PORT DEAL, CENSORED SPEECH, DEBATING AND GOOD GOLF

There are a number of small stories going around today, but nothing yet that’s really worthy of its own post. So here are a few scoops for your otherwise bland Monday morning:

• SANFORD LIVES IN OWN MAGICAL WORLD — I think Gov. Mark Sanford is spending too much time reading celebrity gossip sites and taking on the persona of disgraced former pop star Britney Spears. It appears that, rather than dealing with the mess he created when he got involved in the Port Royal deal, the governor has chosen to create an alternate reality where he was the hero.

Sanford said he wasn’t surprised that the deal fell through because the developer who won the bidding process was shady; which is, of course, why he went around behind the guy’s back telling that to everyone on the Ports Authority Board. Of course, now that the port sale isn’t going to happen, Sanford can say, “I told you so.” Except, that would completely ignore the possibility that the governor actually bullied the guy out.

• MARTIN NOT A FREE SPEECH FAN — This news somehow got buried in all the nothing that happened last week, but Sen. Larry Martin (pictured above, right… or is that’s a different Larry?) has proposed legislation to “close the loopholes” in laws banning automated phone calls. But one of the reason there are loopholes is that federal communications law essentially protects most political calls – automated or not – as free speech. And anyone with a third grade education knows that federal law trumps state law; of course, when have we ever required our legislators to have more than a third grade education?

Perhaps the best argument in favor of the calls came from State GOP Executive Director Jay Ragley, who said that while the calls can be annoying, they ultimately boost participation in the political process. “A little bit of pain for the ultimate prize is worth it,” he said.

• IF YOU MISSED A PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE… — You’re in luck. RedLasso, who I use for much of my online media clipping services, has launched an innovative new “Presidential Debate Tracker.” The tracker allows visitors to view clips from every presidential debate thus far, both Republican and Democrat. If you long for the days when Mitt Romney still had a chance and mad Mike Gravel was still allowed near the stage, then this is for you!

• GOLF FOR A GOOD CAUSE — My good friends Ed and Jereleen Holliman-Miller are holding an annual Twin City Willis T. Goodwin Golf Tournament to help create a Business Development Center in North Charleston. The center will provide services to community members looking for assistance in starting a small business. This worthy cause is a humble effort to follow the good work of the late Rev. Willis T. Goodwin and I encourage you to take part. Check out the flier or PowerPoint for more information.