When S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley campaigned in 2010, she claimed to be leading a “movement” that would take back government “for the people.”
Of course we now know she was really taking back government for the people who contributed to her political campaign.
Since taking office Haley has been a veritable Indian Tsunami of pay-to-play politics – stacking numerous state boards, committees and bureaucratic posts with her campaign contributors. Some of these appointments – including S.C. Retirement System Investment Commission (SCRSIC) board member Ed Giobbe – have been doing real damage to the state, too.
Anyway, Haley is back at it again – tapping West Columbia, S.C. attorney Brent L. McGee to the powerful S.C. Public Service Commission (which regulates the rates and services of public utilities in the Palmetto State).
Why McGee?
Hmmmmm … we’re sure it had nothing to do with the fact McGee’s father – Ted McGee – hosted a mega-fundraiser for Haley back in September, an event which reportedly netted her upwards of $150,000.
Money in, appointments out … that seems to be Nikki Haley’s modus operandi.
“It’s a great day in South Carolina,” people. At least for those stroking big checks to the governor.
The rest of us?
70 comments
All S.C. governors expect, request, and take bribes … er, campaign contributions.
How else did our state become “fifth most corrupt” in the nation?
http://www.stateintegrity.org/
http://www.stateintegrity.org/south_carolina
Executive Accountability: F
State Civil Service Management: F
STATE PENSION FUND MANAGEMENT: F
State Insurance Commissions: F
Political Financing: D-
Ethics Enforcement Agencies: F
You left off that our Judiciary – Jean Toal – also received an F. She is one of the most corrupt of the states’ chief justices. However, she is Vinny Sheheen’s candidate to retain her position. Hmmm…. Just admit it Vinny.
Pay to play is alive and well in SC. It is a shame. We ought to be better than selling seat for donations.
I’m assuming the same Ted McGee real estate guy?
150 grand is the cost for an Public Service seat? Would have thought the going rate to be a little higher than that.
Don’t forget about SCDEW’s NYC lawyer and former White House Council…PAYBACK!
Excuse me but this does not even come close to what Loftis did, sending a nice big fat $2 million check to his fraternity brother and supporter Michael Montgomery. Curtis could give lessons on how to use how to use the system to help out his friends.
Bullshit. I am a person that did a little work on that case as an expert. The lawyers had thousands of hours in on that case and earned every penny.
There is not a lawyer or group of layers in South Carolina who are worth being paid 26% of the value of the settlement and don’t try to tell me their payment was based on the promise of special goodies that the big Wall Street Bank has promised. Those goodies are based on a signed contract, something Loftis hasn’t and probably can’t sign because he doesn’t have the funds to pay for custodial services. The bottom line here is that Loftis got rolled by the big city bank but he made sure his buddy got his share.
I call bullshit again.
Clearly you have not a clue. Atty’s are regularly paid 25, 35% on a regular basis for certain types of work. They risk their time, fees and other cost and that is a great value to their clients. Often, without this arrangement, the client would not bring the suit.
Get off your ass and do some research, blockhead. You oughta have a clue about what you are talking about before you open that fat pie hole.
You are right, we do need to look at the facts and not rely
upon innuendo and half-truths to besmirch people’s reputations. The facts which I have listed below all come from documents obtained through a FOIA request. You may find them interesting.
Fact #1. State Treasurer Converse Chellis asked for and
received permission from the Attorney General to hire Mitch Willoughby to represent the state in a legal action against the Bank of New York. Mr. Willoughby agreed to a standard retention agreement that would pay his firm on a sliding fee scale based on the amount recovered. The date of this agreement is June 18, 2010.
Fact #2. Curtis Loftis took office on January 12, 2011.
Fact #3.On January 20, 2012 Curtis Loftis asked the Attorney
General for permission to add Michael Montgomery, a friend, fraternity brother, and political supporter to the legal team.
Fact #4. The Treasurer signed a document agreeing to settle
the case on April 23, 2013.
Fact #5. On May 2, 2013, one week after the settlement
agreement, the Treasurer asked the Attorney General for permission to negotiate the legal fees to be paid to his legal team in lieu of the original retention
agreement.
Fact #6. The Court approved the settlement agreement on May
20, 2013.
Fact #7 If the attorneys had been paid based on the original retention agreement they would have received about $4.5 million but the fee arrangement but under the payment agreement negotiated by the Treasurer they were paid about $9 million out of which his politicalsupporter received about $2 million.
Now none of the above facts are proof that anything
underhanded took place and I am certainly not suggesting the attorneys did anything unethical but it does raise certain red flags that should be explored further. At the very least, the Treasurer’s personal commitment to transparency and accountability seems to be more talk than action and to the average person it would seem that this was an example of pay to play.
Correction to fact #7 above. I hope this is clearer.
Fact #7 If the attorneys had been paid based on the original retention agreement they would have received about $4.5 million but under the payment agreement negotiated by the Treasurer they were paid about $9 million out of which his political supporter received about $2 million.
You are exactly right. this ain’t proof of nuttin except insiders spinning against Loftis because he is on the Investment Commission’s butt for paying investment fees like drunken soldiers and making returns like baboons throwing darts at the Wall Street Journal.
What is important here? The AG signed off, the Judge signed off, the bank signed off (the ones paying the money) and the Treasurer signed off. They put their names to the documents, whereas you do nothing but ask questions from behind an anonymous name.
The % paid to the attys were approximately the same as the original agreement except the unanticipated “spending credits” were added at what I understand was settlement in NY that included the AG’s people, the treasurer’s people and the Bank.
If it is good enough for them, especially the bank that paid the money, then it ought to be good enough for you. I am out of this because I don’t really care so why don’t you take the last word. Just say you hate Loftis and be done with it. Lot easier than wasting brain cells on spinning like Carl Rove.
if nothing underhanded is suggested then what do you want? You have all the documents so nothing was hidden. If you want to see pay to pay just ask Reynolds Williams about his firm making 150,000 off the investment commission. Whether it was legal or not it stinks to high heavens.
I think you just like to slander your political enemies. especially on the internet. makes you feel vigorous I bet. Maybe got a woody?
I am certainly not suggesting the attorneys did anything unethical…
Unethical attorneys?
Quick, Aunt Pitty Pat! Get TBG his smelling salts!
“There is not a lawyer or group of layers … ” You got that right!
I never met a dead beat yet that did not hate lawyers. My dad was a lawyer and did zillions of work for free.
He did high profile work that made lots of money when he won, but of course he had to win first and that was the tricky part.
Rolling the dice on others people’s cases is not easy. The losses can cost an atty a fortune. I salute anyone that takes the field of play, wins, and profits.
Am I the only one wondering if the WIS reporter has anything on under that overcoat
Not anymore…
Your comments about women on this forum are offensive. If you are that hard-up that you cannot look at a photo like this without your mind wondering to what you posted then you really ought to seek some help. Not sure how old you are but all of these offensive remarks about women are neither cute nor entertaining (except maybe to TBG).
I agree. Not only guys come here for news. Where are the gentlemen? I have wanted to comment on this for quite some time, as well.
Are you male or female? If the former and SCBlues doesn’t work out, do you want to get together?
SCBlues. I am so happy to see another man on here who doesn’t think about women in a sexual way. I don’t think about them in that way at all.
Unfortunately for me, Grand Tango seems to be spoken for by 9″. GT likes being reamed out by those big boys. Maybe you and I should get together and see what kind of music we can make. Mine isn’t as big as the one 9″ has, but it won’t tear and hurt as much at first either.
Call me.
I’m fairly certain SCBlues is a black female, probably at one time(or currently) working for BC&BS.
She has made comments before about sexist jokes and sex that indicates she is probably sexually repressed.
Anyone who doesn’t have a thick enough skin to tolerate the internet will be tortured virtually all day.
Even further, the irony of the decentralized nature of the internet and their unrealistic desire to control what other people say instead of their own personal reactions to it is a pretty good indicator of how totalitarian minded they are as a result of their own inability to control their own inner feelings.
Well, idiot, your first line shows how stupid you are – you are batting 0%. Oh yeah – I am sexually repressed because I do not get my jollies by giggling at all the crap about women posted on this site. You are an idiot.
Oh fudge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I should have known she would be a woman. Even if I was straight, she is probably so much of a cunt that I wouldn’t be interested in her anyway.
See my comments above regarding penis size – I am guessing that yours is even smaller than jimlewisowb
See my comments above regarding penis size – I am guessing that yours is even smaller than jimlewisowb
***
Your repetitive cyberbullying of innocent commenters on this cite has been noted and forwarded to the proper authorities.
Mean-spirited references to other’s penis sizes has no place on the internets. Your words are hurtful and hateful, SCBlues. Men of all penis sizes should be free to discuss politics, sports, current events, guns, booze, and boobs
here, without the fear of harassment by you and your ilk.
Through your actions you have created a “hostile posting environment”. Who knows how many under-endowed potential posters you may have disenfranchised.
Shame on you, and your kind for bringing hate and divisiveness to FITSNEWS!
Good lord – I hope that is some kind of joke – because it is. So let me get this straight – it is okay for your buddy to repeatedly post disgusting comments about women on here – and I have been called every name in the book on here – nigger-lover, fag, asshole, and now c*nt. Did you ever come in and lecture any of those on harassment or hurtful and hateful comments? NO – you certainly did not. Of course you were too busy threatening to report me to FITS and have me banned from the forum for not answering another poster’s question within a “reasonable amount of time”. See my original post on this thread – what was hateful and divisive about that post? What in that post warranted your buddy coming back and posting about me being on my knees pulling on his zipper??? You can have FITSNEWS – you obviously think you own it – be as racist or sexist as you like – I could give a f*ck!!!
Dear Miss SCBlues, then why are you blue?
Ma’am, Ma’am, oh Ma’am
Please go take your meds. I am not the smoothest rock in the creek bed but it appears to me your bearings need some grease real soon or you are going to ream off a wheel
Just as a side bar, the day when you can post words minus *’s will be the day you can say bye bye to the Tea Cup Ride
Shifty is thinking that SubZeroIQ —- has returned!
Grand Tango has been commenting here of late, also.
Dare we hope that NSFW pics of titties will return, too?
*Throws gasoline on fire*
SCBlues, we are grateful to Sic Willie for providing this
forum, and it is unlikely that you would be banned — so post away! Your comment did bring to mind the incident
in 1988 of the BLOOM PICAYUNE (All the tales too ticklish to tell) when this announcement was published ————————-
“We no longer feature a “Letters to the Editor” section. We felt it was high time to drop the pretense of looking as though we respect the thoughts of the grunting gaggle of inarticulate orangutans which call themselves “the public”. It’s also high time other newspaper editors
came clean too.
If you feel you simply have to express yourselves,
spraypaint it on the side of a boxcar or a nice building as usual. Just remember, “I” comes before “e” except
after “c” and “Casablanca” isn’t a country, you TV brainmushed ambulatory vacuum tubes.”
“I could give a f*ck!!!”
We all know that’s not the case.
You do know that most psychiatrists believe that incessant harping about being hurt by others’ comments is a definitive sign of hopeless inferiority.. or.. a professional sensitivity trainer.
Dear Mr. TontoBubbaGoldstein, your post is directly on target and very much appreciated by me, since I am always thrilled when you men talk about my boobs.
When I talk about boobs, all I get is a visit from the White House to scold me for defaming the President.
I beg to differ. Upon review of some of my previous comments I do believe that I have offended just about every goddamn person, place or thing posted on this site, not just women.
As for seeking help, I am glad that you have brought up the subject. For years I have been wearing Carhartt Bibs. Lately the quality of zippers on my Bibs has been on the decline. It seems that every Friday while at BOB’s , when I have to take my obligatory whiz, the zipper fails which requires me to drop my Bibs to piss. Perhaps you could find it in your righteousness to stop by on Friday and help out a 70 year old white bastard with a wondering mind and not enough grip to break loose a recalcitrant zipper
Of course if anyone walks in on us with you on your knees pulling on my zipper, I’ll just tell them you are just being cute and entertaining – peckerhead
My experience with creepy men such as you would lead me to believe there is not much to be gained by “pulling on your zipper” – in other words probably need a tiny little pair of tweezers to find that little one-eighth of an inch long, pencil-thin little penis that you think makes you such a Big Man.
Ma’am, Ma’am oh Ma’am. This is a blog. This is an unfair imbalanced blog. This is a blog created by an individual who calls himself sic, writes in the third person and gets a hard on when he sees a female wearing stiletto heels
I don’t know if there is a blog for females who want to castrate every male on the face of earth but you may want to check it out, If you need assistance, please call 1 (803) 734-2100. The Lady of the Mansion is a professional ball buster.
Personally I don’t give a rat’s ass if you stay or go. However I respectfully withdraw my invitation for you to join me in the men’s room at BOB’s and apologize for calling you peckerhead – cunt
Have a nice day Ma’am and remember- take them meds – I don’t have a pet rabbit but I would hate to come home one day to find my puppy boiling in a pot of water on the stove’s back burner
Dear Miss Blues, google female wrestling blog sites. You may find one that makes you happy.
“My experience with creepy men such as you would lead me to believe there is not much to be gained by “pulling on your zipper””
I thought I was batting 0%? Or are you a homosexual?
Dear Mr. Lewis, your problem with the zipper just may be that your overalls have shrunk from too many washes. Try buying a new pair and don’t wash them for six months, and that may solve your problem. I personally know that it’s a real bitch to return to a warmed beer.
Thanks- Mother
Make a trip every three months up to Burlington NC to World of Clothing to update wardrobe. The frequent washing theory doesn’t hold water since I have had practically new Bibs to lock up.
Speaking of holding water I never leave a cold beer on the table unattended. to go pass water. I have heard stories of ladies spiking old white bastard’s beer, taking them out back and doing horrible things to their bodies so I drain the glass before my adventure
The old white bastard is quite the wizard,
He drains the beer before he drains the lizard.
Pro Tip :
To whom this may apply….
There was a fly buzzing around a barn one day when he happened on a pile of fresh cow manure. Due to the fact that it had been hours since his last meal, he flew down and began to eat. He ate and ate and ate.
Finally, he decided he had eaten enough and tried to fly away. He had eaten too much though, and could not get off the ground. As he looked around wondering what to do now, he spotted a pitchfork leaning up against the wall.
He climbed to the top of the handle and jumped off, thinking that once he got airborne, he would be able to take flight. Unfortunately he was wrong and dropped like a rock, splatting when he hit the ground.
The moral to the story is: Never fly off the handle when you’re full of shit.
Bubba and Buzz went outside to take a leak and Bubba confessed, “I wish I had one like my cousin Junior. He needs four fingers to hold his.”
Buzz looked over and pointed out, “But you’re holding yours with four fingers.”
“I know,” said Bubba with a sigh, “but I’m peeing on
three of them.”
Well, you’ve certainly offended me, from time to time, but you’re usually very erudite when you do it, so it’s jakes with me. At least when you agree with me, I know you mean it, unlike some others on this blog.. In fact, I’ll go so far that only Shifty, you, Tonto, “?”, Frank P., the Shipyard guy, and the Colonel are worth reading. (I’m reserving judgment on some of the newbies.)
If you are that hard-up…
TBG’s understanding is that jimlewisowb does not need sex because he gets f*cked by the government every day.
I was wondering if Nikki has anything between her ears?
I think Will and larry can attest, as to, what is between her legs andd what has been between her lips!!
She seems to have a good grasp on that Mic.
Makes me wonder if it is not you that wanders around wearing an overcoat without anything underneath . . . I’m guessing that might be a more likely scenario.
Ted McGee is a fatassed SOB.
Haley is just a lying, cheating, unethical, immoral Bitch!
Please people don’t re-elect this woman. Giving Obama a second term has turned out to be a disaster, haley will be worse. Please people look at the facts of who and what this woman is!!!!! Please.
I have known Brent McGee since we were in high school. Top-notch. His integrity is impeccable. We need more trustworthy appointments like this. Regardless of any fund-raising “connection”…..he is a great pick.
Best of the pay for play is still not very good.
If Sheheen wants to beat Haley all he has to do is take the Clintons lead and denounce Obama and Obama care and endorse Chris Christie. Time for him run as moderate.
And people wonder why we don’t vote for Democrats.
If South Carolina puts Haley back in you can all kiss your finacial asses goodbye..name one thing she has done for this state that has not been done by corporate welfare.
How does a blog about political appointments turn into high school locker room talk? Get real.
Because when it is a thread (thinking of my well-worn winter socks) sometimes they start to unravel…..
Again, have a long, hard look.
https://www.scdhhs.gov/profile/john-supra
I looked a long time and it’s still hard. He looks like the man I met in a 5 Points bathroom last night. I just wish I could remember which bar it was in.
Caption:
“Quick, Governor, do an impression of Liberace smoking a doob.”
In my very long career, I’ve worked very closely with or indirectly for ecvery Governor since Jim Edwards. I’ve had personal conversations with every one, including the current Governor and I can tell you first hand, Gov. Haley is not to be trusted or believed. I’ve read posted here, “it’s all about her”, “pay to play”, “Savanna River sell out”, “incompetent appointments”, “unqualified appointments” and I can truthfully say, it’s all on point and true.
yes I’ve had conversations with her since she was in the House. I heard the stories of infidelity in 2007, and I’ve observed her actions since being elected Governor. She has an impossible time with the truth, she is self serving and every decision, EVERY decision she makes is based on what is best for me. Most all politicians do this; but, none I’ve known to the degree and extent as our current Governor. With her, it is me, myself and I and everyone else, school children, the poor, the State’s workers, the businesses, the tax payer and everything else be damned or comes as an after thought.
If she is reelected, be afraid my friends, be very afraid! She will be far worse than she is now. God help us.
Exactly, the same thing we saw when she was in Lexington County.
Just a complete sellout.
Her entire experience to be Governor is owning a clothing shop for Strippers.
Actually true, she owned a clothing shop on Hwy. 378 that sold sex cloths. Not even as good as Victoria Secrets, worse than Fredrick’s of Hollywood.
Trash, pure trash!
Sells stripper clothes, worse than Fredrick’s of Hollywood!
Likes lap dances from strippers!
Has a horrible reputation for lying and immorality!
That’s our Gov.!
She definately needs to Go and stay gone!
Tricky Nikki……love you SC Keep this idiot in your state for another 4 years yeah..
I guess Prepaid Legal didn’t work out so well McGee.
Fitsnews needs to print a complete list of all the political appointees that Haley has made that were just sham bribes.
Also, note how each one has damaged the State of SC. You can start with Darla Moore’s replacement on the USC Board.