Author: Paul Gable

Romney Visits Conway Tomorrow

Holding a 43 percent to 14 percent edge over second place Ron Paul in recent New Hampshire polls, Mitt Romney is making a trip to South Carolina beginning today.

Needing to demonstrate a strong showing in a socially conservative evangelical state, Romney will begin his visit in Charleston this afternoon. He will be accompanied by S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and 2008 Republican nominee John McCain who endorsed Romney yesterday at an event in New Hampshire.

Romney, Haley and McCain will appear at a “grassroots rally” at the Peanut Warehouse, 107 Main St., Conway tomorrow morning beginning at 7:45 a.m.

Santorum, Romney in Iowa Dead Heat

In the closest voting in Iowa Caucus history, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum finished in a virtual dead heat last night. Romney polled 30,015 votes to Santorum’s 30,007, or 25 percent of the vote each.

Ron Paul took third place with 21 percent of the vote. Newt Gingrich limped out of Iowa in fourth place with 13 percent after leading the polls just two weeks ago.

Rick Perry polled just 10 percent for a fifth place finish and may be on the way out of the race for the nomination. Perry told his supporters he was returning to Texas to “reassess” his campaign rather than moving directly to South Carolina as had been planned.

Michelle Bachmann polled five percent of the vote and Jon Huntsman polled just under one percent.

Kelly Payne on the Ground in Iowa

South Carolina high school teacher and political activist Kelly Payne donated part of her Christmas vacation to work in Iowa as a volunteer for the Michelle Bachmann campaign.

“I was excited they felt comfortable enough with me to ask me to help,” said Payne. “I pitched in and did whatever was needed.”

A social studies teacher at Dutch Fork High School, Payne also teaches a government and civics elective class that has drawn statewide attention. She created IT Kids, turning her classroom into one of the top political forums in the state with many legislators and top officeholders, across the political spectrum, giving her students an up close and personal view of state government.

“I will be bringing my experiences in Iowa back to the classroom so my students can share in the experience of grassroots politics,” said Payne.

Illuminating the Light Bulb Ban

Maybe you’ve heard that the federal government has outlawed the incandescent light bulb effective Jan.1, 2012. Well, that’s not quite correct. Here’s what’s really happening: A planned phase-out of today’s general service 40W, 60W, 75W, and 100W incandescent bulbs.

The funding to enforce these standards has been blocked in the giant 1,200-page omnibus-spending bill that was recently signed into law by president Obama. This is the result of uninformed propaganda set forth by talk radio pundits and the new ‘I hate government’ movement.

But don’t plan that the old bulb will be manufactured any time soon. The DOE rules go into effect in 2012 and lighting companies have already phased out the manufacturing capabilities of their inefficient light bulbs.

The law was passed in 2007 as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) a sweeping, 300-plus-page energy bill passed by the 110th Congress—effectively bans the 100-watt incandescent bulb. In addition new efficiency standards were established for appliances, residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Light bulb efficiency was only one part of the law.

Jobs, AvCraft and Rice for Congress

Reflecting further on Thursday’s announcement that the county and the state would combine to provide AvCraft Technical Services, Inc. with $200,000 of new incentives, I am offended. I can’t help but ask just how stupid county council chairman Tom Rice, Gov. Nikki Haley and officials of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation think the citizens of Horry County are!

“I am thankful for the company’s commitment to Horry County and proud of our economic development team for this terrific announcement.” – Rice.

“It’s another great day in South Carolina, and we are going to celebrate AvCraft’s decision to expand and create 150 new jobs in Horry County.” – Haley.

Horry County Announces Economic Incentives to AvCraft Again

Accompanied by glowing pronouncements from state and some local officials, AvCraft Technical Services, Inc. received a second round of incentives from Horry County and the state with the promise to create 150 new jobs over the next three years.

“AvCraft’s decision to expand their workforce by 150 employees is a tremendous testimony of our attractiveness as an aviation destination. I am thankful for the company’s commitment to Horry County and proud of our economic development team for this terrific announcement,” said Tom Rice, chairman of the Horry County Council.

“It’s another great day in South Carolina, and we are going to celebrate AvCraft’s decision to expand and create 150 new jobs in Horry County. Bringing jobs and investment to our state continues to be a top priority of this administration, and we will build on this year’s success in 2012,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

7th Congressional Race up to 15 Candidates

Two more candidates announced they were entering the race for the new S.C. 7th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Gloria Tinubu, from Atlanta, Ga., announced she will run on the Democratic side. She is a native of Plantersville.

According to a member profile of the Georgia House of Representatives , Tinubu earned a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and a PhD. in Applied Economics from Clemson University. She chaired the Economics Department at Spelman College and served 18 months as President of Barber-Scotia College, a historically black college in Concord, N.C.

In the late 1990’s, Tinubu served on the Atlanta city council and twice ran for mayor of Atlanta. She is listed as the current District 60 member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing parts of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties.

Free Rockin’ Band Concert January 14th

Dino Capone’s School of Rock is proud to announce the graduation of six youth rock ‘n’ roll bands at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach Friday January 14, 2012.

Talented musicians ages 8 to 18 auditioned during the late summer and rehearsed for the past twelve weeks in preparation for graduation from the school’s unique Rockin’ Band Program, which is exclusive to the region.

These energetic kids will take the main stage at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach on Friday, January 14, 2012. The doors open at 7:30pm. The show begins promptly at 8:00pm. This is a family friendly, all ages concert event. Tickets are available at Dino Capone’s School of Rock, located at 4007F Belle Terre Blvd., Myrtle Beach and at the House of Blues.

Is Justice Truly Blind?

An accounting for expense funds in the Southern Holdings case provided Sep. 15, 2011, to James Spencer, former CEO of Southern Holdings, Inc., does not conform to S.C. reporting requirements for attorney trust funds.

The accounting, which, reportedly, comes from trust account records of attorney John Rakowsky, was provided to Spencer by attorney Stephanie Weissenstein of the Desa, Ballard, Weissenstein Law Firm. Weissenstein is representing Rakowsky in an interpleader action of the remaining Southern Holdings expense funds held in trust by Rakowsky. Rakowsky represented Spencer and his co-plaintiffs in the Southern Holdings case,

Under deposits, an amount of $67,500 is shown with no identification of who provided the funds or when they were provided. Rule 417 of the S.C. Judicial Department and Rule 1.15 of the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct require the date, source and description of each amount deposited to be included in the records.

Are We Letting Our Children Down

A child has been violated.

Perhaps, it is the same child you have loved, given a kiss good night to or dreamed about how he or she would look in a football uniform or a cheerleading outfit.

However, an athletic surface is the last place where this child wants to be. Not after what has happened between this child and the coach they trusted.

The same coach that vowed to the child’s parents that he or she was going to take care of and protect their child.

And that is sickening.