So here we are in South Carolina, making history — Henry McMaster is officially the state longest-serving governor. Whether you’re raising a toast or rolling your eyes, it’s hard to ignore that we’re heading into a transition. And honestly? I’m worried about who’s stepping up next.
Let’s put it this way: Henry didn’t hit every pitch, but at least he was in the game. Right now, it feels like we’re in the bottom of the 9th, two outs, no runs, and whoever’s on deck is… well, a mystery. And I’m not betting on a win.
Every time I start to lean toward a new candidate, I dig a little deeper — and what I find is not great. Look, nobody’s perfect, but some of these folks have closets so full of skeletons the doors won’t even close. And once you step into public office, your business becomes public — or at least it should.
That’s what makes this process so frustrating. I’m not asking for saints, but I am asking for transparency. If you’re going to represent the people, we deserve to know who you are — the real you, not just the campaign version.
Honestly, I’d love to see every candidate hold a public “truth session.” Call it Town Hall Confessions. Let’s see who can actually be honest under pressure. You can’t undo your past, but you can show you’ve grown since you took the oath. Wouldn’t it be something if one day every Senator and House member just laid it all out — raw, honest, right there in the chamber, no spin? Just the truth. I’d even sit there with them. Before God, Andrew Jackson, and everyone in the gallery.
And no — I don’t think we’ve got folks exchanging sex for votes. Not exactly. But there’s definitely a vibe. More like, “If this connection keeps working, I might lean more your way on this conservation issue.” It’s not hidden. It’s right there for anyone paying attention. That sounds “transparent, ” but it’s only visible within the chamber and kept in-house. No one wants to call it out because doing so might upset the wrong person. Then, you’re out. Any influence or prestige acquired will be stripped and you become no more than a seat-filler. So everyone smiles, plays the game, and makes sure the right people get invited to the same events, sometimes even seated next to each other. The message: Don’t rattle the skeletons. They have teeth.
Now, if you’re reading this hoping I’ll drop names, I won’t. A lot of Senators are lawyers and the lawsuits would be quick and expensive. They also have some crazy constituents I don’t want to deal with. Please understand, there are still good people up there. Some smart ones, too, working very hard to do the right thing. But fewer and fewer. The field’s thinning fast.
It’s weird. But it’s real. What’s even crazier? This power everyone’s jockeying for comes with a salary of $10,400 a year. After taxes, insurance, and parking, it’s maybe $5K. And thanks to the Supreme Court, the per diem didn’t even go up this year. So you really have to ask: Is this about serving the people? Or is there something else keeping folks so desperate to stay in the mix?
If you’ve never read the history of South Carolina’s legislators, go ahead. Dig in. It explains a lot.
And to the person reading this thinking, “Oh, she’s just bitter after losing her race,” let me save you the trouble — I’m not bitter. I’m honest. Maybe too honest. And in politics, that usually means you don’t win.
But I’ll tell you this: I sleep fine at night. Can’t say the same for everyone else still sitting in those seats or reading this post. Then again, maybe they ARE sleeping well. That just makes it worse. It means in addition to lacking a functional moral GPS, they don’t have a conscience.
Stay tuned…
WHILE I BREATHE 