Staff reports | British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned this week after just 44 days – the shortest tenure in British history – but a lettuce stole her thunder in the final days.
On Oct. 11, a columnist with The Economist magazine wrote that Truss’ grip on power, which started two days before Queen Elizabeth II died, truly lasted little more than seven days, when the nation’s 10-day mourning period was taken into account. Seven days, the columnist said, was “roughly the shelf-life of a lettuce.”
That clever phrase inspired a British newspaper, The Daily Star, to set up a webcam on Oct. 14 to ask in a gag of gags whether a common lettuce would last longer than Truss. Six days later, Truss resigned. The lettuce won.
Nearly 20,000 people reportedly watched live as someone flipped down a photo of Truss. Then “colorful lights swirled, and a recording of ‘God Save the King’ played on repeat. … ‘The lettuce outlasted Liz Truss,’ the video declared. Minutes later, a remix of ‘Celebration’ by Kool & the Gang set the mood.”
This Monty-Python-esque political gag has to go down as one of the greatest in political history. While there have been clever political commercials with humorous venom in the United States, it makes one wonder why Americans can’t be this clever. Anybody?
In other headlines:
Court says Graham must testify in Ga. probe; He really doesn’t want to. A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., must testify before a Georgia grand jury currently investigating possible attempts of former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential results. Graham, who has battled the subpoena for weeks, on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene so he didn’t have to testify. The New York Times wrote the ruling was a blow for Graham.
State Senate again rejects abortion ban. S.C. senators on Tuesday again rejected a proposal to ban nearly all abortions in the state, but left open a chance that a compromise could be reached in the four weeks the General Assembly has left to meet this year. On Tuesday, the Senate didn’t accept a House proposal, insisting on a different bill keeping a current ban on abortion after a heartbeat is present.
S.C. Supreme Court hears arguments in case against 6-week abortion ban. The South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over the extent of the right to privacy in the proposed six week abortion ban.
State has millions to expand broadband. Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., recently announced that as of March 2022, more than 100,000 additional customers, many in rural areas, have gained high-speed broadband access through state and federal government investments in broadband expansion.The expanded service area cost nearly $480 million in federal and state funds. So far, the state has awarded more than $55 million in grants to internet service providers to make it financially feasible to run costly lines to more homes and businesses. Another $400 million will be awarded in the coming year in a move to cover the whole state.
S.C. education back to pre-pandemic performance. S.C. education officials revealed most students are back to pre-pandemic levels, but they’re not out of the woods yet. Chronic absenteeism and a widening gap between low- and high-performing students still remain an issue.
Data show some Charleston creeks have very high bacteria levels. Three out of 20 sites measured weekly have abnormally high bacteria levels, leading to failure rates on state standards. Four others routinely fail. Are the creeks safe for recreation? This story looks at the problem.
SC-1: Mace, Andrews clash. In what may be the state’s most interesting congressional race, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and Democratic challenger Dr. Annie Andrews clashed in a televised debate Wednesday over abortion rights, gun restrictions and gender-affirming care for children. Throughout the sparring, they tried to paint the other as too extreme.
S.C. is nation’s 6th least politically engaged state. South Carolina was the nation’s sixth least politically engaged state in 2022, according to a new study by WalletHub.
COVID UPDATE: 3,086 new cases, 18 deaths in last week. The number of new cases per week is hovering around 3,000, according to new data.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!