Comments | Eastern NC Now

When it comes to the governor's primary on the GOP side, the three candidates reflect the three Republican governors NC has had in the last half century wth each reflecting a different governor. Having been active in politics during each of those administrations, and serving in one GOP governor's administration (conservative Jim Martin), I will explain which 2024 candidate matches up with which former GOP governor.

Bill Graham is similar to Gov. Jim Holshouser (1973-1977)

Dale Folwell is similar to Gov. Jim Martin (1985-1993). Governor Martin has even endorsed Folwell in this primary.

Mark Robinson is similar to Gov. Pat McCrory (2013-2017)

Jim Holshouser was a lawyer who talked conservative but had a much less conservative background and did not govern as a conservative. He had enough administrative ability to run a reasonably competent administration but did little to push a conservative agenda. He relied heavily on a political operative named Gene Anderson who was mean and power-driven and permanently left the state the day after the administration ended. Graham, a wealthy trial lawyer, largely fills the bill right down to his political operative he shares with Tillis, Paul Shumaker.

Jim Martin was a staunch conservative who was more focused on actually achieving conservative policy objectives than in railing about them in speeches. He was a superb administrator who staffed his administration with politically savvy conservatives who could get the job done, and he delivered. He breezed to an easy second term, the only Republican governor ever to serve two terms. State Treasurer Folwell matches Marin's style and abilities as well as his political philosophy. It is no surprise that Martin has endorsed Folwell in the upcoming primary.

Pat McCrory could give a decent speech, although not as fiery as Mark Robinson, but he talked a good game. He did an awful job of staffing his administration, however, ignoring policy-oriented conservatives and often putting in people who lacked loyalty to the administration and even basic competence. Bungling staff cost him reelection. McCrory was also completely adrift on policy his entire term. Mark Robinson shares McCrory's failings. He has been incompetent in organizing a functioning lieutenant governors office, which is tiny compared to a gubenatorial administration, and he talks a real good game on issues, but hasn't done a thing to impact issues in the General Assembly where he is presiding officer of the state senate. He represents all of the things that made McCrory an unsuccessful governor.

Dale Folwell is the one candidate with the skill set, philosophy, and principles to be a successful governor.
s

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 2:50 pm By: Steven P. Rader

"You go girl;" Killary can get the job done.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 2:14 pm By: Stan Deatherage

In this World with so many problems brought on by stupid politicians and bureaucrats, a situation that can be by an introspective and wiser electorate, the Democratic Socialists are asking their ardent followers to continue to embrace the taking of the innocent lives of God's unborn as a brilliant campaign strategy.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 1:45 pm By: Stan Deatherage

When CBS hired Catherine Herridge, I thought, as far as journalists go, they may now have one; but now, I well understand, they most probably just have none.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 1:19 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Mike Speciale was called the "Conscience of the House". Burger does not want someone like that playing in his sandpile. One of Mike's handbooks is the Constitution. That gets in the way of these progressive power brokers.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 12:12 pm By: Buzz Cayton

In the face of historic voting irregularities and ongoing Election Interference by the Non Patriot Left, thus attempting to put Mr. Trump, Idiot Joe's presumptive opponent in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, in jail for the rest of his life as a political prisoner for not acknowledging the Idiot President as the rightful ruler of the Biden Regime, I do believe claiming grotesque hypocrisy by the Puppet President is in grand order at this time.

This is the perfect example of Institutionalized Corruption.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 10:58 am By: Stan Deatherage

Still, you made a good enough point that Big Bob took issue with it, so by that alone, your comment has much merit.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 10:04 am By: Stan Deatherage

Don't forget that liberal "Republican" state senate boss Phil Berger also has his own dark money groups he controls and that one of the seats they are trying to buy right now is our own 3rd district senate seat for Berger sock puppet Bob Brinson. We need to send dirtbag Berger a strong message on election day - hands off OUR senate seat!

We need to ban these dark money groups from political campaigns.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 9:46 am By: Conservative Voter

Anyone advocating for a theocracy is advocating for civil war and violence. No person will stand for another forcing their region on them. That's the beauty of a secular government. We all get to live and conduct our personal business privately. In the town square, we are equals and have equal rights. White males are no better or worse , than anyone else.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 9:17 am By: Big Bob

Better to point your whole family and get them one the payroll.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 9:10 am By: Big Bob

The word "conservative" does get used all too often by politicians who by no stretch of the imigination are anything close to a conservative. The one that always got me as particularly tone deaf was Democrat Sen. George McGovern, after running what at the time was by far the most far left campaign for president in US history in 1972, followed that up in his next reelection campaign in South Dakota calling himself a "conservative". Of course, most voters remembered his presidential campaign, and knew he did not have a conservative bone in his body, and he lost reelection. But there are politicians like McGovern out there who think voters are that gullible.

Voters need to look at actual political records much more than they do rhetoric. What candidates actually DO matters a whole lot more than what they SAY.

What I would like to see in local campaigns is endorsements based on issue quetionaires. Those questionaires should ask for examples in candidates records that prove their answers are genuine. That is the best way to do endorsements. It should not be based on personalities or factions, but where candidates actually stand on real issues.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 8:10 am By: Steven P. Rader

Considering that the Democrat DOJ has prosecuted a comedy writer for a piece that was clearly satire for "election interference", it is time when Trump comes back to set up a special proscutor and grand jury to investigate real election interference by the Democrats and there are judges and proscutors high on the list of those who need to be indicted for their very real electoin interference. That grand jury ought to sit in a place where there will be a good jury pool for conviction like West Virginia, rural Texas, rural Alabama, or much of Florida. Lets see how the Democrats and their minions like it when the shoe is on the other foot. Lets make them regret ever opening this can of worms.

Commented: Friday, February 23rd, 2024 @ 7:50 am By: Conservative Voter