Politics Rocks Endorsement

Just like in sports, bigtime programs or bigtime head coaching jobs that come open, athletic directors or owners hire experienced, successful, and proven leaders in their respective sport. They understand that their school or program cannot afford to take the big risk of hiring someone without experience and without a proven track record. This man has experience, he has a proven track record. He knows there is a better way to improve public education than resorting to vouchers. In my opinion, if you vote for Rex this Nov. 7th, you won't regret it. It's safe to say that Jim Rex is the Larry Brown, Coach K, and Dean Smith of Education, he's not some towel boy or towel girl from some other sport who doesn't have a clue.

Rod Shealy ..... You Should Have Used Your Bullpen

Thoughts On The Rainey vs. Ravenel Match

As I painfully watched the bloodbath between Thomas Ravenel and John Rainey this past Thursday, I couldn't help but feel bad for T-Rav. After the first 30 minutes I wanted to call Rod Shealy and say "Rod, make the call dude, Ravenel's out of gas, get a righty and a lefty warming up in the bullpen right now." Rod Shealy, Thomas Ravenel's Political Strategist, he was the one who got Ravenel into this mess and he should have had got him out of it! By the way, why was Rod Shealy not in attendance at this Q & A?

I felt like I was watching a game where the manager didn't want to sacrifice any more pitchers, so he's left this poor guy out there to get creamed. Honestly, after the first 30 minutes, it got very uncomfortable to watch. I'm not even a Republican, but I was begging the skipper Rod Shealy to pull him! Make the call to the bullpen Rod, bring in the lefty, bring in the righty, anybody, but get this guy off the mound. Please, someone call the bullpen!

As I was watching and listening to this, I was thinking "Does someone not have the smarts to pull him already?" For every minute that went by, it became a little more uncomfortable to watch than the one before. If you disagree with me and you thought that Ravenel was holding is own for the first half of the meeting, then surely we will agree that we all knew he was out of gas about halfway through it. This was when Ravenel stated "I read the other day that our founding father George Washington, had more in common with people who lived 2000 years before him than he does with us." I'm sorry, but if this guy was a pitcher, people would be yelling at the manager to get him off the mound. My gosh, why is this guy even in this race? I hope that T-Rav learned a lot from this Economics 900 level class that he attended last Thursday. Will the Republican Party please get a better candidate next time for this race? Somebody, please call the bullpen!

Tribute To Dr. Oscar Lovelace

Dr. Lovelace ran a very inspiring campaign this past year against Governor Mark Sanford. You could feel his enthusiasm, desire, and love for South Carolina everytime you heard him speak. Even though he lost in the primary, he may have just very well saved this State from the disasterous road that our Governor has us heading down. He really damaged Mark Sanford in the primary and because of it, I guarantee you today that Sen. Tommy Moore will defeat Sanford.

I was very impressed with Dr. Lovelace and the campaign that he ran. Today, this video consists of the highlights of the interview that I had with Dr. Lovelace back in June, just two weeks before the primary. I hope to see Dr. Lovelace in the political scene again someday!

Note To The Jim Rex Campaign & The Karen Floyd Campaign

Random Frat Boy--------Karen Floyd---------Ellen DeGeneres

Note To Jim Rex Campaign

I've been thinking about all the areas and points that the Jim Rex campaign should use to target Karen Floyd on. If you're thinking I'm going to advise Rex to use "my opponent has not put kids all the way through a school system yet," then your wrong. If you think I'm going to advise Jim Rex to go a route in which I don't like, and get personal, and target his opponent for being married to 3 different men in a span of 11 years, then you are wrong again! If you think I'm going to advise Jim Rex to target Karen Floyd on formerly being a big Pro-Choice Democrat woman and attending a Bill Clinton Rally with Inez T. back in 92' in Columbia, SC.......well, you are still wrong! Here below is what I would go after her at.

Floyd airs new education initiative - Outside managers would help problem schools

The link above is an article which dates back to November 24, 2005 in the Greenville News. If you don't feel like reading the article then here is a quick summary:

The Spartanburg lawyer-business executive said her "Diverse Provider Model" is built around utilization of outside education managers with proven track records of turning around poorly performing schools.
The objective would be "to infuse troubled districts and schools with new thinking, innovative techniques and a heightened focus on improving academic performance," she said in a press release.

First off, I'm not a big believer at all in these "outside private contracts." A lot of times these "Outsiders" are just people who put out pie in the sky ideas. If we're just going to hire outside private contractors, then anybody can be and hold the position of Superintendent of Education. Honestly, we shouldn't even bother having an election for it right now if this is whats to come. She's admitting in that statement that she does not know what to do. She's admitting before she ever gets elected that she doesn't know what to do and that she will cost us a fortune to hire these people. I feel like as voters, we should know before we vote which "outsiders" she plans on bringing in. One way to avoid that future big mess is to bring in somebody that knows what to do, and that is Jim Rex.

Note to the Karen Floyd Campaign

If you're just going to hire "outsiders" to come in and do the work for you, then don't tell us right now because this will impact you getting beat in November. By the way, I'm still laughing hysterically at what I read 2 paragraphs ago ........ Diverse Provider Model!!! haha

Politics Rocks Goes Back In Time 17 Months Ago ......

With all the fuss last week between Thomas Ravenel and John Rainey, it's really made me think how off base some Republicans have come to be in South Carolina Politics. Just like Lindsey Graham most of the time speaks from his heart, John Rainey last week spoke from his heart. Whether you like it or not, Rainey is 100% right and 0% wrong when he said that our State economic team should be composed of stable and committed people for the long run.

The speculation that T-Rav will challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in 08' has really been building up. Below are audio clips from two interviews when T-Rav went on the Ralph Bristol Show back on March 30, 2005 and the other..... I haven't found the date for it, but I am guessing it's around early 2005. The first interview is around 9 minutes long, and the 2nd interview is around 5-6 minutes long. I cut out a lot of the long answering and sometimes long dialogue out and pretty much piled together all the Lindsey Graham bashing comments that came out of T-Rav's mouth 17 months ago. I think after you watch and listen to the video below, you will see that T-Rav isn't committed to the SC State Treasurer position. What are your thoughts?

Anyone Ever Watched This Movie Before? By The Way, What Was T-Rav Thinking When He Said ..........

http://www.corridorofshame.com/index.php

“CORRIDOR OF SHAME: the neglect of South Carolina's rural schools" is a 58 minute documentary that tells the story of the challenges faced in funding an adequate education in South Carolina's rural school districts.The documentary, supported by many of South Carolina's leading foundations and community leaders, tracks the evidence presented on behalf of eight school districts in Abbeville County School District v. The State of South Carolina.

I have never seen this movie before so if there is anyone out there who has, please tell me about it. I did see something very interesting though. When viewing the credits, I came across a name that I think after keeping up with SC politics over the past week, we would all recognize - Executive Producer, John S. Rainey

Mr. Rainey is in the August 2006 edition, Living in SC Magazine . It really seems to me that John Rainey truly cares about this State, and in his words, doesn't want to see a "Dilettante" mess it up.

I have not written anything in regards to Thomas Ravenel simply due to not knowing enough about him yet. I can say, even though I don't know much about T-Rav, and even though I don't know much at all about John Rainey (I have no clue whether he inherited a dime or a billion dollars) I would like to point out this T-Rav's statement in yesterday's press release - "Mr. Rainey, I am offering you some unsolicited advice, from someone who actually worked to earn success in business, rather than inheriting a fortune as you did."

Oh no ...... no, he really didn't just say that did he?! Is this really acceptable? I tell you what, I'm not going to go any further with this. I just got off the phone with Mr. Rainey about 30 minutes ago. Right now it's 9:10 in the pm, I don't feel like screaming, yelling, or ranting tonight. I'm going to go out with some friends in a little while, have a good time, and I'm going to cross my fingers that Mr. Rainey accepts my invitation to do an audio interview with me at somepoint in the very near future.

"Rocky Mountain Liberal?" or "Rocky Mountain High?"

John Denver ----------------------------------Random Rocky Mountain Liberal

After viewing this article in the Greenville Newspaper yesterday, and reading Rod Shealy call GOP heavyweight John Rainey a "Rocky Mountain Liberal," it has to make one think ........ was Mr. Shealy "Rocky Mountain HIGH" when he said that? I don't know if ole Rod was Rocky Mountain High off of you know what when he said it, or was just listening to the John Denver classic in his car before it but ...... "Rocky Mountain Liberal" is creative and a new one in my book.

To sum up the article, longtime Republican and chairman of the Board of Economic Advisers John Rainey said that GOP state treasurer nominee Thomas Ravenel is a "dilettante" whose election would financially damage the state. By the way, if you are wondering what the word "dilettante" means, don't get out a dictionary, I've done that leg work for you.

Dilettante - adj : showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish - n : an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge.

Rainey said he rejected Ravenel's overture to join his steering committee because "he would not commit to me to stay there for four years" and not challenge Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2008. "As chairman of the BEA, I am concerned about the state's financial and economic team being composed of stable and committed people for the long run," Rainey told The Greenville News in a telephone interview from his summer home in Colorado. (ahhh....Coloroado, so that's where Shealy got the idea from)

Later on in the article Rod Shealy dropped in and said a few words for Mr. Rainey. - Rod Shealy, his political strategist, called Rainey a "Rocky Mountain liberal" and said Ravenel would "complete the job of stabilizing our state's finances." He did not say Ravenel would serve a full term. Keep in mind everyone, this is the same John Rainey who said this - "As late as two days ago BEA Chairman John Rainey said South Carolina's unemployment figure doesn't make sense because it does not accurately reflect the state's robust level of revenue growth and economic momentum. His exact words were 'There is no way to have this huge of an increase (in state revenues) and still have unemployment where it is.'

I understand that calling someone a "liberal" damages a persons reputation in this state, but calling Mr. Rainey a "Rocky Mountain Liberal" is absolutely ludicrous and should be ignored. Not sure whether Rod was "Rocky Mountain High" off of you know what, or just off of the song, but this name calling is getting very old and I am absolutely tired of it.

Listen to this 10 second audio clip

Now.......what creative name calling words did you come up with?

In Honor Of BBQ & Politics - The Mark Sanford Spelling Song

Most of the pictures in the slideshow are from Gervais Bridges at Barbecue & Politics. Unfortunately, Gervais retired his blog the other week. In honor of his legacy, the slideshow and song below are dedicated to him. The blog posted underneath comes from BBQ & Politics on June 28, 2006, the day after Andre Bauer defeated Mike Campbell in the run-off. My personal favorite and an instant classic. For the History of the Song, click here- DOT Official's Song Hits Sour Note

Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - Bauer endorses Dale Moore for First Lady

Endorsement not actually an endorsement except it is, says Lt. Governor

B & P News - Columbia
In a surprise move yesterday, South Carolina Lt. Governor and recent primary runoff victor Andre Bauer endorsed Dale Moore, wife of Senator Tommy Moore (D-Clearwater) for the office of First Lady of South Carolina.

“She’s the right person for the job,” said Bauer in an interview Tuesday evening at his victory celebration at an Irmo restaurant. “I don’t do endorsements, so don’t take this as an endorsement, but I endorse Dale Moore for First Lady of South Carolina.” Bauer was pulled over – but not ticketed – for driving 101 mph on Interstate 77 in February.As the news of Bauer’s endorsement spread throughout the state’s political circles, not everyone was pleased.

Some think the Lt. Governor overstepped his bounds by endorsing Mrs. Moore.“It’s just tacky is all it is,” said Jenny Sanford, the incumbent First Lady of South Carolina. “What business does the Lt. Governor have chiming in on who should be First Lady?”

Some political analysts agree that the endorsement of Dale Moore was inappropriate.“Popularly elected public servants should hold their tongues rather than meddling with the ceremonial positions in South Carolina’s not-really-government,” said USC political science professor Savannah Rivers. “Plus, you never know when endorsements like this can backfire.”Governor Sanford said he had no comment on the Dale Moore endorsement, but will contact reporters with his opinion “as soon as it is given to [him].”

Politics Rocks Audio Interview: (D) Candidate for SC Lieutenant Governor Robert Barber

Robert Barber's Campaign Website

Click the Play (>) button below to listen to the 2-part interview with (D) Candidate for SC Lieutenant Governor Robert Barber

Part 1

Part 2

Message From Robert Barber

Dear Fellow South Carolinians,

From my visits around the state, it's clear to me that the citizens of South Carolina are ready for change. After four years of gridlock, you're looking for new, dependable leadership and are ready to turn our state around by putting experienced, hard-working citizens into office. You're looking for an optimistic, forward-looking vision for the future of our state rooted strong values and genuine compassion.

But above all, voters will be choosing our state's direction. We face many serious challenges, including our embarrassingly high unemployment rate, our poorly supported public schools, our struggling health care system, and our state's crumbling rural infrastructure. I believe our state is ready to turn itself around. We just need the right leaders – leaders who will put politics aside, roll up their sleeves, and get to work. I am ready to take on these challenges. While I don't pretend to have all of the answers, I do have ideas on where we should start. Together, we can turn South Carolina around.

Best wishes,

Robert Barber