The GOP in NC is doing everything it can to take away voting rights and ignore the real needs of people, instead they are pushing theocratic and misogynistic culture wars. Mark Robinson-style.
Tillis didn’t find a spine, he just lost his taste for abuse. Or he figured out that running behind a generic Republican in polling for a seat he’s been elected to twice didn’t bode well for another bid.
He has a history for voting for things he knows are fundamentally wrong — he just does it because it’s politically expedient. That much became apparent in 2012 over the Amendment One issue, when he said — in the press — that the amendment would “probably be repealed in 10-15 years”, but he was willing to make a temporary change to our state’s foundation document because enough people were convinced that one group gaining a right meant they were going to lose one. And that idea of a zero-sum game is what keeps Fat Donny Two-Times in good books with his base. As long as they believe in that paradigm, he’s going to have their support. If — and it’s a big if — they ever cotton on to the notion that just because somebody else has the right to [ fill in the blank ] it doesn’t mean that *they don’t* the Republican Party as we know it today will cease to exist, because there will be nobody to register with it.
Tillis played that same song, just a little bit more melodiously, his entire career. From the NCGA to the US Senate. And if he’s gotten sick of the sound of it, good. I hope it haunts him to his grave. Along with every other despicable vote he’s cast and every slime coated nominee he’s voted to confirm. He’s finally found himself on the other end of the whip, and he hasn’t got the belly for it. Or maybe all the time I wrote and pointed out that he had a choice to side with North Carolinians or Trump, but it was a binary choice and he was gonna own whichever one he made. And if he wasn’t ready to do that he should resign his seat now. He didn’t go quite *that* far, but this is the next best thing.
As for who might try to replace him — on the GOP side, Lara Trump's name was mentioned along with all the ones Thomas listed when I first heard about this around 2:30 this afternoon. The current RNC Chair’s name (which I’ve already forgotten) got some buzz too, though he’s not confirming and the RNC is denying.
On the other side, Wiley Nickel’s been running an email campaign and raising funds for months in preparation for a run against Tillis. He’s probably built some name recognition out of it, but his problem is going to be that with TIllis gone, he can’t campaign as the Not-Tillis, which has been the cornerstone of his campaign to date. If he can pivot to a message that’s more about *him* and what *he can do for you* and less about how shitty his opponent is he could make a go of it. This is the advantage Roy Cooper already has. He’s held statewide office for the best part of 2 decades, and might be the most popular politician in the state on either side of the divide. What might keep him out of the running is that he’ll be 69 when 2026 rolls around, and that would mean he’d finish his term at age 75. I’m not sure he wants to make politics a lifetime vocation, and I wouldn’t blame him for that. Hell I’m only 65 and that wouldn’t be an appealing prospect to me. But if he did run, and win (which he would), I think he’d be an excellent Senator.
This brings us to Jeff Jackson, who has none of the problems that either of the previous two do. He’s young, and he won his race for AG running as “basically a normal person”. He didn’t cut his opponent any slack, but he didn’t demonize him either. And he connects with people in a way that should serve as an example to every Democrat everywhere. That won’t just make him a good candidate, it’ll make him a good Senator. Not to mention there’s little chance we’ll see town halls outside his Raleigh office hosted by a life sized cardboard cutout of him. My only hesitation would be the question of what would become of the AG’s office if he’s campaigning for Senate, and especially if he wins? It’s a SLOG running a political campaign, but in that way the NCGA may have done him a favor by kneecapping his authority. If he can make the point that the Republicans in the legislature left him with a lot of time on his hands, it might work out for everybody. At least politically. And presumably his replacement would be appointed by Josh Stein to keep the chair warm until 2028.
But for today, let’s all take a breath and hope that this newfound freedom will prod Tillis to vote with his constituents for a change. That’d be refreshing, if unlikely.
I doubt Jeff Jackson will resign from a job he says he loves (after less than two years) in order to run for Senate, a risky proposition if he loses and his political career is prematurely over. Better for him to establish a strong record as AG. He's young enough to bide his time.
I had to comment on Chuck Edwards. The incident you referred to occurred during the Rotary District 7670 Annual Conference in Asheville. He was asked to speak by the conference planning committee. When politicians are asked to speak at Rotary functions, they are asked (or it's implied in the invitation) that they won't bring up partisan politics. Edwards ignored that tradition, to the chagrin of a large number of the 200 or so attendees. He's been a member of the Hendersonville Rotary Club since 2010 and should have known better. He embarrassed himself and insulted the Rotary community. The altercation apparently occurred after his speech, as conference organizers apologized for his behavior.
Edwards would also be someone with a huge track record to run on. He called out Trump's lies about FEMA, then stood behind Trump and smiled as he told more lies, then insulted his constituents when they demanded he defend NOAA and the VA. Trump will like him but he has a lot to answer for.
So Tllis is out. I am glad i didn't go and have 100 "Tillis is a coward" signs made. Cooper and Jackson are both great possible candidates. Thanks for the info.
Thank you, Thomas. I wonder if we have seen the last of Tillis? It is still a question for me? He has left his damaged mark on NC from his time in the legislature. I only wish he had been brave enough to buck Trump earlier.
For me, it’s a big no for Tim Moore for anything!!! That goes for Lara Trump, and others too. Sheesh!
Another possible Democrat if Cooper and Jackson both pass is Don Davis. He's be a good foil to whichever nutcase wins the GOP primary. A military veteran and political moderate who won a tough re-election bid last year.
Wondering if Tillis is hoping to run for NC Governor in the near future, and didn’t want to further poison public sentiment against him by being on record in favor of the horrible big bill? Pragmatic self-interest on his part, not necessarily finding a spine or a conscience?
I don't believe Tillis suddenly grew a pair of balls. Based on his current physical appearance I think he is quite ill and realizes he needs to "get right with Jesus" before they meet.
I think he's just pointing out that Wiley has much lower name recognition than either Cooper or Jackson, which is true. Wiley has never held statewide office and doesn't really have a lot to run on. Personally I think he'd be a better candidate for something like Commissioner of Labor or Lt Governor.
Whatever Tillis’s faults, he seemed to enjoy legislating. He figured it wasn’t possible to do that as a MAGA potted plant, so why spend the next year-plus shaking down donors when the prize would be more of the same?
This might be a strategic move on the part of Tillis to call Trump's bluff in a purple state that could vote for a Democrat if Republicans nominate one of the far-right candidates you list. Tillis may hope that Trump begs him to run.
Thank you for up-to-date information.
Please, North Carolina, get this right.
The GOP in NC is doing everything it can to take away voting rights and ignore the real needs of people, instead they are pushing theocratic and misogynistic culture wars. Mark Robinson-style.
We deserve better.
Tillis didn’t find a spine, he just lost his taste for abuse. Or he figured out that running behind a generic Republican in polling for a seat he’s been elected to twice didn’t bode well for another bid.
He has a history for voting for things he knows are fundamentally wrong — he just does it because it’s politically expedient. That much became apparent in 2012 over the Amendment One issue, when he said — in the press — that the amendment would “probably be repealed in 10-15 years”, but he was willing to make a temporary change to our state’s foundation document because enough people were convinced that one group gaining a right meant they were going to lose one. And that idea of a zero-sum game is what keeps Fat Donny Two-Times in good books with his base. As long as they believe in that paradigm, he’s going to have their support. If — and it’s a big if — they ever cotton on to the notion that just because somebody else has the right to [ fill in the blank ] it doesn’t mean that *they don’t* the Republican Party as we know it today will cease to exist, because there will be nobody to register with it.
Tillis played that same song, just a little bit more melodiously, his entire career. From the NCGA to the US Senate. And if he’s gotten sick of the sound of it, good. I hope it haunts him to his grave. Along with every other despicable vote he’s cast and every slime coated nominee he’s voted to confirm. He’s finally found himself on the other end of the whip, and he hasn’t got the belly for it. Or maybe all the time I wrote and pointed out that he had a choice to side with North Carolinians or Trump, but it was a binary choice and he was gonna own whichever one he made. And if he wasn’t ready to do that he should resign his seat now. He didn’t go quite *that* far, but this is the next best thing.
As for who might try to replace him — on the GOP side, Lara Trump's name was mentioned along with all the ones Thomas listed when I first heard about this around 2:30 this afternoon. The current RNC Chair’s name (which I’ve already forgotten) got some buzz too, though he’s not confirming and the RNC is denying.
On the other side, Wiley Nickel’s been running an email campaign and raising funds for months in preparation for a run against Tillis. He’s probably built some name recognition out of it, but his problem is going to be that with TIllis gone, he can’t campaign as the Not-Tillis, which has been the cornerstone of his campaign to date. If he can pivot to a message that’s more about *him* and what *he can do for you* and less about how shitty his opponent is he could make a go of it. This is the advantage Roy Cooper already has. He’s held statewide office for the best part of 2 decades, and might be the most popular politician in the state on either side of the divide. What might keep him out of the running is that he’ll be 69 when 2026 rolls around, and that would mean he’d finish his term at age 75. I’m not sure he wants to make politics a lifetime vocation, and I wouldn’t blame him for that. Hell I’m only 65 and that wouldn’t be an appealing prospect to me. But if he did run, and win (which he would), I think he’d be an excellent Senator.
This brings us to Jeff Jackson, who has none of the problems that either of the previous two do. He’s young, and he won his race for AG running as “basically a normal person”. He didn’t cut his opponent any slack, but he didn’t demonize him either. And he connects with people in a way that should serve as an example to every Democrat everywhere. That won’t just make him a good candidate, it’ll make him a good Senator. Not to mention there’s little chance we’ll see town halls outside his Raleigh office hosted by a life sized cardboard cutout of him. My only hesitation would be the question of what would become of the AG’s office if he’s campaigning for Senate, and especially if he wins? It’s a SLOG running a political campaign, but in that way the NCGA may have done him a favor by kneecapping his authority. If he can make the point that the Republicans in the legislature left him with a lot of time on his hands, it might work out for everybody. At least politically. And presumably his replacement would be appointed by Josh Stein to keep the chair warm until 2028.
But for today, let’s all take a breath and hope that this newfound freedom will prod Tillis to vote with his constituents for a change. That’d be refreshing, if unlikely.
I really hope Jeff Jackson runs. He is a firecracker and just what we need. Cooper is old hat.
And what happens to the AG seat?
According to the North Carolina Constitution, the Governor appoints a new AG in the event of a vacancy.
I doubt Jeff Jackson will resign from a job he says he loves (after less than two years) in order to run for Senate, a risky proposition if he loses and his political career is prematurely over. Better for him to establish a strong record as AG. He's young enough to bide his time.
Some other qualified Dem
would step up.
Who chooses the new person?
They would have a primary.
And if that's the case, we could end up with a Republican AG, which would be bad.
We could end up with a Republican senator too! I guess you just like to argue - eh?
I had to comment on Chuck Edwards. The incident you referred to occurred during the Rotary District 7670 Annual Conference in Asheville. He was asked to speak by the conference planning committee. When politicians are asked to speak at Rotary functions, they are asked (or it's implied in the invitation) that they won't bring up partisan politics. Edwards ignored that tradition, to the chagrin of a large number of the 200 or so attendees. He's been a member of the Hendersonville Rotary Club since 2010 and should have known better. He embarrassed himself and insulted the Rotary community. The altercation apparently occurred after his speech, as conference organizers apologized for his behavior.
Edwards would also be someone with a huge track record to run on. He called out Trump's lies about FEMA, then stood behind Trump and smiled as he told more lies, then insulted his constituents when they demanded he defend NOAA and the VA. Trump will like him but he has a lot to answer for.
https://open.substack.com/pub/publis324843/p/the-rot-goes-all-the-way-down?r=7av8t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
So Tllis is out. I am glad i didn't go and have 100 "Tillis is a coward" signs made. Cooper and Jackson are both great possible candidates. Thanks for the info.
Thank you, Thomas. I wonder if we have seen the last of Tillis? It is still a question for me? He has left his damaged mark on NC from his time in the legislature. I only wish he had been brave enough to buck Trump earlier.
For me, it’s a big no for Tim Moore for anything!!! That goes for Lara Trump, and others too. Sheesh!
This made the day more interesting!
Another possible Democrat if Cooper and Jackson both pass is Don Davis. He's be a good foil to whichever nutcase wins the GOP primary. A military veteran and political moderate who won a tough re-election bid last year.
Wondering if Tillis is hoping to run for NC Governor in the near future, and didn’t want to further poison public sentiment against him by being on record in favor of the horrible big bill? Pragmatic self-interest on his part, not necessarily finding a spine or a conscience?
Roy would be a great senator. Knowledge of the law, vast experience,integrity, stellar reputation even with Repubs. Not hoo olc.
If you think Chuck Edwards is generally well-liked you are misreading the electorate. He is anything but well liked.
I don't believe Tillis suddenly grew a pair of balls. Based on his current physical appearance I think he is quite ill and realizes he needs to "get right with Jesus" before they meet.
McCready smells like a "Bluedog" Dem, to me. I prefer Cooper to replace Tillis. We need Jackson in the NCAG's seat.
Thomas, why do you seem to dislike Wiley Nickel?
I think he's just pointing out that Wiley has much lower name recognition than either Cooper or Jackson, which is true. Wiley has never held statewide office and doesn't really have a lot to run on. Personally I think he'd be a better candidate for something like Commissioner of Labor or Lt Governor.
Whatever Tillis’s faults, he seemed to enjoy legislating. He figured it wasn’t possible to do that as a MAGA potted plant, so why spend the next year-plus shaking down donors when the prize would be more of the same?
This might be a strategic move on the part of Tillis to call Trump's bluff in a purple state that could vote for a Democrat if Republicans nominate one of the far-right candidates you list. Tillis may hope that Trump begs him to run.
Thomas, don’t rule out Laura Trump