Pedro's Podium: The Shocker of South Carolina

Friday, June 11, 2010

The Shocker of South Carolina

I have been shocked for a couple of day. I must share a little about myself. In the mid 70s I worked and lived for a short time in South Carolina and became aware of the state's politics. In those days the Democrat Party was very powerful. The saying went: There are about 7 people who run the state. I know of at least one person who may have been one of them. Through my brief interaction with members of Democrat party, most who are dead now, I got a view into the state's real rulers. These people were major forces in the state. Through these individuals the Democrat party kept a major hold on the state. My experiences in the state were eye opening.

I left the state many years ago, after my contract ended, and no longer stay in touch with anyone in the state. With the results of the June 8th Democratic Primary it appears that things have really changed. The fact that an unknown person, who did not have any support from the state party, would win the primary for the Senate seat for the Democratic Party, tells me a lot about how much the people of South Carolina have changed. The shock that the state party is publicly displaying, even accusing the GOP of running a ringer, tells me how far the once dominate party of the Palmetto State has lost its way and standing.

To think that someone could run against a major politician and will a major state-wide office and win as a complete surprise to the party is amazing. The once all might party is no simply a shadow of what it was 30 years ago. This whole episode demonstrates that the members of the party were willing to gamble on an unknown. This may not only be a sign that the American people are tired of politics as usual, but are also tired of the machines that are running the parties.

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The Democrat Party should stop blaming anyone but themselves. They should look at why they've lost control of their party. They should consider their own failures, at a time when the national party has had a strangle hold on the national government.

Is it time for the national party to realize that in their power grab has exceeded their grasp and the will of the people, which could spell the end of the party and not just their ability to keep their foot on the throats of the American People.

So maybe I shouldn't be shocked at this first sign of the downfall of the South Carolina Democratic Party, but it is amazing to see how fast things can turn in politics. But I must say that a message was sent. The question still remains: Did the party get the message or will they still think that they are living in their glory days? Will the national party also look to South Carolina for a lesson? We shall see if the shock in South Carolina becomes a national event and a sign of things to come, or just a flash in the pan that means nothing to the nation.