North Carolina: The story behind how McCrory got tangled in HB 2

[itsApril]

The story behind how McCrory got tangled in HB 2

The Charlotte Observer
APRIL 18, 2016 7:17 AM
BY NED BARNETT
(Raleigh) News & Observer

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article72404042.html
"The governor thought he had a political winner, but the backlash has jeopardized his reelection."

"This is a situation in which Republican lawmakers and strategists thought they were being clever but did something as dumb as it will be costly."

[suzifrommd]

Interesting story. Thanks for posting it, April. I agree strong about this. I've seen radical conservatives get caught into this net a few times before - they assume that their extreme right wing viewpoint is shared by far more people than actually buy into it. Do you remember the flap at the Susan G. Komen foundation a while back, where they took a political stand against planned parenthood that backfired with their (primarily female) supporters? I think it's a similar situation.

[AnonyMs]

It makes a lot of sense to me to. Its a pity people can't see past the policies to understand what kind of sociopathic people they are actually voting for. People who'll climb over the bodies of the innocent to help themselves. No good can come of electing people like that.

[lisarenee]

I would estimate that about 40% of the Republican party (based on various x% support this or that stats) is somewhat socially liberal (Pro-LGBT, etc...) The vast majority of Americans fall into the middle, but the two party system allows extremists to dictate policy.

[gennee]

I would estimate that about 40% of the Republican party (based on various x% support this or that stats) is somewhat socially liberal (Pro-LGBT, etc...) The vast majority of Americans fall into the middle, but the two party system allows extremists to dictate policy.

That's why a strong third party is needed.

[lisarenee]

That's why a strong third party is needed.

Exactly. A third party that pulled from moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats would easily defeat both parties in a national election. The problem is creating a third party. The current system makes it nearly impossible to create a strong third party.

[Michelle-G]

The problem is creating a third party. The current system makes it nearly impossible to create a strong third party.

Not hard at all. An independent who gets a certain percentage (I don't know how much) of the popular vote can begin the process of starting a new political party. Ross Perot was eligible to do that after the 1996 election, but declined the opportunity.

Think about that as we consider the ramifications of a possible Donald Trump loss in this upcoming election.

[Colleen M]

Perot was probably viable as a candidate, but there's a lot more to a party than running one guy for President.  There is a truly massive level of infrastructure involved in putting together a political party as the Americans understand the term and getting candidates for governor, mayor, representative, senator, alderman, city council, school commissioner, etc. 

I'd also like to see a more European parliamentary approach with more focused parties.  American parties basically form coalitions before the election, so the small-government crowd is in a party with people who want government in bedrooms, or similar weird contradictions.