The legal imbroglio over $700 million in “stimulus” monies in South Carolina has led to some unfortunate name calling and finger pointing.

From Will Folks misdirected charges that include calling a federal judge  “retarded” to Dick Harpootlian’s bilgewater characterization of  Governor Mark Sanford as an “ACLU lawyer from New York,” the slaps and counter slaps would be – as Harpootlian said – “funny if it weren’t so sad.”

First, to jump on U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Anderson as some sort of political hack or vindictive brother is wrong.  Oh, I know it looks inviting if someone wants to get conspiratorial, but in this case, it just doesn’t fit.

There were three briefs filed before Judge Anderson.  Of those, he turned two back to state courts because that’s where they belong.  Those cases related to state, not federal law.  If that ruling condemns the governor’s suit, Judge Anderson is not to blame.  Governor Sanford’s choice to withdraw the third suit from Judge Anderson was just that, his choice.  Granted, it’s probably a moot point, but the governor knows how intricate the legal system can be. The law isn’t fickle, but our expectations of it are.

As for Dick Harpootlian mouthing off about the governor, that’s a petty attempt at one-upsmanship.  Mark Sanford stood by his principles and pursued whatever avenue he could in order to do the right thing. This is precisely what Judge Anderson did.

Harpootlian and the incestuous General Assembly don’t know a whole lot about principle or “doing the right thing,” so I suppose they should be given a little slack – to match their jaws.

If South Carolina wants to rid itself of these stupid soap operas, the voters need to put in the legislature true representatives that will overturn the “retarded” state constitution and create the modern system of government that they deserve.