SC

Cabinet Cat Fight?

The South Carolina press corps is buzzing after S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s welfare czarina dissed her health and environmental czarina prior to a press conference last week – an exchange which was captured by several open microphones (but never reported). “We’re not going to steal the gov’s thunder,” S.C. Department…

The South Carolina press corps is buzzing after S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s welfare czarina dissed her health and environmental czarina prior to a press conference last week – an exchange which was captured by several open microphones (but never reported).

“We’re not going to steal the gov’s thunder,” S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) director Lillian Koller brusquely chided S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) director Catherine Templeton, rebuking her over what we’re told is an ongoing feud within the Haley administration.

Gotta love those bureaucratic soap operas, right?

The exchange took place at a press conference related to Haley’s recently declared “War on Fat” – which the governor evidently isn’t interested in waging herself.

According to a reporter who was present for the exchange, Koller rebuked Templeton because she thought her counterpart was preparing to discuss the food stamp waiver applied for last week by Koller’s agency – which is among the poorest-run bureaucracies in all of state government.

Haley wants food stamp recipients to make healthier dietary choices – which is a concept we support. Why on earth would that be a sensitive subject for Koller?

Because according to sources familiar with the waiver proposal Koller’s staffers – acting on orders from the governor’s office – dragged their feet on the waiver for several months.

Why would they do that? Because Haley was upset that Templeton – whom she appointed to lead SCDHEC last March – had “gotten ahead of her” on the obesity issue.

“This is a weighty reelection issue, pardon the pun,” our source says, “and the governor wanted it all to herself.”

Templeton announced her “War on Fat” last August – a move which reportedly incensed Haley. The governor’s indignation grew last month when a reporter with The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper contacted her office questioning why SCDSS was holding up the waiver.

“She hit the roof,” our source says.

At that point Haley reportedly dispatched her former chief of staff Tim Pearson – who is still “running the show” in Haley’s office – to rebuke Templeton.

SCDHEC is not part of the governor’s cabinet, but Haley appoints all of the agency’s board members – and they unanimously nominated Templeton for the job at Haley’s request. So it is effectively a cabinet agency, and Templeton attends cabinet meetings with the rest of Haley’s agency heads.

In fact prior to taking the SCDHEC job, Templeton was a member of Haley’s cabinet – serving as director of the S.C. Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (SCLLR).

In addition to the flap over the “War on Fat,” sources tell FITS Haley is frustrated with Templeton for not being aggressive enough in defending her 2011 decision to sell our ports down the river to Georgia.

***

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26 comments

shifty henry February 26, 2013 at 1:10 pm

Pleeeeze! No jokes about Nikki’s “thunder-thighs”.

Reply
You know me February 26, 2013 at 4:19 pm

Guess she can get bigger and bigger. Wonder if Exotica sells plus sizes?

Reply
shifty henry February 26, 2013 at 1:10 pm

Pleeeeze! No jokes about Nikki’s “thunder-thighs”.

Reply
You know me February 26, 2013 at 4:19 pm

Guess she can get bigger and bigger. Wonder if Exotica sells plus sizes?

Reply
? February 26, 2013 at 1:11 pm

It was just a matter of time before the relatively competent one started conflicting with the relatively incompetent one.

It’s just interesting that Haley sent the bull dyke rug muncher to do her dirty work instead of dealing with the perceived slight herself. What a wimp.

Reply
Claws Out February 27, 2013 at 9:08 pm

I’d put my money on Catherine in that fight. One she seems pretty scrappy, and I mean that as a compliment, can take care of herself, and two she has other support in South Carolina beyond just the governor.

Reply
? February 26, 2013 at 1:11 pm

It was just a matter of time before the relatively competent one started conflicting with the relatively incompetent one.

It’s just interesting that Haley sent the bull dyke rug muncher to do her dirty work instead of dealing with the perceived slight herself. What a wimp.

Reply
Claws Out February 27, 2013 at 9:08 pm

I’d put my money on Catherine in that fight. One she seems pretty scrappy, and I mean that as a compliment, can take care of herself, and two she has other support in South Carolina beyond just the governor.

Reply
south mauldin February 26, 2013 at 1:42 pm

“Steal the gov’s thunder”? Who talks like this? Oh yeah, the subordinate of “Mack Daddy planes” aka “Throw him against the wall” Haley is a damned disgrace to this shitty state.

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south mauldin February 26, 2013 at 1:42 pm

“Steal the gov’s thunder”? Who talks like this? Oh yeah, the subordinate of “Mack Daddy planes” aka “Throw him against the wall” Haley is a damned disgrace to this shitty state.

Reply
jimlewisowb February 26, 2013 at 2:11 pm

Eleanor, Catherine and The Gypsy at joint press conference

Behind the scenes

Eleanor to Catherine as The Gypsy is up at the podium
My God those boots make her thighs look huge with two g’s

Catherine to The Gypsy as Eleanor is up at the podium
Eleanor is wearing that stripped skirt again. If a zebra and a rino mated, I now know what it would look like from the rear

The Gypsy to Eleanor as Catherine is up at the podium
Catherine should have had her hips lipoed before getting those new tiny titties

Reply
jimlewisowb February 26, 2013 at 2:11 pm

Eleanor, Catherine and The Gypsy at joint press conference

Behind the scenes

Eleanor to Catherine as The Gypsy is up at the podium
My God those boots make her thighs look huge with two g’s

Catherine to The Gypsy as Eleanor is up at the podium
Eleanor is wearing that stripped skirt again. If a zebra and a rino mated, I now know what it would look like from the rear

The Gypsy to Eleanor as Catherine is up at the podium
Catherine should have had her hips lipoed before getting those new tiny titties

Reply
Torch February 26, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Koller doesn’t fart without asking the Govenor. She is so busy doing the WHIG, wildly importan goals, she can’t see what is going on around her. Just remember, they were going to fire her in Hi. Feds were bringing suit against her.

Reply
Torch February 26, 2013 at 2:30 pm

Koller doesn’t fart without asking the Govenor. She is so busy doing the WHIG, wildly importan goals, she can’t see what is going on around her. Just remember, they were going to fire her in Hi. Feds were bringing suit against her.

Reply
shifty henry February 26, 2013 at 3:50 pm

You know when you are camping under western skies in a broad valley, and you are feeling so peaceful next to a small stream while you look out over the tall, green grasses, and you just know that all is right with the world. Then, suddenly, an unexpected storm appears filled with dark clouds and terrifying lightning. You saddle up your faithful hoss Old Baldy and then look for safety – there it is about four miles distant, between the sharp mountain ridges to your left and to your right, and forming a vee pointing to an opening where safety is assured. Whipping Old Baldy you ride for your life towards that opening, with the deafening thunder reverbating from one mountain to the other. Faster and faster you urge Old Baldy to safety, and as the mountains close in on you the thunder increases to a crescendo in your ears, almost pounding you into senselessness until you reach your goal and man-o-man, what a relief! Do you remember that?

Reply
? February 26, 2013 at 4:08 pm

That, my friend, is a brilliant metaphor if I’ve interpreted it properly.

Reply
jimlewisowb February 26, 2013 at 8:55 pm

Yes, I remember my adventures with my hoss Bald Avenger

Many times I rode him hard and put him up wet

Once we had the experience of coming off a small but proud mountain range heading hell bent straight as an arrow into a valley right after it had been stripped of all foliage. Bald Avenger never lost his footing but for awhile I was sure both of us were going to slip and slide into oblivion never to be heard from again

Reply
shifty henry February 26, 2013 at 10:14 pm

@jimlewis — Whew! That sounded like a close shave!

Reply
shifty henry February 26, 2013 at 3:50 pm

You know when you are camping under western skies in a broad valley, and you are feeling so peaceful next to a small stream while you look out over the tall, green grasses, and you just know that all is right with the world. Then, suddenly, an unexpected storm appears filled with dark clouds and terrifying lightning. You saddle up your faithful hoss Old Baldy and then look for safety – there it is about four miles distant, between the sharp mountain ridges to your left and to your right, and forming a vee pointing to an opening where safety is assured. Whipping Old Baldy you ride for your life towards that opening, with the deafening thunder reverbating from one mountain to the other. Faster and faster you urge Old Baldy to safety, and as the mountains close in on you the thunder increases to a crescendo in your ears, almost pounding you into senselessness until you reach your goal and man-o-man, what a relief! Do you remember that?

Reply
? February 26, 2013 at 4:08 pm

That, my friend, is a brilliant metaphor if I’ve interpreted it properly.

Reply
jimlewisowb February 26, 2013 at 8:55 pm

Yes, I remember my adventures with my hoss Bald Avenger

Many times I rode him hard and put him up wet

Once we had the experience of coming off a small but proud mountain range heading hell bent straight as an arrow into a valley right after it had been stripped of all foliage. Bald Avenger never lost his footing but for awhile I was sure both of us were going to slip and slide into oblivion never to be heard from again

Reply
shifty henry February 26, 2013 at 10:14 pm

@jimlewis — Whew! That sounded like a close shave!

Reply
lawzoo February 26, 2013 at 5:13 pm

State Bureaucracies —Funny as hell but at the same time pathetic. You would have to “work” in one to ever understand.

You have to be immune to dignity to stay at one however. You learn that it’s all Bullshit !

Reply
lawzoo February 26, 2013 at 5:13 pm

State Bureaucracies —Funny as hell but at the same time pathetic. You would have to “work” in one to ever understand.

You have to be immune to dignity to stay at one however. You learn that it’s all Bullshit !

Reply
9" February 26, 2013 at 6:15 pm

She want her ax wound injected w/fat pecker,the fucking bitch.She so low down,a duck could crawl under her and not touch a feather…

Reply
9" February 26, 2013 at 6:15 pm

She want her ax wound injected w/fat pecker,the fucking bitch.She so low down,a duck could crawl under her and not touch a feather…

Reply

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