Free Republic

NC GOP Chief Of Staff, Strategist ResignsRALEIGH, N.C. -- Bill Peaslee, the state Republican Party's chief of staff and top political strategist since April 2001, resigned Monday, two weeks after the GOP's poor showing on Election Day both nationally and in North Carolina. It's the second departure within the party leadership this month. Chairman Ferrell Blount confirmed his resignation before the polls closed election night, saying he needed to step down to consider a run for statewide office in 2008.

Madame Loony TunesEven Democrats, Republicans agree on this candidate A candidate for N.C. Supreme Court justice who promotes herself as Madame Justice deserves a nickname in her campaign, all right, but not the one lawyer Rachel Lea Hunter wants. Ms. Hunter, a Democrat, has never been a judge, but she wants voters to oust Associate Justice Mark Martin, a Republican, and elect her. She wanted the State Board of Elections to put her on the Nov. 7 ballot as "Madame Justice." No way, the board said. She should try Madame Loony Tunes.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The leaders of the state's Democratic and Republican parties have asked voters not to cast ballots for state Supreme Court candidate Rachel Lea Hunter, whose fiery rhetoric in recent weeks has included comparing the actions of a black congressional candidate to that of a slave. "She's unstable and unqualified, and the thought of her serving on the highest court in North Carolina is scary," state Republican party chairman Ferrell Blount said Tuesday. Blount's comments came after Hunter, a former Republican running as a Democrat, used the title "Dur Fuhrer" -- commonly associated with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler...

RALEIGH - Rep. Ed McMahan, a Charlotte lawmaker, gave $1,000 to Democratic State Treasurer Richard Moore's campaign last year. That would be unremarkable except that McMahan is a Republican National Committeeman and has criticized the GOP's highest-ranking House member for his alliance with Democrats. "If you're seeking to be part of the power structure of the Republican Party," said Ed Meyer, the GOP nominee for treasurer in 2004, "there's no place for giving money to a Democrat."

GOP re-elects chair, ending fears of clash Delegates' overwhelming vote for Ferrell Blount repels challenge from conservative MARK JOHNSON Raleigh Bureau ASHEVILLE - N.C. Republicans weren't so divided after all. Delegates to the GOP's state convention overwhelmingly re-elected Pitt County farmer Ferrell Blount to a second term as chairman Saturday. The vote repelled a challenge from Vernon Robinson, a blunt-spoken conservative city councilman from Winston-Salem and self-described "black Jesse Helms." Blount was winning by a 3-to-1 margin midway through the roll-call vote when Robinson interrupted and asked to elect Blount by acclamation. The delegates obliged. Linda Daves of Mecklenburg...

The future of North Carolina Conservatives By Alan M. Teitleman It is a sad state of affairs for Conservatives in North Carolina. What used to be a conservative state is now rampant with liberals posing as Republicans. Although I have only lived in North Carolina for five years, I have seen a lot of changes in North Carolina politics during that time. I saw the chairman of a county Democratic party switch party affiliation and become elected to the Stallings town council as a Republican. I saw the Democratic party actively recruit Democrats to switch parties and run in Republican...

Posted on Wed, Jul. 23, 2003 Candidate Cobey Former N.C. Republican chair recruits himself to run State Republican Chairman Bill Cobey's decision to resign his post Monday to run for the GOP nomination for governor next year was a telling moment in his party's hopes of taking over the top post in North Carolina government. It reflects what some rank-and-file Republicans have been thinking about for months: The party has a good chance of making major gains in the 2004 elections, but it needs a strong candidate to challenge Democratic Gov. Mike Easley. Mr. Cobey's decision to resign and run,...