#NCSEN: Harris campaign challenging narrative of Tillis inevitability

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton, February 24, 2014 

There’s been quite a bit of suspicion for some time that Charlotte pastor Mark Harris’ Senate campaign was merely a stalking horse to peel Tea Party votes away from  Greg Brannon.  Harris labels himself a conservative — like Thom Tillis does.  But he’s named former congressman, NCGOP chairman and Ripon Society fanboy Robin Hayes as his campaign chairman.  Hayes’ longtime political strategist, Tom Perdue, has also come aboard the Harris effort.

Observers have been quick to note how — in forums and other public events — Harris and his supporters are quick to criticize Tea party favorite Brannon, but are silent on Thom Tillis, the favorite of Establishment, left-of-center Republicans.  In some forums, Harris has spoken in defense of Tillis on toll roads and other aspects of the General Assembly’s agenda. 

But things appear to be changing on that front.  I’ve seen polling from pros — with campaigns and unaffiliated — suggesting that Harris appears to be getting a good chunk of votes in Tillis’ Charlotte-area home base.  Perdue, the Harris strategist, has upped the ante a little bit with some crowing to Roll Call, the DC-based “newspaper of Capitol Hill”:

CONTINUED. 

#NCSEN: And NOW for THE REST of the story …

about Dr. Greg Brannon.....

The Daily Haymaker by Brant Clifton, February 24, 2014

Binky, The Shih-tzu, and the rest of their knucklehead mainstream media pals have been piling on Greg Brannon these past few days — amid giggling from Brannon’s political foes — since that finding from the jury in that civil case was announced.

Pete Kaliner, an Asheville talk radio host who used to do some serious reporting in Charlotte, decided to dig a little deeper into Brannon’s courtroom experience.  On Friday, Kaliner devoted an hour to Robert Rice, the CEO of the tech company at the center of the lawsuit in question. I encourage every one of you to listen to the full interview (about 40 minutes).   I did, and I learned a few things that I never would have known if I had relied on Binky and his friends:

CONTINUED. 

Hampstead Democrat files for U.S. Senate, giving Hagan a primary

Port City Daily, February 24, 2014

The candidate field continues to expand as filing for the 2014 elections enters its final week.

New in the mix is Will Stewart, a Hampstead-based Democrat who filed Monday for U.S. Senate–meaning incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan, also a Democrat, will face a primary in May. Four Republicans had previously filed for that seat: Mark Harris of Charlotte, Heather Grant of Wilkesboro, Ted Alexander of Shelby, and Greg Brannon of Cary.

READ ABOUT IT HERE! 

It turns out the 'Evil' Koch Bros are only the 59th biggest donors in American politics. Can you guess who is number one?

Washington examiner, BY MARK TAPSCOTT | FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Charles and David Koch are the two most evil people in American politics, right? We know that because Jane Mayer proved it with her landmark "Covert Operations" tour de liberal force in 2010.

Well, it turns out that Mayer's aim was off just a little, by like 58 slots on the all-time biggest donors in American politics list, as compiled by OpenSecrets.org.

OpenSecrets.org tallied the top donors in federal elections between 1989 and 2014. Koch Industries -- privately owned by the Evil Koch Bros -- is on the list, to be sure, but doesn't appear until the 59th slot, with $18 million in donations, 90 percent of which went to Republicans.

Unions, unions, unions

READ MORE!

#NCSEN: PPP poll shows we’re headed for a GOP runoff.

The Daily Haymaker by Brant Clifton • February 13, 2014 

Public Policy Polling has released its latest numbers on the 2014 US Senate race. The Democrat  pollster is finding what a lot of us have known.This thing — at least on the GOP side — is WIDE OPEN.

The latest survey shows state House speaker Thom Tillis leading the GOP primary field with 20 percent, followed by Greg Brannon and Heather Grant at 13 percent each. (One month ago, in this same poll, Tillis had 19 percent, followed by 11 percent each for Brannon and Grant.)

Ted Alexander pulls 10 percent, Mark Harris is at 8 percent, and Edward Kryn is at 2 percent. (If my math is right, that ads up to a 34 percent showing for UNDECIDED.  Yessirrree. WIDE OPEN.) 

The latest survey shows state House speaker Thom Tillis leading the GOP primary field with 20 percent, followed by Greg Brannon and Heather Grant at 13 percent each. (One month ago, in this same poll, Tillis had 19 percent, followed by 11 percent each for Brannon and Grant.)

READ MORE.  

#NCSEN: In 2011, Speaker Thom thought state health insurance exchanges OK

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton, February 12, 2014

Everyone agrees ObamaCare will be a huge issue in the 2014 elections.  In 2013, the General Assembly said NO to accepting federal money to set up a state health care exchange as part of ObamaCare’s implementation.  We reported on Tillis telling business leaders around the state in private meetings, around that time, that it’s not about IF we get ObamaCare, but HOW we manage it.

Tillis took to Facebook to respond to critics — claiming he has always been against government health care exchanges.  But a report today on The Daily Caller web site raises questions about that particular spin from Speaker Thom:

CONTINUE READING.  

#NCGA: A short session surprise?

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • February 12, 2014 

A piece of legislation that has raised the ire of Civitas and other Tea Party-aligned groups,  and has been voted down twice in the state House, has been resurrected and sent to the House Rules Committee.  According to a rather surprising source — who has a vote in the House GOP caucus — it’s eligible to be voted on in the General Assembly’s short session.  

The legislation I am taking about is H440 — The North Carolina Benefit Corporation Act.  It’s come up in the legislature in 2011 and in 2013.  Tea Party groups have attacked this legislation as an instrument of the United Nations’ Agenda 21.  Civitas went after it as being antithetical to capitalism. 

Benefit corporations are  not currently recognized by the state of North Carolina. But this legislation is seeking to change that.

What’s the big deal about Benefit Corporations, also known as B-corps?  A really smart guy with a fancy-pants Raleigh law firm dishes the dirt for us: 

READ IT HERE.

Thom and Bru: Mutual back-scratching at its best

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • February 11, 2014

Thom Tillis and Harold Brubaker have quite a special political bond. They are the only two Republican speakers of the North Carolina House since Reconstruction.  The two became very close upon Tillis joining the House in 2006.  On the eve of Brubaker’s 2012 departure from the House to take up lobbying, Tillis publicly described Brubaker as “my mentor, a trusted colleague, and a dear friend.”

It’s 2014 and Harold Brubaker is going gangbusters in his lobbying business.  What’s intriguing is how much influence he appears to still have in the speaker’s office TWO YEARS after leaving office.

READ THE ARTICLE.

#NCSEN #NCGA: 2012 Tillis House campaign accepted $4K from wife of figure in federal bribery case

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton, February 10, 2014

North Carolina state House speaker Thom Tillis has established quite a reputation as a prolific fundraiser. He’s been credited with providing the ammo needed for the GOP to take over the legislature.  He’s tapping that skill to fuel his current campaign for the US Senate.

One particular contribution in 2012 to Tillis’ House campaign has ties to a North Carolina political scandal that broke in 2003 and ended in federal court in 2010.  Documents on file with the North Carolina State Board of Elections indicate Jane Wright of Wake Forest donated $4,000 to the Tillis House campaign in October 2012.   She is the wife of Thomas R. “Ricky” Wright, who made news in 2003:

Read more!  

Not Just The IRS! OSHA, BATF & Other Heads Of The Beast Together Attack Grassroots Political Activists

Political Outcast, by Bob Allen, February 7, 2014

"I will not retreat, I will not surrender, I will not be intimidated, and I will not ask for permission to exercise my Constitutional rights."  —Catherine Engelbrecht, testifying before a Congressional Committee to the horrific abuse she has endured at the hands of the IRS, and several other Federal bureaucracies, since becoming involved in civic matters.

WAKE UP, AMERICA! The government has become a weapon in the hand of evil people—there is no other term that adequately describes those who initiated harassment of this woman and her family.

Video and more!  

#NCSEN: Tillis “mentor” in midst of Outer Banks fishing fracas

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • February 7, 2014

Commercial fishermen along eastern North Carolina have been knocking heads for some time with state regulators.  Local fishing interests fear that regulations pushed by environmentalists with pull in Raleigh are endangering their livelihood and threatening the local economy.

The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of North Carolina is blamed by locals for the current regulatory environment.  One factor that might have won the CCA its success in Raleigh  their lobbyist in Raleigh, until September 4 of last year, was none other than former state House speaker and Thom Tillis “mentor” Harold Brubaker.

For those not so familiar with this ongoing fight in the east, soak in the words of longtime Outer Banks GOP leader Browny Douglas in his plea to state senator Bill Cook: 

READ MORE. 

#NCSEN: Apparently, what was BAD for Liddy Dole is O-KAY for Kay

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • February 7, 2014 

Democrats in DC and in Raleigh are working overtime to pull Senator Sock Puppet’s chestnuts out of the fire. They’ve put out this spin about Kay Hagan being one of the most moderate voices in DC — because she only votes with Barry Obama 96 percent of the time.  Over at The N&O, John Drescher’s shih-tzu ran with that spin like it was a little rubber ball.

My, how times change.  In 2008, when state senator and Democrat US Senate nominee Kay Hagan was running against incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole,  ol’ Kay had this to say: 

READ MORE. 

#NCSEN: If you pay him, he will come.

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • February 7, 2014

State House speaker and US Senate candidate Thom Tillis has been catching some flak from GOP activists — and finally from the mainstream media — for skipping out on candidate debates in the GOP primary race.  His people are promising that he will show up in the same room with his opponents some time before May.

In the meantime, he found a few minutes in his “busy” schedule —while the House is out of session — to appear at a press conferencefeaturing home health care interests seeking changes in ObamaCare.It’s interesting he is showing so much more passion for tinkering with the existing law than he did for the NCGA refusing health exchanges,or for Ted Cruz’s defund ObamaCare effort.  

(O-Care doesn’t need to be tinkered with.  It needs to be completely trashed.  Before it finally trashes our economy and our country.)

READ IT HERE!

Clay Aiken releases campaign video

Former “American Idol” star Clay Aiken is leaving his fate up to American voters once again, this time in a bid for Congress in North Carolina.

Aiken officially launched his campaign for the seat held by Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers on Wednesday after weeks of rumors that he would enter the fray.

VIDEO AND MORE.  

#NCSEN: Giving Kay a helping hand

The Daily Haymaker by Brant Clifton, January 21, 2014

Yep.  You read that right.  You can just imagine that –when you’re scurrying all over the nation scooping up special interest money — it can be a challenge to find time to sit down and properly fill out your campaign finance disclosure forms. 

Well, being the southern gentlemen we are here, we thought we’d take a moment to help out our state’s junior US senator in this area.  Cecilia Boone of Austin, TX is listed on Senator Sock Puppet’s financial disclosure form as not having an employer and being “a homemaker.”Actually, a simple Google search helped me discover that Ms. Boone — who donated $2600 to Hagan on May 7 — is the chairman of Planned Parenthood Foundation of America.  Yep — ground zero for The Abortion Fan Club.™  

Read the article!  

A different look at NC’s Senate race

NC SPIN, January 18, 2014

by John Frank, Under the Dome, News and Observer, January 17, 2014

North Carolina political consultant John Davis says he sees a Kay Hagan-Thom Tillis showdown in the U.S. Senate race and expects Tillis to win.

In his recent subscriber-only Political Report, Davis said it’s in the numbers. For starters, he says, the landscape isn’t good for Hagan. No N.C. Democrat has won a second term in the U.S. Senate since 1968, the party is “in shambles,” polls show it tied, midterms aren’t kind to the White House and Hagan told the lie of the year when it came to healthcare.

“So, if it comes down to a race between Sen. Kay Hagan and Speaker Thom Tillis, it is highly likely that the two equally capable and equally funded combatants will be surrounded by equally savvy consultants and have the backing of equally malicious super PACs,” he writes. “Which brings me back to those facts and numbers (above), and why I believe that Thom Tillis is likely to upset Kay Hagan in North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race.”

CONTINUE READING.

Tillis, Berger Announce Joint Legislative Study Committee To Investigate Affordable Care Act’s Impact On North Carolina

Jan 13, 2014

RALEIGH, N.C. –House Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) announced today the formation of a Joint Legislative Study Committee to investigate the impacts of the Affordable Care Act on North Carolina. 

The committee is being formed to explore the real-world impacts that the Affordable Care Act is having on North Carolina’s economy and citizens through disruptions in the insurance marketplace, dropped coverage for families and higher premiums without improved access to providers. 

Continued.

NCGOP cracks down on Republicans criticizing Republicans

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • January 13, 2014

We’re in the middle of the primary election season.  These times are all about internal debates / discussions between party members as they chart the direction of and craft an agenda for their parties.  Yet, it appears the NCGOP hierarchy – including The Pope himself — is enforcing a ban on public criticism of GOP officials by GOP activists.

This has all come to light thanks to some dissension among party activists in Haywood County. Apparently, some party members are seeking punitive actions against an incumbent county commissioner there for alleged infractions that reportedly include using the powers of his office to retaliate against fellow Republican rivals.

READ THE ARTICLE.

NCDHHS: a big government mess decades in the making

The Daily Haymaker, by Brant Clifton • January 10, 2014

The liars in the remnants of our state’s mainstream media would have you believe state government was working like a charm prior to the January 2013 inauguration of Republican governor Pat McCrory.  *The seventh seal has been opened.  The Prince of Darkness and his four horsemen are walking the Earth, bringing about the End of Days.  Children are being starved.  Barry Saunders is being discriminated against.  Lefties are being asked to leave the legislative building at closing time.  The Horror!*

It’s clear the lefties are seeking a scalp — or a severed head to mount on a pike at the gates of their Mecca — Carrboro.  It appears they've set their sights on Dr. Aldona Wos, who was given the thankless task by Gov. Pat of managing the lefties’ sacred cow:  The NC Department of Health & Human Services.

I bet most people can’t recall the names of the NCDHHS secretaries in the Perdue, Easley, or Hunt administrations.  Democrats were in charge at that time.  They were hiring a lot of mainstream media reporters as PIOs at state agencies.  Life was good.  Backs got scratched.  Negative stuff RARELY got reported.

Now that Republicans run the show in Raleigh, we’re getting scrutiny never before seen in the history of modern journalism.

I find myself in an usual spot — defending an organ of the welfare state.  I think there is a TON wrong with our state bureaucracy.  But it didn’t start with Pat McCrory or Aldona Wos or Phil Berger or Thom Tillis. 

NC FAST is the current boondoggle being blamed on McCrory, Wos, and the GOP.  The two main contracts for this project were awarded in 2008 and 2010.  Let’s see.  WHO was governor then? 

MUST READ, CONTINUED HERE!

OBAMA REVEALS FIRST FIVE ‘PROMISE ZONES’

The Blaze, January 9, 2014

More political maneuvering.  (One goal at least is to break Mitch McConnell's reelection bid.  If he votes for it--conservatives will walk, if he votes against it, he is another mean old republican that wants people to suffer.  ~ Lynn)

President Barack Obama at a White House event Thursday identified five new “Promise Zones” that he said would benefit from a program of tax incentives and government grants, a year after he unveiled the plan in his 2013 State of the Union address.

“We’ve got to keep our economy growing,” the president said. “We've got to make sure everybody is sharing in that growth. We’ve got to keep creating jobs. Then we’ve got to make sure wages and benefits are such that families can rebuild a little security.”

The proposal unique in that they’re an example of administrative action Obama can take without Congress.

“We’ve got to make sure this recovery, which is real, leaves nobody behind,” the president said. “That’s going to be my focus throughout the year. This is going to be a year of action. That’s what the American people expect. They are ready and willing to pitch in and help.”

The “Promise Zones” announced Thursday will be located in San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, southeastern Kentucky and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

CONTINUED HERE.