SC

Mia McLeod: “Speechless”

NEW YEAR … SAME OLD DIVISIVE POLITICS FROM NIKKI HALEY || By MIA McLEOD || The month of January is coming to an end, and many of you have asked why I’ve been so quiet lately.  My “quiet-time” allows me to arm myself with pertinent information and insight, so that…

NEW YEAR … SAME OLD DIVISIVE POLITICS FROM NIKKI HALEY

mia mcleod|| By MIA McLEOD || The month of January is coming to an end, and many of you have asked why I’ve been so quiet lately.  My “quiet-time” allows me to arm myself with pertinent information and insight, so that I can continue to give you the real deal.

And although it’s hard to believe we’re into week three of the 2015 legislative session, this year is different.  We’ve got a new House Speaker, new committees and, hopefully, a new opportunity to begin to change the culture—from partisan and self-preserving to people-focused and productive.

For the first time in four years, I’m actually excited about being back.  New leadership.  New opportunities.  A renewed sense of hope.  Maybe even a new beginning…

And if there’s one thing our State House desperately needs, it’s a new beginning.

But on November 4th, only moments after the polls closed, South Carolinians quickly learned that there wouldn’t be a new Governor.

Still, it seemed only fair that a second term come with a second chance to do right by all of us.  So I decided to reserve comment until she was able to reveal her plans for moving SC forward.

This term would be different.  How could it not be?  Nationally, the economy is making a big comeback.  And although she refuses to give President Barack Obama credit for his part, the truth is … no state … not even ours … operates in a vacuum.

We’re all in this together, so “politicizing” and dividing us on non-partisan issues like education, ethics, jobs, economic development, healthcare, roads and infrastructure development would be a stretch—even for her.

But politicizing and dividing are her specialties.

Take her Inaugural Address, for starters. Where else could a state’s #1 Ethics Violator rebrand herself as its #1 Ethics Reform Champion?

Only in South Cakalacky.

Pounce on the legislature under the guise of “protecting the public interest.”  Invoke the name of God and the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And yet, even that wasn’t enough to lend credibility to her era of corruption.

So much for new beginnings…

Her State of the State Address last week confirmed that.  High on rhetoric, but low on substance, this rambling rant left folks on both sides of the aisle speechless.

What about the future of public education and the Abbeville case?  How can she come from a rural area like Bamberg County and not even mention — let alone fight — this landmark decision and its impact, especially when equity, parity and a quality education for all South Carolina students is so critical to the future of our state?

Fortunately, the SC Supreme Court shut it down yesterday by refusing to rehear the case … a true victory for rural SC students who deserve a quality education and access to the same educational resources and opportunities, regardless of their zip codes.

And while domestic violence continues to wreak havoc on our state, how can it be a great day in South Carolina when we’ve been #1 in the nation at least three times and are now second only to Alaska for women who are murdered by their significant others?

Equal pay for women?  Didn’t mention it.

A livable wage in South Carolina?  Not when we take pride in being one of only five states in the country without one.

Expanding your healthcare coverage options, like fourteen of her Republican Governor counterparts in other states?  Of course not.

What about our roads, bridges and infrastructure?  Even she admitted that SC has the third lowest gas tax in America, visitors to our state would pay a portion of it and increasing the gas tax would boost revenue streams for our roads and highways.  Then, she vowed to do what she usually does when there’s a bright idea that’ll move our state forward.

Veto it.

Sorry, Governor … our crumbling roads and bridges deserve a plan that at least covers the cost to rebuild and repair them.

So … after sitting through page after page of nothingness, I too, was speechless.  And if the Governor’s Address was expected to include anything remotely close to a substantive, viable plan for South Carolina, obviously … so was she.

Mia McLeod represents District No. 79 in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

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59 comments

Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:31 pm

Dear Representative McLeod – Equal pay for women? Is your pay less than your male counterparts? This issue is passé,

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Uh huh January 27, 2015 at 1:32 pm

“Even she admitted that SC has the third lowest gas tax in America, visitors to our state would pay a portion of it and increasing the gas tax would boost revenue streams for our roads and highways.”

The SCDOT is so dysfunctional the extra money wouldn’t get used properly.

Fix the agency by starting with a top to bottom audit.

Also, the “argument” that SC has low gas taxes compared to other states is fallacious when you don’t know what it takes to maintain a reasonable road network(which is not the 4th largest in the US btw).

SC also has one of the lowest cost of living in the US, so naturally the cost of things like roads should be naturally lower too.

“For the first time in four years, I’m actually excited about being back. ”

Well, that didn’t last long, did it? Maybe more gov’t isn’t the answer to all these problems.

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Crooner January 27, 2015 at 1:37 pm

You mean one of the lowest standards of living? Do you really think that things like the costs of roads vary by state?

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Uh huh January 27, 2015 at 1:38 pm

“Do you really think that things like the costs of roads vary by state?”

Yes, of course.

“You mean one of the lowest standards of living?”

It probably both standard and cost, thank you for demonstrating yet another reason we shouldn’t be taxing people here like other states do.

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Recollection January 27, 2015 at 1:44 pm

“Do you really think that things like the costs of roads vary by state?”

It wasn’t long ago this site linked to a Reason report that said our roads are one of the least costly in the nation.

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:45 pm

Of course the costs of roads vary by state, you idiot. Just as costs of housing varies by state; just as cost of gas varies state by state; just as cost of concrete…

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Crooner January 27, 2015 at 4:09 pm

Housing varies primarily because of the cost of land, not materials. Gas varies because of taxes and demand. You may have noticed a barrel of oil costs what it costs and isn’t influenced by what state it winds up in. Of course, it may well be that the reason our roads are in such bad shape is that we allow sub par construction that falls apart quickly. That would be cheaper.

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Job Costing 101 January 27, 2015 at 4:23 pm

“labor”

Job Costing 101 for dummies January 27, 2015 at 6:14 pm

Wrong again. Let me help you understand. Labor is an important factor in the cost of construction. And it varies widely from state to state. As for gas, transportation of the gas to the station is an important factor you left out. Notice gas prices increase as the gas stations get farther from the Interstate.

Job Costing 101 January 27, 2015 at 6:58 pm

“Wrong again. Let me help you understand. Labor is an important factor in the cost of construction.”

Calling you an idiot is an insult to idiots.

Bible Thumper January 28, 2015 at 6:39 am

“Calling you an idiot is an insult to idiots.”

I’m not sure if I should be offended or not.

Just Me January 28, 2015 at 7:40 am

“Notice gas prices increase as the gas stations get farther from the interstate.”

Not in my experience. Gas prices are always higher near the interstate and taper off as you drive away from the interstate. The main reason for this is so that the gas station operators can make as much money as they can on those who are just making a pit stop and then moving on down the interstate. Locals will shop around.

My understanding is that prices go up depending on distance the transports need to travel from the terminal to deliver their load and whether the station is getting it’s gas from a jobber or from a branded gas supplier such as BP or Shell or whatever. So you will pay more for branded gasoline.

Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:58 pm

@Crooner – you done lost this argument. Smoke break’s over so get on back to work now.

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Crooner January 27, 2015 at 1:35 pm

Haley views the governor’s office as a stepping stone to bigger things for her and her family. So she is naturally more concerned with how she is perceived by her supporters than actually making progress for SC.

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:59 pm

hmmmm. Ya think Mia McLeod views her position as a stepping stone?

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jimlewisowb January 27, 2015 at 4:54 pm

How in the hell does one step up from laying on one’s back

Fucking Cockroach

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Opportunist January 27, 2015 at 4:55 pm

Rolling over?

I might say that presents a mighty good time to explore one’s canine sexual tendencies as well.

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Yelsewh January 27, 2015 at 3:48 pm

I think that she used to see it that way but really, what’s her next move? She’s not going on to national office. A cabinet position in a Republican administration? Maybe. Lobbying? HA! You need influence to be successful at that and she has none without her office.

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Crooner January 27, 2015 at 4:03 pm

You’re giving her more credit for introspection than she deserves.

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Yelsewh January 27, 2015 at 6:27 pm

Fair enough. It’s the way I’d assess the situation. Actually, if I were Nimrata, I’d hire someone to give me the straight truth.

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:36 pm

And for Domestic Violence – what the hell can Governor Haley do about that except to send her own hubby to jail if he decides to beat her!

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a face in the crowd January 27, 2015 at 1:39 pm

Heighten awareness? Of course, she would have to be careful not to offend her constituency, as many of them view women as property.

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:54 pm

What more can we do to heighten awareness? There are billboards everywhere, ads on TV, newspapers, magazines.

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:38 pm

“South Cakalacky” – no respectable statesman should refer to her state in a demeaning way.

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Unicorn Sighting? January 27, 2015 at 1:48 pm

You’ve seen a respectable statesman? The Bigfoot guys are going to be jealous!

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 1:50 pm

You have a point. But she should TRY to show respect for her state.

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xx January 27, 2015 at 2:19 pm

It doesn’t help bring new industry to our state when our very one of our Statesmen make fun of it.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt January 27, 2015 at 2:35 pm

You’re right. She should have written “Sakerlina”

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jimlewisowb January 27, 2015 at 4:55 pm

“…respectable statesman….”

another oxymoron sees the light of day

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I'm a lunatic liberal January 27, 2015 at 4:56 pm

“statesman”

Why do you hate women?

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 6:06 pm

Because I’m a woman and ALL women hate other women. It has to do with PMS and hormones.

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I'm a lunatic liberal January 27, 2015 at 6:57 pm

Ha! Good one.

Even God fears women on the rag.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt January 27, 2015 at 2:34 pm

Welcome Mia. It’s about time this website had some diversity in it’s ranks and this article was well done and right on point. I look forward to seeing more :-)

P.s. Don’t mind the haters, they still wish it t’were 1860 again.

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Squishy123 January 27, 2015 at 2:43 pm

Ah the good ol’ days, when pappy would buy you a slave for your 16th birthday and people would drop dead of old age at the age of 42.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt January 27, 2015 at 6:58 pm

Or if you’re Strom Thurmond you get to knock up an underage black girl, sweep it under the rug and send her packing to the west coast to chill out and shut up for the next 80 years.

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Jungle Love January 27, 2015 at 7:01 pm

It was probably a good life though.

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Squishy123 January 27, 2015 at 8:37 pm

Good thing there aren’t any baby daddies around these days. “brothas and sistas”… because for all they know they might be.

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xx January 27, 2015 at 6:20 pm

Bullshit! If she hadn’t put her pix up there, most readers wouldn’t know she’s black woman. You are racist for even alluding to a racist/sexist mindset.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt January 27, 2015 at 6:56 pm

If she hadn’t put her pic up there you wouldn’t have had any way to rant and rave at me about faux reverse racism.

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xx January 27, 2015 at 7:59 pm

Wrong. I know Mia McLeod and have for years. Ever since I’ve know her, I was aware of her gender and race.

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Toyota Kawaski January 28, 2015 at 9:20 am

No most just wish you would return to 1860. Why dont you suck a fart out while your nose is stuck up there?

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Squishy123 January 27, 2015 at 2:42 pm

Why does the SC legislature need to meet for several months out of every year while other states can meet for a few months EVERY OTHER YEAR and accomplish more? Including budgets for two years.

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Squishy123 January 27, 2015 at 2:48 pm


Nationally, the economy is making a big comeback. And although she refuses to give President Barack Obama credit for his part”

Well I guess she should mention the trillions of dollars the country has gone into debt over the past six years. Any country will be doing well as long as the government keeps printing money. How many people are on welfare now compared to when he entered office? Check Main Street instead of Wall Street before commenting on the economy.

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Living high on the debt hog January 27, 2015 at 2:49 pm

Like is grand as long as the credit card doesn’t come back “declined”. Who better to know that than Obama?

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Squishy123 January 27, 2015 at 3:25 pm

His mother-in-law who has a secret service detail and free trips aboard AF1 and taxpayer paid accommodations wherever Obama and Mooshell go.

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Idontthinkso January 27, 2015 at 6:17 pm

BTW, how many “extended family” are allowed to live in The White House.

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Two bale buck January 27, 2015 at 7:00 pm

Only the light skinned house negro knows the answer to that.

GrandTango January 27, 2015 at 3:24 pm

“Divisive Politics”….????

The Irony….LMAO…..

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Bible Thumper January 28, 2015 at 6:29 am

And of all people to point it out?
Irony.

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GrandTango January 28, 2015 at 7:39 am

There’s a BIG F*#king difference in standing up for a majority of the people..and Divisive politics, you ignorant F*#k..

You demonstrate why I have such a problem w/ Liberal-Tarians, or go-along, to get-along types. You have NO core…and nothing matters to you…except appeasing BAD people…

The liberals have convinced you Fence-Rider idiots, that standing up for what is right, is obstruction, or somehow not acceptable..So you end up being manipulated pawns for implementation of their corrupt, immoral and anti-Ameican, Bull-S#!t..

You’re as big a F*#king problem as the Obam-ites…

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Bible Thumper January 28, 2015 at 7:47 am

You never persuade when you’re insulting.

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GrandTango January 28, 2015 at 8:42 am

We don’t need to persuade you. Anyone with half a F*#king brain can look at the Total Disaster the country is in, morally, socially and economically…and be persuaded…If not, you’re a lost F*#king cause…

The only thing left to do is DEFEAT you. Obliterate you. You’re wrong, Stupid and Dangerous…The just should not compromise with failed, dishonest and ignorant people…that’s how we got to where we are….

Highlander January 27, 2015 at 4:54 pm

Is this Mia McLeod of the Clan McLeod?

There can be only one.

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Just Follow Along January 27, 2015 at 7:55 pm

Plain and simple, Haley is a full blown psychotic. Keen minds see right through her baloney.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein January 27, 2015 at 8:10 pm

So … after sitting through page after page of nothingness, I too, was speechless.

If only.

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Taos January 27, 2015 at 8:24 pm

So basically, this editorialist is stating that the Govt needs to spend its way to prosperity… uh, right… and Haley is the stupid one? (and heck, I’m not even a Haley fan)

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Toyota Kawaski January 28, 2015 at 9:16 am

“And if there’s one thing our State House desperately needs, it’s a new beginning.”
why dont you start that process by exiting stage left? That would be a great “new beginning”

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Elfego January 28, 2015 at 9:21 am

Obama’s economy is as false as he is. Wait and see.

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truthmonger January 28, 2015 at 12:38 pm

“… a true victory for rural SC students who deserve a quality education and access to the same educational resources and opportunities, regardless of their zip codes.”

Mia, my question is this: Will you also support a requirement that property tax rates be equalized, and that money be spent based on student population? Or are you going to argue that some animals are more equal than others?

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