Carolina Weekly Journal
Fron the John Locke Foundation
For the week of February 19, 2010 – carolinajournal.com
Reaction of the Week
RALEIGH — Backers of third parties hope to cash in on a growing frustration with the political establishment. The Tea Party demonstrations that started last year, the growth of unaffiliated voters, and the expansion of social networking to spur political activism has fueled optimism from minority parties, writes Sara Burrows for Carolina Journal.
A recent Rasmussen Reports poll suggests an opening may exist beyond the traditional two-party structure. One question asked: “If you were to vote today and you got to choose between a candidate from the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, or the Tea Party, which would you choose?”
A third of the respondents sided with the Democrats. A quarter opted for the “Tea Party.” Only 18 percent chose Republicans.
“The hypothetical ‘Tea Party’ did better than the Republican Party,” laughed Sean Haugh, former state director of the Libertarian Party.
But third parties face a series of obstacles before they can reach voters. North Carolina erects some of the nation’s highest ballot-access barriers on minority parties. Ballot Access News reports that only Oklahoma makes it tougher than North Carolina to place a presidential candidate on the ballot. Meantime, only Alabama places greater burdens on third-party candidates seeking to run in statewide election races.
News FeaturesCJ: State auditor unearths errors in treasurer reports
RALEIGH — The state treasurer’s office made million-dollar and billion-dollar mistakes in reporting its investments during the most recent fiscal year, a state audit has found. The audit said the errors occurred “because new staff prepared the information, and their work was not effectively supervised and reviewed.”
CJ: Counties buy abortions with taxpayer funds
RALEIGH — Tempers flared in Wake County Monday, when county commissioners met to consider nixing from their own health plan elective abortions, which are those deemed medically necessary. The meeting nearly deteriorated into a shouting match.
CJ: Mystery meat could be reality in N.C. schools
RALEIGH — State and local nutrition officials don’t check whether commodities donated by the federal government, amounting to 12.5 million pounds in North Carolina for the 2009-10 school year, are high quality, or even whether they’re safe for kids to eat.
Historic steps lead Taylor to freedom
RALEIGH — Gregory Taylor walked into freedom Wednesday with baby steps trained by leg shackles. He stepped into fame after serving 17 years of a life sentence for murder; three judges declared him, clearly and emphatically, innocent. He was the first man freed by a new process propelled by the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission, the first of its kind in the nation.
Lifers’ fates rest with N.C. Supreme Court
RALEIGH — The fate of dozens of inmates sentenced to life in the 1970s is now in the hands of seven Supreme Court justices who grilled an attorney for the state Tuesday about how prison officials have handled credits for good behavior. The court’s ruling will end a debate that has raged since October over whether laws and regulations in place in the 1970s mean that dozens of people convicted of murder or rape are due their freedom.
Upcoming EventsMonday, February 22, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Noon
A meeting of the Shaftesbury Society
with our special guest Paul Chesser
Why is the President Laughing?
The fallout from Climategate and its impact on future global warming policy
Wednesday, March 03, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Noon
JLF/Federalist Society Bi-Monthly Law & Public Policy Luncheon
with our special guest Doug Bandow
The Politics of Heath Care Reform:
Balancing Access, Cost & Liberty
Friday, March 05, 2010 at -Saturday, March 6, 2010
Annexation Law and Reform 2010 Conference
Featuring: Annexation experts, City and County Officials & State Legislators
The reform of North Carolina’s outdated and regressive annexation law
Tuesday, March 09, 2010 at Noon
A Headliner Luncheon
with our special guest Cal Thomas
The American Political Scene
