NCGA : The beginning of THE END? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Brant Clifton uses the words of others, in part, to keep a close inspection of the NC General Assembly in his "bare knuckles" Conservative online publication known as The Daily Haymaker.

    I'm hearing some surprising, very pessimistic-sounding talk from some very surprising sources about the future of the "conservative revolution" in Raleigh. Said one long-time Republican player in our fair capital:

    "The wheels are coming slam off of this thing. You've got factions forming. A lot of finger-pointing. There's not a lot of respect for or trust of the leadership by the rank-and-file We worked so hard to get to this point. But we're doing a lot of the same stupid, crooked things that brought about the downfall of the Democrats in this town. I am really afraid that we are witnessing the beginning of the end."

    Much of the concern seems to be focused on the state House. There are serious questions about the financial practices within the House Republican Caucus. There have been some serious questions about appointments that have been pushed through the House by GOP leaders and the governor. Tax increases and corporate welfare have become the trademark legislation of the current GOP-dominated session. Sources are telling me that TRUST - or the lack thereof - is becoming a big issue for folks on the majority side in the House. Says one key House player:

    "There is a huge amount of distance right now between the leadership and the rank and file. I've never seen it this bad. Say what you want about Tillis. He was a S.O.B, but he kept the place disciplined. I don't see discipline here. I see disgust. I see head-shaking dismay. I see ridicule. There are members right now, who have been raising money for the caucus for years, who are now talking about cutting leadership and the caucus off. Some big veteran donors to the caucus are saying the same thing. They are having a hard time trusting what they are being told by leadership. Folks are having a hard time trusting leadership and the caucus to spend the money they donate wisely. There are a lot of problems here."

    Sources familiar with the situation tell me that key Republicans in the state's congressional delegation are expressing serious concern about the current state of the state House Republican Caucus. One of my moles explained:

    "They're worried about some of this nonsense blowing back on them and their reelection bids. Strife within one section of the party can affect everyone else. We really need to get some adult supervision onto this situation in the House.