Iris Campbell's Political Eye

Many truths of South Carolina politics were learned at a young age in my family. Governors of every stripe like my Granddaddy's deep pockets, the biggest nonsecret about Strom Thurmond's "other child" was old news, and my friend and College Republican mentor, the late great Lee Atwater, told me then what everyone still knows. You don't win South Carolina if you don't kiss the Campbell family's ring. While her husband, the "Upstate" Governor of my youth, passed away all too young, his widow and youngest son have assumed his mantle of political influence  in my home state. And Mike Huckabee, just like an underdog named Reagan, has gotten the nod from former First Lady, Iris Campbell.

A Baptist minister with little in the way of money, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee could gather much needed momentum in a state that has been delivered to every candidate chosen for endorsement by the Campbell clan's quiet influence on South Carolina's GOP.

And while I know that the wrangling of an earlier primary was designed to ensure that the South is not discounted (to Kerry's folly) in the only process that matters, the winnowing of the chaff, I am not certain that the choice of Mike Huckabee as defacto Republican nominee was a reasonable one given the changing demographic of South Carolina.

With the mass influx of Liberal Carpetbagging Yankees* who have sold their over priced Beacon Hill mansions and retired in the bucolic lap of my Sleepy Southern Hometown for pennies on the dollar, I cannot say that the genteel political influences of my youth will hold sway as they have in the past. His unapologetic Conservatism may be more than a watered down electorate can tolerate.

But what Iris wants, Iris usually gets. Let's just hope she can pull another one out for The Gipper.

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* Thats a whole other post, but assure yourselves, some of my BEST friends I affectionately refer to as (little y) "yankee trash". If your "Y" is big though, all bets are off. ;)

Comments

[Casca]

Huckawho? I know not what course others may take, but I hope to never see another southern governor in the White House.

[JANE SAYS: Get used to it. Jimmy was a fool, but electable. Bill was an unknown, but electable. Just thank gawd The Silky Pony was never actually a governor. If he flipped Pro-Life, it would be over, ut I think that is a safe bet not to happen. Next guy you really might need to fear is another Southerner, my fellow South Carolinian (and despised by his own party, hence no "NOD", former governor, David Beasley.....EEeeewww....FRIGHTENING. Conservative, but in a skeevy way....]

[mRed]

Lee had so many admirable qualities, but man could that cracker play some guitar.

He also had great taste in his musical choices.

Alas good Lord, the good do die young.

[JANE SAYS: He WAS a cracker...that is FOR SURE. And tell a blue joke...GAWD ALMIGHTY, if the Southern Baptist Convention would have heard him, they'd have never let another one of his boys within ten miles of one of "their" pulpits, sure enough. ;) ]

[Rancher]

Speaking of guitar, doesn't Huckabee play?

[Kim]

You're one of Raven's friends and so am I.

I've been reading this site for a little while now and I'm tagging you with a meme. Come to ARS to see what's it about!