I am a dufus, but I do not want people representing me because they wanted the same job benefits the last person had. I want people who are going to change what has been done before, and who represents people. Service jobs are not to be confused with governmental jobs, although the people elected do make it out to be the same.

Posted by Dufus on 12/3/2008

Recruiting doesn't involve "beating down doors." But it does include letting people know how much each elected official is paid, what benefits they receive, how their pensions work (and can be woven together with government service), and the opportunity to reward friends with government jobs. Just look at those in office now. Any of them look hungry? +++ There are lots of talented folks in the world, even including in Georgetown, who could do each public job, do it as well or better than it is being done and who might be looking for a job six months or so before Election Day. Remember what these elected positions are: JOBS, good paying, high benefit, relatively little work, be-your-own-boss jobs. The jobs are advertised once every four years. Interviews (election campaigns) result in hiring decisions (elections) by the employer (the public). Because of the nature of the hiring process--elections--some get the mistaken belief that rather than being hired, the one chosen to do the job has been annointed. That, of course, isn't true. God doesn't have much to do with most politicians. +++ Anyway, public officials often get wrapped up in their own ego and interests and, as a result, will try to stack the deck in their own favor at election time. Certainly understandable, but those that do have to watch their step. They have entered a minefield in a cow pasture and may not come out smelling like a rose.

Posted by Ben Dover on 12/3/2008

Again, two DIFFERENT Sandersons. You need to get out more often and realize that. One was a party chair and one ran for county council. Get your facts straight. Ben Dover needs to run or discover a new concept because no one in this town is beat down doors to run for office, and if and when asked, the y refuse. Changing the attitude helps, doverman.

Posted by wjg is a doof on 12/2/2008

i think that it is real cute that he only "steps down" after he has been defeated in the election. and claiming that it is for "family and health reasons". apparently your family and your health were not of concern to you just a few weeks ago as you were attempting to run for another term. let me ask you this, what would have happened if by chance you would have been elected for another term? who would have suffered; georgetown , your family, or both? i truly am sorry that you have diabetes, but with proper diet and exercise and monitering, it can be controlled. there are plenty of people who work, take care of their family, and are leaders in their community all while dealing with diabetes. so you need to pull another card from the deck because the sympathy card isn't working. try playing the honesty card for a change. who knows, it might just get you a little further in life.

Posted by wjg on 12/1/2008

hahahahaha. Glad you got the joke. Sorry you missed the point. While looking the other way, voters were screwed out of their right to choose between candidates. That may not seem serious to you, but a lot of blood has been shed to protect that right.

Posted by Ben Dover on 12/1/2008

"Sanderson political dynasty in Georgetown County" And I didn't think the Times had comics any more!

Posted by local on 12/1/2008

Thank you Jamie! Hope your well and wonderful. Blessings!

Posted by Dee on 12/1/2008

"+++ In defense of a naive, relatively new party chair" Did you know him, or do you? If you do and said nothing in advising him, then you are as guilty. Again, doof hit the nail on the head - you can't force people to run. Ask the Army about recruiting efforts. Sorry, but the only person "ben dovering" is you.

Posted by Did you know? on 12/1/2008

Wow what a bunch of conspiracy theories! Did you get the name Ben Dover from an alien probe mission?

Posted by hahahaha on 12/1/2008

Doof: Actively recruit. That's one of the things that a party leader does. Keep eyes and ears open for potential candidates. Let them know of the party's willingness to help them should they decide to enter politics. Encourage them when they seem ready. That's an on-going process. +++ What just happened was this: Local incumbent officeholders all know one another. They are friends who interact with each other on a regular, non-partisan basis. They like their jobs. Good pay. Health insurance. Generous pension. The opportunity to hire lots of staff members. Be a big fish in a little pond. +++ To keep their position and its perks, the incumbents agree to discourage opposition to one another in the General Election. Very non-partisan. Whether Democrat or Republican, each knows which side of their slice of government bread the own butter is on. ++++ The incumbents all then urge their close supporters (otherwise among the politically most active people in the community) to stay out of the races for the other guys' offices, but just stick together on their own race. The result: most party regulars rally around their own guy's flag. Newcomers for office who stick a toe in the political waters thereafter find it very icy. Little information, encouragement or help is offered to anyone outside the inner circle of incumbents. +++A party chairman is supposed to prevent this sort of thing. One way to do that is by actively recruiting new party members so the pool of potential candidates will grow. Another way is to encourage existing party activists (particularly those holding office within the party itself) to stand for all offices currently held by someone of the opposite party. That's called challenging the other party. It is how voters get to hear the each side before casting a ballot. +++ In defense of a naive, relatively new party chair, it is fair to say that this sort of thing can, and often does, go on without a Doof knowing or suspecting anything. But remember what you're dealing with. These are old-time, old-line politicians. They know what they want and how to get it. Their public utterances and images are often very different from their actual self. Nixon. Clinton. +++ The best defense for a Doof is that he was naive and did not know that party discipline (the loyalty party members have to their common effort) had broken down. It has broken down because the incumbent officer holders put their own political and financial interests first, ahead to the rights and interests of voters not to have the deck stacked before election day. That--stacking the deck--ain't right. It is the stuff of a backwater banana republic, not of 21st Century America. That's why it is against the law. PS, Doof. You don't want to find yourself in a foxhole with any of these people.

Posted by Ben Dover on 11/30/2008

Good luck with your diabetes. It's a trying disease to have, but one that can be quite manageable. I wish you the best.

Posted by Karen on 11/30/2008

Hey, goof. Have you ever thought that people in this in town aren't willing to step up to the plate to run? You act as if a party chair is supposed be like a cave man - beat a person in the head and drag them to run. Sorry, but there are no bold people, then so be it. That's what a democracy is all about. Maybe you should have run, big talker.

Posted by Not a doof on 11/30/2008

Gus I got to tell you that I am sorry I did get James and his son mixed up but still he is still someone dealing with a sickness and it could happen to any one of us if it's James are his son are you I will still keep them in prayer so to the whole Sanderson family I pray things will get better everyday want be the same.sorry again GUS people are people. sorry again B/b

Posted by MS CB on 11/30/2008

Gus I really do not understand what you mean by is this the union boss this is a person saying he is stepping down because of health reasons so tell me please what do you mean by that are maybe you are one of those people who have never been sick and never will be if you are then you are the only person that know what the next day brings if you are tell me would i be rich in 2009 i'm waiting to here from you good luck on knowing what the next day holds.ha/ha

Posted by Ms CB on 11/30/2008

Partisan politics 101: A party chairman is supposed to make sure that his party offers a candidate for each office that is up for election. That allows people to vote a "straight party ticket." Vacancies on his party's ballot, on the other hand, invite ticket spliting, something that party regulars do not want. When questions get asked about why the Georgetown County Democratic Party did not offer a full slate of candidates in the past election (something that hasn't happened before in living memory), it will be for the party chairman to come up with valid reasons. The problem there is that, from a partisan political point of view (which is what being party chairman is supposed to be all about), there are no valid reasons for vacancies on the party's slate of candidates. (Come to think of it, his counterpart in the Republican Party has the same problem. There is no good reason for a political party to not offer the voters a choice for each office on election day.) *** PS: To involved parties. Don't lie to the FBI. That's a separate offense. Besides, you don't know what they already know by the time they get around to asking you questions. *** To the incoming party chairs, whoever they turn out to be: Georgetown is part of the United States of America, not some little banana republic where officeholders are elected for life so they can feather their own nests and those of their friends. Open and honest elections are required. Back room deals that rob voters of the right to choose are forbidden. So clean up your party's act.

Posted by on 11/29/2008

http://thepoliticsofjamiesanderson.blogspot.com/

Posted by Reid Tyler on 11/29/2008

Thanks for the hard work you've done with and for the party!!! Hope to see you do even greater things in the future!

Posted by Matt on 11/29/2008

You people are too funny. How is it that you all do not know there is a difference between Jamie and James. They are not the same people. I guess getting out of the from under the rock you people would know that.

Posted by Georgetown is Dumb on 11/29/2008

I have known James for many years and have had the chance to work with him at the union hall James is truly a great man I know for a fact he is a people person he has looked out for so many people I know because I am one of them . I pray your health is fine and you will be alright you will be in my prayers because prayer changes things I will be praying for you I will put you and your family on my church prayer list always in my prayer. Browne/Browne ha ha.

Posted by MS.CB on 11/28/2008

This past election was the first time that the Georgetown County Democratic Party did not run someone for every spot on the ticket. (No candidate for Sheriff, Coroner or Probate Judge.) The Republicans, on the other hand, ran no one for Clerk of Court or Treasurer. End result: Democrats kept the political patronage jobs that go with the offices of Clerk of Court and Treasurer while the Republicans retain political patronage jobs from Sheriff (with a number of high paying positions there being filled by relatives of old line Democratic Party operatives). The important point of it all was to allow incumbents to keep their paying jobs, health care benefits and pensions. Nice. The problem with this insider's deal, though, is that eliminated the voters' right to choose between candidates. You know, competition. Democracy. Maybe he's just nervous that the Justice Department will get wind and recognize the smell of a violation of the Voting Rights Act. If he stayed on as chairman, he'd be sitting in one of the hottest seats. He may not know it, but he still is--that the good ole boys have hung him out to dry and daddy's got no clout to stop it.

Posted by Ben Dover on 11/28/2008

Gus: Nope. It is the son of the union boss who just failed in an effort to get on County Council. *** The way it worked was that the son would say nasty things about the father's opponent while the father distained the use of dirty campaign tactics. They must have thought that nobody would notice or catch on. Really bright, huh? But then again, they had erstwhile Republican contender for the office of Giraffe, Marty Tennant, sticking his ... out for the father's Council bid. Comic relief. *** In the end, the father/union boss lost by a 2 to 1 margin. That's bad enough to wear dark glasses in public for a while. *** Thus the downfall of the Sanderson political dynasty in Georgetown County. Ain't ya glad you asked?

Posted by Machiavelli on 11/28/2008

I hear Jamie and his dad James are switching parties shortly. Now that is too funny. James the union thug a republican. More proof the local republican party is only RINO's.

Posted by NAR on 11/28/2008

Is this the union boss?

Posted by Gus Wondering on 11/28/2008

Best wishes, Jamie. I pray you get everything just where you want it.

Posted by Andy on 11/28/2008