Former Spartanburg County (S.C.) GOP Chairman Rick Beltram remains an insufferable, semi-literate blowhard – and we think the fact that he went off like Pouty McPouterson and formed his own political party after getting booted from the Spartanburg GOP is still pretty funny.
Having said that, Beltram’s “Piedmont Republican Club” is actually – and we can’t believe we’re about to say this – managing to stay marginally relevant in Palmetto politics. Well, in the kooky, Bible-thumping S.C. Upstate, anyway.
This weekend, for example, Beltram’s group is welcoming two of the state’s top political bloggers – the Lowcountry’s Earl Capps and Spartanburg’s own Tammy Stokes (author of Seeding Spartanburg) – for a discussion on the impact of blogs in state politics.
For those of you interested in attending, the forum will be held this Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 a.m. at the Country Hearth Inn (located at the intersection of Interstates 26 and 85) in Spartanburg, S.C.
Tickets (breakfast included) are $7.
By Jonathan July 14, 2009 at 10:24 pm
A little generous with calling these two “top political bloggers” LOL.
Seeding Spartanburg is updated maybe once a week if your lucky. And most of the time it’s about organic food or saying how she isn’t going to talk about politics anymore. Plus the content leaves a lot to be desired!
Blogland is actually a good blog, but it’s no surprise why Beltram chooses him over the countless other GOP blogs in the state, including some right here in Spartanburg.
Also a little generous with saying Beltram’s club is “relevant” in Upstate politics. Most of us think it is a joke. And I’m not one of the Spartanburg GOP newbies–I’ve bene around long enough to know Rick is all about Rick and this looks like what it is–sour grapes.
Ask Rick about leaving the Spartanburg GOP with no HQ–he was basically running the county party as a political boss, and now that he’s out–he doesn’t want to play with the new team.
By rick is obsessed July 14, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Wow. I think Rick his really pissed at the blogosphere.. He has been talking about how bad blogs are and focussing on them at several meetings.
By rick beltram July 15, 2009 at 6:04 am
Jonathan:
If what you say is true……. Then why?
With is SO much vacant space in Spartanburg , they would have found a place LONG ago!
Please come on Saturday and see for yourself that we are very positive and educational. NO sour grapes!
Plus, very inexpensive
3rd Saturday every month…..9AM
RSB
By Toyota Kawaski July 15, 2009 at 8:21 am
Rick Beltram pleas go fishing with Tammy Bowden
By Earl Capps July 15, 2009 at 11:16 am
Johnathan, the only thing I can attribute the invite to is that the GOP breakfast club I’m active in down in Summerville was a role model for the breakfast club he’s started. I’m certainly glad to be supportive of such efforts to build the GOP, and glad Rick found another avenue for engagement after losing his re-election bid in Spartanburg.
Or maybe it was because he won a recent reader appreciation contest on my blog?
In any event, I appreciate your thoughts about my work.
By rick beltram July 15, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Earl:
Please ignore the sour folks like Johnathan……they are very unhappy because the GOP takeover in Spartanburg has not gone well at all!
We will push on as our own group and certainly NOT a replacement nor in competition of the local GOP.
We look forward to a great meeting on Saturday.
Thank you for your participation!
RSB
By Matt July 16, 2009 at 8:20 am
I see Rick Beltram is at it again. Look, everyone in state politics knows that this is just to feed his ego. If he had any class he would not be bad-mouthing the people who are now running the Spartanburg party. If he really cared about Republicans he would be working with them, not criticizing their efforts on the blogs.
I may go to this breakfast though if I’m in the area this weekend…maybe Rick will introduce us to charlotte watchdog, todd hammer, and all the other alias he likes to use on the blogs.