Can anyone tell me what major accomplishments Gov. Mark Sanford has achieved lately? I would honestly like to know the answer to that question. We hear about what a great governor he has been for the state of South Carolina, but what has he really done?
I know what you're thinking, but before you shut down your brain on me, don't think this is a veiled attempt at being an anti-Mark Sanford article. It is not. You can either dismiss me as a simple-minded man who obviously doesn't know what's really going on in state politics or you can take my question into serious consideration and help the Governor shape his message heading into the 2006 gubernatorial election.
It could be argued that Gov. Sanford has been a champion for challenging the citizens of South Carolina to get healthier (and don't we all need that!), but what part of his 2002 campaign agenda has been enacted into law during this legislative session?
From what I can see, only a fraction of his much-heralded state income tax relief platform has been passed into law. Furthermore, with the departure of House Speaker David Wilkins to become the new U.S. ambassador to Canada, Gov. Sanford has lost his strongest advocate in the state House.
Is it just me or has Gov. Sanford gotten off of his message and seems to lack any clear focus?
On the day after the PPIC bill he supported was killed in the state legislature, he wrote an op-ed piece about Santee Cooper. Then, two days later we read another op-ed from First Lady Jenny Sanford challenging South Carolinians to be healthier. Other than that, it has been a quiet week for the governor with nothing significant announced in any press statements.
Just what is the core message coming out of Columbia? Call me a cynic, but I'm not seeing any clear vision of where Gov. Sanford wants to take South Carolina.
By the way, where was Gov. Sanford during the school choice debate anyways? Granted, he did do two television commercials for Citizens For A Responsible Government, but he did not use the bully pulpit of the governor's office as effectively as he could have to shape public opinion regarding PPIC.
Since we are already on the subject, where were conservative state Republican lawmakers during the school choice debate as well? I don't remember reading any press statements in support of PPIC from them either.
I am deeply concerned that Gov. Sanford is not using the power of the media as well as he should to spread his positive message. He needs to remain focused on presenting his message in a clear and concise manner so the people of South Carolina will know why he supports what he does. Right now, his message is like a tree that falls in the forest. It makes a sound, but nobody can hear it.
Republican elected officials need to latch on to some of these ideas being promoted by Gov. Sanford so the conservative reform agenda that got them elected in the past few political campaigns can finally come to pass.
I think this latest legislative session will go down in the history books as one of the worst ever for the state of South Carolina. It seems to me that nothing important got accomplished because everyone was lacking focus.
Okay, enough of what I think? What say you? Agree? Disagree? Feel free to respond to my comments by clicking on the link below.
