Free Republic

Boeing plans to make all the parts for the 787 Dreamliner currently produced in the Puget Sound region at a second location so that the second final assembly line being set up in North Charleston, S.C., can operate independently.Local Boeing workers have long complained that only the vertical tail fin of the 787 Dreamliner is built in the Puget Sound region. But now even that small claim to uniqueness is going to be shared, as Boeing continues to turn the screws on the Machinists union after their two-month strike in 2008. The company said Monday it plans to use suppliers...

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), a darling of the Tea Party crowd, credited that movement with blocking Democratic health care reform efforts and predicted the conservative activists behind the movement could ultimately thwart the passage of that bill and others.. "The only reason we don't have national health care right now is you - is the people outside of Washington," DeMint told a gathering of Tea Party activists gathered Wednesday night in Washington for the premiere of a documentary about the movement. "I think we do have a shot at stopping this thing," he said of the health care reform bill...

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces 37 ethics charges he broke state laws limiting official use of airplanes and involving campaign money. The details were released Monday by the State Ethics Commission. They came five days after the panel charged the governor without offering any specifics. Sanford's lawyers have claimed the charges involve minor and technical aspects of the law. The charges followed a probe into whether Sanford used state aircraft for personal and political trips, used pricey airline seats despite low-cost travel requirements and reimbursed himself with campaign cash.

For 27 years Congressman John Spratt has gone to D.C. and cast thousands of votes on behalf of the people of upstate South Carolina. There may have been a time when Mr. Spratt’s representation reflected the values of this district, but that certainly isn’t today. The Fifth has changed over the years, but Congressman Spratt has not. Communities such as Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and other parts of the district have been overflowing with folks from Charlotte and even other parts of the nation seeking the benefits of an area shaped and nurtured on typical middle class American values: low...

Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican known for his efforts to block influence domestic immigration and health-care issues, has scored a foreign-policy coup by helping to compel the Obama administration to shift its stance on strife-ridden Honduras. After demanding for months that deposed Honduran President Mel Zelaya be restored to power, senior State Department officials now say they'll accept the outcome of Nov. 29 elections in the Central American country even if Zelaya doesn't reclaim his post. "We support the elections process there," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Thursday. "We have provided technical assistance. ... These elections will...

I realize this is old news by now...but we really need to follow up and show our support when GOP officials take this kind of action against a big-government Republican. Please go to http://www.charlestongop.org/ and send Chairwoman Bennett a note of support. We've also linked to her e-mail at removerinos.com . I have a feeling that the same tidal wave that's going to wash the Dems out of office is also going to be sweeping a bunch of RINOs out to sea.....

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Republican leaders in a South Carolina county have censured their own U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham for working with Democrats on a climate bill and other legislation. The Republican has often worked with Democrats in Congress, but Charleston County Chairwoman Lin Bennett says his work on climate legislation is the last straw. The party resolution passed Monday says Graham has weakened the Republican brand. Bennett expects a similar resolution to be introduced at the state GOP convention next year.

Last week, FITS published an in-depth report about how liberal special interests were the real driving force behind a new “conservative” advertising campaign aimed at protecting embattled U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. The massive radio and television blitz – which features RINO State Sen. John Courson as its spokesman – has been bombarding the state’s airwaves all week. The ads portray Graham as “fighting to protect South Carolina,” of course they conveniently neglect to mention that the climate change legislation he is currently drafting with President Barack Obama and Democratic Sen. John Kerry is likely to significantly raise South Carolinians’ power...

Though Republicans oppose the so-called "public option," Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is proposing the requirement to draw attention to the plan's alleged flaws. Republican Rep. Joe Wilson proposed an amendment Wednesday that would force all members of Congress to receive health insurance coverage through the government-run plan proposed in the House's reform bill. Though Republicans oppose the so-called "public option," the South Carolina gadfly -- who gained notoriety for shouting "you lie" at President Obama during his address to Congress two months ago -- is proposing the requirement to draw attention to what he sees as the plan's flaws. "They...

James Galyean is a candidate running for South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District. Prior to that time, Galyean was an Assistant United States Attorney and also has some pretty direct connections to the War on Terror. It was Galyean who helped helped write both the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 and the Military Commissions Act of 2006. As a result, he has a bed of knowledge and massive amounts of contacts that others do not. And his contacts are telling him that, protestations to the contrary from the Pentagon, Barack Obama has every intention of sending GTMO terrorists to the Charleston,...

A deputy assistant attorney general who said he was on his lunch break when an officer found him with a stripper and sex toys in his sport utility vehicle has been fired, his boss said Wednesday. Roland Corning, 66, a former state legislator, was in a secluded part of a downtown cemetery when an officer spotted him Monday, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. As the officer approached, Corning sped off, then pulled over a few blocks away. He and the 18-year-old woman with him, an employee of the Platinum...

ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS) - An Orangeburg County highway was shut down for hours Tuesday after deputies stopped a man who they say had a rifle and seven live improvised explosive devices in his car. Authorities are also searching the man's motel room. Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams says Mark Kerron of New Jersey is "the real McCoy"

While a congressional races are drawing national attention, I wanted to let everyone know about another CONSERVATIVE candidate running for SC 4th Congressional district. His name is Jim Lee. His website jimleeforcongress2010.com Jim needs our help. Especially from the local SC constituency. He is not a Lawyer, not a career politician, and adheres to true Conservative values. He is running against the incumbent, Bob Inglis who has abandoned Conservative values by voting for TARP, sided with the Democrats on the Joe Wilson incident, amongst many other non conservative issues. Jim Lee has already committed to the New Contract with America...

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Behind closed doors, business and local government leaders in South Carolina are working to deliver an electrifying jolt to the economy of this genteel city — at the expense of Washington state. Already the site of side-by-side factories that produce two thirds of the fuselage for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, Charleston is in a tight race with Everett to be the location of a second final-assembly line for the new jet. "It's a huge deal," said Pat Barber, a well-connected Charleston businessman who owns a trucking company that specializes in oversize loads and could win a lot of...

The Anti-Defamation League is up in arms over two South Carolina Republicans’ revival of an old stereotype. Peter Beinart asks: Is calling Jews thrifty really so offensive? This week, in an act of vicious anti-Semitism, Edwin O. Merwin Jr. and James S. Ulmer, chairmen of the Bamberg County and Orangeburg County, South Carolina, Republican parties, respectively, co-authored an op-ed in which they accused Jews of taking good care of their money. “Jews who are wealthy,” they wrote, “got that way not by watching dollars but instead by taking care of the pennies and the dollars taking care of themselves.” Then...

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Texas and around the country what officials say is the largest single strike at a Mexican drug cartel in the U.S WASHINGTON (October 22, 2009)—U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls the arrests of more than 300 people in a series of drug raids in Texas and across the country the largest single strike at a Mexican drug cartel operating here. Holder said at a news conference Thursday that the arrests over the past two days were aimed at the U.S. operations of the La Familia cartel. Click here to find out more! Holder...

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) will appear as the special guest at a fundraiser next week to benefit South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint's 2010 re-election, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Fix. The event, which will be held on Monday in Charleston at the home of Sheila and Bill Prezzano, features a number of power players in Palmetto State politics including money men Dick Coen, Bill Hewitt and O.L. Thompson as well as former Gov. Jim Edwards, former Rep. Tommy Hartnett and Republican National Committeewoman Cindy Costa. Hosts for the event are expected to donate...

SNIPPET: "Steven Cucuzzella, of North Charleston, pleaded guilty in federal court to sending a threat by mail to destroy the Naval Brig near Charleston. Another charge of threatening to kill former President George W. Bush was dismissed."

Market Street Saloon scammed out of $510 in latest, boldest counterfeit case It was dark, the alcohol was flowing and dozens of Alexander Hamiltons and Andrew Jacksons were making their way into a downtown bar's cash register Friday night. It wasn't until the next day that a manager at the Market Street Saloon realized that someone scammed the business out of $510 by passing bogus $10 and $20 bills. Charleston police said the incident is the most brazen of several counterfeit cases to hit the city recently. In the last two weeks, eight businesses from West Ashley, James Island and...

It is being reported this morning that US Senator Lindsey Graham will hold a Town Hall meeing Monday Oct 12 at 6:15pm at Timmons Arena on Furman Univ, Greenville SC. No signs or materials will be allowed in Timmons.

During the process of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, Lindsey Graham was the only Republican joining all the Hyde Committee Democrats in voting "nay" on Article Two, perjury in the Jones deposition. He killed it, a double-cross of Henry Hyde without doubt. This article had the best evidence against Clinton of any of the three articles of impeachment. As I remember, the judge in the Jones case had said that Clinton committed perjury. The extreme egotist, Lindsey Graham seems willing to do anything to attract special attention. He is nothing if not a shameless self promoter as the record shows....

Sen. Lindsey Graham working with Sen. John Kerry on climate bill Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina publicly announced his support for climate legislation on Sunday in an op-ed column with Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. "Our partnership represents a fresh attempt to find consensus that adheres to our core principles and leads to both a climate change solution and energy independence," the two senators wrote in The New York Times. "It begins now, not months from now — with a road to 60 votes in the Senate." Graham's support is a major win for climate supporters, who...

This is an update on a story about a company in South Carolina named Smosska that I covered back in July. At this point, it seems beyond question that Smosska is a sham organization that was set up by ACORN in order to hide "community activism" behind a false front in South Carolina. Back in July I reported on a corporation that swept into Florence, South Carolina promising all sorts of new jobs with wonderful new benefits. Naturally none of these jobs have materialized. Looking into this Smosska, Corp. proves that the company is a sham group formed to serve...

I hate to say “I told you so.” But, well, I told you so. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has signed on to the Democrats’ massive green redistribution scheme masquerading as a planet-saving, national security-enhancing “energy independence” scheme. Can John McCain and the rest of the Climate Change Republicans be far behind? Now, the announcement of Graham’s alliance with Big Government Democrats. In the NYTimes, natch. Kerry and Graham go on to argue that we must buy into their plan because the EPA regulatory power grab will be worse. It’s greenmail: Sign on or else the out-of-control bureaucrats (and the unaccountable...

Stay with the ENTIRE seven minutes--you won't regret it!

Washington State plans no new financial incentives for Boeing in its bid to win a second production line for the 787 Dreamliner. That's clear from a 32-page document released Monday morning by the office of Gov. Christine Gregoire. On Friday, Gregoire met with the new chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Jim Albaugh, and presented him with the document outlining the business case for building a second 787 line here. The presentation includes no new concessions specific to Boeing or the aerospace industry, but instead summarizes the state's existing advantages as a center of civil aerospace manufacturing. "The greatest benefit...

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) The South Carolina congressman who gained national attention for shouting "you lie" at President Obama during a speech to Congress will attend a Republican rally in Aiken. The Aiken Standard reports the Saturday rally will be held at the Republican Party headquarters in Aiken. Some have called the event a fundraiser and a show of support for Wilson. Aiken County Councilman Scott Singer called the rally awkward. He said he didn't want the rally to appear to support of Wilson's outburst. Wilson's shout at the president came after Obama said that extending health care to all Americans...

I’m not kidding, and she certainly seems determined. The mayor of Wellford, S.C. has instituted a policy banning law enforcement from chasing criminal suspects. She’s not just eliminating vehicle chases, but has banned foot pursuits as well. Maybe the mayor of Wellford has a line on a new tractor beam? Watch the video and you may get the impression she can order one online.

Jeff Taylor describes himself as a “behind-the-scenes guy” who got a little push. When he had a couple of people ask him about running for alderman earlier this year, he gave it some thought. But in July, when Dana Outlaw “seemed to waiver” about whether he would run again for alderman in New Bern’s Sixth Ward, Taylor decided that the time for thinking was over and that “somebody needed to step up.” And, suddenly, Taylor was behind the scenes no more. By the time Outlaw decided to file again for alderman, Taylor had already put out a news release, started...

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), also known as the Black Press of America, which is a non-partisan 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization, has decided to show its disapproval of South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's "You Lie" remarks by canceling a convention in the state. "Rep. Wilson's remarks were racist, disrespectful and a disingenuous violation - not only of President Obama - but to the institution of the presidency and only solidified our position and the importance in not spending Black dollars where Black people are not respected," NNPA Chairman Danny J. Bakewell Sr. said in a statement. ...more...

Joe Wilson will be the guest on Terry Anderson's show tonight Terry has a weekly radio talk show out of Los Angeles, CA, on the subject of the invasion of America by 30,000,000 illegal aliens... 12-1 AM EDT, 11-12 PM CDT, 10-11 PM MDT, 9-10 PM PDT KRLA - 870 AM - Los Angeles — KDWN - 720 - Las Vegas — KFNX - 1100 - Phoenix Call Terry LIVE 9-10 PM PST at (866) 870-57521 LIVE stream at http://krla870.townhall.com/ http://www.republicbroadcasting.org/index.php?cmd=listenliv http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2338902/posts?page=1

With a political arms race in full force, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has raised almost $750,000 in less than 48 hours since his shout of "You lie!" to President Obama during the Wednesday address to Congress, almost matching the Internet-fueled haul of his likely Democratic opponent. A senior GOP official said Wilson, who apologized to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel after the health-care speech but has since refused a more public apology, has turned his own previous sleepy campaign machine into an Web-friendly effort. Just as liberals have poured cash into the campaign of Rob Miller, who lost...

A group of black newspaper publishers on Friday charged Republican Rep. Joe Wilson with racism for yelling, "You lie," at President Obama during his nationally televised address to a joint session of Congress. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has canceled a planned January conference in South Carolina, where Wilson is a representative, and joined an economic boycott of the Palmetto State started 10 years ago by the state NAACP in protest of the confederate flag waving from the Statehouse grounds. Wilson shouted his accusation Wednesday night in response to Obama saying that his health care reform plan would not...

What has been the fallout of Joe Wilson's outburst? $17,000 per hour in campaign contributions, give or take a thousand or so. He has raised $750,000 in less than 48 hours according to a national Republican fundraising committee.

Liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org is jumping on the Rob Miller fundraising bandwagon, 36 hours after Miller's 2010 opponent, Rep. Joe Wilson, yelled "You lie!" at President Obama. Miller, a Democrat working on a rematch, has raised more than $750,000 since then, and MoveOn.org sent an e-mail to supporters Friday asking them to help put the challenger campaign over the $1 million mark. A spokesman for Wilson says he's had a post-ouburst fundraising boost as well, that has topped $700,000. Wilson posted a video on his campaign Web site, where he also describes himself as sorry only up to a point:...

In a matter of seconds Wednesday night Joe Wilson went from being pretty safe for reelection to one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in the country. Wilson trails Democratic challenger Rob Miller 44-43 in a PPP survey conducted Thursday night and Friday morning. Last year Wilson defeated Miller 54-46. 62% of voters in SC-2 disapprove of Wilson's actions while just 29% think they were ok. By a 48-41 margin Republicans think what he did was fine, but independents are opposed to it by a 66/25 margin and Democrats are 84/10.

Joe Wilson trails Democratic challenger Rob Miller 44-43 after shouting 'you lie' at Barack Obama during his speech to Congress on Wednesday night.

I’ve been watching them breathe heavily all morning and into the afternoon about how much money Rob Miller, Wilson’s Democratic opponent last year, has pulled in since last night. The latest figure is $400,000 — a “shattering amount,” according to one Democratic mouthpiece. How stupid is this? Let us count the ways: 1. Wilson’s become an instant political celebrity and grassroots love object. He’ll make big bank off this too. 2. His district’s been Republican for fully 44 years. He beat Miller by eight points in November while Republicans all over the country were getting wiped out. Given the way...

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) mastered politics in a state where no-holds-barred political combat dates to the days before the Civil War, when one of its congressmen entered the Senate chamber and beat a Massachusetts senator with a cane for attacking pro-slavery Southerners. So when Wilson went so far Wednesday night as to heckle President Obama, interrupting his address to a joint session of Congress with shouts of "You lie!" he wasn't straying far from South Carolina's tradition of wild and woolly politics.... Wilson's charge -- which fact-checkers have repeatedly established as false -- was that the universal-coverage provision Obama backs...

Even some of the people who voted for the South Carolina congressman who heckled President Obama say they're embarrassed by the normally mild-mannered congressman's outburst. Still, others in the conservative district that first sent Joe Wilson to Congress in 2001 praised the Republican on Thursday, a day after he shouted "You lie" at Obama. The 62-year-old attorney and retired South Carolina Army National Guard colonel apologized soon after the remark. Wilson's 2010 opponent, Democrat Rob Miller, said he's raised more than $200,000 from thousands of donors since the speech. Many voters said the remark wouldn't affect their vote.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sixty-one South Carolina House Republicans asked Gov. Mark Sanford to resign Wednesday, questioning his ability to lead the state since his unannounced summertime trip to see a mistress in Argentina and investigations of his state and private travel that followed. "Your decision to abandon our state for five days, with no defined order of succession and with no known way to contact you, is inexcusable,'' said a letter from the lawmakers signed by House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham.

The State is reporting that state Rep. Tim Scott, a Charleston Republican, has raised $150,000 for his run for Lieutenant Governor. Like gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley, Scott had a big fan in Gov. Mark Sanford. Unlike Haley, he should be able to weather the association with little fallout. This is shaping up to be a war between regions for the GOP primary, with Orangeburg, Florence, and Lexington offering up candidates. Which means, at least right now, we should expect lots of campaigning on the Grand Strand and in the Upstate. ------------------------ as reported in "The State" Scott opens bid for...

Does anybody know if there is any effort going on to reverse the open primary system that gave us John McCain? According to Wikipedia the following states have open primaries: * Alabama * Arkansas * Georgia * Idaho * Indiana * Michigan * Minnesota * Mississippi * Missouri * North Dakota * South Carolina * Tennessee * Texas * Vermont * Virginia * Wisconsin I've run a google news search and come up with blanks.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, stung by political attacks over his extramarital affair with an Argentine woman, said in his first extended interview since June that he no longer wants to "crawl into a cave" and will fight to keep his job in the face of mounting public opposition. "I have a newfound level of humility, knowing how hard I work and how hard I push is not the ultimate driver of change," he said in the interview Monday. "Power resides with people." Mr. Sanford, whose once-high approval numbers have deteriorated, also acknowledged that his opponents "smell...

Nearly half of South Carolina banks lost money in the second quarter as sour real estate deals continue to eat into the institutions’ bottom lines, federal regulators reported Thursday. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures bank deposits, reported that nearly 45 percent of 67 S.C. commercial banks were not profitable for the quarter, which ended June 30, compared with 22 percent for the same period in 2008. The Atlanta Region, which includes all of the Southeast, reported 53.4 percent of the area’s banks didn’t turn a profit for the quarter. That was the highest percentage among six region districts...

South Carolina Republican lawmakers are on the verge of calling a special legislative session that could impeach and remove embattled GOP Gov. Mark Sanford by the end of the year, The Washington Times has learned. GOP lawmakers will use a regularly scheduled annual retreat this weekend to discuss the fate of the governor, whose extramarital affair with an Argentine woman sparked an international scandal earlier this summer. Mr. Sanford has rejected calls to step down voluntarily, included one issued Wednesday by his own Republican lieutenant governor. House Republicans in the state will discuss how and when to initiate impeachment proceedings...

Another Difference between Republicans and Democrats: This is Maria, SC Republican Governor Mark Sanford's mistress. This is Golan, NJ Democrat Governor Jim Mc Greevey's mistress.

called for this a couple weeks back. Now, the top lietenant to Governor Sanford is calling for him to resign. South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer on Wednesday called for embattled Gov. Mark Sanford to step down, saying the state has been crippled by questions over the legality of the governor's travel, which included trips to visit his mistress.

My opinion of Mark Sanford is well-known. So is my repeated call for him to go away and quick. It’s taken too long, but South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has finally asked the lying liar to step down — and state House Republicans are meeting this weekend to discuss impeachment: