Political payoffs alleged in North Carolina

The Asheville Tribune ^ | ? | By Clint Parker

[Madcelt]

Investigation follows money trail and timeline of multi-million dollar transfers

In 1998 then-Attorney General Mike Easley persuaded the state General Assembly to create an independent organization, the Golden LEAF, to oversee half of the $2.3 billion dollar settlement with the tobacco industry. What Easley may have created is a multi-billion dollar political money making machine which he, as governor of the state, can control and manipulate, directing funds to the economy and paying off political contributors to his campaign.

According to its website, a court order created the Golden LEAF (Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation) in 1999 as a non-profit corporation in the consent decree resolving litigation initiated by the state Department of Justice against the tobacco industry.

The foundation receives one-half of the funds coming to North Carolina resulting from the Master Settlement Agreement and makes grants to non-profit and government agencies.

[Madcelt]

It just gets deeper and deeper as time goes on!

[Madcelt]

Heads up! Ping!

[upchuck]

Pardon my naivete. Would Mr. Easley be a pubbie or a RAT? I suspect a RAT since the article doesn't say.

[vetvetdoug]

Lawyer=Democrat=Trial Lawyers=Tobacco Settlement and fleecing of businesses through lawsuits....The Tobacco settlement was a fiasco in the first place. Trial lawyers (thieves) are mostly democrat.

[Madcelt]

You suspicions are correct.(RAT)

[timestax]

bump

[shilohsvictory]

Would Mr. Easley be a pubbie or a RAT?

"Tax Hike Mike" is a RAT.

[Arkie2]

The pubbies take over the house come Jan. Sounds like a good time to open an inquiry. The only thing that would make this better is if Edwards is somehow involved.

[McGavin999]

Rule of Thumb: If it's something bad and the participant is not identified, you can safely assume it's a democrat. They only identify the party affiliation if it's a republican.

[operation clinton cleanup]

As a former Tarheel, I am shocked! As a Republican, I expect no less from the rats.

[Madcelt]

Carolina Journal

Much more about our wonderful "Guvnar" and his plans. Notice the bar on the left, under media mangle.

[mykdsmom]

NC Ping!

[billbears]

The payoffs for political cronies continue here in the South. Now where, o where did it become SOP to payoff your political buddies? I wonder when the payoffs started in general in this state?

[snopercod]

[azhenfud]

FOR SALE

one slightly used vote

[Madcelt]

Given the DMV scam in Madison county, I would say probably about 4000 slightly used "illegal alien" votes!( I aint forgot that. Not by along shot!)

[billbears]

LOL!! Wonder what would happen if I held the sign up in #15 with a different name on it....

[Madcelt]

LOL!! Wonder what would happen if I held the sign up in #15 with a different name on it....

There's a ton of'em to chose from.(Names, that is.) The payoffs......... a Long time friend. The problem is (You\I) the people of NC continue to "pay" the bill.

[Windom Earle]

The tobacco litigation was never anything more than a shakedown, and the purposes of the money were never meant to be anything but partisan