From our undisclosed (but thankfully upwind) location along South Carolina’s Grand Strand, we’ve been following the various comings and goings at an unexpectedly-pivotal gathering of the S.C. House Republican Caucus this weekend.
With the fate of embattled Gov. Mark Sanford hanging in the balance, this year’s annual Republican booze- and schmooze-fest has morphed into a meeting of actual consequence.
We’ll continue to update you on everything we’re hearing just as soon as our moles report back, but in the meantime, here’s “the latest …”
HARRELL “WON’T BUDGE”
The early word we’re receiving from the GOP Caucus meeting is that S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell – who has steadfastly opposed impeaching the governor – is refusing to budge from that position. This has created serious fractures with the Caucus, as growing numbers of House Republicans support impeachment. Additionally, speculation is rampant (and we mean RAMPANT) as to what Harrell’s true motivations might be for keeping his foot off the gas pedal.
Harrell’s position is exceedingly precarious. Usually, he governs the House with a Democrat-RINO (left-center) majority, but in this case the Democrats are united in support of impeaching Sanford and many RINOs are looking to settle a score with Sanford, who has repeatedly called them out over the years for failing to protect the taxpayers.
Our sources say Harrell is facing open rebellion from some Caucus members, hostility from others and suspicion all around, a situation that gets even more combustible when you factor in the constant “jockeying for position” that is taking place among House leaders.
Harrell has powerful opponents within the GOP Caucus, and they are using this to press their advantages at his expense.
SANFORD TO ADDRESS CAUCUS TONIGHT?
Could Gov. Sanford be addressing the House GOP caucus Friday night? The invitation is open to him, at least according to sources close to GOP Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, who is technically running the show in Myrtle Beach this weekend (cough, cough). Sanford will be just a few miles away, after all. He has had a Lion’s Club meeting in Conway, S.C. on his public schedule for some time now, and the governor just added a “media availability” (his third in as many days) to the schedule.
Frankly, we think it’s highly unlikely that Sanford will address the caucus, but then again two months ago we would have said it was “highly unlikely” that the guy liked woman beyond their capacity to provide him with political heirs.
FRESH SANFORD POLLING
Only 36.6% of South Carolinians believe that Sanford should stay in office, according to new data released Friday by InsiderAdvantage and published on The Politico. Forty-nine percent believe the governor should step down. Those numbers are down for Sanford, as two months ago 49.8% of South Carolinians wanted him to stay in office while 41.4% believed he should resign. FITS has also learned that Sanford has been conducting his own internal polling from the very beginning of the crisis, numbers we are endeavoring to obtain as we speak.
NORMAN INVADED?
Former S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman – who is running for his old House seat in York County – is feeling the heat from the Sanford scandal. Once considered a shoe-in to win a special election in S.C. House District 48, Norman is now being tagged with the “Sanford Letter.” A longtime political ally and appointment of the governor, Norman is still expected to win the race but it will be interesting to see how much the criticism hurts him. Norman has a debate today at noon, so we’ll let you know what we hear about how it went …
By Jonny D August 28, 2009 at 9:31 am
Don’t sweat it Luv Guv, just head over there tonight and let ‘em know you’re the same ol’ G!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exXe-2t6vbU&feature=related
By ? August 28, 2009 at 10:02 am
Message to SC Republicans: We Independents are weary of the Republican mess. You’re losing our votes to Democrats (who I will be voting for in next SC guber race). Most of us know we piss away our votes by casting Independent ones and usually pick between Dem or Repub. Yall are making it uber-easy.
By Yorkie August 28, 2009 at 10:18 am
Norman’s problem isn’t Sanford…it is that he is getting outworked by his opponent..
By Earl Capps August 28, 2009 at 11:29 am
Didn’t Norman try to intimidate Rock Hill to the benefit of his business? Wouldn’t using government power to your personal gain qualify you as a Sanford-class RINO? Then Stormin’ Norman should embrace his friend.
By shiya August 28, 2009 at 11:42 am
Does Harrell singlehandedly have the ability to stop impeachment? is there a way to get around him?
By Gina August 28, 2009 at 12:15 pm
What if Sanford gave a “media availability” op and nobody came?
That would be priceless….
By anonymous August 28, 2009 at 1:59 pm
****
RAW: Sanford waives confidentiality in ethics probe
VIDEO:
http://www.wistv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4082048&h1=RAW%3A%20Sanford%20waives%20confidentiality%20in%20ethics%20probe&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=1001667&LaunchPageAdTag=Political&activePane=info&rnd=40380621
By For Sure August 28, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Yorkie is correct – Costner is working his ass off in this York County race and with the voter turnout to be very low, may win this thing. Sanford is not Norman’s problem – it’s Costner!
By anonymous August 28, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Here’s my Hero
Here’s the only man in South Carolins with some balls.
Let’s give a big round of applause for Jeff Horne.
God Bless Jeff Horne!
**************************************
CONWAY, S.C. — A man walked into a Lions Club meeting uninvited and told South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford he should resign.
It happened Friday in Conway, shortly after Sanford told reporters he will allow any Ethics Commission investigation into his travels to be public. Jeff Horne of Myrtle Beach entered the meeting room at the back of a steak house and told Sanford that while he forgives the governor, his actions are “totally unacceptable.”
The 31-year-old man was escorted out of the meeting attended by about 50 people. Sanford said Horne was entitled to his opinion but he believes most people in South Carolina want to move on.
http://www.islandpacket.com/1493/story/948584.html
By Not so fast August 28, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Yorkie and For Sure might want to ask some folks that were at the debate between Norman and Costner what they thought his chances were. This was well attended by the party faithful (i.e. these folks are going to vote and get their friends out)and Norman was clearly the winner. His answers were interrupted several times by spontaneous applause and he was confident and well informed. Costner drifted around and mostly just echoed whatever Norman said whenever he went second.
Costner is a nice fellow and may have a future if he gets more active and let’s people get to know him better but as for this race you can stick a fork in him. The fact that he has a bunch of signs up ain’t gonna save him from Norman’s well established conservative cred in SC-48.
Interestingly, Norman confronted Costner’s attempts to link him to Sanford head on by saying that he was happy to be associated with the fundamental conservative principals that Sanford stood for and that Sanford had worked to advance those principals despite his personal failings. He said he considered the effort to tie him to Sanford as a compliment. This was met with sustained and spirited applause…
Not that I want Marky Mark and the funky bunch to take heart, he still needs to resign as he is a distraction and too large a target for the Dem’s next year.
By Joe Bobby August 28, 2009 at 10:00 pm
To answer your question:
No, Harrell does not have that ability as granted by House rules, but this is the biggest issue he has ever faced as speaker, and whether he can control it or not may become his legacy. Of course, if this were Wilkins standing in the way, this issue would be dead in the House. Harrell has yet to earn that ability to shut things down on the dime.
By For Sure August 30, 2009 at 12:21 am
Not so fast…I hope you’re right. I was at the debate and I especially liked Normans response to the question Coster threw at him at the end. Norman is the man for the job…..just don’t want him to take it for granted, though. Right now, word on the street is that it’s a dead heat and costner by a nose. Three weeks left and alot can change.
By Lacie September 6, 2009 at 10:52 am
A vote for Costner is a vote for a lying, cheating, scumbag who’s intentions are to head up to columbia to check out the women. He has had multiple affairs and is actually remarried to one of the “yo, yo’s” he had an affair with. As for me – I am going to vote for someone that will actually go to columbia and get something done that will benefit the state of SC. VOTE FOR RALPH NORMAN!