SC

Down Wit OOP? Nikki Haley Versus “Short Stack”

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley is engaged in a bitter feud with Charleston Democrat Leon Stavrinakis over her decision to give the state’s highest civilian honor to a basketball coach – yet withhold it from a school teacher who stepped in front of a gun to protect her students. Last week…

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley is engaged in a bitter feud with Charleston Democrat Leon Stavrinakis over her decision to give the state’s highest civilian honor to a basketball coach – yet withhold it from a school teacher who stepped in front of a gun to protect her students.

Last week Haley presented the “Order of the Palmetto” to University of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley at halftime of the USC-Florida football game. Previously, Haley had refused to give the award to Mary Schweers – a teacher at Charleston’s Ashley Hall who confronted a mentally disturbed woman pointing a gun at elementary school students.

That disconnect enraged Stavrinakis – known around the State House as “Short Stack” due to his diminutive stature.

“I guess Mary can’t bring 80,000 folks into a stadium to see (Nikki Haley),” Stavrinakis tweeted.

Boom …

Stavrinakis went on to say that Haley “rejected” his request to give Schweers the award – which governors have been doling out (often like candy) since 1971.

“Dawn Staley is a fine, deserving person but Mary Schweers walked in front of a loaded gun pointed at kids in the hands of a crazy person,” he said.

Stavrinakis is making some serious hay of the issue in the Lowcountry, getting a big write-up on the dust-up in The Charleston, (S.C.) Post and Courier.

Sources tell FITS Stavrinakis’ hay-making is paying dividends – and not just with Democrats, either.

“Charleston folk are steamed about this,” one source told us. “Mary Schweers is the wife of a very popular Republican Charleston County Council member who is one of the only members who consistently votes against big government.”

Another added Haley has “alienated a lot of limited government supporters” with her decision.

Nice! A two-fer!

Frankly we think the Order of the Palmetto – like all government subsidized awards – is a total waste of money. The whole program should be scrapped, in our opinion. But we’re happy to pop some Orville Redenbacher’s and watch Haley and “Short Stack” do battle.

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31 comments

nitrat November 22, 2013 at 10:13 am

Nikki Haley is just stupid.
And, if you saw her sitting next to Chris Christie running her mouth at the RGA, a real stupid, bold AND bald faced liar, too…not to mention hypocrite.

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WTF November 22, 2013 at 2:22 pm

Amen!

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Jackie Chiles November 22, 2013 at 10:36 am

She doesn’t know how to make a good decision.

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Hwy. 52 November 22, 2013 at 11:15 am

Well, hells bells! We agree on that.

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Jackie Chiles November 22, 2013 at 11:16 am

I’m sure there’s more we agree on. I’m a reasonable person.

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miss suzanne November 22, 2013 at 11:18 am

Is it true she was raised by wolves?

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shifty henry November 22, 2013 at 11:38 am

There is a rumor going around that Nikki sleeps at night upside down with her arms crossed over her breasts……

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WTF November 22, 2013 at 2:21 pm

Well, she is BAT SHIT crazy!

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You know me November 25, 2013 at 11:13 am

Like a big ass bat.

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CorruptionInColumbia November 24, 2013 at 9:33 pm

Dung beetles.

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Smirks November 22, 2013 at 10:40 am

I think public recognition for good deeds is a good thing, if limited to people who really deserve it. Of course, when it becomes a shameless tool of self-promotion, or is given to people who the Governor happens to like, that’s total bullshit.

Mary should try giving a campaign contribution, I bet Haley would suddenly care then.

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Thomas November 22, 2013 at 1:46 pm

Would you agree that Obama giving Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey the Medal of Freedom this week was “total bullshit”?

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Off Topic Ego-Centric Douché November 24, 2013 at 12:42 pm

Maybe, but WTF does it have to do with Haley? I so tired of “..but what about what Obama did?” Talk about that when that story shows up.

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Republican except for Haley November 22, 2013 at 2:26 pm

Let’s get rid of Haley next election
“It will be a GREAT day in SC!!!

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Col. Nathan R. Jessup November 22, 2013 at 10:52 am

There is nothing on this earth sexier, believe me, gentlemen, than a woman you have to salute in the morning. Promote ’em all, I say, ’cause this is true: if you haven’t gotten a blowjob from a superior officer, well, you’re just letting the best in life pass you by.

Frankly, they can give out as many of these “awards” as they want too, but this is just down right entertaining to watch unfold.

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Jackie Chiles November 22, 2013 at 11:11 am

“if you haven’t gotten a blowjob from a superior officer, well, you’re just letting the best in life pass you by.”

I see the end of don’t ask don’t tell has made you a happy man.

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Col. Nathan R. Jessup November 22, 2013 at 11:14 am

Take caution in your tone. I’m a fair guy, but this fucking heat is making me absolutely crazy.

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Jackie Chiles November 22, 2013 at 11:17 am

Crazy for feeling so lonely?

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Col. Nathan R. Jessup November 22, 2013 at 11:59 am

I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don’t think for one second that you can call me lonely and make feel nervous.

Jackie Chiles November 22, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Since the possibility of Cuba attacking the U.S. is basically 0, I don’t think you should worry.

Stinkbait November 22, 2013 at 1:57 pm

— tell that to our troops at Gitmo. They worry 24/7 & so should you..

Jackie Chiles November 22, 2013 at 3:48 pm

I’m sure they are “worried” that Cuba will attack us. If there’s no threat, then why fund the stupid thing?

shifty henry November 22, 2013 at 10:17 pm

Just a wild-assed guess, but Shifty thinks that Castro wanted Gitmo to remain as is under US control.

shifty henry November 22, 2013 at 10:10 pm

Col. Jessup, Shifty understands your feelings. In the spring of 1964 Shifty was on an aircraft carrier 4,000 yards from 300 Cubans, but I never felt threatened.

Just another Joe November 22, 2013 at 11:01 am

Fits, Instead of all this bitching and moaning about your ex-g.f. Nikki, why aren’t you wishing Scarlett Johansson a happy birthday?

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Ben_Kinlaw November 22, 2013 at 11:27 am

Why I applaud Rep. Stavrinakis for his recommendation of Mary Schweers for the “Order of the Palmetto,” we don’t know all the details that went into the decision by Gov. Haley to present this award to Dawn Staley.

If we review S.C. history we see that there have been teachers who have given their lives and suffered injuries in the course of teaching.

October 12, 1995 at the Blackville Hilda High School, a suspended student sneaked in the school with a gun, shot a math teacher in the face while he was teaching, and then shot another teacher in the back as she attempted to escape.

This shooting resulted in the death of one teacher, and the death of student when he took his life. You can read about this tragedy at this link. http://bit.ly/1bICoTp

President Obama recently presented the “Presidential Medal of Freedom” to 16 recipients. All the recipients that the media could focus on was former President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. The general public was not aware there were 14 additional people who received this award.

There was an astronaut, two U.S. Senators one who had received the Medal of Honor, Civil Rights activists, a baseball player, singer, basketball coach, jazz musician, editor of newspaper, federal judge and women activists.

Just for the record the 14 other Americans receiving the award were Sens. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI/M.O.H) & Richard Lugar (R-IN), Sally K. Ride, Dean Smith, Loretta Lynn, Gloria Steinem, Ernie Banks, Benjamin Bradle, Bayard Rustin, Daniel Kahneman, Mario Molina, Arturo Sandoval, Cordy Tindell Vivian, Patricia Wald.”

Some would argue that Bill Clinton should not have been one of the recipients. One of those who make this argument is WJS’s columnists Joseph Epstein, who was a recipient of this award in 2003, and writes this op-ed; “Bill Clinton needed his award this week about as much as the pope needs a bowling trophy.” You can read this op-ed at this link. http://on.wsj.com/18dvHNP

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Fed Up Republican November 22, 2013 at 2:20 pm

I’m with “Short Stack” on this . This was NOTHING other than Haley exercise in self AGGRANDIZEMENT! It is ALWAYS about her and everyone and everything else is secondary. She has proven it time and again!
This is one of the many reasons I’m voting for Sheheen. Yes, I am a Republican, despise Obama and find he and Haley to be exactly alike in many, many ways.

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Knee pads aren't cutting it November 22, 2013 at 2:25 pm

This isn’t going to be easy for Haley to fix. Getting on her knees to make it right just isn’t possible with Short Stack. She’s gonna have to be sitting on her ass.

At least she’ll be able to to fondle his nuts at the same time from that position.

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LowcountryGmCock November 22, 2013 at 2:38 pm

Mary Schweers’ husband voted AGAINST the I-526 extension……..now that’s someone I can get behind.

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IVEBEENHACKED November 24, 2013 at 3:14 pm

In a remarkable act of courage and solidarity with the next
generation, last week Boeing workers in Seattle soundly rejected
corporate extortion, by voting down a contract which traded job
guarantees for concessions that would severely erode the pay and
benefits of younger workers. In doing so, the members of the Machinists
are risking their jobs to save an America built on the middle class.

The
dramatic fight of fast food workers for a minimal living wage, risking
their jobs every time they take a day off to demonstrate, is one end of a
corporate economy based on low wages, no benefits and no unions. That
corporate strategy, aimed at maximizing profits, is destroying America’s
middle class, wrecking the engine that powered the U.S. economy.

On
the other end of the middle class are workers like Boeing’s, who have
fought together through their union for the good pay, pensions, health
benefits and job security that characterized the increased prosperity
and lowered income inequality of America in much of the second half of
the 20th Century. But despite being a hugely profitable corporation,
with dominance in the world aerospace market, Boeing is eager to follow
the Wal-Mart/fast-food model of the 21st Century economy.

Boeing is the aerospace and defense industry’s largest company,
with its highest profits. In 2012 just the increase in Boeing revenues
alone, $13 billion, would be equivalent to the 15th largest company in
the industry. With a $319 billion backlog of orders – about 3,700
planes – the company is set for years and is outpacing its only
competition, Airbus. Last year, Boeing made $6.3 billion in profits and
rewarded its CEO $27.5 million in compensation, a 20% hike from the previous year.

Historically,
Boeing’s Seattle workforce has shared in that wealth. With a 100-year
history in the Puget Sound region, Boeing is still the area’s largest employer,
its 70,000 employees dwarfing the 40,000 who work for Microsoft. Boeing
workers are anchors of Seattle communities, both economically and
civically. And with good schools and colleges, transportation, and
stable communities, the Seattle area has provided key public structures
that have enabled Boeing to prosper.

But
none of that matters – the high profits, the educated workers, the
civic history – to a modern corporation that is driven only to maximize
profits for its shareholders and pay for its top executives. Boeing
moved its headquarters to Chicago in 2001 and decided to build its new
787 Dreamliner in South Carolina, with the first planes rolling out in
2012, assembled by 6,000 workers who earn $15 per hour, almost 50% less than what Washington assembly line workers earn.

Early
this month, Boeing tried to blackmail both its union members and
Washington state. Declaring that it would consider moving assembly of a
new line of 777X planes out of state, the corporation asked for mammoth
tax incentives and huge concessions on wages and benefits. The Governor
and State Legislature caved immediately, passing the largest development tax break for a company in American history, $8.7 billion over 16 years,
in a special weekend session. The leadership of Machinists Local 751
also wavered, agreeing to put the contract up for a membership vote,
over the objections of most of the union’s management council.

But
then a remarkable thing happened, in an age in which Americans, scared
that they will lose what they have left, seem resigned to shrinking pay
and disappearing benefits. A grassroots swell of membership opposition to
the contract rose up, leading to 67% of the member rejecting the
contract. The members did so with their eyes wide open, understanding
that Boeing might not be bluffing and despite the fact that Boeing
combined bribery with their extortion; the contract would have provided a
$10,000 signing bonus to each worker. So why did they show such
resolve?

In making their case, the members who organized against
the contract focused on the fact that they would be giving up “hard
fought contract negotiations and strikes by generations of Fighting
Machinists that came before us. ” They warned, “Boeing is hoping you will deny the next generation many of the benefits we have today.”

While
the proposed contract came with skimpy pay increases and benefit
cut-backs for all workers, younger Boeing workers and new hires would
have been hit the hardest. Instead of a steady progression to higher
wage rates as workers stayed with the company and acquired new skills –
which is what Boeing contracts have guaranteed for years – under the
proposed contract, recent hires and new hires would be locked into low
pay, with glacial increases. The contract would have frozen current
pensions and replaced future pensions with a 401K, the
defined-contribution accounts that have no guaranteed pay-out and are
subject to market risk. Boeing would have been allowed to transfer money
from the over-funded workers’ pension fund to the under-funded
executive retirement fund.

Angered at the company’s “corporate
threats and intimidation,” the members declared, “The one thing Boeing
can’t take away is our solidarity.”

Unlike Boeing, which has no allegiance to anything but the bottom line, the workers care about their community. As the 751voteno.com website
stated, “We must be prepared for a decision they [Boeing] may make and
understand that if they take the work elsewhere, they are responsible
for that decision. We just could not destroy ourselves in order to keep
the company from making a decision that destroys union and non-union
workers alike, our communities and the investors.”

That statement
reminds me of a memorable insight I received in the first lecture of a
finance class at the University of Chicago School of Business, delivered
by Robert Hamada, a future dean of the School. Hamada pointed out that
in the class we would be learning how a firm calculates return on
investment (ROI), but that there was no reason that the calculations
needed to be applied to ROI for shareholders. The same methods could be
used to maximize ROI for workers, the community or society at large.

As
a society, we do not have to accept that the mammoth entities that
control so much of our economy should operate just to benefit their
shareholders. We can require that corporate decision making take into
account its impact on its workers, our communities and the broader
economy.

That is what unions have done historically and still do
at companies like Boeing, which pay high union wages, and in countries
that support high rates of unionization. To give workers a say in
decision making, German corporations are required to have works
councils, which have union members sharing in decisions – which the UAW is now trying to win in a Volkswagon plant in Tennessee – and union representatives have the right to sit on corporate boards of directors.

Two years ago there was a huge uproar from conservatives when
the National Labor Relations Board accused Boeing of moving to South
Carolina in 2009 because of anti-union bias, which is prohibited under
the National Labor Relations Act. The Board was roundly attacked for
second guessing a corporate decision on where to locate jobs. But the
Board’s action was based on a Boeing memo, which admitted“the
only consistent advantage attributed to Charleston was the ability to
‘leverage’ the site placement decision toward ‘rebalancing an unbalanced
and uncompetitive labor relationship.’” The Board dropped the case
after the union and company agreed to a new labor contract, the very one
that Boeing now wants to replace with the concessions that the union’s
members just rejected.

Part of the controversy around the Board’s
decision was its novelty; cases are rare because it is difficult to
prove that a company made relocation decisions based on anti-union bias.
If we are going to reign in corporate destruction of wages and
communities, we should instead imagine a labor law in which corporations
are not able to expand into non-unionized facilities and make long-term
investment decisions at the expense of jobs at already unionized
facilities. These and other changes aimed at giving workers a powerful
role in corporate governance are needed to balance the grip that
corporate America now has on our economy and democracy.

We will
find out in the next year whether Boeing is bluffing or serious.
Production problems at the South Carolina plant give the union some hope
that Boeing might return to the bargaining table, although only after
looking to see what they can extort in concessions for anti-union
states.

But regardless of where Boeing builds the 777X, the fight
for an America in which hugely profitable corporations – whether it be
Wal-Mart, McDonald’s or Boeing – share their wealth with their workers
and their communities is just heating up. The bold vote by Boeing
workers, like the wave of fast food strikes, are encouraging signs of a
new movement of workers, supported by our communities, to build an
America that again promises broadly based prosperity.

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CorruptionInColumbia November 24, 2013 at 9:46 pm

If I were nominated for the Order Of The Palmetto (highly unlikely), I would probably feel insulted. A couple of years ago, while surfing around, I came across a PDF of all nominees going back to whenever it started. They hand those things out like toilet paper at a laxative convention.

Haley’s decision here just speaks even more about her lack of character and judgment.

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