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Candidate seeks Anton Gunn nomination

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

I don’t know who else might have also filed for this, and I don’t know what to think of this person, but since the release just came in, I thought I’d share it with you:

MIA BUTLER FILES FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 79
Local businesswoman seeks to fill seat vacated by Rep. Anton Gunn
COLUMBIA, SC – Mia Butler, a business owner and entrepreneur with two decades of public and private sector experience in South Carolina announced late today that she has officially filed to become a candidate for the District 79 vacancy left open by Democratic Representative Anton Gunn.

Butler said she wants to use her business experience to bring a strong voice for job-creation and economic development to the State House. She also vowed to continue the example set by Representative Gunn to bring rational and effective leadership, focused on bringing both sides together to help address South Carolina’s challenges. “As a strong business woman with government experience, I know what it takes to streamline a budget and resolve issues that individuals and small business owners are facing. I have demonstrated it in my business for 8 years. You can’t have success in business without working with people to address their problems, effectively and efficiently. We need a strong leader who is focused on getting things done,” said Butler.

“I have lived in this district for the last 13 years. I’m raising my family here and I’m seeing the changes that are happening in our community. We need a leader who understands those changes and can make an immediate impact at the State House. I have the experience and the commitment to stand up for what’s right for our district and our state. I want to be an independent voice for our district,” stated Butler.

As the Principal of the corporate communications firm, McLeod Butler Communications, Butler has been a tireless advocate for small businesses, public education, crime victims, public safety and higher education institutions over the last decade. Butler’s professional experience includes launching and directing a statewide program for former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon, receiving a gubernatorial appointment to direct one of the largest programs within the South Carolina Governor’s Office of Executive Policies & Programs under former Governor Jim Hodges and serving on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, where she is an active member of the Chamber’s Small Business and Communications committees, as well as its Excellence in Education Council.

Business and political leaders praised Butler’s candidacy for the State House. Former Governor Jim Hodges said, “Mia Butler was a key member of the leadership team in my administration. She’s intelligent, hard working and has great ideas about job creation and educational improvement. I strongly support her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in House District 79.”

“From improving education, to passing comprehensive tax reform and creating jobs, we face many challenges in South Carolina.” Butler said. “We can meet those challenges, but it will require a leader who can hit the ground running and advocate on behalf of small businesses to spur economic growth opportunities. I know I can bring that to the State House.”

“I believe that Mia Butler will be a great Representative for Kershaw and Richland counties. She has demonstrated her leadership skills in business and she has a clear vision for improving our state,” said Steve Benjamin, Mayor of Columbia. “Mia believes in the South Carolina values of faith, hard work, community involvement, and independence.”
Mia Butler is married to Tracy Garrick. They, along with sons, Brian “BJ” and Cameron Butler reside in Lake Carolina.

So if Hodges is supporting her, does that mean she’s anointed? I don’t know. Not necessarily. More as I do know…

Remember, the Democrat who replaces Rep. Gunn faces Sheri Few in November.

Posted in Democrats, Elections, Leadership, Midlands, South Carolina, This just in... | No Responses »

The South won’t rise again, but it will keep on making head fakes in that direction

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Imagine the irony! I was listening, via Pandora, to an excellent live version of Levon Helm singing his masterpiece, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” It opened with a little horn riff on “Dixie” itself. The song is simply magnificent, capturing everything that was noble and tragic and horrible and epic and personal in our ancestors’ fall into defeat.

So imagine how it was ruined for me by, even as I was listening to it and appreciating it, reading this low farce from Karen Floyd:

Dear Subscriber

An unprecedented event recently occurred, where the president of the United States issued a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council that bashed a state law. In a desperate attempt to gain the awe and admiration of global elitists, President Obama sounded off about the many “sins” in America’s history, including Arizona’s new illegal immigration bill.Obama writes, “A recent Arizona law, S.B. 1070, has generated significant attention and debate at home and around the world. The issue is being addressed in a court action that argues that the federal government has the authority to set and enforce immigration law. That action is ongoing; parts of the law are currently enjoined.” He also went on about how he is seeking to offer free health care to illegal immigrants.

The context of this U.N. forum is to discuss human rights in the United States. Apparently, Obama thinks that Arizona’s law is in violation of human rights, which is why he is not only suing the state, but also reporting it to the U.N. council.

Lesson learned everyone: a liberal will always seek the praise and respect of foreign powers over the rights of the American people or the Constitution.

As a direct result of Obama’s ridiculous report to the U.N., the Arizona law will come under formal review on November 5 by the three member countries of the UN Human Rights Commission: France, Japan, and Cameroon. The U.N. Commission will then issue directives on what they recommend the United States do in response to the Arizona law.

This is simply outrageous! How can an American president sell out his own countrymen to a foreign entity over a state law that simply enforces existing federal laws? Our president should be bowing to the people’s demands, and NOT the whims of an international organization.

Folks, it is time to fight back. We desperately need trusted conservatives like Mike Mulvaney, Nikki Haley and Jim DeMint to fight for our liberties and state sovereignty. The elitists in Washington are trying to allow a foreign power to dictate your life and safety. Will you allow this to happen?

Click here to help fund conservative change and individual rights! Let’s help elect individuals who will enforce the Constitution and stand up for our rights and sovereignty.

Sincerely,

Karen Floyd

SCGOP Chairman

P.S. Let’s take the battle to them and send Obama a message! Please click here to donate now.

Just as elites conned the poor white population into being their cannon fodder in a lost and bankrupt cause in 1860, this new strain of Radical Republicanism keeps playing on the same resentments and sensitivities and inferiority complexes to manipulate the great mass of white voters in the South today.

They just keep on driving Dixie down.

Posted in Elections, History, Marketplace of ideas, Out There, Popular culture, Republicans, South Carolina, Southern Discomfort, This just in... | 16 Responses »

Requiescat In Pace, Rod Shealy

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Rod Shealy, in a photo from his Facebook page.

John O’Connor of The State tweets that the “Family of S.C. political consultant Rod Shealy says he died this afternoon at MUSC.”

This sad news has already provoked a suitably quirky tribute, as follows:

PhilBaileySC

Tomorrow will be Hawaiian Shirt Day on Pub Politics to honor our friend Rod Shealy.

Mr. Shealy

As I was pulling this together, John posted the following at thestate.com:

Influential South Carolina political consultant and newspaper owner Rod Shealy died this afternoon at the Medical University of South Carolina, according to his sister Lorri Unumb. He was 56 years old.

Shealy died of bleeding on the brain, Unumb said, possibly related to the brain cancer he was diagnosed with in 2008. Unumb said Shealy had fallen and broken his hip over the weekend, but was optimistic the cancer treatments at MUSC were working.

Shealy specialized in advising long-shot candidates to victory, such as longtime friend and client Lt. Gov Andre Bauer. Shealy – a protégé of Lee Atwater — also had a penchant for pushing the limits of campaign law in search of an advantage.

The Irmo resident pled guilty in 1992 for failing to report a campaign contribution after he was accused of hiring a black fisherman to run for office to help drive Lowcountry turnout for his sister’s bid for Lt. Governor.

Unumb has a son with autism, and said Shealy helped her draft and find legislative support for a bill requiring autism insurance coverage that is now law. A big Jimmy Buffet fan, Shealy was instantly recognized by the Hawaiian shirts he wore.

“Politics was a profession and a passion, but it was also a fun game,” Unumb said, referring to Shealy enjoying the intellectual challenge of elections. “Intuitively he just understood people. He was just one of them. He identified with the common folks.”

Rod was a guy much loved by his allies, and disparaged by others — including yours truly at times, although I had developed a fairly cordial relationship with him in recent years. He may have done some highly questionable things and associated with some unsavory types — which I’m sure he himself sometimes had occasion to regret — but he certainly added some color to local politics. And he was very good at his job.

Posted in Elections, Midlands, Republicans, South Carolina, This just in... | 4 Responses »

This morning’s (re)Tweets

Monday, August 16th, 2010

There are days in which I Twitter FAR more than I post on the blog. And y’all miss it, which is not good, because a lot of the stuff I send can be interesting. Not necessarily my own meager observations, but the reTweets of other people’s interesting stuff can be good discussion fodder.

I have that Twitter feed you see at right, but I’m dissatisfied with it because the Tweets there tend to be 12 hours or more old. (If anyone can steer me to a better, more immediate, Twitter feeder, I’d appreciate it.)

So it occurs to me that, until I can get that fixed, I should start sharing my Tweets in posts on a semi-regular basis. So here goes.

This morning, I didn’t have many comments of my own, but went sort of wild on the reTweets:

As he should… RT @postpolitics: Mike Huckabee leads 2012 GOP pack in Iowa http://wapo.st/atjKA0 #tcot #2012 #gop #p2 about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter
RT @FrumForum: What Went Wrong with the Islamic World?: Tamim Ansary’s Destiny Disrupted seeks an answer…http://bit.ly/agc0WF #tcot about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter
RT @wis10: New SC Farmers market opens outside Columbiahttp://bit.ly/dklOKW about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter
Oh, I feel SO much better about it now… RT @tweetdrudge: Hamas nod for Ground Zero mosque… http://bit.ly/bTAtZ1 #tcot about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter
RT @ChrisBatDell: Reading.. “BBC News – How the internet is changing language” http://bbc.in/aLm8jm #yam about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
RT @johnroconnor: Esquire’s “Encyclopedia of Now” article this month includes a Nikki Haley entry. Calls her the next governor of SC…about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
RT @Reuters: Al Qaeda cell leader killed in Afghan north: NATOhttp://bit.ly/9O97wC about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
OHHH, yeahhhh… RT @BurlB: If only Joan Holloway would do the in-flight safety video, I’d pay attention.about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
RT @ebertchicago: Notice how the news is playing more and more like those scary montages at the beginning of a disaster film?about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
Good for the general… RT @FrumForum: Petraeus Pushes Back on Obama’s Afghan Deadline: http://bit.ly/9REgMG #tcot about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
Next: How to make a buggy whip… RT @romenesko: How to make a pressman’s hat. (An 11-step process.) http://journ.us/bsvwJP about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
I’m beginning to fear that he did… RT @shellsuber: Elvis died 33 years ago today… or did he?about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter
RT @TheOnion: American Voices: ‘Cathy’ Coming To An Endhttp://onion.com/9TMMnf 26 minutes ago via UberTwitter

By the way, to help you follow… If you see words BEFORE the “RT,” that’s my addition to the Tweet.

As for the motivation behind those reTweets, sometimes they are because I like something. Other times it’s because I’m appalled by something. Yet other times it’s so that the topic will be in my timeline to remind me to look at it, or write about it, later. But in all cases, they are examples of something that grabbed my attention, and may interest you as well.

Posted in Blogosphere, In case you wondered, Social media, This just in... | 12 Responses »

Whoa! Anton Gunn drops out to take federal post

Friday, August 13th, 2010

This just in:

Dear Friends, Constituents of House District 79 and the people of South Carolina,

As your State Representative, I have been blessed with the honor of serving you and taking your concerns and voiceswith me to the State House. This is a privilege that I have taken very seriously. Thank you for entrusting this office to me. I have not taken the opportunity for granted and I have served you each day with purpose and passion. My goal has always been to make our state and community better by improving the health, safety and well-being of all South Carolinians. By making sure our government was responsive and accountable, I have worked across the aisle to move closer to that goal. While serving as your Representative, I have done my best to help people and to serve with integrity, honor and humility.

It is with these thoughts in mind that I have been faced with a very honorable yet tough decision. Recently, The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius has asked me to accept a presidential appointment to serve as the Regional Director of the United States Department of Health & Human Services in the South (Region IV). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. It plays an important role in our nation. Whether helping children, seniors and the disabled, or protecting our public health, this agency plays a critical role in our nation’s security.

I am humbled by the consideration to accept this senior position. It is not every day that a person is given an opportunity to either serve their country broadly or to continue the pursuit of re-election for House District 79. This decision weighed upon me heavily as I consider it a privilege to be of service in any capacity to the people of this state. After much prayer and deliberation with my family, I believe I can benefit the people of my district and South Carolina by answering the call to serve as the Region IV Director in the US Department of Health and Human Services in Atlanta, Georgia.

Therefore, I will not be seeking re-election as your State House Representative. As most of you know, I have always considered South Carolina to be my home. After graduating as a Gamecock, this is where I chose to live, marry and raise my family. While living here for nearly 20 years, my experiences with the people and my ties to the community have always been my motivation to seek public service.

This is not only a tremendous honor for me personally but a tremendous opportunity for our state. There are dire human service needs in South Carolina and across the Southern Region. As regional director, I will be able to have a greater impact on the quality of life for South Carolina’s seniors, children, disabled and the working poor.

As the Secretary’s senior appointee in the Southern Region I will continue to work on these issues that I have been passionate about while serving as your representative. The commitment to God, family, community and my fellow man are the values that I will carry with me into this next endeavor.

My family and I ask for your prayers and understanding.

Sincerely,

Anton J. Gunn

OK, I’m stunned. And saddened. Anton has easily been one of the most promising young lawmakers in the State House.

Also, does this mean that Sheri Few wins this time? Wow, what a loss.

Posted in Democrats, Elections, Midlands, South Carolina, This just in... | 15 Responses »

Leon Lott’s just saving the world, isn’t he?

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

First, my twin, Sheriff Leon Lott, magnanimously agrees to solve one of the city of Columbia’s knottiest problems by taking over its police department.

Now this:

Lott heads to Iraq to train police forces

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has been invited to travel to Iraq to train Iraqi police forces.

The sheriff traveled to Iraq at the invitation of the U.S. Army and the S.C. State Guard where he is a provost marshal, said sheriff’s department spokeswoman Monique Mack. Lott will be at the Iraq Police College for two to three weeks.

While in Iraq, Lott will teach courses in community policing and will talk about the importance of having women on a police force, Mack said.

– Noelle Phillips

Ol’ Leon’s just saving the world, isn’t he? He’s pretty much got my endorsement for his next election sewn up.

Next: Mideast Peace!…

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Iraq, Midlands, The World, This just in..., War and Peace | 8 Responses »

Finally. Finally! The whole nation knows that SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE BEST!

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Finally, something not just positive, but SUPERLATIVE for South Carolina on the national stage.

Tonight, America sees us as the BEST!

For so long, we’ve been last where we want to be first, and first where we want to be last, the punch line of far too many national jokes. I’ve grown so weary of typing it.

Not any more. Not after tonight. The Gamecocks just changed all that. We can do anything now. We’re not only the best in the country at something, but at the National Pastime, no less!

It would be sweet to see this happen with any major sport, but having it happen with baseball makes it SO much more awesome.

Congratulations, Ray Tanner! Glad we built that new ballpark for you — you’ve made good use of it. (You know, the ballpark in the Innovista.)

Congratulations, Harris Pastides, and Eric Hyman, and all the coaches.

But congratulations most of all to the kids who won it, the Gamecock nine, South Carolina’s finest!

You’ve made us all proud…

Posted in Higher education, South Carolina, Sports, The Nation, This just in... | 26 Responses »

Toll road operator goes bankrupt

Monday, June 28th, 2010

This should give us pause. I’ve often thought we ought to experiment more with toll roads in South Carolina to help us back for our huge backlog of maintenance needs.

Then again, maybe not.

This just in from the Columbia Regional Business Report:

Developer of Upstate toll road files for bankruptcy protection

The nonprofit organization created to develop the Southern Connector toll road in Greenville County has filed for bankruptcy protection, seeking to reorganize some $300 million in debt tied to the road’s development .

Piedmont-based Connector 2000 Association Inc. said in its bankruptcy filing today that it is insolvent and unable to reach a debt restructuring agreement with its creditors. According to bankruptcy records, the association owes $278 million to U.S. Bank National Association and $90.9 million to HSBC Bank USA.

The nonprofit organization was created in 1996 to help the S.C. Department of Transportation finance and construct the Southern Connector in Greenville County. More than $200 million in bonds were sold in 1998 to build the 16-mile toll road, which extends from the intersection of Interstates 185 and 385 to the intersection of US 276 and I-385.

The association said traffic has been significantly lower than original projections and that it has failed to pay some of the interest and principal due on the bonds.

The S.C. Department of Transportation will file a response with the bankruptcy court by the end of the summer and will not comment on the case until that time, said spokesman Pete Poore.

Posted in Money, South Carolina, This just in..., Travel | 9 Responses »

Vic Rawl throws in the towel

Friday, June 18th, 2010

This just in from Vic Rawl:

STATEMENT FROM VIC RAWL

A few moments ago, I sent the following letter to my supporters:

Dear Friend:

The last ten days have been extraordinary.

But for me and Laura, it is the months before that are far more important. I cannot express our gratitude for your support during the campaign and in the days since the primary election.

We hold our heads high, and know that the friendship of people like you is far more important in life that the outcome of any election.

I wanted you to hear from me that we will not be appealing last night’s decision by the Democratic Executive Committee to reject our protest of the election results. My campaign for the United States Senate has ended.

The issues we raised about the lack of election integrity in South Carolina are real, and they are not going away unless people act. I assure you that I will continue to speak out about our frail, vulnerable and unverifiable election system in the months to come.

I also feel strongly that the Democratic Party needs major reform of the rules and procedures regarding ballot qualification, protests and many other areas. This is critical to strengthen the Party and make it broadly competitive in our state.

Let me also take a moment to thank our volunteers. They gave selflessly of their time and talent toward making our state better. I also deeply thank my staff, a talented and dedicated group of professionals who were champions both before and after June 8th.

Thank you again for your support – this race was for you.

Posted in Democrats, Elections, South Carolina, Southern Discomfort, This just in... | 9 Responses »

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