October 30, 2009 • 3:17 pm Comments Off
Good news for a change in the local manufacturing sector:
Unifi, a yarn manufacturer based in Greensboro, reported Thursday net income of $2.5 million in its first quarter of fiscal year 2010. It was the highest quarterly profit since 2002, according to Bill Jasper, the president and chief executive of Unifi.
Filed under: North Carolina, Reidsville
October 29, 2009 • 2:50 pm Comments Off
This is a note from PBPS Prez. Casey Hazelman about some goings-on this weekend:
##
Hello Blues Family,
Over this past Summer Max Drake began hanging out at the Backstreet Buzz Coffeehouse in Reidsville. He occasionally picked some songs but mostly drank coffee and befriended David & Susan Glick, Backstreet’s owners.
Fast forward several weeks. Max’s wife Teresa needed surgery and could not wait until her new job’s insurance kicked in. So still repaying the bills from Max’s Heart surgery a couple of years ago, more medical bills were coming.
David Glick decided something must be done to help his new friends. He asked my partner in a Cup of Blues Mike Carter what could be done. The obvious answer was what the Blues Family does for one of our own; hold a benefit.
So with great thanks to Art at the Clubhouse, 435 Dolley Madison Rd., Greensboro the venue was provided. The Teresa Drake Benefit will start at 2PM Sunday and will be excellent.
A $5.00 raffle ticket purchase will get you in the door. More tickets may be purchased of course ($20 will getcha 5) for even better chances in the Raffles. A beautiful Ibanez Artcore guitar, amp & Stand is the BIG prize. Also raffled will be a hand carved bowl along with cash and other possible items.
The lineup is stellar:
Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos,
Tad Walters,
The Fairlanes,
Matt Hill & the Buzzkillz
The Swang Brothers,
Lawyers, Guns & Money and
the Not Dead Yet Blues Band.
Plus Matt Walsh is coming in and will be sitting in with many of these bands.
So come out Sunday, help one of our Blues Family and…
As always, please continue supporting live Music and…
Until next week, keep your mojos workin’.
And have a SAFE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Blues it or lose it,
Casey
##
Filed under: Music, North Carolina, Reidsville , Piedmont Blues Preservation Society
October 21, 2009 • 12:00 pm Comments Off
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My grandmother is a survivor for more than 25 years now.
A friend of my mom’s recently beat back the cancer and shared her experience on a blog set up by CaringBridge.
Filed under: North Carolina
August 20, 2009 • 9:59 pm Comments Off
Some dedicated people I met in Raleigh are planning a town hall of their own next week:
##
The Triangle is holding a Constitutional Town Hall on Tuesday, August 25th, from 7 PM – 9 PM.
Senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr have been invited, as well as Representatives Brad Miller, David Price and Bob Etheridge. Sen. Burr, Rep. Miller and Rep. Price have declined their invitation to this event. They will be represented on stage with a physical likeness to represent your interests. Please prepare your questions prior to the meeting. We will be posting your questions on YouTube.
A panel of medical experts will also be available to answer questions concerning health care.
Doors will open at 6:15 PM and there is seating for 800 people.
Supporting Organizations/Websites:
NC Voice
##
Filed under: North Carolina
August 18, 2009 • 3:48 pm Comments Off
Tom Fetzer made a splash in his first stop on the NC Budget Tour:
Calling the recently passed state budget a “debacle,” Republican leaders kicked-off a statewide “budget tour” in Burlington on Monday as part of their efforts to win back legislative seats and return their party to the majority in the state House and Senate.
State GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer, along with Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger and House Minority Leader Paul Stam, joined local GOP leaders and others for lunch at Sal’s Italian Restaurant, where Stam said there were “great questions” and a “great turnout” that included Sheriff Terry Johnson, state Rep. Dan Ingle and school board Chairman Tom Manning.
Fetzer, Stam and GOP spokesman Jordan Shaw then stopped by the Times-News.
Filed under: North Carolina , NCGOP, Paul Stam
August 17, 2009 • 2:33 pm Comments Off
News and Observer reports on the bloated UNC admin system and quotes Erskine as saying cuts are in the works:
This decade has been good for associate vice chancellors at UNC-Chapel Hill. Their numbers have nearly doubled, from 10 to 19, and the money paid to them has more than tripled, to a total of nearly $4 million a year.
The university now admits that some of these people were in jobs that were not vital. They represent the rapid management growth in the 16-campus UNC system that has added tens of millions of dollars to annual payrolls.
Now, with a tough economy and sinking tax revenues, UNC officials and state lawmakers say these jobs need cutting first.
Filed under: North Carolina , Erskine Bowles, UNC system
• 10:54 am Comments Off
House Democratic officials say a public option will remain in their version of a health reform bill, even now that the White House has acknowledged it may be dropped later.
“This is just for the Senate,” a House leadership official said about the administration’s concession on a public option. “There is no way it passes the House the first time around without a public option.
“The liberals (around 100+) won’t allow it. It if comes back from conference committee without public option and there is the right pitch that it is this or nothing, then it may pass the House.”
Filed under: North Carolina , Democratic Party, health care reform
August 14, 2009 • 11:17 pm Comments Off
A self-important leftist religious leader in Greensboro wrote a column last week decrying the use of certain words and phrases in the national health care debate because it was hurtful to members of his particular religion.
He wasn’t complaining about outright persecution. No, just a perspective he did not like.
Forget the fact that the first element of his argument depends on him using Goodwin’s Law to argue against certain words he does not like. No, we will give Fred a pass on that because lord knows you can’t have discussion with some people without them pulling out the Holocaust and beating you over the head with it.
Anyway.
The kind looking gentleman in the picture above is the man Rabbi Fred claims to have “confronted” in Raleigh a few weeks ago. I think Fred might be astroturfing his claims. The kind looking gentleman, a soft spoken man named Hans whose family members from Germany and America died resisting and fighting Nazis during World War II, said that Fred came up to him in an aggressive manner, with an angry look on his face and began to berate him for his sign. Hans said he listened to Fred and then mentioned to him a few of his own perspectives to which Fred had no response.
Hans said he goes to these protests and stands near the groups of people who support the president’s plans in order to “ruin their photo op.” He said he was standing alone amidst all the liberal supporters of the president when brave Fred began to “confront” him.
Hans was kind and thoughtful and not in the least bit egoistic like some leftist in Greensboro who think the world revolves around their world view.
The reason Fred and Ed have no credibility on this matter is that their leftist brothers and sisters have attacked Ronald Reagan, GHWB and GWB relentlessly with depictions of them as Hitler over the years. Selective unleashing of your Jewish Nazi outrage sort of does a disservice to the sentiment you are trying to express.
Filed under: Concepts, North Carolina
August 12, 2009 • 4:47 pm 4
A gathering of conservative community organizers will take place at Kay Hagan’s office in Raleigh at 330pm on Friday.
Since she is not having town hall meetings, wouldn’t it be great if thousands from across the state took the afternoon off and travelled to the state capitol to voice their opposition to the Democrat’s health care reform plan.
I am planning to attend this event and hope to see others from the Triad join our brothers and sisters in Raleigh to stand up for liberty and freedom and the American spirit of individuality.
Filed under: North Carolina , health care reform, Kay Hagan
• 9:18 am 2
NC conservative activist criticizes national right-wing media.
Filed under: North Carolina , health care reform, mainstream media
August 11, 2009 • 5:22 pm Comments Off
Chris Hayes take a look at Bev’s problem with broken promises in the Charlotte metro:
Perhaps the most telling example of her weakness in the Charlotte area may be evident in the question of whether to recall Governor Perdue from office. Only 35 percent of voters statewide support taking such a drastic action, with 48 percent of voters saying no. But in the Charlotte region, recalling the governor is actually supported by a slim margin, 41 percent to 39 percent.
Despite reports to the contrary, Perdue’s “Charlotte problem” remains in full effect and in fact, may be worsening. Broken promises of the completion of I-485, raising taxes in a recession and issuing a pay cut to state employees and teachers have driven her numbers lower. With the Charlotte media market comprising more voters than any other media market in the state, Perdue must begin to improve these numbers if she is to have a turnaround statewide.
Filed under: North Carolina , Bev Perdue, NC Democratic hypocrisy
August 6, 2009 • 12:29 pm Comments Off
The wisdom of Gary Pearce:
When your message boils down to “things could be worse” or “that’s not what I’m proposing,” you’re in trouble. That’s where Democrats are today – Obama included.
Carter concurrs.
Filed under: National, North Carolina , Beverly Perdue, Carter Wrenn, Gary Pearce, President Obama
• 11:36 am 1
RALEIGH— NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer held a press conference on Thursday and harshly criticized Governor Bev Perdue and the Democrat controlled legislature for the passage of a budget that raises taxes $990 million dollars.
“By signing this budget, Governor Perdue breaks two promises: not to raise taxes during a recession, and not to cut education. Governor Perdue and her liberal friends in the Democrat controlled legislature have continued their wasteful ways and placed the burden squarely on the shoulders of the citizens of North Carolina.” Fetzer said. “When the effects of this budget are felt by the citizens of North Carolina, they will be outraged. The Governor’s approval of this budget marks a sad day in North Carolina’s history.”
With Democrats in control of the Governor’s mansion, the State House and the State Senate, Fetzer noted that Governor Perdue and the liberal leadership will stand or fall on this budget. “Republicans who were elected to represent their constituents were completely left out of this process. I am proud that our entire Republican delegation stood firm on the principles of lower taxes and limited government by opposing this budget.” said Fetzer. “When history writes the narrative of this budget debacle, it will include the names of every Democrat who voted to do the unthinkable: raise taxes on citizens while they struggle to make ends meet during a recession.”
“Perhaps most outrageous is the Democrats’ claim that this budget puts a priority on education.” Fetzer noted. “The priorities in this budget are the same priorities that got our state into this mess: higher taxes, wasteful spending, and expansion of government. In the weeks to come, as local School Boards across our state are forced to lay off thousands of teachers, I hope those educators are comforted knowing that the state has ample funding for fishing piers in Mark Basnight’s district, millions of dollars for already pampered college athletes and a real estate spending spree in the midst of a recession.”
Fetzer had planned his comments to follow the Governor’s traditional public signing ceremony, but boldly predicted that no such ceremony would occur this year. “I don’t think you’ll see anyone clamoring for the pen that was used to sign this year’s budget. No one associated with the passage of this budget should be proud.” Fetzer concluded.
Filed under: North Carolina
August 5, 2009 • 12:24 pm Comments Off
Raleigh – Legislative Democrats are expected to pass the state budget through the General Assembly today and Governor Beverly Perdue is expected to sign it into law. The budget represents a departure from previous statements made by the Governor about tax increases and funding for education.
“I don’t believe that you can raise taxes in an economy with folks struggling the way they are,” Beverly Perdue, as a candidate for governor (“First task: Fill N.C. budget hole,” News & Observer, 10/23/09)
“And yes, even in these tough times… we will increase per-pupil spending in our public schools.” Governor Beverly Perdue, State of the State Address (“Full Text: Gov. Bev Perdue’s State Of The State Speech,” NBC17, 3/9/09)
“For more than three months, I have laid out options for a budget that addresses two priorities: the budget cannot be balanced on the backs of working families, and it must have the revenue necessary to protect our public schools.” (Governor Beverly Perdue in a letter to public school teachers and teacher assistants, 7/27/09)
The Democratic budget will raise taxes by more than $990 million. The vast majority of new revenue will be raised through a one-cent increase to the state sales tax – the most regressive state tax and a tax paid by every North Carolina citizen. In addition, there are $225 million in cuts to education in the Democrats’ budget that will be passed down Local Education Administrations (LEAs) to make spending reductions at the local level. Next year, there are an additional $300 million in cuts to be passed down to LEAs. The average public school teacher in North Carolina is paid $45,000 per year, including benefits. A cut of $225 million to classrooms could cost the salaries of up to 5000 teachers.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, “Governor Beverly Perdue promised not to raise taxes during this recession and promised to protect our children’s education. The budget making its way to Governor Perdue’s desk could cause as many as 5000 teacher to lose their jobs. In order to keep her promises to the people of North Carolina, Governor Perdue should veto this budget. Otherwise, she will join legislative Democrats by endorsing a plan that will slow North Carolina’s economic recovery and take money out of classrooms.”
Filed under: North Carolina , NC Democratic Party, NC General Assembly, taxes in north carolina
• 9:31 am Comments Off
Can anyone show me where raising taxes in a recession has ever generated more revenue AND helped the economy return to prosperity.
The $19 billion spending plan, which is more than a month late, was a hard-fought compromise among Democrats who control both chambers of the legislature and the governor. House and Senate Democrats and Gov. Beverly Perdue differed on which taxes to raise to cope with the plunging revenues that North Carolina and other states face because of the recession.
Filed under: North Carolina , NC Democratic Party, taxes in north carolina
• 8:51 am 1
N&O reports on the blatant disregard for campaign finance laws displayed by our current governor during the last election campaign:
But in these instances, the Perdue campaign failed to do either. Many of the planes are owned by corporations, which are banned from making direct donations to candidates.
I have a long post coming on what I think of those people who control Raleigh. But this story demands a response from conservatives.
Not only do the top Democrats in this state violate the law at will, but the direct impact of these violations gives them even more of an advantage in statewide elections.
It’s not enough that they controlled the courthouse electoral system in the first half of the 20th Century, which directly leads to their overwhelming control of statewide government today.
No, now they add to that by clearly violating laws against corporate influence in politics by hoping on planes to criss-cross the state at lightning speed.
Enough of their lies.
Democrats in this state pay no heed to election laws. I see it locally, where the Democratic Party in my county routinely fails to file their reports, yet gets thousand dollar fines waved by the SBOE months after the fact.
In a close campaign where Perdue benefited greatly from national coattails, these 17 plane trips, in violation of state law, could be the difference between victory and defeat.
That in itself undermines the governor’s credibility.
Filed under: North Carolina , Bev Perdue, NC Democratic corruption, NC Democratic Party
August 4, 2009 • 9:43 pm Comments Off
A conservative group in Raleigh says that Rep. Brad Miller will meet with a small delegation in his office this Friday at 4pm. The group is asking for a large turn out of demonctrators against the Democrats health care reform bill currently in Congress.
No pay is offered, but go and have a good time.
Filed under: National, North Carolina , Brad Miller
• 10:53 am 3
Mel Watt says there is no plan.
Is Mel Watt really so dumb as to think this comment logical:
Many of those at the rally spoke about the health care reform plan, which bemuses many Democrats who support health care reform efforts.
“There is no plan at this point, no final plan certainly, at this point,” said Rep. Mel Watt, a Charlotte Democrat who represents parts of Greensboro. “So for people to be attacking a plan that doesn’t exist yet just shows they’re opposed to the whole concept of health care reform.
I’m pretty certain the national media has been reporting on the health care bill’s journey through several committees in both houses of Congress.
I’ve always gotten a bit dizzy looking at a map of Mel Watt’s district.
Now he’s made my head spin with this nonesensical quote.
Filed under: National, North Carolina , Democratic Party, Mel Watt, universal health care
August 3, 2009 • 1:42 pm 1
I can only wish that Brad Miller would dare to have a health care meeting in his district. He wouldn’t listen to us either, but it would still be fun to follow him around chanting “Just say no.”
Filed under: National, North Carolina
July 31, 2009 • 1:08 pm Comments Off
I heard recently from a friend in the pharmaceutical industry that his company is thinking of moving its jobs back to New Jersey because of the ever increasing taxes in North Carolina.
This won’t help any. Analysts say the income tax will rise in this state for 87 percent of you under one of the proposals in Raleigh.
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate settled on a plan that would tack a 3 percent surcharge on the income tax liability of North Carolinians who report income of more than $250,000 a year. Taxpayers who report between $100,000 and $250,000 would get hit with a 2 percent surcharge. Those levels are based on the taxable income of married couples filing jointly.
Filed under: North Carolina , business taxes in north carolina, taxes in north carolina
• 10:19 am 1
I’m interested in the candidacy of Jorge Cornell for Greensboro City Council for a number of personal reasons.
I don’t live in the city so I don’t follow politics there real close, but Cornell is tackling the race head on.
He’s made nice use of a simple web template for his campaign site. There seems to be a lot going on there.
Filed under: North Carolina , Jorge Cornell
July 30, 2009 • 6:29 pm Comments Off
Via NCGOP
NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer saturated the airwaves on Wednesday in response to President Obama’s health care push at Broughton High School. Fetzer was a voice of reason as North Carolinians question the President’s effort to overhaul the nation’s health care plan.
“President Obama has hijacked the health care debate and the language being used. Their claims of tens of millions of Americans not having access to health care is just not true. Anyone in this country, not just American citizens, has access to health care,” Fetzer said. “Our hospitals treat anyone who walks through the doors, regardless of their ability to pay. The debate is about health insurance, not health care, as even the poorest among us are never denied proper medical care.”
In recent weeks, the huge costs of the President’s health care plan have led some Democrats to be less than supportive. In fact, Sen. Kay Hagan has yet to take a public position and skipped the President’s town hall meeting on Wednesday. “President Obama is in Raleigh because he needs Kay Hagan’s vote,” said Fetzer. “The question is will Sen. Hagan represent the liberal special interests pushing this bill, or the common-sense perspective of the North Carolinians she was elected to represent.”
“This plan is just another example of the liberal Democrats’ attempts to allow government to further invade the private sector ,” Fetzer noted. “It is hard for me to believe that the average citizen would trade their current health insurance for Medicaid and that is exactly what this plan would force them to do.”
“While we need health insurance reform, this big government plan is not the answer,” stated Fetzer. “After all, I don’t think North Carolinians want the same people who run the DMV and the Post Office to be responsible for their health care.”
You are invited to visit your NCGOP website at www.ncgop.org and view the video clips of Chairman Fetzer’s comments on the News 14 statewide Health Care Forum as well as a portion of his press conference.
Filed under: North Carolina , NCGOP
• 11:25 am Comments Off
No comment necessary.
Gallup tracking poll says all you need to know:
Gallup’s weekly average approval ratings for Obama, each based on more than 3,600 interviews with U.S. national adults, provides strong evidence that the president lost some political steam in July. While approval for the job he is doing remains steadfast among blacks, it has slipped among whites and Hispanics, as well as among independents and members of his party.
This dip in support for Obama contrasts with general stability in public confidence in the U.S. economy this month — thus the economy is not an obvious factor.
Filed under: North Carolina , President Obama
July 29, 2009 • 9:30 am Comments Off
NC House Republicans have taken to the web with this sharp video featuring GOP Whip Thom Tillis.
Filed under: GOP, North Carolina , NC General Assembly, NCGOP
July 28, 2009 • 1:29 pm Comments Off
From the Republican Legislative Caucus:
The Governor and Democratic leadership of the Senate and House still have not drafted a balanced budget — a full month overdue. The drama being played between Governor Perdue and the Democrats in the Legislature is pointing to ineptitude by those in charge to deal with the real cause of the budget deficit.
Why do Democrats really want to add $1 billion in new taxes to your bill? They will tell you that it is all for the children. But priorities like education, law enforcement and the environment can be met with the first $19 billion that we have available to spend, without raising tax rates.
While Governor Bev Perdue supports a huge regressive sales tax increase, she claimed to be “stunned” by the revelations of the Democratic leaders in the Legislature that the budget draft contained an income tax surcharge. Republican members and most reputable economists remain stunned that massive tax increases are being proposed during a severe recession.
While the following suggested cuts may not be supported by all, they are examples of current spending that can be reduced or eliminated to balance the budget instead of increased taxes. But Democrats have taken these issues completely off the table for discussion.
For an itemized list of proposed spending reductions, view the .pdf file.
Filed under: North Carolina , North Carolina Democratic Party
Of Interest
Talking about it