Briefly …

By FITSNews || Since it’s a gorgeous Friday afternoon and you’re probably every bit as ready as we are to kick off your Easter weekend, here’s a quick rundown of some recent political news from around the Palmetto State.

Have a happy holiday weekend, people …

ARD WANTS “LITE GOV” OUT OF SC SENATE – S.C. Lt. gubernatorial candidate Ken Ard wants future lieutenant governors to stop presiding over the South Carolina Senate, a proposal that many Palmetto politicos believe is really originating from powerful Senate leader Hugh Leatherman (RINO-Florence).

To view the video of Ard’s remarks, click here …

Ard also proposes in the clip that governors and lieutenant governors run on the same ticket, which is obviously something we support. As for his/Leatherman’s plan to remove one of the few existing checks on South Carolina’s legislative tyranny?  Yeah … that would only further weaken our already-neutered executive branch of government.

Whoever came up with this idea, it’s a bad one …

MEET DICK JONES - In case you missed it, we’ve been gratuitously bashing University of South Carolina trustee Mack I. Whittle lately. Who’s Mack Whittle?  He’s the guy who got a $12 million golden parachute from the TARP bailout back in October of 2008 and who has been one of the most prominent supporters of the failed Innovista “research campus” project – that hole in the ground in downtown Columbia, S.C. that has cost taxpayers $150 million (and counting).

Not surprisingly, Whittle’s candidacy is being aggressively supported by S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, USC President Harris Pastides and the so-called  “pro-business” types over at the S.C. Chamber of Communists … err Commerce.  All of these status quo supporters want Whittle reelected to the board so that they can continue pumping your tax dollars into this money-guzzling hole in the ground.

Anyway, more than a few people have written us asking for information on Whittle’s opponent, Upstate attorney Dick Jones.  And while we haven’t written about Jones yet ourselves, the Easley Progress has this report on his candidacy in its latest editions.

One interesting note we managed to glean from the Progress story? The fact that Jones says he was initially planning to run for the USC board four years ago, but agreed to wait when Whittle told him that his current term would be his last.

Hmmmm … guess you can add “liar” to Whittle’s resume …

HALEY RAISES $50 K ONLINE – S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley has raised $50,000 via an online “money bomb” according to a release from her campaign.  Over five hundred donors gave an average of $100 during the two-day event, which ended at midnight on March 31 – the last day for Haley to include the contributions in her April 10 filing report.

“The response of the last two days shows that Americans from every corner of our nation are waking up to the fact that it’s no longer about electing Republicans, it’s about electing conservatives – those who oppose bailouts of Wall Street and so-called stimulus plans and who understand that government works for the people, not the other way around,” Haley said.

Haley has trailed her three rivals in the GOP gubernatorial “money” race, although in fairness S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster have been able to transfer huge sums from other accounts.

Over the last few weeks, Haley has been involved in an increasingly bitter battle with Barrett … (lots of B’s there, we know) …

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE PICKS UP ENDORSEMENTS – Independent S.C. gubernatorial candidate Morgan Bruce Reeves has accepted endorsements from both the Green and United Citizens parties, his campaign says.  Assuming both parties certify Reeves as their nominee, his name would appear twice on the statewide ballot in November.  Lucky guy …

MORE CONVICTS FOR PUBLIC OFFICE - We wrote a story earlier today about a convicted sex offender who is running for the S.C. State House.  Turns out he’s not the only person with a shady past running for political office in the Palmetto State.  WIS TV-10 (NBC – Columbia) has a story up on the criminal past of several candidates running to replace Columbia, S.C. councilman E.W. Cromartie, who pleaded guilty last month to tax evasion.

To check out that report, click here.

SIC STILL PUTTING COFFEE POT IN SINK – Despite repeated instructions from the lovely Mrs. Sic, our founding editor continues putting the coffee pot in the sink each morning – a big “no no” in her kitchen.  Apparently, the pot is supposed to remain with the coffee machine unless it is being rinsed out.

Come on, Sic. Get it together …