Democracy Is Dead

[Shagman]

3. wouldn't you know it

After an impassioned, personal plea from the governor, the state GOP has reinstated Shealy as a candidate. Left out of the article was that Haley and Knotts have a history of, let's call it not playing well together. She reportedly said, "I want to be proud of my state." Making sure there's someone to challenge Knotts in the primary, I'm sure, is only a bonus.

Also in today's State newspaper, Walter Edgar is retiring as head of the Institute of Southern Studies. According to the story, he's gotten tired of people asking whether slavery really did cause the Civil War. "Just look at the Articles of Secession," he'll say, "it's full of talk about slavery." Apparently he thinks politicians were different then, that they weren't professional liars.

Breaking News: the Elections Commission says, "not so fast." The party doesn't get to overrule the Supreme Court, so Shealy, who was on the ballot, then off, then on again, is now off again.