What A Weak Bench
It sounds a lot like one of those Jeff Foxworthy jokes, but let’s face it … when a guy named “Tumpy” thinks he sees an opening in your state’s gubernatorial race … your next governor just might be a redneck.
Anyway, such is the dilemma faced by South Carolinians, who at the moment have an incredibly uninspiring array of Bocephus-inspired options to choose from as they contemplate who will follow Mark Sanford into one of the most severely-limited chief executive offices in the country.
Consider the stumblin’, bumblin’, fumblin’ response given by Attorney General Henry McMaster – the man widely-presumed to be the frontrunner in the race – when he “got the question” the other day …
“We have a crying need for more energy and development in two areas,†McMaster said. “That is economic development and education.†[...]
“As far as the governor’s race is going, that is something I’m considering very seriously,†McMaster said. “If there is some way I can do more than I am doing now and the opportunity comes along, I’d like to take it.â€
McMaster said as governor he would work on developing a better education system and progressing the state’s economy – two things he said go hand in hand.
“You can’t have a thriving economy with good work and good paying jobs for the people unless you have educated people capable of using it,†McMaster said.
Say huh?
Sadly, anybody who’s spent more than a few minutes with McMaster can tell you that this response is actually a home run by his standards.
Seriously, his advisors are no doubt ecstatic that he was able to remember those “economy” and “education” flash cards they’ve been working so hard on over the past few months.
“Hell, I done good cuz I member dey both started wit ‘e,’ t’ain’t dat right Trey Boy-ah?” McMaster probably told his longtime confidant Trey Walker after the interview. “I’z a show stoppa, t’aint I?”
Good grief … and of course a governor is going to focus on economic development and education.
Way to plow some bold, new ground there, Henry.
Anyway, at the moment McMaster’s current competition doesn’t seem to be dealing from any fuller a deck than he is …
Gresham Barrett, who would probably rank just behind McMaster in the current 2010 standings, has a great conservative voting record but he’s always sucking up to the religious right and babbling incessantly about stuff his “daddy” taught him back in the day.
Of course, he forgot all about his “daddy’s” advice … to say nothing of common sense fiscal conservatism … when he flip-flopped on the massive federal bailout bill earlier this year, a move that has cost him a lot of support among staunch taxpayer advocates.
Next up is Lt. Gov. André Bauer, a.k.a. “Speedy McCrasher,” who was lucky this last election to hang onto his part-time job sucking up to old people and banging a ceremonial gavel in the State Senate.
He’s got a built-in network of demographic gold, to be sure, but it’ll be interesting to see how they respond to some of the revelations coming out of his State Office on Aging.
And much further down the totem pole of potential prospects is outgoing House Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill, who might actually be the smartest of the four names we’ve mentioned, at least when he’s not getting sloshed out of his mind and bragging about how cleverly he puts the procedural screws to fiscal conservatives while pretending to support their issues.
Merrill is a decent guy, but it’ll be tough to get the women’s vote when his “Men’s Caucus” memo and “Thong Day Thursday” missives hit the mainstream press (which they will), to say nothing of all the scandalous reports of his big pimpin’ Columbia lifestyle (while the wife and kids are stuck back home in Charleston).
So yeah … we hate to say it, but at this point there may actually be room for a “Tumpy” in this race.
Which is just sad … on so many levels.
So now that we’ve sliced and diced these four Jethros, who should be running? And what about the Democrats?
Stay tuned …
Comments
By baked on November 20th, 2008 at 6:52 am
When will we add Mrs Haley to the list?
By Recovering Lobbyist on November 20th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Get used to these words: Governor James Smith, war hero.
By Silence the Noise on November 20th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Henry McMcaster – Dumber than a sack of hammers with no handles, which qualifies him for just about any office in South Carolina sadly.
Gresham Barrett – “I enjoyed selling my vote and my soul during the bailout debate”
Andre Bauer – “I can ride my bike with no handlebars”
Jimmy Merrill – Stupid, ideologically challenged, and can sneeze and wipe his ass at the same time with the butthole on his chin….quite an acomplishment.
Tumpy Campbell – Seriously? Can Elizabeth just run if we must have someone with the last name Campbell in the race? At least she has a brain….though her judgement in marrying “Tumpy” in the first place casts doubt on her too.
Will the real conservative candidate for the highest office in SC PLEASE stand up?
By no way jose on November 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
James Smith will be eaten alive by a sooooo liberal voting record that would make OBAMA look like right wing material. He whines so much when he speaks that a debate or simple speech would be tough for him. He is a nice guy, but the conditions that led to a Hodges win are not there. Did I mention how he whines real bad when speaking.
By Benjamin on November 20th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
What about a fresh face? Nathan Ballentine, Mick Mulvaney (nevermind, too abrasive), Tom Davis, or maybe a real conservative from the business community? Also, has anyone though about katherine jenerette for lite gov?
By Mickey Blue Eyes on November 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Back in the day, I voted for Don “Big Daddy” Garlits when he ran against Karen Thurman in Florida’s 3rd District. I knew he didn’t have a chance but how cool (and appropriate for the South) would it be to have a guy named “Big Daddy” in Congress?
By Go Gresham!!! on November 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I urge you to please consider Gresham Barrett. He has is the true conservative here. ONE vote does not change that. Sic, you said this yourself last week:
“Anyway … we sincerely hope that Barrett has learned his lesson from this experience.
And we sincerely hope the vulnerability this colossal brain fart has opened on his right flank will force him to campaign on a much more fiscally conservative platform – one that doesn’t cater to the Bobby Harrell crowd (i.e. the Darla Moore crowd) but instead focuses on actually putting some money into taxpayers’ pockets for a change.
He’s an earnest guy, and of the practically-announced candidates for governor of South Carolina, he’s still got the best conservative credentials … at this point.”
Benjamin, here is your conservative for the small business community. Owned a small family furniture store before Congress.
Silence the noise, you know nothing. The $18 K reported that Gresham received on the Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae list contains all sorts of figures including mere money received from employees of those organizations. Further, Gresham has realized it was not a smart vote and we can trust that he will never do this again.
PEOPLE, here is your real conservative. Here is your young, energetic new party leader. He is right here. Embrace him.
http://greshambarrett.com/home/meet-gresham
By fitsnews on November 20th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
GG-
You’re obviously gulping the Kool-Aid that we’re content to sip for the moment. We agree w/ you on a lot of this, and obviously we stand by what we wrote.
More to the point … how hot is that Brecke Latham girl? And Colleen, too? Aye yay yarriba!
FITS
By Go Gresham!!! on November 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Thank you for at least admitting you prior statement.
As far as gulping the Kool-Aid, I enjoy your site, but I will not freely gulp YOUR Kool-Aid nor anyone else’s.
In this article, I could not accept why you criticized the Congressman’s vote so deeply now when you categorized it a “brainfart” a few days ago.
Further, I know YOU were always anti-bailout, as was I. What is hard to accept is that at the time, there was great pressure to pass the bailout vote. Of 4 (R) Congressmen from SC, Gresham was the only to vote against the bailout the first go around.
This brings a significant issue up. There are two major ideas of a politician’s duty. The first is that the politician is the representive of his voters and should vote as a majority of those voters wish for him to do. In this form, the politician is more a straw man elected to convey the wishes of his population. In the second, more presently accepted view, a politician is to use his experience, education, and personal ideals to do what is best for his voters, regardless of what they think is best for them. Now, critics often go between the two depending on the nature of the vote.
Obviously, Gresham followed model two when he voted against the bailout. Then, seeing a wide, wide ranging criticism of his vote and facing a FLOOD of complaints from his district, Gresham voted on model one in the second vote. So, those who complain must decide what they wish for.
On this particular vote, they must also remember that MANY wanted this at the time. Many of all ideologies and backgrounds. People hated his vote, opposed his vote. Hindsight is always 20-20 Sic. We all now see the mistakes of the votes with the lack of oversight, misappropriations, and mass confusion the bailout now weaves. Many people at the time however thought the vote was a must. To those besides Sic, remember what side of that thought YOU were on and the two theories of representation before you criticize that ONE vote.
By Gregory on November 20th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Is it me or is The Mac sport’n a woody?
By Upstater29304 on November 20th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Sic,
How about someone from outside of Columbia or Washington politics running for governor – like a business man or gal? I hate to say it, but the best bet for governor right now might be a Democrat – I’m thinking of Joe Erwin. If he could find it in him to run as a moderate Dem who wants to shake things up at the State House then maybe he’d be a better check on the RINO’s in the Legislature than McMaster, Barrett, or Andre.
By Jimmy Byrnes on November 20th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
GG: Amen brother!!
Benjamin: You can’t be serious….Davis, Ballentine—good grief!! BTW– is this the same Katherine Jenerette that managed to pull a whopping 19% against Henry Brown in the GOP primary? She failed to carry a single precinct in her home county(Horry).
By liz on November 21st, 2008 at 9:21 am
None of these people have what it takes to lead South Carolina. Honesty is required.
McMaster should be focusing on the law of the land and state right now. He isn’t.
Barrett should remember EVERYTHING his daddy taught him and what the Citadel instilled in him
Bauer, he’s a nice guy. Nice guys always finish last right?
I don’t know any of the rest of em… maybe they are good, maybe not, but nevertheless, a true and real leader will always stand out.
A real conservative would too.
By once again on November 21st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
No, Nobody is thinking about Katherine Jenerette for lite gov except her husband who is awaiting trial and posted under the name Benjamin.
“The Secret past Life of Van Jenerette”
GO TO the BLOG by that TITLE for all you want to know about Katherine and Van Jenerette with allegations of child molestation and abuse.
By Frank on November 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm
You need someone like Mike Montgomery who just lost his seat on Richland County Council. He doesn’t have a statewide profile or probably any desire to be Gov. — But he is an honest, straight talking, conservative who’s more about policy than politics.
The problem is that between gerrymandered districts and ego and greed, we just get the same old guys. Sanford has hit a home run with the public — but from a governance standpoint hasn’t accomplished a lot.
Henry McMaster has paid his dues — but really?
Gresham Barrett has become the disciple of Howard Rich — and while that may do him well in the primary — it will be another Karen Floyd in the General.
Andre — well just say Senior Scam and Jim Miles really fast. That plane won’t fly.
We need something new and fresh –
It will be interesting to see what shows up.
By Vivian J on November 22nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
The reason Sanford hasn’t gotten anything done is because we live in the most backwards state in the country. Our legislature controls every single aspect of state government. Every one. And all the money that goes with it. The people think their governor can change things. They are wrong about that. He or she will never get anything done until our backwards, corrupt system of government changes and the General Assembly gives up the power it should never have had in the first place.
By Legacy on November 25th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
The time are a-changing and Sanford’s views are being proved correct in GOP circles. The strongest GOP candidate will be the one who can best connect himself (or herself) to Sanford and his policies. That means people like Nikki Haley, Chad Walldorf or Tom Davis.
By Legacy seeker on November 25th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
The GOP political wheel is turning and Sanford is proving to be a prophet. The person who wins the GOP nomination will be the one who can most legitimately claim the gov’s mantle, and that universe is relatively small. Off the bat it would seem to include Chip Campsen, Tom Davis and Nikki Haley.
By Tim on December 8th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Gresham has always been a Tomkins client, and he has one of the most loyal FannieMae-FreddieMac voting records in DC. Great votes on immigration, just like DeMint—but it all boils down to just plain old demagoguery. When push comes to shoove, they’re no better than Joan Brady.