But following a Thursday publicity stunt that found Gov. Mark Sanford holding two squealing pigs in the S.C. Statehouse lobby, it was clear our governor now holds Gramm's title.
Sanford says he brought the pigs to the lobby to make a point -- to show that state lawmakers were on a freewheeling spending binge when they dispatched 105 of his 106 budget vetoes in 99 minutes the day before. The Senate did the same Thursday overriding 100 vetoes.
"We wanted to have a little fun," Sanford said in a press release. "I think it's important to have a sense of humor at the same time that you're making what I think is a serious point about at least limiting pork barrel spending long enough to pay off this unconstitutional deficit."
But the governor's public relations gimmick will backfire, if it already hasn't. As House Speaker David Wilkins said, Sanford's stunt wasn't taken as a joke. Instead, the governor "defiled" the people's house with political grandstanding, the speaker said.
What in the world was our movie-star governor thinking? He embarrassed state lawmakers. He embarrassed fellow Republicans, who control the House and Senate. And he put at risk hope of being an effective leader for South Carolinians -- just to make a political point. Hasn't he ever heard the cliché that one attracts more bees with honey than with vinegar?
In politics, there's a lot of give and take. But for Sanford, it appears to be take. He's South Carolina's Ritchie Rich who pouts when he doesn't get his way.
This year while the governor successfully pushed payback of a $155 million deficit to the top of the legislative agenda (the just-passed budget erases it despite his rhetoric), Sanford's been in for a lot of pouting. He hasn't gotten his way on the budget vetoes. On restructuring. On a proposed income tax cut. On school vouchers. The list goes on. Last year, he had no significant legislative wins.
Prior to Thursday's stunt, this column was going to focus on how Sanford's lack of legislative wins and continuing spats with the General Assembly might create an environment for someone in the GOP to run against him in the 2006 gubernatorial primary. Many Republicans have been grumbling quietly about it for months because they believe they got more than they bargained for with the maverick Sanford, who soared from Congress with few loyalties and ties to the Statehouse.
But with Sanford having a 73 percent good-to-excellent job rating according to this month's S.C. Index, such a premise still seems a long shot. Remember, however, there are six Republicans running to be the party's nominee for U.S. Senate. Only one will win. Five of the candidates might be looking for more public service. One might be talked into running for governor, just like former Gov. David Beasley was talked into running for U.S. Senate.
As one senior House Republican said prior to the pig ploy Thursday, "His [Sanford's] popularity is due to the public's general mistrust of government in general and the General Assembly in particular. This one is almost independent of the General Assembly, and I think the public likes that."
But with politics being the way it is, some folks upset by Sanford's disrespectful treatment of legislators on Thursday now might find someone to run against him in 2006.
If Sanford wants to get his agenda approved by state lawmakers in the future, he's going to have to stop acting like Rodney Dangerfield ("I get no respect") and more like a governor who builds bridges.