Ballentine Unplugged

S.C. Rep. Nathan Ballentine doesn’t know his headquarters from his hindquarters as far as our state’s proposed cigarette tax increase is concerned – a rare brain fart on his part.

We’re overlooking Ballentine’s uncharacteristic bout with mental flatulence, however, in order to bring you what is an otherwise enjoyable interview with the third-term Republican lawmaker – who generally has an exemplary fiscal conservative voting record.

Published on Jonathan Williams’ SC State House Blog, Ballentine’s interview is one of several conducted by the blogger in this uniquely non-partisan, non-ideological, non-spin format.

It’s lawmakers in their own words, basically … and to Williams’ credit he’s found several of them who are actually borderline literate.

In addition to Ballentine, Williams also has a one-on-one posted with gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen, who makes an interesting comment about how electing a Democrat in South Carolina would be a good idea because it would be trying something different …

“I think that it is an advantage to be able to say, ‘Hey, if you want to change the direction of the state, why don’t we try something we haven’t tried in the past.”

Hmmm … now if only Sheehen had the same openness to trying “something we haven’t tried in the past” with respect to our failed education system.

Of course that’s our spin, and even though it’s 100% correct, it’s still spin.

We couldn’t help ourselves – but then again that’s what makes this website unique.

Williams equally-important niche is that he presents lawmakers’ views unfiltered – and uncolored by his own opinions.

Check out more of Williams’ interviews by clicking here … oh, and lest we forget, Rep. Ballentine has his own website, too – which just so happens to feature perhaps the most widely-viewed legislative blog in South Carolina.

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