His Superfluous Excellency

Power corrupts.  And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

South Carolina State Senate president pro tempore Glenn McConnell demonstrates this little maxim quite well.

I heard it told back during the gubernatorial campaign that Senator Glenn McConnell had no interest in being Governor of South Carolina because he didn’t want to give up any power as Senate president pro tempore.

Recently, The State newspaper exposed a further demonstration of his unwillingness to release his iron fisted grasp on power as Senate president pro tempore.

This latest threat to his position of power comes as a result of Lt. Governor Ken Ard’s legal trouble and the talk of his possible removal from office.

From the article in The State:

Under S.C. law, if the lieutenant governor’s post becomes vacant, there is not a new statewide election. Instead, the presiding officer of the 46-member state Senate – called the president pro tempore, who is elected by his fellow senators – would assume the lieutenant governor’s post.

However, lawmakers contacted Tuesday said current President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, has indicated he does not want the lieutenant governor’s job. In his current post, McConnell, head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is one of the state’s most powerful public officials, eclipsing the lieutenant governor in influence.

Of course, if McConnell is not interested in being Governor, he surely doesn’t want to be Lt. Governor.  But that is exactly where I’d like to see him go.

What better place for his corrupt highness than in an impotent higher office!

It couldn’t happen to a more deserving individual.  Should Ken Ard no longer be serving as our Lt. Governor, I surely want Glenn McConnell in his place.

How then, does McConnell plan to avoid this duty?  The plot goes something like this:

• McConnell resigns his position as Senate President pro tempore (temporarily, of course)
• The Senate elects a new president pro tempore.
• The new president pro tempore assumes the position of Lt. Governor, leaving the position of president pro tempore vacant again.
• The Senate then re-elects Glenn McConnell as president pro tempore.

But, for this entire plot to play out according to his master plan, your Senator must cooperate.

That’s right, without the cooperation of the Senators to re-elect him as president pro tempore, his plan blows up in his face.  Please, contact your Senator and let him know that you will not accept his participation in McConnell’s shenanigans.

You can find your Senator and his contact information at this link.

Tell your Senator that he should hold McConnell accountable to fulfill his lawful duty.  However, if McConnell refuses and puts his power play into action, make it clear to your Senator that if he votes to re-elect McConnell as president pro tempore you (and Palmetto Liberty PAC) will hold him accountable in the June primary election.

If Senator McConnell steps down as president pro tempore, let’s make sure he stays down!

So, call, e-mail, or stop by your Senator’s office and let him know you expect McConnell to assume his lawful duty to become Lt. Governor, should Ken Ard no longer be able to serve.

I’d be very happy for Senator McConnell to become His Superfluous Excellency Lt. Governor McConnell!

Thanks for all you do!

Talbert Black, Jr.

Palmetto Liberty PAC

P.S. Please, contact your Senator and let him know that you will not accept his participation in McConnell’s shenanigans.  Tell him, if he votes to re-elect McConnell as Senate president pro tempore after stepping down to avoid his lawful duty to become Lt. Governor, you will hold him (your Senator) accountable in the June primary.  (And so will Palmetto Liberty PAC!)

You can find your Senator and his contact information at this link.