SC

The Wire: Back Like Cooked Crack

TAG TEAM, BACK AGAIN … Way back in the day (a.k.a. 2013) this website would from time to time post a segment we called “the wire.” A collection of tips, questions, comments, criticisms, and other assorted interactions, it was always very well-read … in no small part because our founding…

TAG TEAM, BACK AGAIN …

Way back in the day (a.k.a. 2013) this website would from time to time post a segment we called “the wire.” A collection of tips, questions, comments, criticisms, and other assorted interactions, it was always very well-read … in no small part because our founding editor was always adding new nuggets after it was initially published.

Eventually we quit doing the wire, though. Why? Laziness, really.  Well, that and a growing apathy toward state-level politics that’s exceeded only by our apathy toward national politics.

We’re trying to snap out of it. Promise (fingers crossed).

Anyway, the bottom line is we’ve got to do a better job publishing feedback from our readers.

So … wanna share a link? Ask a question? Submit a comment? Put our founding editor on the spot?

Reach out (anonymously or otherwise) via our tip wire … and remember, in addition to confidentially investigating your leads 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 (and remember to check back as this segment is often updated) …

***

IS FITS SHILLING FOR NIKKI HALEY?

Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 4.56.40 PM

I notice your coverage of Nikki Haley is less acerbic lately. And the pictures of her accompanying your articles present her in a much more flattering light. Have you been bought off? Did you and the governor kiss and make up? Can we expect another endorsement of her in 2014? Inquiring minds want to know. I’m especially curious seeing as I thought you were a libertarian and yet her attacks on Vincent Sheheen for representing those “innocent until proven guilty” drew very little criticism from your web site. Here is a link from ThinkProgress I would commend to your attention.

They refer to this as “the most atrocious political ad of 2014.” As a libertarian-leaning democrat I am inclined to agree. I am disappointed you do not see it that way.

-Dawn M.

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

This website will never endorse Nikki Haley again – for anything. Since her election in 2010, she has advanced a fiscally liberal agenda on taxesspendingeducation and (most notably) government-subsidized health care – i.e. everything FITS stands against. Even if she were to repudiate all of those failed positions and start advancing free market policies – it’s too little too late as far as I’m concerned.

As for the substance of the Republican Governors’ Association ad run against Sheheen, FITS wrote a pretty impartial news account – by our standards. If you wish to interpret that as evidence of this website having been “bought off” that is certainly your prerogative. 

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A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR BOBBY HARRELL?

OMFG, Fits! A while back, you ran a story about a herpes outbreak at the S.C. State House. Well, check out the pic of Bobby Harrell in this article on The State’s web site. I wonder which goober he smooched to get THAT on his lips.

harrell lip

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

Wow. Snapdragons.

***

FITS IS SLIPPING … 

banana

Disappointed you haven’t written anything on Gov. (Nikki) Haley’s latest national shame. US News grilled her and you let it go without comment? You are slipping.

Here is the article in case you didn’t see it – which if you didn’t would be yet another sign you are slipping.

-Marla T.

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

Marla – I’m all for amplifying legitimate criticism of Nikki Haley (and other worthless politicians), but the article you reference is based on multiple false premises. The article blasts Haley for proposing tax cuts – but neglects to mention her tax cuts are virtually nonexistent (and would only take effect at the tail end of a long list of surplus spending). The story also criticized Haley for failed to expand Medicaid sufficiently, even though South Carolina’s Medicaid expansion in the coming fiscal year comes out to 16 percent – 4 percent higher than the average state accepting the Obamacare subsidies.

***

FITS IS SLIPPING PT. II … 

Can’t believe you have nothing on the Mayor of Latta. You used to be on top of things…now you are lagging days behind simple stories. Get a real political blog. ..better yet…just go full time on Southern Harm.

-Porky’s

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

Porky’s – Thanks for the tip. FITS broke two stories that went national last week – the latest on the scandal involving S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell and the report about Gov. Nikki Haley declaring a Facebook War on one of her top allies. Also, let’s not forget that while the mainstream media was snoozing, it was this website’s exclusive reporting that spawned the investigation into the S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) in the first place. I do the best I can, dude.

***

SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENT DATA

data

Two interesting data sets were released today regarding taxpayer return on investment and which states were most/ least dependent on the federal government. The data appears on the WalletHub.com website.

Here are the links …

STATES WITH BEST/ WORST ROI
STATES MOST/ LEAST DEPENDENT ON FEDS

I’d love your thoughts on these numbers.

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

Interesting … give me some time to digest. My initial impression is these numbers show the taxpayers of the Palmetto State are clearly not getting value for their investment in government (no surprise there). But then again “investment in government” has a connotation I’m not wild about.

***

NO MORE T-RAV, PLEASE 

t rav

Can we stop with the Thomas (Ravenel) love fest? He is a disgrace and a joke. He must be paying you a hell of a lot of money. It is beyond sickening. No class and no morals and just a spoiled ass

-Mary M.

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

I’m glad you mentioned that! I am not a political consultant, although I do play one on television. Similarly I am not a journalist, I just play one on the internet. Thomas is my friend, and that’s it. Having said that, I’ll stop with the “love fest” when he stops making sense.

***

YA GIRL

Since your Twitter gal pal Lauren Luxenburg moved away from South Carolina and you cleaned up your act the “visual relief” on FITS has been scant. Perhaps this photo of Miss Luxenburg squeezing off a few rounds at a gun range recently might warrant consideration? It’s PG for the new FITS.  I hear she was back in Charleston this weekend. Will try to get you some social media pics.

luxy fires

SIC SEZ

sic speaking

Wow … that’s hot.

***

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25 comments

Truth Squad April 22, 2014 at 5:34 pm

LL, broken up any relationships lately?

Reply
Gross April 22, 2014 at 6:03 pm

Do you mean marriages or relationships? What about her bestie, what’s her freckled face?

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BilkConnor April 22, 2014 at 10:27 pm

Marriages. And freckle face popped out a spawn with Thomas Ravenel.

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Astonished April 22, 2014 at 5:36 pm

And nary a word on the Sam Parker trial and conviction??? Plus the big cock fighting bust a few days ago??

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Paladin April 22, 2014 at 5:48 pm

Karma is a bitch. Somewhere there’s 22 ghostly dogs wagging their ghostly tails.

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Astonished April 22, 2014 at 9:20 pm

Good one!

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Will Folks aka Sic April 22, 2014 at 6:19 pm

I broke the Sam Parker story. I heard he got convicted. Great news.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein April 22, 2014 at 8:45 pm

big cock fighting bust

Is it so wrong that the first thing that popped into TBG’s mind was ‘motorboating”?

TBG remembers the 1980’s when pro-wrestling was real and “big drug busts’ were uncommon.

Reply
disgusted conservative April 22, 2014 at 5:42 pm

Fits- You have more or less kept us up to date on Keckstrom but have avoided updates on our favorite Everyman of entitlement Infidelity and public servant: Mark Sanford. As reported in the national and local news, he is due back in court AGAIN for not honoring terms of his divorce agreement. A private matter yes, but it still speaks to his disordered personality and his character as a law-abiding legislator. Is Tom Davis or Belen Chapur putting pressure on you to back-off their partner?

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RHood2 April 22, 2014 at 6:30 pm

You covered Big Sam Parker when he was arrested and indicted. No coverage when he is found guilty on all charges and sentenced to two years?

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TontoBubbaGoldstein April 22, 2014 at 7:50 pm

Followup?

Pfffft!! *Real* news outlets don’t even bother with that.

Reply
nitrat April 22, 2014 at 6:37 pm

“Eventually we quit doing the wire, though. Why? Laziness, really. Well, that and a growing apathy toward state-level politics that’s exceeded only by our apathy toward national politics.”

Have you ever considered getting a real job?

Reply
What's a real job? April 22, 2014 at 7:35 pm

Tell us how you make a living posting comments all day long. That’d be an awesome job.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein April 22, 2014 at 7:47 pm

Tell us how you make a living posting comments all day long.

Don’t tell em, Nitrat!!!!

Don’t know about you… but the last thing TBG wants is competition driving down our income.

*Rethinks libertarian views on unfettered capitalism…*

That’d be an awesome job.

Except for sharing a cubicle with Grand Tango….

Reply
Squishy123 April 22, 2014 at 6:55 pm

Not a word on the former Gamecock football player troubles in NYC? The latest count is what… up to three players.

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carls jr April 23, 2014 at 11:39 am

How about you tell us about it, Tater Boy, you seem to know so much about the Gamecocks. Also, nice job by you painting the Tiger paw on the field at WB. Your boys still can’t get into the end zone, can they?

Reply
Squishy123 April 23, 2014 at 11:52 am

Well Hardee’s, where do you want me to start?

I’ll let you read it for yourself, not only are they thugs, they aren’t even good liars.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140421/PC20/140429861/1032/fight-broke-out-after-former-gamecocks-objected-to-group-smoking-marijuana-inside-nightclub-according-to-report

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Deo Vindice SC April 22, 2014 at 7:37 pm

Will, I thank you for the information i got from your site. I’m not the sharpest tack in the box, you treated me with respect anyway. Hopefully I did likewise. We all make our juudgements and must live with them. Thank you very much, William.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein April 22, 2014 at 7:53 pm

TBG suspects that the picture of T-Rav is causing some *conflicting feelings* with the Tangomeister.

Reply
Mike at the Beach April 22, 2014 at 11:39 pm

I doubt there’s much conflict there, really…

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Buz Martin April 22, 2014 at 8:30 pm

Love The Wire. Really been missing it since the brief return a while back.

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guest April 22, 2014 at 8:43 pm

Buz! Get off that damn computer and come wipe my ass.I pay the bills around here!

Reply
Native Ink April 22, 2014 at 9:05 pm

Stories about the Glenn McConnell/College of Charleston controversy are featured at the top of the web pages of both the New York Times and the Washington Post tonight.

Reply
Inciteful April 23, 2014 at 7:27 am

How’s about a story about Nikki’s economic development schizophrenia? She 1.) incentivises the Commerce Department folks with bonuses to place new industry in rural areas, while 2.) SCDEW is closing dozens of rural one-stop employment training offices claiming “federal funding cuts”. Actually, the federal $ support is going up by over 2%. SCDEW Director Cheryl Stanton is increasing her central office kingdom at the expense of oputlying area development. The workforce education activities made much more sense when they was located in the Commerce Department which Nikki changed. She supports rural dedvelopment on the one hand, and detracts on the other. Schizophremic.

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Uh huh April 23, 2014 at 10:45 am

“Well, that and a growing apathy toward state-level politics that’s exceeded only by our apathy toward national politics.”

That’s to be expected. Anyone sane shouldn’t place any faith what so ever in politics or government on any level. Just count yourself as sane and don’t be depressed or anything like that.

You should congratulate yourself, because every day you show everyone what government ‘is’.

It’s amazing to see how many people just refuse to accept the reality of it. They come here daily and talk about “tweak”, “fixes”, if only their guy was elected things would be better, etc.-all the while putting the blinders on to reality.

You are providing an immeasurable community service with your little business. Sure, most don’t appreciate-but the world is filled with a lot of stupid people and/or assholes.

So buck up my friend, you do good things regardless of the mostly jealous assholes here that claim otherwise, which is an irony because of how much time they spend here.

Reply

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