Open Thread for Wednesday, June 5, 2013

At this hour on this day in 1944, paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were at their airfields in England, packing up (they carried gear that, for many of them, weighed more than they did) yet again and waiting for someone to help them climb into their C-47s.

They had done the same the night before, only to have the invasion delayed a day. I can’t imagine any of them slept during the intervening night. Then tonight, they were to jump into Normandy at midnight, spend the rest of the night trying to find their units after being misdropped, and then spend all of D-Day in hard fighting, wherever they happened to be. For starters.

Good thing they were all in shape.

This is just me free-associating because I don’t quite grasp the concept of an “open thread.” Kathryn said I should offer one. I said I didn’t know what that was, and that judging by the 155 comments on last Thursday’s Virtual Front Page, it seemed to me y’all talked about whatever you want anyway. She said, “You just say ‘Open thread’ and we talk about whatever we want. I can’t sort out the tangle that is Thursday’s VFP any more.”

So… “Open Thread.”

90 thoughts on “Open Thread for Wednesday, June 5, 2013

    1. Stephen Davis II

      Who cares… just a bunch of Sociology or Sports Management majors running around a football field.

    2. Scout

      My house is currently baseball central. If we talk about that I can kind of contribute by throwing out random phrases that happen around me like super regional and walkup song. Go Gamecocks, Yay!

      1. Norm Ivey

        Did you watch the Florida-Atlantic -North Carolina game Monday night? I sat through every agonizing minute of it, finally able to go to bed sometime around 1AM.

        Cocks will have their work cut out for them this weekend, and they aren’t the time they were two years ago, but with a little luck against NC and a little help from Louisville, they might be able to go pretty deep in the tournament.

        1. Doug Ross

          I was “watching” it on the internet… we had tickets for the Super Regional and kept getting our hopes up and then dashed multiple times.

        2. Scout

          I watched a lot of it, but I had to go to bed. My husband saw it all and explained to me that it would be good if Florida won because that would mean the Super-regional would be here, and that we wouldn’t have to play NC who is the #1 seed. Oh well. I’m thinking Andrea is going to cancel tomorrow.

      2. Silence

        What is a “walkup song” is that like the song they play when a player comes up to bat? Like theme music for a professional wrestler?

        If that’s the case, then I want my walk-up song to be “Kashmir” by Led Zepplin – and walkup songs deserve their own thread so we can pick our own and have others suggest songs for other commenters, along with the reasoning behind the choice.

        1. Scout

          Yes, that is exactly what a walk up song is. I find it kind of disturbing that our best hitter chose Justin Bieber (at least I think that’s right – somebody did). Good idea for a thread. I don’t know what I’d choose – that would take some thought. Maybe Don’t Fence Me In – done by David Byrne.

  1. Doug Ross

    I know everyone else has moved on but the Lillian McBride debacle still bugs me to no end. The fact that she still has a job is unacceptable. The fact that her replacement appears to have serious questions about his background is unacceptable. Why does the media report on this story and then give up? What does Lillian McBride do to fill 40 hours per week for $75-80K in salary? What are her daily duties?

    1. Silence

      What about all the controversy about McBride’s replacement? It sounds like the hiring committee still didn’t do their job.

      1. Mark Stewart

        It sounds like Darrell Jackson has been busy doing his the way he sees fit, however.

        Worrying about Lillian McBride is a waste of time. As we say at work, go big or go home. The solution to this lies with standing together against legislative corruption. Which means supporting better, and better funded and coordinated, challengers to the current office holders.

        1. Silence

          Sen. Jackson is too powerful. Even if you caught him with a live boy or a dead girl, he’d still get reelected in his senate district. He’s there until he sees fit…. to retire.

    2. Brad Warthen Post author

      I don’t think everybody else has moved on, Doug, least of all the media. I saw a story just this week — on either the front, or the metro front (I think — I’ve been reading the paper in the morning on my iPad, so sometimes I’m not sure where I saw something) about how the legislative delegation had postponed its meeting by a week. A meeting at which they are to talk about the election mess. An excerpt:

      The Richland County legislative delegation is postponing its meeting until next week, when members are expected to elect a new chairman and fill a vacancy on the five-member county Elections and Voter Registration Board.

      It is unknown whether any of the 17 delegation members will push to reopen the search for a new Richland County elections director. Last week, five members said they want the elections board to start over, noting the whole process since Election Day has failed to recapture the public’s trust. The delegation appoints board members but under state law cannot dictate who the board hires as director.

      Now maybe that’s not that meaningful to you, but it is to me. Newspapers don’t usually do prominent stories on turn-of-the-screw stuff such as a legislative delegation meeting being postponed. But this rose to this level because the paper has not moved on. Nor have most of us, I think.

      I just did a search, and I see three stories in the paper in the past week about this:

      Some Richland lawmakers want election director do-over

      Delegation delays meeting on board vacancy

      Richland elections board makes hire of director official, at $78,000 and June 24 start date

      1. Silence

        Yes, they moved on and went ahead and officially hired the new guy who works 9 jillion hours a week at 18 different jobs, allegedly.

        1. Mark Stewart

          Fleecing the taxpayers, to boot. Guy is going to end up in Federal hot water over his “enterprises”. I think it probably would have been wiser for him not to have brought himself to attention. Oh yeah, he didn’t, he left these “non-profit” activities off his resume. It was The State which outted him.

          And then the Richland County Delegation hired him anyway.

          1. Silence

            There seems to be a trend lately of successful African Americans having either a non-profit or a ministry. This is not intended to be a racist statement, but I haven’t noticed it much in the Caucasian community.

            Also, I haven’t quite figured out the angle. Is it to get around taxes, or to get some sort of funding?

          2. Mark Stewart

            It was funding I’m sure. He’s effectively doing home “renovations” on the Federal dime. And either buying or selling ahead or behind, too.

            Plenty of white people are as abusive, trust me. They may not form nonprofits or ministries, but they are just as ethically repugnant. You would be surprised at the angles people find to abuse the public trust.

            The problem is that most people who are savvy enough to have an inkling of the malfeasance are often too afraid to ruffle their friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc. feathers by rejecting these grabs. But that’s what it takes, either icing people privately or calling them out publicly.

          3. Doug Ross

            “Plenty of white people are as abusive, trust me. They may not form nonprofits or ministries, but they are just as ethically repugnant. You would be surprised at the angles people find to abuse the public trust.”

            How come when I say that I’m labeled a cynic?

          4. Mark Stewart

            Doug,

            Because I call myself an optimistic realist. It’s all in the marketing. And the outlook, I guess. I see that people do what they shouldn’t and devote some time to understanding the why and the how of that, but I try to always encourage everyone, myself included, to aim higher and achieve more.

          5. Silence

            Step 1. Start a non-profit, ostensibly for some public purpose.
            2. Install self as director, and buddies as the board of trustees.
            3. Apply for public and private grants and funding to support noble purpose.
            4. Buy assets, cars, property, boats, planes for personal use inside said non-profit.
            5. Pay self exorbitant salary and book “40 hours/week” of work for non-profit to justify salary.
            6. Pay friends, family or others for service as board or consultants to non-profit.
            7. Accomplish little or nothing toward stated goals.
            8. Continue until charade is revealed and funding dries up.

            So pretty much this business plan?

          6. Mark Stewart

            Silence, you could be a management consultant to the crooked. But I don’t think they need the help. Thanks for enlightening the honest though, I think we need to hear it more.

      2. Doug Ross

        Well, I guess that’s my point. We now appear to be in “just the facts” mode. Where’s the editorial outrage? Is anyone digging further into Howard Jackson’s “charity”? The level of response to Howard Jackson’s questionable work history from the board (except for the five who spoke up) has been unacceptable.

        Has there been a quote from Joel Lourie on this matter? If not, how is he allowed to get away with that?

        1. Doug Ross

          Is there ANY doubt in anyone’s mind that the newly hired director will be conducting business for his charity and his real estate business during work hours?

          1. Mark Stewart

            Would they NOT have included in a Director’s contract that one is to engage in no outside commercial activities? Oh yeah, the guy’s a charity. Silly me.

  2. bud

    The big questions for the upcoming football season:

    1. Was it a mistake for Tajh Boyd to come back for his senior season?
    2. Will the Gamecocks ever field a top shelf QB for their Heisman Trophy winning coach?
    3. Will the SEC win an 8th straight national title?
    4. How will the last season of the BSC unfold?
    5. Is the ACC really the dog conference it’s detractor claim?
    6. Will Lane Kiffin ever get his comeuppance?
    7. In a related matter will the other USC be over rated yet again?
    8. Will the new and controversial rules reduce the incidence of head injuries?

    These and many other stories are likely to keep this football fan glued to the TV from late August right on through the last of the BCS championship games.

    1. Bryan Caskey

      Excellent questions, bud. See brad, college football can bring people together. It’s what unites us as a people.

      1. 1. Was it a mistake for Tajh Boyd to come back for his senior season?
      In my opinion, no. He’ll have another year with star WR Sammy Watkins, he’ll be in the early mix for the Heisman, and he’ll have another year to get better. Could be a first rounder in 2014.

      2. Will the Gamecocks ever field a top shelf QB for their Heisman Trophy winning coach?
      Although it pains me to say this: probably not.

      3. Will the SEC win an 8th straight national title?
      Yes. All the anti-SEC folks are touting tOSU, but I’m not buying.

      4. How will the last season of the BSC unfold?
      Controversy. As does every year. Some one loss team will jump an undefeated team because of the computers.

      5. Is the ACC really the dog conference it’s detractor claim?
      Yes. FSU and Clemson are really the only two schools with a chance to get to the title game. After those two, the level of team goes way down. WAY, down.

      6. Will Lane Kiffin ever get his comeuppance?
      Probably not. And that’s because there is no justice in this world.

      7. In a related matter will the other USC be over rated yet again?
      Kind of. This year, tOSU will be the media darling.

      8. Will the new and controversial rules reduce the incidence of head injuries?
      I hope so. The best thing to stop the high hits against defenseless players will be good coaching. Now that it (targeting) is a severe penalty, good coaches are going to be stressing (although they already do) text book tackling,.

      Nice use of the open thread. Heck bud, I could probably drink a beer with you and talk football if we promised not to discuss politics.

    2. Norm Ivey

      1. Yes. For kids like Tajh, college is an apprenticeship. He blows out a knee this year, and his career is over. Watch Lattimore closely. They’re giving him time to rehabilitate, but that’s a year off an already too-short career.
      2. No.
      3. Probably. But who’s counting besides everyone?
      4. I don’t get all the back and forth about the BCS. Everyone argued about the national champion before BCS, they argues about during BCS, and they’ll argue about it after BCS. We argue about possibilities. That’s why we ask questions like who would win a fight between a grizzly and tiger? [The grizzly]
      5. Yeah.
      6. No.
      7. Yes.
      8. I hope so. There’s no silence so disturbing as the silence of a stadium when some 19-year-old kid is lying motionless on the field because he gave his body up for a crowd’s blood-lust.

      1. David

        1. Yes. For kids like Tajh, college is an apprenticeship. He blows out a knee this year, and his career is over. Watch Lattimore closely. They’re giving him time to rehabilitate, but that’s a year off an already too-short career.

        I like how we only recognize “kids like Tajh” (i.e. dumb kids who don’t value education and are just here for our entertainment, right?) in one aspect of their lives — playing football — but feel qualified enough to comment on whether the life decisions they and their families make are “mistakes”.

  3. John

    Bud, are you purposely going for the “Soap” reference? Well done, thanks for the bright spot! Will Chester ever know what Jessica did with the tennis instructor? Will Father Tim’s bishop ever find out who fathered Curin’s possessed baby? These questions and many more will be answered….happy Free Association Day!

  4. Silence

    And yet again we have a family member (wife) of an elected official elected to office, this time for Richland County District 1 School Board. This time it was (now) former teacher, Pamela Adams, wife of Richland County Treasurer David Adams (D).

    I’m not saying that she wasn’t the most qualified candidate, or that she wasn’t the best candidate, don’t get me wrong. Some of the other candidates in this election seemed atrocious. I’m just lamenting the dynastic tendency of South Carolina politics. It’d be nice to see someone elected for a change with a different last name, rather than one of the usual suspects, or their kinfolk.

    1. Silence

      Best Adams quote from today’s article in The State: “It doesn’t make good moral and ethnical sense…”

      Golf clap…Well said, Mrs. School Board Member.

        1. Silence

          Probably a typo, but it would be an interesting and perhaps an appropriate slip of the tongue when discussing local elections.

          In related news turnout was approximately 4,000 out of 133,000 eligible voters, so the Richland County elections department was able to adequately conduct the election without a major reported incident. Thank goodness more people didn’t turn out to vote, or things could have really gotten out of control.

    2. Brad Warthen Post author

      You know, until I read the story in the paper today saying she’d won, I hadn’t been aware that she had opposition. I had received release after release from her (alas, I never felt qualified to write on the subject), and nary a one from anyone running against her.

      In light of this last-minute release, listing her endorsements, I’m surprised there was anyone left in the district to vote for her opponents at all:

      Friends,

      Pamela Adams’ campaign for Richland One School Board has picked up several new supporters in the days leading up to Election Day on Tuesday, June 4th. They know, as you do, that we need a new voice of a professional educator who can make sense of the hundreds of policies (federal, state and local) that strangle our schools and keep them from educating our children – and the voice of a mother invested in every classroom to fight with us to make our community schools great for every child.

      Even though our campaign has been blessed by the support of so many community leaders, all we’ve done so far doesn’t matter without your support and your vote this Tuesday! Join us in voting for Pamela this Tuesday, June 4th, to add a strong new voice to our School Board who can help take our schools from good to great!

      Members of the South Carolina Legislature

      Senator John Courson
      Senator Darrell Jackson
      Senator Joel Lourie
      Representative Jimmy Bales
      Representative Todd Rutherford
      Representative James Smith
      Columbia City Elected Officials

      Mayor Steve Benjamin
      Hon. Cameron Runyan, City Council
      Richland County Elected Officials

      Hon. Kelvin Washington, County Council
      Hon. Greg Pearce, County Council
      Hon. Joyce Dickerson, County Council
      Hon. Norman Jackson, County Council
      Hon. Damon Jeter, County Council
      Hon. Paul Livingston, County Council
      Hon. Jim Manning, County Council
      Hon. David Adams, County Treasurer
      Former Elected Leaders

      Former Governor Jim and Rachel Hodges
      Former Mayor Bob Coble
      Former Representative James Harrison
      Former Representative Candy Waites
      Former Councilwoman Bernice Scott
      2012 Candidate for Richland One School Board One

      Antjuan Seawright

      1. Doug Ross

        It’s an incestuous bunch… “Famously Quid Pro Quo” should be the new motto for the city of Columbia.

      2. Silence

        Consider yourself lucky if you weren’t getting any other emails. I am not sure how I got on the mailing lists.
        Here’s a sample with some emphasis added:

        Dear Potential Supporter,

        I am Dr. Deborah Belton and I soliciting your support as I run for the seat of School Board Commissioner of Richland School District One in Columbia, South Carolina.

        I have earned a BS in Elementary Education, a Masters of Education, an Education Specialist Degree and a Doctorate in Theology. I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. I have served in the positions of teacher assistant, teacher, assistant principal, principal, child care administrator and Bible College Chancellor. I presently serve as the School Improvement Chairperson for C.A. Johnson High School, a school that I took to Honor Roll status of the Dick and Tunky Riley Award for outstanding School Improvement councils. My honors include: the Unsung Hero Award for community service; the Parent of the year award for SIG Grants of the United States; and I have received accommodations from the Mayor of Columbia SC and Senate of our state. I am currently the Pastor and founder of the Heart of God Ministries.

        As far as qualifications, I am well qualified. As a wife, parent, grandparent, educator, mentor and minister, I have proven to be successful. I have God, an awesome family, friends and people who really believe in me. Qualifications alone are not going to help me succeed. I need notoriety and assistance in getting my name publicized to help serve the community at large. I hope that you will assist me by sharing your support for me to others and by making a donation to the Dr. Deborah Belton Campaign Fund. The amount does not matter all is welcomed and needed.
        Finally, I need your prayers. I am an advocate for all children and I believe this is a part of my purpose. Please help me to fulfill it. Always remember, I stand for excellence, equality and accountability so “A Vote for Deborah Belton is a vote for our Children”.

        Please visit my website, http://www.dwbishop2deborah.com, for further information regarding me, my candidacy and how you can make a donation.

        With Much Love and Respect,

        Dr. Deborah Belton

        1. Doug Ross

          ” I presently serve as the School Improvement Chairperson for C.A. Johnson High School, a school that I took to Honor Roll status of the Dick and Tunky Riley Award for outstanding School Improvement councils.”

          C.A. Johnson has been rated At Risk for the past three years. I always found those SIC committees in my kids’ schools to be 90% useless.. especially when I was a PTO President. They padded all the numbers for awards like Blue Ribbon and Red Carpet schools. All those phony awards should be abolished.

  5. bud

    Groups of people that are mysterious:

    1. Women
    2. Conservatives
    3. Non-football lovers

    As far as I’m concerned communicating with a female, Republican, football hater would be as difficult as talking to a Martian.

    1. Brad Warthen Post author

      Except, of course, for the Asian Republican women who hate football. They’re not mysterious; they’re inscrutable.

      It’s a JOKE!

  6. Brad Warthen Post author

    Speaking of the Richland County Legislative Delegation, I got a copy of this update Beth Bernstein sent to constituents:

    HOUSE WEEK IN REVIEW
    May 6, 2013 – FURLOUGH

    HOUSE WEEK IN REVIEW
    May 13, 2013

    The House of Representatives returned S.22, the “SOUTH CAROLINA RESTRUCTURING ACT OF 2013”, to the Senate with amendments. The bill provides for comprehensive changes to the organization and oversight of state government. The legislation abolishes the State Budget and Control Board and transfers the majority of the board’s functions to a new Department of Administration that is established in the executive branch and headed by a director who is appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate.

    The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3725, the “SAFE ACCESS TO VITAL EPINEPHRINE (SAVE) ACT” and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation allows the state’s public and private schools to keep supplies of epinephrine auto-injectors, also known as EpiPens, in stock and affords schools greater authority to administer this potentially life-saving medication to those who are experiencing severe allergic reactions.

    The House approved S.250 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation establishes an EXEMPTION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM CHARITABLE SOLICITATION ACT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. This public school exemption includes a student organization within the school that does not maintain separate financial accounts or a separate Federal Employer’s Identification Number from the school and whose fundraising revenues are deposited in the school’s student activity fund.

    The House approved and sent the Senate H.3013, a bill relating to FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR QUALIFYING VETERANS. This legislation requires regional transportation authorities to develop and implement programs within their service areas that make public transportation available at no charge for certain qualifying veterans.

    The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3098, a bill dealing with the rights of LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS. The legislation provides that if the residential care resident or the resident’s representative chooses to voluntarily relocate from the resident’s current facility, the resident or the resident’s representative must give written notice of intent to relocate not less than fourteen days before the resident’s relocation becomes effective.

    HOUSE WEEK IN REVIEW
    May 20, 2013

    The House of Representatives amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3165, a bill that provides for the DISQUALIFICATION FROM UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR FAILING TO PASS A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER’S DRUG SCREENING. The legislation expands the criteria under which an individual is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits for failure to seek work so that they include situations where an individual tests positive for illicit drugs in a screening required by a prospective employer as a condition of an offer of employment, refuses to take the drug test, or provides an adulterated specimen.

    The House approved H.3236, the “CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION ACT”, and sent the bill to the Senate. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) may offer the cervical cancer vaccination series for adolescent students enrolling in the seventh grade in any school, public or private, in this state.

    The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3592, a bill revising ENERGY EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BUILDING STANDARDS FOR STATE CONSTRUCTION. The legislation revises the “Energy Independence and Sustainable Construction Act of 2007”, to provide that the Budget and Control Board may utilize the Green Globes Rating System or the LEED Silver standard in place as of January 1, 2013, as a building rating system standard.

    The House returned S.143 to the Senate with amendments. The legislation makes COMPREHENSIVE REVISIONS TO PROBATE AND TRUST CODE PROVISIONS which have not been updated or revised in a systematic fashion in several decades. The legislation does not revise the statutes governing guardians, conservators, and powers of attorneys.

    HOUSE WEEK IN REVIEW
    May 27, 2013

    The House of Representatives amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3827, legislation providing for an EXPEDITED APPEAL OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DECISIONS that allows someone who has been denied a permit or received another unfavorable decision from agency staff to bypass an appeal of the decision to the DHEC Board and, instead, take their contested case directly to the Administrative Law Court.

    The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3061, legislation establishing a protocol for addressing STUDENT ATHLETES AND CONCUSSIONS in K-12 public education, and enrolled the bill for ratification. These model guidelines and procedures must be used by local school districts to develop guidelines and procedures which apply to South Carolina High School League sanctioned events.

    The House insisted upon its amendments to S.22, the “SOUTH CAROLINA RESTRUCTURING ACT OF 2013”, and appointed a conference committee to address differences with the Senate on the legislation.

    The House concurred in Senate amendments to H.3751 and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation enhances the state’s UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM INTEGRITY by establishing provisions that authorize the Department of Employment and Workforce to assess a twenty-five percent monetary penalty on improper unemployment compensation payments resulting from false statements or failure to disclose material facts.

    The House approved S.117, relating to AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL INFORMATION, and enrolled the bill for ratification. The legislation revises the Adult Health Care Consent Act by requiring a health care provider to include on the patient information form an opportunity for the patient to designate a family member or other individual with whom the provider may discuss the patient’s medical condition and treatment.

    The House returned S.341, the “EMERSON ROSE ACT”, which establishes new provisions for the DETECTION OF CRITICAL CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS IN NEWBORNS, to the Senate with amendments. The legislation directs the Department of Health and Environmental Control to require each licensed birthing facility to perform on every newborn in its care a pulse oximetry or other department-approved screening to detect critical congenital heart defects when the baby is twenty‑four to forty‑eight hours of age, or as late as possible if the baby is discharged from the hospital before reaching twenty‑four hours of age.

    The House amended, approved, and sent the Senate H.3717. This legislation includes in the purview of the HARASSMENT AND STALKING OFFENSES persons who commit the offenses while subject to the terms of a restraining order issued by the family court and who have been issued a previous warning by a law enforcement officer.

    You know, in a perfect world, these sorts of items would be the only thing you would expect to hear about from a state representative. They wouldn’t even be involved in such a SNAFU as the Richland election mess. Unfortunately, this is South Carolina, the Legislative State, where lawmakers have their hands in everything

    1. Doug Ross

      Holy smokes… if that isn’t a rundown of government doing FAR more than it ever should… this is a libertarians nightmare.

      “SAFE ACCESS TO VITAL EPINEPHRINE (SAVE) ACT”
      “EXEMPTION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM CHARITABLE SOLICITATION ACT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS”
      “FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR QUALIFYING VETERANS.”

      Do we really need lawmakers to spend time on these things?

      The scariest one is ““CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION ACT” ” the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) may offer the cervical cancer vaccination series for adolescent students enrolling in the seventh grade in any school, public or private, in this state.” This is a drug company sponsored revenue generator.

  7. Kathryn Fenner

    People go into the family business, Doug! Pamela Adams got elected, inno small part because she ran an actual campaign. She knew what to do, perhaps because she’d seen it done and/or had access to people who knew how to do it. I only voted because I happened to see signs up while walking the dog yesterday. The State certainly didn’t highlight the election.

    Didn’t your son make use of your expertise? I know the Professor got a big boost because his father was a professor, too. Steve knew the ropes, so to speak, while I went to law school, because I had no other idea. I certainly was not going to major in chemistry like my parents had!

      1. Doug Ross

        This isn’t some newbie walking in off the street. This is a politically connected person (probably through her husband’s job).

        1. Kathryn Fenner

          You set him up in a business you were familiar with, which positioned him nicely to be hired. She got ELECTED, a business her husband is familiar with.

          1. Doug Ross

            You have your facts wrong. I told him what to study. He studied it. Six months later he got a job with a company that I had no relationship with. Could the new school board member have gotten the job if her husband didn’t have the job he has?

          2. Doug Ross

            Her endorsements came as a result of her husband. Let’s not pretend that isn’t the case.

          3. Kathryn Fenner

            Doug, You don’t have any idea about what actually went on in the Adams election. he’s only treasurer, for Pete’s sake. They live in an area where their neighbors are well-connected. she teaches at a school where the students are well-connected.

            And you did stake him an office….and advise him.
            Lots of kids don’t get that.

          4. Doug Ross

            So getting my son an office where he could learn software is equivalent to the spouse of the Treasurer of the county where the state capital is located using the connections her husband had to gather endorsement. Okay. I suppose those people on the endorsement list would do the same for any teacher who asked nicely.

      1. Silence

        “Excuse me, I happened to be passing, and I thought you might like some coffee.”
        “Oh, that’s very nice of you, thank you.”
        “Oh, won’t you sit down?”
        “Cream?”
        “No, thank you, I take it black, like my men.”

  8. Kathryn Fenner

    and Steve got his jobs through his own efforts, but he knew the game because his dad did….

  9. Kathryn Fenner

    Why do you think she isn’t well-known to those who endorsed her? People whom I respect know HER and endorsed HER. Geez! If your wife ran and asked for my endorsement, I’d gladly give it, fwiw, because I think she’d do a good job. Same with Miz Dubs.

    And candidates have asked for my endorsement. I have nothing to offer except my reputation.

    Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar!

    My point about your son is that you showed him the drill and she knew the drill.

  10. Brad Warthen Post author

    You know, y’all, I get a little uncomfortable when we start pointing to each other’s kids to make points in a political debate. No one means any harm, but my Spidey sense starts going off. We should probably steer away from that.

    1. Doug Ross

      I don’t mind, Brad. I just think the analogy is way off base. Providing direction to a 23 year old kid to help him get his first entry level job isn’t even close to the same situation as the wife of the Treasurer of Richland County winning an elected position with the help of endorsements from all the key local politicians. I remain skeptical that she could have won without her husband’s political connections.

      1. Kathryn Fenner

        Look, I go all over the parts of the city where a lot of these people live, work and play, and she didn’t have to pull any strings or get her husband to twist arms. She and her husband and the endorsers are all part of the community. You see them around. They know each other and are friends. Of course they think she will do well!

        Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

  11. Doug Ross

    If you go here:

    http://apps.sc.gov/PublicReporting/Contributions/ContributorResults.aspx

    and search for David A. Adams, you will find contributions to several of the names on the endorsement list, including one joint contribution from David A. and Pamela Adams to Councilman Kelvin Washington. There is also a contribution of 3,410.26 to the SC Democratic Party. But, no, those kind of contributions would have no impact on things like getting the word out to Democrats to vote for his wife. Total coincidence.

    Quid pro quo. It’s how the game works in politics.

        1. Doug Ross

          You continue to tell yourself that her husband’s elected position in the county had no impact on the votes she received.

          I’m sure Strom Thurmond’s son was a self-starter too. And Vincent Sheheen…

      1. Silence

        I got no less than 30 emails from varous candidates and 8 pieces of snail-mail regarding this school board election.

  12. Doug Ross

    Correction – the David A. Adams contribution was not to the SC Democratic Party, it was to the Richland County Democratic Party. Gotta get more local bang for the bucks.

  13. Silence

    It’s really simple, and both Doug and Kathryn are right to some extent. Pamela Adams is well known to our local political elite, possibly due to her husband’s position. The same elite, both Democrats and Republicans take care of their own, and endorsed her for this office. She had access to, or knowledge of how to create and fund a campaign, almost certainly she’d helped to run her husband’s campaigns. Each benefits from the other’s name recognition in this case and in future elections, so having the name “Adams” up on signs more often helps them both.

    In this case, it was a pretty thin field, and she was almost certainly the best qualified candidate, so it was probably a no-brainer that she got so many endorsements. If there’d been another well-known name in the field, or another similarly qualified candidate, they’d have probably split some endorsements.

    I personally didn’t support Ms. Adams, because I think her husband tried to sink Finlay’s campaign in the mayoral race with Benjamin – releasing or not correcting incorrect info about Finlay’s business property taxes. My one run-in with Treasurer Adams in his official position was also unfavorable, he acted like he didn’t have any time or interest in helping to answer my questions as a taxpayer. Usually my interactions with public officials are more favorable. So, he lost my vote for his wife and I voted for Karen Wilson, who I knew almost nothing about. I’m as guilty as anyone else of not informing myself about the race.

    But there’s nothing inherently wrong with using familial connections to get ahead. All’s fair in love and war. I just wish that we’d (as an electorate) do a better job of being educated about the candidates and issues, and making informed decisions. I am guilty of this too. As it is we elect or try to elect the usual suspects over and over.

    Just think of all the political dynasty families we have right here in SC or the midlands:
    Scott-Washington
    Thurmond
    Finlay
    Lourie
    Adams (as of Tuesday)
    Campbell
    Sellers
    DeQuincy Newman
    Devine
    Theodore
    Giese
    Wilson
    Ravenel
    I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch of other obvious ones.

    1. Mark Stewart

      The first name I looked for on her endorsement list was Krikman’s. Just for the wry sport of it.

  14. bud

    I find it interesting that Doug gets all bent out of shape over even the slightest hint of some impropriety when it involves government yet rarely chimes in when it comes to corporate malfeasance. Funny how priorities among reasonable people can be so different.

    1. Doug Ross

      @bud

      1) Because if you look into any corporate malfeasance you will find some link to a government loophole, giveback, lobbyist, etc.

      2) Because when corporations get caught, they tend to suffer where it hurts the most – in their stock price – unless they are “too big to fail” and get a cover up from politicians (Bush and Obama). Whatever terrible things the banking and financial industry have done has been under the watchful guidance of the SEC, the Federal Reserve, and all the ex-Goldman Sachs employees who work(ed) in the Bush and Obama White Houses.

      1. bud

        As for point number 1, seriously? If you actually find that claim credible given all the evidence to the contrary anything I say will never convince you that a totally free market is highly, highly flawed. But just a few examples anyway: The mortgage industry crash was an example of the complete failure of the free-market as the result of LESS not more regulation. Pollution prior to government efforts to regulate industry ran rampant. Child labor and workplace safety laws came about because the “invisible hand” was failing to guide the free market. The results of these and other free-market failures necessitated greater government involvement.

        Point number 2. Doug, you’ve made this point before but it really doesn’t prove what you think it does. Actually quite the the opposite. Often corporate greed does great damage before it is addressed in the market. Is it really reasonable to expect human greed to be the best way to prevent tragedies like the Bangladesh factory disaster? Obviously not. At other times the corporate perps are only brought to just by government intervention (ENRON, Exxon Valdez, BP, Bernie Maddof).

        1. Doug Ross

          “mortgage industry crash was an example of the complete failure of the free-market as the result of LESS not more regulation. ”

          FNMA, FMAC, plus government policies and programs ENCOURAGING home ownership by people who had no business owning homes. Nope, that had no impact at all… The crash was the free market at work. An unsustainable bubble built up by consumer demand for taking equity out of their homes to feed immediate gratification.

          Do you understand the concept of “free market”, bud? The government has its hands all over the mortgage industry… starting with the Fed setting the interest rates that drive mortgage rates.

          Free is free. We don’t have anything close to a free market.

          1. bud

            Yes Doug I very much understand the “free market”. That’s why I’m so profoundly, adametely, obsessively oppossed to a COMPLETELY “free marekt”. It would be a disaster with rampant pollution; dangerous work environments; extreme, unmitigated poverty; dangerous consumer goods; and a host of other unacceptable offenses to the sensibilities of anyone with compassion or justice. No nation even comes close to a COMPLETELY free market and for very good reason. (Mexico might be one of the closest with all it’s marauding bands of “capitalists” plying their murderous drug trade largely free from those pesky government regulators.) It just would not work for the benefit of society but only a tiny handful of very lucky and well-connected robber barrons.

  15. Silence

    I wonder if the state government did pay a ransom to the SCDOR data hackers. I certainly hope not, and I can’t believe that would have even considered it. It just makes no sense.

    What if Experian actually hacked the servers and stole the data, giving us a reason to purchase $12M of their services? Sort of a false-flag operation.
    We (State of SC) should have a “hit team” on standby to insert into Eastern Europe or wherever and assasinate the hackers… or a drone strike or whatever.
    It would make for a good headline: “SC DOR Servers Hacked, 12 Moldovans Killed in SCDOR Response Raid”

  16. Kathryn Fenner

    Maybe a lot of African-Americans have nonprofits or ministries because their churches encourage a more hands-on approach, or because they see a need and want to fill it?

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