SC6's Civil War Rewind, Part Seven: The New Chief

George McClellan Takes Over For The North.... And the Love/Hate Relationship With Lincoln Begins.


     Welcome to the latest installment of our Civil War rememberance, as it happened 150 years earlier - or close to it.  After the First Bull Run (Manassas to those of you south of the Mason-Dixon line), the North realized two things: that this would not be a quick and easy war, and that they were woefully unprepared or trained.  Abraham Lincoln knew that Irvin McDowell was the wrong man for both of those jobs.  He searched for a replacement to lead his troops, and decided on George McClellan.  He was half right....



     McClellan was regarded as a great preparer of armies, and he did that well.  He grew the size of the troops, taught them how to be disciplined soldiers, and in doing so, gave them a feeling of pride.  But, McClellan failed at two things.  First he built an army, but almost refused to use it.  Lincoln became frustrated with McClellan as time went on, asking if McClellan was too leery to use the army, that 'I would like to borrow it for a while'...



     As bad as that was, McClellan had a worse trait - his arrogance.  He openly insulted Lincoln and anyone who disagreed with him at every turn.  He often referred to Lincoln as a baboon or gorilla.... Today, that MIGHT get you fired, but Lincoln ignored him for a while, hoping to trade the insults for victories.  No victories came.. McClellan had a knack for overestimating his opponent's troop size, and thus asking that more troops be added. 



      We'll document the Lincoln-McClellan tiff along the way: from his 'Virginia Creeper' campaign (which took 9 months to start), to his underestimating a newly appointed general named Robert E. Lee - and the asswhipping Lee gave him in the Seven Days campaign, to McClellan's refusal to chase Lee after winning at Antietam, which was the final straw with Lincoln.  McClellan's response?  He ran against Lincoln for President in 1864.  It's all pretty interesting....


    Yeah, it's neat to go back to the beginning of something good or bad.  in this case, there were both.  If McClellan were just put in charge to train an army, the war might have been shorter.  But it was what it was, and Lincoln went through a slew of generals, until he pulled a once-fired drunk out of the West, nearly 2 years later.  But, it all started 150 years ago this week.

.  

Lindsay Lohan: You're About Three Years Too Late

 Which Lindsay Would You Rather See In Playboy.... This One, Or This ?????

It's kind of ironic that it's Halloween week for this post, which is number 3200 by the way.. Because much like a pumpkin that as been left on the porch a week or two too long, Lindsay Lohan has decided to pose nude for Playboy....  By our count, it's way past due.  Those of your who follow our blog know that we always had a soft spot for redheads, but the expiration date for Lohan has long since passed.

Not to be overly harsh, but time has not been kind to Lindsay lately.  It almost looks like on eof those year by year mug shots of those people addicted to meth... Yeah, it looks THAT bad.  They can slap a coat of bondo on her face, and soften up the pics as much they can, but it will be sheer curiousity.  Let's hope she gets her act together, because it's pretty apparent that she's not quite there..

Rewarding Bad Behavior.... Again.

You Want Fries With That House?  If You Aren't Making $500k a Year, You Shouldn't Be In That Hut.


     Well, the Obama administration is trying to figure out ways to both save voters money, and convert a few of those votes into re-election next year.  Let's be honest.... EVERYTHING is aimed at being re-elected.  Since his American Jobs Act is stalled (or at least sputtering) in Congress, Barack Obama is trying to find ways to put money back into the pockets of citizens.  While we think there are ways to do it without government involvement, his Mortgage Assistance Plan falls short, for a number of reasons....



     The big complaint during the Bank Bailout was that there was nothing in it for the taxpayers who had trouble affording the mortgages they signed up for.  Now, the point of the bailout wasn't to save a mortgage, it was to save jobs for the millions of employees in the banking industry.. and it worked.  Since then, millions of people have refinanced their homes to much lower interest rates.  So, who is the plan supposed to work for?



     Well, it has certain criteria: first, you have be on time with your payments for the past 6 months.  Secondly, your principal balance has to be 25% or above the current market value.  One these 2 points alone, this plan is a hot mess.... First off, if you are on time for 6 months in a row, you ARE current.  If you are making your payments on time for a mortgage YOU signed up for, why is the Federal Government assisting you?


     Onto Point Two.... The bailout occured three years ago.  So, either of two instances happened:  you bought a mortgage AFTER the bailout, or you overbought a house.  You did it either by buying at the peak of the market - which is your fault.  Or, the more likely situation, you bought too much house.   If you lost value from the market drop, you are still able to afford the payment, and don't need help.  You lost paper equity, not actual cash.  In time, the market will go back up, and you will be in the black.  If you are like so many others, who bought a McMansion with a 5 yr mortgage on a house you couldn't afford, then I have NO sympathy for you.  Foreclose and move on....


     Another thing to consider.. This will be a regional plan.  Not everywhere had a severe market drop.  Florence and the rest of South Carolina had relatively low dip - definitely not 25%.  The only areas in SC that would see cash is on the coast, so if you want to waste taxpayer dollars on somebody's beach house on Hilton Head Island....  Overall, this is a bailout for the Northeast, Florida, California and Las Vegas.  So, 300 million pay for helping 900,000.  But that 900,000 can be the difference between winning and losing.  Oh, BTW... Is Florida an important state next November?


     In short, all of the criteria to qualify you for this plan already qualifies you to refinance ON YOUR OWN... That is what America is all about.  Being responsible.  We don't like to reward bad behavior.  Sometimes, we do it anyway, but it has to end at some point.  The rewards have to end.  Rates are low - fix it yourself.

.

They'll Ignore The Gut, and Focus On the Green.. To a Point.

Fat & Rich:  Was Boss Hogg a Ladies Man?


      You've seen it.  We've seen it.  A hot woman with an ugly, fat guy... And the same thought comes to mind - he must have pulled her from a burning building.  No, just kidding.  The thought is, 'He must have money'..   It's a bit harsh, but according to a recent survey, it's true.  Women will put up with the gut - as long as there is some green....


      Don't ask who put this survey out.  All I know is I heard it from the local news last week, so I don't know if it was the New England Journal of Medicine, or Stuff Magazine.  Basically, a woman will stay with a man that gets old and fat, as long as he is making money.  Of course he's making more money - if he were broke, he'd be LOSING weight, not gaining it!  In short, if you're poor, that gut is a problem, if you're rich, it's cute...



     Now, if you're one of these guys lucky enough to have this 'problem', don't get so confident... It has a limit, and on average, that limit is 20 pounds.  Yes, there is a cute paunch, and then there is 'my hubby is turning into Fat Bastard, and it's time to cash out, and hook up with the landscaper with the 6-pack abs'..... Be warned, Cubsie Ubsie - you might want to sacrifice just a bit of that cash, and hit the gym an hour or two a week... 


.

Someone, Please Find This Man a Job in the Party..

Bill Connor For SC6 Chairman ????


    This year, many Republicans were working hard to draft decent Presidential candidates.  While it mostly failed, there are always examples of drafting people to run for office, or jobs within the party.  On our recent trip, there was an obvious draft effort out there, and it's not a bad idea...


    Former Lt. Governor and SCGOP Chair candidate Bill Connor drove up I-95 to visit the Clarendon County GOP meeting a couple weeks back.  On numerous occasions, Connor was publickly mentioned as an ideal candidate to fill the upcoming SC6 Chair position being opened with redistricting.  Honestly, we felt it was a job beneath Connor, but the important thing is if Connor wants the gig.....


    Bill Connor came pretty close in both his campaigns for Lt. Governor and SCGOP Chair.  He lost a tough campaign to Ken Ard, and if he had gotten in a lot earlier, he may very well be Chairman today.  But, those are the breaks.  A district chair is a much smaller, thankless and unfunded job.  Having a 7th district will make it easier to over an area, as opposed to the gerrymandered bullshit I endured in the old 6th (2 1/2 hours to Edisto Beach? Please!!). 


    Mostly, the job is a title, and being a County Chair or on the Executive Committee is a bigger job.  Essentially, it is what you make of it, but if Connor is looking for that title, he would undoubtedly be a Chair with the biggest name.  If he wants it, he's earned it.  They could do a LOT worse....

.

SC6, Where Even Our Fantasy Football Players Are Studs!

      OK, maybe it should be 'Where Everyone Else Here Is a Stud'... One guy that fits that bill with us is New England Patriots Tight End (insert joke here), Rob Gronkowski.  Not only has he been a key saving grace for our Running Back-less Fantasy Football team, Crusty Lombardi, but he managed another check off the Bucket List: hang with a porn star.


   Yep, in a bit of a media coup, Gronko ended up in a private picture with Porn Star, Bibi Jones.  Both Jones and Gronkowski say nothing happened - too bad in our book. Gronkowski seems to be taking a lot of heat from tight-assed football fanatics, particularly in Massatooshits.  To us, they should lighten up.  Football geeks live and die football, nothing else.  Might we suggest, as Shatner said, that they get a life.  No harm, no foul. Now go out there, and get me some more fantasy points..... the ones that count!

.

Today's Founders Quote: Beginnings and Endings

"Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants."

- Alexander Hamilton, 1787.


   In short, Hamilton is stating the old adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Sounds like a nice case for term limits.  Think maybe if Congressmen and Senators KNEW they were leaving, they might do the right thing for the country, without worrying about being re-elected?  Then again, maybe not...  For some people, it begins and ends with 'Dear John' (shot in SC!) star Amanda Seyfried.  Then again, Carol has a huge crush on her co-star, Channing Tatum.  To each his/her own.

.

Cartoon of the Week

     Gotta say, it was a week period for the cartoons.  One proclaimed Rick Perry's campaign dead (perhaps a bit premature), and a very cliche' Halloween cartoon, but not a lot actually happened this week. It happens....


    With little else to go with, we picked one that equates Mitt Romney and the GOP like a woman being courted - but still looking for something better.  Don't we know about that!  Winner by default....


.

Well NBA Fans, There's Always Hockey ....

Nothing Like a Couple of Number 40-Something Goons Going at It, Is There ????


      Time for an obviously racist statement.  We don't like the NBA... College hoops is cool with us, but there is something about the NBA that doesn't excite us in the least.  We follow the Knicks, but that's just about it.  Be it the punk lifestyle that too many (not all) NBA players seem to have, the inability of today's players to do the basics, like shooting or free throws, or just ESPN jamming everything NBA down our throats for the past decade, we don't know...


      No, of course it's not a racist statement.  Some people might see it that way, but we grew up on hockey, and Winter is always hockeytime for us.  No, there is a lot less scoring than the 190 pts the NBA pops out like a crack addict per game.  But, there is no doubt the skill level is much higher than in basketball.  Need proof?  How many of you can ice skate?  Case closed...


     Nope, the NBA may not play at all this year.  So, with that in mind, we invite you to become a Hockey fan.  Need a team to root for?  Might we suggest the New York Islanders, whose coach, Jack Capuano, was the first coach for Florence's own Pee Dee Pride.  Try it..... You might like it.


.

SC6 Reviews It's Visit Home to the Pee Dee

The Four Horsemen Ride Again ..... Although Earl Looks Like He's Talking Like an Italian With His Hands - Mamma Mia!

    It's been a busy couple weeks since we took our trip back to Flotown, and other spots in South Carolina.  Gotta say, we had a great time.  We got to do just about everything, and see everyone we wanted to during the trip. 


    We spoke for more than just a few minutes at the Clarendon (or Moyeland, as they now call it) GOP meeting.  SCGOP Chair Chad Connelly stopped by to let us know ahead that January 21st would be the Primary date.  Connelly seems like one of those guys who remembers everyone he's met, which is a good skill to have.  Thanks to Moye for letting me indulge myself with what was basically my going away speech... Here's a couple pics.

Earl and I celebrate getting a free pound of some yummy D&H Barbeque !!  Thumbs up, Miss June..

Is the Earl / Stephanie rumor true ????  Nah!  Just the Florence Vice-Chair coming to visit Manning...






    Next, it was onto Doug's Harley-Davidson, where I got a few shirts for friends in NY, and then Friday night,  I went to dinner with P-Luv and none other than Ms. X....  It had been 2 1/2 years since I last saw her, and she was as pretty and funny as she ever was.  We all had a few drinks and eat some Creek Ratz fried pickles, and caught up. 


    Saturday was a more domestic day, as I spent the time with Bobby, Chris and their wives and babies (literally).  It's funny how things have changed a bit in the last couple years.  Lots of my buddies are having kids, while I am still the eternal punk - and neither of us knows who to be jealous of!   The grass is always greener, right?


    When will I be coming back?  I'm not sure.  I'm planning on a return trip possibly in March, to make sure the house is ready for Spring sale.  Yeah, it's up and been up for sale, but the market really sucks right now.  But, after having had such a good time on this trip, I won't mind coming back soon!  Thanks to everyone for coming to visit...

.  

Tim Tebow Becomes A Verb ??

More Proof It's Tim Tebow's World - And You're Just Living In It!


      No, we don't think 'Tebowing' (re: Praying on One Knee) will rival to 'Hickey' someone.  But, it does give an idea of the size of Tebowmania - at least when you're 1-0.  Granted, lots of players have been praying in the NFL for years.  Maybe it's because most of the players in the NFL are black, maybe not.  Somehow, they don't give the impression of a Crusader, with a Bible in one hand, and a football in the other, that Tebow does...


     We all love Tim Tebow, and we want him to succeed.  He's a great guy - almost too nice to be true.  Can he do in denver what he did in Gainesville?  Probably not.  Only if the defense can give up less than 14 points every game, will he win more than he loses.  Still, it's interesting to see people notice a guy praying on the field.  He and the Broncos are gonna need it....

.

No Sit-In's Needed ..

See, Americans Can Get Wall Street to Listen.... Without All the Public Urination and Lack of Bathing!

    They backed off.  We complained, and they listened.  Who? Bank of America.  What?  B of A's unpopular plan to start charging it's Debit Card customers a $5 a month service charge...  Power to the People!!


   Now, did they go to Bank of America's headquarters, to wrap the building with yellow police tape, and proclaim the place a crime scene?  Nope.  They just called B of A, told them it sucked, and they could expect them to use another bank.  That is their right.  It's Bank of America's right to overcharge, and lose all of it's business if it wants to.  They can also recognize the error, and not do it.


   We're wondering if anyone in those tents in Zucotti Park and other places around the country noticed that little tidbit of successful protest.  Ahh, but that is SOOOOOO boring!  They didn't make a single TV appearance. Plus, what would the Occupy Wall Street people do with all that leftover craypaper and markers???!!!

.

Not a Snowball's Chance in Long Island ??

Here We Go Again !!!!!



     No, we're not expecting a foot around here tonight... Snow here this time of year is like it snowing at anytime in South Carolina - all the factors have to be perfect.  They're talking a trace to 2 inches, if at all.  In fact, it's only snowed three times this early EVER.  The last time was 1952.


    Still, the thought hasn't been lost on us that it has been snowing more and more often ever since...... well, since we got back.  Maybe it will, maybe it won't.  We'll see.  Until then, we still ain't getting a snow shovel!

.

Today's Quote: Hanging Together

"We must all hang together, or assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

- Benjamin Franklin, at the Declaration of Independence signing, 1776.


    Again, we hit on the unity theme. Even then, there were divisions: North and South, gentlemen farmers vs. industrial businessmen.  Yet, there was a greater goal to overcome those divisions.   One thing that could unify most of us is Alessandra Ambrosio.  Yowza !!

.

Ever Wish You Were Someone Else for a Second?

       I had this forwarded to me on my Facebook page earlier this week, and all we have to say is WBTW- TV13 anchor Bob Juback is a freakin' stud !!!!  Flanked by his longtime co-anchor Nicole Boone, and recent TV-13 addition, Wendi Redman, Juback is doing his best version of The Ladies Man....


     The ironic part is that the photo was posted by Boone herself, so we're cool with it too... Juback posted that he 'doesn't remember when this was taken', but we think this moment would be tattooed on his brain for decades.  Like we say, we wouldn't mind being the Man Meat in the middle of that Babe Sandwich!!  Kudos to the trio for having a sense of humor, and for not grabbing the weathergirl and doing a cliched 'Charlie's Angels' ripoff....

.

Elmo's Got the Answer For Bipartisanism ??

Congressman Elmo (I-Sesame Street) Testifies Before a Joint Panel On Unity to Promote..... Play Dates??


     It's not often that a cuddly red muppet gets asked how to fix partisan politics in our nation's capital... It's even rarer for him to give an answer - and maybe a good one at that.  Forget Joe the Plumber - it's time to draft Elmo!



    Our fluffy buddy, who resembles a Love Child between Grover and a Red Velvet cake, was giving an interview on television earlier this week.  Suddenly, he was asked what he would do to solve the lack of bipartisanship in DC.  His answer?  Play Dates.  Not a bad idea at all....


    Before you dismiss Elmo for Congress, think about it.  For the past couple decades, the battle lines have been drawn.  Rarely do Democrats and Republicans talk to each other, much less negotiate legislation on the big issues.  We've all heard the stories from Tip O'Neill back in the old days, where he said as soon as the gavel struck, both sides would go to the local watering hole - and THAT'S where most compromises (not a bad word, folks) were brokered.


    No, we're not promoting 535 elected officials to become alcoholics (or are we?), but we're sure hey must have SOME mutual interests outside of work.  Recently, I had a customer who was being a bit of an a-hole.  But, rather than let it ruin the whole customer-advisor relationship, I saw he had a Derek Jeter 3K wristband on his stick shift.  All I had to do was show him my pic of 2999 on my phone, and all the distrust went out the window...  That's all it takes.  Elmo for Congress, although this may not be his best slogan...

.

The Appalachian Trail Ends at Fox News.....

Since Daniel Craig Still Has That James Bond Gig Tied Up..


     ATTENTION:  We actually have South Carolina political news! Congrats to former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford on his new gig as an analyst for Fox News.  We're not sure how well Marshall will do in his first major endeavor since his term ended last year.  After all, he's not exactly a speaker that grabs you by the heart or stones, an demands your attention.  Then again, neither is Charles Krauthammer, and we listen to him.


    Nice to see that another of our good friends has climbed the media ladder.  Now , we're just waiting for ONE of these guys to call us away from the dealership....  Waiting.  Still waiting......

.

We'll Admit..... Qaddafi Surprised Us This Time

Libyan Strongman Goes Down Swinging... Kinda.


    While we don't always make predictions publicly, we basically try to look into our crystal ball, and forecast what is to come.  Now, some things are easier to predict than others:  Chances are, Jim Clyburn will vote 'no' on just about everything that comes through the House, the New York Islanders will lose more games than they win, and Lindsay Lohan will end up in rehab/community service at some point in any calendar year.  It's easy when you have consistent data to go on.  Picking the fate of a nutty dictator is tougher.... and we guessed wrong.


     Nope, we never saw Moammar Qaddafi ending up dead in the back of a pickup truck with a 'stray bullet' in his head after hiding in a sewer drain.  We kinda thought he'd end up in Switzerland, fighting extradition, and maybe ending up in The Hague, and eventually becoming a Fox News Middle East contributor.  But, he said he would fight to the death.... and he was more right than we were.


   Now, do we think for a second that Qaddafi suddenly got stuck in a firefight AFTER he was taken by rebel troops in his home town?  Uhh, not for a minute.  Yeah, he's there bleeding and scared with the camera on - then suddenly, he'd got a bullet in his head while being surrounded by a dozen people.... and the camera was off.  We believe they call it Street Justice.  Or vengeance - you decide.


    No, we aren't crying a single tear for Qaddafi, but he was interesting in the kooky Stupid Uncle kinda way.... And when the shit hit the fan, he seemed to have enough sense to read the tea leaves, and stay in power.  There is a bit of a void in the Nutty Dictator category now.  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?  Nah, too consistently stupid.   Bashir Assad?  BOOOOOOOring!  Kim Jung Il?  Even we can't pick on guys who had a stroke.  Ever see us pick on Kirk Douglas? Now you know why...


     Maybe we'll switch continents, and start busting Hugo Chavez's chops all over Venezuela.  Yeah, he had Cancer, but you recover from that often, with no mental side effects.  We're trying to be fair here... But, he'll have a hard time matching Qaddafi's bizarro charisma, and his kickass wardrobe.  There's always room in the closet though....

.

Today's Founders Quote: Blank Paper

"Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction."

-Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Nicholas, 1803.


      Yes, the making of a written, concrete Constitution from the outset (or near it) was what made America different, and it became the template for all other democracies after it.  It is in this document that provides security for all it's citizens that they will be safe and properly represented.  Not too peculiar to us is Cintia Dicker (we'll skip the desire to comment on that).  Redhead + booty + freckles = Hottie in our book!   It's simple mathematics....

.

Cartoon of the Week...

      We always like when a cartoonist can take a topical story, and put a political twist on it.  If you missed the story about a guy releasing dozens of wild animals from his home in Ohio, now you know about it.   Not sure if any of them were registered Republicans or Democrats....

.