OK South Carolina Folks!!!

My wife is able to listen to the radio at her job, and the local talk show is having all the candidates come in to answer questions. They started today with Ravenel. My wife called in and asked him how pro-gun he is, and then some other guy called in and really pinned him down. I didn't hear it, but she said he came out solidly against the AWB and cited crime-rates vs. gun-restriction in different states. She was satisfied with his answers. If anyone is in the Columbia area, please try to listen and call in to Kevin Coen on 560 AM from 3:00-6:00 for the next few weeks. And post what these guys say on this thread. We have a real opportunity with this election, and I'd hate to see the seat go to someone who waffles on the Bill of Rights. Once they're in, they might be as hard to get rid of as Fritz was.

I like Ravenel. I just hope I move back there in time to vote for him.

I could use web pages for the candidates. I might post candidates' positions regarding the 2nd amendment at a few of the local ranges if I am permitted by the range officers.

You can forget Tenenbaum. She's the head of the dept of education.
Here's her website: http://www.inez2004.com/portal/

Being a Democrat Educator, I'll bet good money she's an anti, or maybe will stand behind "Hunters" as a way to avoid the issues of the 2nd.

Today is the day to vote in the Primary.

Tenenbaum

Nothing on the 2nd, but this is what her site says:

KEEPING US SAFE



After the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks, Inez Tenenbaum is determined to do whatever necessary to keep America safe at home and rid the world of tyranny and terrorism. She strongly supported the war in Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein, whose dictatorship threatened America and the world. She believes we should support our troops’ efforts to bring democracy to Iraq, and should continue to aggressively pursue the war on terrorism.



Here at home, Inez will work to keep our communities safe. She will give our first responders more resources to meet their new responsibilities, fight to keep South Carolina’s military bases open, and increase support for the state’s active and retired military personnel. A supporter of the death penalty, Tenenbaum has won the endorsement of policemen for her tough stance on crime and her work to combat juvenile violence in schools.

Tenenbaum

Nothing on the 2nd, but this is what her site says:

KEEPING US SAFE



After the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks, Inez Tenenbaum is determined to do whatever necessary to keep America safe at home and rid the world of tyranny and terrorism. She strongly supported the war in Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein, whose dictatorship threatened America and the world. She believes we should support our troops’ efforts to bring democracy to Iraq, and should continue to aggressively pursue the war on terrorism.



Here at home, Inez will work to keep our communities safe. She will give our first responders more resources to meet their new responsibilities, fight to keep South Carolina’s military bases open, and increase support for the state’s active and retired military personnel. A supporter of the death penalty, Tenenbaum has won the endorsement of policemen for her tough stance on crime and her work to combat juvenile violence in schools.

Republicans are also running "Free Trade Jim DeMint" . He talks a good game but I believe none of it.

The GOP runoff will be between Jim DeMint and former Gov. Beasley.

DeMint has earned an "A" rating from the GOA.

As I understand the situation DeMint is the favorite of the republican machine (re: Bush administration). DeMint's infatuation with "Free Trade" is not resonating real well with the 30,000+ texitle workers who have no jobs.

Local republicans sensing an electoral loss get Beazley to run. Almost immediately Beazley polls ahead of DeMint. When you consider Beazley hasn't been the race all that long you can sense something afoot in SC.

I voted for Ravenal and he came in third.. What's the info on Beasley? My wife and I just moved here from GA. a few months back and We know very little about the former Gov.Please give me some background.

We voted for Ravenel and campaigned a little for him in our own circle. It's a shame he lost, but he is very heartily backing DeMint. Thier positions are very similar. I get the distinct impressioni that Beasley is 100% out for Beasley. He's just too slick. I attended a debate here in Columbia several weeks ago and asked the question: "What do you say to SC gun-owners who see thier rights being constantly erroded, blah blah, etc.?" Ravenel gave the best answer. Beasley started into a heart-warming tale about taking his kids hunting. He won't get my vote. Remember that after elected governor he went against the wishes of those who voted him into office (re: the Confederate Flag) to do "what he thought was right." I'm not taking a position on the Flag, but what if he gets to DC and decides ridding the US of "assault weapons" is the "right thing" to do?

I voted for Ravenal and he came in third.. What's the info on Beasley? My wife and I just moved here from GA. a few months back and We know very little about the former Gov.Please give me some background.

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Beasley is courting the church vote hot and heavy, while I, although no heathen, am quite rigorous about separation of church and state and not happy about Bush's marriage amendment idea. DeMint is not at all indifferent to religious issues either, but Beasley worries me. I have no doubt that Beasley will be right beside Bush wearing religion on his sleeve, rewriting the Constitution.

Near as I can tell, both DeMint and Beasley are solid enough on gun issues as candidates go. DeMint has an excellent track record on House gun bills, rated A by GOA. That cinched it for me. Beasley has the gun rhetoric down pretty well, but who knows? I know of only one measure of Beasley and guns during his one term as Governor. He did well on that one. DeMint has been a consistent winner, while Beasley obviously lost his bid for a second term as Governor. I don't think he is going to prevail.

Other issues will likely decide it, one of which may be upstate vs. low country representation. Senator Graham has the upstate covered.

I voted for 3 term House member DeMint and am sticking to it. As long as one of them beats Tennenbaum, affecting the partisan count of seats in the Senate, I think we will have done okay...a darned sight better than with Hollings (D), Kennedy's buddy.

Ravenel's endorsement of DeMint is critical and may carry it. I hope so. DeMint has been tagged as partly responsible for SC textile workers being out of jobs. That is neither fair nor accurate and ignores the longer term economic issues. There are new companies in SC, some foreign, and the jobs that come with them, very much to DeMint's credit. That loss of jobs thing will likely have a regional affect on voting around the State.

Voter turnout was very low, so it could make a difference to encourage friends and family (Republicans) to vote in the runoff.

The really ironic thing about Hollings being buddy-buddy with Kennedy-wasn't it then-governor Hollings who put the Stars and Bars up on the SC statehouse in the first place.

Just a wanderer from the Great Wet North who happens to reside in SC and has heard stories.

I've seen the commericals...something about Beasley strikes me as a bit off...he was a relative latecomer to the race, and seems to play more for what will get votes rather than having clear principles.

Just a wanderer from the Great Wet North who happens to reside in SC and has heard stories.

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What does this mean? To whom does it refer? What does it imply?

Thank you all for your insightful thumbnail scetch of Beasley! I'm voting for DeMint and of course BUSH this Nov.......

I could be mistaken, but I believe the flag that flew over the State House was a battle flag of the army of Northern Virginia.

The Stars and Bars hasn't flown over the State House since the 1860's.

i've e-mailed demint twice about gun issues, each time getting back a letter from "him" (his office) saying "thank you for letting me know you support me and the 2nd amendment". he gets my vote, i hate governor weasley

i've e-mailed demint twice about gun issues, each time getting back a letter from "him" (his office) saying "thank you for letting me know you support me and the 2nd amendment". he gets my vote, i hate governor weasley

i've e-mailed demint twice about gun issues, each time getting back a letter from "him" (his office) saying "thank you for letting me know you support me and the 2nd amendment". he gets my vote, i hate governor weasley

Three things bother me about Beasley.

1) he flip floped on the lottery issue as Governor

2) he flip floped on the flag issue as Governor

3) He started out as a Democrat before being Governor.

Think I'm going to have to go with DeMint. And I blame NAFTA for all the jobs being lost in SC, not one politician from the upstate.

I'm not originally from SC, but I get the impression that the plurality of the job losses have been in the textile industry. And most of those jobs have moved to places like China, which are not part of NAFTA.

The problem with pitching free trade in an area like SC that has lost jobs overseas is the problem of diffuse benefits (lower costs on goods produced overseas benefit all consumers) vs concentrated costs (to those who lost their jobs.)

Beasley strikes me as an opportunist. I don't vote in SC, but I don't trust him.

Beasley strikes me as an opportunist. I don't vote in SC, but I don't trust him.

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-Langenator

Good assessment in my opinion. Beasley is making a big issue of free trade as a DeMint vulnerability and a way to sway low country voters, but if elected he couldn't do anything about it. All he could do is the same thing DeMint has been doing...bringing new jobs to SC. It's no accident that Beasley has the opposite view of his opponent's vulnerability issue. Who knows what he really thinks or how he would vote as a Senator? I just don't see him as very credible in terms of being a Senator. It doesn't really matter to me except that I would like to see my choice win. I voted for DeMint last week and will again next week.

Check out this story in The Hill, dated June 10:

DeMint has Edge in S.C.