Shutdown Tagged to Ambitions of John Boehner

John Boehner, left with Obama, is not seen as a conservative ideologue, yet he is following the policy agenda of his most ideological members

On a very simple level, the closing of most of the American federal government can be pinned on the ambitions of one man, Speaker of the House John Boehner.

There is little doubt that Mr Boehner, a Republican, could, whenever he wants, gather enough votes from moderate Republicans and most, if not all, Democrats to reopen the government.

But conventional wisdom says the Republican caucus would swiftly dethrone Mr Boehner. And, interestingly, conventional wisdom and punditry, in Washington at least, don't blame Mr Boehner one bit for holding the government hostage to his career aspirations. Thus is the cynicism of this town today.

Why he is so attached to sticking with such a bruising job is another question. His caucus is balkanised and unruly. This Congress is held in the lowest public esteem since the invention of public opinion polls. And the Republicans are more disliked than the Democrats.

Once seen as a skilled dealmaker, Mr Boehner isn't able to make deals. Never seen as an ideologue, he has now relinquished control of the Republican policy agenda to the party's most ideological faction.

Where's the fun? To put the question another way: Why can't the leader of the party in Congress control the party on the most important issues and votes?

The answers apply equally to Democrats and Republicans. A series of self-inflicted errors by the two political parties over the past 40 years have left party leaders with no whip and little power.

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Wastewater Smoke Test Set for Some Areas Starting Oct. 14

Anderson County Wastewater Management will be performing a smoke test on the sewer lines on Blume Rd., Stancil Rd., Regency Park and Regency Woods Subdivisions starting on October 14. The inspection of sewer lines should last the entire week. Smoke may be seen escaping from the sewer lines, service lines and plumbing roof vents on structures during the test. 

The smoke is harmless. It is being applied to determine the need for preventative maintenance. The smoke testing will take place between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. 

If you should have any questions, please call 260-4023 between the hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday.

Poll: Americans Blame GOP Most for Shutdown

Americans are holding Republicans primarily responsible for the partial government shutdown as public esteem sinks for all players in the impasse, President Barack Obama among them, according to a new poll. It's a struggle with no heroes.

The Associated Press-GfK survey, out Wednesday, affirms expectations by many in Washington -- Republicans among them -- that the GOP may end up taking the biggest hit in public opinion from the fiscal paralysis, just as that party did when much of the government closed 17 years ago. But the situation is fluid nine days into the shutdown and there's plenty of disdain to go around.

Overall, 62 percent mainly blamed Republicans for the shutdown. About half said Obama or the Democrats in Congress bear much responsibility.

Asked if she blamed Obama, House Republicans, Senate Democrats or the tea party for the shutdown, Martha Blair, 71, of Kerrville, Texas, said, yes, you bet. All of them.

"Somebody needs to jerk those guys together to get a solution, instead of just saying 'no,'" said Blair, an independent. "It's just so frustrating." It's also costly: She's paid to fly with a group to four national parks in Arizona and California next month and says she can't get her money back or reschedule if the parks remain closed.

The poll found that the tea party is more than a gang of malcontents in the political landscape, as its supporters in Congress have been portrayed by Democrats. Rather, it's a sizable -- and divisive -- force among Republicans. More than 4 in 10 Republicans identified with the tea party and were more apt than other Republicans to insist that their leaders hold firm in the standoff over reopening government and avoiding a default of the nation's debt in coming weeks.

Most Americans disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job, the poll suggests, with 53 percent unhappy with his performance and 37 percent approving of it. Congress is scraping rock bottom, with a ghastly approval rating of 5 percent.

Indeed, anyone making headlines in the dispute has earned poor marks for his or her trouble, whether it's Democrat Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, or Republican John Boehner, the House speaker, both with a favorability rating of 18 percent.

And much of the country draws a blank on Republican Ted Cruz of Texas despite his 21-hour Senate speech before the shutdown. Only half in the poll were familiar enough with him to register an opinion. Among those who did, 32 percent viewed him unfavorably, 16 percent favorably.

Comparisons could not be drawn conclusively with how people viewed leaders before the shutdown because the poll was conducted online, while previous AP-GfK surveys were done by telephone. Some changes may be due to the new methodology, not shifts in opinion. The poll provides a snapshot of public opinion starting in the third day of the shutdown.

The poll comes with both sides dug in and trading blame incessantly. On Tuesday, a proposal by House Republicans to create a working group of 20 lawmakers to tackle deficit issues prompted a White House veto threat, and a plan by Senate Democrats to raise the debt limit by $1 trillion to avoid a default drew a frosty reception from the GOP. Obama is insisting Republicans reopen government and avert default before any negotiations on deficit reduction or his 2010 health care law are held.

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DHEC, SLED Team Up to Stop "Pill Mills" in State

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and the State Law Enforcement Division are collaborating to combat prescription drug abuse and “pill mills” in South Carolina.

DHEC Director Catherine Templeton and SLED Division Chief Mark Keel are expected to hold a press conference in Columbia today unveiling details about the new effort.

In 2010, South Carolina ranked 23rd in the country for opioid painkiller prescriptions per capita and 23rd for highest per capita in overdose deaths, according to a press release about the event.

"God Particle" Physicists Awarded Nobel Prize

Theoretical physicists Peter Higgs and François Englert have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their theory involving the Higgs boson, also known as the "God particle."

"The awarded theory is a central part of the Standard Model of particle physics that describes how the world is constructed," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a press release.

Englert and his now-deceased colleague, Robert Brout, proposed the theory of what is now known as the Brout-Englert-Higgs (BEH) mechanism in 1964 independent of Higgs, who also proposed the theory that same year.

"I am overwhelmed to receive this award and thank the Royal Swedish Academy," Higgs said in a University of Edinburgh press release. "I would also like to congratulate all those who have contributed to the discovery of this new particle and to thank my family, friends and colleagues for their support. I hope this recognition of fundamental science will help raise awareness of the value of blue-sky research."

Englert said during a press conference after learning he had received the award that he is "very happy."

The Standard Model describes how visible matter particles that make up everything from planets to people interact. The entire model depends on the existence of Higgs boson particles, which enable other particles to acquire mass.

The theory was confirmed in 2012 when scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, discovered evidence of the Higgs boson through experiments using the Large Hadron Collider.

"I'm thrilled that this year's Nobel Prize has gone to particle physics," CERN Director-General Rolf Heuer said in a statement. "The discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN last year, which validates the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism, marks the culmination of decades of intellectual effort by many people around the world."

The BEH mechanism was the last part of the Standard Model that had to be verified through experimentation, CERN reports. Now that the Higgs boson has been discovered, CERN scientists are turning their attention to other mysteries, such as where the "dark" matter that makes up four-fifths of the matter universe can be found.

Higgs was born in 1929 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, and is professor emeritus at the University of Edinburgh. Englert was born in Etterbeek, Belgium, in 1932, and is professor emeritus at Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels.

As co-winners of the prize, the physicists will split 8 million krona ($1.25 million).

A total of 107 Nobel Prizes in Physics have been awarded since the prize was first given in 1901. Only one person, John Bardeen, has received the award twice.

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinksa Institutet announced Monday that the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Sudhof "for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells."

Announcements for the 2013 Nobel Prizes in chemistry, literature and peace will come later this week. The prize for economic sciences will be announced Monday, Oct. 14.

Colgate-Palmolive Announces 300 Jobs for Greenwood

Colgate-Palmolive Co. is investing nearly $200 million to establish a new production facility in Greenwood County that will employ 300 workers.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and business leaders Monday praised the company’s decision.

“Colgate-Palmolive is a household name and world-class business, and we are proud to have them join South Carolina’s business community,” Haley said.

Colgate-Palmolive will establish a new production facility in an existing 525,000-square-foot building.

The plant is expected to begin operations in 2014, and will produce liquid hand soap for Colgate-Palmolive’s Softsoap brand as well as deodorant for its Mennen Speed Stick brand for both domestic and global markets.

“We’re pleased with the opportunity to locate our new operations in South Carolina,” said Mike Corbo, vice president for Colgate-Palmolive’s global supply chain.

“Greenwood County had a building that was a perfect fit for our needs, offers us a talented workforce and excellent market access.”

This is Colgate-Palmolive’s first plant in South Carolina.

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Fox: Haley Oks Security Reimbursements for Governors

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and the heads of police and ethics agencies have signed an agreement on handling security expenses when governors attend political events.

A copy of the agreement obtained Monday by The Associated Press sets what costs should be reimbursed by Haley and future South Carolina governors. It was signed Friday by Haley, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel and State Ethics Commission director Herb Hayden.

Questions about Haley's reimbursements arose after she attended a June fundraiser for North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory. South Carolina ethics officials said Haley's campaign didn't have to pay her security costs because the event wasn't for her.

South Carolina law requires a security detail for the governor but also bars public funds or equipment from being used for campaign events.

Southwood Academy Won't Expand to High School

Anderson County School District Five said Monday that Southwood Academy for the Arts will not expand to include high school students, which had been part of a tentative plan by the district under the past adminstration.

Wilson said the school, which current has 400 students and can accommodate 400, is too small and that the district's budget will not allow expansion. Wilson said the district's board approved a plan earlier this month which would allow students at T.L. Hanna or Westside to take courses at Southwood instead of adding a third high school in Anderson.

The School for the Arts concept was set in motion a decade ago when Calhoun Elementary School was designated an arts school and expanded when Southwood Middle School was added to the program seven years later. Many parents assumed the final stage of the arts eduation would include a high school for the arts.

Hanna and Westside students are already taking music and art classes at Southwood, so little change is expected in the current setup.

Study: Lance Armstrong Manipulated Social Media

Lance Armstrong used Twitter to employ image-repair strategies in a way that cultivated followers and countered media reports. However, he neglected to enact any image-repair tweets following his admission to using performance-enhancing drugs in a nationally staged interview with Oprah Winfrey, researchers say.

Clemson University communication studies assistant professor Jimmy Sanderson said traditional media like television and newspapers have been a staple of image repair, but with the rise of social media, athletes now have an additional avenue for it.

They should be prepared with strategies that help them navigate traditional and social media platforms to present consistent messages in multiple settings and contexts, according to the research.

Sanderson and co-authors Marion E. Hambrick and Evan L. Frederick explored how Armstrong utilized image-repair strategies during 2012 and early 2013. This time frame represented a turbulent period in Armstrong’s career as he faced a doping investigation by the U.S. government and later admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs in the Winfrey interview.

“Given Armstrong’s global recognition, exploring how he managed image repair via traditional media and digital media is an important direction to undertake,” said Sanderson. “Understanding how these efforts intersect and diverge yield important insights for image repair, particularly for athletes.”

The researchers analyzed Armstrong’s 859 tweets from 2012 to early 2013 and his comments during the Winfrey interview. Their findings were published in journal Communication & Sport.

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Balloons Over Anderson; Rev3 Race this Weekend

Anderson will be the center of two events this weekend with the return of the Rev3 Triathlon Friday-Sunday, in conjunction with the Balloons over Anderson Festival. Visitors can see world class & amateur athletes’ race while beautiful hot air balloons fill the sky. 

The events start with a kick off concert on the balloon fields at the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center on Friday and continue through the weekend with tethered balloon rides, vendors and food. On the Triathlon side, the expo kicks off on Saturday at 10 a.m. and finishes with a Glow Run 5k that evening. During the Glow Run the hot air balloonist will be doing their evening glow. The triathlon race starts early Sunday morning and continues throughout the day. A full schedule of the weekend’s events can be found at www.rev3tri.com or www.balloonsoveranderson.org.

Manna "Free Food" Distribution Set for Saturday

More than 5,000 pounds of assorted food items will be distributed Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., to anyone needing food assistance.  Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Homeland Park United Methodist Church have joined hands to sponsor this Manna ‘Free Food’ Distribution to be held at 309 E. Roosevelt Drive in Anderson, the site of Homeland Park UMC. 

Participants are asked to bring a laundry basket, large box or bin, or rolling cart for carrying their packages.  No ID or documentation is required, but each participant will be asked about the number of people in their households, and how many are seniors and children.  The food being distributed is made available through the Manna Trucks Program of Golden Harvest Food Bank.  Anderson Interfaith Ministries (AIM) is providing facilitation assistance. aimcharity.org

Boehner Says U.S. Headed for Default

With more than a week ahead of the debt ceiling deadline and six days into a partial shutdown, House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday President Obama is risking default by not discussing House Republicans' demand for delay or defunding of the health care law and new spending cuts.

"We're not going to pass a clean debt limit increase," Boehner said during an interview with ABC's "This Week." "I told the president, there's no way we're going to pass one. The votes are not in the House to pass a clean debt limit. And the president is risking default by not having a conversation with us."

Boehner said the House thought it was time to take a stand against Obama's signature health care law, better known as "Obamacare." "And we took a stand." Many Republicans believe Obamacare, which is set to go into effect on Oct. 1, will cause premiums to rise steeply and harm the economy.

Could America default on debt payments if Obama refuses to budge from his stand? "That's the path we're on," Boehner said.

"I have 233 Republicans in the House," the Ohio Republican added. "And you've never seen a more dedicated group of people who are thoroughly concerned about the future of our country. They believe that Obamacare, all these regulations coming out of the administration, are threatening the future for our kids and our grandkids. It is time for us to stand and fight."

The fight was inevitable, Boehner went on to say. "We're in the fight. We don't want to shut the government down."

The Treasury Department is likely to hit its statutory debt ceiling on Oct. 17, and Congress' failure to increase the government's borrowing limit would directly affect the credibility of treasury bonds leading to a financial catastrophe.

Two years ago, Congress and the Obama administration narrowly averted default by agreeing to cut $2 trillion in spending over the following 10 years. That itself resulted in the financial services company Standard and Poor's lowering the U.S. credit rating for the first time.

S.C. Educators Considering Removing Some Class Size Rules

The South Carolina Board of Education is considering getting rid of maximum class sizes in some grades. 

The board gave initial approval in September to getting rid of requirements that fourth- and fifth-grade English and math teachers have no more than 30 students in their classrooms. It also would eliminate maximum class size rules in pre-kindergarten and in music and physical education classes and do away with staffing ratios for media specialists, guidance counselors, assistant principals and principals.

It would not change state law on maximum class sizes in other areas, such as allowing no more than 28 students in classes in first through third grade.

A committee will discuss the issue this week, and the board will consider whether to give the changes final approval next month. If passed, they would go to the Legislature for approval.

State Superintendent Mick Zais wants to give schools more freedom. Sup­por­ters said the proposals came up as the state Edu­ca­tion Department reviewed all regulations.

“The flexibility is looking at not having hard-and-fast ratios,” said Roy Stehle, the director of the Education Department’s Of­fice of Federal and State Accountability. “It is about giving districts the flexibility in terms of staffing to make adjustments as they need to make adjustments.”

Opponents of the proposals say the rules are in place to assure quality education and that districts can already get a waiver if they need to have bigger classes.

State Board of Education Chairman David Blackmon said he voted for the proposals the first time so they could be discussed further, but he doesn’t agree with them.

“What protections are there for teachers and students when they have more students in the classroom than is reasonable for them to accommodate?” he asked.

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