THE LATEST CHAPTER …
In case you haven’t been following the full-frontal assault launched by S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell against Attorney General Alan Wilson (who is investigating Harrell on public corruption charges), here are a few posts to get you up to speed.
(DRAMA • DRAMA • MORE DRAMA)
Crazy, huh?
Anyway, as it relates to Harrell’s efforts to neuter the Attorney General’s ability to prosecute public corruption, it seems as though several lawmakers were lied to about the bills being pushed by Harrell.
Specifically, we’re told Harrell’s legislative ally S.C. Rep. Kris Crawford (R-Florence) was less than honest with his colleagues about the intent of the legislation when he went around lining up sponsors for the bills.
In fact, here’s a string of text messages we received on the subject this week from one lawmaker …
It gets better …
Remember how we reported that lawmakers were fleeing Harrell? It ‘s about to get worse …
Yikes …
Meanwhile, a source recently emailed us raising doubts about whether there really was a 1962 Attorney General’s ruling that addressed whether Harrell himself might be able to evade prosecution as a result of his bills.
Yeah … we found it.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: It is time for Bobby Harrell to resign.
69 comments
“because in a situation like that you don’t have time to thoroughly read the bill or hardly glance at it”.
Does everyone see this? This is what our government(s) have come to. How many time do we have to hear, “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.”?
How is it that the formerly great American society has let it come to this? It’s happening on both a state and national level.
I have one small suggestion to everyone, pols included. If you have so many bills on the agenda that you don’t have time to read the, maybe there are too many bill being proposed to start.
Dear God, there is no going back short of revolution. That’s quite clear to me now. There’s no law making body that’s charged with striking down bills or law, they just keep piling them up on top of us.
“To force a man to pay for the violation of his own liberty is indeed an addition of insult to injury.”—Benjamin Tucker
Thank You for this posting. I feel vindicated for all the years I have been talking about “The insatiable appetite of government for more power ” and thus taking more of our freedoms as they do it. Could it be that people are starting to realize this has been happening for decades, it may be too late to change it but we owe it to the founding fathers to at least try.
I agree entirely. There was a bill regarding our state’s citizens’ ability to lease solar panels from companies so they could put them on their houses without having to buy them outright. It passed a committee on a 19-1 vote, or something like that. Shane Martin (R) Spartanburg, voted against it. Why? He said he hadn’t had time to read the amendment. So he voted against it. He didn’t abstain; he just voted against it.
The real reason he voted against it – so he could suck up some special interest money from Duke Energy and every other utility who was against the bill by saying he voted in their interests.
Fuck you Shane Martin.
There’s a certain irony in having to pass a law to give a citizen the “right” to conduct a private transaction on how to acquire a companies product.
You have to wonder how leasing solar panels was made “illegal” to begin with. Laws on top of laws, it’s never ending.
Seriously. I can’t get my power off the grid and help the environment in the process? Why? The state government won’t let me. This is just nuts.
Agreed – to a point. My understanding of the bill was that it gave Duke a monopoly on solar panels. Sort of “we own the sun” type of thing. Do you know about this? Curious.
Santee Cooper will install solar panels on your house, then you “repay”
them by selling them your excess electricity until the expense of the
solar panels is paid off. I would sign up for that in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately, I am stuck with SCE&G, which is part of SCANA, a
privately owned monopoly. Monopolies suck, yet our “free market loving” state
politicians will not allow someone like me to enter into a business
agreement with a company that offers the services I want.
A solar panel system proposed for my house would cost $18,636 before state and federal tax credits. The system would have an annual output of 5550KwH, which would cost me about $600 if bought from Santee Cooper. Over the 25-year lifetime, the system would generate about $15,000 worth of electricity.
When my demand is greater than the output of the system, I would pay Santee Cooper $0.108/KwH. When my demand is less than the output of the system, Santee Cooper would pay me about $0.04/KwH.
The installers trying to sell me the system tried to make it look like a great deal, but I decided not to bite.
Thanks for sharing your real-world experience. It doesn’t sound like a great deal right now, even though the tax credits would have made it a little cheaper. I also have heard that the price of solar panels has dropped rapidly over the past couple of years. Maybe if we had competition in this business, the price of going solar would be cheaper than getting electricity from the power company, which is why they are blocking any progress in that direction.
The Kochs are funding a lot of opposition to solar in states like Arizona and California; that’s where they’ve been caught.
I’m sure they are short sighted enough and so old that they fund the opposition everywhere.
How many of our senators and representatives (state and federal) read the state/federal budget they are voting on?
Has anyone noticed that Rep James Smith (D-Richland) is Alan’s campaign attorney and HE is going to draft the bill that will decided how the AG is prosecuted!?! Really!!!
What hypocracy. Legislators tell us, “We can’t get true ethics reform because it’s too tough to change our constitution to allow non-legislators to judge elected officials as they do in 46 other states.” Yet Bobby gets a constitutional change on the docut (H 5073) with multiple supporters in days TO PROTECT HIMSELF! Thank godness multiple folks finally read it and took their names off. Bobby needs to resign and the rest of them need to pass real ethics reform. It ain’t that tough.
See, Mr. Folks, this is good stuff!
Bobby is corrupt and everyone is now seeing up close and personal.
1. He tried to get the governor because he wanted to punish her for not being subserviant to him. Even though she may have been guilty he was too weak to get her and she spanked him.
2. He is trying to intimidate the Attorney General for having the guts to call him out for missusing campaign contributions and he is too dumb to do it in a way that is not so obvioius to everyone.
3. Here in Charleston everyone now knows he was behind the effort to unseat Daniel Ravenel from the Board of Trustees at the College of Charleston because Mr. Ravenel had the balls to defy the great Bobby.
Seems like a pattern is forming. Cross Bobby and expect to be punished. Well his fellow legislators need to remove him from his position as Speaker. Having him represent the South Carolina General Assembly is embarrasing to the citizens of the state and a poor reflection on you all. Get him out and replace him with a person of integrity.
Amen, brother.
Help support his opponent, Mary Tinkler.
She’s a good alternative even though she’s a democrat.
And even though Harrell has “the machine” endorsing him, on his mail-outs:
— McConnell
— Scott
— Anita Zucker
Funny, but those 3 endorsers would make me vote for anybody but him. Didn’t Anita Zucker just inherit a load of cash from her husband? That’s what America has come to. If you have enough cash in hand, we let you tell us who to vote for.
Anita is no. 430 or so on FORTUNE’s world’s-richest-people list, with a net worth around $4 billion. She gives regularly and lavishly to Harrell. Like Marie Antoinette, Anita’s attitude is that the rest of us (peasants) can go “eat cake” — impossible of course since peasants can’t afford cake, only bread. This is why there was a French revolution. Off with Harrell’s head.
Bobby is the House version of Jake Knotts. Lexington got rid of Jake, they can get rid of Bobby.
The irony of your statement is that both Knotts and Harrell were/are bff’s with Jean Toal. Has anybody heard Jean’s position on this Bobby mess lately? She got what she wanted and is now more than likely denying she even knows him. That is what she has done with Knotts.
Same could be said about Wilson
As you can plainly see in the picture, Harrell is trying to use his Jedi mind trick powers on the dumb people. Poor Crawford, having a brain the size of a gnat, never stood a chance.
You don’t need to see his identification…
These aren’t the droids you’re looking for…
You will squash Alan Wilson like a gnat and pass my bill without reading even the summary text…
powasquassi – “life out of balance” (Hopi)
Harrell has become a political Turkish whirling dervish, red robes, tall hat — the works.
Self-destructive, delusional, dangerous to peers and constituents.
Same could said about Wilson
What always gets me is that these are people in an important place to do important work and they can’t even master grammar. “To far” or “too far”?
Second point: “Hardly even glance at a bill”. What are you motherfuckers so busy doing up there that you don’t have time to read a bill before you vote to make it A LAW?
I come away with this. If you are one hard-working studious son-of-a-bitch you can run a game on all those other elected dumbfucks simply by paying attention. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. The junior legislatures are told how to vote and therefore develop a habit of not bothering to read any of it. AMERICA IS SCREWED!
The problem is: FITS has such a poor reputation for honesty, it’s difficult to take any cause he is forcing as noble…
FITS is seen as self-serving, partisan and deficient of credibility. He has demonstrated no talent, insight, or consistency in ideology, that is necessary for him to be taken seriously.
In other words: You want FITS as an enemy, if you desire credibility.
thats why you post on every single article at least a dozen times..come to think of it your whole life seems to be centered on Obama and Fits..LOLOLOL..how incredibly sad is that..the only thing that you exist for is Obama and Fits..that is sadder than a box of puppies being run over on the highway!
And yet he turns a blind eye to how these corrupt individuals have ruined our state. GrandTango cares not a lick about South Carolina. He is fine with the current lot and wil cast a ballot for them again b/c he is a low-information voter.
Uhhhh, not to be contrarian and get you all fired up or anything (I just lost a couple million brain cells doing battle with one of your cousins, I think), but have you seen Will’s recent pieces on BHO fucking up in Ukraine, fucking up the healthcare rollout, fucking up Sebelius, etc? I don’t think it’s quite accurate to say he’s been on some national news “blackout mode.” I think there’s also been a good bit of action in Cola, which usually trumps all but the biggest national/int’l stories on here. Just sayin’…
Very paltry coverage for such a gargantuan F*#k ups by the Obama administration.
Obamacare will have 100 times more influence on our lives than your p!$$!ng grudge w Harrell.
You spend All this time on this contrived controversy and it comes to nothing most of the time.
Your agenda choices just show your futility, bias, stupidity and lack of experience in selecting. pertinence.
Wow. At least you moved from “blackout” to “paltry.” That’s a start, I guess. I’m still a little put out with myself for even trying to talk to you. I should have listened to TBG…
It’s in effect a ‘Blackou’t when you consider the enormity of the damage facing this country, and FITS’ pedestrian, nothing-more-than-obligatory attention to Obama and the liberals…
FITS claims to be an Alternative (different-type) news site. He used to brag that he is right-leaning, until I called him on it, and he deleted the description…FITS also claimed (in filling out a survey) that he is Staunch Right-wing Conservative on issues.
Yet: FITS, like you, is cookie-cutter, run-of-the-mill, milquetoast, flat-minded, incurious, cliché, same ol’ and no thinking. He’s moderate at best. And Liberal on his worst days.
Often, people who come to the table, with nothing more than wanting to talk…simply regurgitate what others say…
That is worthless. And as a voter, it makes you part of the problem. The fact that FITS tells you, and so many others, how to think, makes FITS even more dangerous.
WE need the opposite of what you and FITS are…Not more…
Did TBG tell you that?
No, he just said that you were an obsessed wacko, and that I shouldn’t try to have rational conversation with you. All good, though. I make my fair share of mistakes, but not usually the same ones twice.
Term limits… 12 years and you’re out.
“THE HONOR SYSTEM?”
That’s the same as saying “WE HAVE TO PASS IT SO WE CAN READ IT!”
“THE WOLF WILL SOON FIND THE SHEEP HAVE TEETH!”
I’ve made this point in each thread devoted to this bill and no one has refuted a bit of it.
Whatever else this bill (HB 5072) does, it does not take away any authority of the AG to pursue a case against the Speaker or anyone else. The bill adds a provision to the State Grand Jury statute that would allow the President Pro Tem and the Speaker to jointly appoint a Special Prosecutor to pursue public corruption cases against a “Constitutional Officer” or other enumerated officials. The bill does not delete any current language in the statute.
Is anyone going to explain how this bill neuters the AG?
P.S. AG’s Opinions are essentially worthless as precedent in court. This particular opinion doesn’t even support the point for which it’s being cited here. The office of Speaker isn’t a “constitutional office”.
What’s the point of refuting anything? Do y’all really believe in the state house we are this stupid and believe that the timing of this bill is a pure coincidence?
Harrell is done! Stick a fork in him.
First, I haven’t set foot in the Statehouse for a couple of years. Second, if my points are valid (no one has refuted them), the entire premise of this kerfuffle is false. Does that not matter? If the bill provides no protection to the Speaker (which it doesn’t), what difference does it make when it was introduced?
HD – read in conjunction with 5073 the constitutional amendment its pretty clear that only the FEDS could or would be able to bring action for public corruption against legislators/const offices and even some municipal officers – as they certainly wont vote by a majority to do it to themselves.
Low def – You’re not even close. As I said, 5072 makes no change to the AG’s current powers.
This guy deserves a career in fast food, with lots of supervision. No discretionary behavior. Doing dishes in a prison would be just right. What an embarrassment.
Are you in prison now? You seem to have a prison fetish.
I sent you an email. Its about when I did your mom.
You didn’t answer the question …Are you in prison now? You seem to have a prison fetish.
And, we’re supposed to believe a single legislator would like a bill that
Absolutely – sponsoring – not voting for or against SPONSORING – a bill you haven’t even read!?! This is a little CYA, “we don’t even have time” to rad the bills sometimes. Dude, dude, seriously – this isn’t Congress, and there aren’t any 1-10 thousand page bills. Almost 95 precent are less than 10 pages long. This is total bull shit.
Trucks and cars to travel in and around the lowcountry very soon, decked out in signs and posters that basically state Harrell is a criminal that must be sent to prison. These automobiles will go out during rush hour traffic and heavy weekend traffic for several weekends in a row. Its one way to get the word out even more about Harrells felonies and that he has admitted guilt in dozens of ways, but fights tooth and name to stay out of jail.
Wishful thinking again scooter …Harrell hasn’t been convicted of any felonies and I suspect that he won’t be, your blogging is nothing but hot air.
Come on Trey read the tea leaves..your daddy is in trouble..you never defend anything said against him you just point fingers at Wilson..come on Trey grow up for once in your silver spoon fed life!
I don’t know Trey, sorry, but your little conspiracy theory is false. You are really having a hard time dealing with the truth and the facts. As I said before, Wishful thinking again scooter …Harrell hasn’t been convicted of any felonies and I suspect that he won’t be, your blogging is nothing but hot air.
“Loser: Attorney General Alan Wilson”
“Wilson’s corruption went mainstream this week. The state’s top prosecutor is likely staring down an investigation into his campaign finances according to one source. We’re glad the public is being made aware of the blatant corruption and we continue to call on Alan Wilson to restore dignity to the office by resigning immediately.”
http://www.gopwrite.com/1/category/alan%20wilson/1.html
…”lies and illegal activities surrounding the campaign finances of South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. The Post and Courier published this expose’ on the cesspool that is Wilson’s campaign finance disclosures. The P&C found EVEN MORE illegal contributions that Wilson refused to disclose to the public. After filing dozens of amendments to his original filings, the total number of over-the-limit contributions is now up to an outrageous 105 and the aggregate total of illegal contributions to $88,000. It seems like every time someone looks at his falsified reports there’s more to find.”
“Wilson has refused to speak publicly about his ethical hypocrisy and has trotted out his white supremacist campaign consultant Richard Quinn, President of Richard Quinn and Associates, a Columbia based political consulting firm to do his bidding. Wilson has repeatedly refused to comment or cannot be reached. Why can’t the Attorney General speak for himself? It seems as though mastermind Quinn doesn’t trust Wilson to speak to the media. This hammers home Wilson’s guilt and serves to feed the growing public opinion that Wilson is the most ethically corrupt man to currently hold office in South Carolina. Wilson should be forced to come clean on his egregious errors and should be prosecuted instead of hiding behind his paid hack.”
“Once again we call on Attorney General Alan Wilson to resign and should he refuse, we will continue to push for the involvement of the Department of Justice. South Carolina deserves far better from their top prosecutor.”
http://beforeitsnews.com/politics/2014/04/wilson-ethics-issues-go-mainstream-2611682.html
I see Bobbys boy Trey is posting again..dont worry junior im sure dad can still get you a job from prison maybe you can shine silver spoons for your frat friends.
Don’t know who Trey is and I really don’t care. Why don’t you comment on the article, I know the truth hurts sometimes, take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay.
Harrell’s ship is sinking faster and faster. Its off to prison for him. No lawyers or his crony friends can save this sack of shit now. Can’t wait to see how they all react when the FBI starts raiding their homes and offices. Its coming soon (echo echo echo).
I really don’t see Harrell’s ship sinking ..it’s obvious that the tables have turned on Wilson.
Must be some really good drugs you are on. Aside from that, everyone knows you are connected to Harrell. So you like is liquid babies in your mouth, eh?
Nope, It’s just obvious that that the tables have turned on Wilson. Read and weep honey child.
If I had a dog like you, I would shave it’s butt and teach it to walk backwards.
Bless your heart, your comment is absent any facts again. It’s going to be okay.
WOW!!…that’s the boldest prediction you’ve made since you told us there was proof of FITS’ affair w/ Haley…
Dude, America is in a Disastrous mess. You need to get your head out your @$$…
The only way that is happening is if the Feds get involved. There is no Judge in this state that will allow him to be convicted. He knows where the bodies are and people will protect him from jail in exchange for keeping quite.
Wrong.
Bless your heart, your comment is absent any facts again. Bless your heart, it’s going to be okay.
You have been reported for making death threats.
Bless your heart, your comment is absent any facts again. Bless your heart, it’s going to be okay.
Bless your heart, your comment is absent any facts. Let’s see you have a fetish about ships sinking, prison, sacks of shit, and the FBI. Th problem is that your comments don’t add up to anything, you are in dream la la land, the only echo that is occurring is inside your skull because it’s void of any brain matter. Dream on Bro, you are blogging so fast and furious that your body is going to experience an internal combustion and I can’t wait to see it. Fair warning.
Alan Wilson’s Campaign Finance report shows he refunded excess donations
Alan Wilson, South Carolina’s top prosecutor has returned $43,000 since January in previous campaign donations that exceeded state limits.
Attorney General Alan Wilson’s campaign refunds are part of efforts to correct Wilson’s quarterly campaign disclosures dating from his 2010 campaign.
Wilson’s disclosure shows he refunded $71,350 in the quarter that ended March 31. That includes $28,000 he sent to the Children’s Trust to give away all donations Wilson received between 2009 and 2011 from a once high-profile attorney. That attorney was sentenced last month for stealing more than $2 million from his clients.
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140411/PC1603/140419844/1005/alan-wilson-report-shows-he-refunded-excess-donations