Election 2010

It's not a look back that I've been looking forward to making, but tradition is calling. In your opinion, what were the most important developments of 2010?

It won't surprise you that my choice is this:

Republicans made history on Election Day as they seized control of North Carolina's legislature for the first time in more than a century.

Democratic leaders in both the state House and Senate conceded to their Republican counterparts late Tuesday.

Maybe we should do a "best and worst" of 2010...

Was it state or national issues driving voters?

“This result is an indication of the desire of the voters of North Carolina for a change in direction in state government,’’ said Berger, R-Rockingham. “We have broken a 112-year dry spell.’’

State Rep. Mark Hilton, a Republican representing Catawba County, said Tuesday night that North Carolina voters reflect the national mood.

If you're unsure why voters chose you, then how are you going to carry out their wishes?

“We’re a centrist state. We’re a small government, we’re a limited-government, free-market, stay-out of my-personal-life electorate.” So declared Republican NC Representative Tom Tillis, the mastermind strategist behind the Republican take over of the NC House on WUNC this morning.

Really. I wonder what soon-to-be Republican Speaker Paul Stam thinks about the “stay-out-of-my-personal-life-electorate.” I can’t say that he’s ever been a fan. Well, at least as far as the female portion of the electorate is concerned.

Read the rest of the story on our blog, Choice 2.0.

I just received two separate reports (one for each house) listing the current results, and it looks like Republicans have won at least 63 seats in the NC House, and 30 seats in the NC Senate.

I know many reading this are truly disgusted right now, and are sorely tempted to wash their hands of the entire bloody affair, from politics to policy and all points in between. But frankly, way too many people in this country (and state) have already done that, which is why a ghost like Richard Burr is allowed to skate along so easily.

The book isn't finished yet, folks. It's just another chapter. And it's a chapter we're going to have to read very closely, because the well-being of many of our fellow North Carolinians is going to be at risk in the very near future.

Cutting off your nose to spite your face:

A decision in July by SEANC's political action committee not to endorse General Assembly candidates this fall meant plans were shelved to spend more than $1 million largely benefiting Democrats, according to one of their leaders.

"It will send a message to those politicians that have taken us for granted," SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope said. "We're tired of them treating us like a giant ATM but never caring about our issues."

I hope you remember that when you find yourself standing around for hours in the lobby with your finger up your butt, only to have a page tell you, "Today's not a good day. Come back next month."

Which is what happens when you add cell phone people to the mix:

With the 2010 congressional midterm elections less than a week away, only one third of respondents in the latest Elon University poll believed Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr deserves re-election as he fends off Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall.

Forty-five percent of residents think it is time for a new person to have a chance to fill the seat Burr holds, the poll found. However, respondents were evenly split when asked which party they plan to support in the Senate race, with both the Democrats and the Republicans each pulling 33 percent support from respondents. More than a quarter of poll respondents – 27 percent – have yet to decide which party to support.

When you want your political message to stick, back it up with some firepower:

Volunteers at the headquarters said the confrontation involved a supporter of U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., of Wilson and a supporter of Butterfield’s Republican opponent, Ashley Woolard of Washington. The Woolard supporter was wearing a holstered gun at the time, the volunteers related.

After talking with a police officer, Herwig voluntarily removed his gun, which he said was licensed to him, and placed it in his truck. “The 2nd Amendment says I have a right to carry it,” he pointed out.

And it's idiots like you that are the biggest threat to that right.

The following are the registered Democrats running for the Wynn seat. You may pick three:

Stan Hammer website

Mark Klass website

Anne Middleton website

Harry Payne, Jr. website

John Sullivan website? Nobody told me I needed a website!

Cressie Thigpen website

And for those who sense a certain partisanship about this diary, you're on your way to an impresssive and fulfilling career as a private detective! Just fill out the application located in the back of that Soap Opera Digest you're reading, and pack your bags! :o

I wouldn't want to play Monopoly against this guy:

Pope and his family gave $16,000 to GOP Commissioner Joe Bryan and an identical amount to fellow Republican Commissioner Tony Gurley. Pope said he also gave $4,000 to Republican Commissioner Paul Coble, whose report wasn't available Monday.

"I don't think it's shocking for Republicans to support Republican candidates," Pope said.

"Whatever someone contributes doesn't have an impact on my beliefs," Gurley said. "They know what my beliefs are. A contribution is a recognition of what I've shown in the past."

Riiight. Hold on a second while I slip on my Wellies; the shit is getting very deep.

According to my tally, it's Elaine Marsall ahead on endorsements. Does she have any others besides N&O, IndyWeek, Wilmington Star-News, Charlotte Observer? Does Burr have any besides W-S Journal and the Asheville C-T?

I want to run an article (probably on Tuesday) with all the endorsements I know about for Congressional candidates in Triangle, so far.

Martha Brock
Examiner.com/Elections 2010