I think I need a shower after reading that man-crush letter.
From Dave Kranz this morning, comes a love letter from the columnist to Brendan Johnson, the Senator’s son who just got the nomination for the cushy federal job:
Party members see Brendan Johnson as a personable, electable guy who can serve the party well. Like U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., he would be a perfect campaigner.
It would seem that the race where Democrats could make forward progress is having a Democratic governor.
Though Herseth Sandlin has decided to run for re-election instead of entering the gubernatorial race, Democrats still believe that it’s time to place one of their own in that chair sometime soon.
But I digress.
The U.S. Attorney’s job offers Brendan Johnson credentials that some position well for future opportunities – whatever those might be.
Still others – particularly the younger party members – think this new job will be a perfect fit for him.
Talk about a puff piece.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
The state republican party should be making this an issue. Johnson’s lack of credentials should be compared to other nominees for US Attorney. This would expose the Democrats total absense of any real responsibility and respect for this very important office.
Prince Brendan had this plum federal job greased for him because of his Daddy. He represents all that is wrong and corrupt with our politics.
State Republicans have more to do with getting along, than getting ahead. They need to make real waves to get ahead!
xerxel, That sounds just like Urkel. Isn’t that Laura Ingrams pet name for Obama – Steve Urkel!? lol
Actually it doesn’t sound THAT much like Urkel…I just wanted to mention the comparison of Obama to Urkel.
Reading this piece, nowhere does it really come out and say Johnson was the best qualified for the job or even have the experience, just that he’s a nice guy and personable and gee whiz, isn’t this nice that he got the job. Politics as usual from the party that claims it’s so ethical. And the usual compliments from the Argus via Kranz. Nothing has changed. (except that the Argus is shrinking in both size and subscribers!)
Kranz is a Democratic hack and mouthpiece and Brendan apologist/promoter. It’s a joke that he’s still “writing” if that’s what you call it.
PP, I feel the same way whenever I hear conservatives talk about how much they love President Reagan.
Guy, I don’t mind the comparison of President Obama and Steve Urkel. It’s nice to have a smart president for once. 
So John are you saying that everything president Obama is doing and wants to do is smart? I for one have no problem with Brendan and really can’t understand why others do. The Dems won the election. Don’t forget the reps appoint godd old Kevein Schaffer of the DM&E for this post. Remember the make he worn for press confernces…
PP hisownself has written that Johnson is “very likely qualified” for the job.
I don’t think anyone should get to be US Attorney because their Dad is a US Senator. But, I also think it would be just as unfair to bar someone from the US Attorney’s job just because their Dad was a US Senator.
And, to paraphrase Muhammed Ali – It ain’t puff if it’s true.
The test is this:
Is Johnson a personable, electable guy who can serve the party well? Would he be a perfect campaigner? Could this new job be a perfect fit for him? Like him or not, I suspect those statements are true and consequently not puffery.
Let’s see now…..we are talking about “lack of credentials”….. “represents all that is wrong and corrupt with our politics”.
Ah yes, how soon we Republicans forget our own Monica Goodling! I remember back in the day that we Republicans thought she was just “peachy”!
What a disaster that was….and still is… but she was the best we Republicans had available at the time.
Speaking of “needing a shower”, Monica Goodling was a shower!
Here’s a link to his profile:
http://www.jhajlaw.com/Attorneys.shtml/3435159_1
I’m sure he’s been so busy, he just hasn’t found the time.
I hope Heidepriem didn’t get any kickbacks for making him partner!
Guy,
Why did six Republican former Bar Presidents endorse him? Kickbacks?
Or, could it be his experience as a prosecutor and as a lawyer in private practice?
How does Johnson’s experience stack up against recent South Dakota US Attorneys?
How many cases did Kevin Scheiffer try before Pressler nominated him for US Attorney?
Hey, I’m not saying you don’t have some points. I’m saying the best way to get into the KGB was to have relatives in the politburo. Note for those who can’t get a grip. Socialist government -bad. Democratic government -good!
Brendan wasn’t really shining before he got this nod!
Guy,
So, a family connection equals socialism. the Bushes represent socialism? Two Rounds in SD state government = socialism?
Brendan was shining at about the same wattage as the current US Attorney before he got the nod and the same wattage as most US Attorneys before they get the nod.
I think PP meant “bromance” to describe the obvious love affair. Kranz anoints Brendan as the Governor and we are all supposed to eat it up. What about credible candidates for the position. Kranz needs to take off the rose colored glasses.
“Honor Student”,
Is Johnson a personable, electable guy who can serve the party well? Would he be a perfect campaigner? Could this new job be a perfect fit for him? Like him or not, I suspect those statements are true and consequently not puffery nor a view hindered by rose colored glasses.
How does Johnson’s experience stack up against recent South Dakota US Attorneys?
It’s one thing to whine about Kranz. But, if you don’t back up the whining you just improve Kranz’ credibility.
This is playing out like all the braying about Stephi taking so long to decide whether to run for Governor in light of the fact it took John Thune until October to figure out if he was going to run for Governor or oppose Johnson.
The glass house thing comes into play here pretty strong.
Spin it anyway you want. Kranz is still a hack that abuses his position to push Democratic candidates.
OK, Brendan!
Nice resume you have on your Law Firms website. I’m sure you’ll have that remedied shortly. And tell your dad to use some of that influence to get that Death Care bill shot down. Or at least, do the honorable thing and vote to be covered by the same Health Care System as your constituents!
I’m not spinning anything.
I’m saying let’s test Kranz’ claims. If they’re false, let’s call him on them. But, if they’re not false, then keep your powder dry.
This “ready, fire, aim” stuff only helps the D’s.
Ghost.
U r missing the point.
There are a lot of good campaigning, personable, lovable, great smelling possible candidates out there but Kranz decides to give free press to BJ. If u want to see an experiment in absurdity, replace Brendan’s name with a Republican. Its not in Kranz’s DNA to push for R’s in the same manner.
Am I helping Dam’s by exposing his bias? No. Hopefully the Republican base wakes up and cancels their subscription to the Argus Liar
“Honnor Student” I see your point just fine. It’s a waste of time. You’re exposing no bias.
Johnson right now is newsworthy. Kranz’ claims are credible. Attacking Kranz over a credible story about a Democrat who is in the news strengthens Kranz’ credibility.
I tend to agree with Ghost Repeater’s basic assessment. Clearly, Brendan Johnson has a promising career ahead of him with much speculation on how high he will go. It is another matter to question how he got this far and to what extent he benefits from his father’s position and influence. The purpose of Kranz’s column seemed to be on the former idea rather than the latter. Nothing inherently wrong with that.
The article seems to state the obvious rather than attempting to dig deep as some kind of investigative reporting into patronage/nepotism. I find that to be more Kranz’s style, though. He likes the parlor game of guessing who will be running for what down the line and keeping track of all the players in the mix. Clearly, the announcement of Brendan Johnson to this post plays a role in shaping races down the line. I wouldn’t read the article for much more than that.
Kranz is the gift that keeps on giving to the right. Until that rag allows a counter point to Kranz or moves him to the opinion section of that horrible paper, it can always be marginalized. It really does speak to push for a democrat and a trip up for a republican. Sometimes Kranz uses techniques such as guilting by association for a republican or making democrats leap of the paper like for Johnson. He is a likeable guy but he is killing his paper and Randall is to stubborn to change the “tradition” of Kranz. That paper is worth less then half what it was 3 years ago and the outlook makes the Shopping News model more marketable then this joke of a business model that Randall Beck is pushing on us. I quit buying it years ago.
Ghost Repeater, brendan is a pretty named face…great. Can you think of others, both sides? Don’t sell him as qualified, don’t sell him as a thinker. He got the job for the name, the relation…end of story. We will move on. Next story, what is it? Brendan moving on…open slot only. Herseth taking a chance, not likely. As much as it seems to hurt, the Dem. party in this state is a cult of personally, not personality and as such we will continue to be a state run by the GOP and 2010 will be a blood bath but for Steph’s grand inaugural and Brendan’s continued triumph.
You all seem to forget that Kranz’s column appear on opinion-editorial page of the AL’s print version. Now, when Kranz writes ‘puff’ pieces like this http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090619/COLUMNISTS0102/906190314/1133/columnists0102, it’s okay, right? Thought so.
Shantell who would want to mention a person who wants wage earners to work for nothing in this state like you have voted on inthe past.
My opinion is that Brendan is on the fast track to political office and his advantage will soon become his liability. How do I mean? Look at his dad’s voting record since he became a veggie. It is extremely liberal.
I’d like to see brendan explain why he didn’t even have influence with his pop when he is trying to look like a moderate in 2014 when his dad steps down.
Tim Johnson voting lextremely liberal is going to really hurt brendan.
mancrush??? don’t drop the soap.