***Palmetto Morning Presented by Jim Dyke & Associates***
THIS FIRST — JOE AT STARUCKS — “The Republicans hoping to become South Carolina’s next governor have debated before,” writes Robert Behre, “but not so far this year, not in Charleston, and not in a forum moderated by nationally known television journalists. So while tonight’s four-way forum at Memminger Auditorium won’t determine who wins the GOP primary in June, it will provide an important chance for U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, state Rep. Nikki Haley and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster to differentiate themselves. Political experts said each has something to gain — and possibly to lose …”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Boy-band-o-licious big boys — Nick Carter and Joey Fatone are joined by Sarah McLachlan.
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NATIONAL LENS — IN THE BOOKS — “President Barack Obama moved to recapture the political initiative in his State of the Union message Wednesday night by offering an unusually frank acknowledgement that many voters are having doubts about his leadership and his ability to bring an end to partisan gridlock in Washington.”
STATE — S.C. voters split on Obama
P&C — Local Democrats generally give president high marks
FROM THE WH — Fascinating Behind the Scenes Photos
SINCE EVERYONE WAS WAITING — Rep. Joe Wilson”was stonefaced throughout Obama’s latest speech, even rising a few times to applaud.”
ALITO WASN’T — “The man in the House chamber openly disagreeing with President Barack Obama as he spoke to Congress wasn’t an over-the-top Republican or a seething Democrat. He was a Supreme Court justice, Samuel Alito. Obama had taken the unusual step of scolding the high court in his State of the Union address Wednesday. ‘With all due deference to the separation of powers,’ he began, the court last week ‘reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections.’ Alito made a dismissive face, shook his head repeatedly and appeared to mouth the words “not true” or possibly ‘simply not true.’”
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REACTIONS — “DeMint said he’s not so sure the spending freeze will be popular after a push on big spending for reform. DeMint said, ‘We’re raising the debt limit over a trillion dollars just for this year. And so he’s saying let’s spend all we can this year and then we’ll freeze it. I don’t think this is going to play well out across the country.’”
HURT FEELINGS — DeMint claims “President Barack Obama’s administration is ‘trying to divide’ Senate Republicans by selectively calling a few of them to lobby them on legislative issues.”
IT’S A PHILOSOPHICAL THING — “We have serious philosophical differences,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said, citing healthcare, energy independence and national defense.
“I’ll do what I can to find common ground on the serious issues … but I also remain prepared to say ‘no’ when I must,” said Graham.
ON TERROR — “The Obama administration on Wednesday lost its most prominent backer of the plan to try the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks in Lower Manhattan when Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said the trial should not be held in New York City. … Congressional Republicans are threatening a financial maneuver to block the trials from being held in New York and are certain to seize on the mayor’s remarks. On Tuesday, six senators wrote to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. and urged him to abandon the idea. The letter, signed by [Graham] read, in part, ‘You will be providing them one of the most visible platforms in the world to exalt their past acts and to rally others in support of further terrorism.’”
WATCH — Graham Discussing Detainees on FOX
ENDORSEMENT WATCH — SHEHEEN GETS ANOTHER — “Florence Mayor Stephen J. Wukela endorsed Sen. Vincent Sheheen’s candidacy for Governor at a campaign event in Florence on Tuesday.”
FIRST DISTRICT — The candidates are attending a Charleston reception today in conjunction with the GOP gubernatorial debate.
YOU’RE VIERED – “Rep. Thad Viers said Wednesday he will not run for the U.S. Congress seat that will become vacant when Rep. Henry Brown retires this year. He said Charleston Rep. Tim Scott’s consideration for Brown’s seat had nothing to do with his decision. Rep. Scott, who has been running for lieutenant governor, said this week he is “strongly considering” dropping out of that race to try for Brown’s seat, which some say will winnow the Republican field considerably.”
BLANKETING GREENWOOD — “Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer will be in town Friday with the Blanket Truck.”
THIS CLOSE — Governor Sanford writes, in an email to supporters, “Yesterday I asked you to join me in contacting our state Representatives and urging them to vote for a bill that would simply give voters the choice this fall to vote on whether the Secretary of State should be an elected or appointed position. We needed 83 votes today to give people the chance to vote for this common-sense reform. We got 82.”
POLLING — “A newly released poll shows U.S. Rep. John Spratt leads two potential opponents. According to North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling, Spratt leads Republicans state Sen. Mick Mulvaney 46-39 and Albert Spencer 46-37. By a 41-42 margin, more of those surveyed said they disapproved of Spratt’s job performance. ‘John Spratt is going to have to fight for re-election but he’s in better shape than a lot of Southern Democrats in conservative districts,’ said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling. ‘Most of his constituents still see him as a centrist, even as they see his Congressional Democratic brethren as too liberal.’”
STATE OF COLUMBIA — “Columbia Mayor Bob Coble will give his final State of the City address tonight, a tradition he started in 2004.”
VIEWPOINT — Speaker Bobby Harrell addresses the recent ESC audit in The State, “The Legislative Audit Council’s reporting of just how broken the Employment Security Commission has become was quite shocking. When leadership in the House of Representatives began pushing for ESC reform last year, we knew there were great concerns about the commission. However, this report shows an agency in shambles. We must reform the ESC from a check-writing agency to the job-placement agency our state needs. Reform can’t wait another year; our state’s unemployed need it now.”
BIG BUNS — “A South Carolina bill barring honey buns, greasy pizza and chocolate bars from being sold to students during the school day received tentative approval Wednesday, but opponents are already lining up.”
NO FUNDS FOR YOU — State Sen. Creighton Coleman and Rep. Boyd Brown have proposed legislation taking control of Fairfield’s school dollars.
STATES RIGHTS — “The House will continue debate Thursday on a Senate resolution reaffirming the 9th and 10th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Democrats, headed by state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, worked Wednesday to stall a vote on the resolution, saying it has no real meaning and is a waste of precious legislative time.”
TEXTUAL RELATIONS — “South Carolina legislators have postponed a vote on a measure that would ban texting while driving and chatting in the car with a hand-held phone.”
ORANGEBURG — S.C. State’s president shares good news about university
MULLINS — Grice receives business leader honor
HORRY — Hill honored by SC Dept. of Commerce
GREER — Moves toward fee, tax increases
COLUMBIA — USC’s Moore school tops rankings
CHARLESTON — Charter schools win ruling
HORRY — School nurse wins statewide award
PICKENS — Considers incentives to lure company
HEY SAILOR — “The commanding officer of the Charleston Naval Weapons Station was temporarily relieved of his command after being busted in a reverse prostitution sting by North Charleston police.”
FINALLY THIS — JV ALWAYS GETS ROBBED — “A ‘community incident’ has prompted education officials in Oconee and Pickens counties to close an upcoming basketball game to the public. According to a joint news release from each school district, recent community events have led them to play Friday night’s Daniel vs. Seneca varsity basketball game in a closed gym. They said that only team members, coaches, game personnel, school administrators, law enforcement officials and members of the media will be allowed inside the gym during the game. Although officials would not say what the ‘community incident’ was, they did say that the event has not impacted instruction at the schools. Officials also said that the junior varsity games scheduled at Seneca High School have been canceled.”
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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