CNBC Presidential Debate: Surprised Perry Remembered to Attend
The debate on CNBC was…revealing at best. Rick Perry, effectively, ended his candidacy for good tonight. Cain showed more signs of being human while the 999 plan became more annoying as the debate went on. Gingrich sounded more and more Presidential. Finally, Romney continued to seal his front-runner status without any major blunders. Here is an analysis and the grades I think they deserve.
The worst performance of the night goes to Rick Perry. Simply put, he’s through. Truthfully, he was through a long time ago but tonight sealed the deal for him. He would benefit by going home to Texas and allowing his staff to continue running the state for the rest of his term. Perry said he would eliminate three departments and stated “I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, Education, and the — What’s the third one there? Let’s see.” He had to ask Ron Paul for assistance, Rep. Paul suggested the EPA, Perry obliged. Then he changed his mind and still could not remember.
This was, perhaps, the biggest blunder of the entire campaign season if not in the past 3 decades. This was painful for anyone watching, regardless of whether you support him or not. He’s like a mini-Bush but not as polished. I can’t believe I am actually saying that. I am expecting the headlines Thursday morning to read: “Perry withdraws from race, endorses someone but forgets who.”
Even with all of his money, he will not recover. There is no hope. If you support Perry, I suggest finding someone else because he will not be running much longer. If he does stay in, he is in for a terrible defeat in January. For the guy I thought could be President a few months ago, I have to confidently say he is through. He gets a D- tonight, only because his tax plan does make pretty good sense.
Bachman is largely an idealist and if I fact checked everything she said tonight, I am certain I would catch her in a few stories that are not based on fact. Her constituents think she is out of her mind, at least the constituents I have talked too, and tonight, she seemed slightly out-of-touch as usual. She likes to tell stories and uses fear mongering to win people over. It’s an old political trick that is somewhat effective..especially at tea parties. But on a national stage, saying we will be paying for China’s army..well, that is too much. She did make a few good points, especially on Tax Issues..she knows that topic well. Thank God she didn’t mention she was a “federal tax lawyer” for once..for that, I give her a C.
Santorum was so forgettable that I remember nothing that he said. He comes across as an irritated and disgusted Baptist preacher…except for that fact he is Catholic. I think it’s very clear that Santorum knows he isn’t going to be President, he wants something else. I’m not sure what, because Santorum as the VP would not necessarily bring in Pennsylvania and would not necessarily bring in any more Christian Conservatives than let’s say, Bachman.
He likes to remind people that he is the only candidate to beat democrats in Pennsylvania…but perhaps we should remind him he is also the only Republican to lose a big re-election to a democrat. At least Santorum wore a shiny blue tie tonight. That made him stand out. Unfortunately, he just shouts and does not connect. I’ve met him and talked with him…he does not come across in the way a President should. Nice guy, just not right to be President. I am not even giving him a grade…he’s Below a B, that’s about all I will say about him.
Gingrich is, by far, the smartest guy on stage. He handled the female moderator like she was a student in his college lecture. Nothing seemed to ruffle Newt’s feathers. He was articulate, spoke with conviction, and spoke with intelligence. These are three qualities that I feel Romney needs to learn in a hurry. Gingrich hit the nail on the head when he said we need to audit the Federal Reserve and investigate the people Bernanke has been bailing out. That was a huge plus. I don’t believe Gingrich is a nationally viable candidate at the moment though. His personality is dull and I really feel that he would be better at the bottom of a Presidential ticket, especially for someone lacking Conservative credentials.
Newt may surprise us and may very well rise in the polls. However, polls are not significant, the ground game in New Hampshire and Iowa is. Gingrich doesn’t have the organized ground game to win right now. We will see if these strong debates pay off for him. I will say, putting Gingrich on stage with Obama would be epic. This would be the first time in recent memory that a sitting President was completely humiliated on live television. It would be ratings gold. But imagine something even better…Gingrich v. Biden in the VP debate…that would be quality entertainment. Newt gets an A-.
Mitt Romney was great tonight and for the first time seemed to speak with real conviction rather than out of defense. But I do not like his flip flopping. I like a candidate who doesn’t change their mind to appease people. However, tonight, Romney had it together. His plans for jobs are sound and I feel like he has the tough rhetoric needed to fight China in the trade war that is brewing. I also liked his alternative bailout plan of bringing in private investors.
Given, I don’t enjoy listening to him talk because he acts like he is doing everyone a favor by speaking, and when he laughs, it seems too forced. But if I had to pick the guy who could put the economy on the right track, Mitt Romney would be my choice. I also liked hearing him say “I will never apologize as President of the United States of America.” Pretty good talk, let’s hope he doesn’t change his mind. He has the experience and has the plan. His wife is also a pretty amazing person, met her my sophomore year of college. Tonight, he did nothing to lose his frontrunner status, so he gets an A- as well.
Finally, Herman Cain. First of all, people booed when he was asked about the American people hiring a President with character issues. However, this was not a boo at Herman but a boo at the left-leaning moderator for bringing up this subject at an economic debate. Herman handled it well and Romney showed class by not responding, even though he had a chance to. Unfortunately, Cain is beginning to sound like a broken record. Hearing about 999, in almost every response, is too repetitive. I do commend him for getting back on message by talking about the economy. However, every time he talks about the economy, he has to mention the dreadful 999.
I should explain why 999 makes me so angry. This plan would cause sales tax to be 15-18%, not 9%. Mr. Cain fails to mention there is still a state sales tax. Without giving low-income and middle-class Americans pre-bates, I believe this plan is a disaster. He grew up in a poor family, he should know how hard it is to get by. He should have stuck with the Fair Tax. I felt like Cain did not give specifics but told generalizations on what he wanted to do. This is troublesome for a President. He needs to hire a competent staff and to surround himself with policymakers. I would also suggest he find himself a good Middle Eastern policy adviser because avoiding these questions is not Presidential. Truthfully, Cain is a feel good story but not someone that is ready to be President. Cain still gets a B+ tonight because things could have gone really poorly but he did a nice job.
I am not bothering to discuss Ron Paul because it’s just more of the same rhetoric that should be in a Harvard classroom rather than presented to the American people. The average American is not going to connect or understand most of the things Paul says. However, he is growing on people but will never become President.
Huntsman is brilliant but also a brilliant jerk. He comes across to stiff and too Ivy League. He is like that antagonist you always disliked in an 80’s cult classic. I’m not going to waste my time analyzing either because they are not going to be contenders or VP nominees.
If the Republican Convention were tomorrow, I would make the following predictions: Romney/Rubio, Romney/Gingrich, or possibly Romney/Cain. I do not believe Cain would win the nomination if the election were tomorrow. There are still too many questions about Cain, to realistically look at him as anything other than a Vice-Presidential contender. For the next week, I predict that Cain loses 1.5-5% in the national polls. Romney will probably stay the same and Gingrich will probably move up 2-8% points. The undecided will decrease by 1-2% points.
The most interesting development will be when Perry drops out of the race. Will his supporters go for Romney or will they rally around Cain or Gingrich?
Who is the biggest loser? That is Rick Perry and he didn’ t have to run 5 miles a day and go on a diet. Biggest Victor? Romney, Gingrich, and Cain because he did not blow it.
The S.C. GOP Vice-Presidential Debate: Wait, I mean Presidential
This debate came with no surprises. If you missed it, you likely missed seeing one of the future GOP nominees for Vice President. 
I’ve called it. None of the candidates in this first debate will be the Presidential nominee. I’m sorry, I’m sure I disappointed a few of you, but I speak the truth even if it hurts.
I call this with about 80% certainty because you never know when someone is going to burst out of their shell and surprise you. However, I find it likely none will be taking front runner status from this debate. Here is a quick rundown of the candidates and my opinion of each candidate’s performance.
Ron Paul: He often seemed like a sleepy and agitated old man. His performance is no different than his performances in the past. He spoke as a strong libertarian would. He opposed “secret” military prisons and advocated for gay rights. 
I found myself agreeing with him on many issues but I also disagree with him adamantly on defense issues and believe he has a very fatalistic outlook on securing America and our place in the world. He will have no greater chance at the Presidency this time than he did before. I hate to say that because I really like the guy and he has been really nice to me in the past. He’s a fantastic guy to sit down and talk with, as I have. However, based on content, I have to give him a B-
Gary Johnson- He rarely said anything but from what he said, he is 100% never going to be President or Vice-President. He won’t be on the cabinet either. He is wasting his money and time by staying in this race. He lacks the confidence, decisiveness, and charisma to be a world leader..another libertarian but he is no Ron Paul. Gary throws his hands in the air like an angry mother at her toddler eating mushrooms in the yard. It’s time for him to call it quits. I gave him a C- and I am being very generous.
Herman Cain- He responded as a true business man would. He advocated an objective and advocated knowing what the end game should be in any circumstance whether domestic or foreign. He is relatively new to politics and leeway can be given to him for this debate. I found myself saying “Amen” on several of his stances.
I think this guy is the real deal, don’t get me wrong. However, his lack of charisma at times and lack of foreign policy experience could be a negative. Mr. Cain could surprise us all, continue making great progress, and be a dark horse candidate in this race.
But my guess, if anything, is he will be in the running for Vice-President but will likely end up as a frontrunner for Secretary of Commerce in a new administration. I give him a B+ and I’m proud to do so.
Tim Pawlenty- decisive, knowledgeable, sure of himself, and ready to lead…as Vice President. He was spot on tonight with everything he said. However, he often lacks charisma, something needed to beat Obama. I am also unsure at how far his message can reach at the front of a ticket. Overall, he was pretty good tonight and he earned points with his rant against the Government for interfering in the Boeing deal in Charleston. However, his views on cap and trade have certainly hurt him. But I still give him an A- for tonight because in a weak crop of candidates, he is one of the stronger ones.
Rick Santorum- I am extremely undecided about him. His performance tonight was right on the money with the Conservative GOP message. He was the most confident out of all candidates tonight. However, he lacks the “wow” factor that will take him over the top in 2012. He can’t beat Obama..let’s face it. 
He may have beaten 3 other democrats in Pennsylvania races, but he can’t beat the biggest democrat in the White House.
However, if a more centrist and suspect -Conservative GOP candidate wins the nomination; he is an ideal candidate to boost conservative credentials on any ticket. I give him an A- for his performance, but I would like to see him relate better with other areas of the party rather than the hardcore, right wing side.
A quick wrap- Pawlenty and Santorum win this debate and who is better is just a matter of personal preference, Cain is the darkhorse, Paul is Paul, and Johnson needs to quit before he continues to embarrass himself.
Tonight needs to be considered a Vice Presidential debate and nothing more. The next President, by election, was very likely, not on the stage in Greenville. The big boys have yet to arrive. However, I search my brain hoping Gingrich, Romney, Trump and Co. can be considered big boys. I have my serious doubts.
It is going to take more to beat a sitting President. Many, including myself, relate Obama to Jimmy Carter. However, Jimmy Carter did not free the folks in the Iran-Contra affair. Obama has Bin Laden’s death to his name. That is the significant difference that could help pull Obama over the top if the GOP candidate is not strong, charismatic, decisive, and ready to be everything Obama was not.
Right now, the GOP crop is full of what the democrats used to have: Walter Mondales, Michael Dukakisis, and George McGoverns. As we all know, none of them reached much success on the national level. I hope someone steps up soon, or steps out of their shell if they have already stepped up, and lets the country know they are ready to be the image of the Executive branch for the next eight years.
A Taxing Situation
I happened to check out The Hill today and as a result, my focus on unity, peace, and love for the Liberals in Washington quickly decreased.
Obama and Co. can take partial credit for shooting a terrorist who needed to be killed, but it still doesn’t fix the biggest problems in our country: THE ECONOMY and now, SENATOR KENT CONRAD.
Senator Kent Conrad, a democrat from North Dakota. has a plan, and believe me, it’s quite a plan! As the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he is now pushing a new tax plan that will tax every American based on how many miles they drive. This differs from the current gas tax because the government will basically become more “Big Brotherish” and keep a closer look on motorists.
Why is this a “taxing situation?” Frankly, the way they want to keep track is pretty scary. These guys must be in cahoots with Steve Jobs over at apple. They want to put tracking devices in every American vehicle. These devices will keep track of the mileage and people will be required to pay the tax at gas stations.
Seriously? I mean, really? And no, this isn’t some tea party or government conspiracy talk, it’s true. It sounds more like something out of a Science Fiction movie but it’s here..electronically tracking us to pay taxes.
What is next, a tax on how many times we flush the toilet every day? I guess nursing homes will go out of business! Better yet, a tax on profanity. There we go. Every time you say “Damn” that is .25 cents. Worse curse words are taxed more heavily. I guess Joe Biden would be in big trouble if this were the case.
While the price of gas is rising to nearly historical levels, the democrats in D.C. apparently want to move towards another historic move: The extinction of automobiles. I cannot wait to see how liberal scientist Bill Nye will try to explain this. It’s easy. I’ll help him out. It’s a cataclysm called “Liberalistic Geo-shifting of the Transportation Infrastructure.”
There Bill Nye, hope that helps. Seriously though, how do they think Americans will afford yet another tax, to increase the cost of driving, that will supposedly benefit our highways?
For states like South Carolina, Maine, and New Hampshire, the funds collected will go to bigger states like California and New York. Have you driven on a road in South Carolina any time lately? They are horrible. Part of this is the state legislature’s fault in South Carolina and part of it is the Federal Funds South Carolina gets, go to putting Jim Clyburn’s name on various universities instead of paving the roads. Just saying.
It doesn’t make up for the simple truth that roads in other parts of the country are fantastic. Don’t think for one second that a tax like this would restore the roads in a smaller state like South Carolina. The money would never see the light of day in small states.
In conclusion, this assault on the American pocket book is just another liberal plan to cripple an already decaying economy to the point of no return. If there are benefits, I would certainly like to see them. Unfortunately, by the time any benefit are seen, no one will be driving on roads to enjoy their restoration!
Thanks Kent Conrad! Way to help out the American people. Better get used to being chauffeured around piggy back style!
By MEB
If you want to read more in depth about the plan, check out: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/159397-obama-floats-plan-to-tax-cars-by-the-mile
Social Media and Technology: Don’t Get Bogged Down, Avoid The Mud
Lately, I find myself analyzing political candidates or the Middle East, making far leftist liberals or Muslims mad with something I say that doesn’t line up with their worldview, or just not writing or speaking at all when it comes to politics. 
Recently, I had a few people come to me and ask me to write about my predictions and thoughts on Social Media and the future of political campaigns. This article will probably not interest most of you, just a forewarning. But if you are a consultant, politician, or someone interested in the subject, read on.
I’d like to start with talking about my first computer. I was in 2nd grade and the only computer I had used was one in my 1st grade computer lab. Then one day, my dad told me to “look out for the cow box from Gateway.” When it arrived, I realized…I got this huge tower computer with awesome games like “Myst” and this awesome program called Encarta Encyclopedia 95. I thought, “ wow, this is as good as it gets or will ever get. I am in heaven being able to type out my homework and play super awesome games that only take 8 minutes to load.” The hard drive was tiny, under 10 Gigabytes and the memory was absolutely pathetic. But at the time, no one could see anything better.
Those that saw the future and invested in companies like DELL and especially Apple in 1995, would have really seen a tremendous pay off now wouldn’t’ they?
So back to social media. Today, politicos, politicians, the media, Jimmy Fallon, and of course, members of the Jersey Shore just love to talk about social media. Twitter, Facebook, Four Square…must I go on?
Political folks think that social media is the way of the future and if you don’t get on social media now, then you are missing out and way behind. The first problem with that is simple…if you get on now, it’s already too late to make an impact. Those that got on social media early, I’m not going to say any names but *cough* Barack *cough* Obama sure did, really reaped the seeds of their harvest. You win Presidencies and you win elections, period, by staying ahead of the trends, not joining them as they are on the decline. The problem with social media and technology, period, is their unkind expiration date.
Most people will call me crazy and think I’ve lost my mind if I say Twitter and Facebook are on the decline…but I have to admit, they are. But all current technology is, so don’t’ think I’m discriminating solely against social networks. For any politician and/or consultant reading this, pushing social media is effective to stay up with the status quo and to build your list of contacts, but getting active in a social network now is not going to give you any advantage at all because you have already missed out on the trend. It’s just like the stock market. Get on in the beginning when it isn’t popular, ride it to the peak, sell, and let others fail miserably as they watch it drop.
Now you are wondering, what does this idiot think political campaigns or politicians of the future should be focusing on if they don’t focus on social media and current technology? Well, the real issue and the ongoing issue since the beginning of political campaigns is this..Getting the candidate in front of the voters as frequently and positively as possible. If you didn’t get on the social network boom when it first started booming, you missed out, not totally, but you missed out.
Just like the computer that I had in 1995, bigger and better things were being made when I opened that cow box from Gateway. My mind was so focused on how good the present was, I forgot ALL about the future and what it could hold. Those caught up on social media can’t believe there would ever be better technological advancements that could make their campaign life better. Did anyone ever think Myspace would be fifth to anything?? It was huge for a while, now look at it? While those of you that I describe above stay stuck in your glaze, others are out there innovating and will beat you in newer, technologically growing future elections. The Obamas of the world tap into new things while the McCains catch on a little too late…yeah, hate to say that, but it’s the truth.
So, using this thought, politicians and political campaigns of the future will have to remember three things in order to succeed in the ever changing technological environment: 1. Look towards the technologies of tomorrow and not the ones of today while maintaining the campaign status quo and staying equal with your opponent’s presence on networks. 2. Spend your resources on new and innovative ways to get face time with voters and/or constituents, not on currently popular but expiring Social Media Networks 3. Don’t be afraid to take a risk on unproven campaign technologies and out the box advertising methods.
In short, there will always be some value to mailers as long as the post office is still running. Campaign signs, while I think they are pretty ineffective, still give name recognition. So, as long as people can read, still do signs for your campaigns. Stay on facebook and twitter because people will still use these networks but they will not be used as much in the future. But the focus of future campaigns and constituent service should be on the newer technology. I divide that up in 2 groups: 1. Literally, the new technology. 2. Out the box advertising that is not commonplace.
What is this new technology you wonder? The technology boom of the next decade, which we are lightly experiencing now, is 3D technology. Most new TVs are being produced with 3D technology now. Computers will have this as a common feature by the end of the decade if not the middle. The ability to watch TV on a cell phone is huge as well. If TVs, portable devices, and computers all have 3D compatibility, a campaign should harness this technology as soon as it is available. This will allow for a more personal experience in the homes of voters. They will see their candidates coming through their tv, portable device, or computer monitor. How personal is this??? Think of the potential.
The other piece of technology that we are not far from having widespread, is holographic technology. This is when the entire structure of political campaigns changes completely. You think I sound crazy like Walt Disney? Catch this: the air force already has it on a light scale and so does CNN. Only the democrats know about that though! Once it gets here for personal use, future campaigns better grab onto it no matter how much it costs. The first presidential candidate that is likeable and presentable enough, that harnesses holographic imagery to reach out to voters, will have a tremendous advantage, no doubt. It’s here, we are just waiting for it to be in the homes of the voters.
Why? Because people want to touch their candidate, understand their candidate, and connect with their candidate. And no, their candidate should not be on e-harmony nor is this an advertisement for THAT social network. Holographic technology eliminates the need for door to door campaigning and the need for mailers. If the voter can put their candidate in their living room any time, why would that candidate need to knock on their door?
Widespread 3D technology and Holographic Technology will eliminate the need for many outreach methods…perhaps even social networks. These are just two ideas.
As for innovative advertising. Well, in the past elections, I witnessed the same, boring, old campaign ads. “Hi I’m blah blah, vote for me because of blah. Thank you and God Bless America” I told a candidate for Governor, when they asked my advice, to think out the box and quit putting up boring policy ads.
See, no one wants to hear that crap. I’m sorry, I know it’s tempting but stop it, please. If you want to succeed in the future and win an election with an ad, make your ads like the non-political ads on television. THEY WORK! Be creative, be innovative, even add some humor to take attention from the carpel tunnel you have received from putting so much emphasis on the expiring twitter. It’s okay to be funny, it’s okay to be out the box, it’s okay to be different. I wonder what would have happened for this candidate had they listened to me and been different.
The point of my entire article is to say one thing bluntly, STOP GETTING GIDDY OVER EXPIRING SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY AND START LOOKING TO WHAT THE NEXT BIG THING IS.
The Little Rascals: Spanky and the Gang
Tomorrow is the big day. The day everything changes or…..just begins again.
We will be electing more little rascals to follow a new Governor, their Spanky.
There are a lot of people asking me about this candidate and that candidate and who to vote for. So, I am going to give you my recommendations for the overall, BEST CANDIDATE for each job.
Governor:
Andre Bauer: Andre, the next Spanky, has the most common sense approach to fixing our problems. It starts with common sense, it ends with more jobs, economic growth, and South Carolinians that are a lot less government dependent. 
Andre walks the walk and he talks the talk. He’s one of the most transparent people in S.C. Politics. He has the experience to do the job right and you won’t be sorry if you vote for him.
Side note: Any of the candidates are better than train wreck in the waiting, Nikki Haley. Please do South Carolina a favor and avoid voting for her. She preaches transparency but she isn’t transparent, missed 70% of the House votes for transparency related bills, and she doesn’t know how to work with people (sounds eerily familiar to Mark Sanford) which is why she was reduced in leadership in the House.
Update: 8:09 PM Larry Marchant has passed a lie detector test confirming his physical relationship with the married Nikki Haley. This is the second lie detector test that has been released today. Lt. Gov Andre Bauer passed his test to confirm he had nothing to do with the spinning of the Haley affair. Looks like the wall is coming down on Haley guys!
Lieutenant Governor:
Ken Ard or Bill Connor: I worked for Ken and he is a smart businessman and he will do a great job for South Carolina. Ken knows business, he knows jobs, and he knows how to work with people. I have a lot of admiration for him and think he would do a good job.
Bill Connor is a fellow Citadel Alumni and he is a solid Conservative. Lately, he has taken a lot of heat from Larry Richter. The heat he has taken was not deserved and was WRONG. Larry has been disrespectful and anyone that has served in the military of any service or academy should be extremely upset. Bill was brave and served our country well and wants to be the same kind of leader in our State Senate. He would definitely shake things up. I urge you to read Ken and Bill’s websites to learn more about them. This is truly a preference position.
Side Note: DO NOT vote for LARRY RICHTER. His past of underhanded dealings, bribery accusations, removal from his judgeship, and accused drug use makes him a poor candidate. But his recent disrespect to Bill Connor makes him even worse. He has no respect for our military men and women. DO NOT give him your vote.
Attorney General:
Alan Wilson is hands down the best choice (read my article below for more details). His personality, military service, prosecuting experience, and burning desire to keep us all safe is just a few reasons that make him an incredible candidate.
His two opponents are great lawyers and would do a fine job as well. The difference in this race is that Alan Wilson won’t do a fine job, he will do a FANTASTIC job. South Carolina is better than fine. This state deserves FANTASTIC.
Superintendent of Education:
If you are looking for someone with more executive experience and a track record of success in fixing education problems, Gen. Mick Zais is your best bet. If you want a new type of candidate, a school teacher and conservative, Kelly Payne is a great choice.
Treasurer’s Race:
Curtis Loftis is the most conservative and responsible choice. Converse Chellis has wasted tax payer dollars for far too long, definitely isn’t a Conservative, and he was also sued for fraud, sexual harassment, and a poor work ethic by his former business partner (reportedly settled for over 250,000). However, Chellis is a pretty nice guy. Unfortunately, being a nice guy isn’t enough. Loftis is the Conservative and responsible choice S.C. needs.
SC 1st Congressional District:
Carroll Campbell III is the best choice for this position. He has the business leadership that will bring jobs and I-73 to Myrtle beach.
He is a solid Conservative, believes in his father’s philosophy of “Building Relationships” to get business done for his district.
Unlike other people running this election cycle, Carroll IS NOT a career politician. A great guy and he will be a great congressman.
SC 6th Congressional District
Jim Pratt: I shouldn’t be giving this race any credibility at all by posting it on here but I have been asked about it. There is no chance a Republican will EVER win this district. It hasn’t happened, it won’t happen this time, and it won’t happen in the future. It doesn’t matter who you are, how famous you might be, or how much money you have…it cannot be won! With all this in mind, if you have to pick someone, Jim Pratt is about as sane as it gets. Another positive note, he doesn’t refer to himself as “The Clint Eastwood of Marion.” Vote Pratt if you don’t abstain.
This is the rundown as I see it. I tried to be as fair as possible. Tomorrow, your vote is power. Exercise it wisely and remember, the choices you make have the potential to improve or cripple the Republican party. No longer can we afford to take steps back or continue doing the same failed policies of our current Governor. We need to move forward, reform our government, and get things working right for once. Most importantly, don’t believe someone’s lies just because you don’t want negative stuff about them to be true. In the end, the wall a lie rests on will not only crumple itself but those that stand near it.
By MEB
The Race for S.C. Attorney General: Who Will Put the Joker Away?
While the feet of gubernatorial candidates are shuffling as controversy rises like smoke from a burning Rome, another race is a lot quieter but just as important. This race is for Attorney General of South Carolina. There are three candidates as many of you know: Alan Wilson, Leighton Lord, and Robert Bolchoz. All three of these guys are great people. They all know law like they know their wives. They would all do a great job at putting bad guys behind bars. The problem is, South Carolina needs one Attorney General, not three. Let’s get down to business.
I will immediately knock Bolchoz out of the race. He doesn’t have the name recognition or the likability factor to garner the votes this Tuesday. His polling hasn’t been very good and his message has come across as extreme to many. While many agree with him on most issues, his positions would be better suited towards a run for Congress.
I can confidently say this race is between two people: Wilson and “The” Lord. Following in the footsteps of two incredible Attorney Generals, Henry McMaster and Charlie Condon, is going to be quite difficult. What many thought would be hard for McMaster became quite simple. His impressive and almost legendary work against sex offenders has put his predecessor, Charlie Condon, in Columbia’s shadows. The question is: who can take over this office and make McMaster look “average”? Is that even possible?
Leighton Lord touts his experience running triathlons. He uses this as an outreach to kids. When he talked about this experience and his outreach, his hopes were to show how much effort he has put into caring about South Carolina children. Isn’t that nice? However, while “The” Lord has been running triathlons and reaching out to underprivileged kids, Alan Wilson has had his own outreach program.
See, Alan Wilson knows a thing or two about running. He ran as bullets were shot his way in Iraq. He protected Iraqi children from the harsh dictatorship they were used to. He protected kids in Iraq who, compared to America’s underprivileged, were much worse off. Alan put his life on the line as he ran and deflected bullets for children. He doesn’t have to run a triathlon to prove he would protect children in South Carolina, he just puts on his camouflage and shows his medals.
The next experience factor is with prosecuting. Leighton Lord worked in Washington and did a great job putting away “Asian” gangs. He hopes to put “Asian” gangs away in South Carolina too since there is such a problem with them (news to many of us). Leighton was a hard fighter against organized crime and he is a brilliant attorney. There is no question as to his incredible skills, he is truly brilliant. He touts his experience working with prosecutors and telling them what to do while in Washington.
Alan Wilson, on the other hand, knows what the role of a prosecutor is because he was one. Leighton has never prosecuted a case to put a bad guy away. Alan has been assistant attorney general and has helped a “GREAT” attorney General put sex offenders behind bars. Alan didn’t have to work for a Senate Committee, even though he could have, to know about being a prosecutor. He has seen the worst of violence whether in Iraq or on our dangerous streets. Alan has gotten his hands dirty for the people of our state and our World. He knows the only effective way to stop crime is to cut it at crime’s throat. If you don’t believe me, believe the sixty prosecutors around the state that have endorsed him with open arms. Sixty!
Leighton Lord often talks about knowing the proper roles people should play and directing them to do so. He knows what but Alan Wilson knows what and how. Leighton may be a great lawyer who can negotiate a questionable deal with Boeing, but Alan Wilson is a worker than won’t always delegate, he will do. .
Finally, no offense to veterans, Leighton Lord reminds me a lot of the war in Vietnam. It was fought with a bunch of people in Washington that were far away from the battle. They said what to do, but they didn’t know how. This turned out to be a terrible disaster as you may remember. Alan Wilson is an example of the brave men that fought that war, not the bureaucrats that tried to run it. He knows what and he knows how to win no matter the situation. We do not need any more quagmires now do we? Whether he is under fire or is putting a sex offender behind bars, Alan knows how to make us safer.
Many say Alan is “too young and inexperienced.” I have also heard, “this isn’t Alan’s time yet; it’s Leighton’s turn.” But I ask a simple question. Had MANY Republicans not said, “It isn’t ______’s (fill in 2008 Presidential Candidate other than McCain) time yet; it’s McCain’s turn,” our country would be freer and a lot safer right now.
Let’s not make the same mistake many made back in 2008. Even if Alan is young, he has the experience to protect each and every South Carolinian. He has done it on the battlefield and in the court room. His opponent knows how to direct and be a lawyer. But South Carolina doesn’t need another bureaucrat and just another lawyer. South Carolina needs a leader and a fighter too. I hate to say it, but this is something “The” Lord knows little about when it comes to working outside of his law practice.
After knowing, working with, and walking with Alan’s father, Congressman Joe Wilson, I know the set of values and integrity Alan has. He comes from a father that has fought for his country and stood up for his people, even when it was unpopular, against a corrupt President. Alan isn’t his father. Alan has a different drive. He has different goals.
But he has the same personal bravery, integrity, and call to duty for the people of South Carolina. I have no doubt that Alan will stand out and will stand up for South Carolinians. He is a leader and a fighter. He is the stand up guy our state and our family’s need. Alan is the “Batman” to put every “Joker” away. He will be getting my vote on Tuesday, I hope he gets yours.
By Mitchell E. Baroody
A Night with the Governor Candidates: The Good, The Bad, The Contradictory
Tuesday night’s Gubernatorial debate was not the heated explosion some may have hoped for. However, this debate effectively represented each of the candidates for who they are….or who they think they are.
The following is a summary of what I gathered from each candidate: Bauer is confident, knows what he wants, and he wants to cut government waste and stop generational dependency; Gresham Barrett loves God, wants jobs, and has 8 ways to bring them;
McMaster touts his proven leadership abilities, has no clear and decisive plan for anything, but believes he is the only candidate that can effectively execute the laws from the legislature to the homes of the people; finally, Nikki Haley hates government, anyone that disagrees with her ideas, will intimidate those that disagree with her, and is basically Mark Sanford on steroids.
Before I begin a thorough analysis, let me say this. Bauer, Barrett, and McMaster deserve a pat on the back for staying after the debate, answering many questions, and greeting those in attendance including young children that recognized them from TV and school. I will have to say, I am quite disappointed in Mrs. Haley for not taking the time to greet the people in attendance, especially the kids. She obviously thinks her current “Front Runner” status exempts her from meeting the people in Florence, especially kids.
Now for the analysis. First we will start with Gresham Barrett. 
Barrett was impressive and VERY unimpressive on certain issues. He was one of the few that actually mentioned a plan for bringing jobs. He mentioned his 8 step plan and actually knew what each step was.
He identified himself as a job ambassador and constantly referred to former Governor Campbell as someone to idolize himself after. While bringing jobs sounds nice, let’s look at one way he wants to do it. He said that tourism is crucial to making our state grow, especially marketing areas like Myrtle Beach. He mentioned bringing 2,000 jobs by building an oil rig off the shores of the Myrtle Beach area. For this….I say really? Common sense says this is a bad idea right now.
After the disaster in the Gulf, should we truly continue putting faith in offshore drilling, miles and miles from the coast? What if another company messes up and floods our coasts? This will screw up tourism for years. The Myrtle Beach economy would have quite a lot of trouble recovering. This has disaster all over it. These candidates, especially Congressman Barrett, cannot be for beach tourism and for offshore drilling. Gresham continued to indirectly refer to no child left behind, and the bush tax cuts that put our country into an incredible deficit (along with the war).
This only reminded me of one thing, his bailout vote. He seems more and more like the non-conservative President Bush was. I cannot see Gresham as anything more than a Social Conservative. I give him that because he talks the Christian talk. Overall, he’s a nice guy but he didn’t win the debate. Even though I disagree with a great deal of what he says, I give him 2nd place for being decisive. As a candidate, he’s pretty good. But some of his stuff is just hard to stomach.
Attorney General McMaster is another story all together. While he is a friendly guy, amusing to listen to, and fun to watch, there is no way this guy is going to be governor. I’m sorry to bust the bubble of so many, but he isn’t going to do it. This election year is very, very important for our state. People are listening more than ever. When you listen to Henry, who I often refer to as General Lee, he does stay on message.
The bad thing is, his message has nothing to do with actual policies. He touts his experience as an executor, putting sex predators behind bars, and making everything safer. He makes it sound like he is the only one that knows how to do the job because of his tenure bankrupting the state Republican Party and doing a pretty fantastic job as Attorney General. Being Governor and being Attorney General are two different ballgames though. Henry was given the chance to show himself as a true conservative candidate.
All he could say was “I want a strategic plan” for economic development. In other words, there is no plan. His connection to Reagan and his past performances as an executor will make everything fix itself…apparently. I was disappointed most in Henry because he really had a chance tonight…but he failed…not just a fail but a miserable fail. He was fourth place tonight.
While I was very disappointed in Nikki Haley’s sudden rush off, after the debate, I found myself agreeing with her on certain points. For once, we do need to audit every government agency. 
We need to find out where and why our agencies are losing money.
I agree with her on this. She wants to put more energy into small business. I completely agree with her that an environment for small business is necessary. She spoke against the corruption and lack of conservatism in the state house and will fight it. She will also bring more accountability and transparency to the table. Hold up…wait a minute…let’s go back to the corruption first.
She wants to fight corruption in the state house. She said she will exert her influence on legislators that will not support her reform efforts. In other words, she will intimidate legislators into backing her agenda. If they do not, she specifically said, she will expose them in the media through lists. This doesn’t sound too nice. She is going to be a dictator?
I guess having an opinion other than your Governor will no longer be allowed. Furthermore, checks and balances will be history under Nikki. If you disagree, you better just quit or you will be exposed as a burden to the taxpayers.
Next, she spoke about accountability and transparency. Wow….that is all I have to say. Nikki wants more accountability for the legislators. However, according to a credible but unnamed source of mine, she was absent over 70% of the time for these votes in the house. This includes one of the votes that would increase accountability and transparency. Unbelievable huh? It gets better. For a woman touting transparency, she isn’t very transparent.
There is a VERY well known “secret” that was just let out about her and blogger, Will Folks. Many claim it isn’t true. Many of the same people that were talking about how true it was several years ago are now claiming how false it is. The best way this could be solved is if legislators were transparent, right? That is what Nikki would say, correct?
But when asked for her emails and logs as a legislator, she will not clear the air by releasing them. She is talking the talk but not walking the walk. What is the conclusion based on this and her not filing legal action against the alleged accuser? The conclusion is simple. The affair probably happened, as I heard it did several years ago, and she is probably not being very truthful right now. I look forward to seeing more evidence in the upcoming weeks.
As a candidate, she is nothing more than Mark Sanford on steroids. She has the ideologue politics, she may or may not have the mastress, and she doesn’t practice what she preaches. Yikes, four more years of this? She said we need an accountant as Governor. I agree, that would be helpful at times, but the answer isn’t Accountant Haley. A businessman with experience balancing budgets and saving money would be just as effective. Despite everything on the table, she still did better than Henry. I give her third for this debate. Unfortunately, it looks like she will probably lead the pack for first in the primary. But there are still a few days left!
Andre standing under Calhoun in State Senate
Finally, Lt. Governor Andre Bauer. While I have been kind to Andre on my website before, my purpose has been to be very objective in this article…with only slight subjectivity. Andre hasn’t changed very much. He continues to tout the same message he has always been bringing. He wants to bring us out of the Stone Age. Andre said, “The answer to our school systems isn’t throwing money at it.
The answer is to fix the discipline system.” He continued to talk about saving money, how he has always conserved money and in fact, given 400,000 dollars back to the state. He claims to have been the only member to travel and actually sit down with companies to bring them to the state.
If anyone knows how to be a jobs ambassador, Andre does. He only speaks common sense. Everyone can identify with what Andre said tonight. You don’t ever find yourself questioning what he says.
The problem for many is that he makes too much sense. People can’t understand why a politician would be so incredibly upfront. Tonight, he was so confident he answered one question with a simple, “No.” Andre has served in both houses and is a TRUE Conservative.
However, Andre is not the conservative ideologue Nikki Haley is. Andre knows how to work with the legislator to get thins passed that will help the people immediately. Unfortunately, he had to sit and watch Mark Sanford lock the door on communication for eight years. If anything, he knows how NOT to govern.
He pushed off the questions about his personal life saying, “Everyone already knows it. I have nothing to hide.” I thought this was another show of his grace, calmness, and confidence. Tonight, Andre established himself as the one to beat. He spoke common sense with clear plans. His ideas are so innovative like his plans to make South Carolina greener and energy efficient.
There are other ways to fix the energy problem than drilling offshore and hurting tourism by having an oil spill on the coast of our state. Most importantly, he doesn’t shy away from tough issues or even questions.
After the debate, I overheard him being asked a question. The lady asked, “What about homeschoolers. Will you give us tax credits?” His response showed the condition of his conviction. He replied, “You bet. Homeschoolers save taxpayers money. Anything it takes to save taxpayers money, I’m up for it.” Andre talked the talk and walked the walk tonight.
For this, I gave him two thumbs up and can honestly say, in a tight debate, he set himself apart. I think there is little certainty, he won it tonight.
As for the primary, I think what we will see is very simple. Barring overwhelming evidence of an affair coming out against Nikki Haley in the next few days, she makes the run-off with Andre Bauer. Truthfully, it all depends on how much they are all seen and what type of television ads they put on the screen. The next few days and tonight’s debate in Charleston will continue to give a clearer picture. But I don’t’ think it gets clearer than a run off of Bauer and Haley.
John C. Calhoun: Still Serving, Fighting for State’s Rights, Making the Federal Government Take Blood Pressure Pills
By Mitch Baroody
Nero was ecstatic while watching Rome burn. He arrogantly played his fiddle while inhaling the smoke of the burning city. King George III scoffed at peasant farmers advocating for their freedom. He arrogantly mocked them, fought a war he thought would be easy, and lost everything as a result. Franklin Roosevelt began a campaign that would bring the early stages of government dependency to America. He set a harmful and dangerous precedent of big government policies that would eventually allow future leaders to completely wipe away the original American government in exchange for a welfare state.
Finally, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe’s welfare state now has the world’s highest inflation rate, an 80 percent employment rate and, since 1988, the life expectancy has dropped from age 62 to 38. In 2005, Mugabe launched Operation Murambatsvina (“clean the filth”), which forced the eviction of 700,000 people to “restore order and sanity.”
Then there is Barack Obama who smiles big, prances up to the stage like a squirrel hopping out of a tree, and exclaims, “This is what Change looks like.” In American history, arrogance and ego-driven government has only led to one thing: Failure. As for the last leader, Barack the Change-Maker, the blood may fill the oceans and the deepest part of American soil more than any other world leader ever did to their country.
Not only will his healthcare plan kill people, his disregard for the constitution will destroy everything good America ever had going. He is worse than Nero, worse than King George III, makes FDR look like Santa, and has probably become Mugabe’s pick for American idol. Take these four leaders and you get one Obama.
There is one simple truth found in the healthcare plan this disastrous leader has just signed: The plan is not about healthcare at all. For all intents and purposes, Barack Obama is a pretty honest guy. He is staying true to his campaign promise: Change. The problem with the unfortunate Americans that voted for him was their lack of questions about what this “Change” meant. See, his change means the changing of the guard. Our guard has been a Constitutional Republic since inception.
However, this healthcare plan is the precedent that will move our great country away from the constitution that has held it together with such fluidity.
This is the first strike of change this President will push through. Our lives, our laws, our freedoms are falling down a dangerous cliff and what we have always known is close to death. Many say our President is not a citizen; many call him various names that may or may not be true. Personally, I do not need to look at any evidence or any assumptions. Just look at the bill he signed and what it does. A government mandate that imposes a penalty endangers every freedom we enjoy.
How then do we fight and tackle this attack on America? The better question is, how do you fight terrorism if the terrorists are not foreigners? What if they are not hidden at all? What if they are visible and law enforcement doesn’t do anything to stop them? What if they are the President of the United States, Speaker of the U.S. House, and Leader of the U.S. Senate? Why continue searching for Osama Bin Laden when you have someone of equal magnitude being paid to destroy America in the White House?
Many attorney generals have filed lawsuits to tackle this issue. At first, I found this to be quite an honorable and even noble move. The South Carolina Attorney General, Henry “General Lee” McMaster, has done a great job at showing his support for state sovereignty.
However, his fight is certainly not the most sensible. However, in an election year, a legal battle that will not hold up in court is still going to be pushed by any candidate for higher office that has an ESQ after their name.
With the Governor’s race completely put aside, I still leave the question open, “How do we fight Obamacare?” I received a very interesting phone call several days ago that left me with my jaw opened. My exact words were, “This is bold and it will not only work. It will change our country. Wow.” The crazy thing is it wasn’t unbelievable considering who it came from.
There is one man that never fears the impossible. He never backs away from a challenge. When you least expect it, he will creep up behind you, surprise you, and make you feel lost in translation. He should make every South Carolinian feel the way the insurgents in Iraq felt when a bunker bomb ruined their midnight poker party: In a state of Shock and Awe. He is perhaps the most underrated elected official in South Carolina, Lt. Governor Andre Bauer. Sure, I think he’s a great candidate for Governor.
But this is not about the Governor’s race and is not about me giving talking points about why he may or may not be the best candidate for this office. This is about the preservation of our freedom and our future and his obvious 20/20 vision to see the necessary steps to ensure we have a future.
Lt. Governor Bauer has made a bold move that is outside the box and is bigger than anything other states have begun to think of. On March 25, the Lt. Governor called on the South Carolina legislature to back a resolution that calls for a constitutional convention. The convention’s purpose is to create an amendment protecting every American citizen from this horrendous, socialist legislation. It will require the ratification of 38 states to be adopted.
I have said in the past, “Where are the John C. Calhouns hiding at?” I have often wondered, “When are the statesmen going to quit burrowing in their hibernation chambers and buy a .25 cent can of initiative?”
Andre standing under Calhoun in the State Senate
Then, one leader creeps out of the bushes where he actually had never been hibernating, just thinking long and hard about feasible, common sense solutions.
The Lt. Governor realized that these lawsuits will not hold up and that a constitutional convention is the only thing that will stand in between radical socialism with a delicious dessert of communism to follow and the American people’s freedom.
See, our federal government has it all wrong. The union is nothing without the states. The states have the power in the grand scheme of things. If the states aren’t happy, there cannot be a union. Andre Bauer sees this and has taken this bold move to show state sovereignty and superiority to socialism.
Will it work? Once people get over the initial shock of such a bold move, it has a high feasibility of becoming a REAL and working solution. This is more than a lawsuit presented by a few attorney generals. This is throwing the constitution at the democrats and specifically President Happy Feet. The constitution is what keeps us together and if we neglect it now, our union cannot stand.
Americans are lucky there is someone like Andre Bauer, willing to stand up and fight using feasible, common sense solutions to preserve our freedoms. He deserves a great thanks for his efforts and for putting his political livelihood on the line to fight such an incredible atrocity.
I implore you to contact your state legislators and ask them to stand with Andre to fight this encroachment in the most sensible way possible, a constitutional convention.
The spirit of John C. Calhoun and his strict opposition to the encroachment on state power, still lives on. If there were such a thing as reincarnation, I am quite certain John C. Calhoun is still in politics.
He is still very bold. He still hates the federal government. He still loves the people. He still loves a bold fight.
He works at the capitol and has a great title, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. He even adopted a French name, Andre!
Keep Your Politics Off My Football
By Brad Turner
What role do politics play in the world of sports? The answer: None. However looks like the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus has forgotten this. After the news got out of the possibility that the University of South Carolina was going to lose its lone black Board of Trustee member, the Black Caucus got on the phones. And who did they call? Ghostbusters? Well they might as well have because they sure didn’t call anyone who could do more about it. They called the 2010 recruiting class for the South Carolina Carolina football team. That’s right, they called out of state TEENAGERS.
This call to arms is headed by Democratic Representative Todd Rutherford. For whatever reason, he has come to the conclusion that in order to fix a perceived problem in the legislature, he would try to make kids stop coming to college in South Carolina. Needless to say this isn’t good for anyone.
First off, Rutherford apparently doesn’t realize the potential damage he could do if these future student-athletes listen to him. They are under a contract to come to USC at this point. They have signed their letters of intent back in February. In order for them to be able to go to a different school they would have to be released by the program then sit out a year. Apparently Rutherford doesn’t care what happens to these kids, even if that means losing a year of their scholarship and football career, as long as he gets his point across.
His complaints stem from the “lack” of diversity of both the University and its board. African-Americans make up 14% of the student body at USC. This is actually the same or better than a number of schools in the Southeast including the University of North Carolina (11%), University of Virginia (8%), University of Tennessee (9%), University of Georgia (8%), University of Florida (10%), Louisiana State University (10%), University of Mississippi (14%), University of Kentucky (5%), and instate Clemson University (8%). In terms of diversity in the Southeast, USC is progressive!
Telling black students to not come to USC is counter-productive to say the least. Rutherford complains that the student body of USC does not reflect the racial diversity of the state. However, he is telling black students not to come. I don’t see how this makes things better. Instead, you would think the logical solution would be to encourage the black population in South Carolina to apply to USC and thus add the desired diversity.
Now for a slightly more pointed message I want to get across. Can he prove that the loss of the lone black board member is in any way, shape, or form a racial attack? No. He only points out that there would no longer be a black member. Leah Moody is currently the only black Trustee. She replaced Samuel Foster II when a bank fraud scandal forced him to resign on July 1, 2009. Foster was the first elected African-American to be elected on the board. Moody is now facing Alton Hyatt Jr. for the spot. House Speaker Bobby Harrell of Charleston has clearly expressed that the election is not a case of race. “What everyone should be thinking about is who’s the best person for the job, regardless of race?” That makes sense to me.
Picking someone just because of race is wrong, no matter their color. If Hyatt is not the best person for the job then he does not deserve to be on the board, simple as that. But if he is, then elect him. We need to help our schools in any way possible. If a less qualified person is placed on the board simply because of race, we are moving in the wrong direction. The black caucus should be spending their time finding candidates who are more qualified for the position rather than try to threaten the state when they don’t get their way.
The backlash from the attack on South Carolina’s football program has come hard and quick. I have to give it to Rutherford, He knows how to get peoples attention. However, the negative attention is probably not what he was looking for. Much of the talk on the sport radio networks have all been the same; this is a political problem and it does not need to be intertwined with athletics. Rutherford defended himself by saying, “Gamecock fans should not be calling and threatening black legislators. Call the Republican leadership.” Well Mr. Rutherford, it looks like you brought this on yourself. The Gamecock nation is not going to sit idly by while you try to blackmail their beloved football program and their University. Most people can plainly see that the football program cannot effect the Board of Trustees in any way. Why can’t Rutherford?
I will admit, I feel bad for Moody. She has come out and said that she does not support calling the recruits, “The race is in the General Assembly.” She is running on her own merit instead of her race. And good for her, she gets it. I’m glad she is distancing herself from this nonsense. She knows that she should be elected on what she can bring to the Board of Trustees. Rutherford should shut up for a minute and listen to her. This is her race to win, not his. If he wants to help, talk to the representatives who have a say in this election and convince them that she deserves this spot by what she can provide to the University and not because of the color of her skin.
Mr. Rutherford, it is time to stop using race as a talking point to get votes. Here is your chance to step up to the plate and back a candidate based on ability. Leave the student-athletes of the University of South Carolina alone, and if you want to make a change, talk to the people who can do it.
Evening Joe: A Heated Debate with One Clear Winner
This past month has been dogged with the Late Night crisis between Jay Leno and Conan O’brien. But apparently, the winds from NBC blew crisis to Charleston on Thursday night. Boy, was the beginning of the Gubernatorial debate interesting.
I sat down in my lazy boy, put my popcorn in my elephant container, and began munching down to Joe Scarborough’s sarcasm. Then a bunch of screeching, scratching, hair pulling, and silence took place. Not to mention, all of Nikki Haley’s speech was silenced. The TV then went blank. I thought of a few reasons this could have happened.
1. CBS affiliate executives have cut down power to preserve it for the upcoming “winter storm disaster” that is expected to hit South Carolina with ice and snow this weekend…we all know the dangers of 1-3 inches.
2. Maria Chapur became angry that she was not invited to be Mark Sanford’s female companion at the SCGOP luncheon in Charleston on Thursday. So, she made her presence known by knocking out the sound guy and hijacking the debate.
3. President Obama’s renewed hope and change from the state of the union was just to divert our attention from the 100% regulations he would now be having over TV stations. That means no more Republican debates and especially no more long narratives from Attorney General Henry McMaster.
4. The only other reason would be that they just had poor sound quality and they didn’t have it all together at first.
So, I stuck with the fourth reason, and it came back on at 8:30. All four of them ready to lead our state into the next decade or were they? So let’s go through each candidate and analyze their performance tonight.
First, I will start from the bottom with Gresham Barrett. As a Citadel colleague, I was really disappointed in his performance. Not that I was even supporting him, but you wish each other the best. Congressman Barrett was less than confident, and sometimes seemed more like a Southern Baptist preacher rather than someone ready to lead our state…amen?
What bothered me most was the defense of his vote for Socialism in the bailout/tarp saga. He consistently defended this vote and refused to back down. I am in disbelief that anyone claiming to be “The 4th most Conservative Congressman” could stand behind a vote like this.
Many in South Carolina’s conservative circles spoke with him the night before he voted and warned him…but he apparently knew best. Barrett went on to not answer questions, beat around the bush, and really did not establish himself as a credible candidate.
He seemed just like acurrent U.S. Congressman should: Uninformed and Out of touch. I am sure that is how many South Carolinians see him as well.
Next, let’s talk about General Robert E. Lee. Excuse me, I mean Attorney General Henry McMaster. Where do I begin…. the other candidates seemed to get tickled every time McMaster would speak. This in return, made things interesting. The only statement that stands out in my mind about him is that he has “the most executive experience” out of all of the candidates. I hear him say that in the midstof his Southern charmed, rambling. While he comes across like a Southern Gentleman, not even waving but bowing at the audience, he too seemed out of touch.
While I appreciate and respect his Conservatism and think he has been one of the best AG’s in S.C. History, I do not believe he showed he could effectively win against Vince Sheheen or Jim Rex tonight.
Often, he didn’t answer the questions, he went on random tangents, and he couldn’t break out of the box and be real with the people. He seemed too much like a polished politician and not a personable statesman that the people will need to move forward with the state’s problems.
Yes, the state should be open for business, but I have a feeling General Henry may open it for business by delegating a lot of the responsibility the way he does in the AG office. While it works as Attorney General, as Governor, we have seen the Department of Commerce’s unimpressive performance. We can’t afford another four years of relying on them.
He finally went on to talk about how he did a great job as Chairman of the Party to bring Republicans to victory. While this may have been true, he failed to mention the financial mess he left when he ran for Attorney General. After his performance tonight, I know one thing…I’m not lovin’ it. So, I don’t think I can “back that Mac” because it may look good, but the intentions it has for each and every one of us may not be so beneficial.
The biggest surprise of the night was Nikki Haley. The “daughter of immigrants” was on top of her game. She did very well. However, I will bring up a few shortcomings. She should have never answered the question about censuring Lindsey Graham. She said she would have! This makes her seem like she is not a compromising figure, something our state greatly needs in the Governor’s office. This is the one thing I will agree on with Senator Robert Ford, yes a democrat.
This also shows the lack of distance between her and Mark Sanford. She continues to keep herself close to “Sanfordesque” positions such as not accepting stimulus funds. The Nikki Haley Campaign analysis is pretty simple. Let’s look at the election between McCain and Obama. People were tired of Bush and tired of anyone similar and too close to Bush. McCain was not different enough. People voted for change because they were sick and tired of the same ole, same ole.
The same principle will apply to South Carolina this election cycle. The non-Sanford candidate is going to be the only hope for Republicans. Nikki Haley is too much like Sanford and will most certainly fail come primaries as a result of it. I see her poll numbers improving a little but she will never make it to the top when the general election comes around in November. Her message will resonate with tea party people and could surprise us come June, but she will never beat Sheheen if he wins the primary (which it looks like he will). However, her performance tonight should be admired. It was something to be proud of.
Finally, tonight’s winner……..Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, a true non-Sanford candidate. His confidence, clear and direct answers, and composure show his maturity from the last few years. Tonight, he was in his element and proved victorious. First, the bad. The hosts ganged up on the poor guy and pulled out all of the bad about him. They mentioned his recent “Animal-kid” comment and his driving record. Andre displayed a bit of arrogance to the female co-host when she lambasted him about the animal comment. He stated that a minority preacher asked him to speak at his congregation.
In response to the female co-hosts continued bullying, he replied, “I’ll give you his number if you want.” Even with this comment, he showed something special…”Straight Talk.” While John McCain often said he was all about straight talk, he hardly showed it. Tonight, a new bearer of this title is Andre Bauer.
When asked which Senator shared his ideology, he quickly stated “Jim DeMint.” He had an answer for everything. They were concise and easy to understand. No elaborate stories, no monologues from “God’s and Generals,” no over-doing religiosity, but just Andre speaking his convictions.
This is the type of Governor South Carolina has been itching for. Tonight, Andre Bauer showed his seriousness about the race. For a while, I had my doubts, but tonight I know he is ready to become Governor of South Carolina. There is no doubt.
If Republicans want to win in November, there must be a lot of thought to who that candidate will be on the other side. If it is Vince Sheheen, which I feel it will be, it will be a tough fight.
All jokes aside, these four candidates are great people. They all have excellent qualities with great intentions. However, when it comes to the difficult opposition this November, in the aftermath of Mark Sanford, the field will be extremely difficult. Too tough for the likes of Nikki Haley and Gresham Barrett. I believe the Attorney General and Lt. Governor are the only two that will stand a chance. While the Attorney General showed he is a good candidate to beat Sheehen, Andre Bauer showed he is the best candidate to not only beat the democrats, but lead our state with honor, integrity, and great vision for the next decade…for this…I salute the Lieutenant Governor.
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What does being a Conservative really mean?
It has been a week since I have written because I have been dealing with the death of my grandmother. But now, I am back into the action. I have been pondering the past several days on what to write about. New stimulus plans, more healthcare debate, Fox news v.s. Obama. I will be talking about these topics in the next few days but right now, I want to touch on something I find really important: Conservatism.
It appears that the liberals have it together in some aspects for the time being. While they are quickly headed to their demise, they at least know what they believe. On the other hand, conservatives aren’t so sure at times. John McCain called himself a conservative, but is he really? Lindsey Graham still thinks he is a conservative. What is the true reality behind Lindsey’s thoughts and the true reality?
Who is a Conservative? Is it Rush Limbaugh? Ann Coulter? Glenn Beck? Even St. Ronald Reagan as he is often hailed? Maybe it is anyone that is against the Obama administration since Conservative is defined as “Against Change.” Some think it means being a Republican but Sen. Olympia Snowe isn’t a Conservative. Some think it is believing in only the Constitution and nothing more. That is a Constitutionalist or some would say Libertarian philosophy. So what is a Conservative really mean?
I think it is a subjective word but a word with several objective beliefs that are defined by it. A conservative believes in no more government than was originally desired by the founding fathers of a respective institution. While there is room for change in a society, just like a speed limit changes, there is little room for deviation in the area of government involvement in the lives of citizens. In America, a conservative shouldn’t want government programs that go beyond the government’s constitutional responsibility of ensuring justice, tranquility, defense, the general welfare and securing the blessings of liberty.
The founding fathers had no intention of a welfare program that promotes laziness when they sought to promote the general welfare. They had no intention of ensuring justice by making everyone economically equal. They also had no intention of securing the blessings of liberty by fighting imperialistic wars in places like Vietnam and perhaps we can consider Iraq. Yes, I said it. Conservatives believe in government but not a corrupt government that wants to run the people. A Conservative should believe in a Government that wants the people to run it.
Simply put, a Conservative is a person that likes the people running the government only when they don’t have the government’s interests at stake. The people running a government should always have the people’s best interests at stake not an institution that could potentially harm the people.
With so many ideas of Conservatism, I have compiled a top ten list as I often like to do. This top ten list is appropriately titled, “You Might be a Conservative if…..”
- You might be a Conservative if you believe Social Security, Medicare, and Welfare are a complete fraud and abuse of Congress’ constitutional powers of the purse.
- You might be a Conservative if you understand losing the quality of healthcare is the only result of the Government running it. Furthermore, even if there are uninsured, it isn’t the government’s job to pay for their insurance. It is the government’s job to make sure the environment of the nation is healthy and fluid for them to put together the means to provide or not provide for themselves healthcare.
- You might be a Conservative if you believe a little Revolution never hurt anyone as long as the revolution decreases the size of government and increases the size of citizen freedom.
- You might be a True Conservative if you realize being Pro-Life isn’t Conservative. Agreeing that the unborn should be protected and given the same rights as those that are born is extremely important DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND ME. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE SANCTITY OF LIFE. But for argument sake, this isn’t Conservative. Saying the government should regulate a medical procedure for a citizen, is actually quite liberal and not Conservative at all.
- You might be a True Conservative if you believe the government regulating who can be married and who cannot is actually quite liberal and not conservative. Marriage, since it is a religious practice, should actually only be recognized as a religious issue. Deciding on who can be “Married” invades the freedom of every American to make that choice for themselves. Therefore, Domestic Partnerships are actually more Conservative than Marriage. They allow you to choose who you want to have government benefits with, not the government choosing who it will give benefits too. That is true freedom and truly conservative, like it or not.
- You might be a True Conservative if you believe Church and State should be separate. Christianity is a good example. There are many interpretations of God and who he is. Baptists believe “once saved always saved” while Assembly of God Christians, rooted in the Armenian theology, believe you can lose your salvation. As a result of varying interpretations, one denomination in a religious group cannot rule a country because the other will be offended. While all may love God, all share his love and understand his love differently. Therefore, a religion cannot be the basis for a society because it has denominations and as a result, will alienate certain groups within that society even if they are a part of that religion. Sunni vs. Shiite Muslims are a great example of this on-going battle. So, separating church and state is the only way to have a smooth government, smooth civil discourse, and a free society. That is true Conservativism.
- You might be a Conservative if you are eligible for unemployment but don’t file because it means too much government in your personal life. While unemployment is great for those that lose their job, it is not a Conservative program. Unemployment promotes laziness just like welfare. It gives people a reason to stay out of work longer. They are supposed to look for a job, but many just collect the checks and lie every time they report. Not accepting the money is being a True Conservative.
- You might be a Conservative if you vote for the person and not the party. A true conservative will vote for one with the ideals that promote less government in the lives of people and more people in the workings of government. One that understands how bad government can be and has the interests of protecting the people rather than promoting programs to run the people is who a True Conservative will vote for.
- You might be a Conservative if you believe the Great Depression is an example of what True Conservatism should bring. It was a horrible time, but a necessary time. However, it wasn’t a conservative event in history after the New Deal was created. A true Conservative will allow things to fail, without government intervention, even if it means poverty because this also allows things to freely pick themselves back up and work again. The New Deal didn’t get America out of the Great Depression, the war did. Bailouts and stimulus bills are liberal hogwash. A good depression allows for a good cleansing and allows the free market to take back over.
- You might be a conservative if you believe defining a conservative is actually liberal. You may think I’m crazy with this one but here is my reasoning. If you define something, you do not give it room to be further examined or explored for further meanings. It may mean new things in the future. Therefore, a Conservative doesn’t say exactly what he is. He states the core things he believes but allows his belief to constantly be explored, further examined, and further defined because this is true freedom. Having Conservative beliefs cannot be defined by the word Conservative. Constricting these beliefs to that word is putting too much intervention into this important political philosophy.
After reading these, you probably thing I am a little off of my rocker. But it is really how I see the word Conservative. I guess many of us aren’t quite as Conservative as we think we are? The word is abused, misused, and overused. Many don’t know what it means and many claim to be one but have never understood what “one” is. It’s much easier to be a liberal than to be a conservative. Liberals have set rules, regulations, and guidelines. Conservatives live by one principle, “the less control over our lives, the better.” The rest is left for further defining.
*Picture of Me Speaking to South Carolinians for Responsible Government
To Win or Not To Win: The Afghan Dillema
It was September 11th, 2001 and I was learning about Sir Isaac Newton in 8th grade earth science. My teacher was called out of the room, then she came back in with devastating news….New York was under attack and a plane had flown into one of the twin towers. I froze in shock and wondered what this meant for our nation. I got home from school and stayed glued to the television, watching more planes do more of the same. Death was everywhere and I wondered, what did this mean?
I had a sense of pride later that night when my President, George W. Bush, spoke to the American people and let us know we would find those that did it and they would pay. For next few months, a sense of patriotism not seen in years came across the country. People loved the troops, people were proud of our fight against terror, and you saw flags on cars every day. One day….it all stopped.
Today, I look at the news and I see a President that is obviously clueless when managing a war and a fight that could eventually come back home again. At The Citadel, cadets learn to listen to everyone when making a decision. Everyone in the chain of command is vital to an operation. However, sometimes a leader doesn’t listen and that is when things get sticky and the small problem becomes big. President Obama has consistently been told what to do in Afghanistan. Gen. McChrystal, the head General in Afghanistan, asked for 40,000 troops to complete a counterinsurgency to make sure the Taliban do not get back in power and to ensure Al Qaeda stays weak. The President has turned his back on his General and doesn’t seem to be listening.
Last time a General requested a surge, it wasn’t popular but it allowed our troops to stabilize and leave Iraq. General Petraeus was brilliant for recommending and drafting this plan. Why doesn’t President Obama learn from history and see that this is vital for victory in Afghanistan as well? Instead, he mentions possibly working with the Taliban and keeping some of them in power. Are you kidding me?
This is the SAME Taliban that harbored the SAME terrorists who brought so much bloodshed to our country on September 11th. He wants to keep some of them in power and not fight against them? My greatest fear is for the Taliban to reclaim any control over Afghanistan. While Mr. Obama has been waiting to make a decision, the Taliban has been doing what they do best. They just claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan this week. On Saturday, 8 troops were killed when the Taliban overran their base because there weren’t enough troops there to defend it. This group sounds very amicable to me. The Taliban will bring Shira law, hate for America, and a love for Al Qaeda to the table. If they harbored them once, they will harbor them twice. Furthermore, if Al Qaeda gets a place to train once and conduct a mass attack like September 11th, they will do it again if the Taliban rule.
If he goes with the strategy to ignore top commanders and work with the enemy, our President will be writing a risky future for our country on the wall. If we do not win in Afghanistan, September 11th will not seem so much in the past. It will likely be part of our future again at some point. This President clearly needs to understand how vital it is to listen to those under him; especially since he has never had combat experience or any form of military training to understand the stakes on the ground. Being Commander in Chief means using all of the command under you to make accurate decisions as the Chief decision maker. I think he needs someone to give him the heads up on what his job actually entails. Maybe Truman left a manual in the White House somewhere.
The President claims he has the best people advising him. Advice that comes from people that aren’t Generals. People like Vice-President Joe Biden. This is the same Joe Biden that wanted to split Iraq up into four sectarian regions and eliminate it as a country. He was dead wrong there. Then there is Hillary Clinton. What does she know about War? All she knows about is being a lawyer and covering up her crimes ex. Whitewater, how to bomb a hill or two (from her husband), being an ineffective Senator, and how NOT to pass a Healthcare bill (As she tried in the 90’s). At least she has a few things in common with the President. My stomach hurts when I think about the non-military advice Obama is getting. It is truly scary.
The clock is ticking and I hope we get some sort of decision from the President soon. However, I am afraid this decision may be one that we feel for years to come. Pray for our country, Pray for our troops, and Pray that our President receives wisdom in making these decisions. This isn’t the only crucial decision that needs to be made right now, but our safety is first priority. Therefore, this has to be dealt with and dealt with timely and effectively. To ensure our own safety, we MUST have an Afghanistan that doesn’t harbor terrorist groups.
Like A Thief in the Night
Being a Congressman must be a pretty sweet deal. Over six figures a year, free travel, living expenses, prestige sometimes, oh yeah, did I mention apparently not having to file your taxes? Congressman Joe Wilson received an official slap in the face from House Democrats and seven men that claim to be Republicans, one being Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC). However, when a powerful democrat is out of line, a disgrace to the office he sits in, and brings discredit to Congress as a whole, what happens? Nothing.
Nancy Pelosi and her thugs killed a Resolution ousting Charlie Rangel (D-NY) as the Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means committee. For those of you who do not know, this is the very committee that provides oversight for the internal revenue of the tax code. Rangel has been under investigation for sometime. While a common citizen would go to jail for not reporting income, Charlie Rangel is living the high life on our tax dollars after not reporting over 1.3 million dollars of income from 2002-2006. This is unbelievable but it gets worse. In 2008, he didn’t disclose 75,000 dollars of rental income. Then, in 2009, an Ethics probe found over 500,000 dollars of unreported assets by Rangel. 
Charlie Rangel’s actions are a breech of the American people’s trust. I believe it is gross poor judgment for any voter to continually put him in office. I am sick and tired of the double standards House Democrats keep using. When a Republican is out of line, it is the end of the world for them. They are thrown under the bus and everyone steps on them while getting off of it. When a democrat goes much further than saying You Lie, every member of the House Majority leadership turns their back and acts as if it is normal and good behavior.
No one with any integrity would allow this crook to continue serving as the chair of one of the top committees in Congress. A few weeks ago, Rep. Jim Clyburn was talking about proper decorum in the House, referring to Rep. Joe Wilson’s comments. Clyburn made it appear he was the father of integrity and that the democrats were the ones enforcing a House of accountability. The Republicans must have really listened to his rant about proper conduct of a House member because of the resolution they drafted for Rangel. It is unfortunate that Rep. Clyburn has apparently changed his mind about enforcing integrity and conduct. Apparently, democrats do not want to be accountable any longer. To be fair, it isn’t just Clyburn. It is Pelosi, Hoyer, and every other democrat that voted to slap Joe Wilson. I am sure Rep. Bob Inglis will join the support group of Charlie Rangel before it is all over as well. So, the resolution failed and a truly guilty crook is off the hook for the time being. A crook that will continue to oversea our tax dollars while he is being investigated by the Ethics Commission. Doesn’t that make you feel warm inside?
My question is, when are the American people going to wake up and demand legislative term limits? Men like Rangel are no different than a dictator coming to power, defaulting on the people’s trust, and spending their money without telling. Isn’t this one of the reasons there are term limits for the President?
