YOUR FEEDBACK … SIC WILLIAM’S ANSWERS
So we’re back with another edition of the “wire” – which for those of you new to this website is a sporadically published interactive feature in which our founding editor Will Folks (a.k.a. Sic Willie) fields tips, comments, questions and other incoming communications from you, our beloved readers.
We used to publish “wire” posts all the time. Then we got lazy (or Sic got lazy). Now that election season is heating up, though, (the 2014 state races and the early jockeying for the 2016 presidential election) it’s time for us to get our heads in the game.
Wanna share a tip? A link? Ask a question? Submit a comment? Put “Sic” 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 often as this segment is frequently updated) …
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NIKKI HALEY’S ETHICS CHOICE: AN ETHICALLY CHALLENGED TRIAL LAWYER?
Attached are some news stories (HERE, HERE and HERE) and an order (HERE) shedding some light on the shadiness surrounding Gov. Nikki Haley’s Ethics Commission nominee, Frank Grimball. I believe he and his firm (he’s now with Mullen and Wylie, also a Defendant in the suits) paid over $500,000 to settle the claims against them. There are three different suits pending, so it’s a little confusing to keep track of everything in each case. The Lawyers Weekly articles do the best job of explaining what went on. It’s fairly clear that this guy has no business sitting in the position of judging others.
It’s also interesting to note that Haley, who is outwardly such a critic of “trial lawyers,” nominates Grimball, who is the epitome of what she allegedly despises. Although he previously was on the defense side, he’s full-time plaintiff’s work now – which is okay, except when your big attack is “trial lawyer=BAD!”
-Anonymous
SIC SEZ
Wow, Anon. GREAT find. Love it. Keep up the good work exposing this lying, hypocritical bitch (wait … did I just type that?).
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ONE-SIDED COVERAGE
Fits the daily repetitive barrage of articles slamming Speaker Bobby Harrell is getting almost as old as the tired “status quo is bad” song and dance you have peddled for so many years. Please for the sake of weary readers such as myself find a new record to play. This is how radio stations go out of business you know.
You need to cover these issues fairly or your Statehouse readership will evaporate. In some circles it already is evaporating.
This will require you to take (S.C. Attorney General) Alan Wilson’s c*ck out of your mouth for two seconds, but doing so might mean you getting some oxygen up to those depleted brain cells of yours. If the A.G. had anything on Speaker Harrell he would have dropped it already. He is grandstanding for media attention and you are giving him exactly what he wants.
-R.T.
SIC SEZ
R.T. – Thanks for the feedback. If there is one thing this website has (hopefully) demonstrated over the last few years it is a willingness to be an equal opportunity ass cutter. When elected officials waste tax money, engage in corruption or behave hypocritically, this site calls them out for it – if for no other reason that being the first to do so often creates news value that lends actual value to the business side of our operation. Sure “Unfair, Imbalanced” is FITS’ motto but I think on the whole the site is actually fairer than a lot of Palmetto mainstream outlets that do nothing but defend the state’s failed institutions. Now … as for the Attorney General and his “c*ck,” as you put it, we would humbly defer to his lovely wife on that count.
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SCANDAL S.C. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
I thought you might be interested in these documents. They expose a major scandal at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) via an anonymous letter sent to the office of Governor Nikki Haley last month.
-S.F.
SIC SEZ
S.F. – Thanks for the heads up. Interesting to see an anonymous letter generate that sort of response from an agency director.
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GERMAN WASTE HEADED TO SOUTH CAROLINA?
This is one for constitutional law experts in your network. Can a state be forced to accept an import from another nation? Can South Carolina be forced to accept, or can they reject, nuclear waste from Germany? I bet you could get many printable and unprintable quotes from your favorite federal and state politicians.
And, since the SRS is only about five miles from the Georgia border, you could probably get memorable quotes from Georgia politicians, also.
From The Greenville (S.C.) News:
The United States and German governments have been in talks for the past three years over a proposal to send shiploads of highly radioactive nuclear waste from a German reactor to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, according to government documents revealed Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Energy offered to evaluate accepting waste from the German prototype reactor, according to a 2011 U.S. Department of Energy letter obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Research agencies of the German government have signed a “statement of interest” to support the research and development, SRS spokesman Jim Giusti said Tuesday.
“We haven’t agreed to do anything yet,” (And you can keep you insurance if you like it.”) Giusti told The Greenville News. “We are still evaluating that. If that decision is made, Germany will fully fund the work.
SIC SEZ
Very interesting. You know that takes the whole “out-of-state waste” debate to a whole new level … will be very interesting indeed to follow this debate as it moves forward.
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CHARLESTON LAW SCHOOL LOBBYING
From Politico:
CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW RETURNS TO THE HILL: Engaged in a state regulatory fight over new ownership, the Charleston School of Law has hired Cornerstone Government Affairs to lobby on rules governing private, for-profit education. The founders of the South Carolina school are trying to sell to InfiLaw, which runs for-profit law schools in Phoenix, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. A panel at the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education was supposed to decide Thursday if it would grant InfiLaw a license to operate, according to The State newspaper, but delayed the decision after claims from the public that the company is a diploma mill. Charleston Law School spent $130,000 lobbying on similar issues in 2010. InfiLaw spent $220,000 with the Podesta Group last year.
SIC SEZ
Well, well, well …
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“LATE REGISTRATION” IN S.C. SUPERINTENDENT RACE
FITS – Thought you might want to know that Sally Atwater registered to vote in South Carolina on Jan 30 2014. She announced to run for office on Jan 31, 2014.
Elizabeth Moffly, on her Facebook page has a screenshot of it. She said this:
“I take my responsibility as an American very seriously when it comes to voting. Do you believe that someone who wants to become an elected official should take it seriously? What if you found out they only registered to vote on the same day they announced they were going to run for office? And what if you found out that they have ZERO voting history? This is the actual voting history of one of the candidates for Superintendent.”
– “Truth Hurts”
SIC SEZ
“Truth” – The truth is, I keep trying to get excited about the S.C. Superintendent of Education race … and keep failing to do so. Maybe it’s because the office itself is so powerless and superfluous? Maybe I’m just insufficiently motivated? Who knows. Oh well. Thanks for sharing this regardless. I will try (again) to get excited about this race … really.
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BASEBALL BLUES
In ten years you’ll probably be able to copy and paste this article in The State. Just change a few names. Good news is Columbia, S.C. employees and (Mayor) Steve Benjamin’s buddies will have plenty of cash to bid on some items. Assuming they’re all current on their BMW lease payments.
Anyway, if you plan on covering the ballpark some more, you should think about referencing the NY Times piece.
-Anonymous
SIC SEZ
Anon – So true … and so sad. I’m glad my crew is getting out of Columbia, S.C. while the getting is good.
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FITS IS MISSING THE SCOOP
I can’t believe you haven’t run a story on (S.C. Comptroller General candidate) Michael Luppe dropping out of the race against Richard Eckstrom. Now Eckstrom will cruise to victory again unopposed.
-J.C.
SIC SEZ
J.C. – True. Luppe’s exit from the race was as quiet as it was disappointing … although I just checked with my site traffic analysts and, yes, I’m told
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WTF?
This article (about a rash of suspicious banker deaths) is best read with four fingers of a fine single malt scotch and a forty-five minute cigar of your choice. Upon finishing said article, you need to file it in a fold marked “WTF?”
SIC SEZ
Indeed … WTF?!?!?!!
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MISSING BIRD
Hi Fits! I know this doesn’t fit in with the normal political news and all, but reading this story on The State‘s site, I couldn’t help but feel for the lady who has lost this bird. I know you have moved to the Irmo area and thought maybe you could run this story on your site in hopes that it might help her locate her bird. If you want to make the story more original for your site, you can call her, too. Her number is in the article and I feel sure she would welcome any publicity and help in getting the word out.
-“Corruption in Columbia”
SIC SEZ
That is very sad … always hate to see stories like that about beloved pets that go missing.
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OF INTEREST …
Benghazi Truther Lindsey Graham Tied to Botched 60 Minutes Report (Gawker)
Lee Bright Launches Television Ad (Lee Bright)
Trey Gowdy To Headline Maryland GOP’s Red White and Blue Dinner (Quinton Report)
30 comments
So you’re just going to ignore this story, huh?
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/05/05/Video-Waffle-House-Robber-Shot-Killed-By-Concealed-Carry-Permit-Holder
It’s a shame the other aspiring rapper didn’t also leave in a body bag.
So….I was told that bird was a SC wild turkey…so I did what any good ole southern boy would do-shot it and deep fried it.
I support continued, regular coverage of the Harrell / Wilson wrestling match by FITS because no other outlet provides the scope of coverage — or the scoops.
FITS is the only rag statewide with a tipster line where visitors can get the real dope on our elected crooks … I mean elected officials.
My only complaint is the fire hose of off-point comments posted by a small number of visitors.
I have stopped reading all posts by Grand Tango. Now I can catch up on FITS and the comments in 1/10 the time it once took and I feel much smarter afterwards.
/// You need to cover these issues fairly or your Statehouse readership will evaporate. In some circles it already is evaporating. ///
Actually, I think it is evaporating only in circle jerk circles, since he ditched the soft-core porn for Nancy’s run for Graham’s seat. I’m still here, though, coz like I keep telling Google+, I don’t need no stinkin’ circles!
Good point, Buz…: If FITS does not tell you world your story who will …..If not for Buz and FITS, we’d never know about the Saltwater-drenched, and blood-stained bundles of cash that float around loosely in your brain…to the cadence of black helicopter blades and the corruption of everybody that ain’t, you …LMAO…..
Funny how you pop up just as I mention circle jerks.
Metaphorically?
likes to feed his fat ass at the Beaver for free but don’t like beaver!!!!!!!!!! MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, please, don’t let GT be a biker!
http://netstorage.discovery.com/feeds/brightcove/asset-stills/dsc/135613844262513861602801197_JimTom_happiness_farmladies.jpg
http://www.grahamstar.com/content/articles/2013/02/08/news/doc51156c9a3b8bb597027561.jpg
Is that euwe or GT in those pix?
Jim Tom from “Moonshiners”
Tea-party activists in Ohio, facing dim prospects of unseating Republican incumbents in Congress, have forged a new political strategy of picking fights farther down the ballot.
http://fusion.net/justice/story/buenos-aires-mayor-women-catcalled-651650
Oy, what the woman of Argentina have to put up with!
” ETHICALLY CHALLENGED TRIAL LAWYER”
The Bureau of Redundancy Dept. holding on line one……
Jean Toal is high 5’ing all in her presence for some reason today. Just giddy. She feels she has “won.” Anybody else know what this is about? What a low rent scum ball she is. Bill Nettles, grow a pair and go down in history as they man who saved SC from Jean Hoefer Toal.
Now that Trey Gowdy will be trying to make his bones on Benghazi, what are the chances his select committee will dig into the who and how of the anti-Muslim video at the heart of the controversy?
Here are a couple of links that need to be read in sequence:
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2014/05/petraeus-and-real-benghazi-conspiracy.html
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-spookways-presentation.html
I really like how one blogger I read compared Gowdy to “Boo Radley” although the young Robert Duvall was a lot smarter.
How wrong you are. Trey is one smart, focused, and fair prosecutor. He’s well respected by both sides of the aisle and he WILL get to the bottom of Benghazi. Bank on it.
Benghazi
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We need to get another bipartisan commission going to investigate this… it’s been under the radar far too long!
two points, first nuclear waste, be it auf Deutschland or domestic, as Mark Sanford summised a decade or so ago, is not a matter of rocket science, regards Democrats in the White House choosing to let it decay in a red state (Yucca Mountain in Harry Reid’s back yard being at issue then). Second, regards Mrs. Atwater’s voter registration, when you register in a new precinct in SC, your record, as an active record, vanishes prior to the date or that change of registration, as a then Republican, now Libertarian leader Stewart Flood worked out some years ago when sorting out and combining voter database bits and bytes, Moffley has a weak cheap shot, but her SC 1 run waits til the seat is again vacant.
In regards to Frampton and DNR, really odd. According to SC Judicial website, there is no record of an arrest for Frampton. Looks like it was swept under the rug.
Will, your site is being taken less seriously since you started four-walling T-Rav and “Southern Culture”. How can your readers take respect you as a true political provocature when your judgements are so bad on this topic? Best rethink this one.
more hard nipples and camel toes…. more salacious stories about bloggers having sex with politicians… more gun saves dog… Republican equals Democrat… Ron Paul isn’t a Republican…
core issues like that.
Not just T-Rav but local politicians too. He let’s his personal relationships with them get in the way. He got duped big time by a guy running for mayor in Columbia who tried befriending him and missed out on some big time things.
so you’re just going to ignore this story, huh?
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-Texas/2014/05/06/Restaurant-Workers-Hide-In-Freezer-From-Open-Carry-Activists
Re: Missing Bird:
Thomas said that she has consulted with a friend of hers who has psychic powers and that friend has said “Tookie is alive and somebody has her.”
Tookie is near water.
“German Waste Headed to South Carolina”!
Are the Peeler’s behind this trashing of the State too! It would not surprise me.
They’ve trashed families, marriages, children, reputations and the environment with their out of State Waste management and immoral activities!
“German Waste Headed to South Carolina”!
Are the Peeler’s behind this trashing of the State too! It would not surprise me.
They’ve trashed families, marriages, children, reputations and the environment with their out of State Waste management and immoral activities!