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PAGE CJ16 The Rhinoceros Times Greensboro

Parting Hot Thursday, JanuaryS 10, 2013

JANUARY 2013 | CAROLINA JOURNAL Page 25

RumorsParker Hails Return to ‘Normalcy’ for Dems (a CJ Parody) Chairman (Continued from page 1) By seymour Green Political Correspondent Commissioner Hank Henning. Tuesday RALEIGH at the reception for Gov. McCrory I tried Democratic to gettate Henning to break Party in lineChairman so I could DavidofParker, Statesville attorget a photo a newlyaelected Republican ney,County said he commissioner sees no need toand seek a Guilford our secondelected term, taking credit for whatBut he newly Republican governor. calls a “substantial rebound” key Henning refused to break in line infor front of members the party thetoend of the 100 or of so people stillnear waiting shake his tenure.hand and went back to his place McCrory’s In end an of exclusive with near the the line. interview McCrory didn’t Carolina Journal, Parker discounted the make it down that far. significant electoral losses his party --suffered in November, and the bad Ipublicity was tryingresulting to find outfrom aboutathe sidewalks sexual harassment charge that a former male employee made against the party’s male executive director. Instead, Parker said, his behindthe-scenes efforts have helped rebuild the reputations of six disgraced democrats. “These individuals have been through some tough times, but thanks to my influence and advice, they will once again be influential and respected North Carolinians. Rebuilding their reputations is key to rebuilding the Democratic Party,” he said.

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on Cornwallis Drive that were put in last year and are already being torn up. What I’ve learned is sidewalk design is done by the Greensboro Department of Transportation, sidewalk repair is done by the Field Operations Department, and new sidewalk construction is under the Engineering and Inspections Department. The word on Cornwallis is that if you put in four miles of sidewalks you expect to have to go back and fix some areas. Some of the replacement reportedly was necessary because in parts of the new sidewalk the side slope is too steep, which would create problems for baby strollers, wagons and,

most importantly, wheelchairs. If the slope toward the street is too steep it is difficult to keep wheeled transportation going in a straight line. --Yo Daddy Dessert Bar has opened in the Mike Mary Ruffin Westover Gallery of Shops. Yo Daddy is a Easley Easley Poole different kind of desert bar, at least for this area, as you can get a bunch of different frozen yogurts and desserts as well as specialty beers and a good selection of wine. -McQueen Lanny Beverly Campbell Wilson

Perdue

If you happen to be a conservative or a Republican, there were two events in the past week that should brighten you day. One was the swearing in of state Rep. Jon Hardister. He worked hard to win, and having just turned 30 is the future of the State Democratic Party Chairman David Parker feels the engineering of the “substanGOP. And at his swearing in last Thursday tial rebound” of the financial prospects and reputations of in-trouble Democrats is at party. Starmount Country his lasting legacy to the once-dominant state (CJ file photos)Club there were close to 200 people. That’s a lot of folks get his law license restored in Decem- to inggetaoutreworked retirement in the middle of the day scheme. to watch ber, even though he still has not paid someone Her newraise annual pension theirgovernment hand and swear on the $95,000 of a $100,000 fine his campaign Bible. jumped from $37,171 to $80,597. She owes the State Board of Elections. Mike was very thankful.” --told me people have already forgotten • Ruffin Poole, a top aide to Mike The other event Gov. Pat about that fine.” Easley, who tookwas a felony pleaMcCrory on corstopping by for a meet and greet. • Former first lady Mary Easley, ruption charges: “After Ruffin got You out The six have to be Iahelped Republican fired from a $170,000-a-year job at N.C. certainly of federaldidn’t prison in April, him to home be at that buya aconservative new Raleigh downevent, the • Former Gov. Mike Easley, who State University that she obtained as a or and some of Greensboro’s most liberal result of her husband’s intervention: “I street from his old boss, Mike Easley. took aadorable felony plea on campaign finance This kitten is available to a good owner. If you would like to start appeared to be her though a successful I’m stillofficials working on getting hisenjoying law liviolations involving improperly re- guided your day with kitty kisses and listening to contented purring, call (336)settle707- elected themselves. But you couldn’t attend ment with N.C. State officials involvcense restored, and I hear he’s becomporting campaign 4831 and ask for flights: Cathy.“I helped him

ing lobbyist.” that aevent without capturing some of the • McQueen Campbell, the state. forenthusiasm that McCrory has for our mer chairman of-the N.C. State Board -of Trustees, who stepped down after Last role weekwas we had photo ofincherry in his revealed bothtrees Mary bloom in January, and this week we found Easley’s hiring and in providing Mike out that with 2012 illegal was thecampaign warmest year on Easley flights: record in the continental United States. “He won’t be flying politicians aroundI suppose it proves the cherry trees for awhile, but I hooked him up knew with what they were doing. the football and basketball coaching -- free flights, too, staff at State. They like and these appear to be legal. McQueen I’ve complained a lot about the additional say’s he’s happy as long as he is flying 8-cent Business Improvement District tax someone important. ” that downtown property owners have to pay. • Lanny Wilson, a major DemoI don’t feel like I get much for my money, cratic fundraiser who was involved but I was talking to a business owner on but not charged in the scheme that sent Smith Street recently who gets nothing. Poole to prison and helped the Easleys He doesn’t have brick sidewalks, hanging get a sweetheart deal on coastal propbaskets, or fancy streetlights. He doesn’t erty: “I called in some favors and got need extra police protection because he’s the [state Department of Transportaonly open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He’s a lot closer tion] board to name a Wilmington to Fisher Park than Center City Park and he bridge after Wilson. Lanny told me he says he has never once seen anyone picking is beginning to feel important again.” up trash on his block. It’s wrong to tax the • Gov. Bev Perdue: “Even though whole business district for the benefit of a people might think she doesn’t like few businesses on Elm Street and privately me because I refused to step down as owned Center City Park. party chairman when she asked me to, --we are actually good buddies. I helped her with some for not Our come electedup officials in theexcuses state legislature sending don’t get her paid unspent much forcampaign all the workfunds they to Party. She One is sitting do,the but Democratic they do get some perks. of the on about $1.2 million that she canWhat use perks is a fancy state license plate. for a variety of things. She said she owes me(Continued big time.”on page 26) CJ

An Investment Plan For N.C.’s Economic Recovery The ongoing debate in Washington and the upcoming national campaigns for president and Congress will offer plenty of opportunities for pro-growth politicians to craft, explain, and sell reforms of the federal budget, federal taxation, federal regulation, and federal agencies and programs. In the new book Our Best Foot Forward: An Investment Plan for North Carolina’s Economic Recovery, John Locke Foundation President John Hood tells North Carolina’s policymakers and citizens that economic policy is not the exclusive domain of presidents, federal lawmakers, or the Federal Reserve. John Hood States and localities can play critical roles in economic policy — for good or for ill. We invite you to read and share this plan for our state’s recovery with your family, friends, and co-workers. Go to http://johnlocke.org for more information.

The John Locke Foundation, 200 W. Morgan St. Suite 200, Raleigh, NC, 27601 919-828-3876 • JohnLocke.org • CarolinaJournal.com • info@johnlocke.org


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