Banana Republicans

It’s always a good day when we “lead with monkeys.” In fact, one of the first things our founding editor asks us each morning is “did we lead with monkeys today?”

Because if we did, everything is sunshine and dandelions, people. Particularly if those monkeys were somehow representative of South Carolina’s elected officials.

Anyway, today’s monkey business is actually by way of bananas … and specifically, a Banana Republic.

Not the trendy chain store, mind you, but the ass backward, upside down triangle of anti-gress that sits to the east of Georgia and south of Charlottina.

In other words, “us,” assuming you live on the east side of the Savannah River.

And if you do, please pay attention, because here’s what folks on the educated, efficient and prosperous side of that river had to say about our state earlier this week in an editorial appropriately (for our purposes) entitled “America’s Banana Republic …”

Mark Sanford is South Carolina’s governor, but House Speaker Bobby Harrell is the state’s strongman — and primary obstacle to a transparent and accountable government.

The latest example of Harrell’s obstructionism is his purging of two fellow House Republicans from prestigious committee assignments — all because they supported Gov. Sanford’s call for more on-the-record voting and to allow open criticism of the lower chamber’s practices and procedures.

Of course, since certain people don’t like out-of-staters trying to tell us how to handle our bid-ness, we must assume that these remarks from the Augusta Chronicle are part of some nefarious right-wing conspiracy.

You know, a group of people scheming of ways to put heads on people’s shoulders and money in their pockets, for a change.

Oh, and to fix our government so that its CEOs can do what we elect them to do – which is run the executive branch of government.

When 124 House members and 46 senators are in charge, no one’s accountable. Indeed, lawmakers usually vote by voice — which means they’re not on the record, and therefore not accountable to their constituents.

Does anyone think this is a good way for government to operate? Apparently Harrell does, otherwise he wouldn’t defend it.

Alright … they’ve clearly got the view from 30,000-feet down. But they can’t possibly know just how petty and personal Harrell was in attacking these lawmakers, could they? Or what a bitchy little liar he’s been about the whole thing?

Oooh … yes, they can:

(Harrell) denies he’s taking reprisals against Haley and Ballentine, but that’s about as credible as his claim that the House does enough of its business on the record already.

When Ballentine and Haley appeared with Gov. Sanford to appeal for more openness in government, Harrell derided the effort as “just pandering to voters and grabbing for headlines.” There’s nothing wrong with that if you read “pandering to voters” as doing what’s right by them and “grabbing for headlines” as keeping them informed.

No one in his right mind believes Harrell’s claim he’s not punishing the two dissident lawmakers. Sanford understands what’s happening. “House leadership is sending a message,” said the governor’s office. “If you open your mouth, you’re going to get your head chopped off.”

This cannot possibly be the kind of government South Carolinians want.

Duh … it’s not.

The only question is how much longer we’re going to tolerate it … oh, and how we can get this editorial board airlifted over here to replace these idiots.

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