Those of ya'll who know me know that I've never been a fan of the Karen Floyd campaign.

I supported Bob Staton in the primary, in part because I felt Floyd's support base was too far right, and her emphasis on issues, such as school choice (which I support), was directed at that base. Focusing so much on that narrow a base of support, while valuable in a GOP primary, could scare moderate voters (just ask David Beasley) and be a fatal weakness in a fall campaign.

I expected the Floyd campaign to hunker down and ride the usual GOP advantage to victory, with a minimum of effective effort to reach the political center or into key Democratic constituencies. In a state where the GOP has won a staggering majority of races for constitutional offices since the early 90s, it's certainly a smart way to play it.

Yesterday, I got to eat some of my words for lunch, and I’m big enough to admit it.

Monday, Floyd stood up with a number of black community leaders and public figures from around the state who announced their support for her. Bold move.

Statements by two Democrats at this event were particularly bold:

After recording five albums as the lead guitarist for the band Dokken in its 80s heyday, George Lynch took a new direction in his career with his 1990 album, Wicked Sensation, with his new outfit, Lynch Mob.

While many metal bands of that time were about hair spray, hype, and attitude, Lynch was a real rock and roller, whose career included a Grammy nomination for his guitar work. While this was clear on the Dokken albums, it stands out even more on this album.

While it was a really great album, it's 1990 release, as metal was poised to begin it's decline and self-destruction, destined it for relative obscurity. Had it come out in say 1986 or 1987, it likely would have done much better.

Appreciated or not, it was a great album. While the album showcased Lynch's creativity with solid musicianship, it didn't simply become a showcase for Lynch's guitar work, or an oversized ego, as some did when leaving bands to pursue solo careers.

Favorite songs on the album? No Bed of Roses, River of Love, Sweet Sister Mercy and the title track, Wicked Sensation.

If you're on the road or have something which gives you the time to commit to listening to the entire album at one setting, then I recommend this highly. If you don't check it out, it's your loss.

While on the way to a job site in Bamberg Friday morning, I took this picture Friday morning of a rather lucky turtle.

The sucker that I am, when I saw this guy trying to cross the highway, I turned around and carried him the rest of the way across the road. Once released on the other side, he quickly scurried into the ditch. I hope he got where he was going.

... and I'm betting this shoots my callous, arrogant jerk image all to heck. Except with the more moderate Nazis.

Speaking of good occasions to have a hard protective shell and the ability to hide in it, my friend, Columbia attorney Brian McCarty, makes some valid points about stepped-up security at a Midlands football game in the wake of threatened gang activity on his blog, Voting Under the Influence:

I hope everyone gets where they’re going this week. Be sure to travel and cross those highways safely, and remember that the middle of the road isn’t always a safe place to be, no matter how hard your shell might be.

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.

U r sckd: worker fired by text message
A company has defended its decision to sack one of its staff by text message, claiming it was keeping in touch with youth culture.

Katy Tanner, a 21-year-old sales assistant, received the message while she was off work with a migraine, the South Wales Echo newspaper said Friday.

The text message said: "We will not require your services anymore...Thank you for your time with us."

"I don't think it's right to just text someone. At least they should have talked to me face to face," Tanner said.

"You're not allowed to text in sick, you have to phone. The fact that they texted me is a bit of double standards."

Several senior staff members at Blue Banana, a body-piercing and jewellery shop based in Cardiff, defended the decision.

But company director Jon Taylor added that an internal investigation was underway to see if "the ultimate action was ideal".

The retailer claims it tried to reach Tanner directly "five or six times" and passed on a message through her boyfriend before the text was sent.

And store director Ian Besbie added that the dismissal method was fair because texting was a part of "youth culture".

"We are a youth business and our staff are all part of the youth culture that uses SMS (text) messaging as a major means of communication," he said.

The company employs about 120 people in Britain, many of them aged under 21.
(Yahoo News/Agence France Presse)

"We are mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore," said a group of Lowcountry elected officials who have declared their intent to "declare war on the general public."

"There is a lot of anti-incumbent sentiment out there," said Councilman Smith White. "Rest assured that there is also a lot of anti-public sentiment among elected officials. Do people really think we're going to sit back and take it?"

State Representative Tachin Ayhm of Lincolnville added: "We want people to understand that there is nowhere to hide, and no stone will be left unturned. That includes people who are working or riding in their car. In neighborhoods,on the roads, day and night. We're coming for you."

In addition, a write-in campaign was announced to make Dirty Harry Mayor of Charleston. "We want Dirty Harry, not Clint Eastwood," said White. "Charleston used to have a lot more gun action, especially on the Eastside, and it's high time we got back to that. With a trigger-happy cop at the helm, toting a .44 magnum in bad neighborhoods, you can bet we'll have that taxpayer-funded body count sky high and fast."

This announcment has followed a wild couple of weeks in the Lowcountry in which several elected officials were arrested for mulitple charges, including two counts of DUI and two of assault:

State Representative Wallace Scarborough was arrested after an altercation with utility workers, in which his weapon discharged.

Bert Reeves, the Mayor of Cottageville, was arrested and charged with DUI . Reeves has generated numerous headlines for Cottageville, a small town well-known on Speedtrap.org:

Mount Pleasant Town Councilman Bobby Utsey, facing re-election this fall, was arrested after following a woman in traffic and attacking her. He was also charged with DUI.

Meanwhile, national Homeland Security officials had no response to this press conference, but did advise Lowcountry citizens to watch out at all times for further attacks by local elected officials.