Archive for December, 2007
Which politicians are ’styling and profiling?’
I had posted on Shantel Krebs’ commenting about the year in fashion, and one of the commenters asked that I dovetail off of that into the political realm:
PP, how about a post about South Dakota’s political fashion leaders, male and female? Take nominations. No cheap shots allowed.
Okay, here you go - Which of our [...]
SDCAC hires out of state consulting firm. Does that light the way as to their direction?
I was checking out some of the various political websites on the Internet today.
Just on the off chance that more information might have been available from the SDCAC in reference to my infamous ten questions, I glanced at their website. And while there’s still little to no information on the org and who it’s supporters [...]
It’s not a Republican versus Democrat issue. It’s Chamber versus Chamber.
Leading up to the legislative session being held this next month, the Argus Leader Editorial board spoke with Dave Knudson and Scott Heidepreim regarding their similarities, and how the parties differed. Quizzically, I’m getting the distinct impression that they’re inferring that there is less difference between the Senate caucuses, than there is between the two [...]
Krebs on do’s and don’ts of 2007
Today’s Argus Leader has a feature on area residents as they reflect on the events of 2007, and anticipate 2008. And as part of the group, they talked to Republican State Representative Shantel Krebs in her area of business, fashion:
Yes, I do subscribe to the dead tree edition of the Argus. And for god’s sake, [...]
Turbak on open records committee
Nancy Turbak is likely to be pushing her own bill for open records again this year, despite consigning herself to the fact it will likely fail:
State Senator Nancy Turbak Berry of Watertown will likely push for legislation in the upcoming legislative session requiring that all state records are presumed open, but she’s pessimistic it’ll [...]
Deal or No Deal?
The Argus Leader is reporting this AM that after being offered $20,000 to leave his position as Roberts County Sheriff amidst sexual harassment allegations, Vince Owen is saying no deal:
Roberts County commissioners last week offered Sheriff Vincent Owen $20,000 to resign amid allegations of sexual harassment.
Owen, who’s been sheriff of the state’s northeastern-most county since [...]
Comings and goings: Verchio and Glenski
Here’s a couple of comings and goings for you, courtesy of the Secretary of State’s website.
Mary Glenski has filed a termination report for her campaign finance committee. Since she’s up for term limits, this isn’t a big surprise. But, it might mean that one of the Democrat’s strong pro-life advocates isn’t going to seek higher [...]
Johnson campaign calling county auditors.
I had sent an e-mail out tonight to an extensive list of people informing them that my Pierre cell phone number no longer works, as I’ve ‘gone Brookings’ and given up my ‘280′ number for adoption.
Of course, the consequence was that as they recieved my new number, I got about a dozen calls tonight while [...]
Dakota Voice covers SD Focus. (I can’t bear to watch)
Bob Ellis watched the SD Focus on PBS tonight, and gives some pretty good coverage for it. I’m glad to hear it. One of my elected friends was watching it too. And he didn’t think I bombed, as I always fear on this stuff.
Take a moment and go read it here.
I’m glad he spent the [...]
A Christmas Gift for SD Tourism (and a spoiler alert for you readers)
I just had the opportunity to see National Treasure: Book of Secrets. And considering our state’s part in the story (whether real or imagined), as well as the footage shot in South Dakota, those involved in Black Hills Tourism ought to genuflect whenever they pass by a movie theater. Because they’re going to [...]
Joel Rosenthal and the Mickey Mouse Legislators
Joel Rosenthal apparently thinks we have a few Mickey Mouse legislators.
At least that’s the take I’m getting from Joel Rosenthal’s latest column over at SD Straight Talk and at his little place over at Keloland.com. I bring it up as it has been the subject of some e-mails shooting across the Internet tonight.
Joel, who currently [...]
Coming out of Sioux Falls today: “I want……”
Johnathan Ellis at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader is reporting today that the wish list coming out of Sioux Falls for this next session is growing. And growing. And growing. And I can’t see much of it that’s worth supporting - taxes and nanny legislation:
The Sioux Falls City Council wants the authority to regulate smoking.
Minnehaha [...]
Last Year’s Predictions…. How did I do?
As I look for topics to recycle at the end of the year when news is always slow, I look back on my predictions for last year, just to see how I did:
Prediction 1. Legislative Democrats are not going to have as good a year as they might think.
How did I do?
There was lots of [...]
Post-Christmas update.
Whew! Christmas is over.
Much food was eaten. Presents were given, albeit at a lower level than usual, but no one complained. (This might give me the moral authority to press for a continued “Christmas of fewer toys and more socks and underwear” next year). And Santa even delivered a Nintendo Wii as a group gift.
I’m [...]
A Christmas Message from the South Dakota War College
I originally ran this in 2005, and gosh darn it, it still remains the best summation I could put on the season. So, I’m dusting it off once again…..
There has been much debate on the news, and the Internet, and on South Dakota web logs about a perceived assault on Christmas. There’s as much debate [...]
John Thune - Time Magazine did not choose wisely
John Thune was quoted yesterday on the Brownfield ag news website pointing out that Time Magazine should have made a different choice for Man of the Year:
Thune got plenty of credit Friday for his role in ensuring an expanded RFS made it into law. For his part, Thune said Endres and Broin should literally be [...]
Senator Bob Gray joins the cast of “The Appropriators”
Tony Mangan over at KCCR (who was recently accused of being my minion, asking questions of politicians at my whim) received the psychic commands I sent him through the Internet and called up Bob Gray regarding a vacancy on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
According to Senator Gray, no one was interested in assuming the position on [...]
Argus has people all fired up on legal billings
As a result of their articles on the state’s legal billings, the Argus Leader has a series of legislators and groups fired up about the state’s legal billings and contracts. As described in this article, we can expect it’s going to be a topic of discussion this coming session:
One taxpayer group - Americans for Prosperity [...]
American Cancer Society threatens ballot measure on smoking
The American Cancer Society, which has a tendency to promote nanny state legislation on smoking, is pushing for legislators to support local control legislation on just that very topic, because they know they can’t get the state to ban it. As reported in today’s Rapid City Journal:
If lawmakers reject the local-control legislation, a petition campaign [...]
Santa endorses Huckabee. So does the leader of the SDCAC
A couple of Huckabee endorsements for you this morning. First, (Hat tip to the Kansas Progress), Santa endorses Huckabee:
Santa is actually an elected official. Santa is played by Kansas Representative Bill Otto of LeRoy, Kansas.
Closer to home, Lee Breard, Director of the SDCAC is apparently on board with supporting Mike Huckabee. As you can see [...]
