GOP cynics want to fix something that’s no problem

JAN. 13, 2012 — South Carolina’s GOP leaders picked up where they left off last year — trying to solve “problems” that don’t exist to make it look like they’re working. In reality, they’re failing to solve real problems for real people. As the legislature reopened for business this week, guess who preened to television cameras with charged political rhetoric about the evils of the federal government? Yep, Gov. Nikki Haley, House Speaker Bobby Harrell, Attorney General Alan Wilson and a host of GOP spotlight-seekers.

Haley needs a real kitchen cabinet

It’s pretty clear that current GOP Gov. Nikki Haley might just need a real kitchen cabinet. As best as we –and several GOP and Democratic observers we’ve talked with — can tell, she may have the smallest, most insular kitchen cabinet of all time — just her husband and 29-year-old chief of staff. A couple of other folks periodically may be brought in, but we’re told the key decisions are made mostly by Haley and Tim Pearson, her top aide.

Stop messing around

OCT. 28, 2011 — There’s such a distrust of government among Americans at the national level that South Carolina’s leaders need to take steps to reinvigorate confidence of voters or face their wrath at the polls next year.

According to a new poll by The New York Times and CBS, only 9 percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job — a far cry from around 70 percent after the September 11 tragedy. The disenchantment shows up in how people think President Obama is doing too — some 46 percent approve of how he’s handling things and 46 percent don’t.

Haley should go on a media diet

OCT. 7, 2011 — A word from the weary: Our governor needs a governor.

Just as a golf cart or some vehicles have a device called a “governor” that limits speed by regulating how much fuel gets into an engine, Gov. Nikki Haley needs to tone down her media presence. South Carolina will survive without Haley on the front pages every day.

In fact if the governor seemed to be doing more than writing memoirs, appearing on national television, seeming to announce how long it takes paint to dry and grading legislators, there might be time to actually take care of a few of the state’s problems.

Budget board may not be broken

JULY 1, 2011 — Now that action on whether the state will create a new Department of Administration to replace the Budget and Control Board can’t happen until next year, maybe it’s a good time to ask these questions: Is such a change even needed? What’s so wrong with the hybrid budget board and its three constitutional officers and two legislators that it needs to become a cabinet agency overseen by the governor?