SC Gov. Mark Sanford's Greatest Hits ( These are only in the last week)

[Are_grits_groceries]

1-Sanford rejects federal funding
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/711988.html

2- S.C. bleeding jobs at alarming rate
State’s unemployment rate of 10.4 percent is fastest growing in the nation, and there’s no end in sight
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/711944.html

3-Sanford Takes Us Back to Africa
"What you're doing is buying into the notion that if we just print some more money that we don't have and send it to different states, we'll create jobs," he said. "If that's the case, why isn't Zimbabwe a rich place?"
http://www.indigojournal.com/

4- Sanford: Out-of-staters Flock To South Carolina To Snatch Up Non-Existent Jobs
Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday that people moving from other states contributed to South Carolina's second-in-the-nation ranking for jobless rates in January. The rate hit 10.4 percent, surpassed only by Michigan.
http://www.indigojournal.com/

He is a heartless moran. MEH!!!

[ccharles000]

1. Thank god I live in North Carolina

[hobbit709]

2. We could have a "Stupid-off" between him and Gov. Goodhair.

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. That would be a race to the bottom! nt

[mwb970]

4. It's time for some SC DUer to tell us what's good about their state.

From where I sit (in faroff Ohio), South Carolina looks like the single most backward state in the country (barely beating out Alaska). But, I am disinclined to trash a whole state just because of the unenlightened nature of its leaders and many of its more vocal residents. It simply can't be as awful as it looks from here.

Is there anyone from South Carolina that can clarify what goes on down there? Is SC a right-wing hellhole?

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

6. mwb...we are changing but...

We still have that 19th Century, secessionist, states-rights mentality here. Governor Sanford's home is just a few miles from Fort Sumter, but the distance in his mind is much less. We do have a good "in migration" from the Northeastern and Great Lakes states, but not enough yet to tilt the scales. Sanford can't get it through his head that the stimulus just might work better as a single fabric than with the states going off in their own directions...again that old worn-out "states aalways know better" mentality.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. The Rethugs in the state lege hate Sanford. See post #7. nt

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. I'm not sure anybody can clarify what goes on down here.

I am a native of the state, and have often given a lot of thought to things that occur. I could probably sooner explain string theory coherently.
The whole state isn't a right wing hellhole by any means. You can take a stick and poke various places that are such. I know and am kin to some of the rabid. Some I can get along with unless politics come up. Others are just mean from the get go.

Here is the best explanation I can give you about the politics in the state:

Sanford and the state legislature don't get along
to put it mildly. They HATE each other for the most part, and the legislature is controlled by Republicans. There are some that support him, but a lot don't. In the last election, Sanford put out a "secret" hit list of Republicans he wanted defeated and replaced by his candidates. He didn't get any changes, and that made him sooooooooo much more popular.

Sanford's "my way or the highway" didn't go over very well when he first took office. The legislature Bubbas put in God knows what, and Sanford vetoed all of it. Then they overrode his veto. Some of it should have been removed, but because Sanford wouldn't deign to work with the legislature, they now spend all their time poking each other in the eye. It is a merry mess, but we aren't CA so who cares?

Where are the Dems while this is going on. They are using flanking maneuvers and making pacts where needed to try to get something they want through.

Then there is the added amusement of being represented by Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint (Sanford's clone). Sanford can't run again, but a lovely creature named Gresham Barrett who is a Congressman has thrown his hat into the ring. He is worse than Sanford. If the Dems can field a decent candidate, they actually would have a chance. However, the statewide party is run by an ineffective cabal who should all be left at Fort Sumter.

The upshot of all this is that Sanford wants the money from the stimulus to balance the Bible, er my mistake, the budget. He can't do it now because the legislature would rather fling poo than help him.
He would rather fling poo back at them, and whine about where the stimulus should go.


It would be funny if what they did didn't affect so many people so negatively.
There are a lot of progressive people who keep pushing against all odds. In the last election, every county but 2 voted more Democratically. The counties didn't go for Obama, but there was a greater movement in that direction.

This is an example that should confound people. Linda Ketner, an out lesbian, almost pulled off an upset of the white, male incumbent in Cong. District #1. She used her own money, and the DCCC didn't help her until the very end. Now by any general look at the state, Ketner should not have even given him a run for his money.

I like it down here, but I never take anything for granted. You may look at someone and think they are 'neck to the bone. Then they will turn out to be more tolerant than most. Then you will meet someone who appears to have some sense and they will foam at the mouth if you even mention Democrat or whatever.

I do know that most people HATE for anyone who doesn't live here or have strong ties here to tell them how to do anything. It's a kneejerk reaction. Doesn't seem to matter what it is. People will get their backs up in a heartbeat.

Once you get past the idiots in the news, and the stories that make the headlines, there is a lot to see. I wish I could take people around the state, and show them another side. It is much more complex than people can imagine.

Edit: There is one thing written in stone. I went to Clemson University, and we HATE the University of SC. They hate us right back. The last words that will leave my lips when I pass are "Carolina sucks. I hope they never win another game ever."

[sweetpotato]

9. A lot of people here are still upset about Reconstruction

And Reconstruction was used in part to punish the South, ESPECIALLY South Carolina - the hotbed of secession.

That's why South Carolinians don't want outsiders to tell us what to do. (Not me, personally, but most SCers.)

Reconstruction may technically be over, but South Carolina is still feeling its affects.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. That's the truth.

When I was growing up, we were taught that Lincoln's assasination was one of the worst things that happened to the South. It was not a majority view by any means. However, Lincoln would have handled what came after much better than the mess that occurred.

[mwb970]

10. That helps a lot with my understanding.

And thanks for taking the trouble to type all that in!

I suspect that, as in rural Ohio, many of the folks in the SC countryside who seem "backward" politically are also the kindest, most generous people you could ask to meet. As long as you don't mention Obama!

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

5. When I left OK for SC I thought it was a step up.

Boy, was I mistaken! The politicians are just as clueless. The state is just as regressive. Oh, and don't forget my little "no to Sanford" Facebook group....

http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=51918579246