More Tompkins Proximity Issues
J. Warren Tompkins, the political consultant/lobbyist most responsible for creating the S.C. General Assembly’s current “RINOcrat” majority, is reportedly moving another one of his former charges into a key, taxpayer-funded legislative position.
George Ramsey, a campaign operative for numerous Tompkins’ candidates in the past, is reportedly being pushed by his former boss for the top staff position with the (warning – oxymoron alert) S.C. Senate Ethics Commission.
Obviously, this would make sense considering that Sen. Wes Hayes – who chairs the Ethics Committee – is on record as little more than a Tompkins’ lap dog.
Seriously, he votes the way Tompkins tells him to, issues whatever opinions Tompkins tells him to and now apparently hires whoever Tompkins tells him to, as well.
That’s a pretty pathetic level of subservience if you ask us.
Never mind that South Carolina taxpayers are already picking up a $70,000 annual tab for the part-time services of former Tompkins’ staffer Wesley Donehue, who currently double dips (from January to May, at least) as a staffer to the S.C. Senate “Republican” Caucus while running the Tompkins-fed “Under the Power Lines” political web development firm.
So, how much will taxpayers have to shell out so that yet another Tompkins operative can shill for his special interest clients?
Perhaps Sen. Hayes will be kind enough to tell us …
Comments
By Chris Richardson on May 20th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Is it possible to use the words “George” “Ramsey” and “Ethics” in the same sentence? I think not. Yikes. The Senate is in trouble if he comes on board.
By Kurtz on May 20th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Wesley Donehue is an errand boy, sent by Grocery Clerks, to collect a bill.
By Lulz on May 20th, 2009 at 11:43 am
While his employment is absurd, his qualifications negligible, and his mercenarism childish, FITS and others ought not provide Wes “Narcissus” Donehue the attention he yearns for by keeping his name in the “news.”
By Allen Klump on May 20th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
George Ramsey is a class act. 1) If he wanted this job (I don’t know if he does or does not) he’s more than qualified, and shouldn’t need anyone’s help to get the position. 2) George has worked for a lot of folks since he has been in politics including solid conservatives like DeMint & Ryberg.
By One Big Crap Sandwich on May 20th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Good job FITS! So the grand puppet master is at it again…
By Chattooga on May 20th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
In spite of his Tompkins connections, George Ramsey is one of the good guys. Frankly, his past affiliation with Warren does more to raise my opinion of Warren than bring down my opinion of George.
If George Ramsey lands at Ethics, I trust him to good job there. In fact, Warren may want to go rent “Becket” and give some thought to the lesson of that 1964 Richard Burton/Peter O’Toole classic: When you use your power to install a friend with a reputation for honesty into a position where he will have oversight over you, you may come to regret it when he does his job better than you had hoped. Food for thought.
By Bombthrower on May 20th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Once again, much talk about nothing. Tomplins has hired some of the best people in the state, and when they can land somewhere else, good for them. Nobody really wants former Quinn employees or Rod Shealy employees – excuse me if Tompkins knows how to hire good people. George Ramsey is an honest and outstanding individual and would be great at that job. Senator Hayes is also one of the most honest senators there is and it would be a brilliant move to hire him (especially since he is from Senator Hayes’ hometown of York). Furthermore, Wesley is a full time, outstanding, excellent employee of the Senate. Whatever he does on his own time is his business. Get over it Willford – Wes is kicking ass and taking names better than you ever did during your limited gig in the Governor’s office.
By Give me a break on May 20th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Typical power move by the Warren Tompkins/Terry Sullivan/ Wes Donahue/ Kevin Hall goons.
George is loud, arrogant, and doesn’t get along well with others (ask Gresham Barrett)
By annoyed on May 21st, 2009 at 9:23 am
Ramsey is a good guy and a hard worker. I can’t understand this Donehue kid who has never managed a campaign and has basically been the water boy for Tompkins and Terry Sullivan, getting a job with the senate GOP.
It’s understandable that Tompkins would want to get his kid a job with the caucus, but it’s not clear why the senate should allow it to happen. The water-boy for a consulting firm which will play in many House and Senate primaries this year is working for the caucus, and it’s a conflict of interest.
Also, Tompkins and Sullivan will be running campaigns for Congress this year and next. What if a Senator gets in the race against their guy? There certainly won’t be any incentive to have their kid work hard for that Senator.
By Lexvegas on May 21st, 2009 at 10:20 am
Bombthrower said:
“Senator Hayes is also one of the most honest senators there is…”
That is a retarded soundbite. We need to evaluate lawmakers on their policy perspective and voting records, not shallow personal platitudes.
Hayes is just like EVERY OTHER CAREER POLITICIAN. When push comes to shove it is, and always will be, about personal gain and turf protection.
By remember the Romney campaign on May 21st, 2009 at 11:00 am
Warren, Terry and George sank the Romney campaign, wasted money and burned bridges in this state. Now they are trying to make a final stand in the State Senate. We must stop it. George was late to work on the Romney campaign and took more vacation days than anyone in history. He was hard to get along with and remains hard to get along with. He is not a good fit in the Senate, or at the Statehouse, and he would only be there as an extension of the Tompkins-Kinard-Sullivan-Status Quo machine.
By Earl Capps on May 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 am
How come these people talking crap about George and others don’t have the balls to put their names to this stuff? Gutlessness, I suppose.
I’ve known George for years. He’s always been a hard worker, never afraid to push 24/7 to get things done, great to get along with and someone who would probably have a darn good career in the private sector, if he decided he was tired of the political world, where every job is a short-lived temp job.
By Bin There on May 24th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Lexvegas….you obviously don’t know what you are talking about and don’t live in the real world….get a life!
By Italian Translator on May 31st, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Someone should tell Wes that his “Livin’ Venti” t.v. show needs to lay off the caffeine. In case he doesn’t know how to use Google Translate, or as zero common sense, “venti” is Italian for 20, as in the 20 ounces of liquid that comes in a “Venti” drink from Starbucks, which is even more ironic due to the fact that Italians use the metric system, which, obviously, does not include ounces. In any case, “Livin’ Twenty” just doesn’t make a whole lotta’ sense.
Side note: “Ventis/Twentys” are expensive, hence the necessity for a 70k handout, I guess his excessive and unnecessary spending patters perfectly compliment that of the Senate GOP and Dems.
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