Perhaps seeing where the power lines are drawn, or simply making a few selections, Howard Rich’s support of Democrats was a little anemic, but still interesting. We enjoyed the obvious support of Sen. Robert Ford’s gubernatorial bid, and the only dollars to a senate account we could find — Darrell Jackson.

ROBERT FORD
Democrat, governor, lost primary
Contributions: $23,542.15
(In-kind: $3,491.15)
Expenditures: $67,836.28
Cash on hand: $33,972.28

Significant contributions
123 Lasalle Associates, $3,500
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Inc., $3,500
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $3,500
Howard Rich shell company
Leon Howard, $200
State representative
Clementa Pinckney, $250
State senator
Kent Williams, $250
State senator
SCRG PAC, $3,492.15
School choice organization
188 Claremont LLC, $3,500
Howard Rich shell company
Terry Alexander, $350
State representative
Gerald Malloy, $500
State senator
Darrell Jackson, $500
State senator

Significant expenditures
None.

DARRELL JACKSON
Democrat, Senate District 21, no race
Contributions: $16,200
Expenditures: $21,888.65
Cash on hand: $4,347.77

Significant contributions
Stilrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
None.

ENNIS BRYANT
Democrat, House District 50, lost primary
Contributions: $8,125
Expenditures: $9,963.68
Cash on hand: $4,514.53

Significant contributions
51 First Avenue LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
None.

JOHNNY SELLERS
Democrat, House District 54, lost primary
Contributions: $7,380
Expenditures: $5,583.76
Cash on hand: $1,991.98

Significant contributions
W 14 & 18 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
None.

CURTIS BRANTLEY
Democrat, House District 122, won primary
Contributions: $18,550
Expenditures: $14,266.60
Cash on hand: $11,920.21

Significant contributions
123 Lasalle Inc., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
West 14 & 18 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
S.C. Legislative Black Caucus, $750
Legislative committee
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
None.

When Howard Rich decided to kick in his dollars for the 2010 primary cycle, his choices were of a better nature than last time, considering that in a lot of races, the candidates who accepted money had a better-than-average chance of winning. Even two guys who he gave money to try to beat last time — Bill Sandifer and Mike Sottile come to mind — are now considered OK. And speaking of stacking the deck, two gentlemen on this list were already virtually guaranteed to return to the House next year.

BILL SANDIFER
Republican, House District 2, won primary
Contributions: $18,025
Expenditures: $54,481.81
Cash on hand: $39,805.08

Significant contributions
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 116 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Free and Strong America PAC, $1,000
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC

Significant expenditures
Homeyer Strategy Group (consulting), $12,363.90
Jason Puhlaski (consulting), $1,540.84, $1,913.12, $5,000
Rod Shealy (mail), $8,274
On The Mark (mail), $11,892.32

DON BOWEN
Republican, House District 8, no primary
Contributions: $24,174.10
(In-kind: $100)
Expenditures: $4,832.16
Cash on hand: $25,326.75

Significant contributions
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
S.C. Leadership PAC, $1,000
Rep. Dan Cooper’s PAC
Palmetto Leadership Council, $1,000
Organization of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell
S.C. House Republican Caucus, $5,000
Legislative caucus
Palmetto Patriot Leadership Committee, $1,000
Organization of Rep. Alan Clemmons

Significant expenditures
None.

MIKE PITTS
Republican, House District 14, no primary
Contributions: $8,650
Expenditures, $2,608.93
Cash on hand: $48,409.91

Significant contributions
538-14 Realty LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
None.

RICK QUINN
Republican, House District 69, won primary
Contributions: $18,185
Expenditures: $16,200.10
Cash on hand: $12,680

Significant contributions
HuckPAC, $500
Former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee’s PAC
Palmetto Leadership Council, $1,000
Organization of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell
S.C. House Republican Caucus, $5,000
Legislative committee
Leon Stavrinakis, $150
State representative
Hall & Bowers, $1,000
Law firm
S.C. Club for Growth PAC, $1,000
Political action committee
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Mail Marketing Strategies (mail), $1,269.59, $2,608.20×4
Richard Quinn & Associates (consulting), $3,600

JIM HARRISON
Republican, House District 75, won primary
Contributions: $16,799.65
Expenditures: $0
Cash on hand: $95,511.17

Significant contributions
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
None.

ROLAND SMITH
Republican, House District 84, won primary
Contributions: $10,250
Expenditures: $6,798.15
Cash on hand: $63,766

Significant contributions
The SCEA Fund, $500
Public education group
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Conservation Voters of S.C., $500
Environmental organization

Significant expenditures
Zacher Media Strategies (mail, ads), $1,912.42, $3,805.86

NELSON HARDWICK
Republican, House District 106, won primary
Contributions: $12,100
Expenditures: $34,643.09
Cash on hand: $15,389.23

Significant contributions
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Ripley’s Aquarium, $250
Attraction
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Lucky Dog Television (ads), $27,500

MIKE SOTTILE
Republican, House District 112, won primary
Contributions: $17,700
Expenditures: $39,542.37
Cash on hand: $8,091.18

Significant contributions
West 14 & 18 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Free and Strong America PAC, $250
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Donehue Direct (consulting), $14,740.03, $7,511.80, $3,534.81, $2,023.60, $181.35, $10,485.43

Howard Rich, the Uncle Pennybags of South Carolina politics, wasn’t going to stay out of the primaries this year. No how, no way. What’s most interesting is the people he decided to donate to, with the exception a choice few. For instance, a lot of money went to incumbents, even people who also got money from public education organizations. Then there was Rep. Joey Millwood, who got almost all of his money during the dark period between the pre-election report and the second quarter report.

JOEY MILLWOOD
Republican, House District 38, lost primary runoff
Contributions: $28,400
Expenditures: $30,526
Cash on hand: $6,164.28

Significant contributions
Asheboro Investors, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Vanguard Prime, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rosemead Investors, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Cobden LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
SpringRich, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund, $1,000×2
Howard Rich shell company
New Rich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund, $1,000×2
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
538-8 Realty, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Howard Rich Sole Proprietorship, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Acquisitions LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
SteeleRich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Spinksville LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
S.C. Club for Growth PAC, $1,000×2
Political action committee
Bill Lowndes, $1,000, $500
Businessman
Ralph Norman, $200
State representative

Significant expenditures
Skyagunsta (consulting), $20,000, $6,066

A few other legislators, including people who were targeted by Rich and his pals two years ago, have been getting checks here and there, and certainly did during the last period, though nobody really cleaned up in the way Millwood did. This could point to a change in strategy — trying to influence the already-powerful instead of the previous attempt of coup-by-campaign contributions. But even this strategy wasn’t perfect. Like Millwood, a few other incumbents — and others who received support — didn’t get by this year.

HARRY CATO
Republican, House District 17, lost primary
Contributions: $39,425
Expenditures: $74,665.22
Cash on hand: $56,168.65

Significant contributions
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Free and Strong America PAC, $1,000
Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s PAC
Stilrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Starboard Communications (consulting), $1,574.07, $920.84, $3,212.46, $16,029.18, $5,780.40
Gadsden & Greene Strategies (consulting), $5,000
On Point Consulting (consulting), $500

RICHARD CHALK
Republican, House District 123, lost primary runoff
Contributions: $28,705
Expenditures: $33,333.45
Cash on hand: $2,741.72

Significant contributions
Spinksville II LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000×2
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000×2
Howard Rich shell company
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Cobden LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Palmetto Patriot Leadership Committee, $1,000
PAC of Rep. Alan Clemmons
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Conquest Communications Group (polling), $3,000

JIM STEWART
Republican, House District 86, lost primary
Contributions: $8,275
Expenditures: $22,089.76
Cash on hand: $13,668.57

Significant contributions
470 W 166 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Palmetto Leadership Council, $1,000
Organization of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Donehue Direct (consulting), $2,398.05 $9,787.75, $7,976.61

CHRISTOPHER WILSON
Republican, House District 26, lost primary
Contributions: $12,489.33
(Loan: $1,304.33)
Expenditures: $15,475.84
Cash on hand: $314.98

Significant contributions
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Inc., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
The Sandlapper Group (consulting), $13,200, $1,154.33

JERMAINE HUSSER
Republican, House District 117, lost primary
Contributions: $16,740
Expenditures: $10,664.95
Cash on hand: $12,403.42

Significant contributions
123 Lasalle Inc., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver & Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
123 Lasalle Associates, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332 E. 11 LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Stillrich LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Coolcal LLC, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Bradford Management of N.Y., $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Starboard Communications (consulting), $318.31, $215.70, $5,000, $2,259.96, $1,741.78, $424.23

CONVERSE CHELLIS
Republican, state treasurer, lost primary
Contributions: $45,065
Expenditures: $328,283.12
Cash on hand: $0

Significant contributions
Leaders in Education Administration PAC, $250
Public education PAC
Hall & Bowers LLC, $2,500
Law firm
123 Lasalle Associates, $3,500
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont LLC, $3,500
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Homeyer Strategy Group (fundraising), $16,455.90, $10,513.56, $10,801.30
Donehue Direct (Internet), $250
Starboard Communications (consulting), $254.98, $67,190, $808.33
Public Opinion Strategies (polling), $500
The Strategy Group for Media (consulting), $10,000

As we said on Monday, and as The State wrote today, S.C. Republicans walked up to conventional wisdom, started a game of Rochambeau and, as Eric Cartman would say, kicked it square in the nuts. The State allies conventional wisdom with experience. That doesn’t work. Candidates tend to run on experience when they have nothing else to use — “Vote for me, because you’ve elected me the last times.” No, two things that almost always carry the day are money and name recognition.

It didn’t work for Speaker Pro Tem Harry Cato, or for Reps. Keith Kelly and Jim Stewart. House Ways and Means Committee chairman Dan Cooper just about lost in another massive upset. Rep. Mike Sottile, who had a ton more money and running against a guy who lost his past three elections, also had a close win. Will Folks missed out on his chance to coordinate with Gov. Mark Sanford and S.C. Club for Growth by two years. If he launched his hit list strategy this year — and kept Howard Rich’s money in the state — it damn well might have worked, instead of failing spectacularly.

The reason why this sort of thing happened can be explained rather simply. In mid-term primary elections, the advantage goes to the motivated. The teabaggers were motivated, and constituted about 40 percent of Republicans voting yesterday. When a lot of House elections are determined by 1,000 or fewer votes, that makes a big difference. But there’s a problem for the GOP in general that this group wielded so much influence.

In elections where Democrats can be competitive — governor, superintendent of education, perhaps attorney general and comptroller general — that’s a major detriment. Teabaggers aren’t a “silent majority.” They even aren’t a majority of Republicans. When you have candidates being elected by the right of the right, those candidates are going to have to run from the margins to keep their volunteer, fundraising and voting base. That’ll turn off a lot of independents. All Sen. Vince Sheheen has to get is a simple majority in the general election.

Naturally, the state GOP will be strong in the long term, but we’ll see if this primary is going to hurt it in the short term.

By the way, we doubt Gen. Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau ever was involved in an activity of swinging kicks to the groin.

In 2008, now-Rep. Mike Sottile ran for the open seat in HD-112, a nice place to live in the Lowcountry. Mt. Pleasant Town Councilman Joe Bustos was the chosen candidate in the Republican primary by the “pro-hit list” forces in South Carolina. Like many of their other candidates selected by that group, Bustos wasn’t very successful, losing 56-44. Sottile went on to win unopposed in the general election.

Evidently, losing by eight and now battling incumbency is not stopping Bustos for making another go. In case you missed it, in the meantime he also lost a race for mayor of Mt. Pleasant. We guess some people like making running for office — and losing — a hobby on par with building model airplanes and sports rec leagues.

Bustos promised to end politics as usual, adding, “Growth of government is out of control, and we must elect new leaders to rein it in.”

Bustos also said his 2009 mayoral campaign will help his chances this time. “I think the door-to-door campaign (last year) worked very well and we were really coming up in the polls, so I think we have a certain amount of momentum in this campaign.”

[sarcasm] Yes, political scientists are universally agreed that losing consecutive races for office makes the voters more amenable to your new campaign. [/sarcasm] If the people who backed Bustos in ’08 are smart (S.C. Club for Growth, Howard Rich, the Sanford mafia), they’ll spend their money on a race in which their candidate may actually have a chance.

Under current State Ethics Commission regulations, there’s a time between the pre-primary and pre-election disclosure reports known as the “dark period.” For about three weeks, there’s no knowing who is dumping money into campaigns. That is, not until the next deadline — June 10 for the primaries, Jan. 10 for the general election. It’s been a big, gaping hole in the disclosure process.

If you recall, in 2008, Howard Rich, his shell corporations and lackeys backed up the Brinks truck to the “hit list” candidates — plus a few Democrats — during the dark period before the primaries. It allowed these candidates to run around, saying they are no man’s puppet. Then — whoop! — strings appear and the dancing starts, but we don’t find out until after the election. It’s a calculated move, one to hide the virtual purchase of the General Assembly.

Wednesday, the House passed H. 3066 in a vote of 108-1 to put a halt to this practice. If it makes it into law, candidates would have to file 48-hour notices of contributions during the dark period, just like Federal candidates. It would go into effect right after being signed by the Governor, but we doubt that it would be fast-tracked to a degree to where the Senate would pass it, and the bill gets signed, before the dark period starts for this year’s primaries.

We’re only passing along the knowledge of Voting Under the Influence‘s Brian McCarty, who pushed a proposal to censure none other than Earl Capps, mainly for being and supporting “RINOs.”

…that Capps had the audacity to win elections that he ran without checking first with the big three consultants; that Capps does not attend Gamecock football games; that Capps actually knows Mike Reino; that Capps actually worked for Republican campaigns before Howard Rich came along including for that RINO Ronald Reagan; that Capps does RINO things like being an adjunct professor at some sissy college that wants people to learn; that Capps has been seen in a bar near Summerville; that Capps committed other notorious offenses to those who are the self professed rulers of South Carolina; that Voting Under the Influence, with the power vested to it by a few folks drinking in a barn, does hereby and forever censure Earl Capps for being an longhaired, outlaw blogger devoted to RINO politics and heavy metal music.

Be it also resolved, by Voting Under the Influence, with the power vested to it by a few folks drinking in a barn, to extend greetings to Earl Capps for a Happy Birthday along with this censure.

Fun and games, gentlemen — fun and games. Hopefully Earl will have a good birthday on Friday.

Last spring, we were told that real estate magnate Howard Rich had pulled his money out of South Carolina, considering that his lackeys in this state hadn’t been able to accomplish diddly-squat, except to bitch and moan and act like because they yell loudest, that they’re the “majority.” Maybe some consultants have lost out, but money’s still going to candidates and elected officials.

JOEY MILLWOOD
State representative
(2009, Fourth quarter)
538-14 Realty, $1,000
Silver and Silver Properties, $1,000
332 E 11, $1,000
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000

GREG DELLENEY
State representative
(2009, Fourth quarter)
Rich Lending Corporation, $1,000
188 Claremont, $1,000
538-14 Realty, $1,000
332 E 11, $1,000

TRACY EDGE
State representative
(2009, Fourth quarter)
332 East 11, $1,000
538-14 Realty, $1,000
4220 Broadway, $1,000
Silver and Silver Properties, $1,000
188 Claremont, $1,000

TOM DAVIS
State senator
(2009, Third Quarter)
188 Claremont, $1,000
4220 Broadway, $1,000
51 First Avenue, $1,000
123 LaSalle, $1,000
405 49 Associates, $1,000
332 E 11, $1,000
470 W 166, $1,000
Bradford Management of New York, $1,000
Dayrich, $1,000
Bayrich, $1,000

At any other time, it seem to us to be odd that political consultant and former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn would be the the first obvious recipient of thousands of dollars from Howard Rich‘s school choice largesse. Really, a guy that smart should know better. But, here we go again. Quinn got $5,000 from Rich’s shell companies in the fourth quarter of 2009 for his chance to return to the General Assembly, this time from District 69.

RICK QUINN
Candidate for House District 69 (R)
Contributions: $9,155
Expenditures: $1,734.83
Cash-on-hand: $10,420.17

Significant contributions
Richard Quinn Sr., $1,000
Consultant
Art Guerry, $50
Former Lexington County auditor
538-14 Realty, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
Silver and Silver Properties, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
4220 Broadway, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
188 Claremont, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company
332E 11, $1,000
Howard Rich shell company

Significant expenditures
Mail Marketing Strategies (postage), $1,734.83

If you believe the effluent regularly produced by Will Folks‘ bile duct, you would think that the S.C. Policy Council is doing something new and inventive. After all, they hired Eric Ward from the Free Times and Rick Brundrett of The State. We suppose these guys don’t mind trading in their ethics for an organization that laughingly calls itself “non-partisan.” OK, maybe just “Sanfordite Republican,” and not non-ideological. And the organization will lose a hell of a lot of influence when Gov. Mark Sanford rides off into the sunset, if not already.

You see, the Policy Council’s shill at FITSNews is making a big deal out of some new Web site that the SCPC is starting up.

In what could become some heady competition for Palmetto State media outlets (including FITS), the S.C. Policy Council is on the verge of launching a new “citizen reporter” website – perhaps as soon as next week.

Reportedly dubbed The Nerve (or something to do with nerves), the top secret project will provide original content from Policy Council writers as well as contributing writers from all corners of the state, sources tell FITS.

What this clown doesn’t tell you, and what he knows, is that the plan to hire formerly legitimate reporters and start such operations has been in effect since at least 2007, if not before. And it’s not just South Carolina. Every member of the State Policy Network, which is tied at the hip with robber baron Howard Rich, is doing exactly the same thing. It’s a national effort. Because some reporters are so broke and scared of losing their jobs, they’re willing to do what it takes to pay the mortgage, get insurance and put food on the table.

What sucks for those guys is that they have to make peace with that Faustian bargain, and realize their work — and your labor is one of your most important actions — is actively going against their self-interests. But that’s how the journalism industry crumbles.