Biden gives a humdinger of a tribute to Hollings

JULY 30, 2010 — If you ever have a tribute done for you, you ought to hope Joe Biden gives it.

The vice president did one heck of a job honoring former U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings last Friday (July 23) at the dedication of the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library at the University of South Carolina.

To be transparent, you have to be seen

JULY 23, 2010 — South Carolina’s Queen of Transparency, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Nikki Haley, hasn’t been in the local media much lately.

For South Carolina Democrats, that’s because she’s caught in a media bubble by her campaign handlers in an attempt to bypass serious scrutiny for as long as possible.

Turkey offers opportunities, examples for S.C.

IZMIR, Turkey, July 16, 2010 – It’s almost mind-boggling how small the world is getting. Witness how Greenville Mayor Pro Tem David Sudduth could get phone calls on his BlackBerry, post photos to Facebook and send text messages to his children – while riding in a bus across the arid, deserted steppe of central Turkey.

20 years later: Money, politics still married

JULY 9, 2010 — South Carolina’s legislative culture was such a mess of gifts, money and corruption 20 years ago that it spawned a huge FBI sting called Operation Lost Trust.

Caught in the vote-buying scandal were 28 legislators, lobbyists and insiders, all but one of whom were convicted on bribery, extortion or drug charges.

Candidates should pick up their trash

JULY 2, 2010 – Note to statewide candidates: If you’re going to break state law on campaign signs, you should at least get rid of the evidence after the election.

Especially if you’re a candidate for attorney general, the person who is supposed to enforce state laws. (That’s you, GOP nominee Alan Wilson.)