Übergeek 바둑이:   Sen. Thurmond was one of the saviest politition the South has ever seen.  His fight against segregation, the filibuster, forming the Dixiecrat party , & changing from Dem to Rep were very shrewd, calculated political moves.  He probably would not have been elected so many times thru the 50's & 60's around here had he not taken those stands.  He also was a key factor in developing the GOP "Southern Strategy" of divide & conquer the races back in the 70s & 80s.  None of these acts were by accidents.  They were all brilliantly orchestrated.  Doubt they had much to do with the child from his relationship w/ a black maid.  Many Southern white men had such secret affairs from slavery times until then.

One thing I will definitely give him, though, is that he set of a constituent service institution that was 2nd to none.

As far as Joe Wilson goes, if he is not an outright racist, he has advanced to about the level of "idiot".  I, for one, am tired of demagogues like him representing my state.