THE GOVERNOR’S WAR AGAINST THE LEGISLATURE IS ON!
|| By WILL FOLKS || It’s been a long time, but in a not-too-distant life I used to be the press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. Not the current governor Nikki Haley (although to be accurate I did used to work … um … “under” her). Hard work, too … sometimes dirty work. LOLz.
No, I’m talking about Mark Sanford … the guy who turned “hiking the Appalachian Trail” into a metaphor for doing the hibbidy dibbity (and whose chronic oversharing earned him the nickname “Representative TMI”). Yeah … that guy.
Anyway, one fine spring day many years ago Sanford got upset at state lawmakers who were overriding his vetoes of specific spending items in the state budget. To protest, he carried a pair of squealing piglets named “pork” and “barrel” to the door of the S.C. House of Representatives to make a point about protecting taxpayer money.
Genius idea? Of course … it was public relations coup.
But what sealed the deal for Sanford wasn’t the image of him grinning with a pair of oinking piglets under his arms. No … what won it for the governor was the caustic, angry, doleful face of House Speaker David Wilkins, who appeared on camera grumbling and whining about the governor’s antics.
When Wilkins’ lost his cool by way of a response, that’s when we popped the champagne corks in the governor’s office (and watched Sanford’s approval ratings skyrocket).
Well guess what: History is repeating itself at the S.C. State House this year …
After four years of going along with the failed”Republican-controlled” status quo (embracing it, even) … Haley has decided this year to go in another direction.
Well, sort of …
The governor – who vetoed less than one-tenth of one percent of last year’s state budget – still proposed massive spending increases for the coming fiscal year. And she’s still trying to rally support for a totally worthless “ethics reform” bill.
To her credit, though, Haley recently opposed a $500 million borrowing plan – a move which has enraged lawmakers. And which kept this money out of the state budget (at least temporarily).
Now the governor – who previously supported even larger borrowing plans – seems to be going out of her way to stoke legislative anger. Just this week, in fact, she told a trade group that anyone visiting members of the General Assembly should be prepared to “take a shower” afterward.
Wow …
Why the barbs? Is it a ploy for national attention? An attempt to boost her approval ratings? Is Haley simply reprising Sanford’s strategy of goading a gullible, thin-skinned legislature into pointless bickering? Over marginal issues, no less?
Whatever the governor’s motivations were for declaring war on her erstwhile allies … one thing is clear: Lawmakers are falling right into her trap.
The level of whining emanating from the S.C. State House is reaching a fever pitch. Lawmakers bristling at Haley’s social media rebukes keep adopting shriller, more caustic tones.
They are giving Haley exactly what she wants … throwing temper tantrums. Lashing out indiscriminately. Permitting her to shape the narrative of herself as a crusading ethics reformer versus them: The antagonist, change-averse legislative curmudgeons. What’s even more astounding is a lot of these lawmakers were in the General Assembly a decade ago when Sanford was punking them … meaning they should know better than to go down this road.
What should they do instead?
Simple.
On both spending and “ethics,” Haley does not have a leg to stand on. So lawmakers should aim carefully, swing forcefully, and knock those legs out from under her.
During her first term as governor Haley pushed a big government agenda on taxes, spending, education and (most notably) government-subsidized health care. She “balanced” budgets with billions in borrowing. In addition to that fundamental disconnect, she’s the biggest hypocrite in the state when it comes to “ethics reform” (and she’s pushing a terrible ethics bill).
Seriously … how hard can it be to rebuke this woman?
Lawmakers need to stop whining and start exposing the governor for exactly what she is: A fraud and a hypocrite. Don’t be mean. Don’t be petty. Don’t be bitter. Just lay out the facts as they are …
Shouldn’t be that hard …
60 comments
At least Sanford had a sense of humor with his actions. I am not sure Gov. Haley’s comment is humorous.
But “law”ing out the facts just might be – ooops.
Sense of humor…Sanford???…Are you THAT F*#king stupid???…
He was the most gloomy, mournful @$$-hole ever. He was like he was born with the silver spoon up his @$$…before he put it in his mouth…
You are not a very good student of personality…
Come on GT, even you have a sense of humor – this is funny!
“To protest, he carried a pair of squealing piglets named “pork” and “barrel” to the door of the S.C. House of Representatives to make a point about protecting taxpayer money.”
Do you remember it???…It fell FLAT…the pigs crapped all over the place, and FITS had to clean it up…
It was the one time I felt sorry for FITS (aside from that skank getting him arrested)…He’s left cleaning up the mess after that elitist B@$ta*d pulled a prank to embarrass the people he hates…and it backfired and blew S#!t – literally – all over him…
But instead of owning up to it…he sends his “boy” out to look like a fool…for something he did…
No, I do not remember that. Before my time in SC politics.
Thanks for admitting that you are the typical leftwing dolt…commenting on something as if you know…when you don’t…
I am commenting on one thing that was posted in the article. Tell me wise one, if you felt so sorry for him, why didn’t you help clean up the S#!t?
Ashley probably did FITS a favor, otherwise we might not be having this conversation on this site.
Is that you Mark???…LMAO….
LOL. I am trying to decide on an Alias. I picked Mary quickly but did not intend to keep it.
It’s either Pineapple Twist or Sintwist.
Maybe Pi Twist – what do you think GT? Since you do seem to have an interest, maybe you can help me decide.
This is the ONLY time GT and myself see eye to eye on something – I can’t believe I just wrote this………
The Middle East going to shit, pilots flying planes into mountails for no apparent reason and me and GT seeing eye to eye on something (or maybe he/she/it just “borrowed” one of my mantras – I hope so anyway)
There’s only one conclusion:
**********THE END TIMES ARE HERE!!!!!!!!! ****************
I must confess after looking some of that crap up, I too agree with him.
GT doesn’t have a sense of humor. #%)($%@!@!!!!!!
Sometimes the GrandTurnip is a deep thinker. For example, he continues to ponder the question, “If pencils came with erasers at both ends, what would be the point?”
That’s one thing totally missing out here in Taxifornia. The so-called liberals and quasi-socialists in state Gruberment are totally without a sense of hummer.
They are so serious that they let the g’ment unions help them write what passes for laws and “never let a crisis go to waste”, ever, no matter who dies or who goes to jail or who gets gunned down in the latest drive-by … Shirley.
Totally.
If they weren’t out stealing, running guns and women, what would we talk about?
That reminds me of my favorite Wanner Zevon song:
**********”Lawyers, Guns & Money”!!!!!*************
I love that song on so many levels (especially the unedited version)!!!!!
I meant to type WARREN Zevon
Sorry about the typo!!!!!
Great tune!
Yep, it’s got a GREAT beat and the lyrics say all there is to say!!!!
Yes, but the entertainment value has more than run its course. These theiving poli-wogs are no longer funny, even as a misguided soap opera.
Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying out loud – damn thieves!
The entertainment value has worn too thin … The ensuing jailhouse riots are none too good for those “slant eyed” criminals.
A politician helped himself to a Bible just about every Sunday, taking it home after the service. The minister didn’t mind because the politician was a liar, and the minister hoped that some of the truth of the Bible would rub off on him. Costs started to mount, so after a service one Sunday, the minister asked the politician point blank, “Have you been taking the Good Book from us?” The politician replied, “No, Reverend, and I’ll swear to that on a stack of Bibles!”
The Past, the Present, and the Future walked into a bar. It was tense.
His sorry ass should have cleaned up the shit himself you know that stuff about personal responsibility that conservatives like to preach about and all……….
it just showed how lacking of character the SOB really had (which manifested itself 10X later on).
Maybe if she runs naked through the State House. With a pig?
Did Smirks die or something…or he is he just posting under one of many names like so many of you have to do…???
Maybe he’s tied up in your basement?
OIC, you are posting under your real name right?
Nobody who lives on Bub Schumpert Road in Pelion goes by their true name. GrandTurnip is actually one of the twins bred by Jack and Noe Schitt — but we can’t determine if he is Deap Schitt or Dip Schitt.
You may be thinking of your pal Flipper/pogo.
“Just lay out the facts”. If facts mattered, Haley would’ve been sent packing in November. Instead, the people of state gobbled up her BS job numbers, and overlooked her numerous failures with the help of our weak-assed local media)simply because she has an “R” by her name. She has actually gotten worse in a second term. Face it, we’re stuck with her until she decides to leave.
SC’s is actually doing better than the national economy…because we REJECTED so many Obama policies…and we’ve beaten Rust Belt states, that have high taxes and liberals running them into the ground…
And to suggest Haley could have lost in the general, is laughable…
Have you not noticed that “Democrat” is now a FILTHILY word…as Obama’s failure is too obvious to deny…and Bush is too long ago to blame…???
1. SC is not doing better than ANY state, in doing anything except producing shitheads, like you.
2. See above for reasoning why Haley couldn’t lose.
SC had a $1 billion Budget Surplus in 2006…because the national economy was going gangbusters…
Everybody is starving now…and we have been since Obama took over the country…and enacted his plan to HATE those not like him..
I give SC credit for doing as well as we have, despite Obama’s miserable economy…
SC had a $1 billion surplus in 2006 because they had $1 billion they didn’t spend from 2005, and so they moved it to 2006, called it a surplus and claimed victory. If there was a REAL surplus then, there’d be a REAL surplus now – it’s not like Nikki cut any taxes.
Revenues outpaced projections Dumb@$$…and thanks for mentioning 2005. Because in 2006, Congress went D…and the downward spiral began…
Congress could have gone Jesus in 2007 and it was too late to reverse the damage done by you and your party. And that’s a fact, not a made up dream you have. You ruined this country in 2002-2008, and we’re just now getting back. Americans would be idiots to let you and your economically illiterate party have control of the reins again. Hey, BTW I notice you’re fiscally sound party just passed a budget that increases the deficit another $20 billion. Nice one Dude!!!!
Damage?…
REAL 4.5% unemployment; A response to worldwide Terror; Tax Cuts; Business Explosion; Opportunity abounding; low gas and energy prices; Moral clarity; respect for ourselves and the United States…
You are a MOTHER-F*#king IDIOT and a pawn of anti-American DUMB-@$$#$……
We MUST get back to the PROSPERITY that the Bush Administration and the Republican Party had us. Or we’ll continue to spiral into the toilet, like Obama and the Democrat Party are doing…
Declining wages, unemployment that averaged over 6% through 2005, one year of solid growth, business imploding 2008, financial markets collapsing 2008, $4.25 gast 2008, no transparency, hatred toward the United States from our allies, skyrocketing insurance rates. Oh, I get it, you were living in Canada then. Idiot. You’re such a freakin’ liar. As always. Bye now!!! And Bless Your Heart!!!
The problem you have in lying about it: People can remember. It was not that long ago.
The Obam-economy is MISERABLE. And people on the streets KNOW that. The Bush economy was MUCH better. People know that too…
I remember it. 4.4 million jobs lost during bush.
You REMEMBER???…With a number like that (8 million) it sounds likes the Bull-S#!t you were fed…through a statistical agency….
Again: anyone working in the private-sector…and many government workers losing jobs. …KNOW the truth…
Where did you get 8 million?
Lol…looks like he’s just as bad with numbers as he is words.
WTF are you talking about. Are you making it up out of thin air, like you do statistics???
Tango caught in another lie…lol. Thanks for the laugh, fool…
Kook much?
Where did YOU get 8 million Dumb@$$???
That’s takin’ it a bit far there Joe.
I don’t agree with Haley at all, I think she is a self serving witch. However I agree with her comments about the lawmakers being filthy self serving idiots.
It’s a sociopath festival all around:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A&t=1m40s
Best moment of the whole Sanford and the pigs show? Watching Will Folks and Joel Sawyer scrubbing pig shit out of the carpets in the lobby.
There you go!!
I figured Sic Willie cleaned up the pig shit but this confirms it (if it is true)
If I had been Wilkins i would have said that pig shit stays right were it is till Sanford personally cleans it up.
“His pigs made the mess and it’s Sanford’s and noone else’s job to clean it up.” said Wilkins ***************Talk about a REAL photo op!!!!!!******************
if it were me, I’d let that shit dry into the carpet and put a plexigalss cover over the shit before I’d let anyone but Sanford clean the shit up.
If I were the legislators who are pissed off at Queen Namrata , yeah, I’d bring up her BS on spending and ethics but even more important I’d have a big assed dry erase board with “IT’S A GREAT DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA = 730 DAYS (insert actual day) AND COUNTING ON THE DOR HACKING – WE NEED ANSWERS GOVERNOR” on top of the board and then change the day each day till the Queen ponys up.
I for one ain’t forgetting and neither should the so called leaders of this state.
How come that ploy never worked for me?
Use a thesaurus.
If they throw stones at her they’ll have to look in the mirror …
If I had worked for Sanford, I don’t think I would so readily admit it.
Kinda miss Pork and Barrel
The Gypsy and the Lilliputian running the show are not near as attractive