My guess is the N&R didn’t know just how true these words would be:

Perdue would have been better off sticking to that pattern rather than rambling through an inarticulate response to a question. Now she’s been turned into a figure of widespread scorn — at least until a new target presents itself. In today’s political environment, it won’t take long.

Presenting new target:

A state lawmaker and a group of Democratic political donors with ties to Gov. Beverly Perdue are poised to sell land at a handsome profit for a tire plant that’s being lured with $100 million in state and local incentives, according to public records reviewed by The Associated Press.

Still, the N&R’s statement that we’re not smart enough to pick up on the governor’s ‘sarcasm’ will sting for some time.