Charlotte's new mayor is Democrat Anthony Foxx. However you voted, do you think that's good for Charlotte?

Testing the comments section

Are you ready for your taxes to go up?

HOLD ON to your wallet.

whatever the dems had on their wish list is now going to come through.all on the backs of the people who pay taxes.south carolina,here i come.

I look forward to the Foxx show on WBT!

Here come the taxes. Dems hold 8 seats on the council and now the maoyr's office which means that the veto is gone.

Time to leave Charlotte.

Does Foxx's "Rebuild Charlotte" mean the same thing as Obama's "Remake America?"

Who cares! The Panthers had a great game last week and I look forward to see how they stack up against N.O. I hope Jake is ok.

With a majority like that, Democrats better come ready to govern. It would have been better with Lassiter providing some balance.

Nice house in a good Fort Mill neighborhood will soon be for sale. Good schools and low taxes.

The results of the local election just proves finally in my mind one thing. THE PEOPLE OF CHARLOTTE ARE STUPID! If they think a taxocrat mayor is going to do anything for the good of Charlotte, they are living in a dream world. This guy is just another obama wannabe, no ideas, no plans, but hold on to your wallet.

Not a good sign for the city - of course what else do they have to build except a major league baseball stadium that none of us want!?!? I see more taxes in our future. John Lassiter is a fair and reasonable guy who would have been a great mayor for the city. I am sorry that only 25% of the people in this city care enough to get out and vote. That is the real sad news. Come on people get out and vote next time - you don't have a right to complain if you don't show up and vote.

McCrory supported public transportation for a while and got us started, but lately he has backed off in his failed attempt to pander to the right wing of his party. Let's hope that with Foxx in office, and a huge majority on the city council, we will finally get the facilities and services we need in Charlotte. If that means higher property taxes or sales taxes, so be it.

That's just foolish Kathy. More taxes is the LAST thing this city needs. You must not pay any.

Agree w/ subguy, the Panther's Fox is the one we should be talking about.

Did I hear Foxx's campaign director, correctly? "Remake Charlotte"!!!

kathy,you never let me down in the proof that the people that work and pay the least are the ones who expect the most.

@Kathy: Keep your facilities and services. Enjoy them. Smart people are leaving Charlotte/Meck in droves. Just like they left the northern cities and States in droves. You can ride your bus and trains all around what will become a ghost city. You want to see what Charlotte will become like in 20 years - look toward Detroit. Smart people are out of here, and I dont mean to Union Cty either. I mean SC or even further away. I dont need the fraud that Perdue nor this new Mayor. You keep him. Enjoy it all..................................................................................................................@David: You forgot - no experience. VA and NJ were smart in that they smacked Obama upside the head. Something to look forward to in 2010 when Pelosi and her cronies are fired.

I am really disappointed with the outcome here in Charlotte and nationwide. People are not coming out to vote or they are not as frustrated as I would expect. Listening to the news I expected a total GOP sweep but that didn't happen. What happened? Not even Bokhari made it here in Charlotte, and Hoffman lost on New York. I am really shocked.

I'm a small businees owner who is already taxed far beyond my income. Our chicken have come home to roost. It's time to "Remake Charlotte" in Obama vision.

I must confess that the election results are partly my fault. Although my wife and I both voted, we did not do what we should have done. Instead we kept quite. We should have supported our candidates by talking about their political views and urged our friends and relatives to go to the polls and vote for the candidates of our choice. We did not do that and now we must suffer the consequences of our non-actions.

We now have a super majority of Democrats that will push forth a tax and spend agenda that will especially hurt the older fixed income citizens as well as the ones that have suffered in this economic downturn.

As I now depend heavily on my social security benefits to get by, my property taxes eat up 2 1/2 months of social security benefits. If my property taxes continue to rise I will be forced out of my home of 32 years and will have to purchase a small home in a less desirable neighborhood or move out of the county and possibly to South Carolina.

But it is no ones fault but my own. I should have been much more active in the political system and encouraged others to vote for my candidates. If a few others would have done the same, we would have had different results today. We allowed 20% of the registered voters to pick our Mayor and city council. I am ashamed, are you not also?

Kathy,

My God. You have shown once again your idiocy. That has to be the single most ludicrous comment I have seen in any of these polls. Who in the heck needs transportation. If it is so sorely needed, CharMeck GovCo just needs to outlaw cars and make everyone take public transportation. This isn't your flippin' New York of the south. Many years and billions and billions of dollars would get us in that New York state of mind and if you want it, LEAVE. With the "global warming" BS, NY should warm up to the same climate as Charlotte by say 2095.

Chuck and Subguy, You are both idiots!

Those who think that electing a democrat will be good for the city are either uninformed or simply don't understand the difference. Unfortunately, too many sumply vote along party lines without really knowing why. That goes for both sides of the political spectrum. If Charlotte is to ever become competitive in drawing new businesses to the area so that residents can have high paying jobs, they are going to have to start cutting some of the fat. Lets face it, one of the top factors that a company looks at when considering moving to an area is whether or not the tax laws are favorable. We no longer have the banking industry to sustain us as a city, so we need to make Charlotte look like an attractive destination for young entrepreneurs, high tech businesses, and manufacturing as well.

I think that too many of our best and brightest have fled the city, some for surrounding areas, and some for other regions all together. I, unfortunately think that electing Foxx was a step in the wrong direction

wow, what a good day for charlotte with all these drugster koolaid drinking idiots moving.

So much for voter backlash. You people make me sick. Don't you pay taxes? Where the hell were you yesterday? At the spa? The hairdresser? Leasing your new Mercedes? WTF???

Oh, so you are moving pratt? After all your man Obama is the confessed cocaine user. So when you refer to drugster you must be referring to him.

To all of you whiners who give up and are leaving: See ya!

@CHRIS: "so we need to make Charlotte look like an attractive destination for young entrepreneurs, high tech businesses, and manufacturing as well."......................... you mean, make it look like China and India? Dont hold your breath. The market for high tech jobs and manufacturing has been leaving this nation like people have been leaving the north for the south here in the US. It isnt going to happen. Ask Ken Lewis - he'd rather pay people in India 1/4 the US worker's pay to provide you 1/16th of the service while he laughs all the way to his local branch. Do you really think Charlotte (or NC) has a chance? No way in hell. When McCrory wins the governor's race in the next election THEN I may move back. Otherwise - the for sale sign has just gone up in the front yard today. You may notice a lot more. Good luck Charlotte, you'll need it.

zepica, I did not say I want more taxes. I said I want more facilities and services.

barterman1955, what proof? Where do you have proof? You lost me.

senior citizen, you are absolutely right. If you want something really bad, you have to fight for it. If you are a thought leader, spread your thoughts. If your thoughts are reasonable and understandable to others, they will be influenced in large enough numbers to affect change. Always remember that most people are followers.

Jim, you must not drive much. The traffic is crazy, and the best way to get out of it is by switching to public transportation. Take the Blue Line. It is a lovely 25-minute ride where you can get lots of work done and the paper read. Try that sitting on 485.

Kathy,
"I did not say I want more taxes. I said I want more facilities and services."

Spoken like someone who either pays NO taxes or simply is unaware of the direct relationship between higher taxes and "more facilities and services." I think one time you said you had a job, so I guess you're just an idiot. Sorry if that's insulting, but this is getting tiresome.

@VIN: I completely agree. I am simply saying that if Charlotte does not want to become the next Detroit, they will have to get the spending under control, and cut taxes to make the city an attractive destination.

When I moved here from the north I was warned not to move to Charlotte, that the taxes were outrageous. But I moved here anyway, I guess I should have listened. I am now in the process of moving to Fort Mill, but my business is still in Charlotte, so my financial well being is tied to Charlotte not only surviving but also prospering. I simply want to see the right people get in office to guide the city in the right direction.

Part of the blame can be laid at the feet of the Republican choice for the mayoral candidate. John Lassiter was so alike Foxx that the difference just didn't invigorate the Republican and Independent voters. There just wasn't a clear reason to vote for one above the other and since there are more Democrats than Republicans the outcome was never really in doubt.

John just isn't an inspiring candidate and hardly conservative in his views. Straight ticket voting won the day again for the Democrats and will continue to do so until the Republicans offer a clear choice.

I just hope that Matt, Tariq and others don't throw in the towel and stop being politically active. There is always next year and by then I'm sure that the Democrats will give us more than enough ammunition to hurl at them. We just need to be more vocal than we were this time.

Unfortunately, it seemed to me that the time between the primaries and the general election were awfully quite. I believe we need some more old-fashioned stump speeching to rally the voters. Sound bites, boring debates on tv, fliers and recorded telephone calls just are not the answer any more.

I can't tell you how many phone calls I hung up on as soon as I heard that they were prerecorded political calls. "Hi, I'm Pat McCro" click, "Hi I'm John Las", click, "Hi I'm" click, and that stupid call from Edwin Peacock apologizing for his daughters Halloween call. Please people, I, as well as many others are fed up with those calls.l

Oooh, a compliment from Kathy, who would have ever guessed?

Tess, there are obviously fewer of you than Faux News would have you believe. Self-delusion is pretty difficult to accept - keep trying. Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

Time to vote with your feet.
SPEND SPEND SPEND even if the city is broke.

Kathy, read what paper on the train? The Observer? I hope not. But, that might explain your complete ignorance. Take that "first step" Kathy. Go ahead. You're among friends......

Loafer, why do you say that? Are those posts any different than when you, or others, bring politics up in answer to a sports question?

Annoying isn't it? Maybe we should learn to stick to topics of discussion and not threadjack an honest question from someone who is trying to get genuine input, and discussion, from the public.

Kathy,
I drive 60 miles a day. 485 and all. It is people who are in a big hurry with the only agenda being theirs that make the traffic crap. Waitng until the last minute to merge (and then forcing their way in) just to get 5 or six cars farther up the road. I just love those days when someone blows by me at 15mph over the limit and I get to wave at them at the next light where they are stopped waiting for me. I do take the Blue Line when I go uptown. I really like it. It is a relaxing ride. Public trans is NOT going to solve the traffic problem in our lifetime. Too expensive to initiate and too many jerks need to keep their status overpriced car symbol.

@@KATHY: "zepica, I did not say I want more taxes." AND "If that means higher property taxes or sales taxes, so be it." Sounds precisely like a hypocrite to me. Do you want to deny that now? Talk to the wall. Bye.

I didn't bother to read any comments. I came straight here to comment.
Where were you yesterday? I worked the polls 14 + hours. We had 93 people vote all day. Thanks for getting out and voting. DO NOT complain or call and complain unless you VOTED. Other wise you have nothing to add, you are not a part of the solution, you are the problem

@@CHUCK: So you're vindictive, eh? Nice.

@@CHUCK: So you're vindictive, eh? Nice.

Kathy,
Really?? You think we got new facilities and services from where? Some magician pulls them out of his hat? How do you think we payed for the light rail, donations? No it was a half cent sales tax increase. You think the discussion about raising property taxes is to pay for what? Oh that's right the stupid street car. You might want to investigate how a government works. To get more the people must pay more. This stuff is not free. You have just revealed, as others have said, you are either oblivious or delusional. Explains the party line.

Dear "Worked the Polls",

THANKS! I voted in the primary AND early. Unfortunately and legally, I failed to vote often! Thanks again for being there!

Pratt,
I may be drinking what you consider the proverbial koolaid, but at least I'm not stupid enough to sit around and wait till there's a 12 % sales tax on it, and a 25% increase in property taxes before I realize there's a problem. Enjoy Charlotte, the smart people are leaving, which leaves stupid people and crooks.

@@CHUCK: So you're vindictive, eh? Nice.

@@Tim

Is your flippin' computer on auto pilot or what?

> These are some great questions.

> If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter
> installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have
> laughed and said this is more proof of how inept he is on his own
> and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?
>
> If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take
> Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan's
> holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in
> GM, would you have approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special
> Olympics, would you have approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and
> incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a
> thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing
> videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly
> narcissistic and tacky?
>
> If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have
> approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the
> non-existent "Austrian language," would you have brushed it off as a
> minor slip?
>
> If George W. Bush had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with
> people who cannot seem to keep current on their income taxes, would
> you have approved?
>
> If George W.. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to
> "Cinco de Cuatro" in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the
> fourth of May (Cuatro de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he
> tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?
>
> If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word advice would you have
> hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as proof of
> what a dunce he is?
>
> If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a
> single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?
>
> If George W. Bush's administration had okayed Air Force One flying low
> over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan
> causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they
> actually get what happened on 9-11?
>
> If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims
> throughout the Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in
> New Orleans , would you want it made into a major ongoing political
> issue with claims of racism and incompetence?
>
> If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major
> corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so,
> would you have approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had
> taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you
> have approved?
>
> If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10
> years, would you have approved?
>
>
> So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant
> and impressive?

Tim, I'm laughing here. That was funny. Yeah that's me, vindictive. Thanks that made my morning.

Hey, Gov Purdue.....you might want to ask Corzine what he's going to do now that he's been fired. You're going to be the next governor to be fired when the elections are held. You'll probably want a job or something to sustain you, you know? Being that comrade Obama couldnt save Corzine, and didnt even feel like saving Deeds, so dont expect him to come running to your side. Your predecessor trashed the office of governor in NC, you're continuing his work and your state has become one pathetic land of highly taxed, unemployed people. I really hope you're not as deluded as some of the posters here, thinking you're going to have a second term. What about Foxx? He's an after effect of the Obama "hope" that is still waiting to happen. He's the last of the ripples, the dingle-berry of the larger DUMP that previously happened in November 2008. Dont expect more of that after this. Things have begun to turn around already. Ask the people in NJ and VA.... :-)

"So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? " ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. There is nothing impressive about that fraud EXCEPT for the fact that he's spent millions of dollars hiding his birth certificate and school records, published works, etc. THAT I find impressive.

Jim,

Looks like we need to post as 1 oand 2. I am the Jim in the farther up answers and have nothing to do with the " ABSOLUTELY NOTHING " post above. Although had the poll question been on a completely different subject it may be substantive.

Hey GWB,
Thanks! You forgot a recent doozy. OHB cancelled the missile definse shield program for Poland on the 60th anniversary of the Soviet invasion. Now, don't you think anybody would know what the hell I'm talking about if you were still prez?

Unbelievable!

oops, BHO. I hope they don't come after me . . .

Oops, 70th.

give 'em hell, Keith Larson. All those idiots who wear the jersey and complain about Yankees, but are happy to take their money. If you want their money you have to accept their values. If it weren't for those Yankee invaders we would still be a village. If you prefer the village you can move to SC.

Karen,

They moved HERE. When in Rome do as the Romans do. They need to accept OUR values or get the heck out. They brought the money and bought the homes etc, but they have become a bad guest who has taken our remote control in our own living room.

Dan S, if your first instinct is to raise taxes, that's bad. I believe there is sufficient waste that needs to be eliminated first. But, if after going through all our spending and cutting where we can, we need to raise revenues to get the facilities and services we need, then that's what has to happen.

Kathy,

Just curious for your take on what facilities and services we need. Can you enlighten all of us please?

Thanks

Tess, I am sorry to hear you are tired. I am really energized. Go figure.

Loafer, how did that theory work for you in NY-23?

Hey, W! I think your "Get Motivated" speech reminded everyone why they voted for Obama. $4.95. Really? $4.95 to see our former President speak? I guess they really needed to figure out how to motivate people to go see you. But, teasing aside, instead of copying some chain email, why don’t you come up with your quips?

Its just a bunch of people, like kathy, who want government to buy them something. Thats all they do. BUY ME SOMETHING!! The reason? They can contribute a little bit but not enough to get the things in a normal private sector. They need "evil rich" people to contribute their "fair share" in order for them to get things. THATS the reason they don't mind higher taxes. Am I right?

Kathy: I think it is about time that all you dumbocrats wake up. Economics 101--if you can't afford it, you don't need it. do without. We do not need more programs and services for freeloaders and bums. If you want something go out and work for it. I have worked all my life and it sickens me to see what politics has come down to in this country, especially the democratic party. I used to be a democrat, but they left me, I got tired of all the social jerryrigging and pandering that they do. Who ever entered the post as George W. Bush hit the nail on the head. Just what does the democratic party have to be proud of? Turning our country into a socialist nation with an excuse for a president, speaker of the house, house of representives, senate. All filled with crooks, liars, killers(oops, he died) and other low life. As long as the democrats are in control of anything all of us had better bend over and assume the position. We are going to get shafted.

Right on david!! I am in college right now. I want to make something of myself. I don't want government to "give me stuff" 1. Because I believe in hard work. and 2. Because I don't want the government up my ass. Kathy, what happens if your kids want to make something of themselves, become wealthy. You had your chance and you are destroying theirs. HOW SELFISH!!

Will I Am, nope. You are not right. I don't know who the “evil rich” are you mention. Why would you think people are evil if they are rich? I don't see a connection. In fact, I think the opposite is true. Look at the good being done by rich people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, George Soros, T. Boone Pickens and our own local Hugh McColl.

With all this gnashing of teeth, how would any of this be any better with Lassiter? Admittedly, I vote for Lassy, for the lone reason of at least he owned a business. Other than that, they are the same person with wearing different jerseys.

David, "if you can't afford it, you don't need it." Really? How about children like Hope Stout, who can not afford the medical treatment they need? Oh, that's right. The Republican Health Care Plan is: Die fast!

Kathy, I think Will is speakng of the profiteers that the dems want to burden some more with taxes to help cover the expenses of the agenda they have. "Evil Rich" do indeed do a lot of good. You just have to wonder how long they can continue with the paymaster/pay czar at the helm with the ability to cut compensation at will.

Kathy: I will not lower myself to your level, except to say that you are a 100% IDIOT.

Kathy, my theory on NY-23? Not applicable! The conservative was not a Republican. The Republican ran as a liberal and then dropped out and endorsed the Democrat. Voter confusion resulted in the Democrat winning.

Oh, and Jim1, don't expect any answers from Kathy. When you ask for details she just ignores the question. Typical liberal non-response.

Tim, not wanting something and accepting something are not the same thing. I do not want to die, but I accept that it will happen. Get it? If A equals B, and given B, you can not deduce A. That would be a logical fallacy. It has nothing to do with hypocrisy.

Loafer, sure. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Listen to Limbaugh trying to spin the loss. It's too quaint. In the end, a Democrat took a seat that has been Republican for over 100 years. That's all that really counts. One more Democrat to push through the President's agenda. Thank you, Palin. We will take the seat any way we can get it.

david, you say you will not lower yourself....and then you do just that. Typical of your ilk.

Jim 1, I don't think you mean "profiteers".

Kathy,
Actually the Republican healthcare plan is the Medical Rights and Reform act. Look it up because the state run AP will never tell you about it, nor will any democrat admit it exists on national TV.

Additionally, please point to where the democrats you idiots re-elected to the city council, or the thief you elected as mayor has even made an attempt at cutting spending? So far they've just moved funding around and raised taxes... so please go ahead give examples of where they followed your ideas.

National White Water center? Bobcats Arena? Light Rail? Minor League Baseball stadium? Street Car? No wait those are all examples of stupid spending that caused tax increases or will cause tax increases. So please, I'm waiting on examples.

Yes I said thief. He got his wife a 6 figure gov't job during a hiring freeze. Reminds me of Sleasly.... and we see where he is.

Hey,

All of you NC Conservatives...

Come down to SC and join us. We have 1/2 a set of Real Senators and we will soon have Spratt retired. Spratt and the York County Democratic Chairman talk like they have nothing to fear from Mick Mulvaney.

Come down to watch the debates. Then bring your money and your values down here to where we still have some inkling that there is a constitution and we have the remains of a Republic.

You can always drive into Charlotte if you have to...but you will find that becomes rarer and rarer as you grow into the SC system.

Kathy and I.M. Dem....you need to stay right where you are....TOO many guns down here...too many of us backwood rednecks...just lookin' fer a fight.
You guys stay there where government will protect you.

Come on down conservatives....Oh and come watch our gubernatorial debate in February...Winthrop University...it will be awesome.

Dan S, Republicans had 14 years to come up with a health care plan. You had your chance. It's too late to say you're sorry.

I applaud the replacement of Mr McCrory. The position of Mayor of Charlotte is basically another pretty face except for the Mayoral veto. Lassiter would have provided some barrier to the policies of the new majority, at least most of them are new, but since Mr Foxx shares the same views as the majority of the council the veto is now also a sham.
It is time to put this election behind you and concentrate in the next two years on 14 new faces to replace those we've now elected, two years is enough time to allow for another diaper change, which will be needed.

All of you NC Conservatives...please heed Mark's advice.

poor george, hope springs eternal. Bless your heart.

GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!