“TRIKKI NIKKI” GETS A TRUMP CARD
S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley may be unpopular … but all of a sudden she’s holding a major political trump card.
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint’s surprise decision to resign his seat as South Carolina’s junior U.S. Senator gives Haley the power to name his interim replacement – and you better believe that the Palmetto State’s ethically challenged, scandal-scarred governor is going leverage that power to the hilt.
Whoever Haley selects to fill DeMint’s seat will have to run for the office in a special election in 2014 – but
Within seconds of DeMint’s announcement hitting the internet, speculation regarding “Trikki’s Choice” was all the rage among Palmetto politicos. The most popular theory? That Haley nominates herself to the post – although to do so she would first have to resign the governor’s office, meaning that S.C. Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell would technically have to make that appointment.
McConnell and Haley have sparred on issues in the past – and it’s not immediately clear whether he would honor Haley’s wish if she chose to appoint herself to the post.
Establishment Republicans have made it clear that they want Haley to name U.S. Rep. Tim Scott as DeMint’s replacement, while fiscal conservatives are calling on Haley to name either U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney or State Sen. Tom Davis. Others are speculating that Haley may name former S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster – another establishment Republican – or possibly Catherine Templeton, her choice to lead the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).
Haley might even follow the lead of former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski and appoint a family member – her husband, Michael Haley.
“Right now I think most people are thinking she’ll go with Tim Scott, but given her total lack of shame I wouldn’t be surprised if she appointed herself,” one Democratic source told FITS.
Who do you think Haley will pick?
Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below.
RELATED:
Jim DeMint To Resign From U.S. Senate, Run Think Tank
Senator Scott?
Henry McMaster: “The Caretaker?”
Palmetto Fallout
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45 comments
She’ll pick one of her kids.
That isn’t nepotism! Leave her kids out of this! lol…
David Beasley.
How about the “First Gentleman?” She would be rid of him then.
She will keep in line with all of her other appointments and pick the least qualified person available. Alvin Greene?
Lillian McBride could give Alvin a run for his money as the least qualified person available.
The least qualified is Queenie herself.
I didn’t think anyone was less qualified, but I think you both are right. Alvin is merely the third least qualified person. Dammit.
Seriously, David Wilkins would seem to be a good fit if he wanted the job. Given his age, I don’t know whether he would be inclined to run for a full term, so maybe that would open it up to Gov. Haley running herself in 2014. Should be interesting to watch regardless of what happens.
I think this is actually a possibility.
Any move that gets a Wilkins out of Greenville is a good one. Is he still “carrying on” with Thurmond’s widow?
Templeton ?? Really?? Really?
If this is the best this state can do, then we are definitely at the bottom of the barrel in all aspects. You must have been at the Space Needle at midnight last night to suggest Templeton!!
You can bet that she will have a deal in place with whoever she appoints!
Henry McMaster.
1. Herself
2. Her husband
3. Her daughter
4. One of her paramours
Ref #4 – does that mean Sic Willie’s in the running?
I can see the call now. Get me Rod Blagoyovitch and let’s see if he can tell us what steps to avoid.
if it is not herself then she will either be booted, see jail timed or be defeated.
She needs to move the brand to DC…hold a Red Sale and emerge as a candidate in 2014 or a lobbywhore.
Glenn as the Gov, not sure I can wrap my head around all the possibilities.
One of which is he gets a lot done. Now you may not like what he gets done, but he could change a lot of shit quickly.
“Lobbywhore”!!!!
Now that’s a new one on me!!!
It is certainly an appropiate handle for certain individuals!!
Howdy, Dowdy?
Will
Do you get another Sand People payment for allowing her escape.
I would be dissapointed if she did not appoint herself, as this would show that she was never a real player.
I mean why the fuck not, the State is in so much trouble why not jump now while you can.
Clean up all those Hunley articles and pictures of the Admiral.
How many people in Charleston are about to get a silence bonus.
What is a B and C meeting like with the Admiral and the Wee man.
Loftis should declare something by the end of the day.
This is Nikki’s chance to be the first Indian-American US Senator. Of course, she’s going to appoint herself – if she can get General McConnell to promise, promise, promise to appoint her if she resigns from office. This is her only chance to be a US Senator and his only chance to be the Governor.
I thought this as well but would it be future political suicide?
So if she picks Tim Scott will SC be the 1st state with 2 gay senators?
Gay Republican Senators.
Only in SC.
Haley will not take it for herself.
I’m thinking she will pick Joe Wilson. I know a lot of you don’t like Joe but he has the political connections, a good ground game and a ton of money in his war chest. He could win in the special election.
And it doesn’t matter if he’s a complete idiot.
You’re kidding, right? Like, sarcasm or something?
Then again, it would be consistent with South Carolina’s “Barnum and Bailey” political arena…
If she is smart she would pick Jenny Sanford or Darla Moore……or
..ME….
How ’bout Rita Jenrette, she already has “vast” experience on the Hill?
Wes Donehue would make a great choice………..
Maybe that guy she replaced Darla Moore with.
Curtis Loftis , so she can get him out of her hair..
Sic, the poll is flawed! You should have added “The Highest Bidder”.
Have no use for McConnell.
If given the choice of pissing on a flame engulfed McConnell or drinking a bucket of warm spit, the spit looks good.
However when it comes to “political” dealings there is nothing on record to classify him as a weasel.
In fact if the Gypsy Queen can cut a deal with McConnell, the cost will be high. McConnell’s list of “you will do this” and “you will not do that” will fill more than one stocking.
In the end McConnell will become Governor, which outside of another Civil War is perhaps the one thing he covets the most and it will make the Gypsy Queen a United States Senator just one step away from becoming Vice POTUS and a heart beat away from becoming POTUS.
God Have Mercy On Our Souls
If the Governor appoints herself (she has to do a little two-step with the LG here to accomplish that), she scores a twofer: (a) launches herself on the national stage as new member of the Class of 2012, just as a new Congress convenes and the new Presidential term begins; and (b) exits Columbia like the Millenium Falcon jumping into hyperspace to escape the Star Destroyers.
Appointing a Congressman to the vacancy, of course, would trigger a special election with a full-blown election cycle, primaries, etc…
Today’s the Feast of St. Nicholas and, truly, Christmas came early this year!
Herself. It has happened before. But if she is a student of history, she should know that the switcheroo where she takes the seat did not work out so well for the last guy that did it, or our state. That is how we ended up with Fritz Hollings as Senator for almost 40 years.
Back off………
Fritz was/is good for the state of South Carolina.
A true visionary.
At the very least he didn’t bail like Demint is doing.
There has got to be more than just the lame explanation that Demint is giving.
Follow the money.
She should hold a fuck off. Whoever performed the best in the back seat of her SUV gets it.
Fits will be the next SC Senator!
VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!.
Jim DeMint and and the Pee Party’s non-knowledge of the concepts & construction of the Constitution and their corruption of the conservative cause is the moral equivalent of the race-baiting of an earier era. It is time for Demint to join the dung pile with Coleman Blease and “Cotton Ed” Smith.
If she has any sense she’ll name Jim Clyburn to that seat. It’ll get him out of the House and he’ll never win re-election.
1) … the Queen herself, if she can give McConnell what he demands
2) … Wilson, if she can give him what he demands
3) … Templeton could be high on the list
4) … Clyburn could be interested if she can give him what he demands
5) … Knotts, if he can convince her that he has “the goods” on her
6) … Me, if I can only find that modeling picture for Victoria’s Secret
I am going with Brea Olson here
If she picks any of those mentioned so far, she might as well pick her nose and eat the boogers.