You can tell it's a slow news day when the top story in the New York Times is a whopping two full pages of non-news about the Duke Rape Case. No kidding. Two whole pages dedicated to reporting nothing new whatsoever in a Tobacco Town case that only voyeurs, lacrosse players and Duke alums care about.

Don't bother to read the whole article, because all you really need to know is what the headline says:

Files from Duke Rape Case Give Details but No Answers

Duh. If there was ever a golden age of print journalism, this ain't it.

This weekend brings two exciting opportunities for Larry Kissell and his supporters. Tonight Congressman Artur Davis will be rallying in support of Larry Kissell at Veteran's Park in Charlotte and tomorrow morning Kissell and Hayes will both be attending an event here in University City.

Tonight (Friday) at 6pm Congressman Artur Davis from Alabama will speak in support of Larry Kissell. The rally is at Veterans Park, 2136 Central Avenue in Charlotte. Congressman Davis is a rising star on the national level. He is an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus, is Vice-Chair of the DCCC, and serves on the House banking committee. The event is free and open to the public. It will start at 6pm and will be at Veterans Park, located at 2136 Central Avenue.

Another exciting event below the fold...

Last night I attended a gathering for Larry Kissell at Veteran's Park in Charlotte. Congressman Mel Watt, NC-12 and Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama spoke to rally the group of Kissell supporters, neighborhood leaders,local elected Democrats and party officials. I figure there's nothing new either of them can tell me about Larry. I've read everything there is to read about him. Hell, I've written a lot of it.

So, for me, it wasn't what they said about Larry. It was the warmth with which they embraced Larry in his bid to represent North Carolina's 8th.

Join me on the flip...

Ted Vaden, the public editor of the Raleigh News and Observer, writes this week about the glorious benefits readers should expect from the new-found cooperation between the McClatchy newsrooms in Charlotte and Raleigh. According to my old friend, this cooperation will yield better stories, more complete coverage and more 'forward-looking' news.

The longtime rivals for Tar Heel newspaper dominance became kissing cousins on June 27 upon the formal acquisition of Knight-Ridder Inc., The Observer's parent, by The McClatchy Co., owner of The N&O. That purchase created a newspaper chain of 32 daily papers, second largest in the United States. But nowhere does it have a greater impact than in North Carolina, the only state where the new chain owns the two largest newspapers.

If anyone missed the earlier posts and would like to see the video's of the event go HERE

Heath Shuler's supporters are enthusiastic and my observation is that Taylor has one hell of a fight on his hands. We also had 48 folks indicate interest in joining NorthCarolinaForEdwards, and all the locals I spoke with expressed support for Senator Edwards's work and hoped to see him announce.

Link here if you'd like to learn more about NorthCarlinaForEdwards, or email me.

I'm not sure I believe this is spur-of-the-moment, as reported, but this is what viewers in the middle east are seeing. The interviewer askes Iraqi shop owners, what do you think of Americans?

Charles Taylor has started the air war, firing rhetorical rockets in an aggressive first strike. Behind in four different polls and dogged by scandal, Charles Taylor has turned to some old chestnuts in his low-brow attacks on Democratic candidate Heath Shuler. After getting word that the National Republican Congressional Committee is going to spend $700,000 on NC-11 television in October, Taylor dropped about $20,000 buying a day's worth of advertising that sticks to the old Taylor playbook. Attack, smear, distort, distract, misdirect. I guess he's saving the outright lies for later in the campaign:

  

This week marks the passing of Mr. John Pope, patriarch of the Pope dynasty and father of Art Pope. The N&O has the story.

RALEIGH - During a career spanning more than 50 years, John William Pope built a family business into a regional retailing empire. Pope, head of one of the wealthiest, most politically influential and most charitable families in the Triangle, died of cancer Saturday at his home in Raleigh. He was 81.

Heath Shuler is blogging live right now on my vlog post from the Edwards/Shuler event:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/24/84530/8735

Be sure to check out the video of the interview with Screwie Hoolie!

well, chuckles the clown's latest ad buy took effect this morning during wlos' early morning newscast... and, predictably, it's ugly.

the gloves are off, mr. shuler. it's time to come out swinging NOW.

UPDATE: here's the second ad: