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I don't know if my ancestors were Confederate veterans or not, actually. I'd like to think they were. No, I grew up 25 miles from Appomattox, so that's colored my views on things a bit. :)

I moved to South Carolina in mid-1997, so I was only here for the last year and a half of his governorship. I don't know that much about the guy other than (a) his flag reversal that cost him a second term, and (b) the fact that for some reason, that I can't place, he gives off a Clinton vibe to me. Too slick, not sincere, too blow-dryed and, well, political. It's not logical, but I can't deny the gut feel I get when I hear the guy.

One thing, though--the governor's office in South Carolina is actually quite weak. The real power is in the General Assembly. We have more elected executive officials than anybody--we elect officials that most states let their governors appoint--and a maze of bureaus and agencies that are not truly answerable to the chief executive. It's difficult to look at a track record for a SC governor because they really can't do all that much without being able to sway the General Assembly. Jim Hodges got nothing done in four years except passing a state lottery, because a Republican-dominated House jammed him every step of the way.

I just hope, honestly, that Beasley has figured out that compromising just so people will like him doesn't work. If he'd stuck to his guns on the flag, or even if he'd come up with a more compromise position to begin with instead of going from "hell no it's not coming down" to "yup, we'll pull it down ASAP", he would've gotten re-elected.

And I do think he'll beat Tenenbaum in November if he wins the primary. Only here in SC could the school superintendent (an elected position, which is why she's a Dem and everybody else in the executive branch is an R) preside over these bad schools, have them get no better on her watch, and be seen as the strongest Democratic candidate for a Senate seat.

}:-)4

(a) his flag reversal that cost him a second term

For all the talk of flip-flopping, Beasley claims that he simply changed his mind, and decided moving the flag was the right thing to do. (I think people should have that perogative, as long as they don't do it often, or in a very bad direction.) He say he knew it would be unpopular; he can't have seen it as a political winner, surely? I give people more leeway on switching when they take unpopular stands.

(b) the fact that for some reason, that I can't place, he gives off a Clinton vibe to me. Too slick, not sincere, too blow-dryed and, well, political. It's not logical, but I can't deny the gut feel I get when I hear the guy.

I'm not one to dismiss a gut feeling. That's largely the reason I'm supporting Bill Cobey in North Carolina's guv primary. Although two people can meet the same politician and end up with radically different impressions of him.