S.C. Republican Caucus Notes
WHINERS AND LOSERS FROM SCGOP’S WEEKEND CONFERENCE IN CHARLESTON
FITSNews – August 27, 2008 – Members of South Carolina’s House Republican Caucus got together for their annual conference last weekend in Charleston, and not surprisingly the event was marked by a level of maturity you’d expect to see from a bunch of toddlers who just had their bottles snatched away from them.
The whine-fest was apparently kicked off by Spartanburg Rep. Lanny Littlejohn, who blasted several of his colleagues for opposing the State Senate bid of soon-to-be-former Rep. Scott Talley, who lost his race despite a mountain of TV lawyer money and the unflinching support of the state’s Democratic establishment.
Anyway, Littlejohn specifically chastised fellow Reps. Eric Bedingfield and Kris Crawford, going so far as to request that they be “censured” by the Caucus for their support of Talley’s opponent, Lee Bright. To their credit, both Bedingfield and Krawford are said to have politely told Littlejohn to go and eff himself.
The much bigger story, however, relates to House Speakr (and would-be “skull cracker”) Bobby Harrell, who is said to have pitched a coniption fit over a bill that would require lawmakers to vote on the record when they’re blowing through your tax dollars like there’s no tomorrow …
Ironically, Harrell isn’t upset about the bill so much as he’s pissed that State Sen. Glenn McConnell didn’t invite him to be its co-sponsor.
Harrell is McConnell’s Representative in the House, and apparently the fact that the Senate President went decided to work with the bill’s original sponsor, Rep. Nikki Haley, rubbed the Speaker the wrong way.
Of course that leads into the biggest story from the Caucus weekend, namely the Speaker’s overt threat to remove Haley from her post on the powerful House Labor, Commerce and Industry committee because she’s grown too powerful, and because she likely has the votes to become its next Chairman.
Such a move would not only deprive this influential committee of its top pro-business, female conservative, but would also be unprecedented in Harrell’s reign as Speaker.
In fact, the last time a Representative was removed from a committee against their will was in 2004, when then-Speaker David Wilkins took Democratic Rep. Jerry Govan off of the House Judiciary Committee after he physically assaulted the committee chairman.
So … will Harrell do it? He’s certainly pissed off enough to follow through on his threat, but it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll take such a drastic step, particularly given Haley’s exposure and the fact that the House GOP Caucus ticked a little bit more to the right during the last primary cycle.
Harrell’s other power-play at the Caucus retreat appears to have centered around the election of judges – and more specifically his ongoing efforts to get his brother’s law partner named to the circuit court.
Several Representatives we spoke with said Harrell is hoping to wield exclusive control over the state’s judicial merit selection committee, which decides what judges lawmakers get to vote on for the Supreme Court and other judgeships.
Frankly, we think the legislature shouldn’t have anything to do with electing judges, particularly when so many of them are profiting off of the decisions they make.
Comments
By OCC on August 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Apparently some young lady couldn’t stay awake at the dinner table while entertaining special members of the House during dinner one evening. Apparently, she fell asleep at the dinner table, after a day of drinking of champagne.
Willie, that would make a great story.
By Proud Bobbycrat on August 27th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Well well Sic good to see you and your girlfriend are getting along again. Is Nikki paying you again or are you getting “special favors.” The Speaker is about fed up with this and you two lovebirds will have some splaining to do before it is said and done.
Don’t think you can hide behind McConnell either. We know you wrote that oped for the two of them. It has your puss oozing from every pore. Glenn had better watch his step too.
The Speaker is holding his powder right now but if you think this little ploy will save your girlfriend think again. We see through it like we see through you.
By Tired on August 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Bobby Harrell is a joke. What started out as a storied career in helping to reform the state has quickly declined into a “gasping for air” attempt to hold onto what little power he still has. This is evidenced by his continued threats to sitting lawmakers that are becoming more powerful than he, as referenced by your story of Mrs. Haley above.
As a South Carolina voter and an idealistic conservative who still believes that hope for reform exists, I call on every elected official in the SC General Assembly to care about principal not politics.
To be “powerful” in the SC General Assembly simply means to be a big government cronie, as exemplified by our not-so-great speaker of the house. You must abandon every ounce of principal in your soul and sell out to the special interests. Is it really worth that?
It is high time that those elected on a reform platform start acting like reformers, republicans to start acting like republicans, and condemn the good ol boys to nonexistent positions within the General Assembly. We cant beat them on the stump or at the polls, their constituents buy their lies and continue to vote them in…..but we aren’t fooled and we will not allow this circus to go on much longer.
By SC on August 27th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Bobby Harrell = pharm controversy = not running for governor anymore
how can anyone be proud of his idiocracy?
By Give Me FITS on August 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
B-crat:
It’s “pus.” The word is “pus.” “Puss” is more like SC Football or Keith Olberman last night with Joe Scarborough.
Just tryin’ to help.
By Not Only That on August 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Whenever we see someone arguing about diction (or spelling, etc) we assume they have nothing substantive to say.
By fitsnews on August 27th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Get ‘em “NOT” … what’s wrong w/ you GMF? And such a needless swipe at Gamecock football, to boot.
-FITSNews
By Lauren on August 27th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I’ve been sitting back reading different blogs about what may or may not be going on with the Republicans and at the Statehouse. I work there and watch all of these men and women work in committee and on the House floor. Rep. Haley has always been someone who is strong in her beliefs but respectful to everyone that she works with or against. She fights for things in a way that makes many nervous because she’s good. She is a role model for a lot of us that work here. She is a strong, hard working, tough legislator that has everyone’s respect. Whoever these guys are criticizing her need to reevaluate their own work ethic before speaking about others.We know how you work as well.
By SC on August 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
the speaker is holding “his powder?” better keep it hidden before someone finds out……..
By Insider on August 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Dear Greg Foster…errr, I mean #2, you sure are reaching on that one in many ways. I don’t typically call people out but you deserve this one. Your attack mirrors Harrell’s skull cracking during the caucus meeting and like Harrell your words are purely emotional. There is not one factual statement in your post; and now you’re threatening both McConnell and Haley? That is bad juju!
By Glenn on August 27th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I think it was Haley’s bill to start with. So why would McConnell ask Harrell to co-sponsor with him? Didn’t she put the same bill in last year too?
By Roger T on August 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Folks, this is our state. It does not belong to a bunch of rednecks who run for office so they can get good football tickets and a little extra “bidness” on the side. It took honorable, brave men and women to secure this country’s freedom two centuries ago — the slimebags in charge over there today would have been hiding in the cellar. “Bobbycrat,” please go back to the swamp and sell your moonshine. Rep. Haley wants the legislature to call roll. There is no defensible reason for opposing this bill. It is too bad you and your low-class pals in the legislature have to resort to childish attacks on a woman just because you don’t want to give up power. Remember when the Republicans in Congress thought they had “powder.” They were wrong.
By G.L. on August 27th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Harrell is just pissed that McConnell has a little bit of integrity, isn’t afraid to take the conservative stand, and isn’t afraid to piss anybody off.
By Cady on August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
A few things on this one. First of all, it is laughable that you wrote Haley has the votes to get LCI Chairman. Her own Caucus, except for a few misfits, hate her. No shot in HELL did she ever even have a shot at it. Nikki Haley is about Nikki Haley. She is ambitious and no better than the rest. She is just more strategic in her manipulations. She uses whoever she can grab onto to get her to the next step.
As far as your Speaker bashing goes, I actually like your nickname “Skull Cracker.” That’s exactly what he needs to start doing to get that caucus under contol. It’s time he sends a strong message and makes an example of Haley.
By Verna on August 28th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Makes an example of Haley? For what? Voting against tax increases? Supporting calling roll? Huh? What the hell is going on in that damn statehouse? we need to start paying attention….why would the caucus hate a strong conservative? and why don’t they want to call roll? i know the speaker is kind of a squish, but i always thought he was smart enough to hide it. I guess i need to get back to watching the politicians….
By SC on August 28th, 2008 at 8:18 am
the only person being used to teach the kids lessons is bobby boy. he will be the one used to “make an example of.” he is a big government communist RHINO. his reign of terror is quickly coming to an end.
By mijeel on August 28th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Perhaps some day (soon?) conservative voters will wake up and exercise their rightful positions as “Skull Crackers” and vote out the self-centered, power-hungry, arrogant legislators like Rep. Harrell. Were Harrell the sort of genuine, humble public servant leader he SHOULD be he would have ASKED to be added as a co-sponsor of the roll call bill and thrown his “powder” behind it to the benefit of the people of South Carolina. That would be a win-win for both he and the people.
By Vagabond on August 28th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Newt, Daschle and Tip O’Neill all thought they were invincible as well. No matter how important you may feel inside the chamber, Mr. Speaker needs to remember the people own their statehouse and he is never more than one election away from getting thrown out. Opposing roll call votes when literally EVERY other Southern state requires them…amazing. That should be one hell of a campaign add for his next opponent.
By Ricky Bobby on August 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
The only thing Haley doesn’t mind in “her beliefs” is her affair last year with Sic. People know and so do you Sic. Haley is great on paper, but how’s she in the sack Sic? Evidence is hard to run from….(Note: Sic wasn’t married @ the time)
By fitsnews on August 28th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
#19-
Let’s see your evidence. Otherwise, go back to lifting names from Talladega Nights.
Shake ‘n Bake, baby.
-FITSNews
By Roger T on August 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Ricky Bobby Jimmy Danny-Boy. That’s says SC legislator all day long. No wonder our state has become so corrupt. We have ignorant trash running it. Can’t blame women and minorities for feeling shut out of the GOP and the State House. I am honest enough to admit back in the old days I used to think they were a bunch of whiners, griping about “good ole’ boys” being threatened by them. Guess that was unfair. Sorry, Rep. Haley. I hope you stick it out. They have no real argument against what you stand for. Ignore these unimaginative cheap shots and keep fighting.
By Gene E. Nowak on August 29th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I will keep it simple.
Recorded votes for all legislation should be the law of the state.
We lead leaders in charge not dictators.
By People First on August 29th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Rep. Nikki Haley puts her constituents first and works hard for the people of her district without worrying about her “place” in the General Assembly pecking order. She never forgets who sent her to the State House or why she was elected. Her intelligence, knowledge of the issues and hard work have been an excellent example for the young people of South Carolina. Too bad more of our legislators aren’t as focused on doing what is best for the people of South Carolina as she is!
As John McCain just said about Sarah Palin, Rep. Haley is someone who does not practice “politics as usual” and stands up for what she believes in. Keep up the great work Rep.Haley!
By haveanicelegislature on September 1st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Ms. Informed? Ms. Informed? Paging Ms. Informed?
Sorry Sic, you are so far off the mark on this one. Keep digging and you will find the real story. You are facing in the right direction, but you haven’t gone far enough…
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