Remount Road & Interstate 26 to re-open for business

Later this morning, the Remount Road interchange with Interstate 26 in North Charleston will re-open after a four-month closure.

Less than 24 hours before the re-opening, Father Titus Fulcher - my priest - and our cantors came out to bless the new overpass, offering prayers for the safety of our workers and motorists, as well as the successful completion of re-opening operations.

Given the continuing difficulties in addressing work zone safety and all the efforts that have been made to improve safety for our workers and motorists alike, it can't hurt to get a few additional prayers to help.

"You Lie" seems to be contagious

The disease is spreading to Virginia, infecting a Hampton City Council member:

Councilman George Wallace has issued a public apology to a person he interrupted at last month's council meeting in which Wallace accused the man of lying.

During Wednesday's City Council meeting, Wallace read from a letter he sent to Frank Ottofaro. Wallace suggested he had lost his cool after enduring continuous remarks about his character going back more than six years.

During the public comments section of the Oct. 14 meeting, Wallace interrupted Ottofaro's rant, telling him, "You lie."

Representative Anne Hutto and Work Zone Safety

On the way to class tonight, yours truly was traveling though my company's I-26 work zone.

This work zone, with a posted speed limit of 55, is a place where my company has had our vehicles, safety devices, signs, and even one worker hit by out-of-control cars where speed and/or alcohol was often found to be a contributing factor.

Tonight's work zone safety star was on I-26 Eastbound, at about 5.15pm, wasn't hard to spot. She passed me like a bat out of hell just before the Aviation Avenue interchange, going at speeds far in excess of the approximately 55-58 that I was driving, swerving from lane to lane to get around cars.

Tonight's work zone safety star was driving a burgundy Volvo SUV with a legislator tag numbered 111, and the driver looked a lot like James Island Representative Anne Peterson Hutto.

Even after leaving the work zone, she kept driving much the same way, until she got boxed in by traffic near the Dorchester Road exit.

Having seen this, we in the Blogland would like to know how she feels about work zone safety issues.

Or maybe she feels that traffic and work zone laws are just for everyone else?

Perhaps she was inspired by this video:

Thanksgiving Political Awards

Over at Voting Under The Influence, they're taking nominations for their Thanksgiving Political Awards:

1) Turkey of the Year (given to the politician or political group with the worst year and most boneheaded moves.)

2) Golden Drumstick: (given to the politician or political group with the best year or most influence.)

3) Cornbread Dressing Award for Career Achievement

4) Cranberry Sauce Award for outstanding local government achievement.

5) Holiday Ham Award (given to the politician, blogger, consultant, with the biggest ego.)

6) The Fruitcake Award (self explanatory)

Go over there, or email Brian McCarty personally, to make your nominations.

Contractors endorse Barrett - or did they?

Working in the construction industry, I received a lot of calls today wanting my take on the endorsement of Gresham Barrett's gubernatorial campaign by the Associated Builders & Contractors of the Carolinas. They wanted to know why the construction industry has chosen sides, and done so this early in the campaign.

My response: "Their endorsement doesn't mean what you think".

This organization is one of several organizations representing organizations and individuals who work in the construction industry. The largest organization is the Carolinas chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the American Subcontractors Association Carolinas' chapter (ASAC) is a group with a wide range of contractor membership, mostly from smaller general and specialty contractors.

While ABC of SC is a legitimate organization, by no means do they speak as the single voice of the construction industry in South Carolina. Hence their endorsement should not be considered as Barrett locking up the support of the construction industry.

In the construction industry, we have a lot of issues we're concerned about, including legislative issues such as tort and workers' comp reform, regulatory reform, underground utilities, and taxes. Regardless of the endorsement of ABC of SC, many of us are undecided in this race, and we encourage the candidates for Governor to continue discussing these issues with us.

Inside Intervew: State Senator Larry Martin

This year, Republican Senator Larry Martin marks his 30th year of legislative service. Beginning his career in the House, he was elected to the Senate in 1992. Representing Pickens County, where he grew up, in the Senate, he chairs Rules Committee.

Recently, he agreed to do a little Q&A for our readers, so we threw a few questions his way, and here’s what he had to say back:

Thirty years is a long time in state politics, and a lot has changed. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen and how do you feel about them?

The biggest change in the Legislature and in state politics since the late 1970’s has been the rise of the Republican Party. Some Republicans today question the sincerity of party switchers like me that began their involvement in politics in the 1970s as Democrats. But, that was practically the only game in town when I began. Conservatives were widely involved in the Democratic Party at the state and local level but that substantively changed in the 1980s and forward.

Another big change that has occurred is that our state’s economy is much more diversified than it was thirty years ago. Also, our higher educational system, particularly the research institutions, is contributing more to our state’s economy as is our technical education system. We’re also seeing a record numbers of students enrolled in higher education, particularly in our technical colleges. This bodes well for our future.

What’s an issue or two which are important to you, and what would you like to see done about them?

I’m once again sponsoring the tort reform legislation, and that’s a very important bill for the coming session and for South Carolina’s economic competitiveness. Also, I’m hopeful that the TRAC Commission will produce some meaningful recommendations that will enable us to enact a more balanced tax structure for the state.

Your career has been in manufacturing management in the textile industry, an industry which was once the bread-and-butter of the Upstate. What is the future of this industry in the Upstate?

A smaller textile industry presence will continue in the Upstate. It’s a tough, international environment that we face in competing with countries that don’t always play by the same rules we do. I also happen to believe that more than the remaining jobs in our domestic textile industry is at stake in discussing the industry’s health; it is vital to our national security that we maintain the capacity to produce fabric for a wide array of uses, particularly for defense, health care, etc.

After so many years serving in Columbia, do you have any plans to hang it up and retire in the near future?

It was never a goal of mine to serve a long time in the Legislature, and it has my policy not to make any plans beyond the next election cycle. The people of Pickens County have been extremely supportive and kind as evidenced by the support that I received in last year’s primary. Although the 2012 election cycle is three years away, I’m pretty confident that I’ll run again. I’m very involved in the day to day operation of the Senate and enjoy serving my constituency on a personal level. So, I’d like to continue to use what little influence I might have attained to make the process work for the betterment of our state and for the folks that I’m privileged to represent.

Rocking with Tesla tonight at "The Farm"

I'll be rocking with Tesla at the Music Farm tonight. Tickets are still available, so come join the Blogland for a hell of a great night!

One of their classic hits - Edison's Medicine:



... and something from their new album - I Wanna Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

For those who say I'm evil

... here's proof - a Halloween photo of the Evil Professor.

Questions of economic parallels between US 2010 and Japan 1990?

Now, the news media is telling us that deficit spending to stimulate the economy might not work after all:

Both Japan, beginning in the 1990s, and the U.S., in the most recent economic crisis, had credit and housing bubbles and both engaged in huge amounts of overborrowing leading up to sharp economic downturns. And both used historically low interest rates and government stimulus spending to try to lift their economies out of the ditch — with questionable results in Japan.

A Hero who embodied America's contribution to winning the fight for freedom

From Who Mattered And Why by Walter Issacson, Time Magazine, December 31, 1999:

If you had to describe the century's geopolitics in one sentence, it could be a short one: Freedom won. Free minds and free markets prevailed over fascism and communism.

So a more suitable choice would be someone who embodied the struggle for freedom: Franklin Roosevelt, the only person to be TIME's Man of the Year thrice (for 1932, 1934 and 1941). He helped save capitalism from its most serious challenge, the Great Depression. And then he rallied the power of free people and free enterprise to defeat fascism.

Other great leaders were part of this process. Winston Churchill stood up to Hitler even earlier than Roosevelt did, when it took far more courage. Harry Truman, a plainspoken man with gut instincts for what was right, forcefully began the struggle against Soviet expansionism, a challenge that Roosevelt was too sanguine about. Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev helped choreograph the conclusion of that sorry empire's strut upon the stage. So too did Pope John Paul II, a Pole with a passion for both faith and freedom. And if you were to pick a hero who embodied America's contribution to winning the fight for freedom, it would probably be not Roosevelt, but instead the American G.I.

SCGOP's Virginia Vacation recap

Recently, Palmetto State Republicans joined many others in traveling to Virginia to help push the GOP ticket over the top. They took part in a first-class operation which accomplished a clean sweep of statewide offices and picked up six seats in the Virginia House.

For a state which the Democrats thought they were taking over, it was no small setback.

As shown in this photo, Adam Piper (on the left) was heavily involved in planning the operation, in which the latest in computer techology to develop a winning game plan.

We also want to thank a number of others who took part in this venture, beginning with Sally Atwater, whose husband was Lee Atwater, the famous GOP strategist, as well as these fine folks:

Midlands team: SCGOP Political Director Matt Nichols, SCGOP Deputy Political Director Kurt Pickhardt, Eric Hollander, Nettie Britts, Adrienne Levy, and Rich (no last name, but we know he's from Kershaw).

Upstate team: Adam Piper, Katie Wellborn, Christine Byington, Scott Cox, Summer Harris, Will Sturm, and Chris Godbey.

We understand another team from the College of Charleston also took part, but we don't know who they are as of yet.

A number of these individuals also played a role in the recent "Cherokee Two-fer", where a special election State House pick-up in the Upstate was followed by the neighboring Rep. switching to the GOP. In talking with several GOP operatives, these sort of cost-effective grassroots tactics will be seen more often in the future.

If there's important work to be done, look for this wrecking crew to show up in your neck of the woods.

Tell a Marine "Happy Birthday" today

It is on this date in 1775, Major Samuel Nicholas was commissioned by the Continental Congress to begin recruiting for what would become the United States Marines:

"That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant-Colonels, two Majors, and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of Privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve by sea when required; that they be enlisted and commissioned to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalion of Marines."

It is a date which may be remembered in infamy by many of America's enemies, but one which all Americans should remember with pride and appreciation.

So if you see a Marine today, don't forget to say "Happy Birthday" ... and thank him or her for their service to our nation and the cause of freedom for all.

"Tear down this wall" ... and it was done

Ask yourselves this question: Will they be content in such a state of slavery? If not, look to the consequences. Reflect how you are to govern a people who think they ought to be free, and think they are not. Your scheme yields no revenue; it yields nothing but discontent, disorder, disobedience

- Edmund Burke, 1774

Today, we recognize the day that, twenty years ago, the Berlin Wall came down, followed by the fall of the Soviet empire which envisioned the wall, both in physical and figurative terms. This had much to do with the words and the deeds of President Ronald Reagan, who stood before the wall two years before its fall, challenging those who built it to tear it down:

General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe , if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr.Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

- Address from the Brandenburg Gate

As discussed previously on this blog, two Berlin Wall segments can be seen in Spartanburg, in front of the Menzel plant, which is near Mile 3 of the I-85 Business route. We encourage our readers to include a pilgrimage to this location next time they're in the Upstate.

If you go, think about the courage of those who defied the wall, by overt acts as well as by refusing to allow those who built it to crush their dreams of freedom. We'd also ask you to remember the 136 who died along that wall, as well as several hundred who died while attempting to escape East Germany elsewhere during the Cold War.

For those who haven't seen it, here's Reagan's 1987 Berlin Wall address:

The Greek Catholic Churches of Slovokia

One of the most interesting things about Eastern Christians is the many traditions which date back centuries and sometime over a thousand years.

A friend of mine who was my mentor through much of my undergraduate and graduate experiences is doing a nine-month teaching stint in Poland, courtesy of a Fulbright teaching scholarship. He was planning to do some touring of the region while there, including to Slovokia, where Eastern rite Catholics are still very prevalent.

This web photo album shares some photos of some of the churches in that region. Go check it out.

Arnold the Governator sends a message

Just in time for the weekend, let's look at what Arnold the Governator may or may not be doing in California to take shots at his political opposition:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger typically attaches a message to bills he signs or vetoes telling lawmakers why he took the action.

A Democratic assemblyman who heckled the governor during a recent event in San Francisco actually received two messages: the veto letter itself and a not-so-subtle rebuke creatively hidden within it.

Like a find-the-word puzzle, the second message was visible by stringing together the first letter of each line down the left-hand margin. It consisted of a common four-letter vulgarity followed by the letters "y-o-u."

"My goodness. What a coincidence," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "I suppose when you do so many vetoes, something like this is bound to happen."

To read a copy of this letter, click this link.

Those of us who are big Schwarzengger fans know this isn't the first time he may have said this in a highly-public forum. For the benefit of our younger readers who may not be familiar with Arnold's famous line, take a look:

Enjoy the weekend everyone!