Three Primary Strategies for GOP in 2012

Contributed by Shell Suber

There are three competing political strategies at work in this primary:

1. RUN HARD RIGHT AND WIN: Supporters of this strategy would have the GOP nominate a far right candidate as a winning strategy. “Make the difference between us and them stark and unapologetic. Voters will be impressed and reward the straightforward honesty.”

2. RUN HARD RIGHT AND ‘LOSE WITH HONOR’: Some suggest the GOP nominate a far right candidate to make a meaningful ideological impression on the electorate about the integrity of the conservative movement. “Why not make a statement since, historically speaking, we are unlikely to win in any case.”

3. RUN MIDDLE AND TRY TO WIN: Some suggest the GOP nominate a more electable (moderate) candidate and give themselves the best chance to win should the incumbent trip up.

What comes around…

Contributed by Shell Suber

When I was 7, my parents left my 5 year old bother and me in the care of my 14, 12 and 10 year old cousins in Pennsylvania and went out to one of those adults-only-drinking-wine-in-the-sun-all-day events that horse people love so much.

Naturally, an atomic pillow fight erupted not long after they left. I was sent flying backwards down a long, steep flight of wooden stairs in their old farmhouse. I spent the rest of a very long day at the bottom of those steps holding my arm.

When the adults finally returned – tired and well lubricated – I didn’t get the sympathy I felt my condition warranted. Instead, I got unhelpful advise like “Just move it around” and “Do this and it will feel better” (accompanied by giant circular motion with arm). It was decided I was whiny and irritating and sent to bed. 

GOP ’12 Top Ten: April 1 – No foolin’

Contributed by Shell Suber

March’s big winner was Tim Pawlenty who had been fading over the last few months but now seems to be everywhere.

Big losers were Michele Bachmann and Donald Trump. Bachmann failed a self-administered grade-school geography quiz and got folks wondering what other subjects she flunked. [ie. Dan Quayle] Trump pulled off his mask and there stood Ross Perot. [Paranoid delusions of black helicopters included. Tin-foil hat, sold separately.]

Mostly, this month was about the man in the White House. A budget showdown, rising gas prices, stalled unemployment figures and ubiquitous coverage of rookie mistakes in foreign policy have emboldened Republican aspirants and the legions of conservatives investing their hopes in them.

March madness, indeed. 

Time to look inward for energy

Contributed by Senator Danny Verdin

Most Americans are glad to see people in countries like Egypt and Libya standing up for themselves and overthrowing the tyrannical despots that have oppressed them for too long. But we are not happy to see what it is doing to gasoline and diesel prices. Maybe this will be the last straw that spurs our government to finally start meeting more of our energy demands with fuel we produce ourselves.

We can do it. Advances in energy production technology like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have created oil booms in parts of the United States. North Dakota, once a relatively minor source of fossil fuels, has surpassed both Oklahoma and Louisiana to become the nation’s fourth largest oil producer. They are pumping out 350,000 barrels of oil a day and could see that number rise to 700,000 barrels within the next four years. 

GOP ’12 Top Ten: Ides of March

Contributed by Shell Suber

‘Beware the Ides of March’ warns Shakespeare’s soothsayer in Julius Caesar. Two millennia and fifty-five years later, the oracle extends that warning to those giving thought to the Republican Party’s nomination in 2012: If you are running, you can wait no longer… er, but don’t be first.

My March version of GOP ’12 Top 10 features a lot of turn-over indicating this campaign may finally be underway.

(#) = Previous rank

1. Mike Huckabee (2) – Recent polls have the affable, TV-friendly reverend slightly ahead of Romney with likely GOP voters. But will our new #1 even run?

2. Mitt Romney (1) – Still has the cash and the caché, but polls of likely GOP voters seem to indicate his greatest strength was that he was seen as the frontrunner… not the enthusiasm that carries the day. Just ask Bob Dole, John Kerry, Walter Mondale, etc. Drops to #2, which might be a better spot come to think of it. 

The GOP assault on America

Contributed by Michael Gass

The GOP has begun their assault on America. On some issues, such as busting unions, it is a coordinated assault. Numerous states under GOP rule are trying to bust unions (see Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio). On other issues, the attacks aren’t as coordinated, but, the intent is clear. In Michigan, the attack on America has taken a very dangerous tact – give “emergency power” to the government so that the GOP can accomplish their agenda.

“State officials estimate that dozens of local governments and school districts will soon be unable to pay their bills and the Treasury dept. is on record supporting a bill — passed by the House last week — which would recast Emergency Financial Managers as Emergency Managers and give them unprecedented new power to fire elected officials, dissolve labor contracts and reorganize or dissolve cities and school districts.”

Sacrifice More, You Louts!

Contributed by Michael Gass

In The State newspaper, we get a hint at how the state legislature defines “sacrifice” in this article:

“The proposal now is in a House subcommittee. If it makes it to the House floor for a vote, Republicans, who control that body, are expected to support it. They have made its passage a priority.”

At issue here is the lowering of property taxes. However, far from lowering property taxes for struggling families, the change being debated will really only help one segment of South Carolina – the rich and corporations.

Blame DeMint, Tea Party for port losses, not Clyburn

Contributed by Philip Snead

The following is a letter to the editor of the Charleston Post and Courier.

Dear Editor,

Saturday’s lead editorial, “Press port-deepening case,” appears to assign blame to Jim Clyburn for our congressional delegation’s failure to regain the measly $400,000 Congressional earmark funding that could have directly enabled the needed deepening of our port to sustain its competitiveness.  (“… Rep. Clyburn hasn’t already summoned the necessary party clout to get the study money ….”)

How to save education in SC

Contributed by Michael Gass

Lower taxes. If we don’t regulate business, if we simply stay out of their business, the market will handle itself. That is what the Republican Party has pushed for decades. In South Carolina, the reality is that lower taxes means less revenue to pay for services. Instead of “handling itself”, letting corporations run amok has led to higher unemployment, higher rates for products and services while receiving less, and a system that has almost crashed the nation due to greed. And, it’s no different in South Carolina. South Carolina faces almost a billion dollar shortfall in this year’s budget.

Climate change: The truth is STILL out there

Contributed by Warren Mowry

The ongoing debate over regulation of “greenhouse gases” and the attempts of the EPA to bypass Congressional legislation by regulating emissions has reached a head recently.  Given the overwhelming number of scandals related to the “scholarship” surrounding climate change activism and the outright fraud associated with much of its statistical analysis, it is somewhat of a surprise that this continues to be a viable issue.  But because it is part of the Left mantra, it does.