MORNING NEWSBREAK | Presenting herself as a pragmatic leader who could unite all Americans behind a “new way forward,” Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president in a roaring Thursday night presentation.
“Our nation with this election has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said. “A chance to chart a new way forward. Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.”
Considered the “speech of a lifetime” by some analysts, Harris’s explosion on the political scene after President Joe Biden dropped out of the contest a month ago has energized the Democratic Party in ways no one expected just weeks ago. And her opponent, former President Donald Trump, seems flustered, not much in the spotlight and in, what one analyst calls, a box.
“Fellow Americans, this election is not only the most important of our lives, it is one of the most important in the life of our nation,” Harris said Thursday. “In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences — but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious. … Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.”
Trump, in response, called into Fox News for a 10-minute “rambling” rebuttal to the speech shortly after providing real-time commentary on the social media platform Truth Social. Several times, the Fox anchors tried to interject to ask a question, but were ignored as Trump continued to talk.
Meanwhile, South Carolina native Jaime Harrison channeled his best version of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim “Coach” Walz in rallying South Carolina delegates about their part in a winning November political campaign, the City Paper reported Thursday.
“If this is a team sport, if we have our MVP and Madam Vice President Kamala Harris,” said Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. “If we have our coach in Tim Walz, any championship team has to have some good role players. That’s where all of you come in.”
In City Paper news today:
CP OPINION: Latest statewide school test scores show how S.C. still fails her students. “It’s only when you delve deeper into the numbers – into what education professionals call the disaggregated results – that you begin to see the full dimensions of the never-ending crisis in the inadequate education that South Carolina provides her children.”
CP CARTOON:
CP FOCUS: How to stay safe when taking your golf cart on the road. There are rules and regulations in place to help keep cart operators safe when sharing the road with heavier, stronger vehicles. Unfortunately, it’s clear to anyone who encounters carts on a street that many of their drivers have the maxim that rules are made to be broken.
CP NEWS: S.C. to try again on legalizing sports betting. South Carolinians will see a renewed major push for legalized online sports betting in January when the General Assembly reconvenes, despite two recent legislative failures and a pair of new studies that highlight gambling’s social costs.
CP NEWS: S.C. forms Smalls Monument Commission. The state’s new Robert Smalls Monument Commission is expected to hold its first meeting Aug. 28 to begin the process to place a statue on the Statehouse grounds to honor the Beaufort native. Ten members of the S.C. General Assembly have been appointed to the commission.
CP ART: Spooky empire haunts the Holy City. Horror fans can find comfort in their favorite creepers and creatures at the Spooky Empire convention, coming to Charleston Aug. 23 through 25.
CP FOOD: Palmira Barbecue tops Southern Living’s best new barbecue joints. Three Charleston barbecue spots today made the cut to be on Southern Living magazine’s list of the South’s best new barbecue joints. Ranked 14th was Rancho Lewis in the Charleston Neck area. Fifth was King Barbecue in North Charleston. And first? Palmira Barbecue in West Ashley.
- Bar Polari brings a new kind of LGBTQ+ experience to Charleston
- De Mare serves boat-to-table oysters at pop-up raw bar
In other recent headlines:
S.C. considers its energy future with state Senate committee. The Special Committee on South Carolina’s Energy Future plans several meetings through October. On Thursday, the committee heard from the leaders of the state’s three major utilities. Future meetings will bring in regular ratepayers, environmentalists, business leaders and experts on the latest technology to make electricity.
Charleston Co. approves African American studies course. The Charleston County School Board voted to approve an honors African American Studies course following the state’s decision to remove it.
Charleston Co. School District passes first reading updating TIF policy. The Charleston County School Board has voted to possibly make changes to their tax increment finance policy ahead of a looming vote to turn Union Pier into its own TIF district.
New traffic pattern at Charleston International Airport to start next week. Starting Monday, those traveling through Charleston International Airport will need to keep extra eyes on the road to accommodate a new traffic pattern. Additionally, Charleston International will experience some delays as TSA equipment gets upgraded.
Charleston native, former CSU soccer player made SportsCenter anchor. Charleston native and former Charleston Southern University soccer player Kelsey Riggs has been made a full-time anchor on ESPN’s flagship show, SportsCenter.
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce leader to retire at the end of the year. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce has announced that its president and CEO, Bryan Derreberry, will retire at the end of 2024 after 13 years in the role.
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