Reading a letter on tomorrow’s page on the subject, I was struck again at how often Andre Bauer does something that would draw all sorts of criticism and/or derision were anyone else to do it, but we generally don’t remark on it around here. There’s too much else out there to write about.
When we DO clear our throats to say something, of course, we are immediately subjected to howls from the Andre lobby about how we’re ALWAYS criticizing him, and why don’t we EVER write about anything else, and other easily controvertible assertions.
This has a chilling effect, so that we tend to give him one or two extra missteps before the next one we comment on? Why do we let that happen? Because Andre is the lieutenant governor, and the lieutenant governor is not a very important figure, so one can give him slack without neglecting one’s duty — at least, when there are plenty of important things to write about. Sure, it’s embarrassing for people to know this is our lieutenant governor (a title that sounds important, anyway), but in the scheme of things…
Since we’re not having elections right now, it’s not all that important to the state of South Carolina whether Andre screwed the pooch as a pilot, or the machine just broke. But this lawsuit is at least worth a raised eyebrow, is it not? I say that on the same day I read about this interesting case, and I am reminded of it.
So, any opinions out there among the brethren on the higher and lower steps of the pyramid? John Glenn? Chuck Yeager? Wrong-Way Corrigan? Anybody?
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Sometimes young people just screw up. If I remember correctly, Yeager was court martialed soon after he enlisted in the army (as a private) for shooting a farmer’s horse with a machine gun. Yeager may have been wild, but he wasn’t a sissy. He was worth giving a second chance.
We’ve got two million people in prison, and many of these people are in for drug offenses. They turn into hard-core criminals because of the surroundings. It would be better for judges to give these people a choice (like they used to do): you can either go to jail, or to Marine Corps boot camp.
I saw plenty of eighteen year olds in the military who surely would have ended up in jail if they hadn’t had been in the military, and most of these people turned out OK, and in some cases they became outstanding sailors and Marines.
Brad and I do agree about one thing-we probably do need a draft.
Hi,
I suppose I am a member of the “Andre lobby”. You would be a co leader of the “anti Andre lobby”.
You will never forgive or forget his “sins or mistakes” of the past…no matter who much time passes, or no matter what he does to make ammends.
But the people of SC voted, and they accepted him. Instead of moving on, you continue to harp on the past, instead of the present.
I understand the need to know the past…but the present is more important. He does much more for SC than you will ever acknowledge…and of course it would be impossible for you to write anything kind about him. I suppose, in your lobby, the people of SC are fools, and only you and yours are worthy of making these decisions.
While you apparently would like to remove or belittle his right to access the court system, he has that right, and a jury of his peers will make a decision based on the facts. I am sure he hopes for a fair trial…and that would mean you will not be on the jury…
Apparently there’s some unwritten rule for Republican pols about mistakes made prior to 40-years-old age.
G.W. Bush got a free ride from the press for his DUI and his well-known history of substance abuse, political dirty-tricks and womanizing prior to turning the big Four-Oh and finding Jesus.
Now Terry scolds Brad for pointing out that our Lite Gov. has a record of criminality and irresponsibility documented WHILE IN OFFICE.
Keep it up, Brad. Maybe the voters will remember their mistake with the current Republican in the White House. If you don’t keep reminding them, however, Andre will celebrate the magic birthday and become a blank slate– perfect for higher office on the GOP ticket.
Can you say Vice President Bauer? I knew you could.