Taxpayers to cover legal fees
COLUMBIA — Taxpayers are writing a blank check to cover spillover costs in the battle over $700 million in stimulus cash that is being waged in court.
But Gov. Mark Sanford and opposing litigants argue that what is at risk is more significant than the legal fees being rung up. Three suits have been filed in recent days over the governor's refusal to take the federal cash designated to help public schools and law enforcement programs through the recession.
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford
The cost to taxpayers is impossible to pin-point at this time, but it will be paid in salaries for state-employed attorneys and other staff who are assisting them. The state's liability insurance also could be tapped to cover legal fees. Fire departments, county governments and agencies across South Carolina pay into the fund for coverage.
Sanford and legislative leaders have been at odds over the stimulus cash for months. Their inability to find common ground led to the lawsuits that were filed last week after the Legislature tried to force Sanford to take the $700 million in stimulus cash. Half of that money is to be spent in the budget that begins July 1.
Sanford wanted lawmakers to work with him to come up with a plan to pay off debt, an idea that the White House twice refused.
Senate leader Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said litigation is unnecessary. The governor should have accepted the decision Congress made on the stimulus funds, especially because taxpayers here are obligated to pay back the national debt whether South Carolina takes the $700 million or not, McConnell said.
"When governments sport around in the courtroom suing one another, the taxpayer is the loser," he said.
Stimulus money
Read a press release from the governor's office about the lawsuits (Word Document)
What is at risk
For Gov. Mark Sanford, who sued the state, the Legislature's disregard for the executive branch is a crux of the matter. The two-term Republican governor also is adamant about dire future consequences for taking the money. The state should make more budget cuts now to properly fund core services, rather than potentially push the decision off for the future, he says.
Joel Sawyer, Sanford's press secretary, said that if the governor hadn't filed court action, the Legislature's attempt to force Sanford to take the money could have a lasting impact on governors across the country.
For educators, teaching jobs and smaller classroom sizes are part of what is at stake. The state Department of Education is named as a defendant along with Sanford in a case filed by the S.C. Association of School Administrators.
For plaintiffs in the third suit — Casey Edwards, a Chapin High School senior, and Justin Williams, a third-year law student at the University of South Carolina — their education is at stake.
Dwight Drake, a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Columbia, helped prepare an earlier version of the Edwards case, but has stepped aside as counsel on the current case. Still, he said the case will not represent any significant cost to the taxpayers.
Drake said the case is simple and straight-forward and does not require some of the elements that make cases expense to litigate, such as depositions and discovery periods.
A guide to the court battles
Here is a breakdown of the three lawsuits that have been filed since the Legislature tried to force Gov. Mark Sanford to take $700 million in federal stimulus cash designated for public schools and law enforcement. The money would be split equally between the budget year that will begin July 1 and the following fiscal year's budget.
All the cases are pending in federal court.
--Sanford sued the state on grounds that the Legislature violated the separation of power clause in the state constitution by trying to force him to take the stimulus cash against his better judgement. Sanford wants the court to permanently block the state from receiving the money.
The governor is represented by Columbia-based lawyer John Foster of the firm Kilpatrick Stockton, who has agreed to work for free.
Additional costs could be billed at a reduced hourly rate and would be charged to the state Insurance Reserve Fund. Sanford's office does not have an estimate of what those additional costs might be.
The governor's staff also is assisting in the case.
Sanford's case names Attorney General Henry McMaster as the defendant, and it is filed in federal court. McMaster's office did not provide information requested for this article.
--The S.C. Association of School Administrators sued the state, claiming that Sanford's refusal to act will lead directly to the termination of teachers, create larger class-sizes and diminish the quality of education.
The suit names Sanford and state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex as defendants in its case.
Molly Spearman, the association's executive director, said the purpose of the case is to see to it that Sanford takes the money and cites a July 1 deadline for the governor to grab the federal cash for education programs or lose it.
Spearman said she expects the costs for the private association to be nominal.
Rex wants the governor to take the money, but the association named him as a party to the case because of the role he plays in state finances. The Education Department pays its general counsel $107,552 a year for an array of services.
--Chapin High School senior Casey Edwards and University of South Carolina law student Justin Williams sued the state over whether the Legislature can bypass the governor and accept the money on behalf of the state.
Sanford, McMaster and Rex are expected to respond.
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Comments
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
This is very confusing, to say the least.
1-What happens to the money if SC doesn't take it?
2-Will it go to someone else or otherwise be spent anyway?
3-Does the stimulus money have "strings" attached, like the federal highway money years ago that I think was tied to the speed limit in the state?
4-Will South Carolina's debt be smaller if we don't take?
5-Could the stimulus money itself generate income for the state through sales or income taxes?
6-Is the stimulus money considered a loan or a grant?
May 28, 2009 at 4:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
n't that just peachy? Hey I'm not tapped enough keep taking it you almost GOT IT ALL!
May 28, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
This is no surprise. We all knew the lawyers would come into play sooner or later. It's our government; it's our debt. Look at as stimulus money for the lawyers. It's no big deal. This isn't real money anyway, and they can always go print some more where they printed this.
May 28, 2009 at 6:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
Hold on to your wallets...
May 28, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dawhetsell (anonymous) says...
I agree AmericanZero, If you are not at your City council, County council, State house meetings or calling your Federal Legislators and telling them they are wrong. Telling them you will help to get them voted out . If you don't do these things then you do not have a right to complain and deserve what you get.
May 28, 2009 at 7:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
This pork-us-all money is an illusion, its all false hope and tragic change!
Police officers saved by stimulus may still lose jobs
(CNN) -- It was a success story the White House was eager to highlight: Earlier this year, President Obama attended the graduation of 25 police recruits in Columbus, Ohio, touting it as a victory for the federal stimulus package.
Without the money, the officers never would have hit the streets. They were to be laid off before their first day of patrol, victims of city budget cuts, until the stimulus money saved the class.
But the White House said the $1.2 million grant only guaranteed their jobs until the end of the year. And facing a growing deficit and a fight to pass an income tax hike, Columbus Police on Tuesday announced massive budget cuts that could mean hundreds of layoffs.
Among those who could lose their jobs if voters reject the increase: the 25 new officers who shook the president's hand.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/2...
Sanford has been right all along. But the greedy societal parasites dont care, they want "their fair share". Morons.
Even the ChiComs are warning US -
China warns Federal Reserve over 'printing money'
China has warned a top member of the US Federal Reserve that it is increasingly disturbed by the Fed's direct purchase of US Treasury bonds.
Richard Fisher, president of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, said: "Senior officials of the Chinese government grilled me about whether or not we are going to monetise the actions of our legislature."
"I must have been asked about that a hundred times in China. I was asked at every single meeting about our purchases of Treasuries. That seemed to be the principal preoccupation of those that were invested with their surpluses mostly in the United States," he told the Wall Street Journal.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/fi...
Maybe obama and hillary need to go the the Saudis with hat in hand....
May 28, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cappy (anonymous) says...
When the stimulus runs out, who is going to fund the programs that our elected officials want to use it for? Do I hear increase in STATE taxes? We are stuck with funding the spending frenzy from the feds but lets try to keep the state burden down. Don't forget the national sales tax that is coming.That should pay the stimulus funding, but it won't.
May 28, 2009 at 7:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
martin (anonymous) says...
"Sanford wanted lawmakers to work with him to come up with a plan to pay off debt, an idea that the White House twice refused."
A real Sanfordista wrote this (and it's obvious there's some journalistic impartiality missing in this piece). Sanford has obviously never been interested in working with lawmakers or anyone else. He follows his political dogma and demands and insults and expects his fellow party members to kowtow.
Where did he go to primary/elementary/high school? He has missed something somewhere about how to interact with people. Or, maybe, his personality is so disturbed, he just can't learn how to build relationships which lead to accomplishment. He would rather be pure and fail.
Costing the taxpayers money in court is no more hypocritical than his mother receiving federal farm subsidies (what was his record on those while in Congress?)or him living off the taxpayers for while in Congress or Columbia.
May 28, 2009 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
What kind of idiots is Chapin high turning out???
May 28, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bcstaffasst (anonymous) says...
Well....IMAGINE THAT....More burden on the taxpayers. THANKS A BUNCH MARK!! Someone needs to get that MORON out of office.
May 28, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Thanks legislators for costing us even more money. If McConnell had been listening to the governor for the last 6 years we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with. They haven't made the slightest attempt to pay off one penny in current debt in order to get this money from the governor, they want the "free" one time money PLUS the debt, and when this is all over they're gonna cry that they have to raise taxes to pay for all of the programs they created with this one time money. Paying for new long term programs with one time money has been a hobby for these buffoons.
Most of our legislators may have a big R beside their names, but they're nothing but spend it faster than it comes in democrats. Why the dems have so much hatred for them I don't understand, since they seem just as intent as the democrats on bankrupting us. I think the problem is just that they aren't bankrupting us as fast as the democrats would like.
May 28, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by zekemire on May 28, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What kind of idiots is Chapin high turning out???
***************************************************
The kind that think there's nothing wrong with latching on to the government teat and suckling as hard as they can.
May 28, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flinsc (anonymous) says...
I can't sit. My backside hurts from the rape that I am getting from the government, national, state, and local.
May 28, 2009 at 8:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
"What kind of idiots is Chapin high turning out???"
Ironically, Chapin High School is considered one of the top Public High Schools in the State!
http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-s...
http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/b...
Now, who really is the idiot here? My bets are on zekemire!
May 28, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
I don't understand why Sanford couldn't have accepted the money and with the caveat that agencies could only spend it on non-recurring expenses (buildings, equipment upogrades, busses, etc.). Then state dollars could have been shifted.
May 28, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
When all is said and done this will ultimately end up being just another case of lawyers win, taxpayers lose.
May 28, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
If South Carolina doesn't get the stimulus money, it will be divided up between the other states which apply for it. It's likely that when the deadline passes to make the application which Sanford refuses to file, despite being required to by law passed by override of his veto, that a lot of other states will be filing in Federal court to get South Carolina's share divided and distributed to them. Large states, such as California's share, might be over 40 million dollars.
Then perhaps we'll be able to enjoy watching Georgia spend the money which was appropriated for South Carolina's school system. Presumably Sanford's lawyers will be in court arguing that California, Michigan, New York and the other states should get the tainted money.
Great job, South Carolina Republicans. After 20 years of ruling South Carolina we've gone from being a state where unemployment was usually under the national average to having the third highest unemployment rate in the US. Despite your relentless efforts to keep out Unions, keep wages and benefits low and cut taxes, we've lost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Republicans choose the Governor, dominate the legislature and pick the Judges.
Your grandchildren will have very little left and most will leave the state for better opportunities elsewhere. Mark Sanford is accelerating the impact of a globalized economy on a state which has been unable to make the investments in education, infrastructure and communication. Sanford's legacy will be increased structural unemployment, the continued loss of talent to areas with better opportunities and declining property values in large parts of the state.
Sanford and his friends will bet that they can live off turning the SC coast into a retirement community which benefits real estate developers. Of course, we'll realize, too late, that the next generation won't have a retirement like this one. Secure pensions, fat 401ks and successful real estate investments that sell off easily will be gone. We;ll struggle to take care of an aging population which can't afford to take care of itself after it has exhausted its assets. They'll compete for Walmart Jobs with younger, unskilled laborers.
May 28, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobielfield (anonymous) says...
An earlier story on this mess quoted Sanford as saying that he had "an army of angry taxpayers supporting him" ... oh really ? Wonder where they are as this bizarre so-called governor continues to pursue his obsessive "principles"... I might respect hiim if HE paid the legal costs of this challenge ... Ha, ha... just hold your breath for that, folks ...
May 28, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
schrutebeetfarms (anonymous) says...
Can we throw Sanford in prison for refusing to obey the law?
May 28, 2009 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
amembersid (anonymous) says...
More SC'ERS voted for Sanford than McConnell and Harrel but, who has the power. There truely is a good ol'boy system in SC. Where did the money problem come from. This state has had hundreds of years to save money and it has what to show for it. Any and all of our governors have had but two terms. Shouldn't one rather have a Sanford than a good ol'boy.
May 28, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by wjhamilton3 on May 28, 2009 at 10:17 a.m.
***********************************************
Great job, South Carolina Republicans.
***********************************************
You are aware, of course, that the state Senate and HoR, which are both trying to force the Governor to take the money, are both Republican majority, no?
***********************************************
Your grandchildren will have very little left
***********************************************
I agree with you there, but that will be thanks to the Obama Presidency, which in years to come will be ranked as one of the most disastrous presidencies ever for our country's economy, right up there with Jimmy Carter. Let us all hope that like Carter, he will also be a one and done.
May 28, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
geek - you may want to have a little peek back in history...this economic tsunami came on prior to Obama's administration.
Typical Republican revisionist tactics. Stop watching FOX Non News and gain a grain of true knowledge.
The economic pendulum swings back and forth and the deregulation instituted by the previous administration contributed to the current problems.
May 28, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by Luna on May 28, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
geek - you may want to have a little peek back in history...this economic tsunami came on prior to Obama's administration.
********************************************************
I see.... so what you're saying is that it's Bill Clinton's fault.
May 28, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...
I really think all this started when the gold standard was dropped back in the early seventies. Once the feds could just print all the money they needed, actually borrowing from the future. Every thing started going up, especially inflation.
The country has to stop borrowing from our children. They may not be able to support themselves and pay off the huge debt we have left them with.
May 28, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
I see......as long as you can say it was no Republicans vault all is right in your world?
Denial, party of one!
May 28, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
Luna,
The following statement:
The economic pendulum swings back and forth and the deregulation instituted by the previous administration contributed to the current problems.
Is incorrect. Keith Olberman sould go back to doing sports, at least he was more knowlegable there.
Remember, the previous administration wanted to regulate Fannie and Freddie more closely, BUT Frank, Dodd & Crook Clyburn would not. It can be argued that THIS is what got the "pendulum" swinging in the wrong direction.
Major--WELL said!
May 28, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
Actually luna both parties are at fault. be they democrat or republican.we citizens havent done a very good job of making our elected officials responsible. for shady and idiotic practices for decades.until we hold our elected officials accountable we will continue to bear the burden of their bad decisions .
May 28, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestt (anonymous) says...
@WJHamiltonIII
And why do you think our unemployement is so high? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that half of the 12% are abusing the system and are there regardless of the state of the economy. In other words, Idaho's 7% is the same as our 12%. This divide is between the educated and the uneducated, pure and simple. Although there are good arguments for taking the money(see commonsense above), you can never convince a sane person that paying down debt is a bad decision. The fact that our representatives have NOT properly funded anything but their own pockets is not the fault of Sanford. In case you don't know the history or substance of our State Constitution, the governor is quite powerless do deal with a reckless legislative body. Obama and Polosi created this situation for Governor Sanford. He would have had to go on trying to stab the beast with a rubber spoon. Thankfully they handed him a dagger, and the inane can't stand it.
How do you think the rich get that way? Most of them really don't steal it. Now, who would you rather listen to about money, the broke masses or someone who has a prooven competancy for it? As a matter of fact, didn't Mcconnells business go under?
If you disagree with Governor Sanford you have been played. Played by the Statehouse and the media too.
May 28, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonnative1963 (anonymous) says...
So why did we as a state not yet IMPEACH MR SANFORD....what are you people in he legislature waiting for...a sign of incompetence. Well " here's your sign!"
May 28, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Trodi - I agree wholeheartedly! Both parties are at fault.
When we became complacent and stopped fighting for our representation we also became at fault.
Public service was never meant to be a career. That goes for the Dems (Kennedy/Byrd) as well as the Reps. When they started looking at their service as a life long career they all started feeding into the insidious cycle of playing to the money and the elections.
We should insist on term limits, new blood would do this body good!
Larz - it has taken a lot of bad decisions on ALL parts to get us here. BTW - I don't watch MSNBC as much as some Dems......I find both MSNBC and FOX feed the monkey on both sides.
May 28, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
eatmorecollards, you're absolutely right about going off the gold standard. Credit has grown figuratively in an exponential rate since then and fueled so much of this prosperity. Unfortunately, most of the supporters of this stimulus formula and of the opponents of Sanford do not realize that both the dem and dem-lite parties have contributed to this situation to the point that we are now paying credit with credit. This just will not work in the long term; a day of reckoning is coming. You cannot get ahead that way, folks. Either the economy will jump start with this, and the growing economy will increase the revenues to government, or government will raise taxes...which takes more money out of the economy. My plan is to stay totally out of debt and keep a victory garden growing and get a chicken coup up in the not too distant future. I guess I'm pessimistic today, but none of these actions can hurt. If things get better, then great. If they don't, I have a buffer to defend.
May 28, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by Luna on May 28, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I see......as long as you can say it was no Republicans vault all is right in your world?
Denial, party of one!
********************************************
Actually, the Bill Clinton line was a joke.
Looks like I'm not ready for open-mic night yet, huh?
May 28, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Something was lost in cyber-translation, that,s all.
Promise not to heckle!
May 28, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LuckyDay (anonymous) says...
Charlestt>
C'mon-please do your homework before you foam at the mouth. 12 months ago the unemployment rate in this state was 6.2% and the number of unemployed was 131,455. Now the unemployment rate is 11.5% and the number of unemployed stands at 252,882. What happened? According to you, 121,427 workers suddenly got lazy and decided to abuse the system. Ohhh, your economic analysis is so coherent. There might be another reason why the SC unemployment rate is so high-growing companies see bubbas like you and decide to locate somewhere else.
May 28, 2009 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
The Gold standard is part of it, so is the Fed.....JFK wanted to eliminate those theives....the Rothschilds, Rockefellers and others didn't like that sheet.
May 28, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
whistlingonadixiedick , your living in fantasy land if you think Bush started this mess.
He contributed for sure but the first major catastrophe was FDR then came Johnson then Carter. All tax and spend socialist leaning democrats.
This joker in the white house is directly responsible for causing unemployment to increase in increments of 600,000 plus as he screws up the auto, banking and housing sectors with his insane policies.
Stimulus? The only thing he's stimulating is the rush to the death of America.
We couldn't be any worse off if we outsourced the president his cabinet and the members of both houses of congress to China.
You are too dumb to see that they are all sticking it to us so you swallow the Bush did it mantra of an incompetent president who it seems can't even tie his shoes without instructions from a teleprompter.
Cry, whine, and bemoan the "eight years of Bush" while the Obamatron destroys the nation without so much as a whimper of protest from his slavishly devoted followers.
Talk about being sucked in?
Shades of Jim Jones.
May 28, 2009 at 2:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
issuetaker (anonymous) says...
Geesh, such a divided camp. Complaints about the amount the Gov. is costing us is but a drop in the bucket compared to what we're on the hook for given the rest of the stimulus and budget money foisted on us with its restrictions.
If, as has been suggested, we could all agree to dump the legislative members up for reelection and eventually rebuild an entire legislature with mandated term limits, we'd be the better for it as taxpayers. Unfortunately, I don't think you'd find enough willing, qualified participants for the mandated limited time without making that sort of service mandatory.
Secondly, there may already be too many with the philosophy which seeks to excoriate Sanford. There are too many already on the govt. dole, either directly or indirectly, having the attitude expressed by more than a few here of "gimme now".
If that philosophy prevails, then the debate within even the proposed new legislative model would continue, but with an increasing diminishment of opposing voices. In the final analysis, the tax and spend crowd will finally have gorged themselves to such an extent that they destroy, not only themselves, but the hand they demanded to provide their sustenence.
May 28, 2009 at 2:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
whistlingonadixiedick, BTW Carter was not president in 1975, Boy!
May 28, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by whistlingdixie on May 28, 2009 at 11:18 a.m.
>>>>
Geekboy,
Typical comments from you and your clan of neocons, "President Obama is a disaster" and "it's 99% democrats fault we are in this mess" and it's never the darling Republicans fault"? For god sakes turn off Rush, Bill, Ann, Karl,and Dick and above all Fox News?
>>>
Let us Open minded American Taxpayers remind you again for the last time please, President Obama is following George "the worst president ever' Bush and his mess as a "worthless president".
>>>
I wonder Geek, could you do better? Probably not?
>>>
It's your right to piss and moan but please spare us the same old crap everyday.
>>>
BTW were you born when Jimmy Carter was "elected"? That would be 1975 Boy?
<<<<
Actually he was elected in 1976, not 1975. November 2, to be exact. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._pre... ) And no, I was not born on November 2, 1976.
May 28, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
Hopefully "o" will invite pelosi, reid, frank and kennedy to the kool aid fest.
May 28, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LuckyDay (anonymous) says...
Yird seems to forget that the official start date for the current recession was December 2007. Please check the National Bureau of Economic Research if you are willing to shake loose from your delusions. When President Obama took the oath of office, the nation was officially in the 14th month of the recession. And don't forget that when Bush took office he inherited a budget surplus, and a national debt of 5.5 trillion. Yes, it took the whole history of this nation to build a debt of $5.5 trillion. But W found a way to double it in seven more years. yird-you said something about Jim Jones. Please also check what's in your cup.
May 28, 2009 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
LuckyDay, OOh! Official date. Wow I'm impressed.
You seem to forget that the Obamatron has quadrupled in four months what Bush started in six years then the democrats completed in the next two years.
While we are on the subject of forgetting which is a huge difference from never knowing, only congress can spend money.
Even the anointed one cannot raid the treasury unless congress approves which at this time means a free pass for the impostor in chief, since they are all tax and spend democrats.
May 28, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Come on now! You may not have noticed but yird only attacks when attacked.
If you play nice and post intelligent things yird does exactly the same.
You may not agree with what others post, but if you keep the name calling off the site you will find that we ALL have a lot more in common than you would think.
May 28, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PoliGadfly (anonymous) says...
CHARLESTON, S.C
PoliGadfly.
REQUIEM FOR THE U.S. WORK ETHIC
There are those who have proven by their infiltration of the United States' diverse cultural system that those who have a good work ethic and seek to achieve, not just for themselves, but for others as well, are the real "losers" in U.S. society.
There are those who, by their shear inaptitude, have been able to successfully undermine and cause ridicule to come to those who have chosen the road less traveled. Certainly there are those who sought reward for themselves, but, nonetheless, in so doing, also sought to contribute to the economic strength of this country within legal, and ethical parameters. These poor souls have been claimed as victims by the inept and lazy among us as surely as rust claims unprotected iron.
Slowly they infiltrate seeking lower and lower standards. They have been able to co-opt government jobs as an additional form of welfare. So called "corporate welfare" can hold no candle. By doing so, they perpetuate their corruption. Demand is made for better education, while complaining that standards for the determination of "better" be lowered. They demand less and less accountability for themselves and their conduct ,while asking the government to provide more and more "entitlements" which, according to them, should be doled out with a lack of regard rivaling only that of Nero while Rome burned. They want higher wages, while producing inferior products and even appearing for work less often, and in a much less timely fashion.
Yes, there are those who have fashioned their own style of success in living off others. They constantly entice others to follow their example by word or deed. So in recognition of the achievements of those who have successfully "worked" to be the least they can be while maintaining a sufficiently large work force to provide for their needs with no overhead, congratulations are in order. You have been instrumental in the weakening of America and hastening the debauchery of the society on which you depend. I trust your intuitive wisdom will suggest what your course of action will be when the majority of formerly hard working and productive Americans becomes the minority and you are the only ones left to care for yourselves.
As for the once proud American work ethic: REST IN PEACE
.
May 28, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Whistling - that is your perception, not my reality.
I have found that Yird and I see eye to eye on somethings and disagree on others.
I had to take a long hard look at myself to see that the way I was posting instigated a lot of attacks. Yep, really...I was part of the problem.
I know that I will not change anyone and no one will change me, but if we have civil exchange we can at least come to a middle ground.
May 28, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
Luna,
Closing a statement with "Boy!" is at the very least patronizing if not worse.
Oh, I forgot, yird doesn't even understand the term patronizing, my bag.
May 28, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Luna (anonymous) says...
Come come now....he said....she said.....but I only meant....but, but, but......we are all guilty of pushing the limits.
geesh, I sound like y'alls momma.
May 28, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Posted by guidedbystewart on May 28, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Luna,
Closing a statement with "Boy!" is at the very least patronizing if not worse.
Oh, I forgot, yird doesn't even understand the term patronizing, my bag.
Well Mr. Analyst, if you had any powers of observation to amount to anything you would have realized that my use of the word Boy was preceded by your goofy soul mate, whistlingatwhatever.
Patronizing no, reciprocating yes.
May 28, 2009 at 5:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
serenitynow (anonymous) says...
IMPEACH SANFORD.
May 28, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CompostandWourier (anonymous) says...
The article states the attorneys and staff are already employed by the state does it not?
May 28, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justjerry (anonymous) says...
Thank you Gov Sanford for trying to inject sanity into what is going on with government overspending. Obama has created more future debt in his first 100 days than ALL other presidents combined. That is something all of his blind faith supporters should be proud of. Vote all of them out and start fresh.
May 28, 2009 at 7:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
upstateislander (anonymous) says...
Well it's been almost 2 hours since all you angry posters have put anything up.....its probably been 12 hours since anyone posted anything on point!
This issue is not about Obama, Reid, Pelosi,Frank or Kennedy....nor is it about Gingrich, Rushbo, Bush, Cheny, et. al.
This is about a meglomaniac occupying the governor's mansion and his unchecked ego and absolute total disregard for the citizens of South Carolina.
I personally know of representatives and state senators who march lockstep with Herr Marky Mark....or as I like to call him....dear ole guv! These members of the General Assembly, few as they are in number......and none of them dare to be quoted in the paper, are scared to death of Herr govenor and his ties to out of state donors who can make or break a campaign, with their mysterious PACS and generous wire transfers!
Folks, we're being held hostage by money....and it's not stimulus money. Why is dear ole guv moving everything to federal court? Because a lot of Federal judges have been appointed by the Bushes(guv's friends).........Think about it if you can stretch your confined brains.....The State Supreme Court is appointed or as they say "elected" in Columbia....by none other than the legislature....where dear ole guv has few friends......other than those frozen by the fear of losing out of state PAC money!
Dear ole guv cares nothing for our state! If this was really about principle....he'd be working inside of SC to get it settled.......Guv has Wall St. ties and that is where his money comes from.....so why not sue in Federal Court?
Think about it.....wake up SC.....dear ole guv is reaching for the rubber gloves and is aiming for us! Guv is building his case for a national campaign and has no regard for us little folk. Don't believe me.....call Glenn McConnel.....he will tell you the truth!
May 28, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TheTruthFighter (anonymous) says...
Exactly why I'm moving out of this sorry state!
May 28, 2009 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sardis12 (anonymous) says...
So Obama's been in office for all of four months and this is his fault? At least he's trying to do something, all W. would have done is give more money to Wall Street, tell the regular guy to fend for himself, then head off to Crawford for a few weeks of rest and relaxation on his ranch.
Sanford is a disgrace...
May 29, 2009 at 12:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
Posted by upstateislander on May 28, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well it's been almost 2 hours since all you angry posters have put anything up.....its probably been 12 hours since anyone posted anything on point
=================================
Looking at your wonderfully balanced "on point" post just make me feel so warm and fuzzy knowing that there are folks like you that "personally know of representatives and state senators" and their trials and tribulations.
Fill us in on all the details you are so privileged to have access to.
And of course as you already have, stay on point!
May 29, 2009 at 7:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
What a bunch of societal parasites wanting to pass on massive debt to their children. Way to live for today and for your self. Typical left wing nut jobs, it's all about serving self.
What is it about taking other peoples money that makes the left so flippin ecstatic?
May 29, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
DONT TAKE THE MONEY Mr Sanford!
Its all phony money and it only brings more government control via the nanny state, and even the Russian version of the NY Times gets it;
American capitalism gone with a whimper
"It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.
True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.
First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish."
May 29, 2009 at 9:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
continued;
"The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.
These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?
Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. That is correct, dear reader, in the land of "pure" free markets, the American president now has the power, the self given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. Come hither, go dither, the centurion commands his minions."
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/colu...
May 29, 2009 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mcb (anonymous) says...
I'm over Mark Sanford, bring in Fred Sanford!
May 30, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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