***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — WAR ZONE — “Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone has asked for a state grand jury investigation into the shootings that have plagued Colleton County since early November,” reports the Post & Courier. “‘Shootings have continued even with an increased presence of state and local law enforcement,’ Stone said in his request to state Attorney General Henry McMaster. … After a Nov. 9 drive-by shooting on Gerideau Street in Walterboro in which three people were killed, including a 20-month old child, the town of Walterboro has been flooded with law enforcement officers. Investigators from the State Law Enforcement Division, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office and Walterboro Police Department are investigating the shooting and subsequent shootings that might be related, but so far only one person has been charged in the Gerideau Street drive-by.”
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS are set to be released today.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Anna Grace Wilson makes Rep. Joe a Granddaddy. She’s about 16-hours old. Also – celebratory greetings go out to Christina Aguilera, DMX and Keith Richards
WILL UPSTATE KIDS be sledding on slushy, grassy hills today?
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NATIONAL LENS — “The [U.S.] Senate is heading toward a Christmas Eve vote to pass landmark healthcare legislation, but instead of holiday cheer, Democrats and Republicans are digging in for trench warfare. ‘We’re going to finish this healthcare bill before we leave here for the holidays,’ Reid declared on the floor Thursday.” However, The Hill reports that Sen. Jim DeMint said “he is prepared to use every procedural tool to delay a vote on the Democratic healthcare legislation. DeMint also said he would force the Senate to return to Washington after Christmas to vote on a $290 billion increase to the federal debt limit. Treasury officials told lawmakers that they need an increase of borrowing authority to keep the government solvent beyond Dec. 31.”
QUOTABLE — “I think you’ll see all 40 Republicans standing together, which we rarely do, which only tells you one thing: that this is a terrible bill and a completely unfair process,” DeMint said.
GRETA — Senator Graham talks health care on FOX.
THE AIR WE BREATHE — “A group of Republican senators announced their support for … a resolution [that would] repeal this month’s EPA finding that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health,” CQ reports. “Also attending [a press conference to discuss the resolution] was Lindsey Graham , R-S.C., who is trying to negotiate a bipartisan cap-and-trade bill with Democrats. Graham said he is mainly concerned that EPA regulation would impose burdens on the economy without offsetting the costs. Legislation, however, could be written with offsets. For example, Graham supports actions to couple emissions caps with steps to promote more offshore oil and gas drilling and the development of new nuclear power facilities. ‘If we say no to EPA regulation of carbon, you’ll get my vote, but that means we have an obligation as an institution to solve the problem,’ Graham said. ‘The public is looking for a Congress that does more than disapprove things. The green economy is coming. I want it to come in a rational fashion.’”
BEFUDDLED — The AP writes in a Graham Q&A that the Senator, “has irked just about everybody. He has been censured by Republicans back home for supporting a bill that would clamp down on greenhouse gases. Environmentalists have criticized his push for nuclear energy, more oil drilling — and most recently his support of a GOP effort to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases. Some Democrats are just befuddled.”
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REMEMBRANCE — “The remarkable life of decorated World War II veteran and former S.C. Adjutant General James ‘Jimmie’ Leach came to a tragic end Thursday afternoon on Lady’s Island. Born in Houston, Texas, in April 1922, Leach joined the Texas National Guard at 16 and at 22 became the platoon commander in a tank company under Gen. George Patton during World War II. Leach was a five-time Purple Heart recipient and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his service during the war. The medal is the nation’s second-highest military decoration, behind only the Medal of Honor. Leach retired from the Army in 1972 after tours in Korea and Vietnam and eventually settled in Beaufort, where he was active in veterans’ affairs and served as the Adjutant General of the S.C. Military Department, overseeing the S.C. National Guard and S.C. Air National Guard.”
ENDORSEMENTS — “Gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod announced Thursday that he has received endorsements from several Democratic leaders across the state, including the chairman of the Bamberg County Democratic Party. St. Clair Guess III, who is also chairman of Bamberg County Council, said in a release that ‘I am enthusiastically supporting Mullins McLeod. He is all about reliability, a quality that has long vanished from the governor’s office.’” Also joining the list are: Elaine Gentry, Greenwood County Democratic Party Chairwoman; Curtis Inabinett, Charleston County Council, former member of the SC House of Representatives; William McIntosh, Former Dorchester County Democratic Party Chairman; Walt McLeod, SC House of Representatives; Victor Rawl, Charleston County Council, former member of the SC House of Representatives; Leon Stavrinakis, SC House of Representatives; Elliott Summey, Charleston County Council.
REDSTATEDORSEMENTS — Erick Erickson is still pushing Nikki Haley for Governor big time.
MORNING JOE — “South Carolina Republicans running for governor in 2010 are set to debate on the coast. State party officials announced Thursday that the Jan. 28 debate will be moderated by cable television host Joe Scarborough. The debate is to be held at Memminger Auditorium in Charleston. U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, state Sen. Larry Grooms, state Rep. Nikki Haley and Attorney General Henry McMaster are running in the Republican primary.”
INTERNATIONAL LENS — Rep. Inglis has written a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voicing concerns over “Israel’s refusal to allow Gazans to attend West Bank universities.”
DAYBOOK — Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a Republican running for governor, will be in Spartanburg on tomorrow. Bauer will address the Piedmont Republican Club from 10 to 11 a.m. at The Beacon Drive-In. The event is free and open to the public.
EXPLANATIONS — “Democratic Rep. Todd Rutherford of Richland County used the word ‘idiots’ in reference to members of the House Judiciary Committee, including himself, on Wednesday in a passionate speech protesting their decision not to pursue impeachment charges.” VIDEO from WACH in Columbia.
GUNS AT SCHOOL? “Georgetown County School District’s policy barring concealed weapons on school property is at odds with state law, according to an opinion issued by S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster.” The Sun-News says, “the legal opinion was requested by Rep. Thad Viers, R-Horry County, who was concerned about the district’s policy and possible second amendment rights violations. … ‘No one should check their right to defend themselves at the school property line,’ said Viers, who has a concealed weapons permit. ‘We passed a law that says when you are dropping your kids off at school, you should be able to have a concealed weapon if you have a permit. Why should you have to check your rights at the school grounds?’”
CHERAW RIGHT — The Post Office is staying!
GREENVILLE — Program targets shortage of skilled factory workers
FORT MILL — Epps named new superintendent
SUMTER — Groups benefit from donations, but more are needed
GREENVILLE — High-tech jobs, headquarters coming
ABBEVILLE — 70 plant jobs saved
NORTH MYRTLE — Shop With A Cop brings Christmas joy
VIEWPOINT — CLEAN HOME ENERGY — S.C. Rep. Robert Williams writes in the Times & Democrat, “As a veteran, I have seen firsthand the effects of America’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil. We are involved in two wars in a volatile region that just happens to have massive oil reserves. I personally served on the battlefield in the war in Iraq. At a time when our country is sending more than $1 billion a day overseas to buy oil, we aren’t doing nearly enough to invest in clean energy sources here at home. Why? In part, we’ve allowed ‘business as usual’ to control our energy policies. Especially during the previous administration, Big Oil had too many seats at the table. Frankly speaking, those of us in elected office have been too timid to make long-term plans to secure our energy future. And finally, some people are trying to scare us into thinking that the challenge is too great or doesn’t exist. My answer is, we can do it and it must be done. And by investing in South Carolina’s ‘homegrown’ energy sources, not only would we increase our national security, we would create jobs for hardworking South Carolinians and the citizens who want to support their families by working hard and smart for their daily living. We must focus on creating jobs in South Carolina.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP — “Many Greenville News readers were surprised earlier this week to learn that hundreds of Greenville County students are homeless.” So, they provide a multitude of options.
FINALLY THIS — THEY’RE GROWING UP SO FAST THESE DAYS (AND CROSS-DRESSING A LOT EARLIER TOO) — “A 4-year-old boy was found roaming his neighborhood in the night, drinking beer and wearing a little girl’s dress taken from under a neighbor’s Christmas tree. The child’s mother, 21-year-old April Wright, told WTVC-TV that the boy ‘wants to go to jail because that’s where his daddy is.’ … The boy, discovered outside his house Tuesday, was taken to a hospital and treated for alcohol consumption.”
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!
