***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — “SCORE ONE FOR MARK SANFORD. Or, more precisely, score 28 for the embattled governor,” writes the Herald Journal’s Robert Dalton. “In a 30-minute meeting Thursday morning, a House subcommittee weighing an impeachment resolution ruled that 28 ethics charges against Sanford were not impeachable offenses. The committee decided Thursday that Sanford’s use of taxpayer money to upgrade his seats on commercial airline flights and his use of campaign funds were not ‘serious crimes’ or ‘serious misconduct’ required for impeachment. … Kevin Hall, one of Sanford’s attorneys, argued that the law requiring the use of the lowest-cost travel applies only to state employees, not constitutional officers, and the committee agreed. Rep. James Smith said the upgrades were a ‘conviction of hypocrisy’ for Sanford, but were not impeachable infractions.”
CENSURE more likely for Sanford – Greenville News
It’s Arbor Day in South Carolina. Yet, we’re purchasing a freshly sawn Frasier Fir this weekend … odd timing Arbor Day folks.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Sunday is Brad Henry of the McMaster campaign.
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NATIONAL LENS — JOBS — “President Barack Obama promised at a White House jobs forum on Thursday to take ‘every responsible step to accelerate job creation,’ including some ideas that he said could be put into action quickly. He cited an expanded program to help make more U.S. homes energy-efficient as an example,” reports The Associated Press. “‘If the president was serious about allowing the private sector (to) succeed, he could have left a trillion dollars in the private economy with permanent, broad-based tax cuts instead of taking it out of the economy and wasting it on inefficient government programs that led to fraud and waste,’ Wesley Denton,” Senator DeMint’s Communications Director.
UNCENSORED, IF NOT UN-CENSURED — “Sen. Lindsey Graham talks as much about why he supports a climate bill as he does about what the bill should actually look like. And, given the response in some circles back home, it’s no wonder,” blogs The Hill’s Environment and Energy Blog. “He went over his reasons again at a news conference on Thursday. Here’s Graham, uncensored, if not un-censured: ‘How many politicians over the last two to four years have run on the theme that it’s unacceptable for America to send $1 billion a day overseas to buy foreign oil from countries that do not like us very much? Almost everyone, right? Well, now’s the chance to do something about it. … How many politicians talk about cleaning up the environment? Almost all of us. Now’s the time to do something about it. Why did I do this? I want my time to count. I want to be seen as someone who can solve a hard problem by working with my colleagues across the aisle. I want to do something that matters. I can’t think of a better use of my time than to work with Democrats and Republicans to break our dependency on foreign oil, to create jobs for our next generation of Americans that will never go to China. And yes, leave behind a cleaner planet.’”
ROBERT REDFORD leads with Lindsey Graham in this Politico opinion piece discussing the green economy.
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WATER TOO — At Rock Hill’s Thursday’s Too restaurant Henry McMaster discussed the Catawba water battle with the Herald’s Matt Garfield. “McMaster expects good news when the U.S. Supreme Court makes a key early ruling in the water war between the Carolinas. The high court will rule on whether three smaller entities that draw from the Catawba — Duke Energy, the city of Charlotte and the Catawba River Water Supply Project — should be granted status as full-fledged parties in the lawsuit on par with the two states. ‘It delays everything and makes it more expensive and complicated. Instead of a judge reading two briefs, they’d have to read five.’”
RAINING PERVERTS — McMaster nabs his 183rd
WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A SEAT RIGHT THERE-TWEET — @taftmatney Will perves learn 13 yr old girls aren’t on the web? Congrats Chief Turner & Mauldin PD for 12/2 Internet predator arrest http://is.gd/5biMe
MIXING IT UP — “A fundraiser for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Rex to be held Saturday at a Hilton Head Island hotel is unethical, a Beaufort County Board of Education member told the S.C. Ethics Commission this week. According to the Island Packet, “Rex, who is seeking his party’s nomination for governor, will speak to the S.C. School Boards Association during its annual legislative advocacy conference Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Rex’s fundraiser is scheduled later that night at the same hotel. Jim Bequette, who represents Lady’s Island, sent an e-mail Wednesday to the director of the Ethics Commission saying Rex is creating a conflict of interest by holding a fundraiser to coincide with the association’s conference. … ‘He’s at that convention on official business, and he’s using that convention as a place to try to raise money for his campaign,’ said Bequette, a former chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party. Zeke Stokes, director of Rex’s campaign, said the fundraiser poses no conflict of interest and is separate from the conference. ‘It’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard,’ he said.”
INDIE RUN — “Morgan Bruce Reeves, a former college football star and construction company CEO, is running for governor as an independent,” The State reports. “Reeves, 51, ran for a seat on the Richland-Lexington 5 school board last year, finishing second in a five-candidate field. Reeves criticized both Republicans and Democrats for not finding common ground to solve the state’s urgent issues, and said one of his objectives would be to extend term limits to lawmakers. ‘We need someone to bring this state together,’ Reeves said. … Reeves, who was a running back at Michigan State University, says he plans to buy an RV and cross the state talking to people and collecting signatures to get on the ballot. He will need 10,000 signatures.”
WHERE CREDIT IS DUE — State Senator Vincent Sheheen, Democratic candidate for governor, was presented the South Carolina Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year Award on Thursday, December 3rd at the organization’s annual meeting in Myrtle Beach. Sheheen says, in a campaign press release, “I’m proud of South Carolina’s agricultural community, and I’m honored to be recognized for helping our state’s farmers. Agribusiness is South Carolina’s largest industry, and we are poised to become a nationwide leader in new technologies and methods in agriculture.” The SC Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year Award is awarded annually in recognition of exemplary leadership and support of agriculture in the South Carolina General Assembly.
BREVITY — Senator DeMint appreciates it coming from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke …
… NOT SO MUCH to prevent him from blocking Bernanke’s second term, however. WACH reports “DeMint said he would also block consideration of the nomination on the Senate floor until lawmakers vote on their version of a House bill introduced by Texas Congressman Ron Paul that would require an audit of the Federal Reserve. The House bill has more than 300 co-sponsors. ‘Under Mr. Bernanke’s leadership, the Fed has lent several trillion dollars to failing financial institutions that should have been held accountable by market forces,’ said DeMint.”
WHY STOP THERE? CNN is also reporting that DeMint “is blocking the confirmation of Erroll Southers to head the Transportation Security Administration, saying Southers would permit screeners to seek full union representation, a move DeMint says would weaken the effectiveness of the agency.”
REPORTER ENVY-TWEET(S)
@asheinin: BREAKING NEWS: Glenn Richardson to resign at 4 p.m. http://bit.ly/4rjChY
@johnroconnor: @asheinin Having fun today?
@asheinin: @johnroconnor actually, yeah
@johnroconnor: @asheinin Just glad you won the crazy Southern political lottery today.
@asheinin: @johnroconnor glad to finally get a turn again
FEEDING THE SOUL — “South Carolina’s top elected official took time out of his schedule to roll up his sleeves and serve visitors to a soup kitchen in downtown Orangeburg. Gov. Mark Sanford visited First Baptist Church on Thursday at the invitation of the church’s soup kitchen director, John Hare. Sanford says the operation is a reminder of how everyone working as a community, in Orangeburg and across the state, can make a difference by serving others. ‘There will never be enough in government programs to help all of those that need to be helped,’ Sanford said. ‘What happens through community groups is a lot of folks get helped in ways that probably aren’t recognized.’ The Rev. Cary Hilliard, pastor of First Baptist Church, said Sanford was eager to learn more about what the church is doing in the community. ‘Our hope is to build on these type ministries and bring our churches together,’ Hilliard said. ‘We could effectively have a community mission center where we could feed the soul.’” (Times & Democrat)
BLUFFTON — Former police officer files age discrimination complaint
ANDERSON — Diapers, formula on one couple’s Christmas list
VIEWPOINT — “FRESH OFF of an enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends, many of us were able to turn our attention toward Christmas – and shopping – with visions of yet more joy dancing in our heads. … As we make our lists and check them twice, let’s remember those in need. In this season of giving, be intentional in your giving; let’s not wait until we’ve exhausted our finances on the latest tech toy or electronic gizmo. Set aside some money now to help make someone else’s Christmas – and life – a little bit better.” (The State)
GREENWOOD — 2010 Relay For Life Kicks Off
KERSHAW — More school bus cuts anger parents
GREENVILLE — Symphony Orchestra receives $10,350 grant from BI-LO Charities, Inc.
ROCK HILL — Woman wakes up to find burglar in backyard
GIVING — “South Carolina ranks in the Top 10 in the United States for charitable giving, and Thursday night was another example of just that. At the Brookland Baptist Church, officials with the United Way honored some state employees for their giving. State Treasurer Converse Chellis was the United Way’s State Campaign Chairman for this year and overwhelmed by the support. According to Chellis, ‘We have some very hard economic times right now and to see people stand up and give like they are giving, just means a lot to us.’ It is that giving spirit that Ervolina hopes continues into 2010, so the work of the United Way can move forward.” (WLTX)
ONE MAN GATHERS WHAT ANOTHER MAN SPILLS — AVX moving from Myrtle Beach to Greenville.
YORK DAYBOOK — S.C. Sen. Robert Ford, a Democratic gubernatorial hopeful, will visit Fort Mill on Monday for a monthly party dinner. Ford will speak at 7 p.m. at the Towne Tavern. Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett will hold a meet-and-greet Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Cotton Factory in downtown Rock Hill. Barrett will be accompanied by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, an outspoken conservative who lost his seat in 2006. U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint will be in Rock Hill on Dec. 14 for an afternoon fundraiser at the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek, York County GOP Chairman Glenn McCall said. (The Herald)
FINALLY THIS — ARE YOU KIDDING? “Police say they have arrested a 40-year-old man who unsuccessfully attempted to rob a McDonald’s and then tried to talk his way out of the crime early Thursday morning. Witnesses told police that a man came in the restaurant, walked behind the counter and demanded money. Investigators say the suspect pulled a knife out and pointed it at one of the clerks. At that point the clerk asked a customer who was in line next to the suspect, if the suspect was serious and the customer replied, ‘No he is not serious.’ The clerk said the male suspect then said, ‘I’m just kidding,’ and then walked away. … Daniels was arrested and locked up at the Charleston Count Detention Center.”
THAT’S IT FOR THIS MORNING – STAY TUNED ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES THAT JUST CAN’T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. HAVE A GOOD ONE!
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