TIPS, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM FITS READERS
Welcome to “the wire,” our pseudo regular effort to engage the barrage of tips, comments and questions this website receives from our readers on a daily basis.
Got a tip for us? Or a comment? Or a question? Submit it anonymously over on our tip line or our contact page … and remember, in addition to your tips we also publish letters to the editor and guest editorials (even anonymous ones) if you’ve got more to say on a subject.
Also feel free to reach out to our founding editor directly at w@fitsnews.com.
To the wire!
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GARY JOHNSON ENDORSEMENT
Keep it up with the Gary Johnson BS – maybe it’ll take off enough to guarantee four more years of Obama. I’ve had dinner with Gary (nut bag). Do you know him?
FITS: No we don’t know Johnson (ba doom ching), but as we’ve said on repeated occasions if the GOP wanted our votes then they should have nominated a candidate with a record and a plan we could support. They didn’t, so we’re exercising our right to make another choice.
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BOBBY HARRELL SCANDAL
I am a commercial pilot who has been following the scandal about House Speaker Bobby Harrell and the reimbursements he has been paying himself. Looking over the data published in the Charleston paper it is abundantly clear that the Speaker is padding these numbers and doing a piss poor job of it.
I am not going to speculate as to the motivation of the newspaper in failing to dig deeper into these clearly inflated figures – but therein lies the key to exposing this politician for the fraud that he is.
Perhaps FITS will dig deeper?
FITS: We have a pretty good idea what motivated The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier to cut the Speaker some slack … and as for the numbers themselves we’ve done a little digging on that already. Agreed though … his figures bear further investigation on a whole host of questions that the Post refused to touch.
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SIC WILLIE, SUPERSTAR
Whenever the mainstream media is attacking you – on the front page no less – you must be doing something right. Give ’em hell, Sic!
FITS: Thank you. It amazes us how politicians concealing shady taxpayer-funded payments get a hall pass … but those of us exercising our First Amendment right to criticize them are demonized.
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NIKKI HALEY’S “FAMILY BUSINESS” UPDATE
Just in case you don’t know. Big “retiring/ everything must go” sign hanging in front of Exotica.
FITS: Yeah … because Nikki Haley’s parents were selling clothes this whole time. Please …
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SC BUREAUCRAT FIRED
You should investigate why Mike Garon was escorted out of his job and the building at the (S.C.) Department of Revenue a few weeks ago. We’ve watched this guy take kickbacks from a few vendors for about 12 years, and no amount of complaints would get our procurement division (Budget and Control Board) or Attorney General investigating it. Apparently Mike pissed off the right person finally, and they launched an investigation that led to his immediate removal after a nearly 15-year reign of curruption and terror. I’d love to know what they finally uncovered and how closely it matches what we honest vendors (he nearly ran out of business) have always known.
FITS: Wow. We typically don’t get comment from cabinet agencies but we’ll check it out.
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SC BUREAUCRAT SUSPENDED
S.C. Department of Social Services deputy director Isabel Blanco – subject of your big feature this week – was suspended this week after harassing a subordinate. Serious stuff. You should investigate. Deserved to be terminated but got off with a slap on the wrist because well … you know. Rug munchers gotta stick together.
FITS: We’ve heard that report. We’re investigating the incident and trying to determine what action was taken against Blanco ….
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MUSC CHRISTMAS PARTY SCANDAL?
Another note of interest in the MUSC-Janet Lage Case – you should pull the records for the annual christmas parties during the time Lawrence Moser was at the facility. You will find out for several years the 4-5 hour christmas parties cost in excess of $50 000. You’ll find out that the Charleston Aquarium (the whole aquarium was rented out – complete free open Bar – catered to the hilt – door prizes galore). You’ll have to search as I’m sure Moser paid for everything through different budget accounts.
FITS: Par for the course in our “cash-strapped” state higher ed system. What a joke …
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S.C. BAR EXAM RESULTS DUE TODAY
Are you ready???
FITS: We couldn’t be more stoked …
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SC-7 DEBATE
… didn’t go well for Tom Rice.
FITS: This guy is a disaster waiting to happen. He’s going to be a terrible vote in Washington, D.C. – one that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley (who vouched for him) is going to regret.
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STATE NEWSPAPER LYING ABOUT “PENNY TAX”
Good article by Kevin Fisher in The (Columbia, S.C.) Free Times. The prejudice for the Richland County “penny tax” increase by The State newspaper is quite blatant. Who needs the facts? Obviously not us, the citizens, as there is too much “Expected”, “Anticipated”, “Estimated” when it comes to the “facts” in their articles. Yet, there is no downside in any of The State articles on the penny tax.
For those of you that read The State, and that is a shrinking audience, you may have read the editorial articles by Warren Bolton (now there is an even much smaller audience, those that read the editorials) promoting the penny. Not only where the articles full of those “expected”, etc “facts”, but the illogic is glaring. Maybe we should take time to dissect them just to show the prejudice and lack of honesty in his and the other penny supporters’ arguments, including the economic report supporters paid for.
This prejudice and lack of integrity in reporting and editorializing is one reason that The State is losing readers.
Joe Azar
Columbia, S.C.
FITS: Joe … it’s embarrassing how “in the tank” La Socialista is on the penny tax. We oppose this heist … and commend you for your efforts to spread the truth about it.
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STATE NEWSPAPER’S STUPID ENDORSEMENT
S.C. Sen. Nikki Setzler endorsed by The State. They even point out the fact that he takes his retirement and his pay and didn’t vote to abolish the B&CB but they still endorse him? WTF! Is this a grand experiment to show how stupid this state really is?
FITS: In a word? “Yes.” He’s a loyal status quo foot solider, so La Socialista loves him.
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NEW AD IN MIDLANDS, S.C. HOUSE RACE
Have you seen this spot? And do you think Beth Bernstein can beat Joan Brady in this district?
FITS: It’s not a bad spot … and yes, we believe that Brady is vulnerable given her fiscally liberal record.
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DEMOCRATIC VOTER FRAUD
Did you see this? I shudder to think at the thousands of votes Barry O will receive that were never actually cast.
FITS: Yup. But will it be enough to push him over the top?
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FOOD STAMP GARDENING
i saw your story on gardening w/ food stamps, you should know this is the work i do!
Thanks,
Daniel
—
Daniel Bowman Simon
www.SNAPgardens.org
www.twitter.com/SNAPgardens
www.facebook.com/SNAPgardens
Food Stamps Grow Gardens!
FITS: Cool, man. Good stuff …
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FARMER TED VICK
Did you see where Democratic House candidate Ted Vick took farm subsidies? I know you hate those …
FITS: Interesting. Thanks for the tip! Obviously the problems continue to mount for Vick. Meanwhile his opponent, Richie Yow, has been getting some rave reviews – including a recent “atta boy” from U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney. Perhaps we need to give him an endorsement …
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THIRD PARTY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Greetings,
I’m writing to ask FITSNews to sponsor and cover the next “3rd party” debate, which will feature Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, and take place in D.C. on the 30th. We’re not looking for cash to be a sponsor, just help spreading the news.
http://freeandequal.org/updates/second-2012-presidential-debate-october-30-in-washington-dc/
Christina Tobin is the Chairwoman of the Free and Equal Foundation that is hosting the debate, if you would like to speak with/interview Christina, please let me know and I’ll handle the scheduling.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
In Liberty, Zak Carter
FITS: Cool … we’ll have to check it out. Thanks for passing this along.
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HELLO, MEGAN
Your favorite redhead Megan Hutto is looking DAMN good in her new campaign pics, Sic. You need to re-pitch your tent and do another article on her.
FITS: Wow … looks like we do. Thanks for sharing …
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MARKY MARK IN A MOVIE?
wtf is this? is mark sanford in a movie?
FITS: We heard he was starring in a skin flic called “Appalachian Tail.”
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the talented and lovely Courtney Jackson of the S.C. Attorney General’s Office. Hope it’s a great one, gorgeous!
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SOUTH CAROLINA FAST FACT: The Palmetto State’s flag was officially adopted on January 28, 1861.
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25 comments
Does Tinubu still play drums for Lenny Kravitz ?
And,THIS is an Appalachian Trail:http://static.na16.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/appalachian-state-fan-shaved-back.jpg?9d7bd4 !!!
What does Joan Brady professional ? We all know she drives a Jag .”my momma drives a jag”.How can she keep up her lifestyle being a legislator with NO real job ? Just asking
Is being a whiney hand-wringer a profession? If so, Joan is at the top of her profession.
Ha! Gotta love the picture on that Tom Rice debate link, it looks like Tinubu is giving him the “What the hell is wrong with this guy” look.
Yet Sic Willie is resigned to Rice’s election. “FITS: This guy is a disaster waiting to happen. He’s going to be a terrible vote in Washington, D.C. – one that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley (who vouched for him) is going to regret.”
The voters of the new 7th District have choices other than Rice — and I would not waste my vote on that write-in fool — that would be a much better Representative of the citizens in CD7 in every meaning of the word.
Tinubu has my campaign contribution and my vote.
Hey “tomstickler” I think you and Jamie Shamderson should form a new political consulting business. You can call it “we take money from the losing candidate only” LLC.
The SC Supreme Court is releasing the July 2012 Bar Exam results at 4:00 pm on a Friday afternoon. Avoiding any real press exposure? Those who fail will have the weekend to get their political connections in line to call Dan Shearouse, Toal’s lapdog at the Supreme Court – I mean, Clerk of the Supreme Court – to get him to get the messages to Toal about what needs to be done if anybody important is excluded. Surely, the Court had sense enough to review the failing names in advance to avoid having to make “adjustments” to soothe the politicos. Toal is so corrupt.
YAWN…a bunch of self promotion by nutjobs, wanna-bes and clingers…
FITS is more like The State than a thorn to them…
And I’m glad to have my suspicions confirmed that he is taking payola to bash… as noted in these ‘TIPS’…
FITS is just more of nthe same old self-serving incest that has ROTTED politics in South Carolina…
Honesty is Desperately needed…FITS does not provide it.
Really???? $26k in farm subsidies over 16 years? That’s a big deal to some people? I know farmers who get 10x that in a year.
Preach, brother.
Looks like subsidies started when he figured the system out. I am certain he’s never actually farmed in his life, only helped swindle people out of their timber and land but hey, a crook is a crook is a crook!! Good luck when you don’t have that house seat to rely on.
I saw yesterday that the State endorsed Joan Brady.
Does anyone else think she looks a little bit like the female version of The Joker? She came to my house campaigning with her daughter and I about screamed when I opened the door.
Someone needs to teach her how to use less makeup. She also needs to sue her plastic surgeon.
No, kidding, she’s a damn gargoyle. Bad clothes and bad jewelry, too. Tacky in appearance and worse when she speaks. Her opponent Beth Bernstein needs help, too. She should start by getting rid of that hideous Ann Coulter look.
Good god, you guys aren’t joking. Just Googled it, immediately regretted it.
The Palmetto State Flag if you will notice that date makes it the first flag of the Confederacy. Amazing no one has demanded it be taken off the dome.
Check out the article posted on the Coastal Observer site about the Justice Department looking into why some Georgetown County schools are predominately black. I guess they are OK with Jasper and Williamsburg.
http://www.coastalobserver.com
Hey willie, get your face outta the pussy
“3.6 million Social Security numbers stolen from South Carolina Department of Revenue”
The hackers got in on October 10 but for some reason the taxpayers are just now being told.
Greenville News and WLTX are on it.
WLTX is even scrolling “the sky is falling, the sky is falling” across the bottom of the screen.
The sky is not falling, thats a shark falling from the sky!
The Guv’s 1:30PM press conference ain’t gonna be pretty folks. Just read on WLTX’s site about a MASSIVE data breach at SCDOR.
“Did you see this? I shudder to think at the thousands of votes Barry O will receive that were never actually cast.”
So what do all the folks that say we are wrong to have a voter ID bill say about this?
Voter ID laws have the potential to disenfranchise more real voters than fake ones. It is very similar to voter purges that attempt to remove people from the rolls being screwed up and “accidentally” removing thousands of legitimate voters from the rolls before the election.
Voter ID laws also do not stop a majority of fraud in the voting process. Furthermore, if someone’s willing to create fraudulent utility bills to vote illegally, what’s to stop someone from producing fake IDs to vote illegally?
So just do nothing?
Why the hell would you do another story on Megan Hutto? There are far more interesting personalities in the race for Lexington County council district 3 and 5. 3 in particular has a few rather unsavory sorts. . . .
FITS, while you’re looking at supporting Yow, you might want to check into supporting Phil Powell. He’s a pretty stand-up guy.
Nothing to do with the tips above. But I hear from Charleston people that Bobby Harrell down there is in “panic mode” afraid that he’ll lose to an unknown, John Somebody. “Anybody but Harrell” they say. And Harrell’s airplane, well nobody down there’s got an airplane except Harrell. They want to know “where’s the money?” Smells like the son-of-a-bitch has cooked himself.
Well, it appears Mr. Ted Vick has “got some splannin to do”. Looks like he is going to have to answers some questions about what happened in Chesterfield County. Smells like someone has landed themselves into the fryin’ pan!