A leading South Carolina Republican activist is standing up for the Port of Savannah, Georgia – as well as S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s ongoing defense of our neighboring state’s economic interests.
Lin Bennett – chairwoman of the Charleston County Republican Party – took to her Facebook page on Thursday to criticize a unanimous 111-0 vote by the S.C. House of Representatives opposing Haley’s appeasement. That vote aims to undo the “Savannah River Sellout,” a decision reached in November by Haley’s appointees to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) regarding the port of Savannah’s proposed expansion.
The “Sellout” – which continues to create headaches for Haley – reversed SCDHEC’s previous objections and grant key environmental permits to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
That decision – which prompted outrage from Republicans and Democrats alike – has positioned the port of Savannah to handle larger container ships, thus enhancing its competitive advantage at the expense of the Port of Charleston while effectively eliminating any chance that a deep water port will ever be constructed in Jasper County, S.C. It also guarantees that U.S. taxpayers will be on the hook for Savannah’s expansion – rather than private capital going to fund a Jasper County facility that would create thousands of South Carolina jobs and cause much less damage to the environment.
All that, apparently, is lost on Bennett …
“This is politics at its worse (sic)!” Bennett wrote. “The voters in Jasper County work at the Savannah Port. They need and want those jobs and the last (I) looked they are still part of SC?”
Bennett’s geography is correct: Jasper County is “still part” of South Carolina, which is why free market leaders like S.C. Sen. Tom Davis have been pushing for the development of a public-private port terminal there as opposed to expanding the government-run Port of Savannah with taxpayer dollars.
Unfortunately, Haley’s decision will not only speed up the costly Savannah expansion, it will result in toxic sludge being dumped on the Jasper County port site for the next half-century – which makes Haley’s stated support for a Jasper port even more hypocritical.
More relevant to Bennett’s constituency, though, the “Savannah River Sellout” puts Georgia’s port in a position to maintain its competitive advantage over the port of Charleston, which has seen its economic position slip in recent years thanks to South Carolina’s failed “total state control” model of port management.
Our state’s leaders – including House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Senate President Glenn McConnell – were specifically warned in July 2006 that South Carolina’s restrictions against free market investment were “counterproductive” and would “discourage investment” in our facilities.
They failed to heed those warnings, and while Haley came into office promising to restore our state’s competitiveness – she’s instead moved 180 degrees in the opposite direction, lending her support for government-funded port expansions in other states while choking off private investment and job creation here at home.
Even before the “Sellout,” Haley’s accommodation on the port issue – praised effusively by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal – struck us as overly-generous in light of the way Georgia back-stabbed South Carolina on a recent bi-state port deal.
If ever there were a time for Haley to live up to her self-styled reputation as a “fighter,” that was it.
Unfortunately, the decision by her SCDHEC board – which came after the governor allegedly received financial and political favors from moneyed interests in Georgia – instead raised a white flag of economic surrender.
We’re not sure whether Bennett is speaking on behalf of the Charleston County GOP when she defends such behavior, but her ill-informed rhetoric is yet another example of the ideological bankruptcy of this state’s “Republican” establishment.
Government has a wonderful opportunity on the Savannah River to simply get out of the way and let the private sector create thousands of new South Carolina jobs (and do so in a way that’s better for the environment). Unfortunately, Haley is scuttling that project so that our tax dollars can subsidize port expansion in another state.
***
By vicupstate January 26, 2012 at 1:06 pm
I’ll bet Bennett won’t be chairwoman much longer.
By Psychology 101 January 26, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I think Senator Sheheen is lusting for Obama’s snake.
By Old Bike Dude January 26, 2012 at 1:32 pm
How would know where folks in Jasper work? Some work in Savannah but most work in Beaufort county and specifically Hilton Head Island. Wouldn’t surprise me if Queen Nim gave HHI to Georgia, not that I’d complain you understand.
By ceilidh10 January 26, 2012 at 1:41 pm
The ideology is bankrupt, Sic, becuae IT DOES NOT WORK.
Time to re-organize and become a normal party back into the mainstream.
I hope the GOP implodes with 3 more years of Haley. What a pathetic joke the GOP is.
What will 2012 bring with Haly?
By RecallHaley January 26, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Oh, I have an answer to your question, “what will 2012 bring with Haley?”.
LOTS OF MISERY FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLIANS.
By CHUCKtownTiger January 26, 2012 at 1:42 pm
This woman should be stripped from her duties as Chairman. What a disgrace to her home county.
By conservative republican January 27, 2012 at 12:09 am
Will, there’s tremendous insight in your article as well as the comments. However this chairperson will survive because of knowing exactly how to “hob nob” with the right folks. She won’t skip a beat!
Remember the political commercial from the 90s governor’s campaign and the jawja guy that “just luved David Beasley”. Well the jawja folks just looove Lin and also Nikki! LOL. I’ll never forget that ad! It was extremely effective!
By Dr. Sheldon Cooper January 26, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Governor Haley has been stockpiling unaccounted donations from out of state sources for months. My bet is Haley contacted Lin Bennett, crying a blue moon, and promising…..”I so absolutely promise…” a high ranking position, thousands of cash on her door step, and SLED escorts for a year if she backs up Nikki and SCDHEC.
By Capt Crunch January 26, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Ms. Bennett has a massive balloon payment due tomorrow. Haley is now trying to buy herself some friends and support. Typical Republican.
By Dr. Leonard Hofstadter January 26, 2012 at 2:00 pm
How are county chairs removed? Is it quite easy? Ms. Bennett is just one very small fish in a huge ocean of sharks & eels. Latching onto a stupid shark like Haley is dangerous. She could turn right around and eat you.
By Take it AWAY... January 26, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Frightening photo. Not safe for small children, pregnant women or people with pacemakers.
By ? January 26, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Exactly what I was thinking, the bitch on the left looks absoluety batshit crazy.
Reminds me of those unnaturally happy Amway sales people that drip a weird combination fakeness and failure.
By jimlewis,owb January 26, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Don’t be concerned with individuals with a pacemaker. I just got up from my after lunch old man nap and I have survived the photo.
However when Goober, my best friend, took a look at the photo he immediately began licking his ass. Obviously the picture is not pet friendly.
By Mr. Dixie January 26, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Obviously, she is tired of her job as chairwoman.
By Is this SHIITE for real January 26, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Lin must be as bat …. crazy as Haley, or on something.
By ? January 26, 2012 at 2:54 pm
lol…great minds think alike…I responded similarly above before reading your post.
By Psychology 101 January 26, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Reverse it and let Georgia Sue in Federal Court so these fucked up shitheads in the legislature can get their assess kicked in the face.
Every last one of them are full of shit and themselves. SC will have to pay millions in legal fees in a losing case. The Federal courts will make these good ol shitheads into fools.
By English 101 January 26, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Well said!
By Is this SHIITE for real January 26, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Maybe she got into some of Catherine’s gin.
By Joe the Plumber January 26, 2012 at 3:37 pm
So, what’s the latest on allowing us taxpayers to vote to impeach her?
I’m getting sort of tired of asking this question.
S 0097 Joint Resolution, By Grooms, Rose and McConnell
Similar (S 0067, S 0074, S 0181, S 0544, H 4244)
Summary: Constitutional amendment proposed
A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XV OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO IMPEACHMENT OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS OF THIS STATE, BY ADDING SECTION 4 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR RECALLING AND REMOVING FROM PUBLIC OFFICE PERSONS HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICES OF THE STATE OR ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS IN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; AND PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII, BY ADDING SECTION 15 SO AS TO ESTABLISH A SPECIFIED PROCEDURE FOR THE ENACTMENT OR REPEAL OF LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BY INITIATIVE PETITION AND REFERENDUM AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.
View full text
12/01/10 Senate Prefiled
12/01/10 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
01/11/11 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 45)
01/11/11 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate Journal-page 45)
02/23/11 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: Campsen (ch), Malloy, Sheheen, Massey, Shoopman
03/14/11 Senate Referred to Subcommittee: S.Martin (ch), Hutto, Bright, Rose, Scott
AND
H 4244 Joint Resolution, By Sandifer, Bowen, Parker, Pinson, Hardwick, Hamilton, Nanney, Owens, Pitts, Ryan, G.R. Smith, Stringer, Thayer and White
Similar (S 0067, S 0074, S 0097, S 0181, S 0544)
Summary: Procedures for recalling and removing persons holding public offices
A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XV OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BY ADDING SECTION 4 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY LAW SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE RECALL OF STATE OR LOCAL POPULARLY ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS UPON PETITION OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS EQUAL IN NUMBER TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONS VOTING IN THE LAST PRECEDING ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR IN THE ELECTORAL DISTRICT OR AREA OF THE OFFICIAL SOUGHT TO BE RECALLED.
View full text
05/19/11 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 50)
05/19/11 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary (House Journal-page 50)
By cash January 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm
So it’s dead in the water?
By Ed January 26, 2012 at 4:22 pm
I wish I knew the story on Templeton and her gin…other than apparently she likes it a lot. And is she married? I see no mention of a husband but a buttload of kids running around.
By Dr. Sheldon Cooper January 26, 2012 at 6:42 pm
The ache rosa across her nose and cheeks are indicative of at least 550ml of gin on a daily basis. This is a minimum folks. At four times the legal driving limit, that is why she stays at home and the Durango is parked.
By Dr. House January 26, 2012 at 6:47 pm
She stays home to home school the kids, teach yoga, feed the exotic fish, harass the maid, play with the garden hands and pool boys. It is a very very busy day.
By dwb619 January 26, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Aah the TEA PARTY!
Democrats couldn’t BUY this kind of campaign benefit.
You betcha!
Course NIMRATA probably doesn’t want any additional business for the port of Charleston, because the longshoremen are UNION!
Keep talking that SMACK bitch. It won’t work so good in prison.
By spiderswebb January 26, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Crazy Eyes and Crazy Horse Teeth. that picture makes me throw up in my mouth.
By its time January 26, 2012 at 4:44 pm
The voters in jasper county do mostly house work for the folk in hilton head and at the hotels in beaufort county. They catch the bus in jasper at 430 in the morning in order to be at work by 730.
They make minimum wage.
I bet only a small handful actually work in savannah.
By same ol' same ol' January 26, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Dayum… now that’s what I call double ug. Fits, you musta been one horny dude at the time.
By cash January 26, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Married, but not happily.
By Dr. Hannibal Lector January 26, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Will she come over for dinner?
By Dr. Pierce January 26, 2012 at 6:43 pm
That depends. Are you going to eat her, as in lick her muff? Or are you going to lop off some pieces and fry them in butter and garlic?
By uncle fester January 26, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Lin is a nice lady, but not quite right in the head.
By Dr. Frankenstein January 26, 2012 at 6:37 pm
I must agree. My wife needed a new head, but we had to pass over Bennett. Way too many flaws for a monster.
By Dr. Hannibal Lector January 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm
I tried a taste of her cortex a few years back. It was so stringy, I had to tenderize it with a wooden pick hammer for two hours. The juice was not worth the squeeze.
By Dr. Leonard Hofstadter January 26, 2012 at 6:45 pm
To be honest, Templeton looks exactly like Bennett after a week long bender.
By UpperSouth January 26, 2012 at 10:01 pm
FTM
FTM
FTM
Follow The Money.
Rewards will be distributed.
Queen Nikki is good with that.
By darksied calling January 27, 2012 at 9:01 am
Here’s a little tidbit for the SCGOP. SC6 Chairman Grimey has his eyes on running for state 1st Vice Chairman and positioning himself to eventually run for SCGOP chairman. News like this probably has Chairman Grimey drooling like one of “famed” huntin’ dawgs given that trikki Nikki was not his first,second or even third choice for Governor. Knowing “Mr.Chairman” as I have seen and heard him called he is calculating his next move and my advice to the Charleston County Chairwoman and state 1st Vice Chairman would be to watch her back. Mr. Chairman earned his tagline due to one thing–he can be the diriest player in the game.
Pingback: “Export Haley” Stickers Mailed To Voters | My Blog