newsobserver.com projects - Perdue: Main Street CEO? - Comments

Thanks.

Anglico — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:40:29 -0500

I'm a big fan of the Associated Press. Ijust figure with all the connections WCSR has AND all the connections your intrepid team has ... the N&O might be better positioned for the kind of investigative reporting I'm thinking of.

Take care, though. You'd be poking at people locked in at the highest levels of state and federal government, people who will make more money as mercenaries this year than you or I will make in a hundred lifetimes. Plus I wouldn't be surprised to find that there's a lovey-dovey relationship between WCSR and many leaders in the North Carolina newspaper industry.

Re: Metaphors

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:32:48 -0500

Hey, what's wrong with the AP?

Our own Joe Neff is working on an item for his Blackwater blog. We'll crosspost it when he's done.

— RTB

Metaphors

Anglico — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:28:45 -0500

Gotcha.

I found that AP story when I searched the Old Reliable for information on the connections between WCSR and Blackwater. I guess I was hoping for something a bit deeper.

We're working on a plan to contact their public-sector clients to inquire about their intentions to stick with a law firm that is supporting a mercenary army. What would the mayor of Cary, for example, say about this situation? If it involved the Town of Chapel Hill, I suspect it would become a big stink very quickly.

Find more discussion here.

Re: I rarely disagree with Chris

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:14:46 -0500

I think it's a metaphor in both cases. Perdue wasn't really saying Moore is "from" Wall Street, either. No one lives in that part of Manhattan anyway.

Here's a link on the Blackwater-Womble Carlyle connection.

— RTB

I rarely disagree with Chris

Anglico — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:00:12 -0500

but the answer is no. Most CEOs are not from Wall Street. Most CEOs live and work in towns and cities all across America. That reference would only go so far as to describe some CEOs of some publicly traded companies - representing a small fraction of all CEOs.

You might want to consider thinking stuff like this through before serving it up without comment.

PS Speaking of CEOs, how about some coverage of Erik Prince (Blackwater) and his new law firm, Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice? This firm represents local governments and public interests all across the state, and now they've signed on to support what is arguably a company comprised of war criminals. How about getting some of the N&O's crack investigative team on the job of explaining how WCSR is locked in at the highest levels of state government? Or maybe the editorial page could look into the matter? Just where does the N&O editorial board stand on North Carolina being home to one of the world's largest mercenary armies?

Perdue: Main Street CEO?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:57:17 -0500

Chris Fitzsimon notes a disconnect in Beverly Perdue's debate performance.

In his column on N.C. Policy Watch, he writes that the Democratic gubernatorial candidate attacked rival Richard Moore for being "from Wall Street" and not "from Main Street."

But she then went on to say that she wanted to be "the next CEO of North Carolina."

"Aren't most CEOs from Wall Street?" Fitzsimon asks.