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DTV Switch Basics

2008-02-28T22:29:00Z

What you may not know…

If you have cable or satellite TV service, your set will continue to work.

Many cable and satellite providers have already been converting digital signals to analog without customers even knowing it.

If you use “rabbit ears” or another type of antenna for basic TV, you will no longer receive a signal after Feb. 17, 2009.

Your old TV will pick up a digital signal with a new converter box.

These new converter boxes cost around $60. The boxes will covert the new digital signal back to the old analog signal. You won’t be seeing a digital or HDTV picture (you’d need an HDTV set and service for that), you’ll be seeing TV as you saw it before the switch. The government (specifically, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration) is currently giving away two $40 coupons for each household for the purchase of these converter boxes. Coupon supply is limited, so if you want to keep using your old TV call the 24-hour hotline at: 1-888-DTV-2009 or apply online at www.dtv2009.gov. Converter boxes are currently for sale at most major electronics retailers.

BUYER BEWARE: A Massachusetts based research group recently conducted “secret shopper” surveys at the leading electronics retailers in 10 states. They found that 81 percent of sales staff gave inaccurate information about converter boxes and 78 percent gave inaccurate information about the government coupons. Do your own homework before you buy.

If buying a new TV be sure it contains a digital tuner

The FCC has prohibited the manufacture or import of any device containing an analog tuner since March 1, 2007 (this includes TVs, DVRs, etc). Anything manufactured or imported since that date by law should contain a digital tuner capable of receiving the new signal. Retailers may continue to sell existing stock with analog tuners, but they are required to post a note next to all analog devices alerting the consumer to also purchase a converter box for viewing after the DTV switch.

BUYER BEWARE: When purchasing a new TV or wondering about your current one, just because a set is labeled “digital ready” or “HDTV ready” or boasts of a digital or HDTV monitor, does not mean it contains a digital tuner. It may also require a converter box. If you’re unsure, contact your TVs manufacturer with the model number.

The Privatization of America’s Infrastructure

2008-02-28T05:05:00Z

Our friends at Project Censored, a media research group at Sonoma State University, recently released their annual report of the most alarming stories that were virtually ignored by the national press last year and that will probably continue to be ignored in 2008. Columbia City Paper recapped underreported environmental stories last year, so for this installment we pulled out the most alarming stories specific to social and human rights issues. Sleep well… -Todd Morehead

America’s Infrastructure for Sale

At least 20 states, including South Carolina, have adopted legislation allowing for public-private partnerships to build and maintain highways. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, the Carlyle Group and others have approached state legislators, urging them to sell off public highway and transportation infrastructure to their investors, often foreign companies, who then charge tolls and implement noncompete clauses that limit state governments from expanding and improving nearby public roadways. Proponents of the plans claim these deals are a way to cut highway maintenance expenses without raising taxes, while opponents worry that the new highway owners will be more concerned about their bottom lines than the upkeep and usability of our public transportation system.

In 2006, Indiana governor Mitch Daniels leased– for the remainder of most Indiana motorists’ natural born lives– a 157-mile stretch of Indiana toll road to a consortium of Spanish and Australian corporations called MIG-Cintra for $3.8 billion. As tolls eventually rise, the company, by some estimates, could generate $11 billion from the road until the contract expires (or is possibly renewed) in 2081. Texas governor, Rick Perry, reportedly singed a $1.3 billion contract with Cintra for a 40-mile toll road near Austin and has plans to build a 4,000 mile network of toll roads across the state. Cintra and other consortia also have designs on truck-only toll lanes on I-285 in Atlanta.

Transactions like those in Indiana and Texas have so far had the full support of the Bush administration. Tyler Duvall, the assistant secretary for transportation policy for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, says the DOT has raised the idea with almost every state.

Sources: “The Highwaymen” by Daniel Schulman and James Ridgeway, Mother Jones, February 2007. Project Censored researchers: Rachel Icaza, Ioana Lupu, and Marco Calavita, Ph.D.

Habeas Corpus Repealed

With South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham standing over his shoulder, President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act (MCA) into law in October of 2006 with virtually no outcry from corporate media. The MCA repealed habeas corpus rights for “any person” deemed an “enemy of the state.” The writ of habeas corpus, which protects against illegal imprisonment and guarantees a prisoner’s right to trial by court, was officially signed into British law in 1679, though a version of it appeared in the Magna Carta as early as 1215. It was lauded by Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of America, as one of the greatest securities to liberty in the Constitution. President Bush’s removal of habeas corpus from the U.S. Constitution legalized military roundups of “enemies of the state” and lifelong imprisonment with no constitutional rights. And as commander-in-chief under military law, the president can decide what constitutes an “enemy.”

Though lauded as a means to combat foreign terrorists, language in the MCA also seems to deny habeas corpus to U.S. citizens suspected of aiding in a litany of crimes related to terrorism. It targets “…any person [who] in breach of an allegiance or duty to the United States, knowingly and intentionally aids an enemy of the United States.” Thus “any person” with “an allegiance to the United States” (i.e. an American citizen) even suspected of a terror-related crime can be rounded up and disappear into a federal prison, without trial.

When Democrats took control of Congress they began work to restore habeas corpus, though many expected stiff resistance from Republicans. In June, 2007 Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Spector (R-Pa.) successfully passed a bi-partisan bill called the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act through the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill is still under debate.

Sources: “Who Is ‘Any Person’ in Tribunal Law?” and “Still No Habeas Rights for You” by Robert Parry, Consortium, 2006. Project Censored: Bryce Cook, Julie Bickel and Andrew Roth, Ph.D.

Operation FALCON Raids

A federal police operation codenamed FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) continues to coordinate mass arrests across the country. Operation FALCON is the brainchild of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who resigned from his post last September amid charges that he lied during a Congressional hearing about his role in the firing of seven U.S. Attorneys. So far the FALCON raids boast tens of thousands of arrests, making it the largest dragnet in American history. It is also the first time in American history that all domestic police agencies have been put under the direct control of the federal government.

The national media praised the operation, emphasizing the sex offenders and gang members who were arrested. Locally, WLTX largely paraphrased a press release sent out by the U.S. Marshals. However, less than ten percent of the thousands arrested were sex offenders and less than two percent owned firearms, according to some reports.

In South Carolina, between August 16 and 31, 2007 authorities arrested 540 fugitives in a FALCON roundup. According the regional FBI office in Columbia, “of the 540 fugitives arrested 66 were wanted sex offenders.” The bureau mentioned four alleged gang members and one teen wanted for murder in Florence. It is unclear what the other 469 people were charged with. Following a FALCON roundup in S.C. in 2005, the Greenville News listed 77 of those arrested under the category “other.”

Online watchdog group SourceWatch posed this question: Why did state and local authorities wait for federally orchestrated raids to conduct regular police work against known sex offenders and suspected murderers? And with what were the “others” charged?

Source: SourceWatch. Project Censored: Erica Haikara, Celeste Winders and Ron Lopez, Ph.D.

Federal Act labels animal rights activists as terrorists

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) was signed into law on November 27, 2006 and can be used to prosecute animal rights activists for “animal enterprise terrorism.” Many worry that it indicates a growing trend to treat dissent as terrorism. Theoretically, AETA violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments by criminalizing formerly protected modes of expression.

Opponents of the law worry that its wording is too vague, citing that a protester is subject to arrest for any actions that “interfere with” or cause “profit loss” to the animal enterprise (which could include employee whistle-blowing or undercover investigations into labor practices, environmental violations or animal cruelty). The National Lawyers’ Guild and New York City Bar Association among over 150 other groups directly oppose the Act.

In 2006, the ACLU sent a written letter of opposition to Congress, stating, “Lawful and peaceful protests that, for example, urge a consumer boycott of a company that does not use humane procedures, could be the target of this provision because they ‘disrupt’ the company’s business. …The bill will effectively chill and deter Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights to advocate for reforms in the treatment of animals.”

The Republican controlled House Judiciary Committee scheduled AETA to be passed or nullified by voice vote. The vote on the bill was reportedly held hours earlier than scheduled with only about six out of 435 legislators present. Of the six present, only Dennis Kucinich voted against it. Shortly after the bill passed, the Fur Commission USA reportedly distributed an announcement proclaiming “Mission Accomplished!”

Sources: David Hoch and Odette Wilkens, Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, March 9, 2007; Will Potter, Green is the New Red, November 14, 2006. Project Censored: Sverre Tysl and Scott Suneson

Legislation is technically moving America toward martial law

The same day President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act into law, he also signed the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, which grants the commander-in-chief the power to station military troops anywhere in the U.S. and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of state governors in order to “suppress public disorder.”

The Act facilitates mass roundups (a la Operation FALCON) of protesters and others and reportedly contains provisions to supply local police units with technology and weaponry designed to suppress dissent. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) entered into the Conressional Record that he believes language in the bill “…subverts solid, longstanding posse comitatus statutes that limit the military’s involvement in law enforcement, thereby making it easier for the President to declare martial law.”

On April 24, 2007, Major General Timothy Lowenberg, Adjutant General of the Washington National Guard testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition of the act, voicing his concern that Bush signed the Act into law without first consulting with state governors. He also spoke about the recently created domestic military command called NORTHCOM which the president can use to “…invoke the new Martial Law powers if he concludes state and/or local authorities no longer possess either the capability or the will to maintain order.”

The Department of Defense now has a civil disturbance plan in place codenamed GARDEN PLOT. Major Tom Herthel of the U.S. Air Force recently laid out the military’s rules of engagement when implementing GARDEN PLOT. According to Herthel the rules allow for lethal force during domestic “civil disturbance operations.”

Sources: “Bush Moves Toward Martial Law” by Frank Morales. Toward Freedom,, October 25, 2006. Project Censored: Phillip Parfitt, Julie Bickel and Andy Merrifield, Ph.D.

Here come the tolls...

2008-02-28T04:45:00Z

S.C. highways may be controlled by private firms in the near future

(a sidebar to this issues cover story Privatization of America’s Infrastructure)

The South Carolina Dept. of Transportation has public-private partnership (PPP) legislation in place.

By Todd Morehead

The South Carolina Dept. of Transportation has public-private partnership (PPP) legislation in place. A Federal Highway Administration report entitled “Overview of States with Significant Transportation Public Private Partnership Authority” makes reference to S.C. code 57-5-1300 (1) 4 which, according to the report, “appears to permit SC DOT to use PPPs to develop these [turnpike] facilities.” And a June 2006 highway finance report on toll roads released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO-06-554) states that S.C. had pursued private investor funding as early as 2004.

On Feb. 23, 2007 Elizabeth Mabry, former executive director of the S.C. DOT, was slated to speak at the 3rd annual PPP USA Summit in Washington, D.C., though she ended up announcing her resignation a few weeks prior to the event. Representatives from Goldman Sachs, Macquarie, Cintra and other large investment firms that already own sections of highway in Indiana and Texas were in attendance at the summit. Mabry, representing South Carolina, was to be a guest speaker for a section called “The Next Generation of PPP States II.”

It has been widely reported that parts of I-95 and possibly parts of I-26 are slated to become toll roads, presumably under state jurisdiction. Once the toll roads are in operation—with PPP legislation in place and S.C. DOT officials being scheduled to appear at PPP summits alongside foreign toll highway investors like Cintra—South Carolinians concerned with state infrastructure should keep a close eye on the development of these toll highways if they want to keep the toll money flowing to state coffers rather than foreign bank accounts.

Rediscovering Black History

2008-02-28T04:41:00Z

it’s just been buried

History, like theology, inspires the passions and genius of some, the scorn and ridicule of others. Like theology, history is never concluded. It periodically must be re-imagined, reconstructed and re-written to keep it fresh and relevant.

By Will Moredock

Anyone who thinks that history and theology are closed books clearly understands neither. Modern Christians are embarrassed by their 19th century white southern counterparts, who justified the institution of slavery with chapter and verse from the Bible. White southerners had to rationalize the peculiar institution; their society and economy were built on it.

White southerners have also rationalized a lot of history over the centuries. Anyone raised in South Carolina a few decades ago was exposed to the history books of Mary C. Simms Oliphant. This little woman – the granddaughter of poet and southern apologist William Gilmore Simms – held the franchise on the South Carolina history text books used in state public schools from the 1920s to the 1980s.

In her books, Oliphant managed to recount the story of South Carolina from 1670 to time of Strom Thurmond with barely a mention of black people or slavery. In a state that has been majority black for half its history, a state that was built on the labor or black people, a state whose politics and culture have been defined by the need to control the black population, Oliphant managed to reduce that population to a handful of references.

But sometimes change has to come – even in South Carolina.

“You can almost feel something bubbling under the surface,” Simon Lewis said in an interview last week. Lewis is director of the Program in Carolina Lowcountry and Atlantic World (CLAW), and his antennae are more sensitive than most.

CLAW is a group of scholars seeking to rediscover the Charleston of the 16th and 17th centuries, before it was redefined by southern politics and regionalism. They are also trying to rediscover the role of black people in this city at a time when they were the majority and connected to the wider world by commerce and culture.

Charleston 200 years ago was a great spoke in the wheel of Atlantic commerce that reached from Northeastern port cities, to Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, Lewis said. It was a cosmopolitan and multinational city, looking outward to the wider world. One of its chief imports was African slaves. It is estimated that 40 of all slaves brought into the United States came through the port of Charleston. At the turn of the 19th century, the overwhelming majority in the Lowcountry were black. The rise of the abolitionist movement – in Britain and the northern U.S. – began to alter Charleston’s place in the world and alter the place of black people in Charleston, Lewis said. Faced with increasingly hostile attitudes toward slavery, Charleston began to withdraw from the wider world, began to look inward. The city’s role in the opening of Civil War cemented its place as a quintessentially “southern” city. It has remained southern and provincial until recent decades, when it once again emerged as an important international port.

At the same time Charleston was redefining itself, it was redefining black people. White people’s fear of abolition led to the rise ideology of racism and the “science” of racism in an effort to justify slavery. Lewis quoted cultural historian Nancy Stepan: “As the battle for abolition was being won, the battle against racism was being lost.”

The ideology of racism – which permeated every niche of crevice of white society – effectively dehumanized black people. Not only were they stripped of all legal rights and protections, they were effectively written out of history. This “whites only” view of history is what generations of southerners – black and white – have been taught in public schools and public celebrations.

But today that is changing. Lewis sees the changes in many ways, large and small. He sees it in the ceremony two weeks ago to dedicate the new African-American Cemetery Memorial on the College of Charleston campus. He sees it in the comment in Gov. Mark Sanford’s recent State of the State address that it is time for South Carolinians to come to terms with the past. He sees it in the recent biracial family reunion at historic Drayton Hall plantation and in the opening of the Old Slave Mart Museum downtown.

There are a hundred aphorisms and epigrams to define history. I like Edmund Burke’s: “History is a pact between the dead, the living and the yet unborn.” It is our responsibility to be faithful to one another and to that pact. We can do that only by keeping our minds and hearts open to the possibilities and by understanding that the final word will never be written.

Letters to the reader

2008-02-28T04:36:00Z

Imagine an elderly statesman from the Pee Dee or Lowcountry squeezing off a denture-rattling warning shot from a .357 Magnum he can barely lift

Dear South Carolina legislators with guns, We’re still not entirely sure why you’d need a pistol in the State House chambers. From whom do you need protection? Your unemployed, pollution-choked constituents? Maybe it’s your not-so-subtle way to keep Sanford in line? Imagine an elderly statesman from the Pee Dee or Lowcountry squeezing off a denture-rattling warning shot from a .357 Magnum he can barely lift, House toupees jerked sideways from the blast and a smoking bullet hole in the molding above the podium, at the mere motion to give those black kids more money for their schools along the I-95 corridor. Cut a pork barrel project or two and we’d have the OK Corral on our hands. And remember when Lt. Gov. Jim Tillman shot and killed the editor of the State newspaper back in 1903 over an editorial? …Woah. Hey Bauer, no hard feelings about those airplane crash jokes we made, right?

Columbia City Paper

Dear abstinence-only sex education, A budget measure that would have prevented money going to abstinence-only and medically inaccurate sex education in public schools was recently shot down. I wonder what those creepy people who spend their days shouting outside abortion clinics think of the abstinence-only sex ed proponents who hang around the State House like, well, like a creepy person standing out front of a clinic. Are they upset that it will likely raise STD and abortion rates as kids are no longer taught about contraception or are they happy that it will raise abortion rates so they can continue to harangue traffic with disgusting posters of fetuses?

Well, that’s beside the point. Come to think of it, maybe this method of not teaching teens about sex is a good thing. Most of us here at City Paper learned about sex through crude drawings on bathroom stalls and look how we turned out.

Columbia City Paper

Dear S.C. Progressive Network,

Word on the street is Bret Bursey may have his case reopened for that time he was arrested at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Good luck with that, guys. And be sure to send the Main St. media, uh i mean mainstream media a press release.

Columbia City Paper

Dear Beloved Shopping Village,

For those who received the “City Paper Insider” email newsletter last week, we hinted at an upcoming editorial about the S.C. Dept. of Revenue auditing the Five Points Association. The author also planned to reiterate points made in previous City Paper and State newspaper exposes that raised questions about the ethicality of certain association members and their associates receiving tens of thousands of dollars in “commission” payments for the volunteer, tax payer-funded St. Patrick’s Day event. There were to be some great lines, too, about the blatant, almost bragging, violations of antitrust law the association and its media and corporate cohorts continue to visit upon this publication.

But, in the spirit of goodwill, we have decided to hold that editorial. A developing thread in the FPA saga, we believe, shows a few in the association who are genuinly working to clean things up in a “funky” and “eclectic” shopping village otherwise torn asunder by a handful of corporate interests and small business owners who have gotten too big for their britches. Another scathing editorial may only deepen that divide.

Columbia City Paper

Regional Briefs

2008-02-28T04:34:00Z

mmm methamphetamine…hey maybe I should drive to the police station in a stolen car to demand my evidence back?

There’s a whole bunch of dumb criminals in this issues Regional Briefs:

By Todd Morehead

ANDERSON

Big week for flashers in Anderson James Thompson, 35, pleaded guilty last week to exposing himself to a police officer, but also claimed the incident was a misunderstanding. According to the Anderson Independent-Mail Thompson drew light laughter from the courtroom when he tried to demonstrate why he was found walking down a street with a portion of his anatomy exposed. His shirt, he claims, was caught in his zipper.

“I don’t wear drawers,” he explained. “When I tried to put it back it was too late.” The judge, who gave Thompson a choice between a $465 fine or 30 days in jail, advised the man to get pants with a working zipper or to “start wearing drawers.” In a separate incident a 25-year-old Anderson County woman reported being flashed by a male motorist. According to a police report, the man pulled alongside the victim and “pulled his pants down.” So far no arrests have been made.

Man drives stolen car to police station to file complaint

ANDERSON COUNTY —

A man who showed up at the Anderson County sheriff’s office demanding close to $2000 that was seized from him during a June methamphetamine bust was arrested again when authorities noticed he had arrived in a stolen car.

After demanding the return of his money, authorities say Charles Noah Chambers left the parking lot behind the wheel of a Saab that had been reported stolen from a used car lot the night before. When police caught up to Chambers and asked him to pull over, they say he killed the ignition switch with “a screwdriver.” He was also driving with a suspended license.

CHARLESTON

Enraged Ninth District assistant solicitor brandished gun in traffic, authorities say

MOUNT PLEASANT –William Grayson Ervin, 29, a former Ninth District assistant solicitor, has been charged with pointing and presenting a firearm after allegedly menacing a female motorist on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge with a .40-caliber Glock handgun. Patricia Cannon-Fisher says she was on the way to Wal-Mart and was apparently, she told the Charleston Post & Courier, not “moving fast enough for him.” When Ervin was finally able to pass, she says, “he was holding it sideways and was screaming.”

Cannon-Fisher says she jotted down Ervin’s plate number on a foam cup and called police who caught up with the solicitor and hauled him to jail. Ervin was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond and was immediately fired from his position by Solicitor Scarlett Wilson. Cannon-Fisher told reporters that she was so shaken by the incident she forgot to go to Wal-Mart.

FLORENCE / MYRTLE BEACH

Nine-year-old shot in face over potato chips said to be recovering

DILLON—A nine-year-old Dillon County girl is said to be recovering after being shot in the face by her 10-year-old brother over a bag of potato chips. Having been denied access to the snack treats, the boy loaded a shell into his father’s shotgun and fired, wounding the girl in her right cheek. The victim, whose name has not been released, had to undergo emergency plastic surgery in Charleston and is reportedly home now continuing her recovery.

County councilman accused of assault at Girl Scout event

MARLBORO COUNTY—Marlboro County Councilman, Kenneth Allen, has been accused of shoving a man in a church parking lot following a Girl Scout event, according to a report filed with the Marlboro County sheriff’s office. According to the report, Allen confronted the man for making statements about his wife. So far no arrest has been made.

Florence woman stabs wheelchair-bound brother during argument

Michelle Williams, 17, of Florence was charged with assault and battery after stabbing her wheelchair-bound brother in the back with a kitchen knife following an argument. Witnesses told police the brother was intoxicated and had become verbally abusive. After being stabbed the brother reportedly wheeled himself to the hospital.

GREENVILLE / SPARTANBURG

Toddler shoots sleeping mother

Sadie Ann Davidson, 27, of Gaffney is recovering after her 3-year-old son shot her in the face while she napped. She did not sustain serious injuries in the incident and was has been charged with child neglect and simple drug possession after authorities found marijuana on the premises. NEWBERRY

Runaway taxi smashes through convenience store Five people were injured last week when cab driver Miranda Wheeler, 55, of Newberry lost control of her taxi and drove it into an area Citgo station. Witnesses say Wheeler then put the car in reverse, exited the store and backed into several cars in an adjoining used car lot. Michael Burnside, an employee of the car lot, told the Newberry Observer he heard the “the tires burning” as the car backed out of the store. He then rushed inside to help the injured, some of whom were trapped under toppled shelving. One clerk reportedly sought medical treatment after being hit in the head with a flying beer can. Authorities believe the car might have had mechanical problems.

GREENWOOD

School bus driver charged with taping kids mouths shut

WARE SHOALS—Greenwood County authorities have charged a 35-year-old former school bus driver with cruelty to children after she admitting to duct taping their mouths shut during a particularly loud ride. Helen Curry, 35, said she gave them the choice to be written up for bad behavior or have their mouths taped shut. The students reported the incident after the bus driver was fired for another undisclosed reason.

Red Meat

2008-02-28T04:23:00Z

A Dull Ache

2008-02-28T04:12:00Z

THE WEASEL SYNDROME

“I’m a politician, which means I’m a cheat and a liar, and when I’m not kissing babies, I’m stealing their lollipops,” Dr. Jeffery Pelt from The Hunt for Red October.

By W.R. Marshall

Just because that was said by a fake politician, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. In fact, outside the small vestige of true believers who think Karl Rove has a conscience or Dick Cheney isn’t in league with Satan, there probably isn’t anyone in America who thinks otherwise—including me. And yet, I’m still surprised by just how weasely these folks can be. But recently I’ve found it’s not really their fault—it’s Bill Clinton’s fault.

All you right wing loonies can stop thinking I’ve come over to the Dark Side. The sleaze coming off the Republicans in the last eight years is thicker than a stack of Cheney’s Halliburton stock options. Bill Clinton finished his run as President with a 65% approval rating, the highest of any post-WWII president. That’s twice as high as the current boob in the White House, the one world can’t wait to get rid of. Given the sorry state of everything from our foreign policy to the economy under Bumblin’ Dubya, Clinton looks like second coming of Abe Lincoln. (Then again, compared to 43, Herbert Hoover looks like a genius.) As Republican superstar Alan Greenspan said, Bill Clinton was the best Republican president he had ever worked for.

That said, ol’ slick Willy just can’t keep himself out of trouble. We saw it when he was in office and we’ve seen it again recently as he campaigns for his wife. He’s said some seriously stupid things that he’s had to backtrack from— backtrack hard. To be fair, he’s done an enormous amount of charitable work in between playing golf and giving $250k speeches, so he gets a little slack for being off his game.

But it’s not a game, it’s a disease, a communicable disease; Weasel Syndrome, and he’s Weasel Syndrome patient zero.

Hillary obviously has it, but lately, in a scenario that has to have the CDC shaking in their Hazmat suits, it’s spread—and it has no party affiliation.

Right-wing waterboy, former? dope fiend, Rush Limbaugh is a Weasel Syndrome casualty. After weeks of trashing John McCain and endorsing Mitt Romney (impotence is a symptom of WS; he didn’t even slow McCain down), he pulls a clinton and babbles about how he helped McCain by not endorsing him, because if he had backed McCain, the Senator couldn’t possible have the nomination all but sewn up. See, he helped McCain by not helping McCain—and he believes that. Sad what Weasel Syndrome can do, isn’t it?

Don’t you miss the old days when Nixon just stood up, looked you in the eye, and lied to your face? Then, on Meet the Press, Democratic stalwart and Billary supporter, Senator Chuck Schumer, answered this Tim Russert question:

RUSSERT: If Barack Obama was ahead at the end of this primary season in elected delegates, states won, and popular vote, should he be the nominee? A simple and straight forward question, n’est pas?

WEASEL ALERT – WEASLE ALERT – WEASEL ALERT – WEASEL ALERT

SCHUMER: Well, you know again, to predict what will happen after June 7th when there are going to be so many twists and turns—you need to know lots of details. Did he win the other states 60/40 or did he win them 50.1 to 49.9? Is the popular vote overwhelming or is it not? Let me say this, Tim, this is a closely fought contest, it is going to twist and turn a whole bunch of times, and I think making a set rule now in February when we have ‘til June 7th when there are 19 states, many important ones—Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania— that haven’t voted, when we know the way these campaigns work, there are twist and turns, doesn’t make sense. Each candidate’s fighting hard, it’s a darn close election, I think democrats believe this is a very good election because there are two good candidates as opposed, to ‘oh, we have to settle for somebody’, and making a set rule now of any type, each candidate is going to proffer the rule that is in their best interest right now. But for the moment let’s let the primaries move forward let’s see where we are at the end of the day on June 7th. (I transcribed this right off the tube, then guessed at the punctuation. I actually thought of making it one long rambling sentence—it probably was—but I got confused after the second line. I think that was the plan.)

Jeez, Senator, all that was missing was a few minutes devoted to what “is is” and they would have had to quarantine the studio and force Russert to do the rest of the season inside a plastic bubble. So, my fellow Americans, when asked a question, keep your answers short and try to as best you can to answer the question you’ve been asked—if you find yourself rambling and talking in circles, get to a doctor, quick…

talkback@columbiacitypaper.com

The Conservation Hotlist

2008-02-28T04:09:00Z

For the last three years, the Conservation Bank has been the most important source of funding for land conservation in South Carolina. For only $70 million, the Bank has protected 134,171 acres of vulnerable natural and historic lands.

By the Conservation Voters of South Carolina

IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK

Conservation Bank Funding (PRIORITY)

As the full House considers the 2008-‘09 budget in the upcoming weeks, we encourage members to follow the lead of the Ways and Means Committee, and make additional funding for the Conservation Bank a priority. We ask the General Assembly to appropriate an additional $20 million for the Conservation Bank next year and to make a serious commitment to incremental installments over the next five years. We consider an increase in funding as a down payment toward protecting our state’s natural heritage.

South Carolina’s rapid growth exceeds the amount of land conserved, and project requests far surpass the available funds. Last year, grant requests totaled $42 million, nearly double the $24 million funded.

Net Metering (H.3395, S.684, PRIORITY) H.3395 by Representatives Laurie Funderburk and Mac Toole will be considered by the House Public Utility Subcommittee (Representatives Bill Sandifer- Chair, Grady Brown, Glen Hamilton, Phillip Owens, Skipper Perry, Olin Philips) on Tuesday, February 26 upon adjournment of the full L.C.I. Committee (approximately 3:30) in Blatt Room 403.

S.684 remains in Judiciary Subcommittee (Sen. Luke Rankin- Chair, Robert Ford, Randy Scott, Paul Campbell). A second meeting has not yet been scheduled. These bills require the SC Energy Office and the Office of Regulatory Staff to provide the legislature with recommendations on the process and procedures for establishing a net metering program at all of the state’s electric utilities.

Green Power (H.4705, PRIORITY)

This bill by Rep. Joan Brady establishes a pilot program whereby three state agencies, the Budget and Control Board, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Environmental Control, will purchase at least 1 percent of their electricity from green power programs that are available in their service areas. H.4705 remains in the House Ways and Means Committee.

IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK

Reliable Water (S.428)

Stakeholders continue negotiations in an effort to reach consensus on several key components of S.428, including guidelines for determining how much water must remain in our rivers and streams to foster a healthy environment. The Agriculture Committee (Sen. Danny Verdin- Chair, Larry Grooms, Phil Leventis, Harvey Peeler, John Matthews, Yancey McGill, Brad Hutto, Dick Elliott, Jake Knotts, Ronnie Cromer, Kevin Bryant, Chip Campsen, Ray Cleary, Joel Lourie, Kent Williams, Jim Ritchie, Paul Campbell) will meet to consider this bill at its next meeting in March.

The Surface Water Reporting, Use and Permitting Act would regulate large withdrawals of surface water, and give the state the ability to permit and manage its finite water resources. Since neighboring states have already approved such legislation, we are at a disadvantage if we can’t accurately account for the amount of water needed by our existing users.

The conservation community continues to advocate for a bill that provides equitable protection of water levels for recreation, aquatic life, industry and agriculture.

Energy Efficiency Package (S.1140, 1141, 1142, 1143, PRIORITY)

Last week, Senators Glenn McConnell, Harvey Peeler, Luke Rankin, Larry Martin, Phil Leventis, Thomas Alexander, Wes Hayes, Brad Hutto, Nikki Setzler and Catherine Ceips introduced four bills that set goals and establish incentives to help make South Carolina more energy efficient:

S.1140 establishes energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government and directs state agencies to procure energy efficient products and replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs by July 1, 2011 (referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee).

S.1141 establishes an incentive program for the purchase of Energy Star certified manufactured homes in South Carolina by providing a $750 rebate payment and a sales tax exemption to consumers (referred to Finance Committee).

S.1142 provides a state income tax credit equal to 20 percent of the federal credit for qualified expenditures on photovoltaic, solar and fuel cell property and provides a sales tax exemption for the purchase of equipment that produces electricity from a renewable energy source (referred to Finance Committee).

S.1143 provides two one-month sales tax holidays for the purchase of energy efficiency appliances, ranging from water heaters to programmable thermostats, during October, National Energy Efficiency Month, and April, National Earth Month (referred to Finance Committee).

Operation Empowered (S.1076, PRIORITY)

This bill by Sen. Glenn McConnell would create a private, non-profit fund to assist low-income South Carolinians in reducing their energy consumption. Key legislators have been working with the conservation community, investor-owned utilities, Santee Cooper and the electric cooperatives to build support for a package of energy efficiency bills that will help South Carolinians become more energy efficient. This bill remains in a Judiciary Subcommittee (Sen. Luke Rankin- Chair, Robert Ford, Randy Scott, Paul Campbell).

For more information visit the CVSC at: <www>

Mr. Meaner's Crime Watch

2008-02-28T04:06:00Z

29204 No good deed goes unpunished: A 25-year-old man offers to buy a 26-year-old homeless woman lunch and the two are waiting in line for the food together. The man hands the woman a $20 bill and – what happens? – the lady snags it and takes off running. Cops later catch up with the ungrateful vagrant, who no longer has the money, and the man tells the officers he wants to teach her a lesson by putting her through the ringer of the system. Another day in the Capital City where we put the B, the U and M in Columbia; 2500 block Powalski Street.

Compiled by Corey Hutchins

29203 Texting, texting, 123…a 36-year-old woman is telling police that her quality of life is going down the shitter because a 34-year-old acquaintance of hers won’t stop texting her. Not only that, but the texting Tessa is sending her obscene messages and using vulgar language. We’re wondering when “Two girls, one cup” will be available through V-cast; 500 Summerlea Drive.

29205 A 44-year-old homeless man with no legs and who smells like a booze factory tells police this week that someone came up to him and hit him on the head with a “dark object” and then took off running. The cops say the victim reeks of alcohol, his story keeps changing, and is very inconsistent. They wheel him to the hospital to get checked out; 2300 block Pendleton Street.

29203 Ever see a cop car idling on the street and the officer making a phone call? Chances are he’s checking license tags for stolen vehicles and every so often they get a hit. Like the other day when an officer of the law did a random check on a car parked illegally in the roadway. Turns out that wasn’t the only illegal thing about it— the car was also stolen; 3700 block Margrave Road.

29204 An employee of Camp Bow Wow is all riled up because a stranger came in to use their bathroom. Some words were said, a confrontation was had, but the 37-year-old man decided his bowels just couldn’t wait and he unloaded in the Camp Bow Wow porcelain. We hope it was worth it, because, no happy camper, the employee wants to proceed with charges; 1900 block Taylor Street.

29203 Cops on patrol are cruising the streets of Columbia when they hit the jackpot. No, it’s not a drug deal or a stick up, it’s just what you’d expect in this town at 11 p.m.: a 58-year-old man passed out on the side of the street stinking like liquor. The cops scoop him up, toss him in the cruiser and haul him off to jail. High fives, we’re sure; 20000 block Academy Street.

29210 Some folks are saying we’re entering an economic recession, others say the economy is doing fine and some people want to bring us back to the Gold Standard. Well, either way, a local store clerk here was forced to detain a 42-year-old shoplifter for nabbing, among pieces of clothing, two packages of meat and a case of Bud Light. So taking that as a blatantly unscientific measurement of the economy, uh…“Vote Ron Paul” or whatever. Woo! Yeah… please don’t do that;1300 block Bush River Road.

29205 “I’m going to hit you with my car.” Don’t say that to somebody, it will only get you in trouble. Don’t believe us? Ask the 45-year-old idiot who told that to a woman this week during a verbal dispute. The lady also punched the other woman in the chest, but we like the first idea better; it makes for better copy; 1900 block Rosewood Drive.

29204 So, a 39-year-old woman is arguing with a 69-year-old man and the geezer gets pissed. So pissed in fact that he grabs a kitchen knife and stabs the lady in the chest. Holding her bosom as blood leaks through her shirt, the woman slumps down in a chair where the police find her and take her to the hospital. This bitter old man is charged with assault and battery with intent to kill and should probably be told that, no, Matlock is not available for council in this case; 500 block Ridgeway.

29205 Cops on a mission: Acting on a hot tip that a hobo had just entered an abandoned building, two officers decided to go sniff around a bit. Sure enough, after a Rambo-like recon mission, the officers found exactly what they were looking for: a 39-year-old homeless man sleeping in a building with no running water or electricity and “No trespassing” signs posted all over the place. They may not have hog-tied him, but they did take him downtown. Keep up the fantastic work! 2200 block Gervais Street.

29202 Crazed lunatic on the loose! OK, OK, that’s unfair. It turns out the missing person in this case isn’t exactly “crazed,” or for that matter, a “lunatic.” But the 37-year-old man who went missing this week is schizophrenic and does take six different kinds of medication and has been off them since he’s been, well, “on the loose.” His handlers say without the meds he becomes easily confused and is probably lost. Keep an eye out.

Frustrated Sanford shows bad judgment

2008-02-28T04:03:00Z

Sanford scores big on bad judgement

By Andy Brack SC Statehouse Report

FEB. 17, 2008 – You’ve got to feel, at least a little bit these days, for Gov. Mark Sanford.

After more than five years as governor, he’s got to be increasingly frustrated with his few accomplishments. And after a recent spate of bad judgments, it shows. Consider:

Port Royal mess. Lawmakers are considering looking more closely into some calls made by the governor surrounding the selection of a developer for the future use of the Port Royal port. Sanford acknowledged to the Associated Press that he called two top officials at the State Ports Authority to underscore reservations about the developer.

Sanford, who abstained from a vote on the deal when it reached the Budget and Control Board, said he was acting as a watchdog for taxpayers by doing limited “due diligence” through his experience as a real estate developer. While the governor likely was just trying to be helpful, any time the state’s top elected official puts in calls to a grown-up state agency, the calls certainly have the appearance of someone trying to use undue influence for a particular outcome. Bottom line: Sanford didn’t need to inject himself into the issue. Score: Bad judgment, 1; Sanford, 0.

Another call. Last year, Sanford phoned a circuit judge to discuss an annexation lawsuit after the judge issued an oral ruling, but had not submitted a written one. Sanford said he wasn’t trying to influence the outcome of the decision. The judge, interestingly, offered to recuse himself after the call.

In an editorial on the incident, The State newspaper noted how Sanford often pointed out that it was important to look right as well as be right. “There are other, far more appropriate, ways to learn the status of a case calling the lawyer representing the side you favor, for example, as ordinary citizens would do,” the paper said. Score: Bad judgment, 2; Sanford, 0.

Workers’ comp case. Last month, U.S. District Judge Ross Anderson said Sanford had to explain why he told members of the Workers’ Compensation Commission how to do their jobs last year. In a series of orders in the fall, Sanford instructed commissioners to apply certain standards that would limit awards for injured workers. The orders led to a conflict between the governor and commission. Eventually, four workers filed a federal lawsuit saying their rights had been violated.

While Sanford, who has pushed to dismiss the lawsuit, has argued that he was working to improve business conditions in the state, the whole situation again looks funny – like the governor forgot that members of the commission were adults who had been doing their jobs for awhile. Score: Bad judgment, 3; Sanford, 0.

Drunk driving bill. This week as the legislature considered a measure to reform the state’s drunk driving laws, Sanford complained that a Senate version wasn’t tough enough and had too much leeway for first-time offenders. As owner of the state’s largest soap box, this expression of concern on public policy was absolutely appropriate – and he was correct. Score: Bad judgment, 3; Sanford, 1.

Sprinkler bill. Sanford this week said he would oppose a measure that offered tax credits to businesses to install sprinkler systems because it was too expensive and interjected the government too much in business. House Speaker Bobby Harrell, a proponent of the sprinkler bill, argued publicly that the governor missed the point. More importantly, Harrell added, Sanford’s position wasn’t consistent with a bill last year to help coastal residents get insurance that used a similar tax credit mechanism. Bottom line: Looking out for people is sometimes more important than looking out for business. Score: Bad judgment, 4; Sanford, 1.

Part of public leadership is to be able to use and display good judgment. Even though the governor’s national Club for Growth buddies are touting his name as a vice presidential contender, his recent displays of bad judgment reinforce what a really bad idea it would be to have him on any presidential ticket.

Andy Brack, publisher of S.C. Statehouse Report, can be reached at: brack@statehousereport.com.

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Support Local Music

2008-02-28T04:02:00Z

Information about City Paper’s all local music stage in Five Points at the March 15th festival…

Ted Rall

2008-02-28T03:52:00Z

Talk no, vote yes!

2008-02-28T03:46:00Z

A weird new tactic is highlighting the troubling extent to which the news media fails to hold our elected officials accountable. First, a politician calls a press conference where he issues a strident declaration for or against a bill. Big headlines follow. Then, when the matter comes up for a vote, he votes exactly the opposite of what he had said he would. And no one pays attention.

By Ted Rall

Ten years ago, not even the most outrageous legislator would attempt such brazen perfidy. Back then, “flip-flopping”–changing one’s mind about an issue, voting one way and then the other–was the worst sin a pol could commit. Now he can take to the Senate floor, shout about a proposed law being a threat to mom, God and apple pie–and the next day vote “yes,” secure in the knowledge that no reporter will call him on it. Thus can a reputation for courage and integrity be built. It’s just that easy.

John McCain pulls this neat trick all the time. He even did it on the same issue twice: torture. In 2005 the Arizona senator grandstanded in favor of an anti-torture amendment to a defense bill. Bush signed it, but then took it back with one of his notorious “signing statements.” NYU law professor David Golove, an expert on Congressional politics, explained that Bush would continue to order torture in U.S. prisons and concentration camps. “The signing statement is saying ‘I will only comply with this law when I want to,’” he said.

Senator McCain earned media plaudits for trying to stop torture. But he didn’t try hard enough. He was too afraid of losing the backing of Bush and the GOP establishment for his 2008 presidential big. Bush conned him and he shut up.

Then, on February 13 of this year, the Senate passed a bill that would ban waterboarding and other types of torture. This time, McCain came out and voted “no”.

In its typically sloppy Orwellian style, The New York Times gave McCain credit for opposing torture–in his imagination–even as he voted in favor of it in the real world, on the Senate floor. “The leading Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain of Arizona, a former prisoner of war who steadfastly opposes the use of torture, voted against the bill,” scrode The Times. “Steadfast?” “Formerly opposed” is more like it. Better yet, “sort of formerly opposed.”

Everyone knows that Senator Barack Obama was against the Iraq War since the beginning. He’s been blasting it in speeches since October 2002. He was still at it a few days ago, telling supporters: “John McCain and Hillary Clinton voted for a war in Iraq that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged. A war that is costing us thousands of precious lives and billions of dollars a week.”

Nice talk. But less than a year ago, on March 27, Senator Obama voted to fund the Iraq War to the tune of $122 billion. On April 26 he voted yes again, for a $124 billion version of the same bill. On November 16, he voted for another $50 billion. Billions of dollars a week… Reporters don’t ask Obama why he keeps voting for the war if he’s against it. Former President Bill Clinton did: “…there was no difference between [Obama] and George Bush on the war and…there’s no difference in [Obama’s] voting record and Hillary’s…This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.” He was absolutely right.

The media pressured Clinton–not Obama–to apologize.

Obama built his career on headlines that portray him as a hopeful proponent of personal liberty and opportunity. Then, when no one is paying attention, he votes like a fascist.

Passed without debate in the grim months following 9/11, the USA-Patriot Act violates our basic privacy rights by allowing the government to spy on us. “Obama’s Stand Against Patriot Act Cheered,” declared a June 26, 2005 Associated Press story that appeared in hundreds of newspapers. Finally! Civil libertarians were happy. Many would go on to support Obama’s presidential campaign. Indeed, any reasonable reader would infer that he was, as the story said, against the Patriot Act. Did he try to repeal it? No. He voted to renew it.

At a January 5 Democratic debate Senator Hillary Clinton confronted Obama: “You said you would vote against the Patriot Act–you came to the Senate and voted for it.” It takes a hypocrite to know one. Hillary voted for it twice.

One of the most accomplished big talkers/vote wimps in the Senate is Clinton’s fellow New Yorker Charles Schumer. On issue after issue Schumer, a notorious publicity hound, loudly lambastes the Republicans and their works. “The most dangerous place in Washington,” Bob Dole once quipped, “is between Charles Schumer and a television camera.” When push comes to a roll call vote, however, the Democrats’ attack dog turns into a teacup poodle.

In January 2006 the Senate held confirmation hearings for Samuel Alito. “70 percent of all Americans,” Schumer told CNN, “say they do not want a Supreme Court justice who will vote to overturn Roe [v. Wade].” If confirmed, he said, Alito “would vote to overturn.” Since the right to an abortion is a key Democratic platform plank, everyone read his statement as a declaration of jihad against Alito’s nomination.

On the first day of the hearing Schumer called Alito a right-wing extremist: “In case after case after case, you give the impression of applying careful legal reasoning, but too many times you happen to reach most conservative result. You give the impression of being a meticulous legal navigator, but, in the end, you always seem to chart a rightward course…Under your view, the President would…have inherent authority to wiretap American citizens without a warrant, to ignore Congressional acts at will, or to take any other action he saw fit under his inherent powers.”

Schumer voted against Alito’s confirmation. But, as a powerful member of the senate leadership, his support for a liberal-led filibuster could have kept Alito off the high court. He did nothing. Eighteen months later, he issued a rare apology. “Every day,” he said, “I am pained that I didn’t do more to try to block Justice Alito…Alito shouldn’t have been confirmed.”

National news organizations chose not to cover Schumer’s apology. You see, the news media doesn’t merely refuse to call out say-one-thing-vote-the-opposite politicians. It won’t even let them call themselves out.

talkback@columbiacitypaper.com

SoundBoard

2008-02-28T03:43:00Z

Live Music Listings For Feb 28-March12

Thursday, February 28

Headliners Life In Rescue Declare Five Points Pub Spenser Rush

New Brookland Tavern MiKenPike Wading Girl Shallow Palace Barn Burning We Are The Union

Utopia The Little Zippers

Friday, February 29

Headliners Deepfield Leslie Infinite

CJ’s in Five Points Leap Year Party

Five Points Pub Joal Rush Band Ten Toes Up

New Brookland Tavern Kris Roe of The Ataris Dignan Versus The Robot Macís on Main

Utopia The Teddy Bear Wolfman Brigade

Saturday, March 1

Art Bar Prognosis DJs - Spider Evelfaery D

New Brookland Tavern Marry A Thief Austin Crane The Less Headliners The Working Title Here’s Looking at You Kid

Five Points Pub Josh Roberts & The Hinges Hoots & Hell Mouth Giant Bear Warm in the Wake

Macs on Main Electric Voodoo Blues

Sunday, March 2

New Brookland Tavern Tales Of The Black Freighter Fate To Be Determined The Alchemist Theory

Tuesday, March 4

New Brookland Tavern On By Seven Say When Corsica

Wednesday, March 5

New Brookland Tavern Erison Distress Case Farewell Flight Hey Apollo

Headliners G. Love & Special Sauce Tristan Prettyman Five Points Pub Battle of the Bands Utopia Cathedrals of the Soul Thursday, March 6

Five Points Pub Battle of the Bands Finals

New Brookland Tavern The Hinch(mob) Groove Stain

Friday, March 7

Art Bar Headliners Testing Ground The Letter Red Diavolo

CJ’s in Five Points J. Dalton

New Brookland Tavern The Heist And The Accomplice Schooner North Elementary Jacob And I

Five Points Pub I Nine absentstar
The Planfield Project

Saturday, March 8

Art Bar Devils in Disguise Cosmic Carnival The Dirty Lowdown

Five Points Pub Ligion
Day of Fire

New Brookland Tavern Strike Anywhere Riverboat Gamblers Coliseum Fallen From The Sky

Headliners Examining Emma Adison Croft, 9th Corner, Twisted & Used, Near Fatal Fall

Sunday March 9

Five Points Pub Thunderlip

New Brookland Tavern 5pm Door Brave Horatius Meredith Bragg & The Terminals The Choir Quit 9pm Door An Albatross Apes Thank God

Monday, March 10 New Brookland Tavern Deleveled Go Kart Mozart Courier Hello Tomorrow

Tuesday, March 11

New Brookland Tavern The Black Dahlia Murder Animosity Braindrill Enable Kain