LAWMAKER COMES UP SHORT ON CHARLESTON HARBOR CLAIM …
By FITSNEWS || Like most politicians, fiscally liberal S.C. Rep. Chip Limehouse loves to take credit for stuff …
For example, this week the ethically challenged lawmaker strode up to a microphone at a “Republican” establishment gathering in Charleston, S.C. and bragged about a forthcoming announcement by the S.C. State Ports Authority (SCSPA) – one exclusively reported on by this website earlier in the week.
According to Limehouse’s remarks, the SCSPA’s upcoming project – undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – will increase the depth of Charleston harbor from 45 to 50 feet.
Wait a minute … didn’t we say the project would increase the harbor depth from 45 to 52 feet? Which is an absolutely essential depth if the port is going to handle the larger container vessels calling on the East Coast in the years to come?
Ummm … yes. And yes.
“South Carolina’s plan will deepen the Charleston Harbor from 45 to 52 feet – or at least that’s what sources familiar with the proposal tell FITS they’re expecting,” we wrote.
Questioned about the correct depth following his public remarks, Limehouse reportedly doubled down on his fifty foot claim – and then used the incident to call into question the accuracy of our reporting.
“FITS is wrong as usual,” Limehouse told an attendee at the meeting.
Really?
According to materials posted to the SCSPA website just hours after Limehouse’s address, though, the Corps of Engineers is specifically proposing that “the harbor be deepened to 52 feet.”
Which is also the depth the SCSPA is citing in its own materials.
“Deepening South Carolina’s harbor to 52 feet is a game changer for jobs and economic growth for generations to come,” a fact sheet accompanying the release noted. “That’s why business groups, political leadership from both parties and people across the state are supporting harbor deepening at the Port of Charleston.”
Heck, there’s even an official twitter handle referencing the new depth: #CHS52.
With all due respect to Limehouse, he should stick to the two things he’s good at: Counting his money and playing polo. Oh, and being coddled by his hometown paper.
13 comments
Poor pony having to haul that fat boy around. Chip, do you really need a stick in your left hand and all that yanking on the poor horse’s mouth? You are no rider and damn sure not a horseman. Pitiful.
The only two people I know that play polo are Thomas Ravenel and this Limehouse guy. That’s all you need to know about either one.
There was a time when Polo was known for being the “Game of Kings”.
Unfortunately, it has become the “Game of Clowns”.
Poor pony having to haul that fat boy around. Chip, do you really need a stick in your left hand and all that yanking on the poor horse’s mouth? You are no rider and damn sure not a horseman. Pitiful.
Picky, picky, picky … as long as the g’ment project gets funded and the checks clear the bank, does anyone believe that any republicrat or demo-Fascist will actually go out there and measure the water depth?
Here in Taxifornia, ship channels are hogged out continuously … Port and channel g’ment jobs are always “shovel ready”
And 2 feet equates to millions of dollars when referring to dredging a harbor. Not to mention that if you only go to 50 then it will only be a short time before facing the next 2 feet. When I lived in Charleston in the late 80’s they were fighting to get to 42 feet I think it was.
“…according to materials posted to the SCSPA website just hours after Limehouse’s address…”
I read SCSPA as SCSPCA and wondered if maybe fatboy wasn’t in trouble for torturing that poor Shetland pony he’s riding
If FITS weren’t always in such a defensive mode, no one would know about or pay attention to the differences in the two depths.
Cat fight between two grown men.
Who cares?
Panamax ships draw 50 feet – 52 feet won’t be enough.
Not to mention Charleston has a pretty significant ebb tide.
Relax, FitsNews is right so many times it is extremist. Fits’ articles are spot on, well researched, easy to read, and ahead of the competition. The harbor will never be Long Beach East…that is for Savannah. Our port is 7 parts recreational/historical, 2 parts commercial, and 1 part habitat. As long as Old Money calls the shots, that is all it will ever be. Deepening involves dredging. Soil turbidity, the result of rain runoff/release from poorly planned damn projects going back 80 years, replaces dredged material as soon as 12 months after it was dredged. We can not afford 24/365 dredging for a harbor deeper than it is now.
“With all due respect to Limehouse, he should stick to the two things he’s good at: Counting his money and playing polo.”
Actually, there’s three things. You forgot “eating”.
Limehouse graduated at the bottom of his class at The Citadel, having spent most of his time eating — not studying. He’s big on donuts & Pepsi. And Pierre Manigault picks up his check at many of Limehouse’s “restaurant dining experiences.” Generally, he’s a whore.