Eric Abrahamson is smeared and replies with the truth

Eric Abrahamson got slimed by the State GOP in a mailing that appeared in Rapid City mailboxes today. This postcard is so yucky it makes me feel a little dirty even sharing it with you. It's all about planting seeds of fear about what Abrahamson stands for: a desperate attempt, very late in election cycle, to discredit Eric's years of dedicated community service.

UPDATE: Abrahamson has posted a response online: (Pity The Poor Jack-O-Lantern, Nov 1)

(By the way, this would be a very difficult tactic to use against Dreyer and Gosch, by the way, because ... they simply haven't done that much for Rapid City and the State, compared to Eric.)





Eric was running a positive campaign, but if this is how they are going to play it, the Dems are obligated to tell the full truth about Dreyer and Gosch. I don't have a problem with negative campaigning unless you need to do it to get the truth across.

The Pennington County Dems are replying with the facts about "the Brians:"




Here's the text on the mailer:

The TRUTH is Brian Gosch and Brian Dreyer have done little to serve the residents of District 32 and done less during their terms in the State Legislature.

Do-Nothing Service
Dreyer and Gosch offered only three pieces of legislation between them during a combined three years of service. Dreyer failed to attend any of the legislative summer study sessions he was assigned to in 2008.

Raising Taxes
Gosch cast the key vote to force property taxpayers to pay a $2.9 million tab for No Child Left Behind testing.

Lack of Support for Education
Both failed to support a Republican-sponsored Senate bill that would have increased education funding by 4.25 percent.

Looking Out for Special Interests
Dreyer sponsored only two bills in 2008 and both were special interest bills for the liquor industry.

Although Dreyer and Gosch claim a record of public service, a simple Google search reveals that they have almost no track record of community leadership. If you have questions on Eric Abrahamson’s commitment to our community, call the Pennington County Democratic Party at:
605.721.1636 or visit www.abrahamsonforsouthdakota.com

Paid for and authorized by the Pennington County Democratic Party.

Don Kopp hides his social conservatism from the RCJ

The Rapid City Journal published their District 35 race roundup today.

Problem is, Don Kopp talked mostly about energy. He didn't share his social agenda. Remember here are some of the things he sent in letters to the editor. I don't believe he would leave these beliefs at home-- the result would be yet another Legislator in Pierre that is distracted by a wingnut social-engineering agenda.

A reminder of what Kopp believes (but didn't share). I hear he's a nice man, but please don't send him to Pierre....

His own words again...

America's moral underpinnings originally comes from the Bible which I believe to be written at the direction of God. I told you that the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, I believe is the first step in a degradation of moral principal [sic] that will only lead to a further decline in moral restraint. [sic]

Creation science can be taught without any references toward God or a religious system.

Yes, there are 300 religions in the world but only one records the creation of time, light and mass. ... fortunately for you and me, of the 300 religions in the world, only one gives us salvation.

Only those receiving grants from the government concerning atmospheric science helps them to believe in the global warming myth.

And do you really want a disbeliever in human-induced global warming (a scientific question back in 1995 but undisputed by serious climate researchers today) making energy decisions? How engineering and science-based will his decisions be when he considers the Bible the ultimate authority on even purely scientific issues?

Political attack on quiet South Dakota minority makes the front page

Finch invited this by having the audacity to accept a contribution from Equality South Dakota PAC, which supports candidates that want to be fair to everyone in South Dakota.

Radicals.

This ugly postcard was sent to (as of last report) three candidates (two Dems, one Repub) by 26-year-old homophobe David Astin from Hermosa (according to political contribution reports, he is the majority of the funding for his so-called "Family Matters PAC"... maybe a more truthful name should be: "I think your family shouldn't Matter PAC"?

From the Journal story:

The leader of a small, anti-gay political action committee that sent out a pink postcard to voters in District 33 charging that Democratic candidate Dennis Finch supports a “radical homosexual agenda” hopes to use similar campaign tactics against candidates in the future.

“In this election, our funds did not allow us to do but this one,” 26-year old David Astin of Hermosa said. “Hopefully, as we continue to grow, we’ll be able to do much more.”

Given from the public reaction, this actually seems to be helping Finch. His opponent refuses to comment on his views (probably a good move for Schmidt).

But wait-- although Finch is a hunter and a card-carrying NRA member, and on the board of the Black Hills Sportsmen, the certifiable gun nuts are also after him. Let's hope the responsible gun owners don't get distracted by this smear.

These attacks are too late for Finch to respond to, so tell your friends in 33 that the smears are unfair and not even truthful. Finch will be a GREAT Senator for West River.

Stan leading with Democratic women? NOT.

The current meme making the rounds (presumably from the Adelstein campaign) is that Democratic women are leaning hard toward Stan (and away from Katus) which means that you need to vote for Stan to keep Elli from winning.

Problem with that theory is... I don't know a single Democratic woman that is for Stan. Not one. (And I know quite a few Democratic women.)

My recommendation: stay out of the Stan/Elli fight and return our moderate, well-spoken, team player Tom Katus to Pierre.

Early voting at the edge of Robbinsdale

This was the line at 11:30 on Tuesday. The turnout in this election is going to be record-breaking I think.


If you are still deciding how to vote yet, be sure and check out my voting guide for some ideas.

All I ask is that you don't vote for Don Kopp, whatever you do!

Meet Brian, Brian and Stan

(Stan is the one with the beard.)

Adelstein endorses Katus

Yes, I know this was back in 2006, but Stan's words about Tom are true (and proven true by Tom's record in Pierre in the last two years.)

Enjoy:

Words of Wisdom from Don Kopp

Since District 35 House candidate Don Kopp is apparently been going around selling his homophobic wingnut point of view door to door, I think it's important that we get this candidate's message out.

My fellow prisoners, I present to you... Republican House-35 candidate Don Kopp of Rapid City, South Dakota...


in his own words...

... thank you very much for your interest in the betterment of our society, from moral obsoletes [sic] to fiscal responsibility. I do not believe that any society, regardless of how great it has become can last very long without a solid moral foundation. And, as you probably know from history, America's moral underpinnings originally comes from the Bible which I believe to be written at the direction of God. I told you that the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, I believe is the first step in a degradation of moral principal [sic] that will only lead to a further decline in moral restraint. [sic]

If America does in fact buy into the idea that homosexuality is perfectly normal; just a "different lifestyle," then the next step will be the acceptance of adult sexual relations with consenting children.

Also, from a scientific and biblical basis, a child is a human being from the moment of conception. Since we do not have the right kill children that are already born, it makes no sense to believe that we have the right to kill them prior to being born.

Singularly xxxx, I believe the biggest crises [sic] this nation faces is that of moral deterioration; so I respectfully ask you: Where do you believe we should draw the line of moral standards and who should set those standards?

Who, indeed? Well, I hope not Kopp!!!!

Just so you don't think these words are not his, I have included for your reading pleasure excerpts from a sample of Kopp's frequent letters to the Rapid City Journal....

09/13/2007

The article appearing in the Journal by Chris Orr was an excellent one. Apparently Chris isn’t receiving “research” dollars from the government. Only those receiving grants from the government concerning atmospheric science helps them to believe in the global warming myth. As Chris so aptly pointed out, 1998, as reported by NASA wasn’t the warmest year on record, 1934 was, and the decade of the 1930s were the hottest on record.

02/13/2007

... There were more than 16,000 American scientists who signed a petition against the Kyoto Accord because there is no scientif1c evidence to support man-caused warming. But the butterfly scientists of the U.N. and the billions they get to promote this scam don’t care about the science.

BTW Here's an report on someone who looked into it:

In less than 10 minutes of casual scanning, I found duplicate names (Did two Joe R. Eaglemans and two David Tompkins sign the petition, or were some individuals counted twice?), single names without even an initial (Biolchini), corporate names (Graybeal & Sayre, Inc. How does a business sign a petition?), and an apparently phony single name (Redwine, Ph.D.).

09/01/2005

Today there are literally hundreds of scientists in America holding a Ph.D in some scientific discipline or other that are creationists. Just about all of them were schooled in the same institutions of higher learning as were their evolutionary cohorts. In fact, most creation scientists were at one time evolutionists and they know both sides of the origins argument....

Creation science can be taught without any references toward God or a religious system. In fact, many creationists have been accused by some churches of trying to replace God with science.

Which churches? Where? I've heard this meme before, but I've never seen a reference to this weird accusation!


It's one thing to be exceptionalist but the ignorance and disrespect for the other religions of the world shown by this letter boggles the mind:

12/13/2004

There are 300 religions in the world, but only one has a risen Savior, and it was He who divided the centuries that you acknowledge every time you write the date. Three hundred religions in the world and only one prophesied the coming of its Savior hundreds of years prior to His arrival, and after His arrival, He was the only one who dared claim an eternity for His words without ever writing them down!

Yes, there are 300 religions in the world but only one records the creation of time, light and mass. And Mr. Heald, fortunately for you and me, of the 300 religions in the world, only one gives us salvation.

(Too bad about all those other poor saps that weren't lucky enough to be born in a Christian Nation into a family on the "right team" and will have to burn in hell for eternity as a result.)

This guy wants to represent all of District 35. Please no!!!

Thank goodness we have an alternative... Vote for Fern Y. Johnson and Curtis Marqhardt for 35 House!!

Palin - McSame Campain doesn't have time to spell check its faxes

.... or maybe they just don't know how to spell the days of the week. Or maybe that's how they spell the days of the week in Wasilla?


This is from my father-in-law, who got a fax on Monday (not Wendnesday [sic]).

Maybe the faxes take a while to transmit from Alaska?

Elli promotes maverick-i-ness

From today's RCJ article covering the District 32 Senate race:

“I’m a little like the maverick Sarah Palin — what you see is what you get,” she told a forum audience, referring to the Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska governor with strong support among the party’s conservative base.

Maybe a little. I personally think Elli is far nicer.

This was interesting...

Asked about her past pitched battles with Adelstein for Republican Party support and his endorsement of her Democratic opponent, Schwiesow seemed to indicate it didn’t come as a big shock.

“We’ve always stuck together in Pennington County, and we’ve always supported each other,” she said. “So was I surprised? I don’t know. All is fair in love, war and politics.”

Stuck together? Like when the Republican leadership threatened (and then delivered) to remove every Republican Senator that voted against the no-exception abortion law HB1215 in 2006?

All's fair, indeed.

A long-time Republican gets it

From the RCJ (Competing House candidates race to the end, 10/26):

Like some people in his district, [former legislator and RC Police Chief Tom] Hennies wants to see more Democrats get into the state legislature so the majority hears those views, too. "Thoughtful and informed debate makes for better laws," he said.

.

Ya got that right.

Hate speech appears in West River campaign

With the recent success of Equality South Dakota and Equality South Dakota PAC in promoting integrity, fairness and respect for all South Dakotans, it was only a matter of time until something ugly like this would happen. Christians of all stripes should condemn this kind of thing--it's an expression of fear and hate that has no place for a people that claim that God loves everyone.

I urge you to support Dennis Finch and the other Equality South Dakota endorsed candidates, and as State Sen. Tom Katus said the other day at the Rapid City Chamber forum:

God bless America, and, I mean this, God bless us every one.

Kennedy moving bipartisan health care plan into motion

"There is a serious process moving forward and that augurs well," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a nonprofit health care advocacy group. "There really is a sea change that should not be underestimated in terms of attitude."

Among those who are receptive to a bipartisan plan and who have participated in the initial talks is Sen. Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, the ranking Republican on the Senate health committee, which Mr. Kennedy leads.

This is really great news.

This won't happen without support from everyone, including Republicans like Sen John Thune. Please call him in support of this effort, and please Sign up for Health Care For America Now!

Yes, we can!

The national financial meltdown arrives in Robbinsdale

This letter appeared in Robbinsdale today... a chilling reminder that this economic drama is not a game but deadly serious stuff, right here on Main Street, South Dakota.

McHoover?

John McCain just keeps getting scarier. From Think Progress:

While it was certainly a mistake for the Bush administration to amass such huge deficits, the severity of the current economic crisis calls for loosening of fiscal restraint. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman explained, "[R]ight now, increased government spending is just what the doctor ordered, and concerns about the budget deficit should be put on hold." "[I]t is clear that additional federal supports are required to help jump start our economic recovery and lay the foundation for long-term growth," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) yesterday. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), however, is defying the advice of the economists, proposing a drastic reduction in government spending. "And I'll cut spending. ... I will keep [Americans] taxes low," he trumpeted yesterday.

They call this, rightly, neo-Hooverism.

Time to stand up and put an end to the one-party system

A letter from yesterday's Rapid City Journal:

(Note: I removed the RCJ's unnecessary quotes around "one-party" in the title)

Time to stand up and put an end to the one-party system

For too long, South Dakota has had a one party, rubber stamp legislature. In
District 32, our two state representatives are Brian dee and Brian dum. This “dynamic duo” hasn’t worked to adequately fund our schools, which face drastic cutbacks.

Apparently Brian dee and Brian dum are content to be last in the nation in per capita support for education. We do lead the nation in percent of
parents who must work and in percent of children incarcerated. If this doesn’t bother Brian dum, you could try calling Brian dee. He might not care either.

The one-party legislature, particularly the House, takes its marching orders from the governor.

This is why we have elections in America! It’s time to take a stand and fight for something better. Bethany Wojahn and Eric Abrahamson have proven track records as advocates for our children. They’ll work for education, not incarceration.

If you’re not being represented by Brian dee and Brian dum, vote for a solid change. Vote for Wojahn and Abrahamson.

KRYSTLE WASHINGTON
Rapid City

Seriously I challenge you to google Gosch and Dreyer. You won't find much.

In my opinion they've treated their seat in Pierre as an honorary position-- almost no legislation -- and certainly have not been standing up for our needs in West River. The school funding deal they approved last year (at the Gov's direction) basically cut off Rapid City and precipitated the current school funding crisis here. They haven't even made an effort to keep local media in the loop about that or any other issues in Pierre that affect our lives. It's even rumored that Gosch had to be chased down last winter to show up in Pierre to be sworn in.

Their opponents, Abrahamson and Wojahn, are solid citizens who will work hard in a legislature that will need their considerable talents in this tough year. You can bet they will keep West River folks in the loop and be listening to what you need from Pierre. WE NEED THIS CHANGE.

The most important thing you can do right now, in District 32 or anywhere else, is help with get out the vote. We need your help, this a tough race statewide and the future of the state is depending on us.

In West River, call the West River HQ today at 716-3391, or email democrats@pendem.org.

Yes, we can.

Wednesday night at St Andrews Episcopal Church

This is cool and I recommend it to you.

The Superintendent of Mt. Rushmore National Memorial will be our speaker tonight at Wednesday Night at St. Andrews. Supper is at 5:30, Joan Sutton and Shelli Vallis are cooking for us! All, including youth and children, will be attending Mr. Bakers discussion of spiritual values.

It's official, Jensen is truly scary

I attended the District 33-34 Forum out at Southwest Middle School tonight. One of the questions brought to the candidates was the need for comprehensive sex education in the state. Amazingly, no candidate was willing to stand up and recommend abstinence-only education.

Wow. Talk about reality returning!

The warm fuzzy feeling I had that people were going to start talking sense immediately went cold when House Candidate (and Van Etten Protege) Phil Jensen asked out loud whether comprehensive sex education included "teaching of alternative lifestyles." I and several others in the audience were asking what he was talking about. He said he was talking about the "homosexual lifestyle choice." I said what can be wrong with it if you teach the "truth", at which point a fellow audience member turned to me derisively said: "go to San Francisco, if you want to see the truth!"

Jensen (left) with fellow egghead and celebrated Buckingham-pwner Sen Schmidt.



After the Forum, I got talking school funding with Jensen, who said that if Obama was elected, we'll all be taxed out of house and home. I told him that Obama's plan cuts taxes for just about everyone in South Dakota, his reply was that 40 percent of Americans don't pay taxes at all so Obama's plan will just be giving them welfare. Hm. When I got home I heard on the TV that he'd been listening to the lies on right wing media today.

As Tyler found out a few weeks ago,:

This guy is like a walking, talking Rush Limbaugh/dittohead stereotype. I mean, it was all there: less government, Reagan quotes, lower taxes, more business, less regulation.

From my conversation and what I saw at the forum, it was clear that the guy is a walking right wing noise machine, who is very good at delivering prepared talking points (see the video, starting at 2:10) but let's say, lacks political depth.

What can I say, Phil Jensen in the State House would be bad for West River. He's like Van Etten, but without the expertise, experience and political ability. You should have seen Jensen's face when I told him that conservatives and progressives need to sit down together at the table to move South Dakota forward after the forum-- he looked like I was recommending liver and onions. And in the wake of the most damaging period of deregulation since the late 1920s, he's still singing the praises of the freeing the market, and thinks we pay way too much to educate children. (And he's married to a teacher, can you believe that!)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE support his opponents, Jeff Nelsen, Kim Henderson, and yes, even Republican Jacqueline Sly. This guy does not belong in the State House.

We've had enough of the Fox News Intellegentsia in Pierre--it's time for a reality-based legislature, one that honestly believes that government can be be done right.

The 2008 Robbinsdale Radical Voting Guide: Part 3

This Voting Guide is about candidates. Part 1 was about the Constitutional Amendments, and Part 2 covered the Initiated Measures.

My advice is probably quite predictable.

Vote Democratic.

This is even true with good-guy conservatives like Craig Tieszen and Ed McLaughlin in District 34. Why? because (1) We have good Democratic candidates this year that will work hard for change and (2) the one-party rule in Pierre has gone on way too long and we need to right the ship. We need dialogue in Pierre and it is not about to happen under Republican rule. We need more new faces too, like our fine candidate Bonny Peterson (who's running against McLaughlin in 34).

Matt McLarty is running for PUC on the Democratic side and his energy and expertise and energy will bring a lot to the PUC board. Vote for Matt!

The Republican party leadership has demonstrated over the last decade again and again that as long as they are in the supermajority, there will be no dialogue in Pierre. Good moderate Dems bring ideas forward and they are shot down on party line vote in committee. If the ideas come back, they are under Republican sponsorship. We Dems don't really care that much about not getting credit, but many many good ideas don't even get considered because of party-line votes in committee. Democrats will not do this.

District 32 Senate

Our fair city, Robbinsdale, makes up the majority of South Dakota House and Senate District 32. In our local area, we have the following candidates:

Senate

D: Reluctant superstar State Sen Tom Katus (D-Rapid City). Tom is so popular even Former Sen. Bill Napoli says about him:

"If I understand people as well as I think I do, I think Katus is going to win that seat hands down," Napoli said. "I like the guy. He’s just a good South Dakotan, with a good record."

R: FORMER State Sen Stan Adelstein (a pariah among the Republican faithful)

I: FORMER (and future?) Republican (now Independent) Elli Schwiesow, in Stan's words "not a nice person." Elli smiles a lot, but I don't think she's a big fan of Stan's, either.

Executive summary:

Enough Republican drama already. Katus is the clear pick for Senate.
He's done great and will continue to do so if we send him back to Pierre. There's also a very solid chance he will be in the majority party for us when he gets there too.

District 32 House

D: Former School Board member and Lt Gov candidate Eric Abrahamson, Youth advocate and human services professional Bethany Wojahn
R: incumbents first-termer Brian Dreyer and half-termer (appointed) Brian Gosch.

If you want to know who the best candidates are to represent you, here are two things to check out:

1. Read their responses to the Rapid City Journal's questionnaire. It's pretty obvious the Dems in District 32 are the ones that will represent more capably and will work for you.
2. Use the Google to research Gosch and Dreyer. You won't find much.
   Now look at searches for Abrahamson and Wojahn. (Remember Wojahn has not been elected to office [yet].) You'll find a lot more there, because there is! Abrahamson and Wojahn have a significant record of public service in our community, and have been working very hard at getting their message out to represent you. That's why you see a lot more in the search results.
   

Dreyer and Gosch have simply not done very much for us--they have a record that shows they are long on talk and short on expertise and ability to get things done for West River. Based on the press reports, and anecdotal evidence from the doors, they aren't even working that hard on the campaign in 2008, clearly relying on the R after their name (and expensive last-minute advertising) to elect them.


Executive Summary:


I highly recommend voting for candidates with normal-size, complete heads. (These just happen to be highly motivated and extremely qualified candidates
Eric Abrahamson and
Bethany Wojahn.

Do the District 32 Republicans even care what you think?

The Rapid City Journal recently sent a questionnaire to local candidates, and the answers were published in the Journal and online.

It's a nice one-stop shop to hear candidates ideas and values clearly laid out. Like those of Bethany Wojahn, Eric Abrahamson, and Sen. Tom Katus, for example.

Some excerpts of what the District 32 "Dream Team" said:

Tom Katus:

1. What’s the first piece of legislation you want to sponsor/author if elected to the 2009 Legislature?

I will continue to support public education at all levels. Together with Kathryn Johnson, our local member of the Board of Regents, I believe in the concept of “seamless education” from pre-school through post-secondary. ... I will continue to support public charter schools as a small school approach to our students who do not respond to the massive high schools at Stevens and Central. I will also continue to support the technical colleges’ self-governance and tribal college scholarships, despite the Regents’ and the Governor’s opposition to both.

Eric Abrahamson:

2. What is the single most important issue (if different than number one above) to the voters in your district?

Over the last six months I have knocked on more than 1,600 doors in District 32. Voters are concerned about the state of our economy, the lack of access to affordable health care and the price of energy and fuel. Over and over, however, the conversation returns to education. People understand that the investments we make in our children and in high quality schools pay off in higher wages and a stronger economy. We need to support our schools.

Bethany Wojahn:

5. What are the problems, if any, with education funding? What are your solutions?

The most significant barrier our state faces when it comes to funding education in South Dakota is our leadership in Pierre. Education simply is not a priority, in spite of the fact that some claim otherwise.... Now is the time when our leaders must take responsibility for fixing this funding crisis. By opposing and blocking legislation time and again that would provide our children with the funding they need, the incumbent leadership in Pierre is shirking that responsibility. The money is there. The political will is not.

But what about their opponents?

It sure seems that they don't think anyone is interested, given the amount of thought that went into their responses and their inability to take a stand on anything.

Stan Adelstein, didn't even submit an answer, amazingly, conceding the floor to quasi-Republican quasi-independent Elli Schwiesow, who gave us very few specifics, except this gem in response to what legislation she would propose:

There will be a learning curve, but I am confident I can represent District 32 well.

I'm not so confident, as the only issue I've heard anything concrete from Elli is her anti-choice convictions and stock conservative talking-points like the so-called "65 percent solution." If elected, you can bet moral direction from the State would be in that first bill.... No, thank you!

Why take a chance on her, when Tom Katus has been doing very well promoting good legislation, from both sides of the aisle in Pierre and has impressed everyone in with his expertise and ability to get things done. As I like to say, Bill Napoli likes him--is there a greater compliment for a non-Republican?

On the House side, it was a little shocking to see the lameness Republican responses from District 32...

First, Bryan Dreyer answered the five questions, with (I'm not making this up) with a grand total of 158 words. These were flip, not pithy, answers, for example:

3. How should the state respond to transportation department funding shortages caused by falling tax revenues?

We need to look at consolidating services and concentrate on repairing our infanstructure [sic]. We also need to look at taxing vehicles such as scooters which currently are not taxed equally to vehicles.

Scooters? Yep those scooters, a tax on them will make a dent in a projected $130 million shortfall. A stiff registration fee of $100 per scooter... let's see that's 1.3 million scooters in a state with a population of 800 thousand people. Good thing they are so darn popular around these parts. Did Dreyer think about this for longer than... 5 seconds?

In contract, Brian Gosch wrote long, wonkish answers that don't really let us know where his opinion lies. I dare you to figure out what Gosch thinks we should do from the following meandering discussion, except maybe we should just sit back and let the super-smart people make the decisions for us:

3. How should the state respond to the transportation department funding shortages caused by falling gas tax revenues?

State highway funds have declined in recent years. Future federal funding is uncertain. Costs are inflating. Thus, the state formed an interim committee called South Dakota Highway Needs and Financing. This committee met in June and September of this year. The last license fee increase was in 1999. Compared to other states, South Dakota’s fuel tax is about average. The current tax is not on a percentage basis, rather ....

yadda yadda

...It is vital our congressional delegation be effective in securing appropriate ongoing funds. Currently, South Dakota gets about $2 back for every $1 its citizens pay into the federal highway trust fund. The interim committee will meet again in November to formulate a recommendation.

McCain uses Trig, again

Something always bothered me about the way the McCain campaign keeps bringing up Palin's special-needs child, who was described several times in the debate tonight by McCain as autistic (maybe less scary than Downs to some?).

This diary on Daily Kos nails it. From someone who knows about it.

There was one moment when all four of us, in unison, gasped. It was the moment that John McCain once again brought up the fact that Trig Palin is a special needs child. He subsequently used this "argument" again during the course of the debate.

You see, my older sister has Down's Syndrome....

Special needs children should not be used for political gain. The fact that Sarah Palin is dragging Trig around the country and seemingly parading him around disgusts me and my entire family. It is disheartening. It's almost like the McCain campaign found out that Sarah Palin has a special needs kid and was like, "Oh, we can use that!" (I don't doubt it) My family was further enraged when Senator McCain repeatedly stated that Sarah Palin "knows what it's like" to have a special needs child. Trig is a baby. His symptoms won't start showing up significantly until he gets a bit older. It seems that Sarah Palin has no idea what she's in store for. I just hope that she can give Trig the kind of life my parents vowed to, and succeeded in, giving my sister.

Initiated Measure 11: Don't Be Fooled

The New York Times published an editorial today (Abortion Rights on the Ballot, Again, Opinion, 10/13/2008) that lays it out.

The core message... don't be fooled: South Dakota's Initiated Measure 11 is RL6 "with lipstick:"
© 2006 Nick Coulas

To make the ban seem less harsh, its backers have included language purporting to make exceptions for incest, rape or the life and health of the mother. But no one should be fooled. The exceptions were drafted to make it nearly impossible to get an abortion, even during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The measure is clearly unconstitutional under existing Supreme Court rulings, and that’s just the point. The underlying agenda is to provide a vehicle for challenging Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion.

The Spy Who Tried to Stop A War

There's a program coming up about the run up to the Iraq war in Rapid City. This isn't about living in the past ... this is about the judgement and record of the Republicans who are asking to be entrusted with our national security.


From the authors:

This new book reveals an illegal Bush/Blair spy operation against the UN in the run-up to war. This egregious misstep was key to the failure of the U.S. getting UN support for a preemptive strike. It's getting good attention, with American University doing a major symposium on it a couple of weeks ago, C-Span and other national coverage, etc. With the election coming, the timing is perfect. It has a lot to say about Bush administration deceptions.

COME GET THE TRUTH

Marcia (Secretary of Labor under Dick Kneip) and co-author husband Tom Mitchell (former FBI), with their new book, The Spy Who Tried to Stop A War: Katharine Gun and the Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion.

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2 p.m. Borders Books, 2130 Haines Ave., Rapid City

Uh oh.

Seems Newsweek is getting into the semi-Republican look too.

Your Republican SuperMajority at Work...

reappropriating your money for whatever they deem... appropriate.

From SB203, here it is in black-and-white, how your Legislature takes money from designated funds because they think they know better than past Legislatures, the Federal government, and South Dakota voters:

SB 203

An Act to appropriate money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common schools.

Section 32. The state treasurer shall transfer to the state general fund money from the education enhancement trust fund, the amount identified by notice of the state investment officer pursuant to § 4-5-29.2, for the Department of Education - state aid to education and technology in schools.

Section 33. The state treasurer shall transfer to the state general fund one million fifty thousand dollars ($1,050,000) from the telecommunications funds for the deaf and other disabilities.

Now to cover themselves on the Educational Enhancement trust fund they did add:

Section 38. No money appropriated for state aid to education in subdivision (2) of section 11 of this Act may be expended for any other purpose without specific legislative authorization.

Section 39. No money appropriated for state aid to special education in subdivision (3) of section 11 of this Act may be expended for any purpose without specific legislative authorization.

Note that Governor Rounds used the line-item veto on this. I guess King Marion thinks he has the executive privilege to spend our money however HE sees fit.

The Governor's highway-robbery-by-veto, striking 38 and 39 was upheld in the Senate. By a Republican party-line vote-- except for Bill Napoli, who voted with the Democrats because apparently Napoli's couldn't stomach it either.

The Republicans upheld it, so now it looks like this:

Section 38. No money appropriated for state aid to education in subdivision (2) of section 11 of this Act may be expended for any other purpose without specific legislative authorization.

Section 39. No money appropriated for state aid to special education in subdivision (3) of section 11 of this Act may be expended for any purpose without specific legislative authorization. >

District 32 Dem candidates, be sure and ask Gosch and Dreyer about this diversion of money.

They BOTH voted for these provisions.


I thought Gosch was an advocate for people with disabilities, but he hasn't been showing up at candidate events held at Black Hills Workshop and local disabled service organizations. And he voted for this, the taking of money specially taxed from our phone bills to enable the deaf community of South Dakota to participate in the life of our State. What's up with that?

Do they agree with this jerk who commented about the theft in the Argus today:

how many hearing people have video phones, and will the government pay for that?

I think and hope these guys are more on the ball than that. So why did they allow the money, which is collected specifically for the deaf, be used for other purposes? I'm baffled-- but believe we deserve an explanation.

Or, better: a replacement. Or two.

Please do right by the citizens of South Dakota -- and end the House super-majority by voting for your local Democratic legislative candidates.

We need to stop this kind of thing, which inevitably happens when one party is in power for too long.

A story of entitlement

This was too much of an example of what self-proclaimed "conservatives" stand for in the political races in Robbinsdale and across the country now. I just had to share it more widely so here it is on Daily Kos.

Be careful with that backyard tramp in Robbinsdale

Truth in advertising, these fine ungulates are from Colorado, but it could happen here.

What this election is about in Robbinsdale, South Dakota, and across the nation

"Champ, when you fall down, you get up."

The lies and character assassination politics of the last fifteen years will not stand.

Joe Biden thrilled me Thursday night. What he said is all about why our wonderful West River Democratic candidates (more Dem than Repub Legislative candidates in 2008!) and their supporters are working so hard, and why we will keep working through the 2010 election.

As Adlai Stevenson II said:

Let's talk sense to the American people! Let's tell them the truth, that there are no gains without pains, that we are now on the eve of great decisions.

I'm fans of all these brave and strong Democratic candidates, but one them that represents what we're about is Eric Abrahamson, who is running for South Dakota State House in District 32 (Robbinsdale's district). Eric is another local Democratic candidate that knows that politics although sometimes quite thrilling, is not a game to be won, he knows that it's about service to the community.

Eric and I shared a exultant high-five at the Dem HQ after hearing Biden's debate close last Thursday because it so well told the story of what we are about as Democrats: respect for our opponents, and respect the facts, framing a passion, excitement, optimism and vision for the future. Change is a given, it will happen as Democrats we believe we should be engaged and take part in it rather than succumb to fear and retreat when faced with its challenge.

Here's what Eric said a few weeks ago at the September First Friday Forum in Rapid City. I think it rocks:

We are the party of optimism and vision-- running against the party of cynicism and defeatism.