Citizens for Liberty old board outmaneuvered by new?
From the Rapid City Journal:
Citizens for Liberty will go on. So will its effort to bring Glenn Beck to Rapid City this fall.
That word came Thursday morning from Barb Lindberg, now acting president of the Rapid City tea party affiliate, as she announced that the group had finally organized as a corporation without the board members who tried to oust her from her leadership role.
Lindberg appeared at a news conference with Citizens for Liberty acting secretary Barb Landers and acting treasurer Tonchi Weaver to announce what they called a long-overdue incorporation. They are the officers, at least temporarily. But they also said they will seek direction from CFL members in developing bylaws and creating a nominating committee to submit proposed officers for the membership to vote on.
“We are ready to lay our offices down and let the people vote,” she said.
Lindberg said she hasn’t heard from board members Bob Ellis, Zach Lautenschlager, Dawn Pence and Ed Randazzo but hopes they will “help us to implement a smooth transition of leadership.”
While it appears that the organization’s website still remains in the hands of the old board, with this incorporation it looks as if the Citizens for Liberty old board might have just been outmaneuvered by the new.
Hard Times for former Democratic legislative candidate Mary Giebink
Word on the street is that former Democratic Legislative candidate Mary Giebink, who now faces a lot of trouble for various things, is sustaining herself prior to going to jail by working for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
Of course, as I’m told she’s reportedly delivering the Argus Leader, as well as the new Yellowbook phone book.
What else have I heard? As I’m told, allegedly US Marshals may have served her papers on some other matter. No word at the moment what that might be, whether it’s new, or related to some of her other troubles.
Madville Times’ Cory plotting clandestinely against the GOP? Hmmm…….
Interesting. I’m getting this second hand, but apparently our friend Cory from the Madville times was in a Madison Restaurant recently having a conversation. And it was done so loudly that a good Republican across the room was able to enjoy their meal. And take notes.
What was discussed? Allegedly Cory was talking quite loudly that there’s an energy survey that’s going to be sent out (as was heard, possibly in cooperation with East River Electrical Coop) that is specifically and expressly crafted in a manner to be used by Democrats to attack Republican candidates at a later date. Which if I were East River Electric Coop, and was noticing the makeup of the State Senate this year, I’d steer clear of being involved with the Democrats pigeonholing GOP candidates, since there won’t more than a handful of Dems in the state senate. But that’s just me.
Anyway, Republican legislative candidates -you’ve been forewarned. Anything you say on an energy survey (especially one coming from EREC) may be used against you by Democrats and the Madville times.
What else was (allegedly) discussed loudly by Cory in this clandestine meeting?
Apparently there was some discussion on “blogstorming issues,” with blogs dogpiling – something they haven’t been able to do effectively for a few years. They made some snotty comments about Dusty Johnson.
And the bestest blog in SD, the SDWC, came up. Supposedly there were claims made that “my blog doesn’t have the same level of readership that it had when I was based out of Pierre.”
Which is very true. Since I’ve moved my base of operation out of the “Pierre beltway” I’ve doubled my average traffic.
But, why would facts get in the way of a good clandestine Democratic Schadenfreude? They never have before.
From the SDGOP. Best humor in a press release I’ve seen this year
Herseth Sandlin ReElection Chances Getting Smalley
PIERRE – Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced recently that she is bringing her good friend Senator Al Franken (D-MN) to South Dakota. It is not yet clear whether the trip is entirely for Congressional business, and thus paid for by taxpayers, or if she intends to bring the former comedian to the state to help her raise money for her re-election, a prospect that is increasingly unlikely.
South Dakotans may know Senator Franken best as the foul-mouthed comedian and liberal talk-show host that was declared the winner of a contentious U.S. Senate race that resulted in multiple disputed recounts led by a Democratic Secretary of State. In addition, Franken also has had legal trouble after failing to pay multiple income taxes and workers’ compensation taxes. As a Senator, Franken has been an outspoken proponent of tax increases for increased spending, government-run health care, and he even co-sponsored the “card check” bill for labor unions that would eliminate a secret ballot.
“I don’t think too many South Dakotans share the views of Al Franken,” said SDGOP State Chairman Bob Gray, “and there is nothing funny about South Dakota’s only voice in the House of Representatives being influenced by those views.”
Stephanie says she’s good enough and smart enough, but do South Dakotans still like her?
###
Herseth Sandlin’s Congressional buddies think South Dakotans are a bunch of stupid white people.
From the National Journal, apparently Herseth Sandlin’s Congressional buddies think South Dakotans are a bunch of stupid white people.
The DCCC announced ad buys in 60 districts in the past week, including in 54 seats they currently hold. Where their buys occur follows the pattern identified by National Journal’s Ronald Brownstein in “The Four Quadrants of Congress”: the lower the level of diversity and white education in a district, the more likely the seat is to lean Republican.
Many of these ads will likely air during NASCAR races: of the 54 seats the DCCC is spending on, fully 29 are in districts where whites make up 70% or more of the district’s population and the percentage of whites with bachelor’s degrees is below the national average of 30.4%. The DCCC is nervous enough to buy ad time in nearly half of these “NASCAR districts” that they hold: 29 of 66 seats.
And…
Democrats are playing defense in less-educated, whiter districts because those voters were the least likely to support Pres. Obama in the 2008 elections: 58% supported McCain. They’re also the most overtly hostile towards his economic policies. According to a recent Society for Human Resource Management/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, just 37% of non-college whites thought Obama’s economic policies would do more to improve conditions over the next few years than those of ex-Pres. George W. Bush, while 41% of college-educated whites and 66% of nonwhites prefer Obama’s policies (20% of both college- and non-college whites and 7% of nonwhites said neither would help).
And…
Low Minority – Low Education: 29 seats (of 66 held by Dems)
Boswell (IA), Sutton (OH), Snyder (AR), Boyd (FL), Kosmas (FL), Pomeroy (ND), Herseth Sandlin (SD), Perriello (VA), Baird (WA), Arcuri (NY), Halvorson (IL), Schauer (MI), Kagen (WI), Boccieri (OH), Dahlkemper (PA), Donnelly (IN), Carney (PA), Obey (WI), Hill (IN), Kanjorski (PA), Stupak (MI), Owens (NY), Mollohan (WV), Ellsworth (IN), Skelton (MO), Critz (PA), Tanner (TN), Berry (AR), Space (OH)
Read it here. If you’re still able to, since they’re writing us all off as a bunch of ignorant hicks .
BREAKING: I’m hearing that Brookings Republican Legislator Carol Pitts will be dropping out of the District 7 House Race.
While I haven’t spoken with her personally yet (yes, I do have a call in to her) I’ve had it confirmed from two independent sources that Brookings GOP Legislator Carol Pitts is going to be taking a federal job, and would no longer be eligible to run for the District 7 House seat she currently holds which is to be elected in November.
As such, I’m told she will be withdrawing from the race.
No word yet on who might consider running for the position. What has to happen by next Tuesday is that Representative Pitts must withdraw, and the County Central Committee must hold a meeting with those central committee who reside in the district – and only those Central Committee members in the District will vote on who the replacement candidate is to be.
I attempted to confirm this with the Brookings GOP County Chairman, Jim Gilkerson, himself a candidate for the House in District 4, and he offered “No comment.” But, he did assure me that if there is to be a meeting, the rules would be followed.
What are those rules and procedures that must be followed? As I mentioned yesterday….
12-6-56. Vacancies in party ticket to be filled by party committee.
If a vacancy occurs by reason of death or withdrawal after a primary election, a party candidate for public office may be replaced by a new nominee if a meeting of the appropriate party central committee is held and the results are certified to the appropriate official within the times prescribed by § 12-8-6. ….
If the vacancy is a party candidate for public office other than presidential elector or statewide office, the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of county party central committee members in attendance who reside in the affected district.
12-6-57. Meeting of party committee to fill vacancies – Manner of voting.
…..
A call for a meeting of a single-county district party central committee, to fill vacancies, shall be issued by such county central committee chairman upon learning of such vacancy. ….
all other vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the party central committee or committees members present.
What this means is that after the withdrawal, they are required to make a call of the county party central committee, and then prior to August 10th, they must hold a meeting where only the central committee members residing in the affected district make a choice as to who the nominee will be.
Whose going to run? Well….. There are a great number of good people who come to mind as to being potential candidates. Mayor Tim Reed is one. Councilwoman Jael Trieb would also be another. Not to mention a great number of others who could step into the position. I certainly hope there are several qualified people who step up and offer themselves for the central committee’s consideration…. as opposed to the utter B.S. of someone being hand-picked behind the scenes.
If I were interested, I’d contact the county chairman by clicking here and dropping him a note. You might let me know as well, since I’m one of the precinct committeemen (and hence a county central committee member) I’d love to know who I might have a chance to vote for.
I’ll have more to come on this as things develop.
As a postscript, I do have to offer my best wishes for Carol in her pursuit of new opportunities. She’s been a breath of fresh air, and while I don’t always agree with her on the issues, I have immense respect for her. She did a very good job of representing the district, and I always heard a great deal of the work she’s done for her constituents.
Congratulations Carol, and thank you very much for your service.
Heidepriem still pushing for a casino, despite being spanked on the issue in 2009.
Considering how often South Dakotans have faced ballot initiatives on the subject, you would think that gambling is something that politicians view very warily, at best. In fact, in the last 20 years, I think we’ve voted on gambling related issues about as often as we have abortion.
But not Scott Heidepriem. Recently off his pick of Ben Arndt for Lt. Governor, as he effective balanced the ticket with another white male from Iowa Sioux Falls, he’s now choosing to take on a casino being built across state lines with another casino, except this one is built on….. wait for it…… This one will be built on our side of the state line.
Sen. Scott Heidepriem this morning discussed a plan to build a casino in Sioux Falls to compete with a casino and resort complex now under construction in Lyon County, Iowa.
With the Lyon County site as a backdrop, Heidepriem held a news conference to talk about the plan.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that his will now be one of his central campaign themes.
Why? Well, let’s take a look back at 2009, when he’d brought the issue up before, where he was a primary backer for the same casino project. That was about the time (now Congressional Candidate) Kristi Noem caught him with his hand in the cookie jar over the matter:
Heidepriem introduced his legislative resolution proposing the constitutional amendment Jan. 29. The amendment sought to allow the Legislature to approve “any game of chance, lottery, or gift enterprise” in order to prevent the start or curtail the operation of legal gambling in a bordering state.
A Senate committee endorsed the resolution after a public hearing Feb. 4 at which Fred Assam, representing the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, testified in support of Heidepriem’s resolution.
Two days later, Heidepriem’s law firm officially began representing the tribe in the gambling lawsuit against South Dakota.
and…
Noem subsequently questioned Heidepriem whether his firm or he has any financial ties to someone with an interest in the amendment.
“My law firm?” Heidepriem responded. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Rep. Noem. I don’t know if my firm does any work in the gaming industry.”
“I just wanted to know if that’s something we need clarification on today,” Noem said.
and…
“The suggestion that I would promote legislation because my firm has an interest in it is stunning to me,” Heidepriem said to the committee.
Noem later showed reporters a copy of Steven Johnson’s notice to the court that he was representing the tribe in the lawsuit.
RCJ Online: Thune to be active in Herseth Sandlin/Noem Contest
From Kevin Woster at the Rapid City journal:
Sen. John Thune said Wednesday that it is crucial for Republicans to win seats in Congress this fall to restore some balance of power and provide options for more fiscal restraint in Washington, D.C.
And the U.S. House seat held by Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is among the vital targets for Republicans this fall, he said.
“It could be key to who controls the House of Representatives after the election,” Thune, R-S.D., said during a conference call with reporters.
and…
The first-term senator, who does not have a challenger his reelection bid this year, said he will be active in campaigning for Republican state Rep. Kristi Noem, who is challenging Herseth, and other GOP candidates.
“Kristi Noem is a very competitive candidate,” Thune said.
“Quack…. Quack….” Is that a Dakotafest Debate Duck I’m hearing?
Forums
| August 17, 2010 | |
| 10:30 AM |  Congressional Candidate Forum on South Dakota Agriculture
Tuesday - Confirmed: Kristi Noem, (R) Candidate for U.S. House |
The bad news keeps piling on for Herseth Sandlin – In top 30 of House seats most likely to flip
From National Journal.com, Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin’s Congressional seat is looking more and more embattled all the time. And it’s not being lost on national publications :
House Race Rankings
The Hotline’s Tim Sahd Assesses Which House Seats Are Most Likely To Switch Party Control This Year
Monday, July 26, 2010
One is the second-quarter FEC reports, which in some cases helped Democrats’ cause. That’s because the party’s incumbents have built up solid war chests in anticipation of extremely tough contests in the fall. Conversely, many of their Republican challengers start the general election in relatively weak positions, mostly because primaries have exhausted their stockpiles.
But that should not give Democrats false comfort, for the Republican wave still appears to be building. Another important clue for November — revealed late last week — comes directly from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and it does not inspire confidence. The committee reserved $28 million worth of general election air time for 39 vulnerable incumbents. For the most part there were few surprises on the list, as most were already expected to face tough races. Still, the list served as confirmation of which incumbents do indeed face the toughest races.
So with the help of these factors, here is our expanded list of 40 races, which again feature a heavy majority of Democratic-held seats.
29. South Dakota-At Large Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) (29)Herseth Sandlin was down 12 points to state Rep. Kristi Noem (R) in a June Rasmussen poll but recovered in July to trail by just 5. Will Noem’s primary bounce continue, or has Herseth Sandlin stemmed the tide? She’s hoping to continue to cut into this lead by airing a new TV ad that touts her opposition to what she calls a “trillion-dollar health care plan.”
Federal Prosecutors going after Animal Terrorist who raided SD Farm
From Rapid City Journal.com:
Federal prosecutors are hoping to garnish the wages of a prominent animal rights activist who freed mink from Midwestern fur farms and has earned money giving speeches about the case.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker in Madison on Monday granted a prosecutor’s application to garnish 25 percent of any wages Peter Daniel Young earns through Evil Twin Booking Agency. The Philadelphia firm books Young to give speeches about his case and animal rights issues.
Prosecutors say Young, who was released from prison in 2007, still owes $253,500 to the mink farmers he victimized. That’s only $1,300 less than he was ordered to repay them in November 2005.
Young and an accomplice broke onto mink farms in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa in 1997, cutting fences and freeing thousands of animals from their cages. After years of running from the FBI, Young was arrested for shoplifting in California.
What can you say, except……. Good!
Deadline for candidate withdrawal here on Tuesday. So, how do you do it?
I just heard about a couple candidates currently on the ballot who are now…. not going to be. So, Repubs and Dems – how do you replace your legislative candidates on the ballot? Well, it’s pretty darned easy if you follow state law. (And you’d better make sure you do):
12-6-56. Vacancies in party ticket to be filled by party committee.
If a vacancy occurs by reason of death or withdrawal after a primary election, a party candidate for public office may be replaced by a new nominee if a meeting of the appropriate party central committee is held and the results are certified to the appropriate official within the times prescribed by § 12-8-6. If the vacancy is a party candidate for presidential elector or statewide office, the vacancy shall be filled by the State Party Central Committee. If the vacancy is a party candidate for public office other than presidential elector or statewide office, the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of county party central committee members in attendance who reside in the affected district.
12-6-57. Meeting of party committee to fill vacancies – Manner of voting.
The party state central committee chairman shall, upon learning of a vacancy for presidential elector or statewide office nominee, forthwith issue a call by mail for such central committee meeting to fill such vacancy, and designate the hour, date and place where such meeting shall be held. The call for a meeting of county party central committees interested, in multi-county legislative districts, to fill vacancies, shall be issued by the state party chairmen, who shall notify all interested central committee members of the hour, date and place where such meeting shall be held. A call for a meeting of a single-county district party central committee, to fill vacancies, shall be issued by such county central committee chairman upon learning of such vacancy. Vacancies filled by state central committee shall be by unit representation, each county casting the number of votes cast in that county at the last general election for that party’s candidate for Governor; all other vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the party central committee or committees members present.
12-8-6. Time of filing certificates of nomination.
Nominations by party committee to fill vacancies occurring in nominations made in primary elections and certificates of nomination to be filed with the secretary of state and those to be filed with the county auditor shall be filed not later than the second Tuesday in August at five p.m. or mailed by registered mail by that date and time prior to the election.
The form that must be completed to nominate someone to fill a vacancy is:
http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/5-02-07-06.pdf
So – now you know how to do it.
Go forth and don’t screw it up.
Here’s a good chuckle for your noon hour.
Herseth Sandlin bringing Al Franken to SD?
What, does Herseth Sandlin need instruction on how to illegally get convicted felons and dead people voting for her? I can think of no other explanation to bring one of the most liberal Senators in the nation to South Dakota to campaign for you:
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., will visit Pine Ridge on Aug. 7 at the invitation of Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., to attend a powwow and discuss housing issues with Oglala Sioux Tribe officials.
How long until we see the invitation for the exclusive fundraiser for Herseth Sandlin featuring him as well, eh?
While colleagues can’t wait to return donations, Congresswoman Herseth Sandin is hanging on to that BP cash awfully tight.
The Huffington post is climbing all over the congresspeople who have elected to keep donations made since December from British Petroleum…. Including our own Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
In the wake of the disastrous explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20 and the ensuing oil spill, even longtime supporters of the oil industry returned campaign contributions from BP.
Early in May, Joe Barton (R-Texas), the oil giant’s infamous apologist who has received over $27,000 from BP since he entered Congress, returned a $1000 donation from BP’s political action committee. Other lawmakers who have returned BP money include Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas). Both Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) claim that they never received checks from BP, which were listed in FEC filings but were apparently rescinded by the oil giant.
But even as BP’s reputation suffers — through more disclosures of cost-cutting measures that endangered the lives of the workers on the rig that are the subject of a federal criminal investigations and amid new revelations about the company’s role in lobbying the British government to release Libyan prisoners including the Lockerbie bomber — at least 20 members of Congress appear to be keeping money the company has contributed to them since December 2009.
and…
Who’s Keeping BP Money?
Congressman Who’ve Received BP Money Since 12/2009
(This is just a partial list…. but you get the drift – pp)
Member of Congress
$
Keep
Return
Give to charity
No comment
Charles Gonzalez (D-Texas) $1000 (5/10) X (6/10) Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) $1000 (12/09) X Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) $1000 (12/09) X
When asked by the Huffington Post, her office gave a resounding “no comment.”
Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin can now add a new title to her resume – BP’s Blue Dog in Congress.
Good lesson. Don’t annoy the buffalo. They don’t like it.
This happened in Yellowstone, but it could have happened in Custer State Park just as easily.
Good lesson. Don’t annoy the buffalo. They don’t like it.
Quote of the day. Congresspeople need to tell people where they stand. And Herseth Sandlin can start anytime.
“When you’re in Congress, you don’t get a chance to vote undecided, and South Dakotans deserve an opportunity to know where you stand,” Hart wrote in an e-mail.”
– Herseth Sandlin’s Press Secretary complaining that Kristi Noem won’t commit to listing her caucuses until after the election. (Rapid City Journal 7/26/10)
You know, somehow I think they’re really, really going to regret saying that.
Just because Herseth Sandlin flip flopped on the Kyoto treaty. And flip-flopped on immigration. And flip-flopped on Horse slaughter going back and forth between ag producers and PETA. And flip-flopped on earmarks. And flip-flopped on the gas tax. And flip-flopped on ANWR drilling. And even flip-flopped on letting the public into a public forum.
Not to mention that Obamacare thing.
Yes. I agree 100% with Betsy Hart. South Dakotans DO deserve an opportunity to know where Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin stands. Now if she’d only tell us.
SDGOP: South Dakotans have a very clear choice between Stephanie Herseth Sandlin & Kristi Noem
From my mailbox:
Herseth Sandlin’s DC Lobbying Ties Called “Sleazy” By Liberal Watchdog Group
PIERRE – In recent press reports, Washington, DC liberal watchdog group, Public Citizen’s lobbyist, Craig Holman called Herseth Sandlin’s political ties to her lobbyist husband Max Sandlin – “sleazy”. In the CQ-Roll Call report, watchdogs noted that any Congressional Members’ relatives lobbying under the Dome should be banned.
“With the General Election less than a hundred days away, South Dakotans have a very clear choice between Stephanie Herseth Sandlin & Kristi Noem,” said Lucas Lentsch, South Dakota Republican Party Executive Director. “One is married to ‘K-Street’, and the other is not.”
Ummm… Err…… That is so “not cool.”
Having been a blogger during the time I was a candidate for the state legislature, I think I’m a reasonable authority on what I would and what I would not place as a headline on the top of my website while I was running for office.
The below banner would be one of those things that prudence would dictate that a white guy from Mitchell probably shouldn’t be displaying prominently while he’s a candidate.
Less than 100 days left before the election….
You are out there working already, aren’t you?
