Dakotafest Report – WOW.
I was just talking to someone who was there who gave me a great report on the Dakotafest forum. I’m kind of wishing I didn’t have work on my plate today. It sounds like this was one to remember.
What did they tell me? Basically Thune destroyed. As in John Thune was the rockstar of the Republican party that he is, and it sounds like Herseth Sandlin was the opening act that got light applause, and then was booed off the stage. The forum was about biofuels? Hardly. The reporters – not the people – came loaded to bear with questions on healthcare. Herseth apparently kept relying on Obamacare talking points, and no one was buying it.
My spy was speaking with SDGOP director Lucas Lentsch after noting how many familiar faces he saw in the audience, and asked him “did you guys send out a release on this for people to attend?” (And SDWC plug here…) Lucas replied “No, the only thing I saw on it was the note posted on Powers’ blog.”
It apparently drew a huge grassroots crowd with basically nothing other than being one of the rare occasions that people would get to question their Washington Reps.
I’m told that Thune got TONS of applause. And that laughter and booing thing that the Argus reported with Herseth? Yup – it happened.
My person said that this was one of those rare occasions when no one was buying the Herseth image. They were listening intently to what she said, and they weren’t buying it. No one cared that she said she was a blue dog.
Stay tuned for more on this – The media was there, and I’ve got to find a tape of this….
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Comments
Herseth said something to the peasants about “don’t be afraid of the Democrats running things in Washington” and people boo-ed and laughed at her. lame performance.
Tommy Paine, Nobody cares about race, religion, creed or party – the issue here is Freedom.
Are you for Freedom or free stuff!?
this is exactly why Herseth is REFUSING to have town halls where people can ask unscripted questions. she doesn’t want people actually scrutinizing her statements and stance. she wants her constituents to just shut up and let her boss Pelosi take over health care.
Obama is smoking out the liberal “true believer” Democrats with his agenda this summer. Stephanie is one of dozens of liberals who have been exposed for the ideologue extremists they are.
I doubt she can play the moderate card any more.
We were at the forum sitting in the front so evidently missed a lot of interesting stuff at the back of the room. I asked Herseth to explain her statement as reported in the Mitchell Daily Republic on 8-18-09 and on this blog: “I’m wondering why they [people who were upset about being disinvited to the Rapid City event] wouldn’t look to interface with me in any of the other settings that I currently have scheduled…Why I should completely disrupt an August schedule that’s been set for weeks…” I told her Dakotafest was the only known public event she would appear at.
She did not like this topic. She firmly stated she didn’t disinvite the people to the Rapid City event and said I was being disrespectful as she did not disinvite the people; the sponsors did. I said it didn’t matter; it was not now a public meeting. I said that I had called her offices repeatedly and that they refused to give out a schedule or say it was finalized, and she said she would talk with her staff. She said she was here now, ask the questions I wanted to ask, and we got into health care. I asked a couple of questions and then stepped back so others could get their chance.
I asked one of her staff people standing there about any other public meetings, and this person said he didn’t know her schedule. Really!? I asked the second staff person near her about any public meetings, and he flatly said there were NONE. Wow, finally someone admits the obvious!
It seems that she does not want public meetings. She is fine with carefully scripted meetings with mostly friendly audiences.
I repeat to Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin: I respectfully remind you that you are our voice in DC, our only representative there, we employ you, it is our right to be able to speak with you face to face, and you have the responsibility to meet with your constituents.
It’s not all about health care either. There was one gentleman that personally thanked her for something she had helped him with. There was one man with a young girl who just wanted to meet her; what an exciting opportunity for this young girl. There are many who I am sure agree with her and would like to personally tell her so. Some of us agree with her, some don’t, lots of issues and lots of questions, and it is one of a politician’s responsibilities to meet personally with his/her constituency and listen.
If Tim Johnson happens to be reading this, this applies to him as well. Wonder if any of the planes at the SF airport he was reportedly touring today had any questions for him???? Guess their health wouldn’t be affected by this health care bill though!
I wonder if John had all of his buddies from Sanford (where he “earned” $200K a year as a lobbyist) and the insurance industry lobbyists who’ve funded all of his campaigns in attendance.
Thune’s rhetoric is laughable. The plan 8 years ago under “W” was to let private insurers develop pools to cover people. That worked real well didn’t.
It would be nice to see somebody, from either party, stand up and fight for once.
Oh, by the way, this website is about like going to Sibby Online now.
Remember when War College didn’t suck? About two or three years ago?
There were radicals in the back hooting at Sen. Thune and whistling and cheering Rep. Sandlin and they were wearing LaRoushe buttons. And get this: one looked just like Sibby.
Springer – glad you were able to get you’re questions answered. Too bad she’s never accessable to her constituents…
It’s funny no on is bringing up the fact that District 18 REPUBLICAN House (http://dakotawarcollege.com/archives/3793) candidate Michelle Rook was the moderator. Doesn’t that seem a little fishy to you? I listed on the radio – and she seemed to cut off the FSA Directro and Herseth. Not that this really matters…but just seemed fishy.
So Springer, besides asking her why you couldn’t ask her any questions and her saying well that’s what you’re doing isn’t it big fella? what else did you ask? and what did she answer? i.e. where’s the beef? Your post is all hat and no cattle, pardner.
Bill, Bill. I will say it slowly so you can understand. Love the big fella comment; you might be a little surprised what I actually look like, but on to what you want to know.
My question to her was why she implied that she had other meetings scheduled in the interview quoted in the paper, but she in reality has none; and that she wondered why people couldn’t interface (her word, not mine) with her at other meetings than the one people were uninvited to in Rapid City. Well, she quickly got around that and didn’t answer it. She wanted to know my questions on health care. She plain and simple did not like being caught with that quote. Because even her staff members with her were confused – one said he knew nothing and the other flatly stated she would have NO other meetings. So she really didn’t answer my question at all.
I asked her some general health care questions regarding why she thought that a public option wouldn’t eventually drive out private insurance, why just the certain small number of uninsured weren’t targeting instead of completely taking over the entire system. Then I stepped back and let others talk to her rather than hog the time. These are the questions I asked her on health care.
But what about the other constituents who weren’t at this one and only public meeting she will do? What about the questions they have? What about their right to voice their concerns to her? That’s my beef, hooves, tail, and all, but no hat; couldnt’ get the cow to keep it on.
So your big issue is public option, Springer? What was her answer? The big issues are pre-existing condition and portability… inclusiveness… the elimination of discrimination and affordability, don’t you think? What do you care about public option really? Isn’t the real concern that everyone can get coverage?
Is it just me or does it seem like Springer spent all his precious time with Stephanie whining about how she wouldn’t talk to anybody?
And he’s still doing it.
He seems more concerned about everyone being able to ask meaningless questions than he is about people being able to get affordable, portable, non-discriminatory health care.
I could be wrong, of course, but so far Springer’s not really convincing me that I am.
Bill, you’re better than this. The bigger issue is about Representative Herseth’s representation (or misrepresentation). At best, she is knowingly obfuscating the issue of her accessibility to her constituents; at worst, she is lying to us. Either way, she is behaving in a manner beneath the office she holds.
Chukkar, I submit that you’re better than this. Either that, or you’re just engaging in political headhunting. I suppose, bottom line, it all has to do with whether you think universal health care is more important than partisan politics.
Bill,
You have your hands full trying to defend SHS and TJ for not scheduling town halls. There simply is no excuse. This event only served to prove that SHS is out of touch with the rank and file South Dakotan. Even with her comments about Cap and Trade, it’s clear that she is hedging her bets to cover herself when she eventually votes for it.
Bill, you really can’t see it, can you. We elect people to represent us in Congress. We have a right to meet with them on issues as important and with such longlasting effects as this thing would have. And they have a responsibility to meet with us. My question IMO was more important than a general one on health care, and she refused to answer it. If this issue is of so little consequence to you, then you do not understand the framework of our gov’t. I’m not wasting anymore of my time trying to convince you because you have a closed mind on the subject. Keep butting your head against a wall defending Herseth’s lack of openness and honesty on this issue. It IS vital to us, both those who voted for her and those who did not. And I don’t care whether you agree or not.
And there you have it annon 8:49 and others, you’ve switched the debate from health care reform to accessibility. There are two good reasons to do this if you are a certain ilk of conservative Republican: You take attention away from the core issues in health care reform where you are likely to lose and you chip away at SHS politically hoping to softener her support in 2010 and beyond. You have no interest whatsoever in legitimate discussion and you know it. You seek public forums as a means to embarrass someone you oppose and you know it. You never clamored for town halls until there was a contingent of hecklers ready to show up and make a scene and you know it. The information you pretend to seek is available through various other channels and you know it. Masks off, charade over.
Left foot, exactly. Who do they think they’re fooling? Besides, if Stephanie voted any more like Republican, she would be one.
Wow, leftfoot – you nailed it.
Bill – I’m pretty sure Springer is a woman – correct me if I’m wrong, Springer – a retired farm wife, right?
Randall.
Oh.
That would be unfortunate.
Maybe I should start posting as “Wilma” or something.
Anyway, If I missed your gender, Springer, please accept my apology for posts past, present, and future, because I’m sure I’ll never remember it.
I do get your “big fella” tweak now though.
Before, I thought you were just trying to tell me you were short.
You know, half the time, I swear my wife expects me to read her mind. But you know what? Try as I might, I find I just can’t.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up, Randall.
Legitimate discussion shouldn’t be political when concerning Health. Or does Health have some socio-political advantage to someone here?
Or would we all like a Government Church too!? Some are color-blind to the lines drawn where government shouldn’t go beyond!
But I forget…if Government can’t solve the problem who could?
myleftie and billy boy, people wanted town hall meetings this time because it is the only way they can get to express their opinion and make sure the legislator actually gets to hear it. I don’t know when there has been such a massive proposed fed plan that would so effect all of us and thus the heightened desire for meetings. The adminsitration has not explained his plan well, our nation is broke, people are worried more than ever before about the economy and taxes on them and their kids in the future, and the legislators are basically arrogantly ignoring their constitutents and calling them names when they ask questions, and you wonder why people are upset. If you think this is a great way to govern, then you fit right in with the rest of your lib friends in the gov’t.
BTW, if you remember, people were asking for public meetings in this state last year too even though there weren’t such lively town halls last year. We simply want to meet with our legislators, and that is our right. If you don’t want to meet them, fine; most do.
Springer, I do understand that you were frustrated by not getting to talk to Stephanie. But what I don’t understand is that now that you’ve had a chance to talk to her, ask her your questions about health care and even ask her your questions about why she won’t answer your questions, you’re still saying she won’t talk to you. What do you want her to do, invite you over for dinner? Become your friend on Facebook? What?
So Springer, folks like you and PP want town hall meetings only for legitimate discussion. So why is PP practically wetting himself over SHS being laughed at and booed at Dakotafest? Why is he all puffed up because Lentsch said the only thing he saw promoting Thune-friendly/anti SHS attendance was War College? Sure there can be legitimate questions at town halls. But they all to often are little more than an opportunity for political feces-slingers to take aim at those they want defeated–the fiasco at Dakotafest moderated by a not-so-former Republican operative being a prime example.
Bill, I want her to be available to others who want to talk to her. I want Johnson to be the same. Thune and she answered questions at a forum, the way democracy is supposed to work. The problem is this is a big state, and they each should be available to others across the state. Surely you can see that. Or maybe not.
BTW the moderator at Dakotafest didn’t favor either participant. I didn’t know or care which party she was a member of; heck, she may have been a Republican who voted for a Dem! A lot of them did if you remember, and nothing wrong with that either if that’s their preference. And it wasn’t a fiasco. But it’s useless to try to tell anything to a person stumbling over his left foot all the time.
Thank you to all who care about the profitability of the insurance companies. Keep yelling! My stocks in Coventry Health and UnitedHealth Group have done great!
I appreciate your willingness (or the business you work for) to withstand 25% increases in your premiums. Can you make it 30% next year, I want a dividend…
How about sacrificing the 20% taxes the government is taking out of my paycheck! That isn’t doing me any good! My health care is at least working for me! Then maybe I could afford to buy shares in some of those stocks you are talking about!
Reality is here. You are over here; selling your soul to a bill that they are still writing!
Riddle me this!? How can we discuss real issues when our government is trying to pass bills that aren’t finished?
Did the people who attended have to pay to get into this forum? I hear Thune will have a forum at the SD State Fair…people will have to pay to see him.
These don’t sound like forums to me.
Guy, wasn’t Grassley basically bragging a few days ago about how he stopped the Senate finance committee from agreeing on a bill? You’re right though, we can’t discuss a single bill. We can only discuss general concepts included in bills passed by four other committees that weren’t hamstrung by Republicans. Kind of a contradiction isn’t it? The party you most likely support holds up legislation and then you complain we don’t have a finished bill to discuss.
Guy,
Step up the anger, bro. My girls need a new pair of shoes and CVH and UNH were only up around 1% today. Same amount after hours though.
You need to get out with your weapons and start screaming. Coventry Health reported only a 5.1% increase in their premium revenues per customer compared to the first quarter of the year. We need more free market principles and less government!
Go Guy, Go!
Uh oh DakotaDem – I see there’s a new survey from SurveyUSA that shows 77% of registered voters are in favor of a Public Option to private health insurance.
Any preliminary reports about how many people were there tearing up posters of Rosa Parks? Calling people “Nazi’s”? Lighting Representative’s family members’ cars on fire? Crying about Birth Certificates? Carrying loaded assault rifles?
(I’d post links, but last time I tried that the spam filter picked me up)