Nikki Haley’s Very (very, very, very) Bad Week

[lame54]

http://networkedblogs.com/fAm1h

Nikki Haley’s Very (very, very, very) Bad Week
Governor Haley's very bad week began with a strong backlash from her plan to grade legislators. Her misguided effort was criticized as an arrogant attempt to pressure elected leaders, who work for their constituents and are not accountable to anyone else including the Governor.

This was only the beginning. After the Rally for a Moral Budget last Saturday had drawn thousands of protestors to the State House, Governor Haley sent some budget recommendations to the House. (She has been unable to propose a complete Executive Budget.)

One of her more extreme proposals was a major change to state employees' healthcare coverage. Haley wanted state employees to pay more for their health insurance. Even the Republicans in the State House of Representatives balked. She also proposed slashing the entire budget of the State Arts Commission. Again, she was rebuffed even by House Members from her own party.

Next, Governor Haley found herself in the bright spotlight of two more major issues of her own making.

First, she removed the largest ever donor to the University of South Carolina, Darla Moore, from the University's Trustees, replacing her with an unknown Lexington attorney, Tommy Cofield, who had donated the maximum amount to her campaign. This set off a firestorm of protests from USC alums and students. Clearly, campaign contributions are more important to Haley than investments in higher education.

Perhaps, the biggest and most bizarre story of the week was that Governor Haley, while still a state representative, apparently lied on a job application in order to get a larger paycheck from Lexington Medical Center. She stated she made over $100,000 in 2007, when her federal tax form showed her income at only $22,000. Haley claims someone else must have filled out the form. The mysterious someone just happened to know her social security number, computer password and sign-in, job history, past supervisors, education, and other personal details.

To top it off, Haley's Lt. Governor, Ken Ard was charged with 92 ethics violations for personal use of campaign funds and failure to file campaign ethics reports.

So to recap: ...

[xchrom]

1. Couldn't happen to a -- nicer? -- person. Nt

[spanone]

2. k&r...

[Angry Dragon]

3. Regressive Party of the Joker Party

unsure what drives these people..........

[lame54]

13. general dickishness

[bullwinkle428]

4. A Palin-Bot overstepping her boundaries? Who would have thought it?

[blindpig]

5. She's gonna be quite entertaining.

Mark Sanford on steroids in a skirt.

All in all, gridlock is a good thing in South Carolina, things can only go downhill.

Wouldn't be surprised if she pulls a Palin when she can't bulldoze the good old boys at the statehouse.

[hlthe2b]

6. the "broken record" Question: Does SC have a recall?

[Versailles]

8. Unfortunately, no...

Sen. Grooms, R-Berkeley, notes that South Carolina is among a minority of states with no provision for voter recall. Nor is there any way for the public to initiate a statewide referendum by petition.

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jan/08/give-voters-recall-authority/

At least as of January 8, 2010...

[bluerum]

7. It's all right out of the GOP playbook. What's the problem?

We should be desensitized to their corrupt ways by now.

[OHdem10]

9. These new Republican Governors bear watching. The stories

impacting the country most are happening in the states and
the MSM TV Media appears totally in a navel gzaing mode.

[myrna minx]

10. Wow - just wow. n/t

[LeftishBrit]

11. What a vile creature she does sound

Glad to hear that people are protesting!

Any chance that she'll find a soulmate in Argentina like the previous governor did?

[emulatorloo]

12. Classic Republican Governor. There are way too many of them n/t

[MzShellG]

14. I'm proud to have been a part of the statehouse rally for a moral budget

My teenage daughter attended with me and enjoyed the experience. I'm happy to have made somewhat of a difference. In this red state.

[lame54]

15. awesome - great job

[lame54]

16. .

[KeepItReal]

17. Don't forget the allegations of her humpin' around with a GOP'er

...that was not her husband