Interesting email from Bob Barr

Below is an excerpt from a Bob Barr for President email newsletter:

As it stands now, Bob Barr is the Lone Candidate in the Lone Star State.
As the filing deadline passed this week, Bob Barr was the only presidential candidate legally certified on the ballot in Texas.
The new Texas law is clear:

A political party is entitled to have the names of its nominees for president and vice-president of the United States placed on the ballot in a presidential general election if . . . before 5 p.m. of the 70th day before presidential election day, the party's state chair signs and delivers to the secretary of state a written certification of the names of the party's nominees for president and vice-president . . .

Given that the deadline passed on Tuesday, Senator Obama was nominated on Wednesday, and Senator McCain has not even announced his selection for Vice President, the Republican and Democrat parties in Texas were technically unable to certify their candidates by the deadline.

--snip--

Do you think that John McCain and Barack Obama's names will eventually be printed on the ballot in Texas?

I would be willing to make an educated guess and say that we're going to have to fight our hearts out to get on the ballot in the states above while the Republican and Democrat candidates won't have to lift a finger to secure their place on the Texas ballot.

. . . that is unless we make a stand in Texas.

And that's exactly what we're going to do.

This situation in Texas is a perfect opportunity to highlight the double standard that exists in our nation.

Does that double standard matter to you? Please post your comments and discuss.

From SC Fishing Report

Great Pee Dee
Catfish: Excellent. Large numbers of catfish, and some very large fish, are being caught on the bottom in holes and around channel breaks. Fish live bream or live and cut eels.

McMaster Heads to RNC

Henry McMaster will be heading off to Minneapolis for the Republican National Convention this Thursday. McMaster along with Roxanne Wilson, wife of Congressman Joe Wilson, will be representing SC on the RNC Rules Committee before the convention starts. This meeting is critical to ensure that South Carolina remains the "First in the South" primary. McMaster will then serve as the Chief Sergeant at Arms for the convention.

Davis Named 2008 CPL Coach of the Year

The Coastal Plain League announced today that Florence RedWolves head coach Wes Davis has been named the CPL Coach of the Year following the completion of the 2008 season.

Under the leadership of Davis, the RedWolves finished second in wins on the entire season with 37 and made it to the championship game of the 2008 CPL Petitt Cup Tournament. In the Petitt Cup, Florence made it to the last game through the winner’s bracket, but the third-seeded RedWolves fell to the top-seeded Thomasville HiToms, 7-4.

Best Speech You Won't Hear About

Last night, during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, I heard one of the most rousing and best speeches of the convention so far. (Note: I couldn't stay up for HIllary Clinton's speech, so I am not comparing it to that.) However, I know this one isn't getting any play on the MSM because of the message and the speaker.
Here is the speech.

Leadership Institute Reveals Corporations’ Political Leanings

Today, the Leadership Institute releases its latest study of the largest corporate and business-related Political Action Committee (PAC) contributors. The data show how PACs divided contributions between Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and non-incumbents, and conservatives and liberals, and how much they gave in the last election cycle, 2005–2006.

The study shows that most business PACs contribute mainly to incumbents, rather than to either challengers or candidates for open seats.

To access the complete 2005-2006 PAC Study, visit: http://pac.leadershipinstitute.org/.

The Leadership Institute's mission is to increase the number and effectiveness of conservative activists and leaders in the public policy process. The Leadership Institute (LI) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization. It does not endorse or oppose candidates or legislation.

Limited Edition STRATEGO®: Democrats vs. Republicans Giveaway

Hasbro has done it again. Another redo of a classic board game.

The White House is up for grabs and so are a limited number of STRATEGO®: Democrats vs. Republicans games in a Campaign.com giveaway. Campaign.com is giving away one of these special limited edition games every day from now to the November 4th election, just for signing up on Campaign.com.

What do you think about the reviving old board games with new twists?

Biden picked as Dems VP nominee

Obama’s VP choice Biden a recent visitor


Delaware Sen. Joe Biden brought his own presidential campaign to Coker College in March of 2007, before bowing out. Biden was selected by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama as his vice presidential candidate this past weekend. While at Coker, Biden, a guest of Sen. Gerald Malloy, mostly touted his exit strategy from Iraq, which he called one of the most detailed and workable plans. He also emphasized health care.

Take Stock of the Southern 500’s Return

August has got racing on the brain for many Darlington residents. In addition to the Historic Racing Festival scheduled for the end of the month, Aug. 30-31, there have been two especially significant announcements regarding the track in the last few weeks. First, Darlington Raceway Track President Chris Browning announced that the Mother’s Day Race will now be the Southern 500, a revered name in racing — and Darlington — history. As locals celebrated race’s return while still wishing it still applied to its historic Labor Day date — moved to California’s Talladega Speedway in 2004 — a second announcement came from NASCAR that the Labor Day date was moving again, this time to Atlanta Motor Speedway. This shuffling of the schedule has some natives wondering why the date couldn’t come back home to Darlington.

Weigh in on the Southern 500 and its new date by posting your comments here.
Look for more comments in the Aug. 28 edition of the News and Press.

Tax Proposals Effect

From the Washington Post, here is a chart of how John McCain and Barack Obama's tax policies would change what you pay Uncle Sam.

If you make more than $160,973 per year, McCain's tax plan is better for you.
If you are part of the other 70% of Americans who make less than $160,000 per year, Obama's tax plan would benefit you more.

America’s Independent Party nominates Alan Keyes for President

America’s Independent Party met last night in its inaugural National Convention and chose former Reagan diplomat Alan Keyes of Maryland as its nominee for President of the United States.

America’s Independent Party is being built by Reagan pro-life, pro-family, “Peace through Strength” conservatives who believe that the Republican Party, with the pending nomination of John McCain, has abandoned the principles of Ronald Reagan – particularly the Reagan pro-life platform plank that recognizes the personhood of the unborn and their protection by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

The party also opposes John McCain on many other important points, including his opposition to a federal amendment protecting traditional marriage and the natural family; his sponsorship of the McCain/Feingold legislation, which they view as a direct attack on their First Amendment rights to political free speech and grassroots citizen activism; his long-time support for so-called “comprehensive immigration reform,” which they consider to be amnesty; and his support for the global warming agenda, which they believe will destroy our economy and strip us of our national sovereignty if pursued as public policy.

RedWolves notebook

The Florence RedWolves are proud to announce that Wes Davis will be returning as the head coach of the team for the 2009 season. Davis in his first season with the RedWolves led them to the first half Southern Division title and to the championship game of the Petitt Cup Tournament. Under Davis Florence tallied its most wins ever with 34 regular season wins and 37 overall. Davis along with Coach JT Severe coached the team to first in league ERA (2.97) and third in batting average (.268) both season best for the RedWolves.

Name That Test

South Carolinians to select name of state’s new testing system; deadline to vote is Labor Day

The direct link to the online ballot is here.

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex announced today that South Carolinians will name the state’s new standardized testing system, which will replace PACT tests that have been administered statewide since 1999.

Voters can visit the South Carolina Department of Education’s web site and cast their ballots on line. The deadline to vote is Labor Day, Sept. 1, at 5 p.m., and Rex will announce the winning name on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

School Funding Discussion

A special live edition of the “In Our Schools” television program this coming weekend features a roundtable discussion on funding 21st century public schools in South Carolina.

The one-hour telecast airs at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, on SCETV. “In Our Schools” is a series designed for parents, educators and community partners and produced by ITV, which is part of the Department of Education, with ETV’s assistance.

The Aug. 17 program will be hosted by State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, who will lead a conversation with business, education and community leaders on the negative impact of property tax reduction legislation, on the shortfall in funding for education and on the need for comprehensive revenue and funding reform. Viewers can participate in the program by e-mailing their questions to inourschools@scetv.org.

Sunday night’s program will be repeated on Aug. 21 and 25 and on Sept. 8 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Channel 301 for taping by schools (unlimited rights).

We Should be Outraged

The AP reports that the Government Accountability Office will release figures that show most (two-thirds) of US corporations don't pay taxes!

Big corporations need to pay their fair share.

Corporations have golden parachutes, record-breaking profits, huge CEO paychecks, and more, but they use the boogie man of "high taxes" to have layoffs, cut hours or benefits and to bully Congress into creating tax loopholes. Corporations are using their media oligopoly to control what Americans hear and to bombard us with the notion that big, bad Congress is taxing them too much.

But clearly, that isn't the case.

If the CEO makes more than 100 times the average worker, something in the system is broken. The free market isn't fixing it. Congress isn't fixing it.

Greed has taken over the American landscape. As foreclosures continue and as everyone's debt burden crushes them a little more each day, what can teh average person do?

I'm working towards getting out of debt and reducing my consumption. What are you doing? --LCR

Run and Live Long

A story this morning says people should exercise vigorously and regularly (perferably running) to live longer.

The team surveyed 284 members of a nationwide running club and 156 similar, healthy people as controls. They all came from the university's faculty and staff and had similar social and economic backgrounds, and all were 50 or older. ...

Most of the volunteers did some exercise, but runners exercised as much as 200 minutes a week, compared to 20 minutes for the non-runners. ...

"Over time, all groups decreased running activity, but the runners groups continued to accumulate more minutes per week of vigorous activity of all kinds," the researchers wrote.

"Members of the running groups had significantly lower mean disability levels at all time points," they added.

The "runner's high" probably kept people running consistently. I happen to like running (or jogging, which is as fast as I get depending on who you ask). It calms you, lets you sort through the day. What kind of exercise or activities do you do to get through the day?

For the Ladies

The Olympics are great fun to watch. The world's best athletes competing for international recognition.

However, American culture values looks along with athletic prowess.
Here's a site for the ladies...NBC's Guess the swimmer by his abs.

Eye candy? Yes.
Appropriate? You decide.

War on Drugs

At a news conference today Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader outlined his plan to empty prisons of non-violent drug offenders and fill them up with corporate criminals.

"Non-violent drug offenses are being over prosecuted and corporate crime is being under prosecuted," Nader said. "The Justice Department must begin to reverse course, crank up the crackdown on corporate crime, and end the cruel and inhumane war on non-violent drug possession."

"The criminal justice system is broken--so badly that one hardly knows where to begin describing the breakdown," Nader said. "Let's start with the war on drugs, since commentators across the political spectrum recognize its lunacy. We pour almost endless resources--roughly $50 billion every year--into catching, trying, and incarcerating people who primarily harm themselves. This insane war on drugs damages communities and drains crucial resources from the police, courts, and prisons. These resources could be better used to combat serious street and corporate crime that directly violates the public's liberty, health, safety, trust, and financial well-being. As with alcoholics and nicotine addicts, the approach to drug addicts should be rehabilitation, not incarceration."
Link to full release.

There was no separate Issue page on Obama's Web site for drugs or corporate crime. Nor was there one on McCain's. What are the candidates' positions on the "War on Drugs," rehabilitation, and corporate crime?


Do you agree with Nader? Would rehabilitation work? Is locking these folks in prison working?
Do you think this is an important issue that the other candidates should discuss?

From SC Fishing Report

Pee Dee Area: Water levels are low right now and threaten to get lower.

Great Pee Dee
Catfish: Excellent. Large numbers of catfish, and some very large fish, are being caught on the bottom in holes and around channel breaks. Fish live bream or live and cut eels - Irby Street Sporting Goods in Florence says they are selling tons of eels.

Lynches and Little Pee Dee River
Largemouth Bass: Very good. Bass are hot right now; fish floating worms and topwater lures.
Bream: Very good. When there is water bream fishing is very good. Large numbers of fish are not being caught, but some very nice redbreasts are being taken on worms and crickets. In the late evening anglers are catching fish on big popping bugs.

Playing with the Presidential Race

A section devoted to the presidential election on YouTube sounds like a good idea. However, there are only two candidates listed: Barack Obama and John McCain.

Here are the rest of the candidates.

Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party Web site
Bob Barr, Libertarian Party Web site
Cynthia McKinney Green Party Web site
Ralph Nader, Independent Web site

Please consider every candidate's stance on ALL the issues.

Also, contact YouTube, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and let them know you want complete coverage of the election – and that there are more than two parties in this country.

Don't let big corporate media take your right to know or to make this choice for you. For democracy to work, citizens must be informed.

If you want to share your thoughts with the News and Press or with the Darlington County community, post comments here or send us an email.