May 15
My recent story on GOP candidates having websites done by one that also does adult entertainment sites made it to a local medium's website. 

 A wordle of February entries; see a larger version of the image here. 

January 26
This wordle thing is cool (see the larger image HERE).  

January 24
Think about it, folks. If Newt Gingrich were to become president, his wife Callista would become the First Third-Lady First Lady. 

January 21
Conversation with a Scandinavian reporter tonight as we left a Forward Progress event (we parked at the same hotel that hosted Gingrich's campaign party, which the reporter was leaving): "Your (American) Republican Party calls you Democrats socialist? *I* am a socialist from a socialist country. Obama is no socialist. More Americans would know that if the Republican Party didn't obstruct public education in your country." 

January 18
At a local event for Rick Santorum, one woman "expressed concern that the federal government was planning to round up local Tea Party members and put them in a FEMA concentration camp 'that has a razor-wire fence around it.'”  Dream on, sister. Dream on. 

January 13
Scored two more appearances yesterday. The Today Show ran a video on the Romney/Gekko spiel (the Forward Progress version of which is now online), and the "Dogs" pic was featured on MSNBC's PoliticsNation.

January 12
Yowza! Last night I found my face on national news twice! And on two different networks covering two different topics.  NBC Nightly News included the "Romney-Gekko" skit I participated in yesterday evening, and MSNBC's The Ed Show included a "Dogs against Romney" photo in its broadcast.  

January 8
Okay - two nice things yesterday. Reached a new high in daily visits (3,551), and the Saints won. 

January 6
I've got that old Three Dog Night song stuck in my head, thanks to Rick Santorum. "The ink is blah/the page is wuh" 

January 5
Attention Romney campaign: public property in Charleston is *not* your private property, like you told me today. And you can't have me arrested for standing peacefully on public property. (hmmm...I wonder if that would constitute harassment on their part?) 

January 4
Well, poll participants, your predictions were off; mine were just about dead-on. 

December 26

I thought my Christmas Eve count was good...somehow I got more than double that on Christmas Day alone (3,550 visitors/6,800 or so pageviews). And almost all to that one entry about executive bonuses at six banks.  Either that's a very popular subject, or there were too many people with nothing to do on the holiday. 

December 25

Happy Holidays to all! 
As my own holiday gift, yesterday this site hit a new record in number of visits (1,696) and pageviews (3,204). And at this early time of day (8 a.m. EST), it's already at the second highest of those same counts. (That's because of a blog entry I made yesterday going viral.) 

from Kevin Eason/Eason Gallery Studios

December 21
Happy Anniversary to my wife Debbie!

November 27
A comment on the youtube page of the new "Mitt vs. Mitt" video:
"I been a Republican my whole life, but after watching my party try to shut down our country down during the debt ceiling to protect millionaires from paying taxes, & after watching them repeatedly talk about repealing healthcare (I hate to admit it but the costs of ALL my medicine went down after of Obamas plan started) I dont understand my party anymore." (posted on this 11/27 date by thachozn1429)

November 17
A comment posted to The State's article on the arrest of Occupy Columbia demonstrators:
"First Governor Haley came for the Democrats with her Derogatory Report Cards, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Democratic Legislator.

Then Governor Haley came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then Governor Haley came for the Occupy Columbia Protesters,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't an Occupy Columbia Protester.

Then Governor Haley came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

(Read about that here.)

August 26
My letter to the editor has *finally* cleared Post & Courier. Two weeks later than they told me it would be, but after waiting six years for them to finally post one of my submissions, I can't complain. 

August 24
In honor of the new memorial that will be officially dedicated this Sunday, here's a favorite quote from MLK:

"In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right to work.' It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. It is supported by Southern segregationists who are trying to keep us from achieving our civil rights and our right of equal job opportunity. Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone...Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote."  (1961)

August 17
In response to their rampant online trolling, the popular www.reddit.com now has a new topic thread under its "politics" header: "Let the World Know We are Tired of Paul Spam"!  That's right, you Ron Paul disciples...

August 8

July 27
Just found on facebook - the "I demand to see Michelle Bachmann's High School Diploma" fan page!  Now *that's* a complete 180, no?

July 25

July 18
Borrowing a graphic from www.thediSCust.com:

July 15
"Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor."
-- Thomas Jefferson

July 4
"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."
--Thomas Jefferson

July 1
Keith Olbermann's return to television is bringing many more to Current TV. But that's not all this network has to offer.

I'm rapidly becoming addicted to Viral Video Film School, too, which is featured on Current's infoMania show.

Here's one example I fell across today, and I fell down laughing, too.

Here's a link to more of them.

June 29
Something to consider while Michele Bachmann roams through South Carolina (and bringing bad weather as she tours by a bad driver):  BACHMANNITIS (or simply in one ear and out the other, as we've come to know of her reception skills).

June 21
Yes, boys and girls, there *is* such a thing as political parody, and you'll find it all over the internet. And there isn't a damn thing the Koch Brothers can do about it.

(read about the Koch Brothers attempt to sue Youth for Change for their comical press releases, and how they lost their case)

June 15
Believe it or not, our state government unanimously passed a bill that would address the very high rate of strokes in South Carolina.  And - believe it without doubt - Gov. Haley vetoed it.

June 14
We're baaaa-aaack!  After a brief work-trip-in-the-desert hiatus, we've returned to the blogosphere.

Here's a view from our vocational vacation:

Now go ahead and read our latest entries (on voter accessibilty and voter registraton).

May 26
On Tuesday, Ed Schultz made a verbal faux pas on his syndicated radio show when he described conservative commentator Laura Ingraham to be a "verbal slut." 

His radio show is syndicated by a different company (Dial Global), but MSNBC - the network hosting his nightly television show - suspended Schultz for a week.

And who can blame them? Even though it didn't happen on their network or in their territory, Schultz's comment could come back as a reflection on MSNBC.

So why do other networks let others get away with doing the same thing? In 2005, Glenn Beck referred to Cindy Sheehan, mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, as a "tragedy slut" and "tragedy pimp" on his Premiere Networks radio show. And FOX News let that slide with no problem; Beck's TV show wasn't interrupted.

May 23
He's moral, for God's sake! Holier than thou, even. And Tim Pawlenty wants - no, he's ORDAINED - to be your next president! (Just overlook the fact that he pardoned a convicted child molester who, after release from prison, went on to rape his own daughter over 250 times in an eight-year period...) Tim! Tim! Tim! Tim!

May 20
Doood! I give Harry Shearer's new flick a great "review" - and my review gets a great review on his fb page!  "...an exceptional blog post from a guy named Rob Groce..."    "He writes movingly..."

May 18
My letter to the editor made it to the local newspaper. Thanks, Journal Scene!

May 17
The world is supposed to end this Saturday - according to some Armageddonists, that is, who are promoting this premise through all sorts of avenues, even billboards across the country.

My question is, since my wife's birthday is the 27th, should I get her a gift now?

May 16
The GOP trip down the yellow brick road has already faced two potholes: upcHuckabee and The Man with the Golden Hair have already bowed out of the race!  What are Dorothy and Toto to do?

May 11

Wow! Are state Democrats in t r o u b l e !!!  The SCGOP just elected as its new chairman ... an Amway rep! How will we overcome that expertise?

May 7

Colin Powell gave address at last night's SC State graduation. While many historic events are happening in recent times, Powell said his favorite was "when President Obama took out his birth certificate and blew away Donald Trump and all the birthers!"

May 5

The Donald's campaign poster:

May 2

This just in: Donald Trump says he will not believe the recent news reports unless the president provides an authentic, long-form copy of bin Laden's death certificate.

May 2

       

April 29
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist."
– Hélder Câmara (1909-1999), Archbishop of Olinda, Brazil

April 23
Much thanks to Jamie Sanderson for the encouraging words. Very flattering!

April 22
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
 - Thomas Jefferson

April 17
Where does your tax money go? Just click here to find out, down to the penny.

April 6
Farewell, Glenn Beck! After losing a third of his audience so far this year (and after almost 300 advertisers backed away from it, too), FOX News dropped Beck's daily show.

April 2
Well, it's official. The Donald wants to be The President. I mean, why else would Trump get himself a show on FAUX News?

March 4
Introducing a new word to the English language:

Walkerloo - (WAWK-ehr-loo); noun

Definition: A self-defeating political trick.

Example: Wisconsin's Gov. Scott Walker, who slid in public approval and overall opinion after his shaded attempt to turn the state into a plutocratic oligarchy.

Synonyms: Napoleon (of course), Gen. George A. Custer, Adolph Hitler

Antonyms: AFGE, AFL-CIO and the dozens of other labor unions in the state of Wisconsin.

February 28

February 26
"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. ... Their number is negligible and they are stupid."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower
(Take that *again*, anti-union GOP)

February 23
"All that serves labor serves the nation. All that harms is treason. If a man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool. There is no America without labor, and to fleece the one is to rob the other." -- Abraham Lincoln
(Take *that*, anti-union GOP)

February 16
Sorry, Alvin. I would say 'better luck next time,' but I really really hope there won't be a next time.

February 8
DeMint for president? Go on! I dare you!

February 3
My first TV commercial! Read about it here; watch it here.

February 1
Ties That Bind budget petition - can you sign it?

January 27
Great video intro to AFFA's website: click here!

January 26
My response to Michelle Bachmann's Tea Party reply to the State of the Union address: she could be the next spokesperson for national healthcare! Lose weight by not wearing so much makeup, and pay attention to the signs of aging indicated by the profound lines in your neck. Waddaya say? We taxpayers are the ones paying for your current health status, aint' we? Listen up to our demands!

January 24
Heard the Rev. Jesse Jackson speak last night at the PA Progressive Summit. And he just doesn't speak to you, he wants to speak with you.  I mean, if you don't respond when appropriately, he'll let you know! Thanks again to Keystone Progress for inviting me!

January 22
Attending the PA Progressive Summit!  Which would be much more fun were it not just 10 degrees  with a 10 below chill index....

January 19
The SC GOP has started the year off right! The State Ethics Commission announced that the state Republican Party accepted six donations exceeding the maximum limit, and then distributed that money to two of their candidates - one of whom (Mick Zais) had promised during his campaign not to accept donations from pro-voucher groups. Next question: was it donations from pro-voucher groups that were in excess, and is that the money they gave to Zais? (Nikki Haley was the other recipient, says the SCDP.)

January 18
Tennessee's Tea Party folks want to teach kids that the US Constitution called for a republic, not a democracy.

Apparently, they don't know that there are many types of republics, that the US already is one, and that there are many types of republic we don't want to be. (Hint: remember the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?)

January 12
All last year, Tea Party folks were issuing threats of violence to Democrats, coming to a head just the other day when a Democratic rep from Arizona got shot. And then GOP folks in Arizona resign yesterday due to threats from Tea Partiers. And then today a whacko is arrested for threatening to assassinate a Democratic rep from Washington state. Why did he want to do that? Objections to the health care act, it seems, which is the same primary issue the Tea Party's focused on since first created. And what's the common denominator in all this? Why, the Tea Party, of course! (which was created by the GOP, dontchaknow).

January 11

January 9
Wow! We're only the 14th worst state, according to GQ. "South Carolina has its priorities in order: Facing trailer-park poverty, violent crime and historic racial tensions, the state's politicians studiously ignore all these issues and focus instead on churning out jokes for late-night comedians."

December 31
Let's close the year out with a cartoon! (A political/media take on a cartoon, that is.)

December 30
Well, third place in Fantasy Football ain't that bad.  The Roosters will do better next year.