Saturday, October 30, 2004
Enemies list: It reads like a Who’s Who
Many North Carolinians were disappointed at the disclosures that led to Meg Scott Phipps having to resign as commissioner of agriculture and later be imprisoned for corruption. She is from one of the state’s more respected families. Her grandfather had...Published: Oct 30, 2004 11:29 PM Full Editorial
Friday, October 29, 2004
The explosives: Another story on which red flags were ignored
By now you have heard the story of the missing 377 tons of explosives in Iraq. Maybe you have even heard several versions of it. There are enough versions out there to provide a suitable one for anyone of...Published: Oct 29, 2004 11:35 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Fine service: Pamphlets introduce judicial candidates
For years North Carolina voters have gone to the polls and found themselves at a total loss when trying to select from among candidates for judicial office. “I don’t know any of these candidates or anything about them!” That...Published: Oct 28, 2004 11:34 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Endorsements: N.C. House of Representatives
It speaks well of some of our area legislators that they are unopposed in efforts to return to the General Assembly. These include Republican Louis Pate from Mount Olive and Democrat Larry Bell of Clinton. Their performances as legislators...Published: Oct 27, 2004 11:25 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Endorsement: State Senate District 5
John H. Kerr III faces a different challenge in the coming election. In the past, the senatorial district which he serves was composed of parts of Wayne, Lenoir and Greene counties. The voters in those counties know and respect the...Published: Oct 26, 2004 11:33 AM Full Editorial
Monday, October 25, 2004
Endorsement: U.S. Senate
A new U.S. senator will be elected Nov. 2 to replace vice presidential candidate John Edwards. For a conservative living in eastern North Carolina, the choice between the two Senate hopefuls is a particularly interesting one. On one hand, there...Published: Oct 25, 2004 10:41 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Looking back: The roots of our conflict may lie deep in the past
Writer Erich Bridges’ column on this page today is commended to your attention, not just for reading but for deep consideration. Bridges is saying something that needs desperately to be said — and heard. He discusses a concept that we...Published: Oct 23, 2004 11:23 PM Full Editorial
Friday, October 22, 2004
Endorsements: Congress
Walter Jones, a Republican, is running for his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. G.K. Butterfield, a Democrat, is seeking his first full term there. Both of their districts include portions of Wayne County. And both are deserving...Published: Oct 22, 2004 11:34 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Endorsements: Court of Appeals
North Carolina has been blessed with great wisdom on its Court of Appeals since the court was established in the 1960s. Three of its 15 seats will be filled in the Nov. 2 election, and the voters again have an...Published: Oct 21, 2004 11:38 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Endorsement: The presidency
Sen. John Kerry has failed to make a convincing case that America would be better off if he supplanted George W. Bush as president. As the campaign winds down, it is clear that Bush’s positions are superior on most of...Published: Oct 20, 2004 11:52 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Social Security: Keeping it secure will be expensive
The American people need to decide: Should Social Security be a permanent program, or should it be allowed to peter out? If the program is to continue indefinitely, whoever is inaugurated as president in January should begin the term...Published: Oct 19, 2004 11:11 AM Full Editorial
Monday, October 18, 2004
Special treatment: Chicago’s gun laws leave regular joes unprotected
Dave Workman writes of Arenda Troutman, a member of the Chicago Board of Aldermen. Ms. Troutman’s home was burglarized twice within a few days, so she demanded special protection from the Chicago police. She got it. At a cost to...Published: Oct 18, 2004 11:17 AM Full Editorial
Sunday, October 17, 2004
The debates: Voters now undecided could determine who wins
The great debates of the election season are finished, and nearly everyone has chosen favorite candidates for president and vice president. Barring some cataclysmic event that would change some minds, the 2004 presidential campaign is all but over. According to...Published: Oct 17, 2004 12:09 AM Full Editorial
Friday, October 15, 2004
Trying hard: Actor’s death used to revive stem cell research discussion
When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to get up out of that wheelchair and walk again. — U.S. Sen. John Edwards, Democratic nominee for vice president We just don’t seem able to get beyond stem...Published: Oct 15, 2004 11:39 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Flu crisis: Kerry blames Bush for vaccine shortage
The campaign rhetoric has gotten absolutely ludicrous. The latest from the lips of Sen. John Kerry: ”We know now the administration knew ahead of time that there wasn’t going to be enough flu vaccine.” Speaking at a nursing school in...Published: Oct 14, 2004 10:48 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
The Hamas connection: U.N. workers aiding terrorism?
Ed Feulner, in an article on this page, describes what were thought to be the very depths of the chicanery at the United Nations. It seems now, however, that the corruption may go even deeper. In addition to skimming billions...Published: Oct 13, 2004 10:44 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Guest editorial: Education discussion was not enlightening
Gov. Mike Easley and Sen. Patrick Ballantine sparred for an hour about education last week, but I’m not sure voters are any better educated. Most citizens would agree that we are making progress in public education, but it is not...Published: Oct 12, 2004 12:01 PM Full Editorial
Monday, October 11, 2004
Look out — it’s a Christian! Left-wing group attacks pollster’s credibility
Once again, left-wing activists are trying to demonize people whom they describe as “evangelical Christians.” This time the target is George Gallup Jr., son of the founder of the Gallup Organization, a pioneer in opinion research. The accuser is MoveOn.org,...Published: Oct 11, 2004 11:20 AM Full Editorial
Saturday, October 9, 2004
A peaceful diversion from the strife of politics
We need a little respite from all the political hostility that has depressed our spirits lately, and Sunday is a good day for us to take a break, to put something peaceful in our thoughts, to take a walk beside...Published: Oct 9, 2004 11:36 PM Full Editorial
Friday, October 8, 2004
Vote no: Government-borrowing plan unwise and unfair
Second of a two-part series Let’s cut to the chase: Vote against Amendment One on your election ballot on Nov. 2. Amendment One would change the North Carolina Constitution so that local governments could borrow money by issuing bonds without...Published: Oct 8, 2004 10:58 AM Full Editorial
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Amendments: One deserves your vote; another is a toss-up
First of a two-part series First, the easy one: Among the three constitutional amendments facing North Carolina voters in the Nov. 2 election is one that alters the terms of magistrates. If it passes, magistrates will be appointed to...Published: Oct 7, 2004 11:28 AM Full Editorial
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Lower the bar: How to enable more students to ‘pass’
Far more North Carolina students now are performing at or above grade level. That’s the good news. The bad news is that under the established standards, students may correctly answer as few as one-third of the math questions and 40...Published: Oct 6, 2004 11:54 AM Full Editorial
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Wal-Mart ban: California communities guilty of discrimination
What is happening to Wal-Mart Stores in California should not happen in a country whose constitution guarantees that government gives equal treatment to all. Some California residents don’t like Wal-Mart, so they have petitioned their municipal and county governments to...Published: Oct 5, 2004 10:58 AM Full Editorial
Monday, October 4, 2004
Obesity: Weighing in on a growing problem
No one is more indignant in the presence of a lighted cigarette than someone who has quit smoking. There is no more dedicated tee-totaler than an ex-drunk. No one is more pious than a converted villain. Which brings us to...Published: Oct 4, 2004 11:19 AM Full Editorial
Sunday, October 3, 2004
The system failed Alan Gell twice
That was a sad case involving Alan Gell. The young man was convicted of “murder” in 1995. He was sentenced to die. While his conviction was appealed, it was years before a new trial was granted. And even after that,...Published: Oct 3, 2004 2:11 AM Full Editorial
Friday, October 1, 2004
Don’t stop now: Meeting at Best Grove may start something big
Sixty or so people from throughout Wayne County assembled Saturday to talk about a momentous issue — our youth. That gathering could signal the beginning of a great initiative. Let us make it so. The purpose of the meeting was...Published: Oct 1, 2004 10:28 AM Full Editorial