Ravenel to declare candidacy ... against Rainey?
For sometime, I’ve watched the ongoing spat between GOP Treasurer candidate Thomas Ravenel and John Rainey somewhat puzzled.
However, as the exchange of words has continued, I’ve grown increasingly concerned. But Sunday, after services were over, my priest, knowing I’m a political gadfly and hobbyist of sorts, asked me what that was all about.
All I could do is shrug and say “I wish I knew.”
When the spat reaches to that level of the public, any thinking person has to wonder just what in the heck is going on here.
This is about as bizarre as whatever motivated Patterson, who is well into his eighties and facing considerable questions about his ability to serve as Treasurer, to seek re-election in the first place.
Is Ravenel running against Grady Patterson, or John Rainey? Doesn’t he understand that time and effort spent on debating his fellow Republicans is less to raise funds and get his message out?
This continuing war of words may very well make people wonder if his party really is united behind him, and give Rainey’s criticisms a far wider audience than they normally would have received. This is not what one wants to do when facing a well-known incumbent who traditionally gets a noticeable amount of cross-over support from GOP voters for his re-election campaigns.
Grady Patterson is a real South Carolina hero. His record of service to his country, in World War II, and to his state as Treasurer, is beyond reproach. Patterson’s legacy of service, like many of his generation, leaves a strong legacy and challenge to those who follow. However, in his later years, he has earned the right to retire. His last point was proven in 1998, when he took back his job. His re-election may well result in the sacrifice of what little time he has left to rest on his laurels and enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
However, as the exchange of words has continued, I’ve grown increasingly concerned. But Sunday, after services were over, my priest, knowing I’m a political gadfly and hobbyist of sorts, asked me what that was all about.
All I could do is shrug and say “I wish I knew.”
When the spat reaches to that level of the public, any thinking person has to wonder just what in the heck is going on here.
This is about as bizarre as whatever motivated Patterson, who is well into his eighties and facing considerable questions about his ability to serve as Treasurer, to seek re-election in the first place.
Is Ravenel running against Grady Patterson, or John Rainey? Doesn’t he understand that time and effort spent on debating his fellow Republicans is less to raise funds and get his message out?
This continuing war of words may very well make people wonder if his party really is united behind him, and give Rainey’s criticisms a far wider audience than they normally would have received. This is not what one wants to do when facing a well-known incumbent who traditionally gets a noticeable amount of cross-over support from GOP voters for his re-election campaigns.
Grady Patterson is a real South Carolina hero. His record of service to his country, in World War II, and to his state as Treasurer, is beyond reproach. Patterson’s legacy of service, like many of his generation, leaves a strong legacy and challenge to those who follow. However, in his later years, he has earned the right to retire. His last point was proven in 1998, when he took back his job. His re-election may well result in the sacrifice of what little time he has left to rest on his laurels and enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Of course, this presumes that he shows up for work, and that he's not on deep freeze in some morgue so as to assure his loyal supporters ... uh, staff members ... continued job security.
To win, Thomas Ravenel has to show he has the character and leadership abilities to match those of Patterson’s. He can ill afford to come across as petty, immature, and confrontational, especially against an incumbent whose campaigns have stressed Patterson’s record of commitment to public service, and his personal character.
Many in Patterson’s generation learned to aim their weapons towards the enemy and use them with powerful effect. This seems to be a lesson Ravenel has yet to learn.
But in this, like many things, nobody is totally wrong or right. However, Ravenel is the one who can pull the plug on this, just as he was the one who escalated it in the first place.
It does however identify Mr. Ravenel for some as one outside the upstate wannabe kingmakers.
The Treasurer's office is nothing more than staffing for Democrats who their party can't afford to hire.
Since Hodges lost, they don't have anyone else who can provide life support to the Dems via the state payroll.
Must suck being losers. Maybe we need to find Lee Atwater's jumper cables and keep them handy so as to keep Patterson alive long enough for Robertson and others to find private-sector employment.
I'm sure Wal-Mart is hiring. He should start looking.
There are plenty of Repubs who are thinking what Rainey is saying, they're just afraid of Rod Shealy smearing them if htey speak up, or those SCRG attack dogs.
He just sees this as a stepping stone to becoming the biggest airhead in the US Senate. Don't be fooled by his BS!!!
I might have to go with the old geezer, because I am tired of all these dadgummed wives and clildren of politicians running. You got President Bush. You got Governor Bush. You got Hillary Clinton. You got Mike Campbell. You got Jimmy Carter's son out in Nevada. You got Lincoln Chafee. More and more, our political class seems like peerage.
With Drew Theodore on the Democratic side so called T-Rav on the GOP side, South Carolina is doing our share to help that.
Take a double dose of geritol Grady, and go win one more.
you t-rav fans sure like the kool aid. why don't you go get some of the party favors that SCRG candidates like, as in brad-caine, or maybe a family values lecture with shirley hinson and wallace scarboro?
maybe if ya'll are doing coke and each other, you'll shut up and leavce the rest of us alone.
I've never met Ravenel before. He seems like a good/respectable guy, and then other times I have heard him in interviews just come across like a jerk. What's your opinion of him as a person and do you honestly think he is fit or qualified to be SC Treasurer? E-mail me your answer if you would prefer not to answer on here. Hope all is well down in Summerville
Rod Shealy, king for a day in June, is trying his best to make his candidate look like an ass.
BTW, Richard Eckstrom is T-Rav's coach for the debate with Rainey.
does anyone see the irony in this?
ravenel, for all his sound bites and pretty-boy "I'm a Reagan Republican", and "I wear the Ring" crap, needs a debate coach? oh, ain't that hilarious?
rainey found the cracks, and more and more they're show. t-rav will have all the time in the world to hop bars and chase tail next year, because he's gonna be a loser.
when he's out there saying how he wants to be the governor's third vote on the budget and control board, why doesn't he tell us WHY the governor can't count on a 4 to 1 majority at the present?
i guess even pretty boy is smart enough to know it is bad politics to admit it's because the governor's poor leadership skills have alienated two of the four.
the fossil will beat the brat this fall. rainey saw him exactly for what he is, and so will voters.
put THAT in your kool aid and drink it boys
all of you make me sick, about as sick as the jerk who runs this blog. if only you knew what he was really all about.
one day you'll see the handwriting on the wall about how you sold this state out. when you do, i'll spring for the rat poisen milkshakers.