The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Greetings From Myrtle Beach

Posted on | January 15, 2012 | 15 Comments

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
We were somewhere between Nakina, N.C., and the South Carolina border, cruising south on Highway 905 at 70 mph when I hit the brakes. My 13-year-old son Jefferson, who had been trying to sleep in the passenger seat of the rented Toyota Corolla, sat up suddenly. “What? What is it?”

“Deer,” I said, pointing to the field on the right side of the road. “A whole freaking herd of ’em.”

One of them had crossed the road ahead of me, stirring memories of that terrifying night in September 2010 when a deer totalled my KIA Optima. That’s why I’d hit the brakes, slowing suddenly from 70 to 40 mph, and startling my son awake.

Sure, I had gotten the full insurance at the rental agency, but the deductible was $500 and if one of those vicious antlered bastards attacked the Toyota, I’d be out five hundred bucks. So we crept along until we were safely past the herd and after that, I kept it under 60 mph, just in case there were more of them lurking somewhere down the road, waiting to ambush me.

It was about 3:30 a.m. and I’d been on the road since 8 o’clock Saturday night. We’d made good time, especially once we got off Interstate 95 and onto the two-lane highways, from Lumberton through Bladenboro and Whitesville down through Nakina. And then, with my nerves already worn down from sleep deprivation and too much coffee, I saw the deer.

An ill omen, I’m certain, but at least it woke me up, and I was on high alert for the next 45 minutes as we drove on down to Myrtle Beach. We pulled up in the parking lot of the Sheraton Convention Center on Oak Street, and went inside to scope out the location of today’s Faith & Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast. Then we got back in the car, drove down 21st Avenue to Ocean Boulevard and turned left, looking for a cheap motel. It didn’t take long to find what we were looking for.

We paid cash ($43, including tax and the key deposit) for a room with a balcony overlooking the ocean. Now I’m going to try to get a couple hours of sleep before the prayer breakfast. But I’ll probably have nightmares about being attacked by antlered monsters. Hit the tip jar.




UPDATE: While I was on the road last night, Tina Korbe at Hot Air posted these two ads by the pro-Gingrich “super PAC,” Winning Our Future:

““Mitt Romney,” a voice tells the audience as dramatic music pumps underneath. “Not conservative. Not electable.”

Category: Election 2012, Fear. Loathing., Shoe Leather Fund, South Carolina

Comments

15 Responses to “Greetings From Myrtle Beach”

  1. Adjoran
    January 15th, 2012 @ 6:55 am

    Sorry, got a Discus error and ended up with a double post. I’d promise not to do it again if I knew what the heck I did.

  2. Adjoran
    January 15th, 2012 @ 6:57 am

    Off season is the way to do Myrtle Beach if you don’t intend on getting in the water anyway.  Temps are reasonably mild year-round – you could have done some laying in the sun last week – and prices are a fraction of tourist season. 

    Looking at the recent ARG poll, it is saying evangelicals in SC break down 40% Gingrich – 15% Perry – 13% Romney – 12% Santorum, and that is just bull manure from what I’m seeing and hearing in the Lowcountry (the Upstate is the stronghold of the evangelical movement).  Both Gingrich and Perry have tanked in the last week or two – their anti-capitalist assaults on Romney’s Bain years encountered a stern backlash.  The evangelicals are definitely moving toward Santorum. 

    If I had to guesstimate, based on gut instinct and experience watching the SC electorate, I’d figure Santorum will get 40% or more of the self-identified evangelical vote, Romney in the 15-20% range, with Gingrich and Perry well behind.

    My impressions so far, with one week to go, are as follows:

    Santorum – has the momentum with a bullet, but may have started too far behind and had too little time to make up ground

    Romney – gaining support as the likely winner, and from anti-capitalist Bain attacks, but under 30% if the vote was today, and without any tangible excitement.

    Gingrich – dropping like a rock among Republicans, but strong with Satan worshipers and other miscreants.

    Perry – being well received, but like a Special Olympics medalist.  Embodying John Greenleaf Whittier’s “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!'”

    Paul – will strongly outperform his 3% of 2008, but not much over double digits.

  3. Brendon Carr
    January 15th, 2012 @ 9:27 am

    That motel sign looks as if it could just as easily say “Flea Dip.”

  4. Ladd Ehlinger Jr.
    January 15th, 2012 @ 9:27 am

    Deer! The Other Kryptonite to Stacy McCain

  5. Mike G.
    January 15th, 2012 @ 9:43 am

    There’s a lot of deer in SC. We just can’t seem to keep ’em hunted down.

  6. Anonymous
    January 15th, 2012 @ 11:18 am

    Fortunately, there is no roulette in Myrtle Beach.

  7. William_Teach
    January 15th, 2012 @ 11:29 am

    At least they weren’t alligators. Not a wise idea to run one over. First they trash your undercarriage and suspension, then they eat your tires.

    Now, don’t forget to head out for some Calabash and beach music, RS!

  8. Anonymous
    January 15th, 2012 @ 11:32 am

    $35 a night is worth it just for the wifi alone. I’ve paid a lot more for that at national chains and had to pay extra for the Intertubes on top of that. >:(

    Also, good job on avoiding the damned hoof-rats. I don’t think we’ll ever get them cut down to size until we start going into the woods with Quad-50s.

  9. Mike G.
    January 15th, 2012 @ 12:25 pm

    Yeah…pay over a hundred bucks for a room and then they want ten bucks extra to use the Wi-Fi. Harrah’s in Reno comes to mind.

    As far as the deer go…I think we can kill ten each hunting season. Not up on the most recent DNR regulations as I haven’t bought a hunting license in many years.

  10. richard mcenroe
    January 15th, 2012 @ 1:56 pm

    “Bambi don’t sleep, Marine…”

  11. Greetings from Charleston! : The Other McCain
    January 17th, 2012 @ 5:31 pm

    […] 15: Santorum in S.C. Says Obama Views America as a ‘Mistake,’ Divides NationJan. 15: Greetings From Myrtle BeachJan. 14: Romney Leads by 21 Points in S.C.?Category: Election 2012, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick […]

  12. View the complete January 16, 2012 Republican Debate | Is the End soon?
    January 17th, 2012 @ 7:24 pm

    […] Greetings From Myrtle Beach (theothermccain.com) […]

  13. Fear & Loathing: Breakfast of Champions UPDATE: Santorum Wins Iowa; Perry Will Quit and Endorse Gingrich : The Other McCain
    January 19th, 2012 @ 9:53 am

    […] 15: Santorum in S.C. Says Obama Views America as a ‘Mistake,’ Divides NationJan. 15: Greetings From Myrtle BeachJan. 14: Romney Leads by 21 Points in S.C.?Category: Election, Fear and Loathing in South Carolina, […]

  14. South Carolina Primary Day: Before My Saturday Afternoon Nap in Charleston : The Other McCain
    January 21st, 2012 @ 4:33 pm

    […] 15: Santorum in S.C. Says Obama Views America as a ‘Mistake,’ Divides NationJan. 15: Greetings From Myrtle BeachJan. 14: Romney Leads by 21 Points in S.C.?google_ad_client = "pub-9749646473075980"; /* 300×250, […]

  15. Memo From the National Affairs Desk: Somewhere, There Is an Island … : The Other McCain
    January 22nd, 2012 @ 9:29 pm

    […] 15: Santorum in S.C. Says Obama Views America as a ‘Mistake,’ Divides NationJan. 15: Greetings From Myrtle BeachJan. 14: Romney Leads by 21 Points in S.C.?/**/ […]