should face charges he violated state laws tied to a three-month investigation into his travel and [...]
N.C. Rep. Nick Mackey pleaded guilty Tuesday to contempt of court for his failure to show up for a December 2007 trial of a client.
The judge didn’t impose a jail sentence or fine. Instead, he entered a prayer for judgment continued and ordered Mackey to pay $262.50 in court costs. [...]
Martin Nesbitt isn’t known for toeing the party line. Over nearly three decades in the House and Senate, he has been a loyal lieutenant of some Democratic leaders and a thorn in the side of others.
But in his new job, the Asheville senator will try to keep 30 Senate Democrats [...]
Heath Shuler (D-NC-11) may be in serious reelection trouble next year for a couple of reasons. For one, he’s a Democrat representing a district that voted for both John McCain and George Bush and was held by a Republican representative for 12 years prior to Shuler winning [...]
The current laws took effect following overwhelming voter approval of a 2006 constitutional referendum.
The changes eliminated most school taxes on owner-occupied homes, raised the statewide sales tax by 20 percent in an attempt to make up for that lost revenue, and capped increases in the taxable value of any property [...]
Several hundred taxpaying protesters staged a Raleigh rally this weekend protesting the overall destructive policies of the current presidential administration.
Just a little side project of mine I’ve started. I’ve mentioned many times in the past that I live in York County, South Carolina and I have reached my limit on all the bending over and ass raping I can take from my current Congress critter. It’s [...]
Calling the health care bill approved by House lawmakers “a long way from perfect,” U.S. Rep. John Spratt defended his vote and vowed to work for more changes.
“I voted to send it to the Senate in the hope that a conference will iron out the differences and make the bill [...]
A federal district court magistrate judge has recommended that the federal court for the Middle District of North Carolina bar Forsyth County from allowing prayers with sectarian content before meetings of the board of county commissioners.
The county has a policy that allows clergy from any religious group to volunteer to [...]
If this doesn’t get your blood boiling…
The challenge ahead for conservatives is to tap into this clear support for freedom by illustrating what happens to real people when their lives and dreams get in the way of government tentacles that stifle personal and professional liberty.
That brings me to Adam Bliss, [...]
Town officials pressured David Bowden on Thursday, saying they will levy fines against the Cary man if he doesn’t remove or tone down a bright protest sign painted in huge, orange letters on the front of his house.
He has seven days.
In a statement, town officials say attempts to negotiate with [...]
Entertainer Clay Aiken is calling the newly elected Wake County school board members “selfish idiots” and says he hopes the public can get rid of them before they “ruin the school system.”
This fall, four school board members were elected to office to help form a new majority that backs neighborhood [...]
UPDATE: Etheridge is out. [N&O] With no more top candidates to recruit, Dems turn to this woman.
National Democrats are apparently stepping up their efforts to try and recruit Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC-02) to run against Senator Richard Burr in next year’s election. They evidently [...]
It looks like the head of the Wake County NCAE had a fit of anger before writing a email to her members. Who was she angry at when she decided to write the email in question? The voters perhaps. Perhaps she just has anger issues when she does not [...]
The Charleston County Republican Party’s executive committee took the unusual step Monday night of censuring U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. because of several positions he has taken that clash with the GOP party line.
County Chairwoman Lin Bennett said the unanimous vote “is an effort to get his attention. They’re just [...]
This afternoon I had the pleasure of having a telephone interview with Tim D’Annunzio, Republican candidate for the U.S. House in North Carolina’s Eighth Congressional District. I spoke to him for about 45 minutes and was able to ask him a variety of different policy questions from [...]
This is incredible.
To all who would cast U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as political villain, Heath Shuler had this to say: “She’s the most misunderstood person in Washington.”
Along with questions about health care reform and cap-and-trade legislation, students wanted to know what Pelosi is like as a person.
“She’s very misunderstood,” [...]
The North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation has released their annual business rankings. The group rates each member of the general assembly in regards to how effective they were in fostering a strong business climate in the state. The ranking are based off of various votes [...]
This is great!
Jenny Sanford, the wife of embattled South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, has endorsed GOP state Rep. Nikki Haley in the race to replace her term-limited husband.
South Carolina’s first lady made the announcement in a fundraising letter to Haley’s supporters.
“When I’m asked my wish for South Carolina’s future, my [...]
November 10, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) introduced an amendment to the United States Constitution that would apply term limits to all members of Congress, limiting U.S. Representatives to three terms and U.S. Senators to two terms in office. The amendment is cosponsored [...]
This past week, the Mecklenburg County Commission authorized a $38,000 performance bonus for Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones. Now I have no problem with people receiving bonuses for a job well done. In fact, I have no problem with Harry Jones receiving a bonus. He has had a difficult [...]
Congressman Joe Wilson will be the guest of honor at the York County Republican Party’s Christmas fundraiser. Interesting choice. The event will take place on Friday, December 11th in the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek beginning at 6:30PM. More details below courtesy of The Herald.
This year’s [...]
The Civitas Institute has released its 2009 Conservative rankings and the result is that the North Carolina State Legislature isn’t all that conservative. Well, there’s a shocker. This is the state that constantly raises taxes, hands out corporate welfare, and allows dangerous criminals to appeal their death sentence based [...]
HR 3962, the infamous Pelosi health care bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last night by a mere five votes. This doesn’t mean that we’re doomed. The U.S. Senate still has their own version to pass and then it has to be reconciled with the House bill and both [...]
Keep up the pressure. This oppression of American freedom has to be stopped.
The Obama Administration’s push for health care reform suffered a severe blow from North Carolina’s Eighth U.S. Congressional District after Democratic Rep. Larry Kissell announced he will vote “No” on the bill being presented.
In a statement, Kissell said [...]
Interesting. How often does the President of the United States take the time to call the newly elected mayor of an upper medium sized city? I mean, I could understand if Foxx just got elected mayor of New York City or LA, but Charlotte? I wonder what the motivation [...]
State Sen. Tony Rand, one of the most powerful political figures in the state, is leaving the Senate.
Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, will become chairman of the state Parole Board, Mark Johnson reports. He will resign before the end of the year.
“There comes a time when it’s time [...]
Longtime Congressman John Spratt will have opposition in the 2010 election as Lancaster resident Mick Mulvaney announced his bid Monday for the U.S. Congress in District 5.
Mulvaney, a Republican, currently represents Lancaster and York counties in the S.C. Senate and is president of Mulvaney Company, a diversified [...]
The mayor and two members of the City Council were ousted in landslide elections Tuesday, and observers said the voters reflect local residents’ frustrations over the music theater the council brought to town a few years ago.
Voters made their feelings clear Tuesday, electing Emery Doughtie mayor over Beale by a [...]
Queen Pelosi has set a vote for this Saturday, November 7th for the $1.05 trillion tyrannical health care bill they have pieced together in the House. The Democrats hold 258 House seats; 218 aye votes are needed to pass, which means 41 Democrats need to defect from their party [...]
President Barack Obama today nominated two state judges from North Carolina to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, taking a big step toward filling vacancies on the depleted appellate court.
One nominee, Judge James Wynn Jr. of the N.C. Court of Appeals, was also a choice of President [...]
Charlotte may have taken a left turn last night, but Greensboro went the other direction and elected a fiscally conservative newcomer.
First-time mayoral candidate Bill Knight ousted incumbent Yvonne Johnson in Tuesday’s City Council election.
The victory is the first by a challenger over an incumbent mayor since voters began electing the [...]
While Republican and Democrat fortunes varied around the country, Democrats made out fairly well in Charlotte last night. Anthony Foxx was the first Democrat to be elected mayor of Charlotte since 1985, breaking a Republican hold on the office. Democrats also increased their majority on city council to eight, with [...]
That’s all the big news for tonight. I’ll write a recap tomorrow.
9:57PM Mecklenburg County - Burgess, Cannon, Howard, and Peacock have won the At-Large seats giving the Democrats a veto proof majority on the Charlotte City Council, although it’s unlikely they’ll need with Mayor-Elect Anthony Foxx.
9:41PM Mecklenburg County - Anthony [...]
I’ll be live blogging tonight’s election returns so check in for information.
[...]
James Galyean is one of the candidates running for the House seat in South Carolina’s Third Congressional District that is being vacated by Gresham Barrett. According to a post on his campaign Web site, there is chatter that the Obama Administration is planning [...]
The final poll is out for the Charlotte Mayoral race. According to 791 likely voters interviewed by Public Policy Polling between October 31st and yesterday, Republican John Lassiter leads Democrat Anthony Foxx 50% to 46% to be the next mayor of Charlotte.
In the Chapel Hill Mayoral race, it’s pretty [...]
It would appear as if Shuler’s land shenanigans have caught the eye of the House Ethics Committee.
Before he was elected to Congress in 2006, Shuler invested in a real estate development called the Cove at Blackberry Ridge near Knoxville. The investment is worth from $5 million to $25 million, according [...]
Tomorrow the City of Charlotte will be electing a new mayor and sending four candidates to the At-Large seats, currently held by two Democrats and two Republicans. There are also contested races in District 6 and District 7. I’m not going to spend much time on these races as I [...]
Contrary to popular belief, not all the Wake Co. School Board races were decided on Oct. 6th. Three of them were, but the fourth, covering the 2nd District in Southern Wake, will be decided on Tuesday because no candidate got a majority of the votes during the Oct. 6th election.
And [...]
According to a poll out by Elon University, only 19% of North Carolinians feel that Senator Richard Burr deserves reelection to a second term. I am surprised by this, but not that surprised. I am not at all shocked that the number is low. As I’ve written before, Burr [...]
Each of the six geographic districts of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board is up for reelection on Tuesday. CMS is in terrible shape. The performance of the schools are getting worse. The superintendent is awful and ineffective. There are a lot of reasons for the deterioration of the school system, but [...]
Haha. This is a good satire on Senator Graham from The Vitamin Press.
Charleston, SC- Doctors in South Carolina are reporting that all has gone well with Lindsay Graham’s recent surgery and that the long time Democrat Senator is resting comfortably and expected to make a full recovery. Graham, who early [...]
This is an audio of Congressman Jim Clyburn’s interview on Air America in which he explicitly states that the Democrats made little effort at bipartisanship on health care “reform” and that reconciliation in the Senate is still on the table.
In the Asheville City Council race this coming Tuesday, several candidates are competing, but only three can be elected to the At-Large seats. I have gone over the platforms and statements of each candidate and have narrowed down the three that I would vote for if I live in Asheville. [...]
The National Republican Congressional Committee added 32 candidates to its Young Guns program. The program was started a few years to assist up and coming candidates in their races for open House seats and challenges against Democrat incumbents. North Carolina’s Eighth District challenger Lou Huddleston was one of those to [...]
The Democrats in Congress are ready to unveil their version of the health care bill. To the dismay of most Americans, it’s not much different than the last disaster they pushed out of committee known as H.R. 3200, which the public soundly rejected. This bill will cost near one trillion [...]
A poll released from Public Policy Polling shows incumbent Charlotte city councilmen Edwin Peacock and Susan Burgess cruising to reelection along with Patrick Cannon, a former city councilman who has decided to once again seek the office. This was all a given. The only real surprise [...]
It was officially announced yesterday evening. We got the Boeing plant. It has decided on South Carolina over the Washington State. The plant will be located in North Charleston and could bring an estimated 3,800 new jobs to the state. As I wrote yesterday, talks [...]
Bane Windlow, Press 7 for Celtic, Terrell
