They’re Popping Champagne At The Governor’s Mansion
It had to have been a nice moment for S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford.
After years of trying, he finally pissed off the Democratic National Committee enough that they ran an ad against him.
In addition to setting champagne corks a-poppin’ over at the S.C. Governor’s Mansion we suspect, the DNC ad also set off mass hilarity in Palmetto political circles – particularly seeing as “GOP” House Speaker Bobby Harrell had a starring role.
First, to the tape …
Ehh … ho-hum.
It’s an average spot, really, although they did get the phone number right.
What’s funny is that Sanford sent out a press release insisting that Obama pull the ad, whereas Harrell put out a press release demanding his picture be removed.
Frankly, it’s doubtful either one of them meant a single word of their statements.
“I did not give the DNC permission to use my picture, and I am requesting that they remove my picture from their political attack commercial immediately,” Harrell’s release read. “I believe that all of the stimulus spending except the infrastructure money is a terrible mistake, and I fully supported South Carolina’s entire Republican Congressional Delegation in their decision to vote against this so-called stimulus bill. I agree that if Washington would allow it, eliminating debt would be a good use of these funds, but if they will not, we should not send our taxpayers’ money to other states and cause our taxpayers, and more importantly our children and grandchildren, to pay the bill for other states.”
Whoa … you dizzy from all that bobbing and weaving?
Seriously, Bobby, you should have just let them leave your picture in there.
Besides, hasn’t your legislative chamber already budgeted that money?
Of course Sanford’s release was just as disingenuous, albeit less confusing.
“In his inaugural, President Obama proclaimed ‘an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.’” Sanford’s statement read. “It’s in that spirit that I’d respectfully ask him to end this ad, as it shatters the idea of change he so well articulated this fall – and to ask his Democratic National Committee to put an end to this mudslinging and get back to an honest debate about the future of our country.”
Whatever.
Sanford doesn’t need to win any more elections in South Carolina, and from a national perspective he could kiss Obama and the Democrats on the lips right now for running this ad.
The more they attack him, the better his 2012 chances become.
Comments
By Wes Wolfe on March 17th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Yeah, what would be a better presidential candidate than someone who is not pragmatic, wrapped up in political philosophy, and cannot play well with others? How did Ron Paul do in the 2008 primaries, again? What about Tom Tancredo?
By anonymous on March 17th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Mark Sanford Ignores Letter From OMB Director
LETTER TO GOVERNOR MARK SANFORD – SOUTH CAROLINA
Letter from Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag to Gov. Mark Sanford denying his request for a waiver.
COPY OF LETTER
http://media.charleston.net/2009/pdf/obama2sanford_031609.pdf
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The letter states: “Specifically, by statue, the State allocation must be used as follows:”
“by statue” AND “must” …what is there not to understand?
Brace yourself…
“Sanford will release details of his follow-up request today”.
Okay, Sanford has been informed in writing that the “State allocation” , by “statue” “must” be used as “follows”
Now, Sanford read the letter, yet he insists on a “follow-up request”
What is his problem? He has to be the most thick-headed, bone-headed, stubborn, money grubbing politician on this planet.
…Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the Law.
By gary on March 17th, 2009 at 8:00 am
“Ingnorance is no excuse in the eyes of the Law”
Yes, “the Law”
You know, that partisan, 1000+ page “law” blindly passed by democratic “lawmakers” who never actually read the “law.”
(like brainless zombies doing the bidding of their Master)
The “law” which enslaves our children and grandchildren to billions of dollars of debt to foreign banking interests.
Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the Law.
Just ask Barney Frank and Chris Dodds, who received millions in lobbying funds from Fanny Mae/Freddie Mac while preventing necessary financial reforms and deceiving the American people regarding the solvency of above-named entities.
Ignorance is truly no excuse in the eyes of the law, and Sanford has every right to challenge the “interpretation” of the “law”.
By Mincing Words on March 17th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Anonymous, I realize that you, like many others I have met over the years, do not understand that a “statue” is not a law, but is instead a piece of art, such as the “statue” of Strom Thurmond located on the State House grounds. While irritating, I could get over it, had you not used it in what you purport to be a direct quote from a letter addressed to Sanford. Check it yourself- it clearly says “statute,” which means you could not manage even to copy the core statement (the raison d’etre, if you will) for your post, correctly.
By lou on March 17th, 2009 at 8:19 am
sanford is not presidential material
By calhoun faws on March 17th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Welcome to the big time, Governor. Know now that everything from your early days on Wall Street to your ties to Howard Rich will be played up. The Governor picked a fight with the biggest guy on the street, now he’s gotta take the beating. I will admit, if he takes the beating and is still around, watch out, the Governor might end up a major player in the the national political game. But, make no mistake, the beating will come. Everything you blog against SC Sic will be attributed to Mark Sanford by the Obama team. Those guys are ruthless, and your guy picked a fight with them probably a bit too early.
By calhoun faws on March 17th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I will also say this. If you are gonna get your political ass kicked, but it is kicked by the President of the United States than some fat guy from rural Lexington county.
By calhoun faws on March 17th, 2009 at 8:25 am
better it is kicked. damn I hate this new keyboard. It must have been designed by the SCDOE.
By Fred Knows on March 17th, 2009 at 9:06 am
The people of SC are having to pay that debt whether we take the money or not. With that point said . . . what happened is Harrell thought he was popping Sanford by doing the ad with Clyburn. Little did he know like everything else he does, it backfired. Republicans all over the state who would agree with his stance now see him even more like the Rino, power grabbing, ego driven embarrassment that he continues to be. Harrell cannot lead himself or anyone else. This state is getting dirtier by the second.
By Brian on March 17th, 2009 at 9:45 am
The South Carolina Republican Party is making a crucial error letting Sanford go so far off the reservation on this one. He does not care about South Carolina any more and that much is clear in the actions he has taken to deprive the citizens of this state the resources that were voted on and allocated to our state. I am sorry to all that disagree with the bill and its intent but your side did not win and while some might wish to continue this fight, it will only harm the South Carolina Republican Party. While SC is a solid red state, it does have some populist anger like many, many states these days and Sanford is the leader and face of the Republican Party in SC.
If I was a Democrat thinking of running for statewide office in 2010, I would lie very low in the weeds for a long time and save your money. This guy is screwing his entire state party and every candidate for governor in 2010 and he is doing it all to advance his own political ambitions that do not even involve South Carolina. All a democrat has to do is watch Sanford’s poll numbers plummet (because they are) and then tie everything Barrett, McMaster and Bauer say to Sanford and force them to run away from him. This will result in a fracture in the Republican Party in my opinion and a wide opening for a smart blue dog democrat to walk right through.
By Max Eign on March 17th, 2009 at 10:59 am
What better way to define the dissolution of the Republican Party. Hey, Mincing Words, I was ready to use ‘disillusion’ and it would be the same difference. As the rank-and-file Americans are outraged over AIG’s bonuses amidst their friends and Amreicans losing jobs and hurting, yes — those who voted for and kept a GOP majority over the years, including our collective hero, RR, you feature champagne corks at the governor’s mansion. What great imagery as we rank second in unemployment and the “problem” is ESC’s lack of responsiveness on data. Pause for guffaw as Sic’s predecessor said a 40 percent is a failure or F in his and any grade book. Brilliant logic, Sawyer, and may your RN next time you are hospitalized be a construction worker. After all, in hiring the unqualified for the vacant specialized jobs, I’m sure ESC could ingratiate itself with the Guv changed the subject because he has been an utter failure in economic development unlike our governors of both parties for the last several decades. And speaking of imagery, the champagne has not been more poignant imagery than since Bush the First was filmed with upper-class sports such as swinging golf clubs or yachting, saying “I’m not worried about the economy” as deeper recessions were announced daily, thus giving us Slick Willie.
The GOP is tanking in people’s minds. If our future is one whose ‘accomplishment’ is “finally pissing off the DNC” instead of something or a lot of things, other than “ideas” which everybody has, along with something else everybody has, the aceleration of socialism will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Guv may get more than firteen months of fame if he would announce for the Libertarian Party presidentiial nomination, rendering authenticity to his irrelevance and distance from the real world.
By Malcolm on March 17th, 2009 at 10:59 am
This money isn’t free. If the State takes it, it establishes reoccurring expenses next year, and the year after that. Americans are so used to living above their means on credit cards and HELOC’s that people are shocked at Sanford’s position, but it is worse than that. It is like making the down payment on a Porche with your credit card. Not only are you going to have to pay it back, you are going to have to keep paying for your new toy for years to come.
By Mab on March 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Neil Cavuto makes a great point in his column regarding politicians’ disdain for AIG bonuses, while ignoring the public pensions that taxpayers fund 100%!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509440,00.html
By Brian on March 17th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Malcom – I don’t completely disagree with you but the money is going to be spent. The bill was debated and voted on and it is going to be spent and is being spent. Therefore, any debate about whether it matters in the outyears about reoccurring expenses is moot. Are you suggesting we allow $700 million in South Carolinian’s federal tax dollars to be spent in Ohio, New York, Georgia, etc. just so we forestall some projected shortfalls as a result of spending this money now. We will have shortfalls in outyears, especially if the economy does not pick up; however, if Sanford turns down the tax dollars paid by South Carolinianns it will go to fund other projects in other states. How can anyone find this acceptable? Does anyone? Please speak up.
By gary on March 17th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Anonymous,
Funny thing, “the law.” When it looked like Hillary was gonna be the Dem nominee, the Dems insisted that McCain release his birth certificate to the media. McCain did so.
Obama never has.
“Law.” What law?
“Facts are stubborn things.”—Pat Hendrix
By Malcolm on March 17th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Sanford isn’t saying turn it all down since like you say it will be spent anyway, but the main issue that I see are items like extending unemployment benefits. If we take the Fed money to extend this year, than we have to do the same from here out but fund it with state money. We don’t have that money now, how are we going to fund it next year? By taking the money we commit ourselves to a liability from here out. The bottom line is drastic cuts are going to have be made. We need to learn to spend what we have to and no more.
By Eric Dondero on March 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
So, the Libertarian Party is “irrelevent,” and Sanford would become the same, if he announced on the LP ticket? Really?
Over 500 elected officials in the United States, including City Councilman in Indiannapolis, and 3 in Springfield, MO. The third largest party in the country going on 38 plus years now. Boasting Lifetime members such as Congressmen Ron Paul and Bob Barr, and US Senator Mike Gravel. Barr in ‘08 getting 525,000 votes, his margin wider in North Carolina than the margin of victory by Obama in that State.
I wouldn’t quite call that a “marginal” political party.
As a Republican I sincerely hope Sanford runs as a GOPer in 2012. But if he goes Libertarian Party, he won’t be “irrelevant,” in the slightest.
By anonymous on March 17th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
“I think it’s time for Mark Sanford to quit being pen pals with the White House and take the money”
State Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler says Governor Mark Sanford needs to spend less time writing letters to President Barack Obama about stimulus funds and more time finding jobs for South Carolinians.
WATCH THE VIDEO ON THIS LINK
http://www.wolo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3142:robins-pkg&catid=43:local-news&Itemid=50
By Nope on March 17th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Please, God, let him run as a Libertarian. That’s what he is, and it would ensure that he goes where he needs to go — nowhere.
By anonymous on March 18th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
The FBI and Secret Service Concerned About Gov. Mark Sanford’s Handling of Security at the Statehouse
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina legislators have advanced a bill that would create a new Capitol Police force.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell’s bill won approval in a Senate Judiciary Committee subcommittee Wednesday and now heads to the full committee for debate. McConnell chairs that committee.
The legislation is a response to security concerns at the Statehouse raised by the FBI and Secret Service and a reaction to Gov. Mark Sanford pulling the Bureau of Protective Services from checkpoints leading into the complex last fall.
Sanford questioned spending on a security system restricting access to a garage beneath the office complex.
http://www.thesunnews.com/575/story/825377.html
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“Lawmakers approved installation of gates, secured doors and a card system to State House buildings, but Sanford ordered the Department of Public Safety to turn off the system and leave guard posts unmanned. DPS is a cabinet agency the governor controls”.
http://thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/2009/03/lawmakers-want-seperate-police-force.html
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in December Mark Sanford pulled some of the grounds’ security officers from checkpoints at the Statehouse, including the underground garage, irritating some senators who believe safety is being compromised.
“This ought to be a good lesson for some of you about putting too much power in one place.”
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090313/NEWS01/903130338/1068/YOURUPSTATE01