Boys will be Boys
November 7, 2008
So another blog already let the cat out of the bag about the “inside baseball” that went on at the GOP Caucus meeting today but I felt the need to write from my perspective this morning.
Since I’ve got to work with these boys, I better just talk in the “hypothetical sense” or better yet, surely I had to have taken a nap during yesterday’s meeting because how else could a plan this crazy get dreamed up?
The setting…
Let’s say you have a person. Well, I don’t know…hypothetically, let’s say she’s a female legislator.
She oozes pro-business and pro-conservative credentials, serves on a powerful committee, and decides to run for the open chairman position of a powerful,business committee in the House.
Let’s assume (hypothetically, of course) this female legislator has skyrocketed in just four quick years to become a very influential member of the body. Let’s say she was elected by her freshman class as Chairman immediately upon arrival in Columbia, she’s received several pro-business and pro-taxpayer awards, and..oh yes, aggressively pushed conservative, common-sense ideas in Columbia.
Then, because a recent turn of events on Tuesday (election night), she now has enough votes to be elected chairman by the committee (regardless of how the deck could get stacked against her with new appointments to fill committee vacancies next month during the House Reorganizational session).
Oh, and let’s say that this hypothetical female legislator just had the largest margin of victory in a contested race on Tuesday for Republicans - winning 83% to 17%. Hmmm….I’m guessing that might mean her folks (and from what I continue to read in the media - others around the state too) appreciate her work and ideas for the people of Lexington and South Carolina.
Now my question is this: How can the boys keep this girl from being the next chairman of the committee?
If you don’t think like the boys in Columbia, you’d answer “They can’t, can they? She’s got the votes, apparently has the credentials, and is within four weeks of being elected. What could possibly happen to keep her from becoming the first female chairman - ever?”
Well, just like boys often do, they change the rules of the game.
Hypothetically, what if instead of having the members of each committee vote for their chairman, the boys change the rules so that only one individual out of 124 House members will now appoint those leadership positions?
Yeh, I know, sounds crazy right? Just days after 130 MILLION voters had their voice heard, how would we here in SC state government squelch the voice of members who will actually work on the committee from choosing their own chairman and instead have one person make that decision for them?
Well, there’s a ploy underway to do just that and it’s on a fast-track to passage.
The thing that really confuses me (again, this must have been a dream I was having yesterday?) is how the folks who don’t want one person (the Governor) to have more control are now so adamant that one person in the House SHOULD have more control?
Wait a minute…….it couldn’t be because it’s still “politics as usual” in Columbia, is it?
Nah, couldn’t be. Could it? I’m sure this idea being pushed through is great for the citizens of our state and our government. I’m sure every future House Member will never feel pressure to “go along to get along” in order to one day keep moving up the ranks and be rewarded for staying in line with the status-quo.
Stay tuned, (hypothetically) this story isn’t over.
Oh, and if you’re wondering why we have never had a FEMALE chairman in the House, currently have NO FEMALES in the Senate and how our state legislature has the THE LOWEST female representation in the entire country….. the boys are working hard to keep it that way.
Then again, I could be all wrong? Maybe this idea being rushed through, just two days after an election that saw the country go Democrat and the SC House lose 2 seats, is really not about the current chairmen races (Agriculture, Education, LCI) and instead part of a bigger plan?
Comments
16 Responses to “Boys will be Boys”
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I want to say this is unbelievable - but, unfortunately, it isn’t! How sad!
What are these “pro-business credentials” Haley supposedly oozes? Working for her parents?
If you take a step back and look at this bigger picture. Harrell is loosing his grip. He has lost two key worker bees, Ceips and now Scarborough. so what do you do when you start loosing power and make more of an ass of yourself. You pucker up and try to consume all the power so nobody can have it except you. Harrell has got to be the biggest loser and is holding out state back.
Now that there are only a few of his cronies left, we’ll just have to start picking them off too. All the way from Dewars Annette Young to that new fat obnoxious Dr. guy. They are making it too easy for us dems!
Nathan, Thank you for standing up and speaking out. SC is as backwards now as it needs to be. The “Good ole Boys” rule the roost. I don’t know how we can change it but I hope that the Women of SC will WAKE UP. We cast more votes than men but we can’t seem to even elect one of our own to the Senate and those that make it to the House are beat up on a daily basis and by their own delegation no less.
All - thanks for posting today! I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings.
GnuBerry, Rep. Haley’s business acumen is well known throughout the state . Rather than take my word for it though, here’s 2 quotes I found in about 20 seconds doing a google search for “nikki haley business”.
“Nikki Haley is one of South Carolina’s hardest-working, most effective advocates for positive, pro-business change,” said Realtors CEO Nick Kremydas. “Her work on a wide range of critical economic development issues over the last few years has materially improved our state’s competitive strength as well as the quality of life for all of our citizens.”
“Nikki Haley is one of the most steadfastly pro-business leaders our state has seen in quite some time,” said Homebuilders’ President Earl McLeod. “The intelligence, energy and creativity she brings to her job are invaluable assets for our taxpayers, our industry and our state.”
Voting with industry is not “business acumen,” nor is praise from two developers.
Sounds like to me her pro business credentials are that she has always pushed and backed what you call a real Republican agenda. I employ over 30 personnel and appreciate your and Rep. Haley’s fighting for us. Unforunately, you and a few others have to fight a leadership self serving agenda and a Democrat agenda. Nathan, love your stance and appreciate your informative blogs.
Good grief this state needs help! I can personally and professionally say that Rep. Haley is pro-business and you couldn’t find a better representative (except for Nathan!). Although we are friends, Nikki had to vote against a non-profit client of mine seeking funding from the General Assembly because she felt it was palcing the private fiscal repsonsibilties of the organization upon the the state of South Carolina. I may not have agreed with her on that one, but I sure do respect her. Nikki has had to fight her way up the food chain at the State House from day one and has demonstrated great leadership skills along the way. I just wish some of our other representatives would get out of the way so Nikki could do what we sent her to the State House to do!
Just a reminder that the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women chose Rep. Haley as the recipient of the Thurmond Award for Excellence in Public Service and Government. The Thurmond Award is our organization’s ongoing memorial to the late Senator who was nationally renowned for his constituent service. That’s why we (a group of politically active women) were able to elect her as the recipient of the award. How often do a large group of women agree on anything? We do agree that she is doing a great job!
So you’re saying it’s wrong to take away the vote from 124 House members and giving that power to one man, but when it comes to constitutional officers, you’re saying it’s OK to take the vote away from 4 million people and giving that power to one man. Is that about the gist of it?
Wondering,
First, I need to let folks know that when I replied to the email address you listed, it came back to me. I’m not a big fan of anonymous posts - next time put your name or real email address like every other person who has posted here.
Now to answer your question. “Running the House of Representatives” and “running the State” are easily two vastly different matters. Furthermore, our votes in the House were to PUT THE MATTER (government restructuring) TO THE PEOPLE as a constitutional matter so…..those 4 million people in our state can ultimately decide if they want the Governor to appoint some of his cabinet or not. That’s how it works.
Maybe we should put this new proposed “House rule” up to the public and see what they say? I’d be willing to do just that. Seems they see right through what Columbia insiders are trying to do with this power grab.
Thanks for posting, again, I would prefer you use real names or real email addresses on my site. Use the anonymous stuff on other blogs if you want. If you have serious questions, I want to be able to respond directly to you.
Thanks,
Nathan
Nathan,
You, Nikki and the other young members of both the House and Senate have to fight back against these “good old boy” games. It is this type of “power mongering” that has people fed up with our elected officials. Why does Congress have such a low favorability rating?
Nikki is very deserving of this post (LCI Chair) and has worked to deal with the issues on their merits and not on “who owes who a favor.” That is LEADERSHIP, and we need more of it in Columbia and Washington. She has been pro-business by working hard for workers compensation reform and tort reform. The 2009 Spending Accountability Act is another show of leadership, and I guarantee you if you ask constituents, they WANT this accountability.
Thanks to you and Nikki for working for what is right, not what is always popular in the back corridors of the capital building. Enough is enough.
Thanks,
Mike Sisk
Nathan,
You and Mike are right on. As a 31 year old Young Republican we need to change our Grand Old Party to the Grand Young Party. That starts with getting younger more energetic representatives of the people that are not scared to legislate for the people. Like you.
Keep up your fight against the good old boy network as some of us are done talking about change and are gearing up to help you and Nikki make some change.
Berry Ponder
Resident of Greenville, SC
This fellow Ballentine sounds like a liberal! That’s not what South Carolina needs, more liberal ideas.
Mark,
Not sure if you’re posting tongue-in-cheek or not.
I’m proud of my conservative record and my continued push to reform state government by requiring more transparency and accountability for elected officials. (Earmark Reform, On the Record Voting, Campaign Finance Disclosure Reform, Online Checkbooks, etc, etc.)
Regardless of the retaliation me and some other like-minded folks face, we will continue to be the voice of the constituents back home.
Thanks for posting and come back often!
Nathan