SC

SC First District Circus Is On!

DATES SET FOR SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION A political circus is coming to the South Carolina Lowcountry … whether voters like it or not. U.S. Rep. Tim Scott’s acceptance of an interim U.S. Senate appointment from Gov. Nikki Haley means he’s vacating his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives –…

DATES SET FOR SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION

A political circus is coming to the South Carolina Lowcountry … whether voters like it or not.

U.S. Rep. Tim Scott’s acceptance of an interim U.S. Senate appointment from Gov. Nikki Haley means he’s vacating his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives – and the floodgates are about to open with eager candidates vying to replace him.  The jockeying for political positioning in this race over the last few weeks has been ferocious – and the stakes are incredibly high, as this week’s U.S. House vote on the fiscal cliff capably demonstrates.

South Carolina has been incredibly fortunate in recent elections – sending genuine free market conservatives like U.S. Reps. Jeff Duncan and Mick Mulvaney to represent us in our nation’s capital. Upstate U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy has also been a generally reliable pro-taxpayer vote, while Scott himself has been decent – albeit something of a disappointment given the Tea Party mantra he immersed himself in during his 2010 campaign.

But compared to the rest of the nation (and the rest of Washington, D.C. “Republicans”), South Carolina’s congressional delegation has been pretty solid of late.  Even longtime “Republican in Name Only” Joe Wilson has shaped up in recent years, voting more often than not alongside Duncan and Mulvaney in defense of freedom and free markets.  This positive trend suffered a setback last year, however, with the election of fiscally liberal crony capitalist Tom Rice in the newly created seventh congressional district.  And obviously there’s no shortage of “Republicans in Name Only” seeking Scott’s seat – most notably S.C. Rep. Chip Limehouse (RINO-Charleston).

That’s why this race matters.  If South Carolina sends another big government, Lindsey Graham-style “Republican” to Washington in 2013, our state’s ideological mooring will shift discernibly to the left.  And if that happens, it would shift the ideological mooring in our nation further to the left.

And that would be bad …

Anyway … the circus is about to come to town.  At least two dozen names have been tossed out as possible contenders for this seat, while several high-profile candidates – including former Gov. Mark Sanford – have already signaled their intention to run.  Given the long list of prospective filers on the GOP side, it’s all but assured that no candidate will win fifty percent of the vote on the first ballot – meaning there will be a runoff election to determine the Republican nominee.

Here’s the schedule …

January 18 – Filing for office opens at SCGOP, SC Democratic Party headquarters
January 28 – Filing closes at noon
March 19 – Party Primaries 
April 2 – Party Primary Runoffs (if necessary)
May 7 – Special Election

Grab your popcorn, folks …

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24 comments

SparkleCity January 2, 2013 at 6:10 pm

Gowdy is good for one damn thing and that is to be a prosecuiter.

The TEA Party has his balls firmly in their grasp. Gowdy has not exibited any leadership in creating any legislation that is not associated with being a prosecuiter in general.

Nothing about abolishing the present tax code,jobs,reforming the US Military,veteran’s benefits, etc.

If it’s not something that he can hold a “inquisition” on, he stays in the background.

Gowdy needs to go back to being a prosecuiter and let somebody who knows what they are doing have the job. I’ve been with him in a closed meeting and he is just about a “cold fish” as they come. No sense of humor whatsoever. A real detached guy who is in it for himself.

I never thought I’d miss Bob Inglis but I do now.

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Andrew January 2, 2013 at 7:28 pm

Inglis is missed, if for no other reason than he could tell the nuts they are crazy.

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Three Amigos January 3, 2013 at 3:08 am

Joe Wilson is good for nothing and clearly in the job only for himself.

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billy bob January 3, 2013 at 8:45 pm

Spell much?

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BigT January 2, 2013 at 6:31 pm

the Sanfords are 2 big CLOWNS…

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Bonhoeffer January 2, 2013 at 7:33 pm

Damn, Big T, that’s the most sense you’ve made in awhile. I hope the new year brings more.

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Sailor January 2, 2013 at 8:41 pm

That has to be your shortest post ever! Keep up the good work!

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hhuuhh?? January 3, 2013 at 8:19 am

You only encourage Big T(urd) when you reply.

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I know you all January 3, 2013 at 10:11 am

Yes, the Sanfrauds have narcissistic personality disorder. They cannot help themselves.

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Barney January 3, 2013 at 10:40 am

Sailor, Big T’s older sister needed to use the computer to help him with his fifth grade homework.

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sonnysboy January 2, 2013 at 8:35 pm

Bob Inglis went to DC twice and accomplished exactly nothing. Seriously, nothing. Gowdy’s a genuinely bright and talented guy who will ultimately do what he thinks is best for his country and his constituents – not what is most expedient. If you have a problem with that, too bad for you.

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? January 2, 2013 at 10:13 pm

Using 100 years of history as a barometer, I’d say accomplishing “exactly nothing” when going to DC would be an improvement of the highest order.

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Andrew January 2, 2013 at 10:17 pm

So what will Gowdy accomplish.

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SparkleCity January 3, 2013 at 7:02 am

It is equally easy to say “NO” or “YES” all the time.

Saying “NO” to every fucking thing without having a solution is an easy thing to do.

Gowdy hasn’t come up with one single idea to move forward except to curry favor to the far right base.

Gowdy is good at prosecuiting people and holding “hearings”.

That’s all he is good for.

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hhuuhh?? January 3, 2013 at 8:23 am

He’s not good at holding – well, he isn’t exactly in charge – hearings.
Everytime I see him, he’s screeching through that little pinched up nose about some craziness…what is it with SC electing so many politicians with pinched up little noses?
It’s scary to think this guy prosecuted criminals.

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SparkleCity January 3, 2013 at 10:07 am

Sonnysboy:

Sadly, you are 100% wrong.

Trey Gowdy will do what is BEST for Trey Gowdy no more,no less…..

I AM one of his constituents and I say he ain’t done shit but grandstand in front of the cameras………….

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SparkleCity January 3, 2013 at 10:20 am

Hhuuhh:

Thanks for the clarification.

What I should have posted was that he was handpicked for the hearings due to the talent he has as a prosecuiter which includes a lot of screeching sometimes.

He’s a damn good prosecuiter because he has a big ego and is wired that way which is what it takes to be a successful prosecuiter (basically acting as an asshole in court)

He simply sucks as a congressman for the 4th congressional district of South Carolina.

He (like most of the TEA party types that elected him) can’t come up with a single workable solution without coming across as an asshole.

Bob Inglis was much better at coming across with workable solutions and (as “Andrew” posted above), telling the “crazies” they are fucking crazy.

I never would have said that a number of years ago but after seeing Gowdy in action, I now acknowledge we were better off with Inglis and we need more people like him in congress.

Unfortunately, Bob paid the price for speaking the truth……..

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Smirks January 2, 2013 at 9:31 pm

Political circus? More like political freak show. Let the games begin!

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Daniel S January 3, 2013 at 3:09 am

Joe Wilson is good for nothing and clearly in the job only for himself.

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Pelion Peanut January 3, 2013 at 5:52 am

Not exactly true—he also cares about getting his family on the public dole, including Alan, another do nothing sponge. Throw all these Wilson Aussies in 2014.

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Pelion Peanut January 3, 2013 at 5:52 am

Wussies.

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SparkleCity January 3, 2013 at 10:33 am

Pelion:

I’m sure the Aussies who visit this website will appreciate your correction.

If I wasn’t an American, I would want to be an Australian.

I’ve served with a number of them (and had an Australian landlady during college) and they are the most hard drinking,hard fighting,fun loving people on the planet.

God, do the Aussies love a good time!!!!!

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Joey January 3, 2013 at 5:28 pm

Will Scott endorse his buddy Curtis? He’s in a position to influence who gets this seat. But I doubt he’ll lift a finger, covertly or overtly.

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IlIIlIlIlIlllIIIlIl January 4, 2013 at 12:30 am

Hey Will, your tags for SC-1 are inconsistent across all posts concerning the special. Get it together, you racist, ignorant scumbag.

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