Fight begins for legislative control

taylor: he Democrats had to raise some taxes and cut some programs to balance the budget and keep basic government afloat during an unprecedented economic downturn--not of their making.

Sure, keep telling yourself that. Obama is great at whining to everyone that he inherited this mess. He doesn't mention all the debt he is adding to the country. He is not telling everyone that he is trying to destroy America. As far as I am concerned, ANYONE that has a REPUBLICAN or INDEPENDENT label is better than what we have running out of control in there now. Passing the buck is a favorite EXCUSE for today's majority. We don't need excuses, we need results. It is obvious that Obama is an amateur and can't handle the job. He is more suitable for the job of public relations officer. He gives more speeches than any WH press officer in the history. He is arrogant and thinks the country should run itself while he wanders about the world giving campaign speeches. He is a disgrace! I would rather have another Bush in there any day.

The word is sycophant, not syncophant. If you are going to insult Democrats, at least, spell the offending word correctly. Your logic is not much better, for the Democrats had to raise some taxes and cut some programs to balance the budget and keep basic government afloat during an unprecedented economic downturn--not of their making.

Charles Malone
Raleigh

grinder: I agree about needing some fresh blood in there. However, lets not get carried away on the part about scare tactics. Who is trying to rush a health care bill through when we already owe way too much right now? Have to have it or people are going to die without it. Or, if we don't do it now, we will have insurance costs a thousand percent. Who is pushing cap in trade through this year, when it will wreck the economy? But, not all Democrats are liberal so I won't blame all of them. We need some folks in there that are of either party, that have some common sense and conservative financially. We also need a president. The one we have right now thinks he is the WH public affairs chief. All he does is give daily speeches and neglects the problem in Afghanistan and Iran. He is more into his own agenda of convincing everyone for a need to convert to socialism. He talks a good talk, but as of yet, hasn't walked the walk.

The Republicans should be well placed to pick up some seats.

But not if they keep running the same tired, old candidates. The Republicans need some fresh candidates who talk in a normal voice about normal things. Quit trying to scare people. And I especially don't like it when the Republican candidate is stumping and his head starts turning around like that little girl in "The Exorcist." I don't mind the smoke coming out their ears but spinning their heads around like that makes me think health care costs are going higher.

The Republicans must offer a "reasonable" alternative, not some poster child for the looney bin.

"We are very optimistic we are going to pick up some seats," Hackney said in an interview.

Hackney must be on acid. Being optimistic won't change how the people feel right now. They know when the powers that be, don't want to listen to them, and they get pi$sed off. Too bad, all the Democrats are going to have to pay for allowing the liberal minority free reign over congress. I am sure that the left coast will allow Pelosi to return. Too bad. I was hoping that they would burn the witch at the stake. Guess not.

How more disingenuous could Speaker Hackney be? The D's had to raise taxes because in previous years they spend every last dime...in frivolous ways, instead of saving for a rainy day.
And the R's were never given the opportunity to participate; for that matter only high ranking D's were allowed input into the budget.

I cetainly hope you're right because it's time for change in this state but there's one thing that worries me about Republicans on the campaign trail. They tend to fight each other more than they fight their Dem opponents. I'm not sure how potential candidates are recruited but I hope like h*ll that they get themselves organized, get the vote out and throw some of the current representatives right out the front door in 2010 and 2012. A statement needs to be made about the way the Democrats have been governing and spending and the corruption taking place in Raleign. They're not listening to the people and I've decided the only way to make them pay attention is at the ballot box.

If I may say to Speaker Hackney, “You lie”. The Republicans not only presented many plans to correct the over spending of the Democrats, they introduced numerous amendments. Hackney and the Democrats voted NO on over 95% of Republican amendments. The Democrats are the party of NO and do it my way or the highway. I find it despicable that Hackney and the Democratic leadership are trying to smear the GOP. Hackney does not even know basic math. The Democrats have the votes in both the state house and state senate to do whatever they want.

It is also childish of Hackney to distract from the fact that the Democrats raised taxes on fixed income elderly and all of the workers of our state. It is a fact that the more of your money the government takes from you the less freedom you have. I am for one tired of my tax money going to pay off Democratic loyalist in cushy $100k plus jobs. Our government is full of dedicated hardworking people who deserve true leadership not Democratic syncophants.

The Republican Party will return to you your freedom while bringing responsibility and transparency back to our government.