TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE LEFT OFF NIKKI HALEY’S “SHORT LIST,” THAT’S WHO …
The label “conservative” means absolutely nothing these days. Too many “Republicans” (another label that means absolutely nothing these days) have self-applied this term without bothering to apply the fiscal restraint and principled stewardship that ought to go with it.
As a result we have politicians like S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who apply these terms to themselves while they preside over record-setting spending increases.
Anyway, Haley made waves in the Palmetto State this week when she suggested to The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper that the person she ultimately selects to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint need not have prior political “experience.”
On that point we agree with Haley … political experience is overrated, and the longer elected officials are in power the less in touch they seem to be with the common sense approaches required to extricate our nation from its current morass. Hence our support for term limits.
Yet while Haley’s “experienced” quote didn’t irk us the way it irked some, a comment she made toward the tail end of The State story did rub us the wrong way …
“We are never going to find someone as conservative and staunch as Jim DeMint,” Haley said of the field of would-be interim selections for this Senate seat.
Really? Let’s ask the Heritage Foundation – the group that DeMint will lead upon his departure from the Senate.
According to Heritage Action’s most recent scorecard, DeMint scored a 99 – the best mark in the entire South Carolina delegation. No surprise there. Right behind him though were U.S. Reps. Jeff Duncan and Mick Mulvaney, who scored a 97 and a 95, respectively.
Not surprisingly, both Duncan and Mulvaney were passed over by Haley in assembling her “short list” for DeMint’s seat. Meanwhile U.S. Rep. Tim Scott – considered by many to be the frontrunner on Haley’s list – scored an 88 on the Heritage report card. That was the worst score of any Republican in South Carolina’s congressional delegation – save for longtime fiscal liberal Lindsey Graham.
Scott’s score is actually five points worse than U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson – who for years has been among the least reliable pro-taxpayer votes in the entire U.S. Congress.
U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy – who did make it on Haley’s list – scored a 94, however his inclusion on Haley’s list is widely viewed as nothing more than a sop to the social conservative Upstate region of South Carolina.
Bottom line? Haley absolutely could have found someone “as conservative and staunch as Jim DeMint” to fill this seat. In fact two such choices were staring her in the face – one of whom was endorsed by this website.
She chose to go another way, though …
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50 comments
Jenny Sanford, of course.
Haley can finally repay another of her unqualified contributors!
Joe Wilson is dumb as dirt. A real whack job. I’m so happy nobody has this idiot on their list of successors.
Yep, Joe is a real douchebag. Only thing Danny Frazier ever said that was the truth was that Joe is a wussy. Eric Dell left his DC office this week as chief of staff. I hear he couldn’t take the idiocy anymore.
Clueless Joe Wilson is the only one mentioned who would lower the collective IQ of the Senate. Any other replacement for the Fool known as DeMint would raise the average.
hmm…Gowdy only at 94? Bob Inglis had a 96 when the people of the 4th threw him out.
Inglis wasn’t thrown out because he wasn’t conservative. He didn’t speak “Tea Party”, so he was out.
And Gowdy is about as conservative as Lindsey Graham.
He’s bored with the job and I think he’ll bolt as soon as something better comes along.
Jenny Sanford will get the appointment. Jon Lerner is in charge of this decision.
Haley just thew out those 5 names to see if Jenny Sanford got significant blow back.
Butch will blow her back. He’s a real prick.
Jenny was the brains and money behind our Argentinian Ambassador.
Nick’s needed to keep that seat in GOP hands.
Good choice Nikki.
Inglis was more liked by democrats. He was a carping little whiner, who defined Conservatives with the same lies and bull$#!t the media and FITS use to attack them…
Haley can end her political future w/ the result of her pick..She really has only one Home Run pick in her list..and it’s the safe and easy pick (Tim Scott)…
I’d like to see Scott win it on his own…He is Consrvative enough to get elected statewide, and be Strong as a leader…
The others would only get it by having it handed to them, except for Gowdy…who still has not been completely defined by his actions…He may be a candidate who could earn it too…
You have no idea what conservatism is. You get foul mouthed though, and they aren’t the same thing.
“Win it on his own.” We can see through your idiotic use of words. And guess what, he won’t win it on his own.
Big T , I thought you didn’t support Tim Scott getting an Affirmative Action helping hand?
NIMRATA has already ended her political future.
She should give us all a break a pull a “Palin”.
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
Haley doesn’t consider Duncan or Mulvaney because she doesn’t LIKE them. Purely personal, ego-driven. Not particularly in the public’s interest. That’s to be expected with her. I also think she likes the idea of promoting gals over guys.
Haven’t you heard? She likes gals much more than guys!
What do you expect from a woman who likes strip clubs?
When one gets to the point that one is measuring someone’s degree of “conservatism”(or anything else for that matter) by whether they are 88% pure or 93% pure?
Then one is indeed entering never neverland
And Anything is possible!
Jenny needs to stay home and be a mother. I feel sorry for the kids if she accepts.
The kids are almost grown. Their sorry pappy could step up to the plate and let Mama have her turn – sort of like Clinton.
I feel sorry for the boys, and the dog.
Is the Heritage Action scorecard culturally biased, like the SAT?
just saw it on the Post and Courier website: Templeton.
You must be kidding. Templeton is not qualified. But then again neither is Joe Wilson for his position.
Another train wreck for Lil’ Nikki. Another horseshoe up his ass for Lindsey Graham. Damn this is hilarious !
Wouldn’t it be nice if Haley nominated someone that would remember they are representing WE THE PEOPLE and someone with integrity instead of Nikki Haley’s two bit crook-Henry McMaster
I was kidding…
I thought it ridiculous that anyone would have thought Somers was a Dem in the first place. Liars win and good, honest people lose…Greer has an abundance of liars.
Oops…this was supposed to be a reply to the one below!
The most honest conservative politician I know is Wryley Bettis from Greer,SC.
He works hard to help people !
I like Wryley! Good guy! He supported that Somers chick in the senate 5 race though…that makes him a liberal Dem, right? According to many in Greer it does.
Known her a long time……..never supported anyone in that race.
Also know Tom Corbin, Tommy Stringer, Phil Shoopman, Louis Vaughn, Dr. Tom Koplarik (Dist 17) Rita Allison, Perry Williams, & many, many other public servants, elected and non-elected.
Never lent support to anyone in an election.
Not my place……..people can make up their own minds based on the facts, which I hope I have cleared up in this case.
I was kidding…poor attempt at sarcasm, I guess.
I thought it ridiculous that anyone would have thought Somers was a Dem in the first place. Liars win and good, honest people lose…Greer has an abundance of liars (some of which you list above).
Conservative? Why even bother considering it in this sold out state? Nikki hasn’t done anything but add more and more costs to this state. Hell, she said experience isn’t even needed…tell me, DHEC, DOR, DSS…Why stop now, Bitch?
What do you expect, not that any conservative has the brainpower to sit in the senate, particularly Mulvaney but especially Duncan.
Duncan’s claim to fame is sitting on duhmint’s lap or having his head up duhmint’s ass. I guess “lil jeffy” got hit to many times in the head “playin footbawl” at clumson under Danny Ford!!!!!!
Still like to know what Duncan’s game jersey number was when he suited up for all the Clemson games.
No one from the Gov’s office has even talked to Scott or Gowdy. Not a single call. They are on the “list” purely for cover. She can’t stand Henry – anyone who runs against her is toast.
It will be either Sanford or Templeton – someone she owes and needs, or someone she owns.
Of course, the mature, intelligent, history making choice would be Tim Scott – the Republicans are desparate for a decent black spokesman – but that will mean she will have to share the spotlight, and that don’t fly with the Gypsy Queen.
Jenny Sanford lacks warmth and charisma – she is a cold, elite, out of touch self deluded bored rich lady. Doubt she could hold the seat in 2014 against a decent Democratic candidate – if any exist in SC.
Sadly, Nikki is the gift that keeps on giving. She will fuck this up like so many other opportunities she has bungled thus far. She better hurry before the legislature takes it away from her.
What about this speculation?
She is simply playing her cards with the GOP/RNC to see what she can get promised for the future for herself if she sends them a conservative vote attached to an appealing black face, something they so desperately want to able to flash about and brag on.
I think Trey Gowdy might be a good choice. He’s a great guy and plenty smart. I like him.
I also think he’s got a chance to be a more moderate, reasonable voice. I don’t really think he’s nearly the hardliner Tea Party guy he’s appeared to be early in his Congressional career. If he will seize the opportunity, he has a chance to be a real statesman, I believe.
Uh… you’all remember this name…. Katherine Jenerette.
http://www.jenerette.com/ Remember this? Now, while your focusing on your navel’s…. can you tell me someone better?
Ed Gein
shoe size IQ both are interchangable
Duncan hands down would have been the best choice.
Those report cards are right in line with the worthless ones the SC Policy Council puts out.
I wouldn’t get too excited about the Heritage Foundation. They invented the concept of the individual mandate back in the early ’90s’ not that I disagree with it but it effectively SUPPORTS obama-care like Romneys’ “REPEAL AND REPLACE” stance last cycle. Now there’s ‘ol Bill Chumley from upstate and he is DOING something CONSERVATIVE. He’s actually supporting the constitution, both Federal and State, with his new bill HR3101 coming to a session near you this Jan. 8th. This bill simply exercises the constitutional authority of the state and the people (remember the 10th ammendment?) to NULLIFY the supreme court opinion (thank you, John Roberts) mistakenly know as the obamacare LAW. Now THAT’S conservatism! Will you join us at the Statehouse Jan 8th to stand behind Bill Chumley and his H3101 and bring S.C. to the forefront of CONSERVATISM where she belongs? I wonder why Chumley hasn’t made the list?
Hell no !
Who would be as conservative as Jim DeMinted??
I’d suggest Hitler, Attla the Hun, Khan, and Stalin. Although, Stalin was so far left he came all the way back around to the far right side.
All of who could get elected in SC as long as they ran on the GOP ticket.
Vlad the Impaler
Ming the Merciless?
Alferd Packer? Jeffrey Dahmer?
Tim Scott should form the Senate Black Caucus and elect himself king.
Are there any Black republicans left in the house ?
Pay attention young punk lying Josh !