Your comment is spot-on.

Though Governor Haley's non-attendance at the White House dinner is clearly an act of political grandstanding aimed at her base, it does nothing for the state she is supposedly representing.

Any fool should know that, even if one disagrees with the president on most matters, having a working relationship with him that is defined by mutual respect can only help get things done for one's people. The adolescents in the governor's base may be snickering---as in "She showed him!"---but the fact of the matter is that having an adult, mutually-respectful working relationship with the man who is arguably the most powerful government leader in the world will get your phone call answered when you dial him up to ask a favor.

And, given the problems that beset our state, we need all the favors we can get.

Kaye,

Don't be fooled here. Policy and state promotion get done in meetings, not in formal dinners. My guess is that Obama will surely misrepresent Republican govenors or the congress and use the microphone to put them in what he thinks is "thier place". He has done this with supreme court justices and with congress members already. My guess is that Nicki knows what will come at that dinner because after all, Obama will have the only microphone in the room. Do you think he will say something favorable about our Voter ID law, Immigration law, Right to work laws or our states right's ballot initiative to not require mandatory purchase of health insurance? Her being there would only serve as democratic talking point dart board. Also, Rusty, I am sure you heard that the port study for deepening is essentially a done deal right? Let us see what kind of "mutual respect" is displayed at this dinner. My opinion is that Nicki knows there is no common ground to be had here and rather risk a class warfare associated speech from POTUS. She prefers to focus her energy elsewhere

Dr. John:

I don't think the president can match the record of Republican governors per their misrepresentation of him and his policies. Furthermore, I cannot remember him ever using a formal dinner to talk policy. It's bad form.

The only remark directed at the Court's record when its members were present was during the 2011 State of the Union and the president was referencing the Citizens' United decision. As you may recall, Justice Alito shook his head and mouthed "Not true!" when the president presciently suggested the effect the decision would have on our electoral process. As we now see, he was right and Alito was, well, wrong.

No, I don't think he would say anything favorable about the three laws and the ballot initiative you mentioned. There isn't anything favorable to say about them. But that is another conversation.

From where I sit at this moment, I have a right fair view of the Ravenel Bridge as it spans the Cooper. I am, indeed, aware that funding for the port deepening study appears to finally be set. But the inexcusable delay in obtaining that funding---thank you very much, Sen. DeMint, tho there were no other Republicans pushing him to get going---has set us back and set us behind. And, while we were falling back and falling behind, our governor apparently preferred to, in your words, "focus her energy elsewhere"; i.e., on helping Georgia solidify a very promising future for its port at Savannah.

Class warfare? No, common sense!

You pretend to worry about tax payers dinners yet you have no problem with paying for Nimrata vacations to Paris along with her little friends you have no problem with Nimrata spending 17,000 on dinner for her corporate masters we won't even mention the amount of money she has spent entertaining Republicans at the mansion we all pay for. Maybe just maybe Nimrata might have gotten some advice from other Governors attending as to how to get South Carolina in line with other states, how to FINALLY improve the unemployment how to ACTUALLY bring jobs to the state without bribing corporation and selling our college grads off to the highest bidder. One thing is for sure Nimrata missed the opportunity to converse with MORE EXPERIENCED Governors that might have put GOOD ideas in her pea brain as to move South Carolina forward instead of accepting the sewer of the south status we now own. Pathetic

To Mimmi: I do have a problem with these expensive state dinners and “official” trips, taking family members, with an entourage, renting out chateauxs. It appalls me that all these politicians, not just the Governor, like to act like one percenters, rubbing elbows, being seen, wining and dining, using yachts, chauffeurs, exclusive seats at sport events while I/we struggle to put gas in our vehicle every day just to get to work.

Maybe I’m just jealous.

And alot of it is on the tax payers dime or as a guest of some special interest group.