Leatherman zings Sanford, Liberal-tarians one more time

Leatherman

It seems the (Former Gov. Mark) Sanford wing of the Republican Party is not too happy with Sen. Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence.) 

Leatherman was elected Senate president pro tem, Wednesday. Leatherman is also chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, a most-powerful position.

The Senate voted 42-2 to elect Leatherman to the post.

Sen. Tom Davis (Beaufort) and Sen. Shane Massey (Edgefield) voted against Leatherman's ascendancy.

It gives Leatherman even more power, obviously.

Leatherman was political Enemy No. 1 to Sanford, when Sanford was governor. Davis and Massey are the same brand of Republican as Sanford.

They could be characterized as “Liberal-Tarians.” These are nuanced members who claim the Republican Party. Their key appeal is to triangulate, in an effort to incorporate more Libertarian, Libreral, or would-be (frustrated-with-losing) Democrats.

Liberal-Tarians are too-cute-by-half (as the saying goes) for most Republican voters.

Liberal-Tarians are soft on social issues, but claim an allegiance to fiscal Conservatism.

Manifestations of Liberal-Trains, nationally, are Rep. Ron Paul and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie. 

Their free-for-all thinking is lauded by some liberals, and fits well sometimes, with inexperienced and pop-culture voters. But Liberals savage Liberal-Tarians when Liberal-Tarians oppose Big-Government spending as a solution (the reason Liberal-Tarains claim the R.)

Libertarians lose out in the end, because most serious, hardworking Republicans in South Carolina know that social liberalism leads to fiscal irresponsibility.

Sanford was a master at disguising his Liberal-Tarian nature, and maximizing his Conservative bent. But he lived a good example of the Liberal-Tarian lifestyle.

He was a pious man, very scornful of those who did not like his stingy hand on the purse strings. But his lack of moral responsibility allowed him to walk out on his wife and children for his lover. He also admitted he “crossed-the-line” with other women as he termed it. Sanford lived liberal, personally, but he was very harsh – judgmental if you will- in dealing with opponents.

I bet it was not fiscally beneficial for Sanford to leave his family. And that ambiguity is the point. 

Anyway: Sanford's rage-against-the-machine mentality is why he clashed to such a large degree with Leatherman, and other Republicans.

Sanford – when he was governor from 2002-2010- used to schedule trips to Florence, to hold news conferences. It was an attempt to spook Leatherman, on his home turf, on spending issues. It didn't work. Leatherman always won. And the bad blood between the two helped define Sanford's legacy.

In the end: Sanford, as governor, can be identified as: “The Great Uniter.”

Sanford UNITED Republicans and Democrats, alike, against him, to override his overflowing bounty of budget vetoes every year.

And while Massey was tantrum-ing ( pop culture word for kids throwing a temper tantrum) Wednesday, to the media's delight, Leatherman likely had a grin from ear to ear. He got Sanford one more time.

Big changes in Lexington County, from Metts to county council

Is it true that many of former Lexington County Sheriff James Metts' top lieutenants are no longer with the department?

Maj. John Allard, former Lexington County Sheriff James Metts, public information officer,  last sent out a press release to news organizations, June 13.

Erik Murrah took over since, and has already issued a release from interim Sheriff Lewis McCarty. Murrah said McCarty would conduct interviews with the media, later.

Metts has been removed and McCarty has been tapped to replace him.

Rumors are circulating that up to five, top insiders of Metts' are no longer with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department (LCSD.)

Confirmed as gone are:  assistant sheriff Keith Kirchner; Allan Paavel, of administration; Dave Amick, of patrols; and John Tate, legal advisor.

Is it a coincidence that there has been a house-cleaning of sorts, if there has been, so close to the date of Metts' indictment for bribery, and other illegal activities? Was it just a good time to move on in their careers? 

Allard is high-profile to all media contacts, since he was the top promoter of all the community relations projects Metts' perpetuated to enhance Metts' image.

From bicycle give-aways at Christmas to fund-raisers and community clean-ups, Allard was on hand to record the good deeds, and send the word out to the media, in Metts' name. A photo, usually of Metts, accompanied the copy.  

Allard was a regular too on local radio newscasts,. Lots of time on WVOC.

Some of the other names mentioned are personnel that presented budget-need requests, to Lexington County Council.

In addition to Mett's removal, and the bleeding of Metts' top captains, Lexington County Councilman Frank Townsend lost his seat on county council last week. 

And former council Chairman Bill Banning received just 38 percent of the vote in the June 10 GOP primary, and faces a run-off with anti-tax candidate Ned Tolar. 

Many of Banning's opponents refer to Banning's support for the Lexington County Penny Tax as a reason Banning is in a fight.

If the whole democrat party was like Yancey McGill

McGill

If the whole democrat party was like Sen. Yancey McGill, it would not be irrelevant in South Carolina. If they were more like McGill, democrats may not be deemed unfit for statewide office, most years.
Yancey McGill, the state's new Lt. Gov.  is one of the nicest, work-for-you legislators in SC. Too bad he is in the wrong party.
That said: He's not a Sheheen, Hutto-Cobb Salad hate-filled democrat. He is not  like Obama, who urges his followers to vote for revenge and encourages polarization. McGill understands that producers pay the bills, and he appreciates our help, and he respects success.
I've always seen McGill as a man who was working to forward his constituents, through opportunity. He's not a hand-out beggar or using victimization as an excuse.
He impresses me as a statesman.
I would not be surprised if McGill did not turn Republican (a-la-Bubber Snow) after his last election win, just to show that he never was a real democrat.
I get the sense McGill is just a man for the people, who had to claim 'D' because he is in a backward part of the state.

Media dilemma: Illegal immigration a crime for Metts, but slick politics for Obama?

Indicted Lexington County Sheriff Jimmy Metts faces federal charges of conspiracy to harbor people who were in the country illegally.

Mett's indictment would normally be a slam dunk for the media's judgment. 

Metts is the state's longest-serving Republican. Metts really was a Republican before it became the dominant, and most-successful political ideology in South Carolina. Mett's carcass is read meat for the many liberal-based news organizations that saturate the information market.

But hold on a minute. It may not be such a clear-

cut media frenzy as one might suspect. Metts is charged with – in effect - doing the same thing the media supports President Barack Obama for doing.

Basically Metts is accused of turning a blind eye to illegal immigration, just as some are accusing the Obama Administration of doing as thousands of illegal immigrants are dumped into Texas right now. With exploitation being the reason.

How can a media that is salivating Mett's indictment, with a straight face, ignore what the president is doing?

According to the indictment, Metts accepted a cash payoff to free an immigrant who had been arrested. Liberals who are clamoring to allow illegal immigrants into the U.S. (because they want their votes) tell us illegal aliens do the jobs Americans find beneath them.

Does an employer's willingness to “bribe” an official tell us the employer makes so much money from employing illegals he can pay the overhead of the cost of corruption and still afford the employee?

And: buying a person from jail is reminiscent of what we are told about slavery. Are liberals supporting the buying of a human's freedom in their championing of illegal immigration?

Would Metts dare use Obama's
 ignoring the law as a defense? 

Obama calls illegal immigrants “Dream Act” children, in reference to allowing potential Democrat Party voters into the country, bypassing the legal and proper channels toward becoming documented.

Subjecting illegal aliens to a dirty underworld of payoffs and exploitation, as is charged by U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles, hardly makes Obama's actions as noble as he is claiming. And would (could) Metts point to what Obama is doing as a defense? 

And: if the media begins to look at the DNA of the case against Metts, and decides to side with Obama, will it do so at the expense of Nettles, the US Attorney, appointed by Obama.

Stay tuned. The show is just beginning and it has many complexities. 

Metts indictment is historical Bombshell

Metts with  Immigration Officer Kevin Farley. 

Farley received the Sheriff’s Medal.

The indictment against Lexington County Sheriff Jimmy Metts will provide lots of drama as it plays out. 

To many, it demonstrates that NO ONE - not even the very powerful in law enforcement - is above the law. 

It took almost two years to come since the investigation began of Metts. Many self-proclaimed "insiders" swore for months that Metts' indictment was inevitable, even giving dates, that came and went.
A federal grand jury indicted Metts, Tuesday, alleging he accepted bribes and abused his position as sheriff.
There has also been plenty of talk about others in Lexington, and elsewhere in the Midlands, going down with Metts. Three more were indicted (former Lexington Town Councilman Danny Frazier) with Metts, but not the big names mentioned.

The 10-count indictment accuses  Metts of taking bribes if Metts would use his “position, power, and influence as sheriff” to interfere with the proper identification and processing of certain illegal immigrants detained at the county jail, according to federal prosecutors.

Metts was seen as untouchable until Tuesday, when he was indicted. The indictment was rumored, and ehispered about, for a long time, but many thought it would never come because so much time had passed since Danny Frazier, the onetime Councilman, was recorded offering to make deals for video poker operations. When that tape surfaced in August of 2012, the rumor mill began churning. but it had slowed as of late. 

As sheriff, Metts often asked for more money to fund his office, and he always got it, even though it meant more property taxes on Lexington County residents. Was county council scared to tell Metts "No?" 

What the ballot box could not do to Metts, the legal system has. He has already been removed and replaced. 

Metts is innocent until proven guilty, but the length of time it took to bring this case forward, may indicate the strength of the case against Metts.  

There will be sides-taking by politicians and voters alike. So pull up a chair. This will certainly be interesting.

Poor S.C. home sales, an indication of Obama's struggling economy

Economy still staggering.
Has not recovered since late 2008. 

The volume of houses sold in the Greater Columbia Area  was down 5% in May compared to May 2013. It is the sixth time in the last seven months the number of homes sold has shown a decline.

Homes sales were down for the whole state, too. 

Most economic indicators have been down since Barack Obama was elected in late 2008. But states that have been more brazen in rejecting Obama policies, have fared a little better. 

The report, from the S.C. Realtors (SCR)  blamed a lack of growth in wages as a drag on home sales. Declining wages have been a staple of the Obama presidency. 

Better paying jobs, for a skilled workforce are needed to drive up homes sales numbers, according to the report.

While there has been small growth in private-sector employment, said the SCR, in the last four months, there is no indication if new jobs are full-time or part-time.

Another indicator going in a negative direction was Gross Domestic Product. The national GDP contracted in the first quarter of 2014. Obama Administration officials have referenced a “harsh winter” as the reason for the poor economic news.

Eliminating economic and political uncertainty are priorities that would help. The report did not say if that meant electing Conservatives, but since Democrat rule has been difficult on the economy logic dictates that Democrats could be in for a rough election season, and deservedly so. 

The news of declining sales comes after increases were reported for almost all of 2012 and 2013. But much of those sales were driven by discounted prices and a market filled with foreclosures.

Much of the low-priced inventory has been bought.

Shrimp prices double, thanks Obama!

Charleston's Post and Courier is reporting that the price of South Carolina shrimp is doubling.

Media dumbfound over Obama's enormous inflation!

And the media is having a hard time explaining it.
But: Since Obama was elected the price of EVERYTHING as increased substantially. Gas has averaged about $1.50 more per gallon under Obama, than it was over almost all of Bush's two terms.
The cost of food is way up too. And what makes it worse, many two-income households have lost an income, or it's been reduced to PT. And healthcare costs have skyrocketed for less coverage because of Obamacare.
You can feel real good about Obama, but realize, he has been a disaster as a president. Families, and the American people have suffered and lost out on a lot of quality of life. I'll be glad when Obama is gone.

Good news for South Carolina, bad news for Democrats

Like S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley or hate her, she has been in charge while a lot of jobs have been created (see press release below.) 

And with the miserable Obam-economy, South Carolinians are placing a premium on new jobs. 

I suspect that with each new job recruited while Haley is governor, Vincent Sheheen's slim chances for an improbable win, are diminished.

Mondays announcement, of even more jobs, has to be seen as bad news for Democrats. And that, in itself is a problem, Democrats face.

Good news for the state's people, is usually bad news for them. And bad news for us -like more Obama policies forced on us- is good news for Democrats. 

Giti Tire To Establish Chester County Manufacturing Plant, Create 1,700 Jobs

World’s 10th Largest Tire Manufacturer To Invest $560 Million In South Carolina Operations

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Giti Tire, the 10th largest tire company in the world, will establish its first North American manufacturing facility in Chester County. The company plans to invest $560 million and create 1,700 new jobs over the next decade in order to meet the growing demand of the North American market.

The company announced its plans today during an event at the GATEWAY Conference Center in Richburg, where state and local officials – including Gov. Nikki Haley and Singapore’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ashok Kumar Mipuri – joined to celebrate Giti’s location decision.

Based in Singapore, Giti Tire will produce both passenger and light truck tires for the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and replacement markets in the Chester County plant. The new facility, which will be located on the Carolinas I-77 Mega Site, will combine manufacturing and distribution activities, with total building area estimated to be 1.8 million square feet.

During the first phase of production, the plant’s capacity is expected to be five million tires annually. Giti Tire plans to further increase production capacity in response to future market demand and conditions. The Chester County facility represents Giti’s ninth manufacturing plant in its global system.

The company’s decision to locate in South Carolina was driven by a number of factors, including the area’s workforce and training opportunities through the technical college system, proximity to major transportation infrastructure and deep-water port facilities in Charleston, market access to the growing Southeast region and the state’s business-friendly environment.

readySC will be assisting the company with the recruiting and training of its initial workforce.

Are liberals in denial about losing Common Core?

Democrats and liberals in South Carolina's media are praying to their secular god of printed newspaper, that Common Core will not be affected by the state Legislatures vote to eliminate Common Core.
The legislation passed ends Common Core, and replaces it with state-originated standards.
The bill to end Common Core in SC requires a panel of educators, parents, and community and business leaders to begin reviewing South Carolina’s math and reading standards by January. The new standards will be approved by the state Board of Education and the independent Education Oversight Committee. Liberal AP reporter Seanna Adcox  has found education industry insiders (like Melanie Barton, director of the Education Oversight Committee) to - in effect-say the Common Core-ending legislation is unrealistic. Formerliberal democrat Sen. Brad Hutto says that the announcement that Common Core is ending is political spin.  But Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, said:  “We’re getting out of Common Core and will write our own standards” Adcox, the media and AP side with Hutto. That is no surprise. But when you look at the success of the democrat party in South Carolina, it is foolish to side with the democrats. They have been rendered unfit by the state's voters. Yet Republicans have been successful at stopping government-funded homosexual propaganda themes at College of Charleston and USC-Upstate. And The polarizing Gender Studies program was eliminated at USC-U earlier this year. Those are BIG successes for Republicans. So I would not bank on Common Core being kept, when you consider that the GOP is in control, and Common Core has a LARGE target on it. 

Liberal AP opinion on Common Core

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/06/14/3508553/common-core-standards-could-change.html?sp=%2F99%2F132%2F312%2F169%2F#storylink=cpy

The liberal Casey Kasem became weird as he aged

Liberal Casey Kasem and trophy, eye-candy wife.
He was very permissive to a point of being kooky. 

I loved Kasem's Top 40 countdown as a kid, but Casey got a little strange later in his career.
God rest his soul. Hope he has found peace.
But I remember a Long Distance Dedication in the 1990s, from a father in prison to his 16-year-old daughter. The man asked Casey to play the song: "I want to get freaky wit' you"....And Casey delivered it w/o batting an eye. Weirdo. I think Kasem was a devout liberal. And that may explain the kooky behavior as he aged.
One of the left's biggest failures, of many, is not placing the protection of our children ahead of their decadence and lusts.

Leftwing establishment media embraces Republican, for not being Tea Party!

Regarding the primary win for US Sen. Lindsey Graham according to The State newspaper.
What we must take note of: The media, and liberals (synonymous) are so euphoric over what they perceive as a blow to the Tea Party. Liberals so despise the Tea Party (see IRS scandal)  these radical leftists are pumping up a Republican.
But remember:  Graham ran violently to the right, and extolled his credentials as a Conservative with the $6-to-$8 million in campaign funds he had.
Graham also BASHED President Barack Obama at every turn, making sure that voters knew of how he opposed Obama.  Anti-Obama (in effect anti-Media) was THE major theme of Graham's primary campaign.
Face it: Graham won because he had all the money and there was not really a formidable candidate to take him on.
If you go up against a political heavyweight (see incumbent) like Graham, and lose, he will destroy you.
Not to mention, since The State newspaper, and liberals in general, see Graham as their closet hope of winning, the media would obliterate any Graham opponent too.
Of course, as John McCain found out in 2008, the media's support is only good against Conservatives. The media's love of Graham will evaporate as soon as he is pitted against the Democrat.
As it is, it's comical to see the media crowing about Graham's win, only to attack him, as soon as he opposes Obama, as he swore as he campaigned against the dread Tea Party.

Is the media's "GREAT Dad" missing the point?

The rate of fatherlessness in the African-American community is as high as 90 percent. The lack of fathers in the home, may be the No. 1 problem in the country for ALL Americans. The State newspaper's Top Father on Father's Day (June 15, 2014) is the manager of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. Shouldn't The State go out and find a father who is in the private-sector, getting up and going to work everyday to support his family? And profile him. Those are the REAL Hero dads. Not sure what this agency - the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse - does. But is it really doing any good? Or: is this just media lip service to another waste of effort and grandstanding by a "community leader? And is The State's version of a top dad accomplishing anything substantial? It's likely the problem of absent fathers has gotten worse under the Obama administration because his economy has been so hard on men, especially in the African-American community. Just like Obama, who was a "Community Organizer" figure heads, who tell others how to do it, using donations or tax money from WORKING people, are not necessarily who we should be listening to. The media's champions often miss the mark. And that may be the reason we're not seeing improvement toward eliminating the problem of fathers who do not take responsibility. To attack a problem, you must first be honest enough to identify it. The State is failing in that respect.

GOP Implosion: The State newspaper engaging in wishful thinking

You have to laugh at The State newspaper. The wishful-thinking, political Armageddon The State's Jamie Self is describing has to give you a chuckle.
Self says the GOP-Controlled Senate is imploding. in-short, because Sen. John Courson does not want to be Lt. Governor.
 Self explains: “Gov. Nikki Haley’s No. 2 as lieutenant governor soon could be a Democrat and the GOP-majority Senate could elect a former Democrat – and sometimes Haley critic – as president pro tempore.”
Self is critical of the GOP Senate, but then finally reveals her hand: “Single senators can block bills," Self said. "Republicans also have their own almost daily in-fighting, as the GOP’s ultra-conservative William Wallace Caucus bucks the governor and Republican leadership," she added.
And that is what is REALLY eating at Self and the liberals at The State. Powerful Conservatives senators, blocking liberals.
Also: Courson signals Self not to get too excited over the “implosion” she is seeing.
“When the 121st General Assembly begins in January, we need to right the ship,” Courson tells her. And that is what will happen.  Until then, the Senate is out and not much is going on.
Not to mention: The Lt. Gov. position has almost no power, which is why no one wants the position, other than a Democrat. Because that's the only way he an get it.

Time to take control of higher education from liberals

South Carolina's colleges and universities are at risk. At the College of Charleston, a radical, liberal professor was REQUIRING freshmen to read a homosexual propaganda book, that contained anti-Christian bigotry and hate. USC-Upstate was taking university money and using it to fund a very polarizing Gender Studies program. USC-Upstate also pushed a homosexual agenda through other curriculum. Now, the liberal president at Winthrop University has been fired, after it was discovered that her husband had a P-T, high-paying "governmental-affairs" job at the school. These scandals involve the greed and indoctrination of Liberals. Maybe it's time to begin putting Conservatives in charge. Liberals have destroyed too much already. Like we see with the Obama Administration, the longer liberalism is enacted, the worse it gets for all of us. It's time to turn the corner, and let this state's college and university system, and this nation, begin to heal. Until we admit that the problem is liberals, we cannot begin to correct it. It has never been more obvious than now. So let's move forward. Let's get more responsible, Conservative leadership at all levels of government, including higher education.

Columbia SC is becoming the Detroit of the South

The Columbia Police Department is investigating the shooting deaths of two people. They were found dead in a car, just before 6 a.am. Friday in a parking lot. The bodies were found in the 3300 block of North Main Street at a title loan business. Columbia is ruled by Democrats. Where is the leadership? Why do the people of Columbia put up with a lawless community? Shootings in Five Points and even a shooting in The Vista recently. How long will good people allow the government "leaders" of Columbia run the city into the ground? Police received reports of gunshots in the area shortly before the discovery of the Friday killings. Gunshots are becoming Columbia's City song. Detroit was obliterated by incompetent Democrats. The City of Detroit is $16 Billion in debt, and almost uninhabitable at night. How much longer before Columbia is like Detroit?

The GOP must pay attention to successes

Republicans and Conservatives sometimes have a hard time noting their successes. Sometimes the media downplays good legislation or court action, because it goes against the establishment's agenda. But it is essential that Conservative successes are mentioned, no matter how modest, it is great to move forward. Here are some of the things Republicans deserve credit for that the left would just as soon you forgot about. Republicans effectively paid attention to some of the pro-homosexual curriculum at USC-Upstate and not long after the polarizing (and some would say bigoted) Gender Studies program was eliminated. Funding was eliminated for a pro-gay curriculum. At the College of Charleston, liberal faculty were requiring a gay propaganda, anti-Christian, book for Freshmen. Republicans in the state's legislature de-funded the expenditure for the books. Republican state Sen. Mike Fair killed a plan backed by the liberal New Morning Foundation (NMF.) The NMF wanted to revamp the teaching of sex education in public schools, despite the fact that liberal ideas have been harmful, as unwanted pregnancies have grown, with the more liberalization of education. Republicans have also been able to fight off the Obama Administration to attract high-paying, anti-Union jobs to SC from Boeing. Republicans have also beaten Obama to implement popular Voter Integrity laws. GOP legislators also rejected unaffordable, federally-pushed Medicaid expansion. We have a lot to do (repeal Obamacare and fund even more charter schools) but we are making headway. . PS: Eliminate the income tax; keep drugs outlawed and protecting the unborn more, are all in the offing. Give the GOP more time, and more votes.

Richland County still has problems at the polls

In 2012, Richland County was the home of the worst voting fiasco in memory. Long waits, confusion and a total lack of integrity in the final counts. The State newspaper, the Thursday (June 12 headline) is trumpeting the announcement that there were not major problems at Richland County polls in Tuesday's primary. But there were still problems. Poll workers were not familiar with equipment and that slowed down the voting process. The leaders are also soliciting for young poll workers who are "computer savvy" according to The State. Will adding staff, and increasing the budget, help the competency rate in the county? That has not worked in other government agencies, but it seems to be the answer a lot, despite the rate of failure. The State does note that fewer than 25 percent of registered voters, voted in the largely Democrat County. The SC Election Commission reported Richland County statewide participation at less than 16 percent. The fear from officials in Richland County is that if there is heavy turn-out, there will be more chaos and a possible corrupt result, again. Many of the Democrat leaders in Richland County may not mind. Richland County, in the 2012 debacle, passed a large penny-tax, that will result in $1 billion for county government to spend, in Richland County. After the 2012 catastrophe, many of those responsible have been retained, though the deck chairs may have been shuffled. It's almost two years since the last disaster, and Richland County is still lost, looking to young poll workers to save the highly paid "experts" who engineered the last mess. Any government should study Richland County, to see how "not to" run county government.

Primary numbers show Democrats lag behind in South Carolina

Tallying up the number of Democrat voters in South Carolina's June 10, primaries may indicate why the party is seen as all-but un-electable for statewide office. While approximately 300,000 voters cast ballots for Republicans, the number of votes cast for statewide-office democrats was in the 115,000 range. This lethargy among the Donkeys is likely an embarrassment to the party.

The State newspaper, a regular promoter of liberals and their causes, makes it difficult to find the number of voters in the Democrat Primary. The State makes GOP Primary numbers easy to access on their website, but does not offer a comparison of party turnout. It could be that some Democrats crossed over, in an effort for relevance. But that theory is not discernable. According to the SC Election Commission, about 454,500 votes were cast in Tuesday primaries. The participation rate was close to 16 percent.

Republicans vote for babies, even unborn and anti-tax; Democrats want more marijuana, gambling

Liberal reporter John Monk of Columbia (SC) The State newspaper, writes: "Republicans want to curb abortions by giving fetuses the same rights as humans who’ve been born and also get rid of the state income tax." HUMANS who have been born? Monk is preaching: How dare those Republicans care for fetuses as if they were "Human?" Republican voters overwhelmingly (almost 80 percent) passed two non-binding referendums. Voters in the GOP Primary on June 10, also voted to eliminate the state's income tax. States like Texas and Florida, with no income tax, are attracting growth that is far outpacing high-tax states, that traditionally vote for liberals and democrat candidates. Democrats, in South Carolina, passed a question that would more legitimize gambling, teasing that gambling taxes could could pay for road and bridge repairs. Democrats also agreed to legalize marijuana, but only if you’re sick. Do you get the feeling that a lot of democrats will start showing up at the doctor, looking for a doctor's excuse? Wonder if Obamacare will cover that?

South Carolina GOP Primary 2014, Winners and Losers

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley may have been the biggest winner in the state's June 10, GOP Primary. She attracted no opponent.
Tom Ervin, a self-called Republican, who is likely trying to help Democrats as a spoiler, thought about facing Haley in the primary, but backed out. Ervin is running as an "Independent."
Haley has some vulnerability. She was christened by the Tea Party, and Sara Palin, in 2010, but has not been as Conservative, as she billed herself beforehand. But Haley has been staunchly anti-Obama, rejecting his policies and fighting his lawsuits (pro-union, anti-voter integrity laws) against Conservatives.
Haley has worked to attract jobs, and had some success, despite a poor national economy under Obama.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham breezed to his Primary win, garnering 56 percent of the vote, while a credible Conservative voice never materialized from his six opponents.
Graham also had more than $6 million in a campaign re-election fund. He spent some of that telling voters, with voluminous mail pieces, that he is a true Conservative.
South Carolina barely missed out on getting a true Conservative in its Education Superintendent's race.
Strongly anti-Common Core candidate Sherri Few came in third, and missed the June 24 run-off by two percentage points.
Sally Atwater, the widow of national political operative, the late Lee Atwater, will face establishment candidate, and moderate Molly Spearman. 
In Lexington County, one of South Carolina's most Republican-voting, two county councilmen experienced setbacks.
Councilman Frank Townsend (R-Dist. 2) lost his primary race to Larry Brigham. Townsend voted for a tax hike, after pledging that he would not.
Councilman Bill Banning (R-Dist. 8) is in the June 24, run-off with anti-tax champion Ned Tolar.