If you're a leading South Dakota Republican, integrity is irrelevant

From the RCJ today:

When Gosch filed his nominating petitions last January, an elections official in the secretary of state's office questioned Gosch's use of his own notary. Gosch said the official didn't suggest the petitions were invalid but questioned whether he had notarized his own signature."They did not seek to reject my petitions," Gosch said.

Of course they didn't. Brian Gosch is in line to be Speaker of the SD House. You simply don't cross these guys. However, if you're a Dem, carefully follow a confusing law to the letter and if they can find a reason to disqualify you, you're likely to be off the ballot even before the Madville Times can report it.

This is what happens when one party is in control for more than thirty years. No accountability for those in the leadership. Elected officials are seen displaying disregard for their duties to the citizens of South Dakota, because their real agenda is personal and political, not public service (cf. Sec of State "you can always go to court" Gant).


Back closer to home, I'm still floored that the Republicans of District 32 are such party-line voters that they continue to return these two Party tools to "represent" them. Reps. Gosch and Conzet (and Rep. Lust in 34) are political insiders from East River that are by and for the entrenched Pierre Political Class, and of course, Gosch and Conzet are active members of the corporate-funded right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).  You'd think it would be great to have all this leadership from out here, but we sure haven't seen policies out of Pierre to help struggling West RIver schools and businesses.There's a reason. They dance with those that brung 'em (as Molly Ivins [bless her soul] would say).

Gosch and Conzet were both appointed by Governor Rounds, and have had no serious primary challengers -- apparently District 32 Republicans haven't gotten mad enough to vote Democratic. (As if Dems are in danger of gaining majority power in Pierre, and doing something blazingly radical, like OMG making taxation more fair or decently funding our K-12 education.)

Their seats are so safe, they rarely even make a "show" effort to talk to their constituents outside of Republican Party events and the obligatory, extremely softball cracker-barrel theater. Rep. Conzet has refused to meet with constituents during the session so she can spend that time with her family. She directs constituents that if they want to meet with her, you need to drive to Pierre. (Unless you're a large multinational corporation, and then she'll take a week and come to your ALEC conference and help you write legislation that's bad for South Dakota.) When she is in town, she seems more interested in cooking wild boar (?) than the needs of her district.


This whole thing is just another sign that integrity and competence have very little to do with our West River electoral process. It's about party, it's about money, and it's about connections.

Are you annoyed? There's is something you can do:

Vote only for Jackie Swanson.

Vote only once.

Integrity matters.

The 1 percent control SD's legislators

It turns out both of my Pierre-appointed legislators, Kristen Conzet and Brian Gosch (and most others from the area) are players for the "American Legislative Research Council" known to many of us simply as ALEC.

ALEC is an organization funded by large corporations (including the now famous Koch brothers) to write legislation for the states to serve their interests. Not South Dakota interests even -- the interests of their corporate funders. It's that simple.

ALEC provides give state legislators free travel, room and board to gather in swank accommodations while they develop legislation that is designed to keep Republicans in power and serve the needs of those who pay the bills. ALEC makes it very easy for citizen legislators like ours roll out template legislation carefully crafted by experts to control the debate, and efficiently ram through legislation that has nothing to do with local interests and everything to do with a national right-wing agenda.

Maybe we should ask some questions about ALEC at an upcoming cracker barrel?

The list of South Dakota ALEC "participants" is posted here.

It includes:

House of Representatives

* Rep. Valentine Rausch (R-4),[19] ALEC State Chairman[137] and International Relations Task Force member[27]
* Rep. Justin Davis (R-23), guest at December 2010 meeting of the ALEC International Relations Task Foce meeting[27]
* Rep. Lora Hubbel (R-11), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Betty Olson (R-28B)[16], ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Charles Hoffman (R-23), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Val B. Rausch (R-4), ALEC International Relations Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Mark K. Willadsen (R-11), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
* Rep. Charles M. Turbiville (R-31), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
* Rep. Kristin A. Conzet (R-32), ALEC Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force Member
* Rep. Jacqueline Sly (R-33), ALEC Education Task Force Member
* Rep. Tad Perry (R-24), ALEC Education Task Force Member
* Rep. Kim Vanneman (R-26B) , ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
* Former Rep. Kristi Noem (R-6; elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 2010), ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Member
* Rep. Jamie Boomgarden (R-17), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Rep. Manny Steele (R-12), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Rep. Phil Jensen (R-33)[16], ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Rep. Fred W. Romkema (R-31), ALEC International Relations Task Force Member
* Rep. Bob Deelstra (R-9), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member
* Rep. David Novstrup (R-3), ALEC Public Safety and Elections Task Force Member
* Rep. Hal Wick, (R-12) ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
* Rep. Justin Cronin (R-23), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Member
* Rep. Roger D. Solum (R-5), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
* Rep. Brian Gosch (R-32), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
* Rep. Jon Hansen (R-25), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
* Rep. Roger W. Hunt (R-10), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member
* Rep. Stacey V. Nelson (R-25), ALEC Civil Justice Task Force Member

Senate

* Sen. Deb Peters (R-9), ALEC State Chairman[183] and International Relations Task Force member[27]
* Sen. Corey Brown (R-23), ALEC International Relations Task Force Alternate
* Sen. Jeffrey K. Haverly (R-35), ALEC International Relations Task Force Alternate[27]
* Sen. Al R. Novstrup (R-3), ALEC Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force Alternate
* Sen. Todd J. Schlekeway (R-11), ALEC Education Task Force Member
* Sen. Elizabeth Kraus (R-33), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Sen. Tim Rave (R-25), ALEC Health and Human Services Task Force Member
* Sen. Deb Peters (R-9), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member
* Sen. Tom Hansen (R-22), ALEC Telecommunications and Information Technology Task Force Member

Abuse of power by Pierre's republican leadership?

Some Republicans that decided not to follow the party line have discovered that the Pierre leadership may have (gasp) interfered with the excellent South Dakota Legislative Research Council (LRC).

We're shocked, shocked, I say!

David Montgomery of the Rapid City Journal reports:

Lawmakers call for subpoenas in intra-party feud

A dispute among South Dakota's Republican legislators continues to heat up, with dissident lawmakers calling to subpoena witnesses for a Tuesday hearing.

Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, alleges that Republican leaders have spied on and obstructed research into bills by himself and other lawmakers. He also says he was kicked off a committee as punishment for raising reasonable environmental concerns a ruckus over a proposed dairy.

... Nelson and others say that committee isn't doing a full investigation and that its chair, Sen. Joni Cutler, R-Sioux Falls, has made public comments showing bias in the matter.

...In the forwarded emails, Rep. Chuck Turbiville, R-Deadwood and the chairman of the Executive Board, replied that he will "refer to my lawyer."...

Cutler, Russell and House Majority Leader David Lust, R-Rapid City, did not answer their cell or home phones could not be reached for comment Friday night.

I became aware last year of what a hard road our excellent Legislative Research Council has to walk when they may report information our one-party State machine does not want to hear.

You may recall LRC was blamed by Rep Don Kopp (as part of his quick back-pedal operation) for accidentally inserting the word "astrological" into the ridiculous climate change denial bill (a piece of political crap legislation if we've ever seen one -- the likes of Jackie Sly (House, R-34) -- a retired educator who should know better -- actually voted for this red meat [tripe?] to the ignorant Republican base). LRC had to lay low and refused to defend their reputation to avoid being attacked by the likes of Don Kopp as part of the "Al Gore climate conspiracy."

So glad someone finally noticed. The LRC is a real gem in our state government and should be defended.

Happy New Year to all!!!

Playing Opposites - It's Nothing New.

The lesson in church yesterday (Matthew 11):

18 For John [the Baptist] came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

Sounds kinda like the Republicans in Congress, who continue to play opposites, especially with their own ideas!

Happy 4th everyone!

Is it possible to bury Black Hills Dems any deeper?

The Rapid City Journal reports on the upcoming effort to make Democrats even less able to elect anyone from West River (Lawmakers to take up redistricting this fall, April 3)

Talk about elections having consequences.

At a special session in October, lawmakers will approve new legislative districts drawn over the course of the year by a committee with a heavy West River contingent. Reps. David Lust, Brian Gosch and Mark Kirkeby, all Rapid City Republicans, will sit on the eight-member House redistricting committee. Sen. Larry Rhoden, R-Union Center, and Sen. Jim Bradford, D-Pine Ridge, are on the seven-member Senate committee.

Here's the money quote:

“There’s a balance you have to make between getting fair representation and over-packing a district so Native Americans have fair representation,” [Rep David] Lust said.

(Well, that's a no-brainer, we can't have that.)

The current districts are terribly gerrymandered to silence Native Americans (and other gruops that lean Democratic) in Pennington County. For example, North Rapid has been split to dilute the vote to make perfectly sure that non-right-thinkers have absolutely we no voice west of the Missouri (off the Pine Ridge anyway). For example, District 32 includes a chunk of West Rapid just big enough to make sure registered Democrats are a permanent minority.

And don't get me started on 34, a case-study in how Republicans have ensured their near-monopoly on representing Rapid City for more than 25 years, despite a growing population of Democrats caused by (a) demographic changes and (b) frustration with Republican "leadership" from our legislators.

With the committee 6-1 Republican, and such heavy West River representation on the committee, we can hardly expect Dems to catch a break for fair representation, as 3/7 of the committee (Gosch, Lust, Kirkeby) depend on their gerrymandered districts for easy re-election.

The best we can hope for is they do (somehow) manage to make the situation even worse so we can have a court challenge to our unfair district boundaries.



Half of North Rapid is included in a add-on extension of District 34 (violet) to bury its Democratic vote under massive Republican majorities in West Rapid City and the western suburbs.

Rep Hunhoff sets the record straight

Don't miss Rep. Bernie Hunhoff's clear defense of the Democrat's fair, tough, and above all, honest fiscal proposals for South Dakota in today's Mitchell Republic. (Opinion: Recent 'Other view' editorial was misrepresentation, Feb 5)

(Unless of course, you believe our all-Republican, all-the-time team in Pierre is just doing a bang-up job in Pierre.)

As they say on Weekend Update: "Really?"




Hunhoff wrote this piece in response to a misleading criticism in a republished Watertown Opinion editorial last week, Hunhoff penned this editorial published in the Mitchell Republic that sets the record straight.

This editorial charged, among other things, that:

When asked about their plan to take money from the state's cash-flow fund, which essentially is the state's checking account, Democrats didn't know any details

Clearly, they simply made this up. They certainly didn't ask any Democrats.

Rep. Bernie Hunhoff responded with, well, the TRUTH:

The Public Opinion writer said “Democrats, when asked (about the state’s $1 billion cash flow account), didn’t know any details.” That’s absurd. Nobody asked. Every Democratic legislator has a list of the 262 accounts in the Cash Flow Account. Every one knows that many of those funds are off-limits and obligated, and they also know that many others belong to the citizens of South Dakota and have been used routinely as reserve funds.

We have a complete printout for any journalist or citizen who wants it. Call me at 773-3846 for your copy.

Hunhoff went on to tell the truth about how this has all gone down, as well:

Democratic legislators were the only voices in Pierre for ending the structural deficit until two weeks ago. We have fought for years to instill some budget discipline in the process so we could plan wisely for the future.

Gov. Daugaard failed to see a problem until he took the oath of office, but now he wants to change it before Easter by recklessly damaging our schools and our community health-care centers.

His plan would cost South Dakota in many ways. We’ll lose great teachers. Classroom sizes will be bigger. Costs will shift to property taxpayers. Nursing homes and non-profit health providers will close. The young and the poor will suffer the most.

When will South Dakotans wake up to the fact that a Republican monopoly unchallenged by the voters is not serving them well?

The Radical fires off a note to Gov. Rounds

In response to this lovely news that we are supporting Arizona's blatantly unconstitutional, stupid, and immoral law, (RCJ 7/13) I sent a note to our soon-to-be ex Governor.

Someone, please ask the Lt Governor where he stands on this shameful act, which is very much in the spirit of John Birch and the KKK (who both were big in our State -- not too long ago).

Dear Governor Rounds,

Arizona's action is not only blatantly unconstitutional, but inhumane. I see it as a political trick to distract Arizona voters from the failures of their legislature and governor.

I am ashamed that my state has wasted my tax money for a clearly futile defense of Arizona's law -- which smells of National Socialism. I hope our many international tourists don't find out about this, because it would discourage them from visiting the Hills.

We have many Hispanic people in South Dakota that already are feeling less safe because of Arizona's actions and this will just add to it. What's next - a Federal version of "papers please" -- thank goodness the US Constitution would invalidate an attempt to pass such a law -- at any level of government.

The right thing to do is to direct the AG to withdraw from this amicus brief and admit your mistake. This would save taxpayers money and help South Dakota restore its image as a state where visitors are welcome.

Rep. Conzet goes to summer camp!

Our newly minted Representative has been selected by our Republican Legislature's leadership to go to a legislative training. According to Kristin Conzet's Facebook page, she is on her way and very excited about it!

She breathlessly announced:

I was fortunate to be selected to attend the 2010 Program for Emerging Political Leaders.

Class discussions will examine qualities and characteristics of leadership including: ethical leadership, the art of compromise and coalition building and the philosophical underpinnings of representative democracy.

This program sounds kind of cool, but I would hope someone who has been chosen to serve in the Legislature would have some clue about such things already.

But I digress.

This event is held at the Darden School at the University of Virginia. (No gays need apply I guess.) But okay, it's a neat program and I hope she comes back with lots of great ideas about democracy and stuff.

There are other opinions.... A friend muses:

Anyway, the fact of the matter is I have watched outstanding candidates run against the Republican machine in Dist. 32 who campaign their hearts out, send out literature, door knock, forum, letters to the editor – only to lose to appointees with no experience and who never made an attempt to campaign...

I find it sad that Conzet has to attend a “leadership course”(per her facebook) to gain credibility.

My friend certainly has a point in that Republicans have typically been showing the kind of "leadership" that has really taken this country in the wrong direction: bennies and tax cuts for their friends, with "trickle down" the rule for everyone else. Hopefully Conzet will get a clue to avoid that "ethic" -- though she sure didn't show it with her party-line vote against basic fairness in South Dakota.

What I love is the conservative meme of self-reliance, and the trust that America is a "level playing field" without intervention, when contrasted with the life story of our conservative icons (Bill Kristol, John McCain, Bill Frist, President(s)s Bush, and, yes, our own District's Reps. Conzet and Gosch -- they are where they are because of their family and personal connections put them at the head of the line. Frankly I'm amazed that Conzet STILL refuses to publicly admit that her relationship with Gov Rounds had absolutely nothing to do with her selection, that she was "very qualified" for the position when her main political experience had been fundraising among the moneyed Republicans of South Dakota.

We have other candidates in District 32 that may give Rep Conzet a run for her money -- both registered Republicans BTW... more on that later.

Kristin Conzet rubs it in with the voters of District 32

We in Robbinsdale received a friendly Independence Day postcard with pictures of watermelons, flags, and balloons -- paid for by "Kristin Conzet for House."

There are also pictures our good-looking, well-connected Pierre-political-class legislators, both appointed by Gov. Marion Rounds, with the statement:

On this Independence Day, let us never forget the sacrifices and principles of our founding fathers
[sic - they forgot the caps].

Like, fr-instance, their refusal to accept taxation without representation?

I think the voters of District 32 should ask some questions and consider why they shouldn't be looking at their options (namely, the independent candidates running for the seats). We aren't all Republicans, and we have needs from the Legislature outside of the political gamesmanship.

To Reps. Conzet and Gosch: instead of complaining about being "attacked" by bloggers, I ask you please to use this election season to inform us what you've done for District 32. We're all ears.

- What do you think about RCRH's responding to a 50 million dollar surplus (earned by stiffing their care-giving staff BTW) with a 5% rate increase on their services? Since we taxpayers are the #1 payer of health care in this State, what do you think the Legislature should do about it?
- Do you support talk in Rapid City of Home Rule? Why or why not?
- How should the Legislature close their widening budget deficits?
- Why did the Republican legislature stiff the Sanford lab last year -- when the educational investment there would benefit the state's students and keep them here?
- Why is it in District 32's interest that the Legislature hasn't seen fit to support the Regents in developing a Physics PhD program in our state -- which would bring important new blood to SDSMT and the rest of our University science programs?
- Why, in the name of all that is holy, did you both vote for promoting the giving astrology equal time in our high schools? Could we send a louder message to scientists across the country warning them not to bring their families while they work at DUSEL?

I mean, check out Kristin Conzet's Facebook page:



Nothing there about the interests of District 32 - all the wall posts are about electing Republicans and Republican political events. (OK, time for a pot-shot, based on my experience: For someone who has no time for meeting with constituents during the session because of her family commitments, she sure seems to get out a lot.)

I think this screen shot says it all:


So let's have some discussions! That's what the political process should be about, not who's in and out in the Republican Party.

Excellent analysis of Daugaard's primary "romp" by Mr. X

Worth reading... from an anonymous author over at Dakota Day.

I wonder who?

Tuesday's Republican Gubernatorial Primary: What it All Means...

On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Denny Daugaard won the Republican nomination for Governor by garnering just barely 50 percent of the Republican votes that were cast in defeating four other candidates. While the Daugaard camp contends that this is a major victory and while some pundits and analysts lauded the "strong" showing, a more critical look at Daugaard's rather anemic showing tells a different story. The truth is, losing one out of two Republican votes should be a dangerous warning sign to Daugaard and his supporters.

More over at Dakota Day...

Elizabeth Kraus is testing our trust

Kevin Woster had a good laugh today in the RCJ - sort of:

I had to laugh, despite the hyper-serious bold black type that screamed out from the yellow background of the oversized political postcard. Newsroom staffer Sheri Sponder dropped it off at my desk Thursday morning, figuring I'd like to know what was happening in District 33. That's where former legislator Duniphan is running against former legislator Elizabeth Kraus in the Republican state Senate primary.

"It really hit me hard today," Duniphan said after the flurry of mailings. "And there's nothing I can do at this point to respond."

Kraus when called, disavowed knowledge, having "plausible deniability" ...

Kraus said she didn't have anything to do with the mailings and disapproved of the distortions some included. "I wouldn't do that," she said. "If I had to go dirty to win, I don't want it."

Do you take her word for it? She's a Christian, after all.

Bobby Jindal comes around

to realize that he wants and needs the Federal government to spend ... not on trivial stuff like protecting Seattle from pesky volcanoes of course, but to protect his state from corporate greed and government that doesn't "encumber" business with "needless regulation."

Has he exposed himself as a member of the "something for nothing" and the "only for me" crowds, or is he planning on switching parties?

from NYT, White House Tries to Regroup:

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, appearing on “Meet the Press,” again criticized the administration’s efforts, saying: “We need our federal government exactly for this kind of crisis.

More shocking news from the something-for-nothing crowd...

Howie, Kraus, Deurloo get tea party endorsement, RCJ

State Sen. Gordon Howie got the public endorsement Thursday that he was expecting from Citizens for Liberty.

...

Former state Sen. J.P. Duniphan was surprised, however, when Citizens for Liberty endorsed former state Rep. Elizabeth Kraus in the District 33 Republican state Senate primary.

Citizens for Liberty president (and former "social" war protester) Barb Lindberg announced the endorsements during a tax day rally at Memorial Park. Duniphan left the rally shortly after that endorsement was made.

These folks are 100% class. I tell ya.

"I was very surprised. I thought they were going to be fair and interview the candidates before they endorsed," Duniphan said.

Duniphan clearly has not be reading the paper recently...

West River 2010 primary hats are in the ring!

Looks like we've got a couple of Dems signed up in West River and some really interesting primary races on the Republican side. We're bound to see a few more pop up on the Sec of State's candidate list in the next couple of days.

Click on the images below to zoom in and see what's there in the West River House and Senate races.






Don't know what District you're in? Check out this pdf map of the county. Your tax dollars at work!


A few races I'm looking forward to:

• Anthony Vallela is a young Dem and seriously considering running the race for real (he first signed up as a placeholder but he's seeing how important it is having good candidates like him running!
  
• Elizabeth Kraus (Munro???) v J.P. Duniphan in 33. How long do you think it will be before this one gets ugly? A traditional versus "new" "liberty" Republican race.
  
• Bruce Rampelberg, well-known volunteer in the "save Ellsworth" effort, is running against a virtual unknown in a Republican primary. What's that about?
  
• Sen. Stan Adelstein is running again, and so are our two appointed Representatives, who if the past is any guide, will have no problem being re-elected because of the solid "vote-R" majority in 32 which was very craftily gerrymandered (with the rest of West River) in 2002. Oh well.
  

South Dakota didn't get the memo...

AP story from the RC Journal today:

Gov. Rounds, AG Jackley study legal challenge to health bill

PIERRE -- South Dakota officials are studying the possibility of joining other states to challenge the constitutionality of the federal health care overhaul, Attorney General Marty Jackley said Monday.

Jackley said the measure could violate states' rights to govern and would aggravate South Dakota's budget problems by forcing it to spend even more on Medicaid, the state-federal program that covers health care for low-income people.

and....

Joe Kafka, press secretary for Gov. Mike Rounds, said the governor and attorney general will meet to decide whether the state should take legal action.

Kafkaesque, adj., marked by surreal distortion and often a sense of impending danger....

The adjective refers to anything suggestive of Kafka, especially his nightmarish style of narration, in which characters lack a clear course of action, the ability to see beyond immediate events, and the possibility of escape. The term's meaning has transcended the literary realm to apply to real-life occurrences and situations that are incomprehensibly complex, bizarre, or illogical.

Kind of like Republican ideas about health care?

Republicans call for more voices

U.S. House race brings out pack of hungry GOP newcomers (Kevin Woster, RCJ, 2/18)

[SD Republican Party Exec Director Lucas] Lentsch said the wealth of candidates shows that the party has energy and a strong commitment to retaking the state's lone U.S. House seat in November.

"It just creates a lot more energy and excitement, and people are paying attention," he said. "Does it confuse things? No, I think in order to have a conversation you need two or more people. And we're having that conversation in the House race."

As long as they are Republicans, anyway.

Yes, it's immoral, and bad for us, but hey, it's only temporary

From this morning's West River Legislative crackerbarrel, where typically an audience full of Democrats ask questions of a table of Republican legislators.

Tom Katus, who lost his District 32 seat to Adelstein, questioned him on the regressive nature of the sales tax and suggested alternatives including a corporate business tax.

Adelstein said South Dakotans do not want a state income tax and that tax breaks for corporations are necessary to lure jobs to South Dakota.

“I agree that it’s regressive, but it’s temporary,” Adelstein said. “I think it’s worth that moment of regression.”

-- ("Adelstein quizzed at crackerbarrel," RCJ, 1/30/2010)

And they say there's no difference between Democrats and Republicans.

Maybe someday West River voters will get engaged enough in the election process to figure out they are sending the wrong people to Pierre.

Republicans LOVE those corporate tax breaks. Look what's been accomplished in Washington State. The result: their aid to education is now way at the bottom (but still above South Dakota, of course).

Who makes up the difference -- YOU AND ME.  Go ahead, vote Republican, they really look after your "freedom" don't they?

Robbinsdale has a new legislator

Some surprise news in Robbinsdale today... it turns out one of "the Brians" who represent us in Pierre, Brian Dreyer, will be deployed to Afghanistan this spring.

Thanks for your service Brian, I know you will provide great air cover for the important things our President and armed forces are doing there.


Gov. Rounds has appointed Kristin Conzet, a person I have never heard of in years of covering Rapid City politics. She lives just around the block from me in Robbinsdale but we have never crossed paths... probably because I don't travel in her social circles:

from KELOLAND.COM (there's video)

Conzet has known the Governor for 20 years; he and her father are business partners, but she says she did not lobby for the position and it's not a conflict of interest.

Karla Ramaekers (KELO): Do you think that relationship helped you get the position?

"I don't think the Governor has ever appointed anybody to a position that he does not know. (Neither do I! -rr) South Dakota is a very small state. It's not about personal relationships; it's about my merit and my ability to do the position so I hope he saw something in me," Conzet said.

I have a call in to Ms. Conzet, I hope I get a chance to meet her and learn more about her plans for representing us in Pierre. In her words, she clearly has a lot of "merit and ability" to land this appointment, and we wish her well. I would guess she will face some resistance from the longtime District 32 Republican politicos around here. Or maybe they are on deck with this -- we will learn more in the coming days.

Best of luck to Kristin Conzet!

A little of their own medicine

Half of Rapid City's Republican Power Couple just got a taste of what it's like to hold a minority opinion in South Dakota. And it isn't pretty.

The most visible sign of discontent came Thursday night from board member Sheryl Kirkeby in the form of a public two page letter that she distributed at the meeting. Kirkeby is a long-time board member and served as president before Wes Storm was voted in as president in July.

And in my humble opinion, she seems more than a bit whiney about it, considering what Eric Abrahamson said about his school board experience, which squares with what I've heard from other former school board members:those in charge have no problems with closed meetings, as long as their in them. Not unusual in these parts.

“I experienced the same kind of frustrations Sheryl is experiencing now that she’s not on the facilities committee,” he said. “When board members who haven’t been on the committees see the information, they see it in the context of a board meeting when they’re being asked to vote on something.

Details on the board's sturm und drang in an excellent Page One article by Kayla Gehagan:

Signs of discord emerge at school board meeting -
Kirkeby: 'No fair not being at the cool kid's table! 'We need better communication'
Rapid City Journal 09/05/2009

Sounds like what life is like for a Democratic legislator in Pierre, or even a thinking minority Republican anywhere west of the Missouri.

Fortunately, the important thing going on is not the whining, it's that the current school board is actually trying to move forward with needed decisions on facilities. And it's about time.

You can get more details at ourrapidcityschools.org.

Thanks but No Thanks: Palin Is Still Scary

The Letterman Joke Deception, Smears and Cynicism of Sarah Palin
by Stephen Crockett

Sarah Palin owes the American people of very sincere apology. She owes David Letterman an apology. She owes her own children an apology. Her actions and statements have been dangerous, exploitive, divisive and deceptive

I am disappointed that the media pundits commenting on this case did not point out that Sarah Palin conveniently used a 6 second joke by a non-political figure to divert the discussion away from the role Palin’s recent political rhetoric has played in creating a hostile and dangerous political climate in America over the past year. Palin’s outrageous comments falsely connecting Obama to socialism, falsely creating a completely unfounded fear of Big Brother government and stoking up political paranoia on the Right is dangerous and in poor taste. Her kind of rhetoric can directly be connected to the recent murders by Right-Wing extremists at the Holocaust museum in DC and in Kansas. She stoked the paranoia and inflamed their misguided passions and twisted political world view.

The Palin-type of extreme political rhetoric from the Republican Right has been feeding a growing domestic terrorist problem in America. This kind of dangerous rhetoric routinely comes not only from Palin herself, but also, from Right-Wing talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage, extremist Right-Wing websites like Free Republic.com and, unfortunately, from many, many Republican Party officials and activists. Examples of Right-Wing political hate speech on talk radio are legion. Free Republic.com has thousands of posted comments of the most extreme nature. At about the same time that Palin was making her most recent inflammatory comments, the Republican Party held a political fundraiser that raised over $15 million dollars where a second rate actor called Obama “dangerous” and made many other hate-filled comments about our President.

We all remember the Sarah Palin rallies during the 2008 Presidential campaign where the crowd contained numerous Right-Wing nut jobs who shouted “kill him” when Obama’s name was mentioned. We all know about the Right-Wing conspiracy theories that contend Obama is a secret Muslim and/or not really an American citizen. We saw hundred if not thousands of signs to this effect at the McCain-Palin rallies in 2008 and at the Fox News/Republican sponsored anti-tax “tea parties” earlier this year. The man who committed the political murders at the Holocaust museum in DC wrote in support of these whack-job Right-Wing conspiracy theories on the Free Republic.com web site!

I have personal reasons to believe that the Anthrax Mail killer of 2001 was in part inspired by Right Wing talk radio shows like Neal Boortz and/or Right-Wing nut job websites like Free Republic.com. Sarah Palin intentionally taps into this political paranoia and Right-Wing political extremism with her over the top rhetoric. Her political career in Alaska has always been connected with extremist and political fringe groups. No other major political figure in America is as closely connected to political extremist groups as Sarah Palin.

Palin was certainly going to face a firestorm of political criticism over her rhetoric and extremist political connections in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust Right-Wing political murder! The criticism had just started when Palin made a huge political controversy over a 6 second David Letterman joke! It was an effective, intentional and cynical political move on her part.

Letterman apologized but Sarah Palin refused to accept the apology and let the matter drop. Doing so would not have helped her divert public attention from her rhetorical role in promoting Right-Wing extremism. It would have been the best outcome for her daughters but not for the political career of Sarah Palin. She placed her political ambition first over the emotional well-being of her daughters.

David Letterman did tell a rather crude joke, obviously referencing the 18 daughter of Sarah Palin, who is an unwed mother. It was in poor taste. Yes, it was a cheap shot. Comedians do that kind of thing every day to people in the public arena. Comedians go for the funny without regard to political correctness.

However, it is clear that Sarah Palin victimized her own daughter by putting her daughter in the public limelight just to advance Sarah Palin’s political ambitions without considering the possibility of the inevitable public humiliation that her daughter would face. Sarah Palin made her daughter’s unwed mother status and difficult relationship with her baby’s father front page news. This was done by Sarah Palin, not David Letterman. It was done for political reasons.

The controversial joke would never have been told if Sarah Palin had followed the example of President and Michelle Obama in how they insisted the media treat their daughters. The Obamas did not routinely exploit their daughters during the political campaign the way the Palin children were blatantly exploited by their mother. The Obamas continued to try to shield their daughters from excessive media attention once elected.

Comedians are not political operatives. They are not and should not be held to the same political standards of behavior as journalists, officeholders, candidates or political spokespersons. Behaving badly and pushing the envelope of social acceptability are the norms when it comes to comedians. Nearly all comedians tell less than politically correct jokes. While the jokes told by political figures should meet at least some minimum standards of political correctness, the same certainly does not hold true for comedians.

It is obvious that the remarks made by the Palins that strongly implied that a teenage girl would not be safe in the company of David Letterman were absolutely in poor taste and blatantly false. Using words like “perverted” were uncalled for by Sarah Palin. She used and continues to use them in reference to Letterman. Falsely stating that Letterman advocated underage sex and “rape” were beyond acceptable under any circumstances. Sarah Palin is smearing a popular comedian to drawn attention away from her role in creating a climate that promotes political violence by Right-Wing extremists.

Palin must know that late night talk show hosts are highly unlikely to write their own jokes. She knows the jokes are not meant to defame anyone. She must know the only goal is to draw laughter. Misconstruing the actions and motives of David Letterman tells us a great deal about the motives and character of Sarah Palin. While Palin clearly demonstrated that she has no sense of humor, media pundits should be connecting the dots concerning the clearly manipulative and political nature of the Palin-Letterman joke controversy.

Palin should apologize. If she does not apologize, we should all call for her resignation over this matter. Sarah Palin will seemingly do anything to promote her political ambitions including using her children, making false statements, engaging in character assassination and promoting a dangerous strain of political Right-Wing extremism. American political life and the Republican Party would be better off if Palin would retire from the public arena

Written by Stephen Crockett (Host of Democratic Talk Radio). Mail: 698 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, Delaware 19702.
Feel free to publish without prior approval.