A Tribute to those who keep us free

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Keep Electing the Lt. Governor

One of the best kept secrets in this year's election politics is that the office of Lt. Governor of South Carolina is up to be revamped via a state constitutional ammendment on the ballot.  The ammendment proposed would take away the people's right to elect the Lt. Governor seperately, abolish the Lt. Governor as President of the State Senate, and allow candidates for Governor to pick their Lt. Governors as running mates like Washington does for the President and Vice President.  It short, its an effort to make South Carolina's government more like the federal government. 

The push for such a change came with the scandal of former Lt. Governor Ken Ard.  Ard's embarrassing resignation sparked the General Assembly to push through the proposed constitutional ammendment.  As with most things, the heat of the moment often makes bad law. 

Now, academics and the political pundits disagree.  They seem all too eager to have Columbia mimick Washington in many ways.  But, we have learned that mimicking Washington, i.e., with the the cabinet form of state government under the Governor we moved to currently have, does not result in ideal things.  Just ask all those taxpayers and businesses who had their identification information stolen under the Governor's cabinet if you doubt that. 

That said, here are the reasons to vote no and keep things as they are. 

First, as it stands, right or wrong, the people of South Carolina, as a whole, elect the second highest ranking state official and the President of the State Senate.  Allowing the State Senate to choose their own President via its membership would reward cronyism and factions.  Further, a candidate for Governor would likely pick a running mate that satisfied some narrow interest or reward some campaign donor.  Thus, instead of a Lt. Governor who serves as the people's elected President of the State Senate as a whole, we would end up with two public officials, the Lt. Governor, and the President of the Senate, who would be beholden not the people of South Carolina, but the narrow interests that gave them their offices.  Instead of being vetting at the polls by the people of South Carolina as a whole, they would be chosen by a few. 

That brings the second point.  There is an ever growing movement that South Carolina's government should be more like the federal government.  It is a great irony that some of those who demand this change the most are those who protest the most against the federal government.  Their reasons are petty and personal.  Some politicians, groups and pundits are just flat unhappy with Lt. Governor Glenn McConnell being Lt. Governor and were unhappy with former Lt. Governor Bauer.  They want a Lt. Governor who walks lockstep with their pet Governor's agenda.  And, that is why South Carolina's way of having the people elect the Lt. Governor matters most.  South Carolina is not supposed to be Washington.  Our Lt. Governor is not supposed to be anyone's pet.

We in South Carolina have this notion that the people, as a whole, decide who is President of our State Senate.  Forty-six senators are elected.  The Lt. Governor is elected to preside.  Acadmemics and pundits contend that the Lt. Governor has no real power.  They do not understand real politics.  As a statewide elected official, the Lt. Governor serves as a "state senator at large" if you will, a person who can use the weight of being elected on his own to help constituents, and stand for good things for the state.  People like George Bell Timmerman, Fritz Hollings,  Robert McNair, John West, Nancy Stevenson, Mike Daniel, Nick Theodore, and yes, even Bob Peeler and Andre Bauer, used that bully pulpit of election on their own to do good for the people of South Carolina.  They made a difference not because they walked lock step with the Governor, but because they were elected on their own.  Their, and others contributions serve as shining examples of why a state government, particularly South Carolina's should not mimick Washington's.

Think on it a bit.  If we decide yes to the change, then come 2018, the Lt. Governor will be just another member of the Governor's adminstration.  A call from the Lt. Governor will have no weight on a matter with someone until what the Governor wants done is checked out.  People will have one less elected representative contending their case in that those in government will know the Lt. Governor is just some political pet picked from a narrow agenda. The respect for the office, and what its occupant can do for South Carolina will go down, not up.  The days of Lt. Governors doing great things will forever be gone.

That brings up the last point.  It is contended that a Governor needs to be comfortbable with who might take over their office.  Again, this is not Washington.  The transition argument is all but a red herring argument.  Rarely has it happened in state history.  And, state issues do not correspond with issues like national defense and the like at any rate.  Perhaps its healthy that the people of this state have someone like a freely elected Lt. Governor to vent to with an agenda free of the Governor's.  Historically, our state government structure with a freely elected Lt. Governor kept us from having the likes of Talmedge and Wallace.  Having the people decide freely who was Governor and who was Lt. Governor kept us from such things. 

In sum, we are South Carolina.  We are not Washington, D.C.  Letting the people freely elect the Lt. Governor of South Carolina has served this state and its people well in our history.  No one bad guy or no outside groups who want us to be more like the federal goverment should change that.  The people should choose their Lt. Governor, not politicians in a back room.  Vote no to the constitutional ammendment proposing to take that right away.

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Shame on the boo birds at Clemson

Clemson University President James Barker admonished those fans in Clemson Memorial Stadium who broke out in boos when soldiers taking there enlistment oaths came to the part of the oath that they swore to follow the orders of the President of the United States.  

Barker's letter has unleashed a right wing fire storm about freedom of speech and President Obama and all sort of well, just plain ugliness.  Those who booed where not high minded folks exercising their constitutional rights to free speech, which they have, but seemed disrespectful and low class.  Shame on them for their lack of respect for those kids and for their lack of respect of our American system.  

There are several issues to consider.  First, let us consider what Clemson University was trying to do.  It was  Military Appreciation Day at the game.  Clemson rightly wanted to recognize and pay respects to those who serve, served and were about to serve in the United States armed forces. As such, respect demanded that people put aside their partisan anger and salute young folks about to take an oath to serve our country and protect our freedoms.  Disrupting the the solemn oath those young people were taking was just selfish, petty and ignorant.  

Ignorant because it fails to recognize how the United States Constitution works and who we are as a people.  Like him or not, Barack Obama is the duly elected President of the United States until January 20th, 2013. As such, he is the Commander in Chief of the military forces of the United States.  The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution wanted an elected civilian as Commander in Chief of the military in order to prevent the military from running over the country.  It was part of the checks and balances our nation was founded upon.  

History has proven them wise.  Napoleon rose to ravage Europe.  Africa and Asia have been riddled by military takeovers.  South America is famous for Generals in funny big hats calling the shots.  Not the United States, we have our military answer to a civilian that the people elect.  Thus booing those enlisted inductees swearing to follow the orders of the President, whomever he might be, is a slap at our Founding Fathers and a slap against the Constitution that we in America cherish. 

There are some other thoughts.  Perhaps many of the boo birds are Romney supporters. That is their right.  But, if Romney is elected, they booed the office that Romney will hold for the most of the time those taking the enlistment oath serve.  Just a thought.  

Another thought was conveyed to me by an old friend who has seen far too many college football games to count.  There are people who enjoy their drink before such games, perhaps too much.  He suggested that the boo birds were just intoxicated and did not even know the seriousness of their insult.  

Perhaps they were intoxicated.  We have no way of knowing.  But, frankly, that is really no excuse for making the solemn ceremony of induction  into the United States armed forces disrupting.  

Indeed, the boo birds showed what is wrong with America today.  We abuse our freedom to express ourselves to act out in ignorance to insult.  The boo birds had a right to boo.  I have the right to say shame on them for doing so.  

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America deserves better

This election is shameful.  Not in my lifetime have I seen people, both on the right and left so readily digest bull manure and spread it about the other candidates.  I mean crazy stuff.  Like Romney is gay and Obama is a Muslim.  

Most of all, I am tired of watching folks run down the United States of America and this state to get elected or to help a pet candidate get elected.  We are a nation that has to have paid professionals manufacture fear in the political campaigns.  And, make no mistake, the cancer on American politics are those leeches of life, the campaign professionals who make big money making us afraid of one another and hate one another.  Further, they make candidates and  elected officials lazy shells of leaders who spew out talking points and glad hand at fundraisers without ever actually doing  the homework to know what they are talking about it.  The leaders can go to some think tank or consulting group funded by some nut who fell into a lot of money and not worry about having to work and really learn. 

If I sound angry or insulted, I am.  I am angry and insulted because America deserves better political discourse than this.  Paid brats whispering in the ears of leaders is not what built America.  America was built by blood, work and people eventually respecting one another's opinions on the issues of the day and the right of a free American to disagree and still be a worthy person.  

Let's talk about what America is today.  We are the innovators of technology in the world.  Some can argue that there are too many technological gizmos in American life, but we are on the cutting edge of such things.  Indeed all the folks who complain about paying this or that tax or not getting this or that from the government usually have every gizmo known to man to make their complaints on.  While we as Americans probably spend too much time pontificating on things we really do not know about or people we do not know on the internet, other people in this world live in real fear, do not have food to eat, do not have clean water, do not have a place to go the bathroom.  Their children have no schools to go to.  And, in some places, if they have daughters, those daughters are forbidden to learn simple things like how to read.  There are people who die because they can not get basic health care or who are killed for their faith. Not in America.  And, we have most of the world's wealth, despite all the whining about China on the campaign trail.  

Yet, we get worked up in such manufactured fear frenzies.  Well paid folks create movies that scare people into thinking Obama is going to be some of sort of Islamic dictator if re-elected.  Others go on about Romney making people die without healthcare.  Its all balderdash.  And, we as a people should be ashamed to get caught up in such nonsense.  

We are Americans.  We live in the most secure and wealthiest country on Earth.  We should act like we are blessed, not cursed.  Arguing our points about the legitimate issues is part of our fiber, but real Americans argue them honestly and with respect for one another as human beings and free Americans. Our political campaigns should not be as manufactured and fictitious as professional wrestling.  America is better than that and better than this election. Your neighbor can disagree with you and be a good person.  And, whomever is elected President does not affect your life nearly as much as the choices you make for yourself.  

And, one choice you should make is to decide to be a free American and live in faith instead of fear no matter who takes the oath of office at the State House or the White House come January. 

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We're not dead yet

Sure, we have taken some time off from writing and blogging.  Some think we at VUI are done.  Some are pretty pleased with that.  Some are disappointed.  There have been a lot of things going on, but we are not dead yet.  In the coming days and weeks we are going to be back up and commenting about everything from the Presidential race to public education in South Carolina to football to whatever.  

All of us who work to put together VUI thank all of our readers, both friendly and unfriendly, for the understanding and well wishes during the sabbatical. Now, back at it.  Let starts with some self deprecating humor from Monty Python....

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Top 9 things not say at a Fourth of July BBQ

It is that time year again, the Fourth of July, when folks around the state of South Carolina will be invited to cookouts.  Here is some advice on what not to say so that you have a pleasant time with your hosts.

9) President Obama was born in the United States.

8) Sweetie, hold my beer while I show these dumbasses how to do this.

7) Who cares what kind of barbecue Jakie Knotts likes, this stuff has too much mustard.

6) Your wife might be hot to you, but she really needs to wear a bra. And, yeah, I don’t care if you bought them for her for Christmas.

5) We really don’t want to see your middle aged beer belly, dude, put a shirt on.

4) I’m sober you sonabitch, give me another beer.

3) Easy, Governor, I will show you the Roman Rocket in due time.

2) Watch out, I am gettin’  loose with it

1) Hey ya’ll, watch this...I got fireworks.

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Remember D-Day

Let us never forget the courage and the sacrifice of so many to liberate Europe some 68 years ago.  May the beaches be still with their memories this day and every anniversary of their sacrifice.  General Eisenhower and President Reagan sum up that day and the honor of that day more than I can. 

And, forty years later, Reagan honored them...

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