A call to arms

With the new year just one week old, it feels as though North Carolina has stepped onto a new ride at the State Fair. The Tarheel Tornado – a sickening rollercoaster through Dante’s seventh level of political hell.

Art Pope, it seems, is getting the only thing it seems he really ever wanted – revenge and power.

I’ve given Pope a hard time for years, but in the back of my mind, I’ve always believed him to be a fundamentally good person. I actually thought he meant what he said when he called for transparency and integrity in government. Until now.

Mr. Pope could have stopped Tillis from running roughshod over democracy this week. A single phone call would have done the trick. But he didn’t make the call. In failing to do so, he proved himself to be unworthy of any benefit of any doubt.

And so we find ourselves in new and dangerous war with liars and cheaters. It is a war for the soul of North Carolina.

To tell the truth, I look at Tillis’ Troubles as a gift horse that good-government progressives must ride like the wind. That’s why I was so upset when the NCDP's David Parker told a reporter that voters wouldn’t remember this midnight madness in November. They have to remember. It is our job to make sure they do.

Republican are screwing with teachers, and teachers are pissed. The same can be said for women. Families are suffering. And unaffiliated is the fast-growing voter segment. It’s a perfect storm for regular citizens - the true grassroots - to rise up against Republican politicians and the business interests who tell them how to vote.

Good people here in North Carolina have stepped up in lots of places, including here at BlueNC. We have new a refreshed team in place and a single-minded mission: Inspire the people of North Carolina to turn out in record numbers in May and in November.

Republicans want the opposite to happen, which is why they are doing everything they can to make it difficult for poor and young people to vote. Big voter turnout means big electoral losses for the rabid right. They do not represent the majority of people in the US. They do not represent the mainstream of North Carolina.

If Republicans were to gain control of the House, the Senate and the Governorship in North Carolina, you would have to bend over and kiss your progressive ass goodbye.