Kranz on the Herseth Factor

Scott Heidepreim’s the one we want of course.

How could we not want a Governor who will step aside at the drop of a hat.

When fighting the federal government… Scott would step aside.

When the liberals want to raise taxes… Scott would step aside.

Whenever it would come time to take a stand…. Scott would step aside.

No doubt Scott Heidepriem will be a formidable candidate in whatever race he chooses. But unlike the Republicans this blog has been talking about for the governorship in 2010, Heidepriem has not announced, started any campaign, or raised money for a governor race.

Is it “stepping aside” if you never get into a race? I guess that means 700,000 South Dakotans and 100+ politicians “step aside” every time some race comes up that they don’t get into.

I wish Rounds and the GOP legislature (”liberals”) would have “stepped aside” instead of raising all of the taxes they raised together. Some people just don’t know when to step aside.

Damned right Heidepriem is formidable. He’s the only person I’ve ever heard of who attends funerals for the sake of campaigning.

The state democrat’s couldn’t cough up the coin to pay for a herseth gubernatorial win.

Stan, after just one fundraiser at his big new house on the hill, could raise enough cash.

Bruce saying that Herseth can’t raise money is like, well, it’s like Bruce saying that Herseth can’t raise money.

How much money did the state Republican’s raise for Bruce’s run?

Dave Kranz seems to be just giddy over Herseth Sandlin for Governor. But keep this in mind: Dave asked Stephanie if she would rule out running for governor, and she said she would not rule it out. OF COURSE SHE SAID THAT. SHE IS A POLITICIAN.

Kranz is excited because he sees Stephanie as a chance to retake Pierre for the Democrats. He is allowing this giddiness to blind him from the obvious - SHE IS NOT GOING TO RUN. She may encourage the talk to show that she is connected to SD and hasn’t “gone DC” - but Stephanie will go for a Senate seat. My bet she’ll run in 2008 when inevitably Johnson steps aside. Then she can say “Boy, I wanted to come home and run for governor, but I cannot let this seat go to the Republicans.” It’s perfect - she can do what she wants to do anyway (stay in DC), and MAKE IT SEEM LIKE A SACRIFICE.

Don’t forget - Say what you want about her, but Stephanie is VERY SMART.

PP provides a good context for discussion here, but I wonder how much we can trust the commentary of those posting here.

For example, we have a couple people clearly trying to position Heidepriem as an elitist. He has a big house, how he attends funerals for campaign purposes, yadda yadda.

Heidepriem is successful - but not any moreso than our Lt. Governor or Schoenbeck. I bet they live in pretty nice houses too.

They’re all successful people. They are all elite individuals. The difference is who lets it go to their head. From all I hear and read, Scheoenbeck certainly isn’t MORE grounded than the Senate Minority Leader. There’s enough ego to go around, that’s for sure.

You look at Daugaard and Michels, though, and you look at two people who don’t have that sort of an image problem.

Michels is a humble hard-worker. He backs enough of the party platform to get his own party behind him, and opposes just enough to capture swing votes. It’s hard to find a legislator that says anything bad about him. Schoenbeck doesn’t bring any of those qualities.

Daugaard is accomplished and charismatic. He has devoted his life to good causes - children and public service.

Last year, he cast a deciding vote in the Senate that would have banned smoking from eating establishments. The measure was reconsidered and defeated, and would have went down in flames over in the house, but it was one of the few times we were allowed into the Lt. Governor’s world. And he sided with the majority of South Dakotans, not the Senate libertarians that masquarade as Republicans.

The only chip in Daugaard’s armor is being connected to Rounds. Like it or not, Rounds hasn’t been as wildly popular as poll numbers indicate.

Rounds’s successes have come in economic development, his relentless political calculation of all his positions and efforts has burned some bridges after seven years. He’s supported social issues, but hasn’t promoted them. The social conservatives aren’t looking for support from a Governor, they’re looking for a leader.

To that end, having Rounds endorsement may cost Daugaard.

Especially if Schoenbeck can soften his image a little. And that’s why I think we saw the fundraising letter from Schoenbeck.

While Daugaard is out trading on Rounds’ name and raising cash, it’s a good time for Schoenbeck to emphasize that he and his wife are just sitting back in Watertown and making the world a better place.

Schoenbeck, like Michels, can score a few points for having been above the fray the past couple of legislative sessions - one that has seen epic battles over property taxes, school funding, and tech institute governance.

Those issues, which will probably tie up the coming legislature, will become election issues and Schoenbeck and Michels can both come at things with a fresh perspective.

And it’s interesting to see this play out on this blog. Schoenbeck is definately working this blog to his advantage, getting his message out through the underground media. He’s even got a spot in PP’s banner.

But it’s the guys that we haven’t heard much about, like Dave Knudson and Matt Michels, that make the republican nomination competitive.

Compared to Knudson, Michels and Dangaard, Schenbeck will look like a nerd. He will not look strong. So he’ll have to make up for it by taking strong positions. And he’ll play to the base. And for that reason, he won’t be a factor.

Of course, if Herseth gets involved - kiss their asses goodbye.

Also the fact that Schoenbeck punched a kid before the citizens of Webster ran him out of town probably won’t work to his advantage.

I heard Daugaard say once that he lives on his family’s homestead in a house he built himself.

Schoenbeck is smart.

He realizes one man one vote still applies in a democracy.

Its the people of SD who elect a Governor, not the big money people, people from Washington DC., etc.

Schoenbeck does the dishes with the church basement ladies in the morning and then plays softball with the guys in the afternoon and that is how he always wins.

Kranz’s column raised the possibility that some of the 2010 contenders might shift their focus to 2008. Are any of them likely to do that?

I still think it is very unclear how 2008 matchups are going to shake out. If Johnson doesn’t run, will Stephanie run? Or Daschle? And who would step into the House if Stephanie steps up?

And who will the GOP run? That is surprisingly unclear - Dykstra seems to be it.

It is amazing to me how there are a select few that post on this blog, with the sole purpose and intent of tareing down Lee Schoenbeck.

Let’s grow up now, and quit trying to be “inciteful blogers”.

Lee is just as credible canidate for governor as your pet canidates Daugaard and Knudson. Lee is well respected all across the state becuase he is willing to go the extra mile to help someone out.

Why don’t we worry a little bit more about the House and Sentate races both federally and state-wide and also the Presidental election this NEXT year, not 2010.

So AL, what do you think on 2008? I would love to see Knudson or Michels switch over to one of the congressional races - maybe Knudson for Senate and Michels for House. I guess I don’t see Lee or Daugaard making the switch.

AL perhaps you should untie the other half of your brain for the purpose of correctly spelling the word tearing, but I will admit that a post criticizing someone’s mistake is more joovinile than the mistake itself.

PP, if you seriously think Herseth is vulnerable in 2008, let me know. I’m willing to put a pretty sizable wager down that says she’s reelected. How much would you be willing to bet?

Hey #8, You think that the report of Heidepriem campaigning at a funeral is bogus? Were you at the funeral of Harold Sieh years ago? Sieh died while still chairman of House Appropriations, which he held for several years. Scott was literally going from person to person, small group to small group saying “hi, I’m Scott Heidepriem”.

The gov, constitutional officers, legislators and leadership of both parties were there. NOBODY else was doing that.

I see most of the rest of your essay was full of crap too.

Thanks for reminding me 9, about Schoenbeck slapping the brat. More of the trouble-making “misguided youth” should receive immediate punishment instead of “oh, that wasn’t nice, you shouldn’t do that”. Hooray for Lee. He has the balls to stand up to the malcontents. We need that in a governor.

What does switching and running for a federal seat have to do with the election for Governor and or the House/Senate election?

I don’t see the connection between individuals that are talked about running for Governor and campaigning for/supporting candidates that have ALREADY announced they are running for the House/Senate seats.

As far as my slight spelling error, I apologize; I will work harder in the future to have all typographical errors corrected so that when you are reading my post to your crony attack blogers…everything will be spelled just right.

Yes, #9’s post was a bit juvenile, but there is a point there. It was well documented in the media that at the time there was a situation with Lee Schoenbeck while he was in the legislature from the district serving Webster. Maybe the boy had it coming, maybe not.

Either way, Lee hit, slapped, or in some way made physical contact with him.

Is that the kind of person we want leading our state? And no - you can’t just say he learned from his mistake because the issue is not going to go away.

I just don’t see how he can overcome that issue in a convincing way that will resonate with the average voter.

Overcome that issue? Man, there isn’t any issue. Most people think these troublemakers deserve swift puinishment. As governor I don’t think Lee would coddle the adult criminals either.

One cannot say that he doesn’t like kids. He moved from Webster so his kids could attend a parochial school and get not just a good education but a Christian one also. He’s on the state board for the Boy Scouts too. Spending his own unpaid time to do that.

Your alias says it all, character counts, and Lee has quality character.

What is all this talk about Lee slapping a kid? I assumed that it was made up, but that last post seems to assume that it is true. What is the true story here? Is there an old news story online or something?

Nonnie Mouse, you seem to be belittling Schoenbeck in your long diatribe, “. . . he and his wife are just sitting back in Watertown and making the world a better place.” He probably isn’t helping make the world better, but he sure is working to make SD and Watertown better.

He is on the Ex Board of the regional or state Boy Scouts. He is working on the fundraising board for United Way in Watertown and also on Lake Area Tech. Institute foundation board. This last I found out about when he tried to sell me a raffle ticket for the LATI motorcycle fundraiser. I had already bought one.

I’ve seen him at events for DU, Pro-Pheasants
and Friends of the NRA. So he does indeed try to help state, area and local entities. And these are not PAID positions like some people have.

23 - YOU, by your last sentence, seem to be belittling Daugaard’s job at Childrens Home.

I don’t question Lee’s service to his community - but I think just as highly of Daugaard’s decision to commit his career to running a charity. Daugaard is a lawyer and a smart guy, and I’m sure he could make more money doing something else.

Lee has chosen to work in the private sector and work for causes he cares about in his free time. Dennis has chosen to forego a private sector career and work for a charity full time. I think both are admirable.

You are right, I did direct it at him. Did not belittle his job though. Probably shouldn’t have put it that way.

But in previous posts on other days people were writing that Daugaard was indeed a caring person as he was heading that foundation. I was pointing out that Lee was doing his caring work without any pay.

Dennis is a fine person, but in my mind someone who helps raise money for the benefit of others, without pay, is indeed the more caring person.

And in my mind, someone who works full time for a charity, for considerably less pay than he could make doing something else, is also a “caring person.”

Charity and generosity are hard to subjectively measure, and even harder to measure objectively. I don’t think that Dennis would claim his generosity is greater than Lee’s or vice versa. Both have long records for doing good for their fellow neighbors. For this they both deserve our thanks.

Rather than tearing down the other candidate or trying to claim “my dad is stronger/better than your dad” arguments, let’s measure these two good men by the difference in their ideas and abilities to execute the people’s business.

Seems to be a topic of who is a caring person. And if one person is paid for his caring, does he care any less.

For those who want to know Dennis Daugaard is listed for 2005 as being paid $87,125 and benefits of $16,952 for a total wage package of $104,077.

My question would be: What does Mr. Daugaard volunteer for? Is he on any non-profit boards that help others?

6. I didn’t say herseth wouldn’t be funded by NARAL, Planned Parenthood or any number of special or subsidy dependent interests. Its like she is getting laundered contributions thanks to big government. I suspect there would be less out of state cash as well.

I said democrats couldn’t cough up the coins. I doubt their loans would be paid off in time to fund herseth.

Keep in mind she will start from scratch in a state that prefers GOP governors. And 2010 candidates are already raising money.

Finally, for getting a late start in a statewide race against a media darling I got more bang for the buck than what jack billion got from his while also being a media darling. Minnehaha made the 10,000 vote swing for him otherwise our final counts would be virtually the same.

This sacrificial lamb did better than the saviour of democrats did.

5. If I read you correctly - I doubt Stan would fund herseth but only he knows.

Bruce, let it go. There, I said it.

#30, was that an acknowledgement thay you were wrong?