House Speaker Bobby Harrell – who by title should be the most powerful politician in the state of South Carolina – is politically weaker than he has been at any point since assuming control of the S.C. House three years ago, numerous State Representatives and political insiders are telling FITSNews.
In fact, Harrell will be “lucky to stave off a full-fledged revolt” once the new legislative session begins in January and his power of appointing House members to various committees has been expended.
“Committee assignments are the only thing holding his people in line,” one Representative confided to us over the weekend. “When that’s done with he has a serious problem on his hands.”
Faced with a rising tide of conservative Republicans in the House, Harrell has clearly chosen to go on the offensive against this growing nucleus of small government advocates (see here, here and here) rather than compromise his big government ways.
Specifically, Harrell has gone after State Rep. Nikki Haley for proposing legislation that would force many of the House’s fiscally-liberal votes “on the record,” thus making it much more difficult for Harrell and his big government lieutenants to hide their squandering of taxpayer dollars.
In fact, a red-faced Harrell reportedly “exploded” at Haley over the issue at a recent gathering of House Republicans in Charleston, S.C., with several witnesses confirming dramatic accounts of the Speaker losing his temper and berating Haley and other members of the “Common Sense Caucus” for attempting to personally embarrass him.
On top of that, several “swing votes” within the GOP Caucus are reportedly leaning to the conservative side after Harrell’s vision for bolstering South Carolina’s anemic job growth turned out to be a massive government-sponsored favor-factory instead of the tax cuts and spending restraint that the situation requires.
At the moment, what’s saving Harrell is the power of committee assignments and the fact that several of these “swing votes” are relying on him to place them in certain positions at the State House.
When that power is gone, however, all bets are off.
We’ve already seen several “middle-of-the-roaders” beginning to smell blood in the water, as leaks of potentially incriminating information against the Speaker are flowing into FITSNews and other media outlets at a record clip – even from several of his so-called allies.
Obviously, Harrell’s ongoing effort to get his brother’s law partner named as a Circuit Court Judge will be watched closely this session, with rumors already flying that the Speaker is once again cutting back room deals to ensure that attorney William J. Thrower receives the nomination that narrowly eluded him back in February.
But that scandal could be just the tip of the iceberg in what one Representative warned us would be “a bloody, bloody year” for the Speaker.
Stay tuned …
By SeaFair September 22, 2008 at 11:52 am
I firmly believe we are on the brink of real leadership in the legislature- and the true end of the good ol boys who have plagued SC for so long. The tide is rising for the true conservatives and I’m willing to bet that in 2010 they’ll take control of the House Republican caucus and send Bobby Harrell packing. Good riddance!
By House Watcher September 22, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Bobby has a problem in that he believes he is THE smartest person around when there are brighter members he could rely upon and work with. Instead he shuns the bright people and listens to no one, and puts people in Chairman positions who he does not feel challenged by their brain power. Wilkins did not think he was the smartest around and surrounded himself with smart people who he listened to. These people that Harrell shuns could make him look good if he would get out of the way and let them put their ideas in action.
In the race to replace Cooper bright people who are strong willed and know the budget need not apply. Of the current budget sub committee chairman, which us experience you need to be Chairman, look for Harrell to back White to perpetuate the status quo. That is an example of why Harrell is in the position he is in. Open your doors Bobby and let people inside who know how to get good ideas into action. But as it is now if its not Bobby’s'idea it must be a bad idea!
By Tired September 22, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I have said all along…..Bobby boy is a joke. His time as “leadership” in the house is limited and quickly coming to an end. Pharm dealings and Bobby’s deal with the devil that went wrong have sent him scrambling in an ill-fated attempt to quash any threat to his power. He has gone so far as to personally threaten legislators over voting for transparency with regards to voting.
It would be the biggest boost to the real conservative movement to see him removed from power…..either by votes or handcuffs………
By Hmm September 22, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Tired: You’re right.
His pharm dealings are about to hit the proverbial fan. I can’t wait for his fanboys to show up on the blog to defend him. Should be entertaining, as always!
By Married Man September 22, 2008 at 2:47 pm
If only we could get rid of all those anti-Sanford RINOS in the Senaate too, the whole General Assembly might actually become truly conservative, adopt sufficiently laissez-faire policies, and SC would flourish. Many God-given and Constitutionally protected RIGHTS might actually get restored in SC… wow!
By Ed September 22, 2008 at 4:48 pm
what is the pharm problem of Bobby’s. I keep seeing references to it but don’t know what it is.
By Tired September 22, 2008 at 5:23 pm
just do a brief search on Palmetto State Phamaceuticals, Rediscripts of Charleston, Primary Rx of South Carolina…..there is much to be learned……especially how the first of the above mentioned was “administratively dissolved” according to SCBOS just a month ago or so following the release of the scandal as covered by the Post and Courier.
By Ummm... September 22, 2008 at 5:32 pm
…does this make sense (from House Watcher):
Wilkins did not think he was the smartest around and surrounded himself with smart people who he listened to.
Harrell was one of those people.
Just sayin’…..
By Cady September 22, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Will, why is your bashing of Bobby always in some way related to Nikki Haley. Is it because she is paying you a little extra these days in cash or (whatever), along with your out of state school choice advocates, to launch this campaign against him? We have all learned that when you go on a tyrrade on someone or issue, it’s because your bank account is getting larger. “Imbalanced” is the key word to your blog.
By SeaFair September 22, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Right on schedule, one of Bobby’s handmaidens shows up!
By House Watcher September 22, 2008 at 8:26 pm
To Umm; look at the opposite of what you highlighted. Bobby does, unlike Wilkins, think he is the smartest around and listens to no one (again unlike Wilkins) who listened to a lot of people. I think you stepped into it that time. Idiot!!!
By roger September 22, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Notice that no one ever defends Bobby Harrell on his principles or his great record as Speaker. No one talks about what a great public servant he is for supporting a tax increase, massively growing government and keeping the public in the dark about how he and his cronies vote. Instead, the redneck caucus defends its leader by attacking a woman’s reputation. That’s the only way they ever defend themselves. No wonder our state can’t climb out of the gutter — we have leaders who live in it.
By Tired September 23, 2008 at 9:50 am
Roger……nail on the head with that comment.
Do you all think Bobby lays awake at night wondering what a fantastic opportunity to make a difference he had and subsequently BLEW? NO…..he lays awake at night and legitimately thinks he can hang onto his power by pandering to the left and further screwing the taxpayer……I guess he is just mad because he got SCREWED out of being Governor because he is too stupid to keep his money making schemes from taking public money….so he feels the need to SCREW us further out of vindictive rage…
tisk tisk Bobby!
and the clock is ticking…..just a matter of time before the rest of the story comes out.
By Pole September 23, 2008 at 11:34 am
Tired, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
The reason why Bobby can’t run for Governor is because he lacks charisma and has the manners of a rock. His brothers are far more outgoing than him, and at least they didn’t need daddy to set them up in business and could go out and establish their own careers.
Knowing he’s the “boy” of the family has to be galling, but if he’d try a little harder, you never know? McDonalds is always looking for new managerial talent.
By Tired September 23, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Pole…..touche! Point well made.
By Diz September 24, 2008 at 12:52 am
Poor Bobby Harrell seems to be suffering from some sort of disorientation syndrome.
When he’s sitting at the State House, he seems to have forgotten that all the RINOs are supposed to be across the Congaree River, at the Riverbanks Zoo.