Of Pundits and Pontifications

Having surveyed the pundits' landscape after the WRAL-TV debate among the GOP gubernatorial candidates last night, I'm ready to weigh in. The post mortem provided by David Crabtree, Colin Browder, Laura Leslie and the N&O's Rob Christenson sent me home in a state of mild depression. First of all David Crabtree referred to me as "cerebral" which once again sent my former law school classmates into a fit of convulsive laughter. I was even tempted to list my three favorite movies on the WRAL website as "Dumb and Dumber", "Legally Blond" and "Animal House" in an effort to dispel the notion.

Then none of the reporters seemed to pick up on what I thought were subtle but defining points made by me during the debate. Bummer. Then at least Rob gave me a backhanded compliment saying that I "wasn't as slick" as the other candidates. But that was only a lead in to referring to all of us as the Republican "B" team. I always thought that Rob considered ALL Republicans the "B" team. However, the dagger to the heart was when he pontificated that Bill Graham won the debate. My only explanation was that Rob continues to let his infatuation with former trial lawyers with floppy hair and an over exposure to cold weather in Iowa and New Hampshire frost bite his judgement.

At least today's commentaries provided a brighter analysis. Laura Leslie's NPR piece highlighted my "hacking" comment directed at Hiz Honor the Mayor (who knew Republicans had a sense of humour) and my pointed observation that Moore and Perdue need to be held accountable for the problems in public education. YOU go, girl...'cause you got that right. Then finally, Jack Betts' blog on This Old State did a good job of analyzing the ups and downs of the four of us. And I'll be happy to accept Jack's observation that I know more about the law and state government than all of the other candidates. Jack was also right that I needed to smile more which was the exact observation of my 15 year old daughter. It's just that I never quite know when the camera is on me and whether to give one of those cheesy smiles that certain unnamed candidates give or wink or just sit there looking dumb or dumber. I'll try to do better.