When I read this story in this morning’s paper, my first day back after three busy days out of state, I thought, "What in the world has been going on while I was out? And what does it all mean?"
Some would say it’s about the dispute over whether the unfunded liability on the state pension system is $27 billion or $18 billion. Right. Like ETV would be interested in airing that. Next, we’d have a stirring face-off between a house painter and a chemical engineer from Clemson debating how fast paint dries.
No, what’s interesting about this is how beautifully it illustrates one of my favorite points. In fact, it goes beyond showing how meaningless political parties are; it even crosses and confuses and erases the lines between different factions of the party.
Here are a few of the things that occur to me when I read this:
- Republican Thomas Ravenel’s opponent in the Treasurer’s race is incumbent Grady Patterson, a Democrat who disagrees as often as possible with Republican Gov. Mark Sanford on the Budget and Control Board.
- One of the points Mr. Ravenel made in support of his candidacy during the primary season was that the governor needed an ally, not an automatic opponent, in that positions. Beyond that, he agrees with the governor that the Budget and Control Board, which gives lesser statewide elected officials and members of the General Assembly equal say to the governor’s over executive functions of government, should not exist. They’re both right on that one, by the way.
- John Rainey is a traditional, conservative, country-club-type Republican with a strong sense of noblesse oblige — hardly one to be taking up the cudgels for Mr. Patterson.
- Mr. Rainey is widely credited with having persuaded Mr. Sanford to run for governor four years ago.
- Mark Sanford is closer to Mr. Ravenel in terms of political philosophy in some ways than either is to most state Republicans. Mr. Sanford is one of those congressional class of ’94 types who thought shutting down the government was a fine idea — which he demonstrated again this year by vetoing the entire state budget. Once could see Mr. Ravenel doing much the same sort of thing — if he had ever served in elective office.
- A glimmer of meaning arises when you see that Mr. Sanford, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. John McCain are allies, and that Mr. Ravenel’s entire purpose in running for Treasurer is to position himself to try to take down Sen. Graham in two years. But why are Sanford and Graham such allies? The whole reason the extremists that Mr. Ravenel represents want to take out Graham is that he is too rational and bipartisan. The same people despise Sen. McCain for the same reason. The Ravenel folks value their ideology over party loyalty. And when you get down to it, so does Mark Sanford (just ask a legislator).
Well, that’s enough to chew on for now. This thing has more aspects than a cat has hair.
Related Posts
Senator Graham’s refusal to seal the borders, deport the illegal aliens and punish the illegal employers is reason enough to vote him out of office.
I would agree if a better candidate came along, but Ravenel is NOT that candidate. Never, ever, ever vote for a 2nd generation politician if you have a better choice.
Anyone but Graham… absolutely anyone.
Meanwhile, Brad’s Last Principled Dem (supported by Republicans from around the country) begins sliding toward oblivion.
(CNN) — A new poll by the American Research Group indicated a statistical dead heat in the U.S. Senate race in Connecticut between upstart Democratic nominee Ned Lamont and incumbent Sen. Joseph Lieberman.
Some 44 percent of respondents deemed “likely voters” supported Lieberman, while 42 percent said they would vote for Lamont in the November election. This gap was well within the margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage points. Republican nominee Alan Schlesinger got backing from 3 percent of likely voters…
In response to the comments regarding illegal workers, I would like to point out that agriculture in South Carolina would shut down overnight, as would much of our construction industry, if we deportation became the policy. Any farmer or processor will tell you that Americans do not want these jobs, yet for our security and our economy, we need the agriculture industry now more than ever. The Hispanic community, hard working, church going, and self respecting, is the only group who, across the board, invests in small town South Carolina–new churches, new restaurants, and new stores. We need to look at this as the opportunity that it is, and capitalize on that.
Emile DeFelice
Candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture
On my part I would like to thank you, Mr. DeFelice, for bringing in some good information on the other side of the immigration issue.
“Graham won’t prosecute illegals and won’t close the border?” Geez, I guess you think he’s helping dig tunnels too. Talk about oversimplifying an issue.
I find the strong criticism of Graham from some Republicans confusing. One of you please explain why his work with democrats in the supreme court nomination process warrants such a vitriolic response. He paved the way for two highly acceptable judges without going nuke.
Graham’s offer of amnesty to 21,000,000 criminals is evidence of his not wanting to prosecute them.
Studies have shown that the cost of a head of lettuce would only increase 4 cents at the retail level if all the illegal lettuce pickers were replaced with workers making the prevailing wage. It is the same with all other crops.
California just raised their minimum wage, but it is irrelevant, because so many illegal workers are paid less.
Did you mean to type 12 million instead of 21 million? 12 is the figure I’ve heard more often and is much more beleivable. I did the calculations on the cost a while back, and that was close to what I got for lettuce. Some crops went up more (I did it a while back) but not a whole lot per pound.
I just do not understand why when someone expresses concern of a growing illegal immigration problem that the Lindsey Grahams of the world (and their followers) then claim that you want all illegal deported, and or arrested.
I just want to CONTROL immigration. A strong fence with large gates…and somehow that make me what is now called a “nativist”…and it is rarely a good thing to be called anything ending with “ist”.
My party, the Republican Party, has sold out to business interest. What’s worst…the Democratic party has done the same.
So… the people who support Thomas Ravenel are “extremists”. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a self-imposition of blog civility?
Emile writes: Any farmer or processor will tell you that Americans do not want these jobs
Ya know, that’s garbage. IFwages were decent for these jobs you claim Americans won’t do, there’d be no problem filling them. But since the whole concept is to keep labor cost down, Pedro will pick that tomato for half what it would cost realistically. Even better yet, if Pedro is so important, then give HIM the pay raise.
“Jobs Americans won’t do…” just talking points for a political agenda. Mentida!
I’ve never really understood why people get so upset about illegal immigrants that they start screaming bloody murder. The issues of unfunded entitlements, low wages, crime and singing in English don’t really make certain people mad until they’re associated with illegals. (Not that they actually have much to do with each other, they just make mighty fine straw men.) I wonder, what is so special about illegal immigrants from Latin America?
OH YEAH. They’re not white.
Actually a lot of illegals are white. Poland used to be the top country for illegal aliens. Mexico is now the leader, and many Mexicans are white.
There are lots of arguments against permitting hordes of criminals to flood America, whatever race or nation of origin.
Some small minds can avoid considering those issues by focusing on skin color.
12,000,000 illegals is the bogus underestimate by advocates of amnesty.
21,000,000 is last year’s estimate by the Dept of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Pew Foundation for Hispanic Studies, and Bearn Stearns Research.
If the McCain Amnesty Plan is passed, there will be 40,000,000 illegals here overnight.
Lee’s absolutely right — the previous waves of indignation against immigrants were aimed at Irish and Poles, and they ARE white.
THEIR sin wasn’t pigmentation. It was that they were Catholic.
Excuses, excuses, playing the race card, playing the ethnic card, playing the victimhood game to excuse the criminals you like. Some of you like Catholic criminals, some like Mexican criminals, but all you can muster weak attempts to blame the laws, and excuse the criminals.
How can someone want to be in the news business, and be afraid to discuss the issues directly and factually?
My problem isn’t with immigration, but rather illegal immigration. I also have a problem with both parties as they seem to pander to illegal immigration. Business want the low cost labor, others the political vote they think they’ll get by providing amnesty.
You hear “they’re not criminals”, excuse me stealing or using a fake SSN IS CRIMINAL, not to mention they came into this country illegally.
Color of skin means nothing in my objections, legality does.
If they are here illegally, they are not immigrants, but aliens.
Brad, why didn’t your newspaper use this debate to write a feature story about the bankrupt retirement system?