Alcohol And Politics
APPARENTLY, THEY MIX
FITSNews - April 24, 2008 - After a State Senator was arrested on DUI charges over the weekend, the issue of alcohol and politics has been getting a much closer look in South Carolina. Given the endless stream of legislative receptions, fundraisers, black-tie galas and other booze-laden events, it goes without saying that alcohol is an important part of the political culture. But has it become too important? Are legislators and their staffers among the state’s leading candidates for the Betty Ford Clinic?
At the national level, we were reading an article in The Politico about the upcoming national political conventions and found a quote that was extremely revealing. In dicussing the mega-parties put on by special interests at the conventions to woo elected officials and their staff members, here’s what one fundraiser said:
“It’s all about interfacing with the staff and members,” the fundraiser said. “You want to be there when they’re having drinks because you can talk to them. You can’t do dinners anymore, so it’s all about going to the big parties. Especially those, because it’s really late and people are loaded.”
That’s pretty much what it’s like in Columbia, too, except it’s not just one week of the year. The booze flows freely from the moment the legislature comes to town in January till the time they leave in June.
We’ve been toying with a couple of ideas to raise awareness about this issue, including a possible “Top 10 Lawmakers With A Drinking Problem” list … Sound like fun? We sure think so …
Comments
By PB&J on April 24th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Annette Young…#1
By Cheers on April 24th, 2008 at 10:09 am
The folks in “Drunkchester” County must be proud…
By Paul Adams on April 24th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I will freely admit that those alcohol fueld receptions were the single greatest cause to my downfall in Columbia. They made me a foulmouthed gin soaked ass who cared more about chasing the next bottle than doing my job. And that is what ruins careers
By marty mcfly on April 24th, 2008 at 11:14 am
booze and politics. sick willie is an expert on this, for all the wrong reasons. ask him about his “hands on” learning…
By Pete on April 24th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Will Queen Jean Toal qualify to be on this list since she was once a member of tho House or will judges have their own top 10 list?
By InTheTrenches&It'sMuddy on April 24th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
FYI,
From my covert surveillance work in this arena, there is “someone” out there who has a definite political agenda against Judge Toal and Barney Giese.
By Seeking Truth on April 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
self control is key
By InTheTrenches&It'sMuddy on April 24th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I love days like this when “they” get the American Red Cross to call me looking for blood. Keeps it real!
By b on April 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Don’t forget Thad Viers and his drunken profanity-laden rant to his wife’s boyfriend. “I’m gonna f#@* you like a Catholic priest f&#@s his alter boy.” He’s a winner!
By MississippiMudSlide on April 24th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Oh, b, Thad was just the sacrificial lamb when Legal Tediums, Inc. wanted fodder to strengthen the law about voice mail gifts.
By bird on April 24th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
There was also a sacrificial lamb when Legal Tediums, Inc. wanted to position a spokesperson in the governor’s office who would logistically be privy to hearsay regarding attempted [read: failed] corporate sabotage.
$$$ Put that in your pipes and smoke it. $$$
By FITNA on April 24th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Willie, I don’t mind if you edit some of my comments out. Really. They can be incendiary at [the appropriate] times.
By Believe It Not (a.k.a. Sic Willie's Stalker) on April 24th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Perhaps sic(k) willie will give some first hand feedback on what it’s like to be stopped for DUI. We read his pathetic Letter to the Editor about his first CDV conviction. Google it.
Start here: http://blogs.thestate.com/bradwarthensblog/2005/08/wis_followup_on.html
By Calhoun Fawls on April 24th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Now, now, Thad knows how to kiss Club for Growth’s ass, we can’t be bad mouthing him. Mr. Rich won’t like that one bit.
By He Needs to Get Real on April 25th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Maybe sic Willie needs to get a life…. He accused the most recent senator of being with a woman that was not his wife….. that is not in the police report at all…….
Where does he get some of his info…. Does he care that he may be destroying someone’s family by this garbage?
Who cares that the receptions have alcohol….
How many times does he offer to buy a drink in pursuit of engaging business….
By fitsnews on April 25th, 2008 at 10:08 am
#15-
Thanks for the lecture … We’ll have more on Senator Scott’s situation in the very near future.
-FITSNews
By marty mcfly on April 25th, 2008 at 10:37 am
He Needs…- Many many times, Sick Willie has offered to buy drinks for prospective clients. However, most of the time you can find him drinking alone. His bar tab is more massive than his ego. He does not care how many families he ruins in his wake as long as he gets his story, they dont call him Sick for nothing.