Greenville GOP convention delegates give Santorum their vote

Let's hope he's the nominee of the party! That should make it easy enough.

What startled me was seeing the coverage on Fox News. Since when did the Greenville County GOP become a subsidiary of Fox? I guess since Senator DeMint started calling the Tea Party shots.

I'm always babbling on this blog that I live in the most conservative county in the country... and I think many of you believe I exaggerate. Well, Patrick Haddon says as much, below (see italics). I told you so!

Depressing but true. (And as regular readers know, I blame a certain family named BOB JONES for that.)

Former senator wins 31 percent of straw poll vote; Gingrich places 2nd
By Rudolph Bell • Staff Writer • Greenville News
Published: April 10. 2011

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was the runaway winner to challenge President Barack Obama next year in a straw poll Saturday at the Greenville County Republican Party convention.

Delegates gave Santorum 126 votes, or 31 percent, shortly after he spoke at the Carolina First Center during his 14th trip to South Carolina since late 2009. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who also spoke at the convention, placed second with 59 votes, or 14 percent.

Tied for third with 29 votes each were two potential presidential candidates who didn't attend: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and New York dealmaker and media personality Donald Trump.

The pair outscored Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who did speak at the convention, and captured 22 votes to place sixth.

...

Several longtime Republicans said they were surprised at Santorum's margin, but not [Greenville County GOP chairman Patrick] Haddon, who chalked it up to the former senator's social conservatism.

Greenville County is the most socially conservative part of South Carolina “and probably the country,” Haddon said.

He said Santorum no doubt made inroads with frequent visits to Greenville in recent months, “but in the end it really has to do with beliefs and being able to gel with the people in this room.”

Greenville County Councilman Joe Dill, who voted for Gingrich, said he was surprised by the straw poll results.

“Gingrich, some people think that he has baggage, but I don't feel that way,” Dill said, referring to the former speaker's admitted affairs and three marriages. “I think he's got a chance to really help this country. But really I'm not supporting anybody right now.”

After speaking in Greenville, Barbour, Gingrich and Santorum traveled to Spartanburg to speak at that county's GOP convention.

South Carolina typically gets lots of attention from presidential aspirants, particularly Republicans, because of its first-in-the-South primary.

Greenville, South Carolina's most populous county, accounted for more than 13 percent of the vote during the state's 2008 GOP presidential primary, far more than any other county.

No Huckabee and no Palin. No Michele Bachmann. I'd say we was dissed, boys and girls.

We'll see what happens at the much-ballyhooed Republican debate next month. Hopefully, not much.

Governor Sanford says he's in "a game of chicken"!

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford defends his game-playing at the CityRange Grill. (photo by Patrick Collard of the GREENVILLE NEWS.)





Dear God, it just never ends.

A GAME OF CHICKEN, he said. HE REALLY SAID THAT, OUT LOUD, IN PUBLIC, WITHOUT SHAME.

Rich, clueless, spoiled white-boy politician thinks this is all a fucking game!

Gov. Sanford defends decision to reject $700 million to Greenville audience

By Rudolph Bell
Greenville News • March 30, 2009

Gov. Mark Sanford brought the politics of economic stimulus today to Greenville, defending his decision to reject $700 million from Washington to members of a local Rotary Club.

Sanford told about 50 members of the Rotary Club of Greenville East that he was going around the state trying to make sure he is "not missing something" regarding his differences with lawmakers over how to use the money in the state budget.

The governor brought a stack of charts and pointed to some as he spoke at the CityRange Steakhouse Grill on Haywood Road.

Sanford said he was in "sort of a game of chicken" with lawmakers who want to take the $700 million and have created a "chaos budget" purportedly showing thousands of teacher layoffs and closed prisons if the money is turned down.

He called on Rotary Club members who agreed with him to contact friends, neighbors and relatives across South Carolina and urge them to share their views with their lawmakers.

And rest assured, those of us who think you are an evil, stupid swine, will spread the word too, Governor!