What the heck is going on in Wake County?

If you're not tracking developments in Wake County School Board elections you should be. From where I sit, it looks like a battle that could have far-reaching aftershocks, with Republican anti-school activists aligning themselves with good old-fashioned racists in an attempt to re-segregate public education under the guise of parental choice. Add in a ton of corporate money from the free-market crowd and you have the beginning of a movement back to the future.

However, Republican leaders say the elections create an opportunity for anti-establishment candidates to piggyback on widespread discontent with institutions perceived as out of touch, from the White House to the school board.

"Certainly the discontent at the national level is helping fuel activism that we hope translates into turnout," said Claude E. Pope Jr., Wake County Republican Party chairman. "If either party could get just half of their people out, it would be a landslide."

You can be sure the segregationists will be out in force. They liked things they way they used to be, and long for a return to the good old days. Plus, don't forget. They have god on their side, too.