Under the Dome

Edwards to speak solo at Hofstra

bkrueger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:47:20 -0400

Hofstra students and others hoping to watch former Sen. John Edwards take the stage with his wife Elizabeth will get only half the show next month.

Elizabeth Edwards was scheduled to join her husband, who has avoided the public spotlight since admitting to an extramarital affair with a campaign videographer, at a Sept. 8 speaking engagement at the Long Island, N.Y. university, reports Lorenzo Perez.

The event was scheduled before Edwards admitted to the affair.

Hofstra spokesman Stuart Vincent said Friday, however, that the agency representing John Edwards’ speaking engagements has notified the university that Elizabeth Edwards will not make the trip.

John Edwards has confirmed his intention to appear, Vincent said in an e-mail, leaving Edwards to take the podium alone.

The event has been billed as an opportunity to hear the couple share their thoughts on the 2008 presidential election “and how their experiences relate to it.”

Wrongly linked on LinkedIn?

DavidIngram — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:06:00 -0400

Ron Ottavio says he has never worked for the Governor's Office, a profile of him on the Internet notwithstanding.

How the apparent mix-up happened is not clear.

Ottavio, a former Wachovia lobbyist, is the interim executive director of N.C. FREE. Earlier this week, a profile of him on the networking Web site LinkedIn said he had been working for the Office of the Governor for about a year. (See the document link below.)

Dome called Gov. Mike Easley's office to ask about it. Two spokeswomen said they hadn't heard of Ottavio and could find no record of him working there, either on staff or on contract.

Ottavio wrote in an e-mail to Dome Thursday that he had gotten a call from Easley's chief counsel Reuben Young.

"I am not sure how that got on LinkedIn," Ottavio wrote. "I have never worked for the Governor's Office — past or present. That has been corrected and did not realize I was even on LinkedIn."

Ottavio did not respond to further questions about the confusion.

Document(s):
Ron Ottavio - LinkedIn.pdf

Miller debated polar bears with Palin

bkrueger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:37:12 -0400

Some Democrats in Congress might not know of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, but Rep. Brad Miller of Raleigh does.

Miller last year accused the state of Alaska of using an opinion essay written in part by known “climate-doubt” scientists to back its opposition to listing the polar bear as a threatened species, reports Barb Barrett.

Miller is chairman of the oversight panel on the House Science and Technology Committee. He accused ExxonMobil in October of funding un-scientific research because it had given money to one of the essay’s authors, an astrophysicist, for some work in the polar region.

The essay was published in the journal Ecological Complexity and, Miller wrote, cited six times in Alaska’s filing against listing the polar bear.

The debate over the polar bear was a major issue in Alaska last year, with the state opposing its inclusion under the Endangered Species Act. The state argued there was not enough science to determine that the polar bear could become endangered.

“If the Governor of Alaska … cannot tell whether this paper is science or an elaborate editorial, what is a less-sophisticated audience to think?” Miller asked in his letter to ExxonMobil on the issue.

Palin fired back, telling Miller in her own letter that it was he who didn’t understand the issues.

"I fear your comments may squash scientific debate,” she wrote. She also defended the funding of scientific studies by oil companies, writing that it would be fiscally difficult to fund all science with government money.

In its own rebuttal to Miller, ExxonMobil said it understood the essay to have been peer-reviewed.

Burr: Palin helps balance ticket

DavidIngram — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:36:15 -0400

Richard Burr cited Sarah Palin's executive experience in responding to her selection as the presumptive Republican nominee for vice president.

The Winston-Salem Republican and U.S. senator called the completed ticket "exciting and well-balanced."

Governor Palin is a strong, pro-life conservative with a proven track record of reform in Alaska, effectively bringing accountability and transparency to government. Her experience as chief executive of a state that is at the forefront of the energy debate will complement John McCain's experience and leadership.

Burr was an early and enthusiastic supporter of John McCain's presidential campaign.

UPDATE: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a Salisbury Republican, called the selection "historic" because of the chance to elect a female vice president.

"Governor Palin is extremely qualified and has a wonderful reputation as a fighter and a reformer," Dole said in a news release. "She and John McCain share a commitment to our long-held core values and roots, limited government, and a strong presence in the world as we face multiple threats to liberty and freedom."

McCrory: Sometimes it takes a mayor

DavidIngram — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:16:10 -0400

Pat McCrory sees parallels between Sarah Palin's record and what he wants to do in Raleigh.

The Republican nominee for governor and seven-term Charlotte mayor released a statement saying Palin "proves that sometimes it takes a mayor to clean up state government."

I think Gov. Sarah Palin, a former mayor with a background of cleaning up state government, is a great choice for vice president. She is someone with a real record of changing the status quo and challenging corruption in state government. Gov. Palin stopped the infamous 'bridge to nowhere' and used her veto to actually cut spending.

McCrory also said Palin will be a contrast to Joe Biden, "a U.S. Senator for over 20 years."

Biden has been in the Senate for almost 36 years, if you're counting.

N.C. GOP: Palin a 'visionary leader'

DavidIngram — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:05:57 -0400

Linda Daves has high praise for the presumptive Republican nominee for vice president.

Daves, the N.C. GOP chairwoman, released a statement saying that Sarah Palin will help "shake up the status quo in Washington."

Sarah Palin not only brings executive experience to the ticket, she brings true credentials of reform. In her impressive tenure as Governor, Palin has shown leadership in her stands against ethics violations and against wasteful spending. She has shown vision for promoting alternative and domestic energy sources in Alaska. In addition, as the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin bring a unique perspective to leading our nation and supporting our troops.

Daves also called Palin "a perfect co-author for a new American story" and said McCain and Palin are "two visionary leaders."

UPDATE: In an interview, Daves rebutted criticism about Palin's relative inexperience. Palin was elected Alaska governor in 2006.

"What is significant and very, very positive about that is her accomplishment in those two years — her accomplishment in slashing taxes, in getting rid of perks, in saying 'no' to Congress when they wanted to build a bridge to nowhere," Daves said.

News to me...

bkrueger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:53:44 -0400

News to me...

"I never heard of her before today."

The initial reaction from Democratic U.S. Rep. Mel Watt of Charlotte to news that Republican John McCain had selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.

Comments (1)

GOP delegates picked Palin

bkrueger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:39:21 -0400

The pundits may have been stumped, but three North Carolina delegates to the Republican National Convention correctly guessed the Republican vice presidential nominee: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Marshall Hurley, a Greensboro lawyer, said he saw Palin's name in the news about a year ago and began reading up on her. He listed her in a Charlotte Observer survey of delegates earlier this month when asked who John McCain should pick, reports Mark Johnson.

"I don't have any claim to clairvoyance," Hurley said, adding that he's thrilled with the new GOP ticket.

Timothy Johnson, of Weaverville, also listed the "Governor of Alaska."

Jackie Wieland, of Greensboro, said in the survey that McCain should pick someone not expected by the media and public" and offered six options: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, businessman Steve Forbes,
Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Palin.

"This really energizes the party," Wieland said Friday. "A lot of my girlfriends who were Hillary supporters were seriously thinking about McCain, so I'm hoping this will push them over (to his side)."

N.C. Dems: Sarah who?

bkrueger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:34:55 -0400

DENVER - The initial reaction from North Carolina Democrats to news that Republican John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate was simple:

Who?

"I don't know what to make of it," said U.S. Rep. Mel Watt of Charlotte, reports Rob Christensen. "I never heard of her before today."

Watt, interviewed the morning after Democrats wrapped up their national convention, said the pick shows that "Barack's candidacy has changed the dynamic of the country's politics."

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield of Wilson, a key Obama leader in North Carolina, said he didn't know anything about Palin.

"I can't even pronounce her last name."

But Butterfield said the "soccer mom" demographic is an important one and that Palin could help McCain among some women.

Emerald Isle man goes backstage at DNC

bkrueger — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:25:29 -0400

DENVER - Lenny Julius of Emerald Isle was among the 10 voters who met with Sen. Barack Obama backstage last night before Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Julius is a 67-year-old Vietnam War veteran who served with John McCain in the Navy and supported McCain in 2000, reports Rob Christensen.

But Julius said that McCain has become too strongly tied with the foreign and domestic policies of President Bush, and so he is supporting Obama.