Kathy in Blacksburg Posts

The US Attorney's office has launched a criminal investigation into the Dan River coal ash spill in North Carolina. Duke Energy and the agency supposedly in charge of its oversight, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, are the focus of the federal probe.

Keeping the blue-ward trend going in Virginia is an imperative. Just look at what's happened to North Carolina. From abortion rights to environmental exploitation to disaster capitalism, North Carolina has swiftly become a forerunner in every single bad policy the right wing can dream up.

North Carolina moved closer late tonight to passing a massive 56-page vote suppression law Here is the latest version of the bill. You see, photo ID isn't the half of it. This vast 56-page bill is geared toward keeping Dems from ever winning again.

NC voters express extreme dissatisfaction with the Governor they elected into office just six months ago. Pat McCrory has kowtowed to the extreme right elements of his party to allow regressive legislation to pass. Tax cuts for the rich, worsening of women's health care, and economic woes loom on the horizon.

It was bad enough that Dodd-Frank under-protected the American public from predatory big banking, but Senators are now trying to further weaken the legislation and even make its existence completely moot. The Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act of 2013 is the latest bill that shifts the government's role as protector of the people to protector of the powerful.

Once again,CQ Roll Call has identified the richest members of Congress, as summarized in a slideshow at Huffington Post.  And Virginia's own Mark Warner is No 4, whose net worth at about $85.8 million, makes him even richer than Jay Rockefeller of the famed Rockefeller clan.

In a recent diary I asked what kind of person spends his time trying to ruin the lives of old Americans as Paul Ryan and his sponsors in the plutocracy do. Here, I ask, what kind of man kicks people when they are down and has the audacity to claim he is helping them?
Paul Ryan is some "Christian." He showed that once again today. He advocated for the end of poverty programs ...

Republican Candidate for North Carolina's Governorship, Pat McCrory is anything if not concise. He really has no plan or program, nada.
The darling of what has become the TeaPartyGOP of North Carolina wants to do two things.
That's it. Slash, drill and frack. AND he is ahead in the polls.