Buncombe County

The Democratic Party in Buncombe County has changed plenty since 2004, and one of our biggest change agents is Drew Reisinger, the sitting Register of Deeds. Reisinger is running for election after winning appointment last February to serve out the remaining term of longtime register, Otto DeBruhl, who retired last year.

Reisinger’s winning that seat was a pivotal moment in local Democratic politics. Party insiders long sought to protect the line of succession to DeBruhl’s coveted job. But it was no accident that Drew Reisinger won the party election to finish out the term.

Can progressives take back control of North Carolina's General Assembly? Three new polls conducted by PPP for Progress NC pinpoint areas where vulnerable incumbents or open seats could open the door for progressive candidates to enter the race, including a poll showing that incumbent Jim Crawford (D-Granville) is vulnerable in the Democratic Primary. If you are thinking of running, or know someone thinking of running, stand by for more polling in other counties soon. More details on these three polls after the jump:

Good Morning, BlueNC. It's been ages since I voyaged onto this front page, and I want you to know I've missed you! The following was posted at Scrutiny Hooligans earlier today, and I'm posting it here as well because I would like to broaden this conversation to include everyone who cares about progressive politics in North Carolina.

This fundraising page was created in response to the Buncombe County Republican Party's September 11th fundraiser. Although, the primary goal of the BCGOP’s ridiculous and ironic September 11th fundraising scheme may only be to gain attention, the Young Democrats of Buncombe County would like to put your attentiveness to good use. Elaine Marshall is a fantastic democratic candidate running to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate, and she needs your help.

So for every time you laughed out loud at the YouTube video of Mr. Nesbitt (be honest, gods watching you), the Buncombe County Young Democrats would like YOU! to donate between $25-$50 to Elaine Marshall’s campaign for U.S. Senate.

A bold new voting hack uses machines decommissioned by a North Carolina county. This hack demonstrates how important it was for the North Carolina legislature to pass one of the strongest verified voting laws in the country.

August 14, 2009
For immediate release
Joyce McCloy, North Carolina Coalition for Verified Voting 336-794-1240

A new voting hack takes over the machine, is practical, and costs only $100,000 to replicate. Computer scientists from three prestigious U.S. universities managed to hack into and steal votes from an electronic voting machine that was designed to resist takeover attempts. The hack comes on the anniversary of North Carolina's law requiring paper ballots and regulating voting machines and vendors.The machines used in the research were decommissioned paperless voting machines from Buncombe County North Carolina.

...In the back.

I thought that Blue Dog Democrats were still Democrats, uh at least that they had enough sense to either support their leadership (who helped their sorry asses get elected) or keep their fracking mouths SHUT.

BUT NOOOOOOO! Not Heath, that crazy guy:

Shuler hits Democratic leaders on bipartisanship
By MIKE BAKER - Associated Press Writer
Published: Mon, Feb. 09, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler said Monday that his party's leadership on Capitol Hill has failed to pursue a bipartisan compromise to a costly economic stimulus package, arguing that a lack of Republican support is eroding the program's credibility.

An Asheville conservative contacted me last week to ask if I'd be interested in a unique opportunity. City Councilman and Congressional candidate Carl Mumpower had the idea that he'd like to have this Hooligan on the moderators' panel at the next Republican Congressional Candidate debate. People talked to people, and candidates John Armor and Spence Campbell agreed to take the plunge. After I spoke with the newly elected Buncombe County Republican Party Chair to ensure there weren't any hidden rules or restrictions, I said I'd do it.

The debate will take place in the URTV (public access) studio in Asheville on March 27th from 2pm to 3:30pm. There will be three or four panelists asking questions of the candidates. I'll be one of them. It will be recorded then played on URTV and available at Google Video.

It's a good political move for Mumpower to invite me. He's running as the straight-answers to tough questions candidate, so inviting a liberal blogger bolsters his tough guy cred. Armor isn't afraid to answer any questions either, so we'll see if he can swipe some of Carl's patina. Spence, I imagine, had no choice but to say yes (after saying, "Gordon who?") once the other two were on board.

In addition to being good for Carl, inviting someone from the opposite end of the political spectrum is good for democracy. I hope this move will encourage broader debates in all future contests. I realize that, to some extent, I'm serving as a useful fool for the Republicans, but their aims don't bother me and can be part of strengthening and adding integrity to this Congressional race.

The filing deadline is today, so there may be a few stragglers still to announce, but this is where the Buncombe County races stand now.

{cross posted from Scrutiny Hooligans}

This stuff almost writes itself.

Buncombe County Republicans lost everything in the November, 2006 elections, and it's been a bitter pill to swallow. While I don't pretend to know about the private machinations of the BCRP, the public faces of the party present a bitter struggle between conservatives and libertarians, and Party regulars.

In the fight to elect a County Chair to the Party earlier this year, Mike Harrison won over Chad Nesbitt. Harrison resigned shortly after his election:

"The chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party on Monday said he resigned from the post after personal attacks on his character and his wife’s character.

Mike Harrison said in a written statement that he left the job May 1. He had hoped his election to chairman in March would bring the party together, he said, but that did not happen." - link

Harrison supporter, Tim Peck, got into a very public conversation with Nesbitt supporter, Don Yelton. Peck and Yelton gave us a glimpse of the beginning of each group's encampment in what may be a long war of attrition: