Could lightning strike twice in a nearly identical place? Let's hope not.
I found this bit from the Tampa Bay Times a bit jarring:
The first look at featured speakers [for the Republican National Convention in Tampa] also includes South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.
The keynote speaker and others will be named closer to the Aug. 27-30 event, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said in announcing the headliners, whom he called “some of our party’s brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles.”
If those are the criteria, why is South Carolina’s governor on the list? Has this Priebus person paid any attention at all to our state in the last year and a half? Probably not. Stupid question, I suppose…
But, take heart. The piece goes on to suggest, sensibly enough, that being on this list means one is not on the list of vice presidential possibilities:
Romney has not named his vice presidential running mate, though that person will get a prime-time speaking slot. Noticeably absent from the headliner list are several VP contenders: former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The VP decision is expected any time now, perhaps as soon as this week when Romney kicks off a multistate bus tour….
Or at least, this is the inference drawn from the story by BuzzFeed’s Veepstakes.
Let’s certainly hope that’s the case (although think about it — just how hard would it be to change the speaking schedule after the veep selection is made? the depressing answer is, not hard at all). But with political parties, one never knows. The last thing we should expect from them is reasonable behavior.
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You’re right: Has the RNC chairman given S.C. a glance since Haley’s reign began? Does he talk to his party faithful in this State?
I wonder sometimes about Republicans and national media pundits who aren’t from SC and puzzle over their impressions of our Governor. And Kathleen Parker (a rational Republican journalist and sometimes-pundit I respect even though our viewpoints usually differ) is a native, and I’ve heard her throw out Haley’s name as one of the up-and-comers. I want Ms. Parker to remain in the “rational” category, but her Haley enthusiasm “gives me fits!: Mercy.
Hey, it would get her out of our hair! And it’s the best life insurance Mr. Romney can buy! (better than Andre,even).
RNC isn’t paying any attention to SC at this time. Don’t need to.
Haley was probably already on the list from Palin’s visit.
I see where Romney just got another endorsement from a rich celebrity, Jenna Jamison.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2012/08/04/jenna-jameson-wants-mitt-romney/
I wonder if she is going to give a Bobby Jindal “Response to the State of the Union” speech; that was a train wreck if there ever was one.
For SC Governot Haley’s speech to the GOP convention, I suggest the following drinking game:
Governot Nikki Haley Drinking Game
1) Anytime Governot Haley mentions her daughter, take a drink;
2) Anytime Governot Haley mentions her son, take a drink;
3) Anytime Governot Haley mentions her husband being deployed to Afghanistan, take a drink;
4) Anytime Governot Haley talks about bringing transparency to state government, take a drink.
My advice, have a designated driver because after Govnernot Haley’s speech, you will be over the legal limit.
Ralph, no drinks for playing the victim card. I guess that would ask too much even for the most seasoned of drinkers.
Sic Willie called it back last December.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2011/12/01/the-savannah-river-sellout-deepens/
I don’t think Kathleen Parker is advocating for Haley, more like reporting, no?
To me it just shows the divide between the national branch of the republican party and the state branch.
Governor Haley would fit in perfect in Washington. she fits that mold up there. While there are several sects in the Washington republicans moderates are being hunted like wild animals. Her rhetoric in many ways is just the Washington party line.
It just doesn’t fit on a state level. Partisanship here is smoke and mirrors. SC politics is all about vote swapping and special interest groups that are wiling to dump tons of money on you.
State government is being interviewing by these deep pockets. The more connections you have the more valuable you are as a lobbyist.
So everyone in state house is interviewing for their next job. just some want to move to Washington others want to be lobbyists whispering in the ears.
Brad, the O’Reilly piece didn’t exactly disregard facts it just didn’t provide any. This was just a fluff piece from someone who is obviously way on the outside just looking at her surface credentials, superficial as they are. This guy probably gets paid pretty well for regurgitating well know facts without bothering to dig down into any real substance. As we now know from John McCain’s experience in 2008 that’s the kind of thinking that can come back to haunt you. Let’s hope Romney makes the same mistake so he can be that much easier to defeat come November.
Wow, I am reeling here…
Has anyone read this nightmare piece by some guy named Bill O’Reilly (not the TV guy)?
It just gushes on and on about how wonderful Nikki is, and utterly disregards any actual facts that might get in the way. It’s like it’s written by some college freshman working as an intern in Nikki’s campaign.
The best thing that could happen to South Carolina is for Haley to be on that list and to get the nod. Should Romney win, that would get her out of the state.
Now, I realize that such wishful thinking on my part is entirely selfish in terms of what’s best for our nation as a whole, but you better believe there’s a whole mess of folks on both sides of the aisle that would love Nikki Haley to be Washington, D.C.’s problem, rather than simply South Carolina’s.
Cotton Boll, you present us with the Robert E. Lee quandary… President Lincoln offered him command of the U.S. forces — which, by my lights, by my sort of patriotism formed in the 20th century, he had the duty to accept. His duty as an officer required him to accept, whatever the personal conflict.
But as his sense of duty was formed in a different time, he felt he owed the greater loyalty to Virginia.
You present us with a similar choice. And as much as it pains me, I must choose against my beloved South Carolina in this. Far better that we continue to suffer through 2014, at which time we can address the problem, than the entire country — nay, the entire world, give this country’s role.
We’ve made it this far with her. She can cause far less trouble in this position than she could in D.C. (note that I typed “D.C.” because, well, it was such a strain to make myself type… White… House… arrrggghhhh! Try typing it yourself in this context, and you’ll be content to keep her here. Romney looks to be in good health, but you never know.)
Brad,
I completely agree with you and know that Haley on the national stage would be an unmitigated disaster, but it’s nice to dream about not having to put up with her machinations here in Columbia, isn’t it?
Plus, a tiny part of me would love to see her pull some of her petty stunts on the DC and NY media and see what kind of reception she gets.
But Brad, you seemed totally unfazed by the addition of the horrible Sarah Palin to the GOP ticket in 2008. Why all of a sudden does the prospect of Haley on the GOP ticket horrify you so? Besides, isn’t there plenty wrong with Romney regardless of who is VP pick is?
Agreed that KP should warn her peeps off Nikki. Just saying that I don’t recall reading her advocating for Nikki,just mentioning that Nikki was a possibility.
Of course, in my current jet-lagged state, all bets are off.
Bud, you misremember…
There is an enormous difference between “totally unfazed” and “object to the extent that I wouldn’t endorse John McCain.” Don’t know why some folks have so much trouble understanding that.
I was actually among the first to say anything even passingly negative about Sarah Palin — which actually got some of my liberal friends out there on my case a little. They thought it sexist or something, I suppose.
Anyway, you remind me of something I meant to address earlier…
One of the problems we had in 2008 was that so little was known about Sarah Palin. I distinctly recall trying to mine the Alaskan press for any warning signs — they gave none. Which is pretty disgusting. I made sure to give the nation (and more to the point, John McCain) loud and clear warnings about Mark Sanford that year, and to do it in plenty of time for it to have the desired effect. The Alaska press had a duty to the country to do the same, and they did not.
In that vein…
Above, Kathryn wrote “I don’t think Kathleen Parker is advocating for Haley, more like reporting, no?”
Well… I don’t know what Kathleen has written; you may be referring to something I haven’t read. But I feel obliged to point out that she is an OPINION writer, not a reporter. Not only that, but the most widely syndicated opinion writer in the country, I believe. That means she has an obligation to the country to do everything she can to warn Romney away from Nikki.
Kathleen made headlines herself with the strong misgivings she expressed in 2008 about Sarah Palin. She did that after it was too late. Of course, she had no choice about that — no one knew McCain would pick her before he did.
But this time, she has the chance to sound the clarion call BEFORE a disastrous decision is made. And she should, for all the reasons she decried the Palin choice in 2008.