OBAMA YOUTH VIDEO COMES FROM NOWHERE, GOES VIRAL, SCARES THE HELL OUT OF EVERYONE

It’s not quite Halloween yet, but with Rocktober set to begin tomorrow, it’s close enough to make a months old YouTube video’s sudden emergence onto the national news scene appropriately scary.

The video entitled “Sing for Change” — which featured 22 children, aged 5-12 chanting praise for their fearless Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama — isn’t disturbing in the “jump out of the closet and make you scream” kind of way. No, this is really, really creepy because of it’s striking similarity to the way authoritarian leaders use song to brainwash their subjects — especially kids.

Countries like North Korea under Kim Jong Il. And Nazi Germany under Adolph Hitler. Which you can see for yourself in the neatly spliced together “Obama Youth” video above.

The video’s production reportedly involved the head of NBC/Universal Jeff Zucker. But The Politico refuted that evidence and said it was a different Jeff Zucker.

Regardless, I’m not sure how this stayed under wraps since August. Thank God it finally came out, though, because I think it pretty accurately foreshadows an Obama presidency.

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UPDATE: Looks like the adults do it too.

GEORGE BAILEY POSSIBLY GOT AN EDUCATION SHORTLY BEFORE TAKING OVER BUILDING & LOAN

At some point prior to taking over the Bailey Building & Loan Association in Frank Capra’s 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” former South Carolina Rep. George Bailey may or may not have completed high school.

For years, Bailey, who is running to take back Bedford Falls’s Dorchester County’s District 97 seat, said that he graduated high school at Richmond Academy in Augusta. But The Charleston Post and Courier reported today that he admitted in a deposition more than two years ago that he never graduated from high school.

Bailey’s resume also inaccurately stated for more than 20 years that he was a graduate of Washington and Lee University in Virginia and a Marine Corps veteran, the paper reported. He conceded in 2004 that both are false.

His response was that he had tried to fix the error, but had little success.

If I had to guess, I would say that the cause of Bailey’s false claims was his deep resentment toward his brother Harry, who was able to go to college and even become a Medal of Honor winning Navy Pilot.

When reached for comment, Bailey was in a meeting with Mr. Potter concerning “a significant amount of money lost by drunken Uncle Billy.” Bailey also said he was busy handling a bank run at the old Building & Loan resulting from the current economic crisis.

AND MOST OF ALL, AMERICAN FREE MARKETS NOT SOVIET-STYLED SOCIALISM

The Palmetto Scoop’s editor and I traded barbs yesterday over the bailout. As I continued to offer soundbytes as to why the bill was full of baloney, I realized that Adam Fogle was right. This is not the time for speeches (e.g. Nancy Pelosi) or soundbytes (take your Congressional pick). This is the time for leadership (John McCain) and real solutions (Newt Gingrich and John Allison.)

So, if I were in Congress, here’s what I would do:

First, I’d turn off the soundbytes and curtail the press releases. No matter how cute they are, soundbytes are no substitute for leadership and neither is going on television only to say how dire the situation is.

Second, I would summon the best and brightest to DC. This would include former elected officials like Newt Gingrich and private sector leaders who have display good judgment like BB&T’s John Allison to testify and play an active role in devising a plan.

Third, I would keep an open mind, but insist on a solution which protects the American people, reassures both Main Street and Wall Street, and encourages investment and liquidity in the markets. This solution must continue to promote America’s free market principles and can not slouch towards anything that resembles Soviet-styled Socialism. (Keep reading this story >>)

GARREN HEADS TO COURT IN GREENVILLE ON CHARGES OF UNREASONABLE FORCE, VIOLATING CIVIL RIGHTS

The trial of a South Carolina trooper who allegedly rammed his cruiser into a fleeing suspect last year began today in Greenville. According to the Associated Press:

Federal prosecutors say Lance Cpl. Steven Garren intentionally hit Marvin Grant when he was running from police after a traffic stop in June of last year. A key video of the incident shows Grant being hit and flipping over the hood of the trooper’s patrol car.

Prosecutor Brent Gray told a jury Tuesday that the video shows the officer steering in Grant’s direction. The trooper’s lawyer says Garren tried to avoid hitting Grant.

Garren is charged with using unreasonable force and depriving a suspect of his civil rights. A conviction could bring the now-suspended officer 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

I don’t really care if Garren’s actions were deliberate or not, he had every right to take that guy out. As my hero Sheriff John Bunnell would say, “if you’re dumb enough to run from the police, you can expect a hefty dose of the law.”

In the suspect’s case, that “hefty dose of the law” was a face full of pavement. He probably should have expected that when, you know, he ran from the cops.

Also, it looks to me like the guy actually ran in front of the car. And moments later, he got hit. How completely unexpected.

(Photo: AP; Garren, left, with attorney Wally Fayssoux)

ONLINE TRICKS, ROUNDHOUSE KICKS, GAS STICKS, ANGRY HICKS

The news cycle was absolutely dominated today by the failed bailout bill. There wasn’t really room for anything else. At The Palmetto Scoop, however, our biggest story was the rumored firing of Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden.

But, believe it or not, there were a bunch of other things going on in South Carolina. Such as:

• CHAS PD BUSTS ONLINE HOOKERS — The Charleston County Vice Squad (paging Don Johnson) is proving that it can use the Interwebs by successfully busting prostitutes on Craigslist. One undercover detective called said the operation has been, “pretty successful” and rhetorically asked, “Fishing in a barrel? pretty much.” I ask, could he find a less appropriate cliche than “fish in a barrel” for this situation?

• NORRIS ROUNDHOUSE KICKS FURMAN PARKING — International superstar Chuck Norris is speaking at Furman University in Greenville tonight to promote his new bestselling book, “Black Belt Patriotism.” Reports are that there’s a lot of kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu on display, but it’s mostly from students in the parking lot who can’t find a place to park for class. I guess that’s what they get for going to Furman.

• GAS CRISIS LEAVES SC STRANDED — I had to go to about 10 gas stations over the weekend just to fill up my car. And if you live in Greenville, Spartanburg or a number of other urban areas across the state, you’re probably experiencing a similar problem. AAA Carolinas said they have seen a 25 percent increase in car towing over the last few weeks in parts of South Carolina where availability was scarce. Also scarce: Viewers for last Friday night’s debate.

• ROAD RAGE FINES? REALLY? — Only in bass-ackwards Anderson County would someone be fined for road rage. Unfortunately for 37-year-old Michael Young, he lives in Anderson County. He probably should have thought of that before he decided to “initiate road rage” on Friday — whatever the hell that means — and was slapped with a $1,562.50 fine or 60 days in jail.

C-SPAN WILL AIR GRAHAM V. CONLEY, BROWN V. KETNER

ETV and The State newspaper are reporting that a pair of scheduled South Carolina Congressional debates will air nationally on the cable television network C-SPAN next month.

The 1st Congressional District matchup between Rep. Henry Brown and Challenger Linda Ketner as well as the U.S. Senate debate between Sen. Lindsey Graham and hopeful Bob Conley will air live on both ETV and C-SPAN.

The Brown/Ketner debate will take place on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., and Graham/Conley will be held at ETV’s Columbia studio on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.

Five other Congressional debates, also in October, will air exclusively on ETV.

FUNDERBURK WAS ‘JUST CURIOUS’ WHEN HE SENT OUT CHAIN EMAIL

I don’t know what kind of moron would send around a chain email saying that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is the anti-Christ and then claim he was curious about it’s factual accuracy. But, then again, I don’t spend a whole lot of time in Fort Mill, where Mayor Danny Funderburk did just that and then said he was “just curious” when he got caught.

“I was just curious if there was any validity to it,” Funderburk said in a telephone interview. “I was trying to get documentation if there was any scripture to back it up.”

Funderburk apparently sent the e-mail from his business account at Gastonia Sheet Metal where he works as a business agent.

The e-mail, which has circulated in the last six months since Obama secured the Democratic nomination, claims the biblical book of Revelation says the antichrist will be in his 40s and of Muslim ancestry.

There is no such scripture. And Obama is not a Muslim. But that hasn’t stopped the e-mail.[Charlotte Observer]

I’m “just curious” as to how the hell this idiot got elected. Maybe it was his mantra of “Proactive Leadership - New Perspective.” I’m not so sure about the leadership part, but I guess you could classify this as a “new perspective.”

HOUSE KILLS PLAN TO INTERVENE IN MARKETS 228-205

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street by a vote of 228 to 205.

The partisan split showed 140 Democrats and 65 Republicans voting for the legislation, while 95 Democrats 133 Republicans voted against it. While the bill could be brought up again, it’s uncertain what will happen next.

Supporters vowed to bring the bill up for another vote, but it’s unlikely the result would be any different. House minority leader Rep. John Boehner, said the chamber will not vote again Monday.

As for the South Carolina delegation, Reps. Gresham Barrett was the only member to vote against the bill. Reps. Henry Brown, Jim Clyburn, Bob Inglis, John Spratt, Joe Wilson, all voted in favor of passing the legislation. (Keep reading this story >>)