What If All The Democrats In The Senate and All The Republicans In The Senate Do What Verne Smith Did

Of all the Senators here in South Carolina who read the Sen. Verne Smith endorsing Sen. Tommy Moore article from the Greenville News , I wonder how many of them, after reading it, did not cheer? Of all the Senators, besides Greg Ryberg, Chip Campsen, and Kevin Bryant, was there anyone who thought, "Wow, that's seems like a bad idea. I wouldn't want to do that?" I can guarantee you almost all of the Senators loved it! Why don't all the Democrats in the Senate, and all the Republicans in the Senate aggresively come out and endorse Tommy Moore? There is no excuse for not taking this guy on. What are they afraid of? They have the facts on their side, they have the unemployment numbers on their side, and they have the uncaring vetoes on their side. With their support towards Sen. Tommy Moore, 41 days left - discount Verne Smith, Greg Ryberg, Chip Campsen, Tommy Moore, and Kevin Bryant, we have 41 Senators out there who do not like Sanford. That's 1 Senator a day, everyday from now to the election who could come out and endorse Tommy Moore! I guarantee you Sanford would lose, and they wouldn't have to worry about a retaliation from him. My gosh, they should be crushing Sanford like this on a daily basis, so why aren't they? Help Tommy Moore put this guy away so South Carolina can move forward with progress ........ instead of backwards.

No matter what Mark Sanford's little undercover sidekick says about it in his blog, Sen. Verne Smith's endorsement will help Tommy Moore. Now that Sen. Smith has led the way, Senators, don't be afraid, please pick up on his cue. In fact, as Marsellus Wallace would say in Pulp Fiction, "let's pick up a lead pipe and a blowtorch and let's go to work on this guy!"

SCHotline: Do Your Job And Cover This

Columbia City Paper - Blonde Ambition

This story is really picking up across the State. It's good to see the truth finally come out .... from a source other than my website. The word we received last week was that the Floyd Campaign invaded the upstate bars and restaurants, taking all the copies of last week's Metrobeat. I wonder if they will be doing the same in Columbia today and tomorrow? If she does end up winning, then I'm just glad that I purchased these websites 6 months ago:

http://www.karenfloydforgovernor.com

http://www.floydforgovernor.com

http://www.floyd2010.com

http://www.karenfloyd2010.com

I Wonder If This Story Will Make SCHotline.com

The Blonde Ambitions - The Real Karen Kanes Rogers, Armour, & Floyd

Top Ten List: Top Ten Biggest Losers In The Mark Sanford FanClub

Pearl Jam's First Record And My All Time Favorite CD -"Ten"

1. Mark Sanford - SC Governor
2. Katon Dawson - SCGOP Chairman
3. Richard Eckstrom - SC Comptroller General
4. Tom Davis - Beaufort, SC Attorney
5. Jenny Sanford - Mark's Wife
6. Karen Floyd - Candidate for SC Superintendent of Education
7. Joel Sawyer - Current Press Secretary to Mark Sanford

8. Ralph Norman - Candidate for U.S. House District 5

9. Joshua Gross - Director of SC Club 4 Growth

10. The Herald Journal Editorial Staff- Spartanburg Newspaper

You know these are some bad losers when Former Press Secretary Will Folks can't even crack the Top Ten. He normally would finish in the top two of almost any other list such as this, but this slate of buffoons are just full of improper behaviors and ignorant loyalty to Sanford. Other receiving votes include Dell Isham, executive director of the Sierra Club's South Carolina chapter, Sunny Phillips -GOP Fundraiser, and every person working with the Mark Sanford Campaign.

The real question I struggled with was who deserved the number 2 spot. For the most part over the past 3 1/2 years, Richard Eckstrom has voted in line with Mark Sanford 97% of the time on the Budget & Control Board, but the remarks SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson has made towards Sen. Tommy Moore, and the unsurmountable loyalty that he has shown for Mark Sanford, it's safe to say he surpassed Eckstrom and is now sitting nicely in the number two spot. In this tough field, people who didn't even merit votes but should get honorable mentions are: Sen. Kevin Bryant, Sen. Greg Ryberg, Former House Speaker David Wilkins, and one of my best friends Joshua Richards (who has a Masters degree since May 06, still hasn't found a job, but is still a loyal Sanford supporter).

The Herald-Journal made this list because if you have read any of their editorials over the past 3 1/2 years, you would be sickened to death with the lovefest that these guys have with Sanford! Joshua Gross made this list because of his whacked out thinking that follows Sanford. Ralph Norman made the list because of his true following right behind Sanford in all of his uncaring budget vetos. Joel Sawyer, Sanford's press secretary, let's face it ...... his job is to mislead, that's all he does (he use to work for the Herald Journa). Karen Floyd, the wannabe successor of Mark Sanford and Mark Sanford's tag team partner in the assault on public education, she probably should have made the top 5 but I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I think we're all familiar with Jenny Sanford and her Mike Campbell endorsement and her behind the scenes show of running the Governor's office so I'll skip to the next one. Tom Davis, the attorney from Beaufort who made all of those ruthless and misleading remarks towards Tommy Moore about his record, and Richard Eckstrom, who is Mark Sanford's little sidekick. Congratulations Katon Dawson, you are #2 in the list: Top Ten Losers in the Mark Sanford FanClub!

The Remaining Mark Sanford Fans - Tribute To Sen. Jake Knotts

I was wondering why any voter would still back this loser Governor Mark Sanford. I have come across a few lines from some friends and people I have run into that summed it all up for me.
1. "He fights with the Legislature because he's fighting for my tax dollars."
2. "I believe that his philoshophy could work if the Legislature would just work with him."
3. "I don't care how he governs, I will support him. I'm a Republican through and through."

That just might be my favorite quote of all time. "I don't care how he governs." There it is. "I'm a Republican through and through." You said it! I understand every party has a couple of bad apples and all, but how anyone can still remain a Mark Sanford supporter is beyond me! I have gained a lot of respect for the Democrats and Republicans who have stepped up and said "No Mr. Governor, you're wrong, we need a new leader to take us in a new direction." Thankgosh Oscar Lovelace and Sen. Jake Knotts stood up for our State! I'm not saying to the Sanford supporters today that I want you all to turn into a Democrats. If (D)Dennis Aughtry would have won the nomination for the Governor's race representing the Democrats, I wouldn't want you to ask me to become a Republican.

One Republican who stood up and put his state above his party was Sen. Jake Knotts. I interviewed Sen. Knotts back in July after he collected his 13,000 petition signatures and decided not to run for Governor. Here are some highlights from the interview that every voter in SC should hear.

August 24th - Spartanburg, South Carolina - Emile Defelice

Rod Shealy.....That's A Technical Foul! One More And You Will Be Out Of The Ballgame

Oops! Rod, You Cannot Be Doing That

FYI - Political Strategist Rod Shealy is known to the SC political community for being rough, tough, and just downright dirty. He represents candidates from the Republican Party: Thomas Ravenel, Andre Bauer (and possibly a few more that I don't know). Not only does Rod Shealy go at it with fellow Republicans opposing his candidate in the primaries, but he really unleashes ugly pit bull tactics against Democrats facing his candidate in the November elections. Before you read anymore on here, check out the Dan Hoover column with the Greenville News. After reading the letter that was sent from the Andre Bauer Campaign to Robert Barber's mom, it's safe to say Bauer's political strategist Rod Shealy definitely deserves a technical foul.

For those of you who did not check out the article, Robert Barber's mom received a letter in the mail asking for “a much-needed financial contribution,” to the Andre Bauer campaign (Her son Robert Barber is Andre Bauer's opponent). The letter went on to say that Robert Barber “As you might recall, waged a very negative campaign against Mark Sanford for Congress in 1994.” The letter contended that Barber is at it again with “dishonorable push-polling” phone calls. Lachlan McIntosh, Barber’s campaign manager, said the allegations are “yet another immature stunt.” “It’s bad enough to make up false attacks about a good person like Robert Barber — they had to take it to another level and mail it to his 75-year-old mother and then ask her for money,” McIntosh said.

Today I am issuing Rod Shealy my first ever Technical Foul here on Politics Rocks. I understand that the referee most times should give a warning first before delivering a technical, but this dirty campaign tactic went above and beyond receiving a warning and should not be tolerated by anyone. You're calling Robert Barber, a former minister of two Laurens County churches, a liberal lobbyist who has a history of waging negative campaigns! I let you slide with a personal foul when you called GOP Heavyweight John Rainey a Rocky Mountain Liberal, but now you have 1 Technical Foul - 3 Personal Fouls total. You're allowed 1 more personal foul, and 0 more technicals or you will be out of the ballgame - Keep it Classy Rod, we are watching!

Rod Shealy Foul Count/Stats:

1. “He's using taxpayers' own money to buy votes. It's common for governments to send checks after disasters, and three years of Mark Sanford is a disaster.” - Slamdunk

2. “Enough is enough. I think the voters are going to make Mark Sanford an unemployment statistic in June.” - Three Pointer Good & 1

3. “I hope she wasn't upset to learn that her son, Robert, was a liberal lobbyist, or that he has a history of waging negative campaigns.” - Technical Foul

4. Ravenel did not return calls requesting comment. Rod Shealy, his political strategist, called GOP Heavyweight John Rainey a "Rocky Mountain liberal." - Personal Foul

5. John Rainey challenges Thomas Ravenel to a Q&A. Rod Shealy, told The Greenville News, "Hell, yeah, we'll do it." - Personal Foul

Whichever Way You Look At It ....... They're All Sidekicks! Including Richard Eckstrom

Tattoo(Fantasy Island)-----------SC Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom

Martial Arts Sidekick-----------------Robin (From Old School Batman Series)

Being Batman's sidekick is definitely cool. Being Mr. Roarke's sidekick like Tattoo in Fantasy Island was kind of cool as well, but being Mark Sanford's sidekick is just plain ignorant and dumb. Why be a "sidekick" to someone who is a total negative? When I say negative I mean against government! Mark Sanford's six years in Congress were a disgrace! He voted "no" on everything! If you look a little closer into Sanford's Congressional record, thanks to him it took a lot longer to get the Ravenel bridge built in Charleston, SC. If he wouldn't have been against everything and would have taken the money that Fritz Hollings lined up for South Carolina for the Ravenel Bridge, that bridge today would probably be called the Mark Sanford bridge. Nice job blowing that one Mark.

Let me back up a bit first and do a fill in for the ones who are not following me. The person who holds the Comptroller General position sits on the Budget & Control Board (and the Governor sits on this as well). This is a very important position because the 5 people on this board run the state when our Legislators are not in Columbia. These 5 people are the decision makers. Basically what I'm saying is this........we shouldn't let someone have a little sidekick on this board, especially when 95% of the other elected officials disagree with Mark Sanford because of his anti-government beliefs. Over the past 3 1/2 years, Richard Eckstrom has voted 97% of the time with Governor Mark Sanford. 97%!!!! That's insane!!

Mark Sanford doesn’t believe in government structure, so I think it is safe to say Richard Eckstrom doesn't as well. Mark Sanford doesn't believe in allowing everyone to have a fair chance. I think it's safe to say Richard Eckstrom believes the same. Sanford votes "no" on everything and he gets his little sidekick Richard Eckstrom to vote "no" with him because he tries to stop every productive piece that the B and C board tries to pass. I'm not going to get into Thomas Ravenel today, but the SC Treasurer position sits on this board as well, heaven forbid if T-Rav gets elected along with Eckstrom, that will give Sanford 2 little sidekicks.

This isn't my formal endorsement, that will come at a later date, but vote Drew Theodore for SC Comptroller General. Drew won’t be a puppet for the Governor. He won't vote in line with a loser Governor that is against everything!

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?