***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — Citing his support for cap-and-trade legislation, the 2008 financial bailout and his outspoken support of immigration reform, the Lexington County Republican Party voted, last night, to censure Sen. Lindsey Graham.” The censure, which has fun with fonts, “criticizes Graham for failing to abide by the principles of the South Carolina GOP platform and accuses him of showing ‘contempt and belligerence’ toward his fellow Republicans,” according to CNN’s Peter Hamby.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Sam Wyche – former coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, now with Pickens High School, PA Governor Ed Rendell and Funky Brown from Kool and the Gang
MENU-TWEET — @cfasurfside: FREE Chicken Biscuits this morning until 10:30 AM at all 9 Grand Strand locations!
DRUMMERS — It’s the Twelfth day of Christmas
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NATIONAL LENS — 2010 MEETS 2002 — “The U.S. Government’s announcement Sunday that it would impose stricter airport security on citizens of 14 ‘nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest’ probably wasn’t intended as an homage to former Attorney General John Ashcroft. But strident critics of Ashcroft and even some of his associates said the Obama Administration’s move bore strong parallels to the ‘special registration’ … program President George W. Bush’s first attorney general ordered beginning in 2002 which required male nationals of what eventually became 25 countries who were working, visiting or living in the U.S. to report to immigration authorities for fingerprinting and interviews,” Politico reports.
NOT JUST IN THE LOWCOUNTRY — The State’s John O’Connor reports that “retirements, well-funded challengers and one high-profile outburst mean S.C. voters will have an unusually high number of competitive congressional races next year” across the state.
CROWDING FIELD — In the First District, Rep. Brown’s retirement has set off a wave of speculation about who will run to fill the seat. Paul Thurmond is said to be considering it along with State Sen. Chip Campsen. Former state GOP Chair Katon Dawson has a list of seven he believes will get into the race. “Mark Fava, who was challenging Brown for the GOP nomination, will not be making the race. … He’s been asked to make an additional commitment to the Navy this spring.”
ARIAIL OUT; WILKINS IN? “Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Bob Ariail of Greenville says he will leave office next year to return to private practice and possibly join his son,” reports the Greenville News. “Officials said the name mentioned most to replace Ariail is outgoing U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins of Greenville.”
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APOLOGIES ARE SO LAST YEAR — But Governor Sanford is still doing it. An overflow [Hilton Head] crowd of more than 100 gave him a standing ovation Monday as he stepped to the microphone during the group’s monthly meeting at Aunt Chiladas Easy Street Cafe.”
UNIONS ON DeMINT — Washington Post columnist, Joe Davidson, writes “To union leaders, Sen. Jim DeMint does not seem as fanatical as Abdulmutallab might be, but the senator’s strident opposition to the nomination of Erroll Southers, President Obama’s choice to head the Transportation Security Administration, makes the gentleman from Greenville appear relatively extreme.”
SAY SOMETHING NICE — On MSNBC, DeMint appeared to back off some of his criticism of the Obama Administrations handling of terror. “Instead of focusing on the blame right now, the president seems to be on the right approach. He’s recognizing we’ve got a terror problem. What he is doing in Yemen is good.”
TODAY SHOW TREATMENT — DeMint discusses his desire for a “few hours of debate” on the Southers nomination with Matt Lauer.
SPORTS-TWEET — @CharlestonNews Tar Heels upset by College of Charleston – News & Observer: http://bit.ly/4Hadwc
DEM SIGNS ON — “S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster said Monday a plea from U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson to ‘call off the dogs’ won’t deter him from fighting a provision in the Senate’s health care bill that favors Nebraska,” according to The State. “In fact, McMaster’s initiative to prepare legal action against the provision gained more support Monday when Oklahoma’s Drew Edmondson became the 14th attorney general -and the first Democrat – to sign on.”
PODCASTS! People interested in learning more about candidates for state Superintendent of Education can download podcasts produced by the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement.
THE SOCIAL SCENE — The Greenville Social Media Club will host Fourth District Representative Bob Inglis at its January 11th meeting to discuss his personal experience with social media. Inglis will talk about the significance of Twitter, Facebook YouTube, blogs, forums and other social media channels and how they have impacted the political climate as well as his own constituent and media relationships. The non-partisan meeting will focus on the principles and practices behind engaging with leaders in the political sphere and offer those in attendance the opportunity to meet Inglis and ask questions. Deets HERE.
FOR THE BIRDS — Inglis doesn’t like proposed legislation giving a tax credit for pets.
THIS HASN’T HAPPENED IN A WHILE — “Federal lawmakers pulled strings for a Japanese company that had applied for a generous U.S. Department of Energy grant, proposing to spend that money to open a car battery plant near Goose Creek. Their efforts worked, but company executives later decided to take the $35 million in grant money — and the promise of 60 well-paying jobs — to Michigan,” reports the Post & Courier. “Toda America Inc.’s decision left local economic development leaders and elected officials feeling snubbed and set back as they work to replace some of the 1,500 or so manufacturing jobs that have seeped out of the Charleston economy since the recession began. … ‘This would have been an important investment for South Carolina and would have created much-needed jobs in the community,’ said [Graham] spokesman Kevin Bishop in a statement. ‘At the end of the day, the company did what they felt to be in their best interests.’”
VALUE SIZE — The University of South Carolina is ranked 32nd and Clemson University 33rd nationally for “Best Values in Public Colleges,” according to the February issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
VIEWPOINT — REMEMBER — “Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of a deadly day in the history of Aiken County. On Jan. 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern Railroad train traveling through Graniteville was inadvertently diverted onto a spur and violently crashed into a parked train on the siding. In the out-of-sight-out-of-mind world we live in today, the events of five years ago seem distant. To those who lost friends and loved ones, to those who lost jobs, to those who have seen their community crumble, there are daily reminders of the Graniteville train wreck. … While the world goes on busily around us, let us not forget the small town called Graniteville and the people whose lives were forever changed.” (Aiken Standard)
ORANGEBURG — Deputy Accused of DUI Resigns from Job
FOUNTAIN INN — Formerly Homeless Woman Takes Cause On The Road
SPARTANBURG — 1st vote dividing District 7 school board
GREENVILLE — 44 school buses wouldn’t crank in cold
LANCASTER — Special trip for athlete with cerebral palsy
SCHEMING — “Former Rock Hill investment broker Gene Sullivan pleaded guilty in federal court … to one count of mail fraud – admitting to defrauding at least 35 people out of more than $2 million in a Ponzi scheme dating back to 1995.” The Rock Hill Herald reports “Prosecutors claimed in the indictments that Sullivan deposited more than $2.5 million into his personal bank account.”
FINALLY THIS — THIS STORY IS THE MUST READ OF ALL MUST READS — Remember the former police chief of Norway that was fired, became the police chief in neighboring Ehrhardt and then ran successfully for mayor of Norway (defeating the mayor that fired him as police chief)? He was sworn in last night. Out of the gate, the mayor verbally settled past crop-debts, 10-year old accusations of finger-pointing, promoted a police officer to chief, reinstated town activities including the Christmas Parade and the town’s yearly festival, mandated funeral escorts, appointed a sanitation commissioner, water/wastewater commissioner and parks and recreation commissioner. And TWO HOURS LATER – he resigned. Thank you, Times & Democrat.
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