Thoughts on John Spratt, Libya and state budgeting

ROCK HILL, S.C. — If Jack Spratt could eat no fat, then John Spratt could not stomach bad budgeting. Hundreds gathered Sunday in Rock Hill to honor the 28 years of service in Congress for Spratt, the former Democratic House budget chair ousted in November in a nasty November race. As always, Spratt was the quiet Southern gentleman who spoke to everyone, thanked them for their help as they were thanking him for his time in Washington.

Educational attainment is key to success

OCT. 15, 2010 — A look at unemployment numbers compared to how much education someone has reveals a frightening reality: If South Carolina doesn’t get its education act together with a long-term improvement strategy, it won’t be able to compete in the global economy.

Haley’s thin record leaves little leadership hope

JUNE 18, 2010 – - The really bitter irony of the June 8 elections is that the angry people who voted for Nikki Haley as the GOP’s choice for governor are in for a big shock one day: Instead of being a change, she represents more of the same. The hyper-ambitious Haley is little more than Mark Sanford in drag.

The price of vilifying government

JUNE 4, 2010 – If you think South Carolina’s been muddied by nasty politics recently in the gubernatorial race, just think how bad things will get if the state gets slimed with pollution from the Gulf oil disaster.

New SC poll still has us scratching our heads

MAY 31, 2010 – With about a week before the primaries, a new InsiderAdvantage/ Statehouse Report poll still has us flummoxed.

The poll, taken the night following the May 25 headline-grabbing accusations that GOP Rep. Nikki Haley had an extramarital affair with a blogger in 2007, showed voters still preferred her over three male opponents. Of the respondents who said they would vote in the Republican primary, just over 30 percent said they’d cast ballots for Haley, compared to 20 percent for Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and 14 percent each for U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and Attorney General Henry McMaster.