The Republican civil war in North Carolina is raging. Today, the conservative blog The Daily Haymaker is calling the John Locke Foundation leaders “RINOs” or Republicans In Name Only. That’s quite an insult to the oldest conservative think tank in the state.
Over in the legislature, the GOP leadership is in a shooting war. Rep. Justin Burr (R-Stanley) launched his re-election effort with a letter blasting Speaker Tim Moore for poor leadership and questioning his commitment to conservative principles. Moore says Burr just likes to complain. He has a point. While Burr now says Thom Tillis ran a better caucus, back when Burr was running for speaker against Moore, he was critical of the way Tillis operated. Some people are never satisfied.
The Haymaker also claims that Moore is misusing campaign funds by buying a condo. Apparently, Moore has a company that bought a condo in Raleigh and now Moore is paying rent to his own company. Whether it’s legal or not doesn’t matter. It sure looks sleazy. But what’s even more interesting is that Democrats aren’t making the accusations. Republicans are.
Majority Leader Mike Hager is also having problems. Apparently, the Mecklenburg County GOP chair is recruiting someone to run against him in a primary. Sen. Bob Rucho sent a letter to the state party asking them to investigate the Mecklenburg GOP Chair Curtis Watkins for making calls to potential Hager challengers. The GOP rules prohibit party officials from getting involved in primaries.
Much of the GOP has shifted so far right that former Republican Governors Jim Martin and Jim Holsehouser are considered RINOs. The John Locke Foundation now represents the establishment Republicans while bloggers and social media stars make up the renegade conservatives. The divide between these newly empowered conservatives and the pragmatists may play out in a fight for House speaker.
Mike Hager and Tim Moore have long been rivals. Both ran for Speaker after Tillis went to the Senate. Hager apparently still wants that spot. He’s leading a group of conservative legislators that want to take Moore and his lieutenants down. Moore, for his part, says he’s running again and expects to win.
Pass the popcorn, please.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
I last voted GOP in , what, 1976 maybe. What a mistake, not much of a choice.
At the very least, I am a Democratic Socialist , like Bernie.
I’ve been further left than that in my lifetime , but age and experience have tempered my politics.
At the same time , I try to be a realist,, and will support Hillary anytime if necessary
I voted for Chris Bond of Missouri for Governor when I lived there. His Democratic opponent was an ex-FBI who supported the Vietnam war. Bond spun a good lie of being progressive.
Most of you may know him as an anti-abortion radical Representative, similar to Ted Cruz , during the ‘Dubya ‘ years.
Never again.
I lived in the Atlanta , Georgia area in the 80’s. I always voted for the Democrat ticket. Back then, Zell Miller was the longtime Vice-Governor throughout several administrations. He seemed progressive compared to the other regimes .
You all may recall his disgraceful act at the , was it 2006, GOP convention.
I can only guess that he , like many uninformed Americas, gave into FEAR after 9/11 , just kike comedian Dennis Miller.
Where are they now?
If I were to vote GOP today , I might as well vote for the little mouse , if he were alive , Benito
Mussolini.
Remember why Democrats were once called ‘Yellow Dog ‘ .
I’d vote for a Yellow Dog before I’d vote GOP, or Teabagger, any day .
Hell, I’d vote for a jackass mule as more trustworthy than these hypocritical , corporate stooges!
Ciao
Hawkeye
Extremely well said! If an R wins this election, Canada best build a wall to keep us out!
I’m not at all sure there are political parties anymore, big money in all its various guises have taken over BOTH! Hillary is owned by Soros, Buffett et al. The Republicans dance to the Chamber of Commerce’s tune. Special interest rules on both sides of the aisle with very little consideration for middle-class or working class Americans. Laws are only suggestions, federalism is dead, the balance of power has been subjugated to an imperial presidency and neither party responds to their respective constituencies.
Sanders and Trump are creations of this corruption and I have no doubt at all they will be ignored if possible or destroyed if necessary.
I am so tired of these bloated, self-righteous , money-grubbing , fake image, neo-liberals.
Paul Ryan, at least , had the sense to grow a FULL beard, so that he might look grandfatherely.
But, it don’t fool me!
These GOP hacks are so narrow in the mind, they couldn’t get through the Grand Canyon.
Except for Trump, of course. He’ll just Dynamite it.
Y’all can’t talk to me; I will never support the BS coming out of Rand Paul’s Libertarian hole, or anything from the Grand Old Porcines!
See ya at the Country Club, Duffers!
Hawkeye
I pray for a circular firing squad and no gun control.
I’m not much of a fan of war, being a student of history and all, but all I can say is, “Let’s hope the casualties are high in this one. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch.”
I have come to learn over my years in public service that there are three types of people regardless of party affiliation or whether they be progressive, moderate or conservative: those who see the cup as half full; those who see the cup as half empty; and those who enjoy spilling the cup and creating chaos. Happy holidays!
Very apt description. May I the rare exception to the above is such a pleasure to deal with after the a visit with one of the types you describe, but sadly, truly rare.
Seems to mirror what’s going on at the national level in the GOP, don’t ya think?
Nationally, the screaming banshees, who have been welcomed, nurtured, encouraged, but yet effectively contained by the GOP Establishment for the better part of a decade, have now taken over the asylum, with Trump as their leader, leaving the prospect of a fractured convention, and damaged party and POTUS campaign.
State-wise, the neo-con and righteous right nutzoids, have gifted the NCGOP with the power it has so badly wanted for many decades, but now those loonies are forcing even the party’s solid conservatives to lurch even further to the right or be attacked, primaried, and/or otherwise run over or run out.
Sort of proves the old adage about power & corruption. I do hope the Democrats are learning something from this debacle and not just trying to figure out how to take advantage of it. However, I would not make a bet on it.