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Last week’s less-than-shocking federal indictment of South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel on cocaine distribution charges had all the excitement of a Jerry Bruckheimer film – only without the action. While Ravenel contemplated the thought of serving up to 20 years in prison, his political rivals plotted how to best take advantage of the situation.
After all, an embattled state treasurer, who is sure to leave vacant a cushy statewide title by the story’s end, serves many ambitious characters. And it will only take 86 votes – a majority of the combined house and senate – to succeed him.
Meanwhile, Ravenel has merely been suspended and is still technically the state’s treasurer. Until he is removed from office or resigns, South Carolina will have but an “interim-treasurer” – and an “interim-anything” is never a good thing. The former option of removal is not possible without a conviction; something that could drag on for months. The latter decision rests entirely on the accused.
Right now, Ravenel faces two battles; one legal and one political. Were he practical, he would cut his losses on the political end – knowing full well his career as a politician is over – and focus his resources entirely on fighting the legal front. But this strategy favors more than just Ravenel and his former political allies, it favors South Carolina.
Every minute he clings to his post, Rabenel brings further disgrace upon it. The sooner we can put this mess behind us, the better. Trust in government is always held in precious little reserve and Ravenel’s actions have done little to preserve that stockpile. So we, and many others, plead with the besieged treasurer to resign his post immediately.
Moreover, the longer he waits to resign, the more damage he does to his friends. Friends like Jim DeMint who won his 2004 senate campaign largely because of Ravenel’s endorsement. Friends like Rudy Giuliani who is taking heavy flak for naming Ravenel his South Carolina campaign chairman. And friends like the numerous other elected officials who are rumored to be involved in similar, related activities (we do note: “rumored”).
The Ravenel scandal is a shameful reminder that power corrupts. Ravenel seemed to think he was above the law because he was the law. And in the end, it appears the only way to restore trust in the law is for him to concede that he will ever again implement the law.
And those that seek Ravenel’s post must note that political aspirations can wait. The only way South Carolina can repair the damage wrought by Ravenel’s indiscretions is to first remove the source of the problem. With forced removal currently not an ideal option, we must focus on convincing Ravenel to resign – for his friends, for his enemies, for himself, and for South Carolina.
Absolutely right and so well said. TRav is a “disgrace” to the position and is absolutely killing our rep on a national level while ruining our last bit of faith in government. If he has any sense of respect for anyone but himself he would quit now.
I agree he is innocent until proven guilty, but Ravenel still has yet to publicy refute these charges. He showed more deference and respect to the Rudy Giuliani campaign than to the people of S.C. by resigning from it, not wanting to embarrass them, but not resigning from his post as treasurer OR at least publicly denoucing the charges.
look the guy is caught in a blizzard a snowstorm if you will. When caught in a blizzard what do you do? You wait inside and wait for the snow to stop falling. This guy is stuck in a media blizzard right now. Maybe if the press and the bloggers would just stop for a couple of days. He would come down from the mountain and say something. Maybe he has noththing to say. Maybe his silence says it all?
Indeed is indeed correct, the people of S.C. deserve at least as good as Rudy G., this completely proves the belief many people had during the race that Ravenel cares more about his own neck in politics than the people of S.C.
Typical that “Rollin’” Ravenel is more concerned about himself than his state and that he is more interested in figuring out how to get out of this “Snowstorm” considering his love of “snow” is what got him into this mess. What a conceited idiot!
Andre? You starting to get nervous my friend? Wonder how you will react with your indictment comes down? Will you rant and rave at the police like you did when you were speeding? What a couple of MORONS!
He didn’t “wait out the snowstorm” to cut Rudy’s loses, but S.C. citizens are apparently much less important than saving face for America’s mayor. I agree with “Indee” I want the same deference for the people who elected him than he gave to the campaign who hired him, laughably in hind sight, to help their image. They only did this because we elected him in the first place. It is unfortuante but not surprizing to see where T-Rav’s loyaties lie.
I hadn’t thought about that in a long time Distinguished gentlemen. Andre Bauer was a reserve deputy with the Lexington County Sheriff’s dept. Meaning, the guy went to the police academy. He knew better than anyone what to do when stopped by the police to just sit his but in the car. Instead he jumped out like a madman and ran the officer down provoking an altercation that nearly put his life in real danger. He could have been shot!
In hindsight, was he wired up like a lightsocket?
He doesn’t have to resign until he is convicted. Anybody give any thought to the idea that Rav may want to influence who replaces him?????? He may indeed love this state, and love it enough and have enough deference to the state’s voters to want to see that someone of like mind replaces him.
He loves this state so much he was ripping lines of coke and doing who knows what else while handling our money. Great point Craig.. go do another line with your boy.
Craig are you kidding? So, by your analysis he resigned from Rudy’s campaign because he didn’t care enough about it to stay and see who he replaces and his staying on as treasurer is a calculated move on his part to ‘continue’ helping the voters of this state. That’s rich, really rich – frankly the less involvement he has in replacing his successor the better.
Maybe O.J. was just lurking around the place at night because he cared about who his replacement was with Nicole? And for the record he will have nothing to do with who replaces him whether he stays on or not.
Craig are you kidding? So, by your analysis he resigned from Rudy’s campaign because he didn’t care enough about it to stay and see who replaces him, and his staying on as treasurer is a calculated move on his part to ‘continue’ helping the voters of this state. That’s rich, really rich – frankly the less involvement he has in replacing his successor the better.
Maybe O.J. was just lurking around the place at night because he cared about who his replacement was with Nicole? And for the record he will have nothing to do with who replaces him whether he stays on or not.
Craig, you comment was so funny my roomates just pointed it out to me and I have to tell you I can’t wait for the headline:
“Governor to confer with federally indicted and suspended Treasurer about who would be a responsible replacement.”
FYI the comments duplicate comments from 5:34 were posted by Hercules not Silence Dogood
Andre Bauer was a reserve deputy with the Lexington County Sheriff’s dept. Meaning, the guy went to the police academy. He knew better than anyone what to do when stopped by the police to just sit his but in the car. Instead he jumped out like a madman and ran the officer down provoking an altercation that nearly put his life in real danger. He could have been shot!
In hindsight, was he wired up like a lightsocket?
OR, DID HE HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE IN THE CAR?
One can only wonder after reading today’s Beaufort Gazette blurb about Thomas Ravenal where the story will go next. Are Tommy’s local cronies and fellow coke pushers feeling a little nervous? His friends are rather well placed in our community(Beaufort) and have much to lose if ole Tommy can’t hold his mud and decides to trade them for his own freedom.