Trick or Treat! Your Mom's a Whore!

Two wonderful boys I know were working Trick or Treat in the West Boulevard area. And guess what shows up in their treat bag when they get home:



Neat little business cards. Of course with the standard BS on the flip: Get the (half) truth. Know the fact(oids)! Hear the stories (we want you to hear)!

This is Halloween. This is supposed to be fun for kids. But here these jerks are, using, using, USING the kids they are supposed to care about. (And, heck don't many of them condemn Halloween as satanic anyway?) So people that don't know better will vote yes on six and, while they are there, ignorantly vote in more Republican lawmakers that will continue to short change their, and other people's -- especially Native people's -- children. Oh I forgot their children are set--they are staying home or headed to good Christian schools where they won't have to mingle with the great unwashed caste that our society continues to short-change.

Good Lord. Why they were at it, why didn't they hand out little plastic (or chocolate) fetuses too?

This is outrageous.

Guess what, you freedom-hating troglodytes who don't trust women with their own most difficult decisions. You will lose in the end. And you have already lost in more ways than one, you are losing the hearts and minds battle by your singular determination to get your way, parading your ignorance and arrogance as if were something to be proud of, even something Christian, now THAT'S irony.

You are down by ten points and, you know, you are doing a lot to widen the spread.

But let's not take it for granted.

Get Out The Vote * Get Out The Vote * Get Out The Vote

RALLY TOMORROW AT NOON

Rally to Repeal the Abortion Ban
Wednesday, November 1st; 12:00 noon -- 1:00pm
Corner of 9th and St. Joseph, Rapid City
(There is a concurrent event in Sioux Falls)



Featured speakers:
Sen. Adelstein * Marc Stewart (Pastors for Moral Choice) * Dr. Anne Fisher * Connie Pich * Cecilia Fire Thunder

Bring a sign, or just yourself!

Let's return to the corner 9th and St Joseph and enjoy how far we've come since last spring. A lot of water under the bridge!


http://sdhealthyfamilies.org

Yes on Six violence escalates

Two women that were putting up signs in Indian Country had their house violated and vandalized, their windows broken, their lives unsettled. The Yes On Six people are showing themselves for who they are--Brownshirts in the cause of God.

I'm really understanding what a Republican I now recently said about these people, they are organized and passionate and disciplined in their politics. He said we've seen this before--in Europe. In 1933.

These extremists pushing this thing are people that feel like their voice has not been heard, and they have enemies they fear: the scientifically-based medical establishment, a secular society that values the freedom of the individual over what they see as the laws of God.

My wife and I were fortunate to receive nice notes from the Democrats for LIfe of South Dakota.

We know that many Democrats ask themselves "Am I the only one? Am I the only pro-life Democrat?"

I HATE THE TERM PRO-LIFE. These people are anti-freedom, and Democrats that don't see it are simply putting their heads in the sand. Do they not see that emergency contraception is next? Then birth control? Then other medical decisions, such as end-of-life ones? Is it not clear from what we've seen in the last 25 years?

The link for Democrats For Life that was in the letter was incorrect... some evidence that this letter came out in a hurry and probably wasn't even looked at by most of the Dems that voted for HB1215. I did look at the national Democrats For Life website and they are in favor of joining with people that don't agree with them to make abortion rare by making unwanted pregnancy rare. The extremists in South Dakota, and HB1215 with its dishonest use of EC as a "provision" are not in the same camp as Democrats For Life.

Even though, I simply don't trust the pro-life movement or any part of it. The letter does not address my fears as a Dem that this abortion law is the beginning, not an end. Why do people not see where this is going: the way of fascism, starting with the government deciding your access to medical care, where you can travel, what you can watch and read. All the ingredients are there for fascism: the fear, the enemy, the cause.

If fascism ever comes to America, it will come wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.
-- Upton Sinclair

As a American I fear the hostility to dissent and questioning. Far too many Dems do not see the raw, frightening energy of the reactionary fear of modern life to these people. At Canyon Lake UMC on Sunday night, I felt it. The moderator and the pastor did their best to keep the lid on things, but fear was palpable in the room. You could taste the fear and anger from the Yes For Life activists, in the scolding sanctimony of Rep. Don Van Etten, in the scornful tone of a young woman for the pastor of the United Methodist Church as he attempted explain to the closed ears in the room the UMC's balanced, ethical, science- and reality-based position on abortion. I felt horribly angry eyes on me when I questioned the presenter that if only 4 percent (doubtful) of South Dakota abortions were for non-convenience reasons, and why should the 4 percent or even one person, suffer because of this law and its denial that life what is true for a so-called "pro-lifer" isn't necessarily true for everyone. The fear that modern life is taking everything they know for sure away. It's the same fear that drives creation science in schools, that prevents adequate sex education, that keeps us from getting real about our relationship with our planet. Fifty-five percent of Americans believe in the Rapture.

Although it's likely RL6 will either go down or fail in court, even the US Supreme Court (after it bankrupts our state), I still fear what comes next. What will they try in the Legislature next year?

Don't you?

Shouldn't you?

Please Stop Amendment D -- and give Bill some time off

Please folks, don't be fooled, Amendment D is a terrible idea.

Sen. Bill Napoli defended it again this week in the Rapid City Weekly News.

Sen. Napoli has it wrong. Amendment D basically shifts the tax burden on those that can afford it the least: young people buying their first house and older people selling to "buy down" after their kids have moved on. These are two groups that could really use the money. I honestly don't understand why Sen. Napoli, who seems to truly care for those who wrestle with keeping the household financial ship afloat, would be working so hard for this thing.

California tried this scheme in the 1970s--Prop 13--to try to address the same scary issue of assessments taxing people out of their homes with a bad law. Same bad problem, same bad fix. The end result: two decades of education in terrible fiscal crisis, no music, no art, sports all pay-as-you-go. Public education quality was devastated. The state has tried to fill the gap a little with other taxes, but guess what: it's more state money now, not local, so the schools have far less local control. Housing shortages and higher prices (and assessments) have resulted as well. State finanances are still a mess, 28 years later.

Amendment D, like Prop 13, is enshrined in the State Constitution, to shield it from modification by the courts, the Legislature or the people. Which means it's not only awful, but can't be easily changed or repealed. Taxes are the Legislature's business--this is NOT what the Constitution is for--so we should instead demand that our Legislature do its job and work out a better tax system, and we should ask more of ourselves the voters to finally get realistic about taxes and what we want from government. It's time to get Repubs and Dems together to really reform taxes, not try to hold the rotten, rickety edifice together with an iron band-aid like Amendment D.

Is this what we want for South Dakota? I think not. Get down there and vote no on D today.

And while you are down there, if you live in 35, vote to replace him and his sanctimoniously incumbent colleagues with new voices, especially Theresa Spry -- who will hopefully spend more time on what we really need around here: good-wage jobs, education, and health care. Republicans and Democrate together are needed to move forward, we need a new direction, based on our common ground!

Time for a change in District 33

From this week's Letters, RC Weekly News.

I couldn't agree more.

To the editor:

Whether we live in Countryside or Cinnamon Ridge, Box Elder or Black Hawk, Nemo Road, Johnson Siding or Silver City, Lakota Homes or Sioux Addition, we residents of District 33 deserve a positive change in Pierre.

During the last session my legislators fussed more about gay marriage than they did about economic development, tax structure and veterans benefits.

They wasted time on bogus bills like intellectual diversity cooked up by a think tank called ALEC. They crafted the nation's most extreme abortion law criminalizing doctors, but failed to provide conditions that are proved to reduce abortions: better health care for mothers and babies, sex education and availability of contraceptives.

They finally discussed education the last day of the session, voting such inadequate state aid that a coalition of school districts is suing the state.

I?m tired of this record and I want a change. This time we have three moderate and well-qualified candidates who can bring us that change: 3 for 33. Vote early for Dennis Finch, Paula Long Fox and Jeff Nelson.

Donna Fisher

Deadwood

A cross-post I could not resist

On Blogmore today, Mrs. Ellis simplified the ballot for us:

Amendment C: We don?t want you to be equal to us.

Amendment D: You should pay more property taxes because you are not equal to us.

Amendment E: We don?t want judges to say you are equal to us.

Amendment F: We don?t want you to see what we?re doing as we make sure you?re not equal to us.

Referred 2: We?re fine if you smoke. You?ll just die sooner.

Referred 3: It?s not like it matters when public school starts, our kids go to private/home schooling, because they?re better than yours.

Referred 4: You deserve to be in pain because you?re not equal to us.

Referred 5: Gov. Rounds is better than you.

Referred 6: We?re better Christians than you. Our God days so. Your God is a liar.

Referred 7: Go ahead and dream of being equal to us. You will never be, and we?re taking your money.

Let me add:

Referred 8: Big Cell Verizon is really one of us, doing battle against the unions and the blogger threat from net neutrality, so let's give them a break. (PS I wish there were an entry for Fischer Furniture on Buy Blue--know anyone who has worked for Bob? Wow.)

Audio Truth about Referred Law 6

South Dakota Democracy in Action sent these radio ads my way. You'll be hearing them on the radio ads soon--they are a strong voice for compassion on the reproductive freedom issue. Please listen, and if you like what you hear, spread the word about these radio ads, support them financially, and forward a link to this page to your friends near and far. RL6 is going to be close and anything we can do is important. Spread the truth. Let's remind ourselves that this isn't just about abortions--it's about other medical decisions, and other freedoms we often take for granted. Especially you conservatives out there, I urge you to listen to these ads with an open mind.

If you like what you hear, please support DIA, so they can get them on the radio. This race is tightening, and helping now would make a huge difference.

Here are the radio pieces:

* Voices of real women
* Voices of faith
* Dr. Marvin Beuhner
* Sen. Stan Adelstein

These pieces are for other SDDIA-supported issues and candidates (not all Dems of course):

* Voter Guide
* Legislature candidates
* Jack Billion!

Spread the word about these, and their voter guide, available at http://www.sddia.org.

Democracy in Action is bringing the heart and soul back into South Dakota politics through informed and thoughtful political discussion and consistent citizen activism. Now they are airing some incredibly powerful new radio ads. Each of these ads include the voices of real people, using their real names, telling their real stories.

Please help Democracy in Action to expand the momentum and build the enthusiasm that is critical during these last few days.

Democracy in Action is an all volunteer coalition of South Dakota women - Democrats, Republicans and Independents. DIA is a state Political Action Committee; checks can be mailed to PO Box 123, Rapid City, SD, 57709.

Self-abuse?

VoteYesForBackAlleyAbortions has released complaints to the press:

Pastor Jeff Hayes reported the vandalism of 11 "Vote Yes on Referred Law 6" yard signs to the Sioux Falls Police Department. Pro-abortion perpetrators sprayed black "Xs" and "No" on the signage. This information is posted on the voteyesforlife blog and there is even a slideshow on their home page.

"I feel victimized," says Hayes. "It's pretty horrendous for people to vandalize signs on a church lawn."

I am totally against sign vandalism and urge everyone to report it as a crime to police. After all, No On Six signs and Tom Katus signs are disappearing from people's yards at an alarming rate in Robbinsdale. My wife is the sign coordinator for District 32 and has lost about 40 Tom Katus signs, and we are now getting reports that at least a dozen No on Six signs were removed as we speak -- one was stolen from my yard this morning, in broad daylight! Statewide the number has got to be far more than 100.

I hate to sound like the conspiracy theorist, but they seem to be pouncing on this very hard, maybe they doth protest too much? The vandalism looks strangely similar to me. SD Healthy Families or any decent folk in Rapid City certainly wouldn't condone this. Is my family the only that is wondering whether this vandalism was a hatchet job by the VoteYesForBackAlleyAbortions bullies to make them look persecuted, inspire copycat vandalism and violence against SD Healthy Families, and gain some public sympathy for their jihad to put medical decisions in the hands of the government? I have no evidence, I'm just asking... would Christians be capable of this? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't put it past them, especially after the TV ad mentioning a nonexisting "health exception" and the so-called "provision" of the morning after pill that the same people have been working to prevent, and the spreading of false information by "friends" in the press. (Emergency rooms and pharmacists have been allowed by law and encouraged by extremist interest groups NOT to provide EC by the same "compassionate" folks that have brought us RL6.) Clearly false witness is clearly not off the table in the pro-RL6 campaign book. At least Bill Napoli is honest about his beliefs on this one.

I urge anyone who knows about sign vandalism to report it to the police, by opponents or proponents of the vandalized candidate or issue sign, please call it immediately. This must stop.

But in response to Leslee Unruh's santimonious comment:

"Hurting people hurt people," Leslee Unruh, VoteYesForLife.com campaign manager said in response to the vandalism. "Yes, we forgive them."

I pray Leslee and Robert Regier (both "reformed" abortionists themselves) would get off their high horse. The pro-RL6 bullies are hurting people every day, especially many Christians of good faith that disagree with them. I feel victimized by hurtful message sent by a political sign in the church yard. The message is: If you don't agree with us on this issue, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.

But we forgive you.

Words of Choice

The Radical was fortunate to hear some wonderful speakers Friday night on the RL6 issue. One was from the talking circle of Native women against RL6 at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. One of the most inspiring was Cecelia Fire Thunder, below, though many others, including Charmaine White Face, Lisa Cook, and many others had moving things to say, and thrilling words of hope.


Cecelia Fire Thunder reminded us how well her family named her!

The second was a moving dramatic presentation from Words of Choice, held (for the second night) at the Dahl Fine Arts Center. This group came all the way from New York to support us, and they were fantastic.



The performance was made up a group of dramatic pieces exploring the abortion issue and what choice means, what reproductive freedom means, in the real world. After the performance, the cast and the creator of Words Of Choice, Cindy Cooper, talked with the audience about what's at stake in South Dakota and several folks in the audience shared stories of their lives. We were all encouraged to keep up the fight against RL6.

Personally I was moved by their effort and the efforts of those that supported the group, including Caitlin Collier, the South Dakota coordinator for their tour.


Cast members (L to R) Carl H. Jaynes, Marilyn Torres, Suzanne Grossman, Bekka Lindstrom, with your scribe

It was just fantastic. People like those who performed and attended give me hope.

Candidates Forum in North Rapid City

I had the pleasure of attending a candidates forum at North Middle School on Thursday night. A few highlights:

We had a neat color guard to start off the meeting.



Dist 35 candidates Buxcel and Wudtke (House) and Theresa Spry (Senate).

• All the Dems represented themselves well and demonstrated they have both the brains and the heart to accomplish great things next year if elected. We heard some great words from them. All of the Dems, with Rep. Sen. Mac McCracken (who is runnign unopposed in 34) pretty clearly put themselves in the pro-life, but also pro-freedom column.
  
  The Radical got to hang out a bit with Theresa Spry and visit about the new ad on CNN, now available on YouTube as well. It really tells it like it is why we have so many fine Dems running, and why Republicans will lose many seats in a few days. It will be sweet. More on that soon. Theresa promised to represent everyone, and made the claim that South Dakotans have not been represented well in the Legislature recently. Her opponent, Sen Napoli, said he hears complaints like this, but nobody calls him. Gee, Bill, I can't imagine why anyone would hesitate to call you.
  (See more on the Senate race in 35 (Spry vs Napoli) in the RCJ today.)
  
• Republicans Jeff Haverly, Bill Napoli, and Mark Kirkeby notified us that they are not good Christians.. Napoli and Havelry said they voted for HB1215 not from their Christian beliefs but because they thought it was a good idea. Maybe their faith doesn't impact their vote? (maybe they should come to my forum at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Sunday at 9 am, they may learn something)
  
• According to hopefully soon-to-not-be-Rep. Doctor Don Van Etten, the reason 90,000 (or according to him 45,000) South Dakotans do not have health insurance, is because they choose not to purchase it. Cheapskates.
  
• David Lust and Don Van Etten didn't get the memo from Thomas Jefferson that there is a separation, a "wall" between Church and State. Sure the establishment clause literally says there is no government established religion, but clearly Jefferson took it quite a bit farther. Read the memo, guys.
  
• Rep. Jeff Haverly urged us all to join him and "stay the course" (I guess he didn't get the memo either, since he used the phrase at least four times) and have the Legislature continue doing what it's doing (I can only assume): starving schools, passing unconstitutial laws to drain our State treasury, and scaring the heck out of the entire country by threatening our liberty and freedom of conscience.
  
• Sen. Bill Napoli told us that the Legislature is not dominated by Republicans. Uh, okay.
  
• Haverly: We have enough call centers in South Dakota now (we need to find someone else to take advantage of our workforce I guess)
  
• Rep. Mike Buckingham is "troubled" that his pastor bravely stood with Pastors for Moral Choices. Maybe he should ask his pastor why he doesn't support a law that would make a doctor choose between his diabetic patient's eyesight and left foot or jail.
  
• According to Buckingham, Haverly, and Napoli, being a legislator is really hard. Funny, we're heard that a lot from Republicans this year. Buckingham complained that, you like, have to vote up or down on difficult issues. With out a "maybe" button. IMHO, the HB1215 vote had a huge maybe button (NO) that they should have pressed, if they weren't so sure, like Rep. Napoli said he is, that all 800 abortions in Sioux Falls last year were for birth control. How the hell does he know?
  

At any rate, here are more pictures:

Kicking the Tires On D, and its make and model

From the RCJ letters today:

Loopholes

Bill Napoli says approve Amendment D and we'll fix the problems with it later. Is that like buying a car from someone who says it burns a little oil, but it runs good? If you want, you can bring it back, and we'll fix it later?

Should an amendment be submitted for approval containing what Bill calls "loopholes" or should an amendment be submitted with no "loopholes"?

Seems to me our Legislature has enough to do without knowingly adding to their workload.

MONTE KAHLER

Rapid City

Problem is, with an Amendment to the Constitution, it's kind of like if you don't like the car, you need to pay double what the car cost to get the "dealer" to take it back.

D is a REALLY bad idea. It basically would shift the property tax burden onto home buyers: young families and retiring or empty-nesters trying to "buy down." Result: a depressed real-estate market, a higher cost of living for those that can least afford it. Noble intentions, really bad idea.

Talk about another reason for District 35 to vote for Theresa Spry. It's time to elect a Senator who will represent the District instead of going off on statewide crusades for ideas that are proven not to work. Like Prop-13 again, but here in a state with few alternative tax options. Amendment D would do a lot of damage here. No wonder Sen. Napoli complains that no county government folks wanted to give him a hearing on his idea: it's a really bad one.

Sen. Napoli's challenger, Theresa Spry, lives in the real world, not Bill's World. She knows that shell games with property taxes are not the solution--the solution is a Senator and a Legislature willing to work to solve problems instead of merely standing up making statements. Time is long overdue for a change.

If you live in 35, please consider voting against incumbents on Nov 7. If you have always wanted to try a new make and model, this is the year. The Republicans in Pierre are re-selling the same 'ol gas guzzler with the noisy transmission. In two years you'll be out more repair bills and gas than you want to think about. Why suffer? Theresa Spry, along with Laurie Wudtke and John Buxcel, are not players in political games--they are true citizen-candidates who will work hard to represent you with everything they've got.

If you give them the chance.

The North Rapid Civic Association is holding a city-wide candidate forum this Thursday, October 26th at 6:30 pm at the library at North Middle School. Come on out and ask Sen. Napoli why he has been traveling the state pushing a law that has been proven wrong in California, instead of working to increase educational opportunities at home in District 35. Come and ask Jeff Haverly why BHSU Ellsworth campus was closed (they now meet elsewhere on the base in older much inferior facilities) and the VocTech's roof is falling in. Our reps did NOTHING to provide opportunities for residents of Rapid City, as they were too busy restricting access birth control, sex education, and comprehensive health care for women.

This is definitely the year to give some challengers a chance to do better.

CLUMC Forum on Amendment C

I attended a forum on Amendment C held this evening at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church. Unfortunately it wasn't well attended, but those that were there found it quite interesting and engaging. (There's another one next Sunday night; I highly recommend it!) Elizabeth Krause was apparently scheduled to defend her prize child of a constitutional amendment, but, was not able to attend. Pity. So at the table above you see Bill Nachalilo, who identified himself as the West River Coordinator for the South Dakota Family Policy Council, Bruce Crosswait, who (bravely) moderated the discussion -- my dear Mom would have been proud of his panache and firmness in that role-- and at right, Michael Coats, West River Coordinator for South Dakotans Against Discrimination.

Nachalilo sure impressed me as a really good guy, he's a retired teacher, has adopted kids and said he had hosted more than 170 foster kids. Hats off to him, I really respect that. But I don't respect or appreciate what he had to say--he made the usual weak arguments, based on the usual bad science, or good science taken out of context, to promote discrimination against families that don't look like his. You've heard it all before: "gay families are bad for kids, kids do best with two heterosexual biological parents, marriage between one man and one woman is the basis of our civilization and in the last ten years, gays have threatened to destroy it all, polygamy (or worse) is next." He even took a swipe at no-fault divorce, knocked single-parent families in general damaging to children, etc. (As a grateful son of a successful single parent, and a dedicated step-dad, I tend to get kind of cranky when people start talking to me like this.)

This stuff was RIGHT out of the current Family Policy Council talking points, and how do I know this? Well, the arguments Nachalilo cited are listed (almost in order) on this recent post (9/21/06) refuting them based on, uh, peer reviewed research taken in context.

(BTW, I highly recommend reading the post as it doesn't only refute these arguments, but goes on to offense, pointing out that the real research doesn't only disprove the assumptions of the anti-gay-marriage folks, but actually indicates that harm is done to children by the authoritarian parenting, abstinence-only sex ed, and chastity pledges so favored by fundamentalists Christians under the guidance Dr. Dobson, Gary Bauer, et al.)

The real peer-reviewed science is so compelling that the gender of parents is immaterial to the welfare of children that the red-state Arkansas courts (who'd have thunk?) have had to allow gay parents to adopt children. Here's what they said:

The court found that there was no validity to the arguments made by opponents of gay adoption, noting that: Children of lesbian and gay parents are just as well-adjusted as children of heterosexual parents; Being raised by gay parents doesn?t increase the risk of psychological, behavioral, academic, gender identity, or any other sort of adjustment problems; Being raised by gay parents doesn?t prevent children from forming healthy relationships with their peers and others; There is no factual basis for saying that gay parents might be less able to guide their children through adolescence than heterosexual parents; There is no evidence that gay people, as a group, are more likely to engage in domestic violence or sexual abuse than heterosexual people; The exclusion of gay people and people with gay family members may be harmful to children because it excludes a pool of effective foster parents.

Mike Coats kept his cool a lot better than most of the small audience; he pointed out that most of the real meaning of Amendment C will have to be worked out in the courts by the very "activist judges" it's purportedly designed to protect us from. And that gays aren't the only ones that could be hurt by this law. This is the common ground that led the South Dakota Episcopalians to vote to recommend non-support of C four to one. Mike pointed out correctly that a change in the constitution trumps any contracts and laws retroactively, so should a lawyer find a loophole, we have given them new tools to invalidate contracts. It's that simple and that scary. We just don't know. He also pointed out that none other than the Ohio affliate of the Family Policy Council (of which SDFPC is one as well) is working to shield abusers from prosecution using the Ohio "gay marriage" constitutional amendment. I thought this was all about protecting children?!?

The one and only Bob Ellis dropped in halfway through the session. Should have gotten a picture of him with the Radical. Maybe next time. (Hey Bob, nice to meet you in person. Warm greetings from one passionate blogger to another. [Not that there's anything wrong with that.])

Next week, Canyon Lake UMC is having another forum, this time on Referred Law 6, 3500 Canyon Lake Dr, 6-7:30 pm. All are invited.

Let's hear it for the United Methodists over by Canyon Lake. They are a brave bunch!

Amendment C Forums coming up

It's coming down to the wire on Amendment C and everything else. Hang in there, we'll be done with this in just a few days now. What a great time to be involved though--truth is getting lots attention, especially the fact that all Christians are not on the same page on these issues. See a great article by Mary Garrigan published in the RCJ today.

Michael Coats will make the case against Amendment C at a forum in Rapid City tonight at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church. The event will be held from 6 to 7:30 pm. This is forum and there will be a representative from the South Dakota Family Policy Council (I do not know who) as well.

SDAD campaign manager Jon Hoadley recently laid out the facts in an interview later broadcast on KELO-TV (posted at South Dakotans Against Discrimination)

Hoadley will be on South Dakota Forum on South Dakota Public Radio tomorrow, Oct 23. Do call in! Next weekend, Hoadley will debate Robert Regier on KELO TV. Looking forward to that!

School Board and Teachers have no deal

We heard tonight after the gubernatorial candidates debate the the Rapid City School District and the teachers still don't have agreement on a contract.

Rapid City teacher Larry Mintzlaff and RC School Board member and lieutenant governor candidate Eric Abrahamson discuss the financial challenge of trying to improve support for education when the Governor says everything is fine, and teacher salaries are only "a local issue."

Abrahamson spoke to those that were there to see the debate at a campaign event that they really are trying hard, but the resources are not there. Eric said something very true (I paraphrase):

The time has come for our State's government to stake education seriously. We can longer accept the attitude, most recently shown in the debate, that we're doing enough, and we don't need to do any more.

Eric went on to point out that teachers would be happy even if they didn't get a raise but just could have better working conditions. Teachers at Central HS have had to take on a sixth class. At the elementary level, teachers need more planning time. Eric said that they need both: we need better salaries to be competitive (Wyoming is hiring our teachers away: 21 from the Black Hills just this year, according to one local teacher involved in the union) AND we need to give our teachers more prep time and materials. I'm sick of sending Kleenex to school because the school budget doesn't cover it for my kids.

Billion and Abrahamson have a plan to truly restructure things and get more money to the schools by growing the economy and shifting resources, starting with a full audit of the state government. Are we going to give them a chance to make some progress, or is South Dakota happy with the "same ol'" from our current Governor.

I hope not! Please... Back Jack!!

Ms. Speaks on South Dakota!!

Ms. Magazine in their fall issue has undertaken a petition drive of women to sign their names that they have had abortions and are in support of abortion rights.

There are three articles in this issue that I highly recommend to you. The feature on the abortion ban in South Dakota (a portion is available online) was very good, and suprisingly upbeat--clearly women across the country are waking to the threat against their health and are getting involved. We should all thank Betsy Krause and Leslee Unruh for supplying the scary arrogance that is fuel for the people-powered politics that changing things for the better in our fine state!

Some women in South Dakota may feel that the folks that bring us Ms. Magazine are enemies of good and decent society, but honestly I don't think they have an appreciation of what the feminist movement has brought them: the right to vote, their right to property rights, their right to travel unharassed, and their right to be treated at least nominally equally at work. Sexual harassment in the workplace is no longer tolerated, even (especially!) in South Dakota courts, as locally prominent Republican financial backer Doug Hamilton has learned. Whether she appreciates the sacrifice and commitment of the 1970s feminist activists, Hamilton's beneficiary Elli Schwiesow would not hold high office in the South Dakota GOP or be a Republican Senate candidate* if it wasn't for them.

*How serious a Senate candidate, well, I'll leave that up to you to examine the facts of her qualifications. But her sex is not part of the argument any more, and, well, let's praise the Lord (and thank Betty Friedan) for that!!

Lutherans lit-bombed by RL6 storm troopers

More details on the madness last weekend.

From Atonement Lutheran:

Yes we did have a group putting flyers on the windshields and stopping folks as they went in to church! people were really annoyed! A parishioner told them to leave, that they couldn't do that on church property and got a nasty answer that they wouldn't leave unless the pastor told them they had to, so he went in to our council president (who happens to be in law enforcement) and when HE went out to tell them it was illegal the answer was 'well, we'll just come back again next week' ---they had already covered every car in the parking lot.

Faith Lutheran Church, a small and very friendly congregation across from South Middle School was also harassed by pro-RL6 people on Saturday night. RL6 supporters blocked the church driveways, asked people to roll down their windows, and offered their misleading literature to worshipers. If they wouldn't take the lit, they simply threw it in the open car window.

The Radical has also learned that Calvary Lutheran and First United Church of Christ were targeted as well last weekend.

Enquiring minds want to know: who will they hit next week? Lutherans around here are actually pretty conservative, so I really don't see how they think this will help their cause.

I wish they would just leave us alone.

Scary email: They're back!

I know this post is long, but please read it.

I was out of state this weekend, and got the attached scary call-to-action email. Connie is not crying wolf here. Remember 2004 when the Right-Wing Lie Machine did a South Dakota Road Tour Against Daschle-The-Baby-Killer?

They're baaaaaack. And it is getting ugly:

1. Katus and Herseth yard signs are being torn down (BTW please DO NOT even consider touching a Republican sign, even if your sign has been messed with, and make it clear to your kids that we don't do that.)
2. Anti-choice protesters were harassing Lutherans on their way to church last Saturday evening. I'm hoping we see some news coverage, it should not go unnoticed by the public. Email me (cprice-at-alum.ups.edu) and let me know what you have heard and seen. (I don't want to name the incidents until I have a list.)
3. Letters to the editor are getting nasty; for example, my friend Mel Sekellick, one of the talented young people that we want (or so I thought) to welcome to stay in South Dakota was invited to leave the state.

   You say you won't allow your daughter to be raised in a state like this? And I say, "Don't let the door knob hit you where the good lord, etc."

   (Sweet, huh?)
4. Tomorrow night, there is a big rally in Rapid City, including right-wing opportunists Alan Keyes and Rick Scarborough.

In the next few weeks, the right-wing inciters of bad ideas will continue to try to cloak themselves behind a curtain of Christian sanctimony, charging anyone who questioned them or their tactics with "discrimination against Christianity." Let's just be happy that time is not on their side. Unfortunately, they can still do a lot of damage, not only by leading people away from real Christian values of humility, self-sacrifice and love of neighbor, but also in political ways-- promoting unethical and immoral (not to mention un-Christian) policies and laws (Amendments C, D, E, and, of course, RL6).

We must point out their bad ideas and the overwhelming evidence of the hypocrisy shown by who supports their causes -- amazingly un-Christian types like Jack Abramoff, casino owners, gay "escort" Jeff Gannon, or on a more local level, sexual harasser Doug Hamilton. The out-of-state campaigners' strategy is to hide the truth, incite outrage based on falsehoods, using others to harass and scare people that do not agree with them and their agenda. They are distorting and attacking our true American heritage of freedom, and trying to get us to forget my favorite South Dakotan value: minding your own business!

WHAT CAN WE DO?

I don't know what is planned to counter the invaders and their tactics in the next few weeks, but at the very least letters to the editor (RCJ and Weekly) setting the record straight is a great idea. (I and many others have used up our monthly quota already in the RCJ, unfortunately; we need YOU to do it!) Connie is recommending a demonstration; if you participate in that, please be respectful, and come with a press release to give to any press that talk to you. Shouting and harassment is what they do. We should just stand up for what's right. Contact the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families and call some folks! Help with the election! (email gotv@pendem.org). Any little bit you can do will make a huge difference.


Here's the scary email from Connie:

THIS IS OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE!

ALAN KEYES IS GIVING LECTURES AT CHURCHES ALL OVER THE STATE. HE AND HIS GROUP CAN RALLY EVERY BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, THROUGH THE MANIPULATION OF THE MINISTERS, TO VOTE IN THE JAIL AMENDMENT, MARRIAGE AMENDMENT AND KEEP THE ABORTION BAN.

THE LITERATURE THAT THIS GROUP GIVES OUT IS THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ON ONE SIDE AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS ON THE OTHER THEN THEY SAY THAT ?THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS NOT IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS?. PEOPLE WALK OUT OF THESE EVENTS SAYING ?I DIDN?T KNOW THAT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE ISN?T IN THE CONSTITUTION? AND ?WE HAVE TO TAKE THE GOVERNMENT BACK. IT?S OUR DUTY.?

THE KEYES GROUP SKILLFULLY MANIPULATES THE CROWD INTO SEEING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET CONTROL OF THE ACTIVIST JUDICIAL SYSTEM SO THAT EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT CAN BE CHRISTIANIZED. THEY SAY ONLY WITH THIS IN PLACE CAN CHRISTIANS TAKE BACK AMERICA FROM GAYS, FEMINISTS AND BABY KILLERS. THEY TALK ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY CHRISTIAN TO PREVENT THE WRATH OF GOD FROM BEING UNLEASHED ON AMERICA.

LAST TIME THEY WERE IN TOWN TO DEFEAT DASCHLE AND REELECT BUSH THEY HAD EVENTS WITH 1,500 TO 4,000 ATTENDEES THAT THEY WHIPPED INTO A FRENZY. THE EVENT WAS FREE BUT THEY PASSED THE HAT AT THE END AND ASSURED EVERYONE THAT THIS MONEY WOULDN?T LEAVE SOUTH DAKOTA. THE BASKETS WERE OVER FLOWING!

I KNOW THIS GROUP. In my opinion, WE HAVE TO COUNTER THIS GROUP?S MESSAGE OR WE COULD LOSE THE ELECTION. Maybe we should have demonstrators with signs like: "Separation of Church and State = 1st Amendment" , "Jesus only chastised the church leaders not his people" "Christians don?t hate" "Whom would Jesus discriminate against?"

(The Radical would add "au.org", "Hate is not a family value", "No on 6 -- pro-family")


I HAVE NOT FELT STRONGER ABOUT ANYTHING IN THIS ELECTION, PLEASE ADDRESS THIS GROUP IN THE MEDIA AND AT THE CHURCHES.

South Canyon Baptist Church?s rally is Monday night in Rapid. (details) I haven?t looked at the others. The media was very lop-sided the last election because there was no one offering another opinion. Please -- I don?t think we can miss this powerful last minute manipulation.

Connie Pich

I agree with Bob!

Bob Ellis today posits in a letter to the editor to the Rapid City Journal:

Good neighbors don't undermine critical institutions.

Uh, like the Constitution of the United States, which reserves rights not delineated in the Constitution to the People? And denies the establishment of religion (which arguably includes minority religious views) as the law of the land?

Absolutely! Be a good neighbor! Vote for freedom from government interference in your family affairs! Vote No on C!

Straight talk on Referred Law 6

Today the Radical, with his friend Carol explored the highways and byways of his home turf, District 1-3, Robbinsdale, distributing copies of the new South Dakota Healthy Families Voter's Guide to the good citizens in the area most likely to decide this thing.

Anaconda Rd, Maple St, Centennial and E Centennial St, Fraley Ct, Arizona, Nebraska, and Wyoming St., Elm and Elk, ... we did it all.

If you can do anything to help the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families please do. Every little bit does help.

If you have any questions or if you can help, the number of the local SDCHF office is: 716-0673.

Still waiting for a debate

I heard a rumor today that Gov. Rounds may not show up for a scheduled debate with Dr. Jack Billion, this time in Spearfish at the SD Municipal League. (Here's the announcement of the debate that may not happen) in the RCJ. I hope my information is wrong, and Rounds will indeed debate Billion this weekend. They are both two strong candidates, so it would be a useful exchange. I was so looking forward to hearing a real dialogue between Gov. Rounds and Jack Billion on the future direction of South Dakota. Billion has been forced to talk to Rounds through the press, and, hard hitting and witty as Jack is, it's a shame all he can do is ask questions and hope for a response from the Rounds campaign though the SD media and blogosphere echo chamber.

What's up with this? I heard from a friend that was there that the unrecorded, untaped exchange at the State Fair in Huron did not go well for Gov. Rounds, even though he unilaterally changed the rules in his favor literally after appearing on stage with Billion. Rounds did participate in a four-way debate on August 23 on KOTA-TV, but it was long before things got serious and a four-way debate isn't really a debate, it's a meet-the-voters event.

Please Gov. Rounds, do a debate or two with Jack. Let's have an open dialogue for the voters, so we can listen, and make an informed choice where we want to go in the next two years, instead of having to guess where you really stand on so many important issues. Unless you want to confuse us with actions that leave us in the dark as to your real values on things. I'm referring of course to the now-infamous quote "I did not write this bill," the unnecessarily last-minute stay of the Page execution, and a "bold" minimum wage proposal that apparently went nowhere in a Legislature dominated by your own party.)

If your policies are as popular and wildly successful as you say they are, this should be a slam-dunk. Any way it goes, I and many others would love to see it happen. South Dakota is at a real cross-roads and we'd all be better for it.

Candidate night at Surbeck

I managed to catch a bit of the candidate's event at Surbeck Center tonight between a board meeting and a school meeting. It was really very face to face but the format left a bit to be desired: each candidate gets 2 1/2 minutes speech, then on to the next candidate.

I really enjoyed hearing from the Dems. I wish I could have been there the whole time. What was interesting is the Republicans like Mike Buckingham and Don Van Etten for some reason didn't proudly parade us with 1215, probably because a lot of people are mad about it.

I have to say, if I hear another Republican incumbent tell me how hard it is get things done in Pierre, how the legislative process is far more complicated than people think, I think I will scream.

My favorite Republican candidate moment was when Bill Napoli whining about what had been said about him on the web. As if the now famous video interview isn't outrageous and embarassing to people who live here. Bill also complained that he has traveled 50,000 miles around South Dakota and was having trouble getting people talking to him about Amendment D.

Hey, Bill, there is a reason you have had trouble getting responsible people to back Amendment D: it's a very BAD idea. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who is about 30-40 years old that went to high school in California in the wake of Prop 13. We really want that here? Not.