Michele Bachmann greets a supporter Friday, Aug. 5,
at the Spirit Midwest Christian Music Festival in West Des Moines, Iowa
HARTSELLE, Alabama
Fresh off her victory in the Iowa GOP straw poll, Michele Bachmann will bring her campaign to South Carolina tomorrow, kicking off a three-day bus tour of the Palmetto State with a 12:30 p.m. rally at Spartanburg’s Beacon Drive-In, to be followed by events in Greenville, Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach and Mount Pleasant. Here’s the press release:
**MEDIA ADVISORY**
REMINDER: Team Bachmann Rallies South Carolina Voters During Bus Tour of the Palmetto State
Washington, D.C. – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will kick off her bus tour of the Palmetto State on Tuesday, August 16, 2011. Throughout the tour, Bachmann will rally voters and discuss the important issues facing our nation including the debt crisis, job creation, and economic growth. The following events, which occur in Eastern Daylight Time, are open to credentialed media:
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
“Join Team Bachmann!” Spartanburg Rally
12:30 pm ET
The Beacon Drive-In
255 John B. White Blvd.
Spartanburg, S.C.
Greenville Town Hall
3:00 pm ET
TD Convention Center (formerly Carolina First Center)
1 Exposition Dr.
Greenville, S.C.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
“Join Team Bachmann!” Columbia Rally
12:00 pm ET
The Hall at Senate’s End
320 Senate St.
Columbia, S.C.
“Join Team Bachmann!” Florence Rally
4:00 pm ET
Florence Civic Center
3300 W. Radio Dr.
Florence, S.C.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Myrtle Beach Town Hall
12:00 pm ET
Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel
2101 North Oak St.
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“Join Team Bachmann!” Mt. Pleasant Rally
3:30 pm ET
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
40 Patriots Point Rd.
Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Speaking of road trips: Right now, I’m in beautiful Morgan County, Ala., recovering from my 10-day “Fear and Loathing in Iowa” trip at the home of legendary Alabama political operative Stephen Gordon. In April, the guy I call “Gordo” was the victim of a horrible car crash when another driver crossed the center line and hit him head-on. Emergency personnel responding to the scene of the accident had not expected Gordo to survive. He suffered a broken leg, a broken arm, a crushed foot, broken ribs, broken sternum, collapsed lungs, a concussion, and various lacerations and contusions. So he’s lucky to be alive, but is now up and around and as feisty as ever, although with a noticeable limp and taking serious medications to cope with pain from his injuries.
The news of the vicious beating quickly riled the community. . . . It renewed fear of gangs roving through Five Points. And, the fact that a group of African-American teens beat up a white teen has inflamed racial tensions. . . .
During the bond hearing, Columbia Police Investigator Robert McCracken said Carter Strange was the victim of a group of eight teenagers who were roaming Five Points looking for trouble.
They had arrived in Five Points around 11:50 p.m. Sunday, McCracken said. They had targeted other people for an assault or robbery, but circumstances prevented them, McCracken said.
A gang of black teenagers roaming around looking for a white person to attack? But that’s not a “hate crime.” Just like nightstick-wielding Panthers at a polling place is not “voter intimidation.”
The business world is abuzz over the National Labor Relations Board’s complaint vs. Boeing’s new South Carolina production line. For NLRB critics, the case boils down to one thing: “right-to-work” laws. Right-to-work states have generally lower unemployment, higher job growth, lower taxes and better business climates. They have growing populations and have been attracting businesses from other states.
In most states, once a workplace is unionized, employees are required to join the union or they can’t work there. But 22 states, including South Carolina, have passed laws that give employees the right not to join. Hence the term “right-to-work.”
Back during the 1990s, I got tired of hearing a line that Bill Clinton relentlessly repeated about the need to “invest” in education to provide “the skills needed to compete in the 21st-century economy.”
As nice as that rhetoric sounds, it didn’t match the economic reality: Major manufacturers weren’t opening new factories in Latin America and Asia because those people had superior skills and education, but simply because they were willing to work cheap. While it is in general true for any individual worker that he can improve his economic situation by improving his skills, the companies that were shipping jobs to Indonesia and Brazil weren’t doing so because workers in those countries possessed an advantage skill-wise over workers in Toledo or Pittsburgh.
Why is Boeing, one of our few real global champions in beefing up exports, moving work on the Dreamliner from a high-skill work force ($28 an hour on average) to a much lower-wage work force ($14 an hour starting wage)? Nothing could be a bigger threat to the economic security of this country.
We should be aghast that Boeing is sending a big fat market signal that it wants a less-skilled, lower-quality work force. . . .
We depend on Boeing to out-compete Airbus, its European rival. But when major firms move South, it is usually a harbinger of quality decline.
Read the whole thing, but I must warn you that the argument is fact-deficient and frankly prejudiced against the South — and yet further proof that law schools are a lousy place to learn economics.
Fox News contributor Sarah Palin hasn’t yet decided whether she wants to run for president or continue to be a Fox News contributor. You’ll remember that Newt Gingrich had to quit his Fox gig, while Mike Huckabee decided to keep his. (Hat-tip: Doug Mataconis.)
Some Republicans are begging Chris Christie to get in the 2012 race, despite such stout denials as, “Short of suicide, I don’t really know what I’d have to do to convince you people that I’m not running. I’m not running.” (Hat-tip: Instapundit.)
Ron Paul on the neocon warmonger in the White House: “Our military is already dangerously extended, and this administration wants to expand our involvement. When will our bombing in Libya end? Is President Obama seriously considering military action against Syria? We are facing $2 trillion dollar [sic] deficits, and the American taxpayer cannot afford any of it.” (Hat-tip: Weasel Zippers.)
Jon Huntsman is to New Hampshire what Justin Bieber is to 11-year-old girls? Whatever. He’ll suck moderate votes away from Romney, which is all that matters. (Hat-tip: Jazz Shaw.)
On Wednesday evening – as part of a separate investigation into the nocturnal habits of S.C. First Gentleman Michael Haley – our founding editor received a call from an exotic dancer in Myrtle Beach, S.C. with some shocking information.
According to the woman – who declined to provide either her real name (or her “stage” name, for that matter) – she gave Michael Haley a lap dance during an August 2009 visit to the Masters Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Obviously that isn’t the “shocking information” we’re referring to – plenty of guys (and some very cool girls) go to strip clubs and get lap dances all the time. In fact, multiple sources have told FITS that Michael Haley is a regular guest (and frequent “VIP room” customer) at one particular Columbia, S.C. strip club – a story we’ve been tracking for several weeks.
But this phone call – which was originally placed to verify another report of Michael Haley’s alleged affinity for nude nightlife – quickly took a bizarre turn.
According to this dancer, Michael Haley wasn’t alone on this visit to the Master’s Club.
“She was with him, you know,” the dancer told us.
Wait … she? As in Nikki Haley – who was then a sitting state lawmaker as well as an announced candidate for governor?
“Yes. I danced for her,” the woman said. . . .
It goes on and on. What’s with this annoying third-person reference to “our founding editor”? Are we supposed to be surprised that Will Folks gets late-night calls from strippers? Are we supposed to be shocked that Will Folks alleges Nikki Haley to be involved in every manner of evil?
Will Folks is going to keep this up until his skull has an “inappropriate relationship” with somebody’s tire iron.
Herman Cain was not someone I gave high marks to during the debate but he “won” the Frank Luntz focus group that came on immediately after the debate. Cain would consistently answer his question giving a bullet-point response, arguing that you need to “identify the problem” before solving “the problem.” For whatever reason, this seemed to appeal to the focus group.
Yeah: Pragmatism is so . . . impractical.
Kristula-Green’s “conventional wisdom” about the Greenville debate was expressed by Ben Smith of Politico, who dismissed the other participants as “second- and third-tier candidates” and said Pawlenty was “widely viewed as the only candidate in Thursday night’s Fox News debate with any real chance of becoming the nominee of his party or President of the United States.”
“Widely viewed” is one of those phrases like “many observers” by which reporters embed conventional-wisdom opinions into their stories as if they were talking about established facts. In campaign coverage, this is a way of privileging the punditry over actual voters.
Tim Pawlenty is widely viewed as lame and boring, which is why many observers believe that Obama would mop the floor with him if the Minnesota governor actually got the Republican nomination.
Don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining, sources say.
CBS News was also stunned by Cain’s focus-group win. I don’t know why this seems so shocking to some people. As Cain’s spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael has been saying for weeks, “When people meet Herman, they like Herman.”
This is something the pundits might notice if they actually paid attention. I remember last year in New Orleans at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, when Cain’s speech was over, he had the darnedest time getting out of the ballroom because so many well-wishers wanted a chance to shake his hand and talk to him. And that happens at every gathering of Republicans he attends. He’s a likeable guy, very down-to-earth and approachable, and people relate to that.
UPDATE — MIDNIGHT: Just got off the phone with Mr. Cain. “At least a few people know who I am now,” he said, laughing. I asked him if he thought his strong performance had repudiated the pundits who had dismissed him as a “second-tier” candidate.
“It was a wake-up call to the rest of the candidates, and all the political pundits, that this guy’s for real, because the American people immediately — from the focus group, as well as from the reaction here — are now saying, ‘We need to take a look at this guy,’ ” he said. “I don’t see it as a breakthrough victory. I see it as an awakening, which makes me feel very, very good that people are awakened now to the possibility of taking a closer look.”
Our interview had to be cut short, as Mr. Cain explained: “I’ve got some more media that are waiting outside . . . Right now, I’ve got to take care of the barbarians at the door.”
10:32 p.m. ET: WOW! Frank Luntz’s focus group just found: HERMAN CAIN WON!
Luntz says he has never seen anything like this: A previously unknown candidate winning over a focus group the way Cain did in South Carolina.
I predict Cain will not only be recognized as the winner of tomorrows debate he’ll have taken a crucial step in improving his national name recognition along with putting an end to this ridiculous notion that he’s somehow a second tier candidate!
Isn’t it time you joined the online grassroots army at Citizens for Cain?
* * * PREVIOUSLY * * *
10:30 p.m. ET: Now closing statements. Tim Pawlenty and Gary Johnson stand out by remembering to plug their Web sites.
I’ll be back to round up the reactions and coverage.
10:27 p.m. ET: Gary Johnson asked if he had a reality show like Trump, what it would be. Doesn’t say Cheech and Chong.
10:24 p.m. ET: Perhaps Ron Paul’s joke about Michelle Bachmann got a bigger laugh.
10:23 p.m. ET: Herman Cain gets the biggest laugh of the night with a joke about Mitt Romney.
10:21 p.m. ET: Final commercial break. Next: Let’s all badmouth Newt, Mitt and Sarah!
10:16 p.m. ET: We’re now in “lightning round” part of the debate — 30 seconds for answers. Pawlenty runs overtime in his first answer.
10:14 p.m. ET: Chris Wallace asks Herman Cain, “Why do you think you have any chance?” Describes himself as a problem-solver.
10:13 p.m. ET: Gary Johnson asked about drugs. Does not admit he toked up before the debate.
10:11 p.m. ET: Ron Paul sticks hard to the libertarian position on First Amendment. Chris Wallace asks if he is suggesting “heroin and prostitution are an exercise of liberty.” Paul refuses to back down. Applause from Paulbots.
10:06 p.m. ET: Groan from audience over Pawlenty’s “green energy”/cap-and-trade ideas.
10:04 p.m. ET: Tim Pawlenty defends teaching of “intelligent design” theory. Then starts talking jobs and unions. Attempting to bore audience into stupor.
10:02 p.m. ET: On Boeing vs. NRLB, Herman Cain: “What the National Labor Relations Board did . . . is outrageous.” Applause.
10:00 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum defends staunch pro-life position in terms of Declaration of Independence. Applause.
9:59 p.m. ET: Tim Pawlenty on stem-cell research, emphasizes adult stem-cells. Defends Bush position. Long story short: “If you want a third term for GW Bush, vote Pawlenty.”
9:57 p.m. ET: Some boos for Gary Johnson’s moderate pro-choice stance.
9:56 p.m. ET: Herman Cain hits Obama for not defending DOMA.
9:54 p.m. ET: Ron Paul on gay marriage: Totally libertarian. Says that DOMA defends the rights of states.
9:50 p.m. ET: Gary Johnson rejects Trump call for protective tariffs. Some things are so obvious, even a dopehead can understand.
9:49 p.m. ET: Ron Paul talking Israel — big applause.
9:46 p.m. ET: Santorum says we need to “engage the Pakistanis,” invokes Bush “with us or against us” mantra. Wants to deliver an ultimatum to Pakistani on cutting off foreign aid.
9:45 p.m. ET: Tim Pawlenty wants to kill Moammar Qaddafi. Perhaps he could bore Qaddafi to death.
9:44 p.m. ET: Herman Cain criticizes Obama foreign policy as “unclear” and inconsistent.
9:42 p.m. ET: Gary Johnson outlines his plan for what is, in effect, a guest-worker amnesty.
9:40 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum invokes his Italian father in defense of English-only law.
9:39 p.m. ET: Herman Cain on immigration: Defends Arizona law. Lays out his 4-point plan for immigration, including “empowering states” to enforce laws. Applause.
9:38 p.m. ET: Now, Gary Johnson is asked to address Democrats’ “MediScare” tactics. Warns of impending federal bankruptcy.
9:35 p.m. ET: Gary Johnson just interrupted: “What about me?” It’s the drugs talking.
9:34 p.m. ET: Questioned by Chris Wallace, Herman Cain defends his support for Fair Tax: “With all due respect . . . your experts are dead wrong.”
9:32 p.m. ET: Ron Paul justifying his “Dr. No” record of opposing . . . well, everything. Wild cheers from Paulbots in audience.
9:30 p.m. ET: Santorum on debt limit and ObamaCare: “We are in a criticial time for our country.” Describes ObamaCare as a threat to American liberty. Stopping it is “the most important issue.”
9:26 p.m. ET: Getting ready for a commercial break.
9:24 p.m. ET: Santorum justifies his vote for Medicare prescription drug bill.
9:23 p.m. ET: Tim Pawlenty says he’s “not going to pick on” Mitt Romney, who “isn’t here to defend himself.” Hey, who’s fault is that, huh?
9:22 p.m. ET: Applause for Herman Cain who calls for “serious” energy policy.
9:20 p.m. ET: Tim Pawlenty gets applause for calling Obama policy “preposterous.”
9:18 p.m. ET: Gary Johnson calls for abolition of corporate income tax.
9:16 p.m. ET: Herman Cain name-checks Benjamin Netanhayu, gets applause for tough stance against terrorism.
9:15 p.m. ET: Applause for Pawlenty when he says first job of federal government is to protect American citizens.
9:13 p.m. ET: Ron Paul criticizes “secret prisons” for terrorist detainees.
9:12 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum: “There are many in the Muslim world” who want peace and modernity.
9:10 p.m. ET: Is Gary Johnson high? Just askin’ . . .
9:09 p.m. ET: Herman Cain says there’s no exit strategy in Afghanistan; would rely on advice of commanders.
9:05 p.m. ET: Rick Santorum gives Obama no credit, says on “strategic” questions, Obama “has gotten it wrong every time.”
9:04 p.m. ET: Show of hands: Herman Cain is the only candidate to oppose releasing death photo of Osama bin Laden.
9:03 p.m. ET: Tim Pawlenty gets the first question. Audience struggles to stay awake during his answer.
Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, told NRO he’s trying to focus on being “Happy Herman” to keep himself in the right frame of mind for the debate.
“If you go into an event like this with a positive attitude, you will end up with a positive result,” he said.
The field for tonight’s event, which will be aired by Fox News, includes Santorum and Cain, along with former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, and Rep. Ron Paul (R., Texas). Many pundits have described Pawlenty as the top contender among the five.
But Cain takes exception to being labeled as a second-tier candidate and said he doesn’t think his lack of political experience will hurt him.
“You’re going to see in Herman Cain a real leader — someone who possesses real leadership ability and not just positionship,” he said. “There’s a big difference between leadership and positionship, and I think people are going to see that.”
Cain said Pres. Barack Obama’s failure to lead on positive economic reform has provided an opening for a strong GOP candidate. “Oh, he is very vulnerable. He’s going to have to do more than kill one terrorist to pull this out,” Cain said. “One good decision doth not a presidency make.”
The CNN poll shows “no frontrunner” in the GOP 2012 field, so it’s still wide open. I had hoped to travel to Greenville and cover tonight’s debate in person, but haven’t yet recovered from pneumonia, so I’ll have to settle for watching it on TV.
