Sources: Gov. Nikki Haley to Appoint Henry McMaster to US Senate

The Tatler has learned that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is almost certain to appoint former South Carolina Republican Party Chair and former S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster to fill the unexpired term of retiring Senator Jim DeMint. McMaster was a prominent supporter of Haley in a contentious GOP primary. Haley has reportedly already informed key South Carolina politicians of her decision.

Yesterday I blogged that Haley should appoint Congressman Joe Wilson to this post, or in the alternative, Tea Party favorite Rep. Tim Scott. A Republican in Washington in 2012 must have experience with the organized Left that now dominates the Democrat Party. It isn’t 1995 anymore, and any politician not familiar with the militancy that is driving Democrat policies in Washington in 2012 will have a steep learning curve. Wilson and Scott have experienced it firsthand and would have made excellent U.S. senators. South Carolina is [thankfully] far removed from the sort of militancy that characterizes Democrat politics in Washington.

McMaster is a conservative South Carolina Republican in the Carroll Campbell mold (the South Carolina governor who served from 1987-1995). He has extensive experience working in the Republican Party trenches. Ronald Reagan appointed McMaster to be the United States attorney for South Carolina (upon Strom Thurmond’s recommendation). He led a revolution of sorts in the 1990s, taking over the state party apparatus as chairman and dislodging a number of more moderate party staff. He has won statewide elections and lost statewide elections, including to former U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings. He won the election for South Carolina attorney general in 2002.

Well obviously she’s no Palin. She actually plans to finish her term.

Spoken like a good liberal troll. Ignore the facts and spread the "progressive" talking points. You would probably be quite a hit over at your home site, DemocrapUnderground.

I would explain the costs to her and her state, but I seriously doubt you would understand... or try to justify more of your "progressive" meme!

Excerpt (with video from her resignation speech)-...Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I've been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations - such as holding a fish in a photograph, wearing a jacket with a logo on it, and answering reporters' questions.

Every one - all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We've won! But it hasn't been cheap - the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to "opposition research" - that's money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers - or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the "politics of personal destruction" ... Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn't cost them a dime so they're not going to stop draining public resources - spending other peoples' money in their game.

It's pretty insane - my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with THIS instead of progressing our state now. I know I promised no more "politics as usual," but THIS isn't what anyone had in mind for ALASKA.

If I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices!

And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose NOT to tear down and waste precious time; but to build UP this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people! ...

That is what a Patriotic CONSERVATIVE does.

If the McMaster story is true, my guess is that it will be conditioned upon him being a "caretaker," and not running again in the special election in 2014.

A very interesting 2014 primary, for the two years which would be remaining in the term, may be shaping up -- Congressmen Scott, Mulvaney, and Gowdy are logical possibilities. Add to that the fact that Lindsay Graham's seat is up for election the same year. If Graham runs again (not a sure thing), any of the aforementioned Congressmen may challenge him in a primary. And, of course, Gov. Haley will be up for re-election at the same time.

I live close to the SC line (hence my screen name). I expect to see fireworks over the horizon.

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