The Opinion Blog

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Tuesday's cartoon extra

By Kirk Walters, The Toledo (Ohio) Blade

Red Cross Gains New Sponsors

Tuesday’s editorial notes the growth of the Red Cross’s annual fundraiser.

Not every day does someone go to a nonprofit organization and ask how he can help, but that’s how Bill Roehl became the presenting sponsor of the upcoming Wal-Mart Hurricane Classic fundraiser of the Coastal S.C. Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross. The 16th annual event will be Aug. 7 at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in Pawleys Island.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW …

By Richard L. Wolfe

What type of person leaves Paradise to start a business in a backwater community like New Orleans? A crafty, conniving, journalist type like Robert Morris comes to mind. Being quite familiar with Robert’s stealthy behavior, I thought it best that I pen this farewell salutation before he sneaks out the back door. I must admit that I was caught off guard when he announced his plans for his imminent departure. He was doing so well. He has survived the slings and arrows of Patrick and Joe. He has managed the burdensome workload that the task masters at the Sun News dumped on him. He even accepted the responsibility of running the S.N.O.B., a job that no one in their right mind would ever even contemplate doing. He not only accepted it, but implemented new and more innovative ways of presenting it. His hiring of such talented writers as Sunny Fry and Ron Harris to replace old worn out MSM types like Froma Harrop and Michelle Malkin was a stroke of genius. He even allowed lesser lights (Against his better Judgment) like me to join the party. In fact it seems like most of Robert’s decisions concerning the blog were not only innovative but aptly apposite in relation to the transformation of the new electronic media.

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The Sun News legislative scorecard

On Sunday’s editorial, we evaluate our state legislative delegation based on the bills in the S.C. Statehouse we’ve been watching this year. The print edition also included a chart showing how each lawmaker voted on numerous bills; as soon as I get a graphic that Typepad will read, I’ll upload it here.

This year’s legislative session began under the worst of omens. Impeachment proceedings against Gov. Mark Sanford threatened to dominate the session; the poisonous national political climate was provoking lawmakers into even more spurious proposals than usual (such as laws protecting state sovereignty); and the continuing budget crisis seemed destined to undermine any progress whatsoever.

No Free Rides

Saturday’s second editorial commends incoming Treasurer Curtis Loftis for turning a campaign issue into a serious look at saving the state money.

Two months ago, Curtis Loftis was using Treasurer Converse Chellis’ well-equipped SUV as one of many political weapons against him in an aggressive bid to unseat him.

Gambling with our Future

Saturday’s editorial re-examines the perennial debate over legalizing gambling on the Grand Strand.

While the never-ending debate over gambling often feels tiresome, a detailed article last week by Zane Wilson for The Sun News was an excellent reminder of why the issue is, for so many area residents, a settled one.

The math is simple. Video poker brought in $60 million in tax revenue, but caused $424 million – seven times as much – in costs to society.

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