News-Record.com

My friend and colleague Gerald Witt gets the blame credit for cooking up this idea, and I'm happy he did. If you're from Guilford County or the surrounding counties and might be interested in helping us chew over the political news of the day, take a look below.

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Do you keep up with the news? Can you read and write emails?

If so, you’re the type of person we want for Voterspeak ’08, a weekly online conversation about news and political tidbits on the 2008 election.

How does it work? We pose a question on a topic – examples could range from The New Yorker’s Barack Obama cover to a city parks bond referendum with a new pool. If you can write a couple paragraphs of thoughts in an email, then you’re qualified. Your comments will appear online with other regular people from the group in a roundtable discussion format.

How to get involved? Give us basic information such as your name, age, political leanings, job and other info in this form. We want moms, dads, children, immigrants, minorities, singles, students, retirees, business owners, employees and anyone with even a slight interest in voting. Email the filled-in form to county reporter Gerald Witt or state reporter Mark Binker.

We won’t give your info out to marketing or sales groups. In a few weeks, we’ll gather a group from those who email us, tell you more about how Voterspeak ’08 will work and then start up in September.

The John Edwards affair story has been the stuff of speculation for weeks:

My boss weighed in...

...as did the barkeep and my friends at McClatchy. And so did the folks at Blue NC and Cone..

Now there is some there there as the candidate speaks. From our friends at the AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is admitting to an extramarital affair but denies fathering the woman's daughter.

Edwards tells ABC News that he lied repeatedly about the affair with a 42-year-old woman but says that he didn't love her. He says he has not taken a paternity test but knows he isn't the father because of the timing of the affair and the birth.

ABC says a former Edwards campaign staffer claims he is the father, not Edwards.

Edwards was a top contender for the Democratic nomination for president. He placed second in the Iowa caucuses last January but dropped out of the race a few weeks later.

Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2004.

Here's ABC's early take.

This is ugly all the way around:

• * Ugly for the family. You don’t need me to explain that.
• * Ugly for Edwards’ career and rep. He goes from being kind of an interesting, different sort of national figure to just another pol who couldn’t keep it in his pants.
• * Ugly for the news business. The National Enquirer is not a legit newspaper by any stretch of the imagination, but everyone once in a while that blind pig finds an acorn.
• * Ugly for the news business part II. As if it weren’t bad enough to have to follow an Enquirer story, we now get treated to whole news cycles full of material that will push the puerile interest test. Ah, shucks, it’s not like there’s a national election to cover or anything.
• * Ugly for the electorate. Once again, they’ve been lied to. Not good for one’s faith in politicians.

Ugly, ugly, ugly.

Update: Edwards has issued an official me culpa, via the AP:

In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99 percent honest is no longer enough.

I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up - feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say.

I spent some time researching and writing on energy policy in the U.S. Senate race this week. For those who might have forgotten, your players are incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan and Libertarian Chistopher Cole.

Click here for Sunday's story on the energy policy debate.

And click here to read the graphic that accompanies the story in the Sunday paper. (PDF)

Both Hagan and Dole did events this week where they talked energy policy. Dole visited with the Chamber of Commerce down in Lincolnton to chat about economic issues, which pretty much is headlined by gas prices and energy policy these days. Hagan visited the wind power demonstration site run by Appalachian State, wanting to highlight her commitment to non-petroleum energy sources.

Click here to listen to a portion of my conversation with Dole. We start out talking nuclear and end up on her telling how she went about turning the lights off in her hotel room that morning.

To read more from Dole on energy policy:

• * a recent blog post laying out some ideas. She also includes some bullet points on energy in her economic security plan.

• * a floor statement from July 23 on energy policy.

• * A June 4 floor statement on the climate security act.

• * more from Dole’s Senate office.

Click here to listen to a portion of my conversation with Hagan. We were talking at the top of Beech Mountain standing under the wind turbines, so I apologize for the wind blowing in your ear during this clip.

For more from Hagan on energy policy:

• * This is her campaign’s energy plan.

• * Back during the primary, Hagan put a campaign ad on the air concerning energy:

Cole isn’t on the campaign stump regularly, but did send along an e-mail after we chatted over the phone, highlighting his differences with the other two candidates. I’ll paste that after the jump.

And of course, your thoughts are welcome at the comments link.

From today’s paper, a story on Walmart’s expanding political activity in North Carolina:

RALEIGH - Walmart may be the world's largest retailer, but until recently its footprint in North Carolina politics has been anything but big box.

That is changing as the company's federal political action committee expands its donations to candidates seeking state office, including $54,000 to state-level candidates during the current election cycle, which began in December 2006 and will continue through November.

Before 2004, the company's PAC gave no money to North Carolina legislative candidates.

"The point of being involved in the PAC process is to build relationships with these individuals, to help them understand what Walmart is doing to be a solution provider," said E.R. Anderson, a company spokeswoman who returned phone calls placed to the PAC's treasurer.

Anderson said that there was no single factor that prompted the company to take an interest in North Carolina or other states' political scenes. Rather she listed transportation, health care and environmental regulation as issues about which the company is concerned.

Click here to read the whole thing.

U.S. News' Luke Mullins caught up with Rep. Brad Miller regarding the mortgage market crisis.

1. Could you please explain what you are asking the mortgage industry to do in terms of foreclosures?

We're asking them to hold off on foreclosing on homeowners who may be eligible for refinancing under the new FHA "Help for Homeowners" program, at least until the program is up and running on October 1. We're also asking pointed questions about whether they're really going to use the program and what they're doing to be ready to start using the program as soon as possible.

2. Why are you asking them to do that?

We're partly asking to get their attention, to let them know we're serious about the mortgage industry taking responsibility for the mess they've made.

Critics say the mortgage industry has done precious little to help homeowners, but the mortgage industry claims that they're voluntarily modifying mortgages like crazy to help strapped homeowners keep their homes, and the industry has successfully fought off legislation to give real, enforceable rights to homeowners with bad mortgages.

The mortgage industry supported the "Help for Homeowners" legislation and said it would be a real help. Why would they foreclose on homeowners who would be eligible for the program in just a couple of months? Are they serious about using the program, or are they just stalling to keep Congress from passing tougher legislation?

Click here for the whole thing.

Congressman Howard Coble is going to join the "Republican revolt" on the energy debate. From his Congressional office:

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)----U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) will travel to Washington on Tuesday, August 12, to participate in the Republican debate calling for comprehensive energy reform. Congressman Coble said he will return to Capitol Hill so that he can lend his voice for the need to produce more domestic energy.

“I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of 6th District residents who have been calling and emailing all of our offices urging me to participate in this important debate,” Coble stated. “Even though the Speaker has turned off the cameras and the microphones, she has not been able to silence the voice of the people who want us to continue working on real energy reform. I am pleased that I was able to adjust my district work schedule so that I could return to Washington to lend my support to this effort.”

According to the House Republican Conference, what began 10 days ago as a spontaneous uprising on the floor of the U.S. House after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) sent Congress home for a five-week break without allowing a vote on more American energy to lower gas prices has now become an unprecedented nationwide protest. The House Republican-led revolt against the Majority’s decision to defy the will of the American people, who solidly support more American energy production to lower gas prices, enters its second full week – and shows no signs of slowing down.

Rep. Coble will participate in the news conference at 11 a.m. that occurs outside the House Chamber in the Capitol and then he will join his colleagues on the House floor for the energy reform debate. He plans to return to Greensboro later in the day Tuesday to resume his district work schedule.

Cross-posted from Decision 2008.

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North Carolina Republicans opened their Triad “Victory Office” this afternoon. These things are joint operations between Arizona Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign and the state party.

Should you be inclined to stop by, this one is in High Point near the N.C. 68 and Wendover intersection. The address is 3800 Tinsley Road.

As noted in my my first-take story, former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole was on hand to celebrate the opening.

Those doing the speechifying today were particularly upbeat about Republican chances in November. Part of that had to do with the nature of the event. But there was a bit of genuine optimism emanating from the GOP faithful that I haven’t heard from them in a while.

Click here to listen to Sen. Richard Burr give his take as to why Republicans might win more races this fall. Short answer: he thinks the party has better candidates this time around.

Congressman Howard Coble also gave a go-get-‘em speech, which surprised me a little bit because from December through this spring he’s been talking about “a very difficult year.” So has he changed his mind?

Click here for Coble’s answer, which started “No, I’m still pessimistic.” He said that McCain’s chances were improving, but the real bright spot on the ballot was Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, who is running for governor. In particular, he said there seems to be growing sentiment that its time for a change in the executive office that plays, ironically enough, off Obama’s message of change.

More pictures of the ribbon cutting...

...and Laura Wiley sporting her convention outfit:

I'm on vacation until Aug. 25. Talk amongst yourselves.

I’m back from vacation and delighted to see that political campaigns of all ilks seem to be preparing for an enthusiastic slide into trivial silliness as we approach the two months of campaign season where most folks are paying attention.

In the mean time, Gov. Mike Easley has called the honorables back to down to deal with his veto veto of H 2167, known affectionately as the wide boats bill.

The veto session has been called for Wednesday at 11 a.m.

I can well imagine the honorables glee at being pulled away from the campaign trail and their real jobs to re-consider this bill. I mean, there must be legions of constituents that have a 9-and-1/2-foot wide boats sitting around that they’re just dying to tow to the coast and fuel up?

The Barkeep has detailed where the push for the bill is coming from. Meanwhile, as many pictures of tractor trailers wedged under overpasses as my paper has run over the past year, how long is it before we get our first picture of a wide boat wedged on a one-land bridge?

By the way, the legislature has several options during a veto session: let the veto stand, over-ride and pass the bill as is or craft some new bit of legislation that addresses the topic but fixes whatever problem the governor has. As of yet, the North Carolina legislature has never done a straight-up veto-override.

As I mentioned, Gov. Mike Easley has vetoed a bill that would allow people to transport wide boats on state roads without a permit.

And apparently some readers picked up a bit or sarcasm when I said the honorables would be “delighted” to head back to Raleigh to reconsider this thing. A bit.

Here’s why: The constitution does require the honorables to be brought back into session if there’s a veto by the governor, unless they turn down the opportunity in writing. That’s been done before.

And while a special session isn’t unprecedented or all that uncommon in recent history, it’s still kind of a big deal. The fact that a big deal is being made over the boat bill might be a little less noxious if there weren’t other things that might actually might warrant a special session in some folks’ estimation lurking about, like say:

• * An under-funded state health plan.
• * Continuing problems in the state mental health system.
• * Shortfalls in road construction funding.

So is running back to Raleigh so people who schlep around 9.5-foot boats can tow them at night, over narrow two-lane roads while moderately beered up a good idea? You tell me.

On the flip side, it doesn’t seem like the honorables are planning on taking a whole lot of time redrafting the legislation or otherwise messing about.

The bill first goes to the House and Rep. Hugh Holliman, the Democratic leader there, said this morning “I don’t anticipate spending a lot of time with it.”

He said that barring some breakthrough, folks should expect to see an up-or-down veto over-ride vote. And, he said, this is unlikely to be a caucus decision, which means each individual member will be free to vote their conscience.

“I don’t think you’ll see any arm twisting,” Holliman said.

Three-fifths of those who show up tomorrow will get a vote on the bill. If everyone who voted for it the first time votes for the bill this time around, the veto should be easily overridden. There were only five “no” votes on its final passage in the House, including Reps. Bordsen, Fisher, Insko, Luebke and Wess. The final senate vote was 43-0.

Two updates: A couple of folks have passed on thoughts regarding the boat bill. The first (actually, the first couple) suggested that maybe Easley should get a dart for calling the General Assembly back the session when it looks like he could be massively voted down on a relatively minor bill.

Point taken. This doesn't really strike one as a case of choosing one battle's wisely. And if Easley does suffer his first veto over-ride, that could be a reason: legislators hacked off about the bad timing and the odd thing to pick a fight about.

Secondly, a friend in the Senate President Pro Tempore's office sent along some "stats for your enjoyment." So I thought you'd enjoy too. This is the pro-side of the boat bill argument. (Just to be really clear, I don't give a rats behind much about what the law is, but it seems to me there are issues with bigger constituencies that might be addressed.)

Safety issues

* Current law forces wide boats to travel during daytime hours when traffic is more congested. This bill allows boaters to travel early in the morning or at night, or on weekends and holidays, when school buses are not on the road and traffic is not as heavy.

* This bill requires new safety measures for boats and trailers – boats and trailers wider than 8 ½ feet must be equipped with amber lights at their widest point to ensure greater visibility.

* Existing law already requires someone pulling a boat/trailer in excess of 10,000 pounds to be 18 or older.

* Of 230,000 total vehicle accidents statewide (yearly average), an average of about 7 accidents per year involve boats greater than 8 feet wide.

* From 2005-2007, fewer than 5% of boat trailers involved in accidents were wider than 8 ½ feet.

* For accidents that were directly due to boat width (sideswipes and hitting parked vehicles), on average, there were only 2 accidents per year involving boats wider than 8 ½ feet.

Economic issues

* NC is home to more than 3,000 boatbuilding or boating-related companies, employing more than 25,000 workers.

* More than $500 million in sales of boats, motors, and boating equipment is generated annually in NC – fifth in the country.

* NC has 370,000 registered boats, ranking 11th in the US in boat registrations.

* NC is 4th in the nation in the number of outboard (trailerable) boats.

* NC saw more than $662 million in total boating trip spending in 2007.

* Boating and fishing are important sectors of NC’s tourism economy.

* Since 2007, boat sales in NC have dropped by more than 20 percent.

* More than 14% of the boatbuilding workforce has been laid off within the past year.

...it took the House all of seven minutes to vote 92-7 93-7 (one member changed her vote after the fact) to override the governor's veto. The big boats bill now goes to Senate, which is expected to give it a similar vote approval.

This would be the first time Gov. Mike Easley (or any governor) has been over-ridden on a veto.

Update: The Senate voted 39-0 with one pair to over-ride the veto.

For those scoring at home, that means Easley's veto has been thoroughly ignored.

Is that a quack I hear?

Here is how the Associate Press wrote it up:

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ For the first time in state history, North Carolina lawmakers have voted to override a governor's veto.

Members of the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to override Gov. Mike Easley's rejection of a new law easing the restrictions on the towing of boats.

Easley rejected a measure approved last month that allows boats up to 10 feet wide to be towed without a permit. The new law also allows boats up to 9 1/2 feet wide to be towed at night.

House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman said lawmakers tried to work out a compromise with Easley before Wednesday's vote, but were unsuccessful.

North Carolina lawmakers have never overridden a veto since the state's governors were given the power in 1996.

Update: Three more members have been allowed to vote after they showed up to the House session late. But their votes don't change the outcome.

Update: An hour and nine minutes after coming in, the General Assembly is out of here.