Or perhaps I should say, live-commenting. I’m watching it here, since I don’t get that channel on TV.
And here’s my first comment — I thought Romney did a good job of deflecting criticism of his Bain record, early on there. What did you think?
I can't do it all, people!
The picture and brief report from Michael Rodgers in the last post reminded me…
Over the next five days, there is going to be far more interesting stuff going on in this community than I can get to. And some of the stuff I get to, I won’t have time to write about.
It occurs to me that some of y’all just might be attending some events I miss. If so, how about sharing with the rest of us here. Send your observations, and your digital photos, to me at brad@bradwarthen.com.
I can’t pay you, but I can publish you. And working together, we can provide a broader and more complete picture of what’s happening than I can provide alone, however hard I try to be everywhere.
How about it? Your contributions will be appreciated.
Michael Rodgers shares the above photo, and this report:
At the S. C. NAACP’s King Day at the Dome, Attorney General Eric Holder reminded everyone that the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized in 2006 and that that reauthorization was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Here’s a picture I took of Mr. Holder (attached).
Here’s a link to Mr. Bush’s statements when signing the bill.
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060727.html
I’m glad to have this contribution, as I didn’t make it to the dome today — unlike four years ago, when I and thousands of others froze listening to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards. Good thing for Obama that he had borrowed our bathroom at The State to don some longjohns. He had been there for his endorsement interview with us.
It’s good to hear that Gen. Holder gave that credit to the previous administration. It’s always good when we emphasize the values that unite us, and take a break from dwelling on our divisions.
Which reminds me…
The only MLK event I made it to today was the annual Columbia Urban League breakfast at Brookland Baptist in West Columbia. All sorts of folks were there. I was writing down names…
Mac Bennett, Samuel Tenenbaum (both at my table), Paul Fant, Kevin Marsh, Jasper Salmond, John Lumpkin, Heyward Bannister, Ike and Sue McLeese, Seth Rose, Hemphill Pride, Bob Coble, Bill Nettles (main speaker), Ronnie Brailsford, Pam Lackey, Bill Clyburn, Tony Keck, Donita Todd, Harris Pastides, Vincent Sheheen, Sonny White, Dave Aiken, Milton Kimpson Jr., I.S. Leevy Johnson, Henry Heitz, Mark Keel…
… but then I got tired and quit. There were just too many people I knew.
The most remarkable thing that happened, to my mind, at the breakfast was this: Ever since the historic King Day at the Dome in 2000, which drew 60,000 people demanding that the Confederate Flag come off the dome, there had been a certain tension between civil rights organizers in the community.
Some Urban League supporters (I was on the CUL board at the time, which is why I was privy to all this) at the time had felt like that was their event, that they had pulled it together, but that the NAACP had sort of hijacked it, and claimed undue credit. So over the years, there has been a slight sense of rivalry, with the Urban League having the breakfast (which is always attended by a lot of business and p0litical leaders) and the NAACP having the limelight at the State House rally — although many people attended both.
The tension was behind the scenes, but painfully palpable.
I think that’s behind us now. Today, I was touched by something Urban League President J. T. McLawhorn went out of his way to do at the breakfast: Twice, he urged those assembled to attend the NAACP event — and essentially calling it that, giving his clear support to the other organization and its observance. Maybe he has done this in previous years and I missed it, but this really grabbed my attention this morning.
I thought that was a fine thing to do. I appreciated it. I think Dr. King would have, too.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that a record 84 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing, with almost two-thirds saying they “disapprove strongly.” Just 13 percent of Americans approve of how things are going after the 112th Congress’s first year of action, solidifying an unprecedented level of public disgust that has both sides worried about their positions less than 10 months before voters decide their fates.
It has been nearly four years since even 30 percent expressed approval of Congress, according to the Post-ABC survey, and support hasn’t recovered from the historic low it reached last fall.
In the face of the public dismay, House Republicans and Senate Democrats are fashioning less far-reaching agendas for the year ahead, in part to avoid the bitter political showdowns of 2011 and also to best position themselves for the fall elections…
So basically they’ve decided, “The country is right where we want it. No need to do anything else. Let’s sit back and let the voters reward us by re-electing us.”
Some of y’all were urging me to run for office earlier today, although perhaps ironically. Is this the moment for the UnParty to make its move, at long last? That “unprecedented level of public disgust” sounds like a call to arms for somebody, anyway.
We didn’t have to wait long for a release that addressed MLK day more in the style of the Dick Harpootlian we all know:
Fellow Democrats,
On the day that the country and the state of South Carolina celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Republican Governor Nikki Haley chose to break bread with Texas evangelist, David Burton, who has fought to take all reference to Dr. King out of the Texas public schools text books.
He not only disrespects Dr. King, but he uses Jesus Christ to justify every far right position that he can dream up.
Poor judgment and disrespect, two character traits we have come to expect from Republican Nikki Haley, and she has met our expectations once again.
Call her office at 803-734-2100, and tell her that her actions are disrespectful.
If you want to learn more about the man who Nikki Haley believes was worthy of celebrating her Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with, watch below…
I have to say that I watched that video and didn’t get out of it what Dick said was there. It was too incoherent. See what you think. But at least the world has resumed its normal shape.
In the past 24 hours I have heard heartfelt complaints from three people — my Dad, ADCO’s Lanier Jones and frequent commenter Steve Davis — about being overrun by robocalls and pollsters. Here’s what Steven said:
If Mitt Romney doesn’t control his robocallers soon he’s going to lose my vote. Two calls yesterday and three calls today.
To which I can only say: “Hah! You suckers! I got rid of my landline months ago, and haven’t been pestered by a one of these since!”
I mean… I feel for y’all; I really do…
Wesley Donehue sends me this release today:
SC Senator and Key Supporter of Rick Perry Urges Withdraw
January 16, 2011 – Berkeley, SC – Today, conservative Tea Party favorite, SC Senator Larry Grooms withdrew his support for Governor Rick Perry and urged the Governor to withdraw his candidacy for President of the United States.
“I was there when Governor Perry made his announcement in Charleston and had tremendously high hopes for a Perry Presidency. I still believe he would be a great national leader, but campaigns are tough and early mistakes and missed opportunities have taken their toll. Now is the time to get out and pass the baton to another leader that can take the message to the next level.”
“With only days to go before the South Carolina Primary, it is apparent that Governor Perry cannot win and has no viable strategy in moving forward. Remaining in the race at this point only serves to steer votes away from viable candidates.”
“The history of our primary teaches us that when conservatives split, big government wins. Now is the time for us to reevaluate our choices and coalesce around a single candidate.” Grooms points to the fact that Mike Huckabee may have been the Republican nominee four years ago if his candidate, Fred Thompson had withdrawn prior the SC Primary vote. “Thompson’s candidacy split off enough conservatives to ensure a McCain victory. I do not want to see history repeat itself.”
Senator Larry Grooms is recognized as a social and economic conservative and has received numerous leadership awards from groups such the Palmetto Family Research Council, SC Taxpayers Association and the SC Club for Growth. A champion of educational choice, fiscal and tax reform measures, Grooms is the author of the new SC Immigration Reform Law.
###
And of course, my question is, so who’s he backing? Because the implication is that he wants people to rally ’round Romney. Apparently, that’s not the case, and he’s going to tell us whom he IS endorsing tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, Nancy Mace, who is Sen. Tom Davis’ consultant, tells me that three Upstate senators will announce, at the State House at 10 a.m., that they are endorsing Ron Paul.
All of this follows up on the decision by Huntsman to drop out, and the endorsement of Rick Santorum by a coalition of evangelical leaders over the weekend.
A lot of currents and countercurrents. And note that in all this last-minute decision-making and mind-changing, the only person I’ve heard converting to the Romney cause is Jon Huntsman. Maybe Romney should have been more grateful for that.
The Dick Harpootlian we thought we knew.
This probably won’t strike anyone else as ironic, but it’s just weird for me to read something from Dick when he’s in a reverential mode:
Fellow Democrats,
Yesterday was the birthday of a renowned American visionary. He changed the way people look at humanity, and we will never forget his courageous fight for civil rights.
Today we thank Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for teaching us that everyone is equal, and nonviolent methods develop the most admirable outcomes.
He was one of the greatest orators in American history and we will never forget what he did for our country.
Please take this day to offer service to your community; giving back to your neighbor just as Dr. King intended. By doing this, we are allowing his legacy to continue to flourish today and for many years to come.
– Dick Harpootlian, SCDP Chairman
Just doesn’t sound like Dick. He’s widely believed to have only two gears: wiseacre and ticked off. Yet here’s a third…
(My spellcheck thinks I’m misspelling “disses.” Looks right to me…)
Jon Huntsman had been through enough humiliation, what with trailing behind Stephen Colbert in the polls, not getting any bounce from New Hampshire, being called nasty names (like “moderate”!), and then having to face facts and surrender…
But he kept his chin up and quite like a man, giving the nod to Romney and urging all the GOP candidates to pull together like a team and quit trying to eviscerate each other.
And what did he get for it? Dissed, that’s what:
Romney downplays Huntsman support
By Cameron Joseph and Daniel Strauss – 01/16/12 12:12 PM ETMitt Romney’s campaign has been notably slow to promote Jon Huntsman’s endorsement, a sign it doesn’t see it as much of an asset in a Republican primary.
Romney did not join Huntsman to receive his endorsement this morning, and his campaign took hours to mention Huntsman at all on Monday, first promoting an endorsement from Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) and sending out an alert about a South Carolina campaign stop.
Romney’s eventual email on Huntsman was terse and, and a tweet barely mentioned the endorsement. “I salute Jon Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye,” Romney said. “Jon ran a spirited campaign based on unity not division, and love of country. I appreciate his friendship and support.”
That stands in contrast to Romney’s embrace of Tim Pawlenty’s endorsement. After the former Minnesota governor endorsed Romney in September, Romney named him a national co-chairman of his campaign…
Maybe Huntsman should have just urged the nation to unite around Obama. He might have gotten more respect that way.
Maybe I’ve got my metaphors confused.
On a previous post, I likened Newt Gingrich to a hand grenade with the pin pulled. But I couldn’t remember what you call that clip thing down the side of the grenade that you have to hold in place manually after pulling the pin if you want to hold it without getting blown up. So I Googled “hand grenade parts,” and got this page, which told me it was called the “safety lever.” Fine.
But after I posted my metaphor, I noticed that there was a political ad on the hand grenade page — and it wasn’t for Gingrich. Yeah, it appears to be a Google ad, and therefore is showing up because I, a South Carolinian, went to the page, but still….
You know, I was so busy last night writing about the Huntsman departure from the race that only now has this thought occurred to me: For whom will I vote on Saturday, now that he’s out of it?
That’s a toughie. Let’s look at my options, in alphabetical order:
Above you see David Yepsen and me, looking relieved and happy that we’re done with our panel presentation at the Senate Presidents’ Forum in Key West over the weekend, and that it went well. Funny how those kinds of things — just talking — can take a lot out of you.
It was an honor to meet David, the legend of Iowa political journalism. And of course when we met, he asked after another legend of political journalism, a man whom everyone knows — and, more remarkably, everyone likes and respects — my longtime friend and colleague Lee Bandy.
I’m lucky to have worked with both Lee and the Tennessee legend, John Parish. And while it was brief, I was honored to share the panel with David Yepsen, who is now director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute (he left The Des Moines Register about the same time I left The State), Saturday. And to get to know a couple of political pros I had not met before, who also served on the panel: First, John Marttila, longtime friend and ally of Joe Biden ever since he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972. John continues to be a senior political adviser to the vice president. From the Republican side, we had Mike DuHaime, who ran Chris Christie’s successful run for governor of New Jersey in 2009.
We had a great discussion, both during the panel and at meals and events before and after.
What did I say during the presentation? Well, not anything I haven’t shared here. I essentially scrapped my prepared remarks, as mentioned previously — which is probably a good thing, because things flow better when I’m winging it. But preparing — not only the writing, but all the conversations I had with top Republicans in SC, right up to a couple of minutes before the program — did help me get my thoughts in order. Hey, if I hadn’t made all those panicked calls Friday night and Saturday morning after seeing those poll numbers, I wouldn’t have known to call Romney a “Plastic Banana Rock ‘n’ Roller,” which still cracks me up — the idea of Romney as ANY kind of rock ‘n’ roller, actually.
Anyway, I’m back from Key West. And it’s going to be a busy week…
Mike DuHaime (or the back of his head, anyway), David Yepsen and John Marttila, during the panel discussion.