The Opinion Blog

MONDAY OPEN FORUM

Here's Monday's open forum. Be civil and enjoy.

WEEKEND OPEN FORUM

Here's the weekend's open forum. Be civil and enjoy.

'Why We Have A Governor'

Saturday's editorial reflects on Gov. Mark Sanford's ever-changing public persona in the aftermath of his trip to Argentina.

The ugliest moment of Gov. Mark Sanford's appearances in Conway on Friday came at the end of his news conference, when, for the third time in as many days, he finished giving his statement and refused to take questions.

In his demeanor, our governor appears to have entered the fourth stage of some strange personal process. First was a period of confession, followed by a period of silence. Then came the apology tour, and now we have arrived at defiance.

The Last Knight of Camelot

Friday's editorial noted the passing of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and the political era he represented.

A noted Republican senator remarked not long ago that were his colleague, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, able to be in Washington, the debate over health care reform would be going differently.

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah clearly meant that the health care debate, at least in the Senate, would be closer to some sort of agreement. Kennedy had that kind of influence and respect on both sides of the aisle.

THURSDAY OPEN FORUM

Here's Thursday's open forum. Be civil and enjoy.

Back to School?

Thursday's editorial calls attention to a handful of well-qualified Grand Strand students who aren't allowed to go back to college this semester.

Readers of The Sun News surely remember the plight of Dayana Rodrigues, a Myrtle Beach High School graduate whose name last appeared in our pages on the 2008 spring and summer semester President's List at Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

Despite her obvious academic gifts, however, those two semesters were all Dayana could attend before the S.C. legislature passed new laws requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for college admittance. Dayana's mother moved her here from their home in Brazil when she was 14, so the college followed state law and asked Dayana and a dozen others not to return, leading to a profile in The Sun News.

Wednesday's cartoon extra

Is Bauer's call for Sanford's resignation a game changer?

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer plans to call called for Gov. Mark Sanford to resign today, and reiterated a pledge not to run for governor in 2010 if he's elevated to the post through a Sanford resignation.

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/breaking_news/story/1038361.html

Obviously, the 2010 gubernatorial jockeying among supporters of Bauer, Attorney General Henry McMaster and Congressman Gresham Barrett is said to have been a major behind-the-scenes factor in the reactions to the Sanford scandals. McMaster and Barrett supporters, according to the state's faction-obsessed political chatter, don't want Bauer to have a year-and-a-half leg up on next year's election, and have thus been slow to push for Sanford's resignation.

Barrett has called for Sanford to resign, while McMaster has deferred any investigation of Sanford to the State Law Enforcement Division and the S.C. Ethics Commission.

Bauer's news conference is at noon.

UPDATE: In his comments, Bauer laid out a timetable of roughly a month before he will announce his own bid for governor if Sanford does not step down or lawmakers do not remove him.

SECOND UPDATE (3:54 p.m.): Gov. Sanford said no thanks to Bauer, and he'd like to change the subject.

WEDNESDAY OPEN FORUM

Here's Wednesday's open forum. Be civil and enjoy.

Saving up for a windy day

Wednesday's editorial highlights the many benefits of exploring wind power off the coast of Georgetown.

Economic blows have come in cascades in Georgetown of late, as its port and steel mill have alternated over recent months with ever-worsening news for their employees.

These woes reflect the weakened state of American industry and will thus be difficult for local leaders to counter, though some are valiantly trying. A report this weekend, however, suggested one bright hope on the horizon: the wind-energy industry.