Three RINO Stooges Stage SC House Power Grab
The outcome of a State House race in Charleston, S.C. has prompted three leading South Carolina Republicans to pull off one of the most egregious internal power grabs we’ve ever seen in state government.
The decision – which was based entirely on personal vindictiveness – was designed specifically to thwart the rise of the Republican Party’s top female legislator.
The drama began earlier today after State Rep. Wallace Scarborough officially lost a narrow House race to Democrat Anne Peterson-Hutto, with a final count this morning showing Hutto beating Scarborough by 205 votes.
That outcome meant that State Rep. Nikki Haley – a rising fiscal conservative star – inherited enough votes to become the next chairman of the House’s powerful Labor, Commerce and Industry (LCI) Committee.
Of course, given his deeply-personal, oft-expressed animosity toward Haley, House Speaker Bobby Harrell – who in case anyone’s forgotten has presided over the most massive increase in government spending in state history – wasn’t about to let that happen.
After all, it just wouldn’t do to have a fiscal conservative in charge of one of the most important economic development positions in all of state government, would it?
Particularly not when there’s a big government agenda to shove down the throat of the legislature.
And so Harrell – with the support of outgoing GOP Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill and incoming Majority Leader Kenny Bingham – today got a majority of the House Republican Caucus to endorse a plan that will allow Harrell to personally select all House Committee Chairmen.
And not surprisingly, his first order of business was to select racist, RINO Rep. Bill Sandifer to lead this critical economic development committee.
Within minutes of this momentous decision, we had three lawmakers call us attempting to persuade us that there was “nothing personal” behind Harrell’s naked power grab, and that the outcome of the Scarborough race had “nothing to do with it.”
Whatever. Amazingly, we weren’t born last night.
We also got a rather odd warning from one lawmaker, who told us that any criticism we might offer concerning Harrell’s power grab would lead to another round of rumors coming from Majority Leader Merrill’s office concerning Sic Willie and Rep. Haley’s personal lives, a strategy they’ve already employed once in an effort to keep her “in her place.”
That’s sad, people. Threatening false rumors in an attempt to muzzle criticism? Tsk-tsk …
What’s really sad, however, is the fact that Haley has dedicated herself to advancing conservative principles ever since she was first elected, and now the seat at the table she rightfully earned is being handed to a big government liberal simply because the Speaker of the House doesn’t like her.
That’s not sad for any one person, mind you, it’s sad for our state.
For shame, boys. For shame.
Comments
By Natasha on November 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Willie – you got any of this in writing? The threat to spread rumors I mean…Why don’t you just expose these bozos some more? And she’s a woman. Those good ol’ boys would NEVER allow a smart, brazen woman to be in charge of anything would they?
By Old Bike Dude on November 6th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Having a small pee pee will make a man do strange things. I say get the man a Ejacu-Vac and give the lady the job.
By Some one who cares (and knows) on November 6th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
On what planet did Niki Haley have the votes to take over LCI? Are you sure your not back on the sauce? While smart and brasin and conservative and hard working and all those other things you love to say about her (or get paid to as though it matters) she flat out rubs folks the wrong way…. She wasn’t/isn’t in the race for LCI Chairman. The only people who believe she is/was/could be seem to be you and (I’m guessing here b/c I expect she is smart enough to know where she stands) her, and no matter how many times you say it on you blog, it won’t come true.
By Wilbur's Surprise on November 6th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Wilbur:
Anybody actually paying for your services yet?
Rumor has it that relatives are now paying your bills, wifey ain’t happy about it, but is too scared to say anything. Something about liking all her bones in the unbroken state.
WS
By Charlotte on November 6th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
WS:
You must be from the gene pool that gives SC its filthy tactics, and reputation, in government.
By fitsnews on November 6th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Wilbur’s Surprise-
How did you know all that!
You’re exactly right … daddy pays Sic Willie’s bills and Mrs. Sic literally cowers in fear of getting pummeled every night.
Congratulations! You got us!
-FITS
By Charlotte on November 6th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I’m QUITE sure Mrs. Sic can defend herself. Elsewise — she wouldn’t have ever been a challenge in the bedroom to start with. Tell me I am wrong, Mrs. Sic!
By Charlotte on November 6th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Who wants a Mrs. Mousy. Really.
By BIN News (Really the Real Thing) Editorial Staff on November 6th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Prove the rumor is false sic(k) willie. At the same time prove the rumor you created that a Midlands’ elected official has a Strom Problem. And prove your rumor that the Gub’ner paid off the family of “little black girl” in Beaufort.
sic(k) willie, you live by rumors. You deserve what you get back. Frankly our staff hopes mrs. sic(k) willie is paying attention.
BIN News Editorial Staff
The Real Flair and Balance
By Silence the Noise on November 6th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
So let me get this straight. Bobby cannot run for Governor due to his past mistakes and now he takes it out on people who actually have a political future beyond the SC House. How truly sad.
Nothing good can be said of this situation. Further, what are the people in charge going to do when the public finds out about this? It will be a spectacle beholden to us all thanks to our great and tactful House leadership. Thanks kids!
By Eating their Young on November 6th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Let me get this straight. You are attacking a plan that had been in place before so that Harry Ott can’t extort concessions out of future chairman by withholding his bloc of votes. This seems personal rather than good republican policy.
By Lexington Resident on November 6th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
When I saw Nikki Haley voting in my precinct yesterday, she looked at me with a smile — who she doesn’t know from Adam’s house cat, and I saw the face of an angel. The face of an angel who probably wouldn’t have picked these digs, had she had her ‘druthers. But here she is. And immediately they try to snuff her out. Shame on them!
By GnuBerry on November 6th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Why would they let a grown woman who still works for her parents chair the LCI committee?
By Will the madness ever end? on November 6th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
It sure seems to be payback from Bobby and Merrill because Nikki has been pushing for on-the-record voting.
It is ironic that they are trying to screw over a woman here because voting disclosure is a “pocketbook†issue for these guys. If it passes as a law, it could cause Bobby difficulty in getting legislation passed to help his mail order pharmacy, nursing home and other businesses as well clients of his brother’s lobbying firm.
And Merrill could lose business from those undisclosed “PR†clients if he can’t push legislation where he would have to vote on the record and risk getting caught in that game.
Since Nikki will not back down on her push for voting disclosure, it seems as if they are trying to put her “in her place†with a petty and symbolic smack-down – as is the tradition in these good old boys clubs.
I suspect that soon to be disenfranchised House Democrats and Republican reformers will be furious about Bobby’s latest – and most blatant – power grab, so this may not be a done deal.
You would think that the whipping Republicans just took at the national level would embolden some statehouse members who don’t want to see their state party head towards a similar irrelevancy because of the actions of folks like Senator Ted Stev…..I mean, Speaker Bobby Harrell.
By fitsnews on November 6th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
“Eating Their Young,”
You’re missing the point. Bobby and his crew of sycophants aren’t Republicans.
Were they really Republicans, we could see your argument making sense.
But as they’ve demonstrated time and time again, they’re not.
-FITS
By Folks Hears there is a Red Lobster Nearby on November 6th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
The US Speaker of the House appoints his/her chairmen, as do Speakers in the majority of United States legislatures. So, why is this move so bad? Is it only because you’re paid to hype up Nikki Haley so she can run for a statewide office four or eight years from now? You want to talk about sad? That’s sad.
Anywhere else in America, Will Folks would have been written off as a girl-beating, crazy whackjob who keeps stirring shit up. He would have been brought out only when someone needed to have a heckler in an audience. However, due to the ass-backwardness of the Conservatives in this state, you people keep giving credence to this jerk-off. Why? Show the guy the door.
Two years from now, he won’t be able to find a job within sniffing distance of the Statehouse, and neither will any of his other SCRG/Howard Rich/Libertarian friends.
By Jimmy Byrnes on November 6th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Perhaps Nikki needs a tad more experience in the GA before taking over the chairmanship of the most influential House comm except Ways & Means and Judiciary. She has demonstrated potential but little in the way of any real accomplishments other than serving as a gubernatorial lackey. This action by Harrell & Co. speaks volumes regarding the increasing irrelevance of anything
Sanford.
By BIN News Editorial Staff on November 7th, 2008 at 12:05 am
The first time sic(k) willie saw the word sycophant was on his SAT. He thought they were talking about a fish:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/124128/coelacanth
If he keeps learning new words, someday he may be successful in life.
Can anyone suggest a “word of the day” for sic(k) willie?
How about: integrity
BIN News
Flair and Balanced
By roger on November 7th, 2008 at 12:06 am
The problem with government these days is the lack of character in those who run it. This Speaker and his crew do not represent the best and brightest public servants our state has to offer, but the worst. They remind me of the riff raff who used to work the con as part of a traveling carnival. Smooth talking and sleazy, scamming the public for all they can get. People our founding fathers would have been ashamed of. Rep. Haley is one of the few who has stood on principle and refused to sell out the public to advance herself inside the Statehouse. I wish there were more like her, but I can hardly blame honorable men and women for not wanting to waste their time in Columbia. Who wants to lie down with junkyard dogs and get the fleas? Time for the public to punish the bad guys and stand up for the good ones.
By Fake BIN News 1 on November 7th, 2008 at 12:06 am
How about: honesty
By Fake BIN News 2 on November 7th, 2008 at 12:07 am
How about: justice
By Fake BIN News 2 on November 7th, 2008 at 12:10 am
How about sic(k) willie gets a real job. This blogging will never pay the bills.
By utah on November 7th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Wait, so Haley supposedly had enough votes to win the LCI but she didn’t have enough votes to overcome this “blatant power grab”…hmm, that makes sense.
By fitsnews on November 7th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Damn … lots of “hit dogs hollerin’” on the comment page tonight.
-FITS
By lisa on November 7th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Thanks for your observation FITS. They aren’t Republicans. Republican party was couped and few noticed. The problems we are experiencing in America in general are due to that statement. Now we still have to put up with these people in SC. I believe it’s time to show this new brand of Republicans the Constitution, the rule of law, and the rule of pre school, be nice.
They just don’t get it , yet.
By jennifer on November 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
everyone reading this blog should send Representative Nikki Haley a thank you note, and tell that power hungry speaker we’ve had enough of his kind. Do it today. They are why this country is in trouble — blowing through our money and lying about it. And then not being willing to say how they vote. We need to take control, people. Stop whining on the blogs and start making noise to the ones who are in charge. Last time I checked, we are still responsible for electing them. Of course, the speaker would love to get rid of that pesky democratic process that keeps him from more power.
By Joe on November 7th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
TO THE LOBSTER GUY:
The Speaker of the US House does not appoint committee chairmen. There is a “steering committee” that the speaker has more votes than everyone else, but not a majority. The steering committee appoints members to the committees and ultimately decides chairmenships. Under the GOP, the Speaker had 5 votes compared to 32 votes overall. Not sure exactly the structure under Pelosi’s control, but it’s similar.
By ** on November 7th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Lobster guy — your lingo betrays your shot caller…”sniffing distance” SCREAMS Lexington County RINO buttsniffer.
By Insider on November 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Let’s just get to the point. Bobby Harrell is losing control as Speaker and has demolished the GOP. He thinks he can control the House by micromanaging and bringing in the strings. This is very clearly indications he has totally lost it! We, in the lobby, are absoluteley in shock!!
There cannot be more of an absolute amatuer and incohesive approach to bringing a party and House together. There are many of us who are in absolute awe of the thought process. We can only imagine this clock is ticking backwards.
By Dem-in-wating on November 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Man, I love watching these redneck republicans fight! Never thought I’d see the day when we might be back in charge, but I think it is more than possible. The Democrats have a message of change and standing up for the people. Bobby Harrell and his cronies are all about their slush funds and sneaking money to their buddies in the corrupt corporate world while REAL business people struggle back home. This knowledge economy garbage is the most elitist BS I’ve ever heard. It will put millions of dollars in the pockets of a few Columbia insiders, a couple of out-of-state professors and Bobby’s friends. Let’s be honest — Republicans have done a terrible job in charge. We threw them out in Washington. Let’s do the same thing here and start over. Democrats represent the party of the people, and I defy anyone to show that we wasted billions of dollars when we had the Statehouse. Trust me — we didn’t. Wise up, South Carolina! Throw the bums out!
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