PALMETTO POLITICAL BAD BOY WILL CHALLENGE GRAHAM AS INDEPENDENT
Thomas Ravenel has an expression: “Two out of three ain’t bad.” It’s a reference to his business career and political ideology being in order – but his personal life being something of a disaster.
How big a disaster?
Well, let’s just say “T-Rav’s” reality television show Southern Charm hasn’t exactly portrayed his personal life in the most flattering light. Sure, there have been moments when the former statewide official appears to be on the verge of evoking some sympathy or identification in the wake of his 2007 fall from grace – but then the whole thing devolves into an alcohol-soaked mess.
Confident of his ability to rehabilitate his reputation, though, Ravenel announced this week that he will enter the 2014 U.S. Senate race in South Carolina – well, provided “Republican” Lindsey Graham wins the GOP nomination later this spring.
“I’ll throw my hat in as an Independent,” Ravenel said on Bravo TV’s Watch What Happens Live.
The mainstream media reacted with predictable derision.
“Can we throw our hat in the anti-Ravenel ring, please?” reporter Erin Shaw wrote for The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper.
Ah, journalistic objectivity …
Anyway, Shaw’s “unbiased” view aside Ravenel clearly has a huge hurdle to overcome – regardless of how Southern Charm resolves its first season.
Working in his favor? Cash money …
Unlike the field of GOP candidates currently challenging Graham, Ravenel can match the incumbent’s $7 million mountain of special interest money dollar-for-dollar. That means he can drive a counter-narrative to the “disgraced playboy” image that’s currently bogging down his aspirations.
Speaking of, Ravenel is reportedly planning to address his 2007 drug bust in more detail – including the political impetus for the investigation into his private life.
We’ll keep a lookout out for that massive …
108 comments
Well, maybe it’ll help the ratings for his crappy show.
Because he’s wealthy and use to have a good name.
And doesn’t have anything better to do with his time or money? Maybe. I just hope he will be a “stalking horse” for Nancy Mace and drop out to free his supporters and endorse her — rather than the other way around. That is all that could possibly justify all the bandwidth devoted to this Holy City has-been.
btw, it’s supposed to be “he USED to have a good name.” Now you owe me a correction, feel free to deliver anytime.
Gotta revise that, upon re-reading the post and getting the conditional part of it.
Given that, it’s just another pimping post for the show, apparently. No threat to Mace. *whew!*
The Holy City has a thing for Rhett Butler types
Ravenel will attract a lot of voters and in turn will get a lot of votes
Right now Graham is over 50% against any candidate in the general election but with a little luck and a dab or two of Dapper Dan Pomade who knows what can happen
If only he was funny, edgy, a wise cracker, a total slob – you know, kind of like ole Jakie with a side of boss hog. However, he is too uptight and self-centered to be entertaining. As a candidate he is a loser. As a trust-fund man-boy he does alright.
” As a trust-fund man-boy he does alright.”
Is that an endorsement I smell?
The mating call of the Southern Trust Fund Man-Boy: “Wanna do a bump with a rock-star, baby? I’ll stick my dick in Ranch for ya after, and you can show your appreciation.”
Rhett Butler had a noble heart.
lol
Good luck with that counter-narrative….
“Two out of three ain’t bad”?…. Maybe in some alternate universe where he was not the spawn of Uncle Arthur. What business successes? And political ideologies are like assholes… they only count if you can stay in office.
Remember, the Holy City will vote for the devil if he was from there over God himself if he is from the upstate. I would say he stands a decent chance just based on that.
Now the big question, who does Fits back, He sugar mamma Nancy, which we are still waiting on pics, or T-Rav his drinking buddy. Decisions decisions, decisions.
A decent chance?
You’ve been reading too much Fits.Ravenel is NOT a serious candidate.I doubt if he even runs in the end,but, assuming he does, statewide he will be lucky to crack 3%.
You used the work “crack” in the same sentence as Ravenel. LMAO
Hell IVE been reading too much Fits!
Convicrted drug dealer for SC Senate. Sounds like TR would be perfect to represent SC.
All have come short of the glory of the God of Second Chances, my friend! Bow before him and receive newness of political career!
But only if you’re a SC Republican, of course.
Whoopty freaking doo. Big ole doo doo.
It’s not like T-Rav makes the political scene look any worse. That’s impossible.
I think T-Rav’s got the potential to be a populist candidate myself. I know, I know, you’re saying “What the fuck is that lunatic talking about?”
So here’s my argument:
How much of SC can related to being a former drug user that still drinks while being/having a ‘Baby Daddy’ as part of their daily lifestyle?
Yeah, exactly. He’s the “people’s champion”. Like a WWE contender.
You lost me with your misspelling of relate/related. Fuck you and the four dollar whore who loaned you her smartphone.
lol
My bad for the superfluous “d”.
Why so down on four dollar whores though?
Cheap at half the price!
You boys must be spending too much time on Chester and Flagg Streets in Myrtle…
The reality of this “announcement”: Nancy Mace has finally come to the realization her association w/ FITS has killed any chance she has for any meaningful elected office any time soon.
Liberal-Tarians so want the power to feed their GREED w/ the peoples’ office. And they think Graham is ripe to be picked. And he is…They just don’t understand that people view, or despise Liberal-Tarians as much as they hate liberals and charlatans claiming to be Republicans…
Liberal-Tarians are as responsible for the mess as liberals. Neither has anything close to right answer.
Hi Will,
I’m an entertainment reporter at The Island Packet on Hilton Head. You’re referring to my blog, which is my personal opinion. Can you change the link to our paper?
http://www.islandpacket.com/2014/04/08/3047563/southern-charm-recap-the-charmageddon.html
Thanks!
Erin Shaw
You’re a hot little monkey, aren’t you?
Dear Creep,
If you would like to comment on my blog or my writing, feel free to do so. You may think you were giving me a compliment, but it was rude.
Best,
Erin
Would Ms. Hot Monkey have been less offensive?
This site isn’t known for treating women equally or well.
Or anybody, really. But it WAS creepy of that creeper to say that.
Hey, and if anyone knows creepy it’s you, right?
All one has to do is read to know you’re a creep.
Boo-hoo, waaaaahhhhhh…the internets are so unfair and there are a million other sites I can go to…but instead I’ll stay here and bitch and moan while giving myself a thumbs up but remaining mostly impotent.
Bless your heart. Just stating a fact you creepy sexist.
Wahhhhhh!!!! I want Obama to pass laws to make the internets fair….wahhhhh!
Grow the F**k up.
I’ll grow up if you grow a brain. Sound ‘fair’?
There is no sign of a brain in your post unless you are referring to the one between your legs.
I’ll bet you’re real good at finding brains there.
…and yet you keep coming back for more! There’s a Dr. Phil moment there somewhere, I just know… ;-)
I LOVE the fact that she takes the time to reply to a commenter who self-names ‘I’m a creep’ to inform him that his comment were “rude” – you can’t write this stuff.
The intergoogleweb is no place for sissies…male or female. It’s tough out here!
Stating a fact isn’t a dr phil moment, dr phil?
No, it isn’t, but you missed my point. Coming back when you know what awaits you is the Dr. Phil moment. Just like ol’ W said…”There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.”
Well, you know what I mean… ;-)
Never leave the battlefield until you or your enemy is dead.
Speaking only for myself – when I want to confront my enemies, I go where they are.
cop: “what are you doing?”
dumbass: “looking for my wallet”
cop: “where did you lose it?”
dumbass: “in that alley over there”
cop: “why aren’t you looking over there?”
dumbass: “the light is better here.”
Or, like the old quote attributed to Willie Sutton (famous bank robber from the 1920’s and 30’s), although he denies ever uttering the line. When asked by the FBI why he robbed banks, he supposedly said, “Because that’s where the money is.
Strangely enough, we actually use “Sutton’s Law” in the threat assessment business, meaning that the simplest, most elegant, and obvious option is usually the correct one (obviously a takeoff on Occam’s razor as well). In other words, if you hear hoof beats running behind you, think horses (not zebras) and you’ll be right without looking 99.9999% of the time.
As for me, though, I don’t consider this combat. This is my 15 minutes of daily zen. I can’t imagine rolling around at HuffPo or lobbing missives at my boy Rachel Maddow on an MSNBC blog as a hobby. I have excellent blood pressure, and would like to keep it that way. To each his (or her) own, though…
if you hear hoof beats running behind you, think horses (not zebras) and you’ll be right without looking 99.9999% of the time.
——
if you intend for this to be generalizable, I suggest you change the % to cover “real life” threat assessment.
For instance, in Bill O’Reilly’s war on Christmas… (assessed as a real threat)
“Xmas” did not originate as a secular plan to “take the Christ out of Christmas”. X stands for the Greek letter Chi, the starting letter of???????, or “Christ” in Greek. The use of the word “Xmas” in English can be traced to the year 1021 when “monks in Great Britain…used the X while transcribing classical manuscripts into Old English” in place of “Christ”. The Oxford English Dictionary’s “first recorded use of ‘Xmas’ for ‘Christmas’ dates back to 1551.”
So your first assessment of cause of a threat might not even be registering an actual threat at all, much less evaluating its source correctly.
Whoa baby! You’re way beyond where I was going… Sutton’s Law and Occam’s razor work at every level, period. I don’t think the “War on Christmas” crowd has found an elegant, simple, obvious theorem. I think what you’re talking about with these conspiracy theory-types and zealots is more a causality error (or maybe they’re just conspiracy theory kooks).
Sutton’s Law and Occam’s razor work at every level, period.
——-
Wow! I didn’t think I could sucker you in so easily! Woo hoo! So, “every level, period.” There are a few dozen Grandmasters that would have truck with that percentage, as well.
You understand… nothing personal.
As I said, you left me behind on that one (but remember that both theorems say “usually,” not “always.” Plus, I pulled that 99.9999% out of my ass. I was traveling down a different road… ;-)
Erin,
Since you are an actual reporter, could you inquire why a convicted felon who is not allowed to vote in a federal election can run as a candidate in that same election? You can’t vote for the people who make laws, but you can make them? Seriously? That can’t be true.
Oh, and I can’t help but note the incredible irony of FITS questioning your “journalistic objectivity” in an article in which he is pimping (and I choose that word most deliberately) his own skeevy client who is announcing his faux political intentions (albeit conditional) on a reality TV show also being pimped by FITS and “starring” FITS.
^ comment getting the ups bigtime because it hits so many valid and true points. Sad to say. We miss out on the porn for this? What does that say about any of us, really?
He can run, he just can’t vote for himself.
Uh oh, a female blogger with a feminist viewpoint.
Misguided or not, you should take all the compliments you get.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkjXN6wIQAASRf3.jpg:large
She fell off the top of the ugly tree and hit every single branch on her way down. No wonder her avatar was blurred. I take it all back.I’ll just call her a chimp and leave it at that.
I feel ya, but if “hot little monkey” trips your trigger, the prevailing level of social discourse out on the interwebs is setting you up for a long, hard journey as a blogger, madam.
If you were my woman, I’d….
If you were *my* woman, I’d…
I say…. if you were *my* woman…. I’d grab you in a playful head lock and rub the top of your head gently with my knuckles, and say “who’s little monkey are you?… huh? Who’s monkey are you? Ha haha.. [scruff] [tickle] [giggle].. gotcher nose!… say you’re my monkey! sayit! haha haha!”
…until you started into uncontrollable snorts, giggles and laughs… and then I’d take you out for a casual meal and then to some pleasant entertainment and interesting conversation afterwards.
Careful how you word that, creep. If Tango saw your post and took it the wrong way you would have to answer to him. I’m his hot little monkey, you know.
You go girl!
Ms. Shaw – You’ll have to forgive Folks. His understanding of journalism conventions is no better than his understanding of politics. The crystal clear indication that your entry was from the Packet wasn’t clear enough for him.
But this was not an original quote from your blog. This was in the State newspaper. Sorry, Erin, but this was not your original quote. Did you forget to cite the State in your blog?
Uh, um, isn’t he actually “portraying” himself? How can one be portrayed when one is playing oneself? This ain’t a Broadway musical fuckhead. You call it a REALITY SHOW yourself!
Boring. We’ll wait for Lindsey to tear T-Ravvy apart. Seriously T-Rav’s consultant needs to train the guy better – he came across awkward on that Bravo after show thing.
In the meantime please write about Cameran Eubanks and how delicious she is.
I’m sure Miss Lindsey would loooove to tear T-Rav apart. In bed that is.
T-Rav secretly wants to be dominated by Lindsey, that’s what it is, isn’t it?
At least Graham knows there’ll be cocaine afterwards.
Felon T-Rav …uh uh uh … Is he still a US Citizen? …someone needs to check that out…
…and someone please remind him that Felons, like T-Rav are no longer allowed to carry a hand gun.
BTW, how’s his buddy Michael Miller doing? Oh! .. or how about Paquale Pellicoro? …how is he doing? …or how about Pascal Etcheber? uh uh uh…..
Mr. Ravenel would not be a good Republican candidate. He is not a big enough of a hypocrite. He doesn’t profess to love Jesus. He probably does not profess to believe that God created the Heavens and the Earth in 6 days and that Noah got two of every animal on a boat. He hasn’t lied about his sex life and he can’t commit adultery because he isn’t married. Unlike the other criminals currently in office, he was convicted. And he probably believes in (and may have paid for) a few abortions. And he can’t be bribed because he already has plenty of money. So why would SC want him?
BTW, Will, last night on Bravo you looked like Mr. Papsmir from Naked Gun.
An unmarried man can commit adultery. Remember it takes two. Lev 7:20.
Ah …hum at least two.
It doesn’t take two – you commit adultery by looking at a woman with the intention to have sex with her.
Happens to me all the time.
If I was a woman, hot enough that men were always taking my clothes off with their eyes – I’d get palimony!
That massive what?
Or that missive?
*TBG is thinking of changing his handle to “Massive Superfluous ‘D'”…..
With a cool name like that you could be a rapper…
From the hit album SQAWS AIN’ NUFFIN’ BUT TRICKS AN HOS…..
Hit it’ MC Schlomo!
“YO YO YO YO
You black guys don’t give MSD no crap.
Or MSD’ll give you the red and white man’s rap!
‘MSD like um your coat.
MSD like um your tie.
MSD like um YOUR WIFE!
[dramatic pause – MSD flashes his grill]
Just um kidding, Guy!’ ”
*’mo wampum…’mo wampum…’mo wampum*
Damn I wish he would fix that. It’s like looking at the mole on the mole’s face in Goldmember…
http://youtu.be/QEExYuRelbg
Coke snorting Snooki wanna be for US Senate. I want one of those bumper stickers!
Will,
I’m impressed that you haven’t reflexively responded to all the T-Rav haters. Way to exercise self control while your patron (sugar daddy?) is being criticized.
I’m willing to bet that the television show is likely how his personal life really is. The guy is a fake and surrounds himself with like-minded friends. They try to come off as socialites but all they do is come off as is Honey Booboo with money.
Nancy Mace > T-Rav > The Rest of the Republican Challengers > The Democrat Challengers > Write in Vote for Mickey Mouse > Ms. Graham.
So, T-Rav is going to run as an Independent if Lindsey should (((shudder))) wind up being the “Republican” nominee? Well isn’t that just fucking special? Ol’ T-Rav will ensure that Lindsey stays in another six years with this move by drawing enough of the anti-Grahmnasty votes away from the Democrat challenger. How much is Lindsey paying T-Rav to do this?
After reading this, I don’t know who’s crazier: Ravenel or Folks.
Both sound drunk, or possibly a dry drunk, with insane alcoholic thinking.
Wait, wait, wait! What happened to the Baby Momma narrative? Has that become an irrelevancy or a liability to his candidacy? Or will he put a ring on her finger, call her his fiancee to improve the optics, and continue into the ether of the politically inept shouldad/wouldas/couldas class of dunderheads?
All of TR’s money is special interest money because all he is interested in is himself. What else explains his behavior.
You give very bad advice if you let you candidate half announce, maybe, kinda, conditionally. To say nothing of doing it on Bravo (rather than to his constituents) it gives a voter no confidence in his seriousness or credibility. It’s idiocy.
Then the people sitting with him, people who know him best all laugh at his “announcement.” More confidence – check!
So, if, maybe he runs he has no natural constituency. He then gets tangled in the age old Libertarian web of drug legalization. His record will force him to defend his position and he loses everyone.
Brad Hutto will enjoy it. I may as well, but I’m cynical.
Just cause you miss the limelight does not a worthy candidate make. Then again, our conservative movement regularly produces shit candidates of late.
How many races have you managed? Just seems like amatuer hour here.
I saw the show…and Fits you look more like a fat, old Chinese guy every time I see you on TV. What’s up with that?
And what “political consultant” backs a guy that is a convicted felon, appears to be an alcoholic, and shows himself to be a major doosh? Dude..I don’t know squat about “politics”, but I know this guy is completely unelectable to be on the board of an HOA, much less anything else.
$7 million reasons.
Yet another idiot joins the race. Folks’ snort buddy us a spoiled, doped punk. SC has enough problems without this asswipe adding to the national perception. Say ehat you will about Graham, but if this guy were to become senator, the embarassment factor would multiply.
I have to say, this is the most rational piece Will has served up on his boy to date. It almost admits that NO ONE (well, no serious person) believes that this will be anything but a vanity campaign. Here’s a quick recap/list of the items with which Sugarbritches’ people will be beating Ravenel over the head (Sugarbritches himself, of course, will never utter his name or refer to him in any way unless joking). Renounced his US citizenship in a hissy fit after drug conviction because he could no longer buy guns, party with coke, etc. (failed to actually follow up on his very public promise to do so, however, so that’s actually a twofer). The whole drug use/legalization thing (this is redneck, red-ass SC, bro). For politicos with a more subtle feel for things, how about the hypocrisy of his rants against “buttoned-down politicians” who don’t speak their true minds (uh, you mean like he was when he ran for Treasurer?). How about the personal life in general? Could that could be used as a sign of immaturity, hubris, lack of self awareness, etc.? Naaah. International experience? Misunderstanding military base stats in an op-ed and partying in the islands won’t make for good TV ads (except attack ads directed at him, of course). This is, of course, all theoretical in nature. No one in their right mind will spend any money attacking him unless his numbers are phenomenal, and they won’t be. He will raise a little cash, spend an ass of his cash, and get what he *really* wants, which is not a seat in the US Senate, but attention. Look…at…me.
It’s that boat again – I say the cocaine is under the cushion in the front. Just another drug run … Oh wait! ….uh uh uh … I’m just sharing ….uh uh uh ….write that down ….I was just sharing ….really, I mean it! …I’m serious! ….I was just sharing ….uh uh uh…
POS Crownline.
Well, at the least T-Rav has the Dem’s virtues of drug use and wealth wrapped up in one package, without an ability to control him through them… just sayin’ strategically, Dems have more to fear than Graham does.
Dear Fellow Federal Civil SERVANTS,
This article and “truth” section is a classic example of media Psyops optics. Considering that Mrs. Shaw works near Parris Island and has a lot of former uniformed veterans in her “packet Realm”, does she stop to consider that most all service members have read the book “Art of WAR”..? Heck, does she understand what training her editor and WIl FOlks have both had.?
Talk about winning “hearts and minds”..!
We are honored that this lady used her REAL NAME unlike most locker room “towels” here in this comment “truth” section.
We wonder if Mrs. Shaw has the guts to dig into the “Burn Pit” fiasco and ask some direct PLASMA Incinerator questions to her EDITOR…!!! Once she wipes the smile off of “his” face, we hope she gets a “Jasper” landfill photo and trots on down to have an interview with the entire Parris Island Chain of Command…!!
We wonder if she will let Mr. Wil Folks tag along.??
Dude you are whacked.
No…..just a fellow “locker room towel”……..like you..!
.. :)
I’ll bet your Momma dropped acid while you were gestating.
Some nights I can allllllllllllmost see where he’s trying to go. Other nights, not so much. Tonight is one of those nights.
Ravenel and Jenny Sanford should take a slow boat. To China.
White trash.
What’s wrong with Jenny? She has not been in the limelight lately and has not made any announcement of any kind.
His drivers license has been suspended for 6 months. But that isn’t a deterrent to him I’m sure,
Ravenel has just gotten his first endorsements…….Mark Sanford and MOria….Let the good times roll in SC.
You mean HOria ….right?
They’ve got to be married by now, right? I mean what can possibly keep them from holy matrimony after their lightning strike conversion to soulmates in 2008, ordained by God and blessed by Jenny. Maybe they have been reading ChumpLady.com’s articles on Jesus Cheaters. Maybe Belen is sick of the love bombing and is becoming more enlightened about the mind fu<kery of the disordered.
He’s got quite a desire to piss away his coke money. If its between an independent Ravenel, Graham and a nameless democrat I’ll vote for the libertarian.
Drug head that snorts lines with Bobby Harrell.