SC Ranks As One Of the Most Corrupt States in America

To borrow a phrase from my buddy Keith- “NO! REALLY?!?!?!- SHOCKING!!”
It appears our fine state of South Carolina is one of America’s most corrupt states - #6 according to the 247wallst.com website. Here’s a little of what they wrote from http://247wallst.com/2012/03/22/americas-most-corrupt-states/#ixzz1qLamexnl

6. South Carolina

• Overall grade: F (57%)
• Public access to information: F
• Legislative accountability: F
• Political financing: D-
• Ethics enforcement agencies: F

South Carolina received nine failing grades in areas including executive, judicial and legislative accountability. State Integrity Investigation notes that the budget of South Carolina’s State Ethics Commission has been cut a total of six times in the past three years. In September 2010, all regulations on limiting contributions to political parties were eliminated. Additionally, many contributors to individual candidates abuse loopholes to avoid limitations on donations. There is also an antagonistic relationship between office-holding politicians and the press. Specifically, the report says, Governor Nikki Haley’s administration has used a policy of deleting important emails.

They ranked Georgia as being the MOST corrupt state in the nation.

The actual report is from “The Center for Public Integrity” – a George Soros non-profit, non partisan “watchdog” group of investigative reporters founded by a former 60 Minutes producer and most recently headed by cast-offs of PBS affiliates. Editors from the New York Times and LA Times refer to the organization as a “liberal group”. You can check out the report HERE

 

Are you really surprised at this report?

It seems this report just rehashes the same ol same ol year after year. Our system of a representative republic is still the best in the world in my humble opinion, but it seems for the last 70 years, those who are elected to go to Washington are choking the breathable document that is the US Constitution. I wonder what can we do to fix this? Electing well meaning people isn't doing the job. Not the one or two here and there who get so frustrated when they get up to Washington at the boondoggle and decide they're helpless and can't do anything beyond symbolism. What can we do, indeed? A revolution or uprising will be seen as a "domestic terror threat" and open up a whole NEW can of worms. The revolution of 1763 cannot happen today the way it did oh so long ago.

Tigers, Pandas, and Big Oil- HAPPY SATURDAY!

Happy Saturday! It’s my bi-weekly weekend to work. So far, we’re starting out with a BANG. So be careful out there. Especially at the waterfalls and hiking trails. Since late March, there has been as many or more fatalities on the waterways in upper SC as there were ALL of last year between Memorial Day and Labor Day. There have been more than I care for lost and injured hikers around Table Rock and Caesar’s Head.

Hear about the flooding that wiped out an Arkansas campground? 16 dead/ others missing. Doesn’t get much sadder than this in my book. How sad.

Can’t WAIT until the elections and Gulf Oil spill stories die down. Yahoo! News has a good story that may explain why we haven’t heard too many “Boycott Big Oil” stories or rallies. Click HERE

Former Heavyweight Danny Lopez and the late Howards Cosell join 11 others inducted today into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Though the sport’s popularity is at an all time low due to the UFC/MMA/WWE wresting et al, it’s STILL 85 times more popular

Have you guys seen pictures of those dogs dyed to look like other animals? Kinda cool and creepy at the same time to me.

Speaking of creepy and cool, I was reading Whitney Matheson’s blog about a company that makes customized stuffed dolls. Click HERE or go to http://www.iamastuffedanimal.com/

The Juice’s Lawyers are saying that O.J. Simpson's conviction for robbery and kidnapping was flawed because black jurors were wrongly excluded and the judge was prejudiced against his defense team.

World Cup in South Africa --- yawn…. Seriously, soon you’re gonna hear stories how viewership or interest in the games are WAY up. While increasing viewership from 30k US households to 45k US households may be a 50% increase (numbers are made up, much like the one’s you’ll read about), it’s still MSNBC area numbers. Reruns of the Golden Girls on TVLand get much more viewership. Much like boxing…..

HEY!!

Elections and the Whole Enchilada

I am politics weary. Not just from the recent round of election primaries, I mean overall. I remember Obama being touted for a presidential run back in at the democratic national convention. It's kinda like Christmas. You begin seeing ornaments in the stores in August, etc. But our current political system. I don't think this is what our founding fathers expected. I do believe they expected great debate and I do believe they expected evolution within our political system. I think they're mechanisms in place for this evolution. In example, slavery, women's right, et al.

It just seems that nowadays facts get either ignored or glossed over. It's all about which political jersey you wear. Half truths and well intended spread of falsehoods seem to rule nowadays. They're passing legislation and laws without fully reading them in Washington.

Up until this past Tuesday (6/8/10), Obama's been touting that his administration did not underestimate the severity of the Gulf spill and has been acting with the full strength of the US government. This past Tuesday on the "Today Show", he admitted his administration received bad information from BP and others and his administration made bad decisions based on that bad information by NOT react with the sense of urgency that was needed. This admission has been largely ignored. When the bush administration did the very same thing, it was "Bush Lied"; a mantra I to this day STILL hear (and use mockingly).

The political right seem to be putting all their eggs into the Sarah Palin basket. i think this is a big risk.

And another thing, the right exclaims America is headed towards socialism. With what's been happening, the merger of state and corporate powers is called fascism, NOT socialism. Like Ferris Bueller said, "I dislike 'isms'".

All in all, it feels like 1994 again. When people were sick and tired of the same old same old in our country and voted to implement "new blood" and new representation in our state capitals and in Washington. Sound familiar?

I remember talking to a wide eyed, fired up Lindsey graham who was making the transition from SC house to the US House. He has passion and was determine to fight all things left, Bill Clinton, and the Dems. So much has changed.

What about you? What say you?

Happy Tuesday!

The above picture is of Serena Williams during this week's French Tennis Tourney!

Today is National Geek Pride Day!!

Paul Gray, the bassist for Slipknot, has died. He was 38.

The Island Packet newspaper of Hilton Head Island SC reported yesterday that a large curved object washed up on the beach at Palmetto Dunes over the weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration identified the object as part of a satellite launched from an Ariane 5 rocket. Ralph Wagner of Shore Beach Services says labels on the object read "Made in France." Sheriff's deputies remain posted around the debris Tuesday afternoon until it can be removed.

After five years on cable outlets like CMT and TLC, the Miss America pageant has signed a three-year deal to return to ABC, starting with next year's pageant.

North Korea declared Tuesday that it would sever all communication and relations with Seoul as punishment for blaming the North for the sinking of a South Korean warship two months ago.

Senator Benigno Aquino, set to become the Philippines' next president, said Monday he is not ready to quit smoking yet because it could affect his decision making

The White House has agreed to support lifting the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.

Jake Gyllenhaal says that during his 'Prince of Persia' press junket, he was told not to smile or laugh while in Russia.

Mark Twain's dying wish has finally been granted: His lengthy autobiography is set to be published on the 100th anniversary of his death. The first volume of Twain's 5,000-page manuscript, which has been sitting inside a vault at the University of California, Berkeley, will hit the press in November 2010. (Thanks Myra!) You can read more about it

Christina Aguilera and U2 have cancelled the remaining dates on their respective tours. Aguilera has cancelled due to prior movie commitments, U2 because of Bono’s recovery from weekend back surgery. Make up dates have not been announced.

David Byrne is suing the governor of Florida, alleging that he used the Talking Heads' 1985 single "Road to Nowhere" without permission or proper licenses. Byrne is seeking $1 million in damages.

The Hobbit is SO close to pre-production. The scripts are reportedly in and the film is set to begin casting in November.


And finally, The Nikki Haley camp is still vehemently denying Will Folk’s claim of an inappropriate physical relationship. On Folk’s web site/ blog, it seems they’re teasing Mrs. Haley to sue them to prove their accusations false. Whether you believe her or him or neither one of them, you have to admit Nikki Haley’s acting very classy in regards to this. Many national outlets and national media are picking up on this. Even Sarah Palin has chimed in support of Nikki. I used to know Will Folks back when he Mark Sanford’s spokesman and before his fall when he and his then fiancé were shoving each other around during a fight and Will got arrested for it. I would REALLY like to talk to him though the website/blog site says neither he nor they will respond any further regarding the matter. It’s not the Will Folks I knew or had lunch with down in Columbia a couple of 3 or 4 times. Both of our world’s have dramatically changed since then.