How Political Sausage Is Made--warning: it's gross
Let’s talk about SC Senator sausage. Political sausage. How it is made. What it is made of. But first….a short real life story.
When I decided to run for US Senate, I had no idea what I was going into. I just figured, I’m an American, and I would like to represent people if they thought my ideas, values, and problem solving were worthy.
I didn’t feel good about either major party. Their fringe elements make me cringe. Their constant need to fight and resist seem childish and counter productive. So, I launched as an independent.
I met people who were active in both parties. I was encouraged because they agreed with me on virtually everything. I wondered why they let the fringes dominate instead of turning to common sense.
Then I met the State party chairman from the Forward Party. He was a really good guy, and we were well aligned. He set up a video meeting with one of their national representatives. I got on line and was ready to meet with their national strategist as a step toward a possible endorsement.
He showed up late. He was a young man with hair that looked like he just rolled out of bed. He wore a printed t-shirt. It had three lines that all read the same, “What’s Up Pussycat? He quizzed me on my strategy to get elected. The strategy was to accept no donations. Deliver the message via social media and rely on the message to propagate.
He told me I wasn’t a serious candidate. I needed money. Lots of it. I was offended by “not serious” and thought he was a real jerk.
There is an agency named the Federal Election Commission. I had to file with them to register as a candidate for the Senate. All they do is track money.
The goofy Forward Party strategist was right. The filings are now in from July. My campaign termination filing was made. I took in no money. I spent a few thousand of my own. It was a political pittance.
Political sausage is made of meat called money. The GOP primary cost Team Lindsey Graham $30.6 million. Lindsey Graham and his helpers spent $81.54 for every vote he received! His main challenger, Mark Lynch spent $6.1 million. He spent $45.16 per vote he received. It blows my mind!
That was just the primary! But these are the facts, from the FEC. For context, the What’s Up Pussycat (Forward) Party has $3M nationally.
It turns out, I was one billionaire short of being a serious candidate, with “serious” defined as having a funding source and plan to spend money. I don’t think this is what democracy was supposed to be, but in the words of Walter Cronkite, a famous and trusted news anchor, “that’s the way it is”.
The small parties cannot compete. The scale of spending is massive. Independent voices will never be heard. All media is pay to play.
We get two very simple choices. Vote or not vote. Red or blue. Both parties coronate their candidates.
Blue coronated Andrews. Red will coronate Gowdy if he runs. If he chooses not to run, they will coronate Norman or Graham. Trump already endorsed Graham before she ran because, well, she is his friend’s sister.
The SC GOP is very powerful and may not accept Trump deciding for them. In a month we will know for sure who the money will go to. It will be big money. Mostly from out of state.
The best I can hope for is whoever wins favors term limits. I believe term limits matter.
By Don Louis · Published 2026-08-07