Steve Kirgy is wealthy by any standard. Evidence abounds. If people want to make class-envy an issue, they can but they need to be prepared to face the consequences. The Kirby family has been very generous with they blessings. Evidence also abounds.

Also, it is now an accepted practice to have opposition “monitoring” of more private behaviour. I don’t like the growing practice because I think it contributes to spreading innuendo. Will those who applaud this also applaud the spreading of unflattering pictures of Tim Johnson in situations that highlight his disability?

On this particular situation, what rubs me wrong is it doesn’t consider Steve’s particular situation. He has Newfoundland dogs that require a great deal of care. I know as I often see Steve and Suzy walking their dog on the bike path and I once had a Great Pyrennes. Sometimes other commitments just don’t allow one to do the care yourself or you make a value decision to delegate it. The “dog grooming” incident was totally gratuitous.

Will the people who are “stalking” Steve also distribute pictures that Steve does the family grocery shopping? I know this because my middle daughter worked at HyVee and saw him every week. Like many of her “regulars” they became friends. So much for Steve being out of touch? He knows the price of groceries better than at least half of South Dakotans.

I once used to scoff at people who had cleaning help or lawn fertilizers. But now that I’m a little older and have my grandchildren nearby, my wife and I now have this hired out because it allows us more time to assist my daughter and son-in-law w/ child care in the evenings and on Saturday so we can spend more time with them. It is less a sign of “wealth” but allocation of priorities.

Politics is a rough and tumble sport. Steve and Tim can’t and shouldn’t expect total privacy. But we should be especially sensitive to the family of the candidates. With Steve, the issue is even more of an issue because he still has kids at home. Besides Tim and Steve, Suzy and Barb will have to be ready for a thicker skin. But let’s not create a situation where Steve’s kids and their friends have to fear being posted all over the internet in an effort to discredit their father.

With regard to Tim, I think a “Roosevelt” standard is appropriate. I will not appreciate and will condemn gratuitous pictures of him in a wheelchair or otherwise having limited mobility. This is not a material detriment to the performance of his duties. I think the “dog grooming” analogy is comparable.

However, I also think that we need to be sensitive to how Tim’s speech is used. If it gratuitous exploitation, it is over the top. If it displays inability to coherently communicate which is central to being an effective US Senator, it is appropriate but it is a very fine line which charity and decorum require it to be done very carefully.

What I fear is this incident is setting the standard pretty low and I don’t think the Democratic party will think it such “fun” when turned against them. And most importantly, there will be Steve supporters who Steve can’t control who will use this new low-bar to justify their actions especially when combined w/ the recent Johnson campaign fundraising letter included innuendo w/ no basis in fact before Steve had even announced.

I don’t like the road we are on and it is no consolation that the first salvo’s were cast by the Democrats.

The following is a teaching from my Church. I think it transcends religious values but reflect universal values.

“Everyone should observe an appropriate reserve concerning persons’ private lives. Those in charge of communications should maintain a fair balance between the requirements of the common good and respect for individual rights. Interference by the media in the private lives of persons engaged in political or public activity is to be condemned to the extent that it infringes upon their privacy and freedom.”

But as noted elsewhere here, Kirby has been in public office in SD before, has run for office, and is publically visible about considering a run against Tim.

So that seems like fair game, to me as far as political discussion and campaigning goes.

In another context (there’s that word again) the new abortion ban is not on the ballot yet, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t discuss it does it? (I’m trying not to, by the way… even so, I’m just sayin’.)

My comment at 9:53 is that I think the Republican outrage over this is insincere, just politics. But that’s just my opinion.

http://daschlevthune.typepad.com/daschle_v_thune/images/secondporch.jpg

And just to be perfectly clear, 9:55am, your objection is that someone allegledly took a photo of someone’s house before they announced. But if those photos are taken and/or released after he gets in the race, you’ll have no problem with it. Correct?

however, i would argue that the daschle issue was about his claim of residency. he claimed a dc housing exemption, when he was supposed to be a south dakota citizen.

the kirby issue is … well, i don’t know what the purpose of it is other than to intimidate a guy into not running for office and to make people hate him because he’s wealthy.

if personal wealth is an issue to you, you must really hate obama.

http://daschlevthune.typepad.com/daschle_v_thune/images/porch.jpg

Below is a link to one of the photos posted by Thune Staffer Jon Lauck.

http://daschlevthune.typepad.com/daschle_v_thune/2004/10/daschles_loggia.html

It’s of his back yard.

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/LAORLEAN/2000-05/0957925358

Someone call Captain Hook.

http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/2004/week43/index.html#entry-2496311

Not clear if the used a “telephoto lens…”

I don’t remember PP or any other GOP bloggers saying that was “slimeball” at the time.

The indignity looks pretty contrived…