No Paycheck? Blame Art Pope

I've written so much stuff over the years that I can't find it. And on this particular one, this is the second time I couldn't find it. It's tough getting old. But don't let me distract you. (Like I haven't already.)

I'll keep this short and sweet because I want you to be able to read it for yourself. In 2010, a guy named Art Pope bought the mid-term election in North Carolina. He owns the Rose's department store (amongst other things) and is (surprise, surprise) a conservative. As you ought to know by now, the Democrats lost big in 2010, the Republicans took over and gerrymandered a bunch of Congressional districts, which ensured they'd keep the House of Representatives for a while.

One of the districts they redrew was North Carolina's 11th -- around Asheville, NC. As you might have guessed, Asheville is a hippy-dippy-artsy Democratic place surrounded by Conservative hillbillies.

The guy that took over NC-11 for the Republicans was Mark Meadows. He's another Conservative whack-a-doodle that is more than willing to whip up the Birthers and other whack-a-doodles whether he truly believes in their nonsense or not.

In August of 2013, Congressman Meadows (NC-11R) sends a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner and suggests he refuse to fund the government unless Democrats agree to defund Obamacare. (Side note: Send this link to your Conservative friends that need to know how Obamacare is doing.)

So, it's a straight shot for you. Billionaire buys the North Carolina election for the Republicans, Republicans redraw the electoral map, a Democrat gets replaced by a Republican in a previously liberal district and the next thing you know, I'm locked out of Yellowstone and you don't have a paycheck.

Who are you going to vote for next year?

Here's the link to the New Yorker story you should have read back in 2011:

State for Sale -- A conservative multimillionaire has taken control in North Carolina, one of 2012’s top battlegrounds.

And you can click on the video below for Rachel Maddow's briefing on Mark Meadows.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Don Brown
October 12, 2013