Last Night's Election - The Devil's Own Day

Wave.

Nikki Haley cruised to a fairly easy victory last night, as Republicans swept pretty much every race there was, in both South Carolina and nationwide. Even the state of Maryland elected a Republican Governor. Maryland, y'all.

Anyway, we'll see how things go for the next two years. My only admonition to Republicans in the Senate is this: All glory is fleeting. Remember the hubris of the Democrats, who basically thought the were going to have a permanent majority?

Well guess what, y'all. No majority is ever permanent. Get things done, and you'll be rewarded. Act like knuckle-heads, and you'll be out on your ear next time. Being marginally better than the Democrats isn't something to get all that excited about. There's always another battle to be fought.

I'm reminded of the exchange between Grant and Sherman at Shiloh. After the first day of battle, the Confederates had taken the Federal position and forced a retreat of the Federals under Grant and Sherman. The Federals had been driven from the field and looked like they would be finished off the following morning.

When Sherman arrived at Grant's headquarters later that evening, he found the general–broken sword and all– chewing on a soggy cigar in the rain, which had begun soaking the battlefield.

'Well, Grant' Sherman said to his friend, 'We've had the devil's own day, haven't we?'

'Yes,' replied Grant, 'lick 'em tomorrow, though.'

The GOP could easily be licked next time.

Federal Appeals Court Rules SC Occupy Protesters Have a "Viable Claim"

Remember back when "Occupy" was a thing? It was was back in November of 2011 or so. The protesters who were forcibly removed from the Statehouse grounds back then haven't just gone away. Maybe the Governor should have consulted with Permanent Press first.

Anyway, the Occupy folks have taken their case all the way to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which just decided that the Occupy protesters "have a viable claim" that the State of South Carolina violated their First Amendment rights.

You can read the full text of the opinion here.[PDF]

Here's where I am on this: Let's assume that the State did violate the Occupier's rights by forcibly removing them from the Statehouse Grounds. Ok, so what are the damages? The Occupy protesters want damages for the State violating their First Amendment rights. Well, for you law-geeks out there, there is a whole area of jurisprudence on who to measure such damages. You can read about it at length in this law review article, which just happens to be published by my law school alma mater.

I'm not sure I would award them much money, but I'd be fine with letting them go back to the Statehouse Grounds and protesting as much as they want, as long as they don't fall asleep. Sleeping isn't political speech, it's...well it's sleeping.

All I know is that if Governor Haley had followed my advice and just ignored these people, they'd probably be gone by now.

Nikki Haley Announces Reelection Bid

It's not really news, per se, but it's something. I didn't know she was the youngest governor in the country, but that makes sense. If you like re-runs, get ready for an encore performance of Nikki Haley vs. Vincent Sheheen.

Gov. Haley Tours FN Plant and Fires Guns

I took the same tour about a year ago, but they didn't let me fire anything. Also, FN came to a Columbia Rotary club meeting awhile back, and they put on a nice presentation. That was the one of the very few Rotary meetings I've ever been to.

It's really great that FN Manufacturing is located here in the midlands. It's clear that Governor Haley is doing good work in getting companies to come to SC. The demand for firearms right now has to be at an all-time high, and certain states (Colorado) seem ready to push gun companies out for political reasons.

Did you know that Connecticut based rifle manufacturer decided to relocate to SC? $20 Million in economic impact per year sounds pretty nice to me.

These are good, high-skilled, highly technical jobs, and because of the nature of the product, they're less likely to be outsourced to a foreign country. Looks like South Carolina isn't screwing everything up.

[h/t to @AndyShain for the video link]

Gov. Haley Down to Five Names

The actual headline from The State is "Haley chooses 5 finalists to succeed DeMint".

First of all, spoiler alert: I'm not one of the five people. Sorry, folks.

Second, "finalists"? That's not really the right word. This isn't an episode of American Idol. We're talking about a short list to be nominated to the US Senate. I guess The State trying to be pop-cultural and hip, but it seems a little kitsch to me.

Jim DeMint's Resignation

First of all, I don’t think Jim DeMint’s resignation from the Senate to go to the Heritage Foundation is some kind of pre-positioning for 2016. That’s not how you become President, and I think he knows that. If you think this is pre-positioning for a Presidential run, you need to stop doing drugs.

We all know that DeMint isn’t exactly a “team player”. He’s kind of the lone voice of really hard conservatism in the Senate, and he’s not really getting much done. Most of DeMint’s power was stop other things from getting done, and that’s got to be frustrating for him. Honestly, he hasn’t really been that effective at getting other hard-conservative/tea party folks elected, so it’s not like he’s been practically productive.

I think this is DeMint cashing in his chips when he can, as I’m sure the Heritage Foundation will probably pay him pretty well. Other than that, the main intrigue is how the seat goes. Governor Haley gets to nominate someone, and then they’ll have to have a special election in 2014 (I think). If that’s the case, then both seats in the US Senate from South Carolina will be up in 2014.

In any event, the Democrats will still control the Senate, and DeMint will still be a voice of hard-conservatism.

Ultimately, I kind of rate this as kind of a non-event. The only thing that is kind of a story here is someone walking away from a US Senate seat. He probably could have kept that seat as long as he wanted. You kind of have to respect that on a certain level.

Gov. Haley Is Wrong on Health Insurance Rate Hike

Ok, so here's the deal: Governor Haley got the State Budget and Control Board (which I believe is under the executive branch of our government) to raise the amount of what state workers pay for their health insurance. The only problem is the legislature had already decided not to do that. Per The State:

Haley’s move to raise state workers’ health insurance costs did more than just anger some workers and lawmakers. It also it upended a legislative deal that helped produce the state’s $6.7 billion budget. Lawmakers’ decision not to raise the amount that state workers pay for their health insurance was part of an elaborate compromise between Republicans and Democrats to pass the budget.

Democrats wanted to give a 4 percent pay raise to state workers, who had not received across-the-board raises since 2007. Republican budget writers countered with a 3 percent raise.

Democrats agreed, but only if Republicans would agree the state would pay the increase in state employees’ health insurance costs. That compromise was a big part of securing his vote for the budget, said state Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, who joined Courson and state Sen. Joel Lourie in calling for the budget board to reverse itself.

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea of requiring state workers to pay a little more for their health insurance, but it seems like the legislature considered that idea and rejected it. A deal is a deal. Case closed. If you don't like that, elect some different folks next time around. Frankly, this sounds a little too much like the action that we are seeing from the Federal Executive, where the Executive Branch of the government is trying to make an "end run" around around existing law and unilaterally impose their will.

I think Governor Haley is just wrong on this one, just like I believe President Obama is wrong on some unilateral (e.g. altering illegal immigration enforcement).

It's too bad most people are blinded by their partisan tendencies to apply principles in an even-handed manner. Be consistent, folks.

Access Does Not Mean Free

Apparently, Governor Haley vetoed some spending. Among the spending she vetoed was spending for the SC Arts Commission.

Of course, the folks who like to spend our tax money were quick to criticize:

“It is disappointing that she would put a target on the Arts Commission and the Sea Grants Consortium,” he said. “It’s been proven over and over that having access to the arts helps attract industry to South Carolina... [House Minority Leader Harry Ott]

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/07/2344499/haley-issues-budget-vetoes.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Having access to the arts? What the hell is he talking about?

I'm so tired of people using the word "access" incorrectly. Access is the freedom or ability to make use of something. It doesn't mean that you get to force someone to pay for it. I have the "access" to purchase a handgun, but the State of South Carolina isn't denying me access just because they won't buy me a sweet Colt Gold Cup.

Stop saying "access" when you mean subsidy. The Planned Parenthood crowd always talks about "access" to birth-control. Everyone has access to birth-control, you idiots. Most of us just buy it, and don't expect it for free.

Everyone has access to the arts. Art is all around you. I'm sure that the SC Arts Commission really thinks what they are doing is a good thing. I'm sure they have good intentions. But stop saying that people don't have "access" to things, when what you really mean is I want this thing for free.

Just say what you mean. And quit acting so damn entitled to my tax money. It's not a god-given right to have a stupid arts commission, and it's certainly not a core function of our state government.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/07/2344499/haley-issues-budget-vetoes.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/07/09/2347583/arts-groups-plan-rally-against.html#storylink=cpy

War on Women...By Other Women

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Honestly, this kind of gave me the creeps to watch. There are certainly people I don't like, but I'm never going to hit a pinata with their face on it. I can't even fathom doing it. Can you imagine the stories if it had been a man hitting this?

But I guess this is the new civility we've been hearing so much about, right?

Nikki Haley's Vogue Photo

What voting block is Governor Haley going for with this photo? Also, is her hair being blown with one of those fans like in a shampoo commercial?

The Cost of Gov. Haley's Security

House Minority Leader Harry Ott of St. Matthews plans to introduce a bill on Thursday that bars public officials from using taxpayer-funded security on personal trips. [He means Governor Haley.]

At a certain level, elected officials get security. That's just part and parcel of being an elected official.

I don't think this bill is a good idea. If it passes, then you'll have an argument about what is official and what is personal. What if you stop and go shopping during an official visit somewhere? What if you stop and go see a monument while on an official trip? Do you start breaking trips into percentages? This seems like a political gimmick that causes more problems than it solves, and I don't think it's really going to save any money. You've got to have security anyway.

I think we should trust our elected officials to use good judgment. If they don't - vote 'em out.

Haley Says She Will Veto New Helmet Law

I understand where she's coming from. I really do. I hate people telling me what to do.

On the other hand, I also support seat-belt laws. Everyone, regardless of their age, is required to wear a seatbelt while riding in a car. We've all agreed, as a society, that we're going to do this. I just don't really see a distinction in making motorcycle riders wear helmets from making car riders wear seat-belts. Both are easy things that are proven to make people safer.

I understand the principle of not wanting the government to constantly be your nanny. For instance, the decision on how much salt to put in my food is my own - not Mayor Bloomberg's.

I guess you have to draw the line somewhere between no laws and too many. This is mine. If the legislature (speaking for the people of SC) votes to require motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, Nikki Haley should sign the bill.

Nikki Haley Endorses Romney

Nikki Haley puts herself on Team Romney. I'm only mildly surprised at this. I didn't see her supporting Perry, and Bachmann, who I think is the natural inclination is too far out of the race. It always helps to support the eventual winner.

Protesters to Challenge Haley's 6:00PM Edict

As much as I disagree with the Occupy movement, I do not believe that Haley's decision to have everyone off the Statehouse grounds by 6:00PM is a reasonable time restriction. On the contrary, I believe it is an arbitrary and capricious time. Apparently, some people out there are going to call Haley's bluff.

Why 6:00PM? Why not 6:15PM or 7:00PM? The government needs to show a compelling reason why people should not be on public property after a specific time. Obviously, you can't camp out there, but you should be able to simply be there.

I'll be interested to see how it turns out.
UPDATE: Looks like I was exactly right. Maybe the Governor should have consulted me for legal advice first. Full roundup of the silliness from Mr. Warthen here.

Nikki Haley Calls for SC DOT Overhaul

Haley says the DOT's governing commission is "wheeling and dealing," rather than prioritizing the limited cash the state has for construction and maintenance. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren't, but it did seem a little strange that they ran out of money this summer. Haley's criticism?

Haley said now is the time for the Legislature to build on a 2007 overhaul of the agency that shifted partial control to the governor's office. Haley said she can only do so much to change the agency's internal management and continuing money problems. "We don't need a political body handling infrastructure," Haley said.

Haley said the difference between the commission and the governor's office having control is that she will take a statewide approach to managing highway dollars with an eye toward economic development.

So let's see....Haley says the seven member committee at the DOT is too "political" and is "wheeling and dealing", but she want the Governor's office to have the control because she would do it "with an eye toward economic development". Maybe. But isn't the Governor's office even more political than a seven member committee? You know, the Governor is...elected...by the political process. It's pretty much the definition of "political".

Maybe the committee isn't doing a great job, but to say they need to give the Governor all the power to take politics out of the equation doesn't compute. In any event, I'm pretty happy with the roads here in SC. Nothing has collapsed (that I know of) and I can pretty much drive to everywhere I need to get to. So, there you go. It's not totally a broken system in my opinion.