For well more than four decades, News & Observer columnist and reporter Rob Christensen has chronicled the political landscape in the Old North State with an unbelievably objective, critical and careful eye. In short, there has been no one better in doing so. In fact, only he could pen such a wonderful and underrated history of N.C. politics as The Paradox of Politics. Seriously, every person who has an interest in politics in this somewhat schizo state should read it -- you'll have a better idea of how North Carolina works. I think. If you don't, it's not Christensen's fault; in fact, he paints such a vivid picture of how this could be a state of progressives that has the nation's best public university system, yet is also a state that has had one of the worst public lower ed systems in the country. A state that produced Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt, as well as Jesse Helms. A state that is at the cross hairs of the urban and rural divide.
That is why it is bittersweet that Christensen is winding down his career. There will no doubt be a chasm with his departure.
As he finishes up his career, he has also put together his list of "10 things he has learned" in 45 years of covering politics. There is no doubt that his list could reach well into the thousands. But Christensen is the quintessential newspaperman; he can write perfectly and clearly for the space needed.
Congrats on your retirement, Rob!
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