TWO-WEEK PERIOD IS TOO SHORT …
We are of several minds regarding a recent effort to extend South Carolina’s partisan runoff elections from two weeks to sixty days … (ostensibly to enable members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving overseas to cast their ballots).
First, let’s be honest… this is an effort to give the forces marshaling resources against liberal U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (RINO-S.C.) additional time to mount an effective media campaign against him.
And we’re fine with that …
Graham is a liar, a traitor and a special interest whore (not to mention an unapologetic tax-hiking fiscal liberal). Accordingly, anything that raises roadblocks in the path of his reelection bid is something we support.
Having said that, it’s clear the S.C. Election Commission (SCEC) is in compliance with existing state law governing runoffs. Not only that the agency accepts overseas military absentee ballots via email and facsimile – which seems to undercut the main argument being made against the current process.
We’re sure the SCEC – one of the few state agencies that performs its core governmental functions with excellence and efficiency – will follow whatever direction it receives from state and federal election overseers, but at the end of the day the military absentee component of this case strikes us as largely irrelevant.
In a broader sense, though … we support the idea of extending runoff elections in South Carolina (independent of how such an extension would impact Graham’s race).
Currently, any partisan Palmetto primary election in which no candidate receives a simple majority of votes results in a runoff election between the top two vote-getters – to be two weeks later. In our opinion, that’s not enough time for voters to take sufficient measure of the candidates. It’s certainly not enough time for the candidates to get their messages out to voters.
Don’t get us wrong: There is an exceedingly compelling case to be made that there is virtually no difference between most major party candidates in South Carolina – and that the state’s electorate is too stupid to notice even if there were a difference. But we still think the longer an election (or phase of an election) runs, the more scrutiny can be applied to the candidates in the running.
And the more scrutiny, the better …
So … how much time should elapse between the end of a primary election and the date of a runoff? We’re not sure … but a two-week time frame strikes us as far too compressed.
And we would happily support legislation extending that time frame …
8 comments
Just be glad SC does not have the “top two” primary system that is in California, where the “runoff” may be in the general election in November.
Senator Graham is a fine and outstanding defender of our freedoms. He has put himself in harms way to defend this nation while wearing the uniform of our great armed forces, and stands up for what’s right in the Senate. He consistently works to reduce government spending, lower our taxes and stand tall against immigration and those who would flush the American values of marriage between a man and a women down the toilet. Not only should the extension be denied, but in fact those running against such a wonderful Southern gentleman should stand aside.
WOW !!! What a load of crap. RESTORE HONOR VOTE CONNOR.
Don’t be a ham. Vote for Graham.
Rocky,
ROTFLMAO!!!!
TBG lives between Cola and the Chuck…are you going to be appearing at any comedy clubs nearby, anytime soon?
Again, kudos, sir.
*wipes beer off of monitor*
Pedro sez – Give me amnesty – Vote for Lindsey. 15 miles ahead.
The hint of desperation is quite humorous. If you don’t know who you are voting for (or against in this case), extending this beyond two weeks ain’t gonna help. Wonder what’s Alvin Green is up to these days?
Is that so the tea party folks can figure out who to send all their money to in time to sling as much mud as possible?
I probably vote for Graham just to see (cue crashing ski jumper)…. “the agony of defeat.”
It’s Alvin Greene….If his name was Alvin Green, no one would have ever heard of him.