What was that the Democrats were mewling? That they would have an opponent for Senator John Thune?
Good luck with that one, as who ever they can press into service, they’re going to be facing a very, very popular US Senator. John Thune was just named as tying for #9 in approval ratings (via their constituents) for Senators in the entire country:
| Vermont | Bernie Sanders | I | 83 | 13 | 230 | +/- 6.5 |
| Maine | Susan Collins | R | 78 | 16 | 654 | +/- 3.8 |
| Wyoming | John Barrasso | R | 73 | 15 | 198 | +/- 7 |
| Vermont | Patrick Leahy | D | 71 | 22 | 230 | +/- 6.5 |
| North Dakota | John Hoeven | R | 69 | 15 | 326 | +/- 5.4 |
| Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar | D | 67 | 20 | 1,172 | +/- 2.9 |
| Wyoming | Mike Enzi | R | 67 | 19 | 198 | +/- 7 |
| West Virginia | Joe Manchin | D | 66 | 24 | 619 | +/- 3.9 |
| Maine | Angus King | I | 65 | 25 | 654 | +/- 3.8 |
| South Dakota | John Thune | R | 65 | 23 | 299 | +/- 5.7 |
Hey only nine spots below Bernie Sanders! Great job, Thune.
I think you need to take into account the idiots in Vermont who think socialism is a good thing, Heisenberg. Then maybe you will tone down your ill-informed sarcasm, lefty.
OUCH!!! That really hurt.
Maybe you should consider the morons from South Dakota who keep sending corrupt Republicans to run their state government. And who keep sending the lightest of the lightweights to Washington.
I’m not sure you know what Socialism is, so if you will define what you think it is we can have a conversation about it. You probably can’t define it though, so we may be two ships passing here. Enough for you to have another quarrel about something you know absolutely nothing about, but not enough for me to try to coax an actual argument out of you.
Thanks for calling me a lefty. If that’s opposite of you, then you honor me. You honor me…
I’m surprised it isn’t in the 70’s.
If readers follow the link they will find that he’s only 6% ahead of Rounds.
Rounds is at 59%.
Pretty good. I’m not surprised at Rounds’ performance considering he just went through a tough campaign but Thune went unnopposed in 2010 and is only at 65%.
“Thune went unnopposed in 2010 and is only at 65%.”
Yep, he is vulnerable. I always thought he was. It takes more than just mere attendance at state high school basketball games to help lead America into the 21st century.
I can see the ads now, “Did you know that a socialist is more popular than your Senator Thune? A Socialist!….. It’s time we sent a real American to Washington to stop the socialists and their popularity games…. ‘Free this and free that’….”
Yup. That’s how Trump would do it. LOL
Bill, brilliant! You are definitely on to something here. We need to run a “Trump style Democrat” against Thune, but without the “Wall” thing. Perhaps, he or she could wear a generic baseball hat on a regular basis as a kind of subconscious message sort of thing.
🙂
I would say the majority of South Dakotans (many who post here excepted) are more conservative, responsible, and moral than the typical Vermont voter. Therefore, your comparison doesn’t hold water.
Well, let us see. Vermont and South Dakota are 45th and 46th in population. Both are considered rural states. Both have many responsible and conservative gun owners, but Vermont does have Amtrak service, however.… I guess I had better stop using that immoral maple syrup…what do you say?
Adolf Hitler was very popular in Germany when he became fuhrer, and they voted to crucify Christ over a murderous thug.. Elections and public opinion do not equate to right and wrong.
History is important too.
Hitler was NOT “popular” in any sense of the word before becoming chancellor.
In a thread on John Thune, inserting Hilter is utter nonsense.
Then doing it with ignorance is shameful.
Strategically, the poll has almost no political value whatsoever. Note that the sample size is 299 people made up of presumably whomever agreed to take the phone call (or was it an online survey? …if so even more worthless). Even so, they give the MOE as being ±5.7 points. That means this data on it’s face could be saying JT has anywhere from 59 to 71% approval among warm South Dakota bodies. I guess it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, but not much. (So, how’s that for some high-octane mewling, Pat? 😉
Bill,
Here is the political value: Even with the MOE, he is above 50% (59% which is way above 50% in this measure). Incumbents who rate below 50% are deemed vulnerable and those above 55% safe. Abdnor is the only incumbent I know who lost with a number above 55% and he lost to a semi-incumbent with comparable numbers after a bruising primary.
Troy, you’re right of course. I just wanted to join in the Dem “mewling” a little. There is no question that Mr. Thune is a popular Senator and will be hard to beat.
Bill, I think Thune is there as long as he wants to go back. When you look at the Republicans in South Dakota who keep sending back corrupt Republican politicians over and over to run their own state government, a milquetoast guy like Thune, with no controversies and no accomplishments will always be a safe choice.
Besides, the Democrats don’t have enough cahones to take it to Thune on the issues.
No accomplishments, Hey Photo op can do and attend basketball games and never miss a photo opportunity right on the above nothing .
If I’m reading the numbers correctly, even if this is a less than scientific poll, it says three times as many people like Senator Thune in South Dakota, as don’t like him. I’d like those odds if I were him
To convert it to a 100 meter run, he gets to start at the 66 meter line, and his opponent has to run the whole 100.
Depends on the opponant. If someone had a 0% approval rating and a 100% disapproval, my advice to them would be not to run, Lee. 😉
Heisenberg,
Your comment is exactly what you are frustrated with the Democrats about- not taking Thune on about issues so you resort to personal attacks which in fact are not true.
“Milquetoast:” Agree or disagree with Senator Thune on issues, etc., fine. But, he is far from milquetoast. Objective assessment by people of all stripes agree on the following:
1) He has charisma.
2) He speaks very well in all settings (large and small group)
3) He works hard at the details of the job in DC and has a command of the issues both practically and politically.
4) He works hard being out and about the state both during election years and non-election years.
5) He is personally liked and respected by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
This is what is called using baseball parlance a “Five Tool Politician.” In my lifetime (observing since the 70’s), George McGovern was the only such politician from SD. Like McGovern, Thune will only be beat if two things occur:
1) They put up a candidate who can make the case they better represent the state on the issues, and,
2) They can make a credible charge he has lost connection with average South Dakotans. On this, good luck with that since John’s family lives here and in addition to seeing him at formal events, people see him in the aisle at HyVee trying to decide whether the “white navy beans” he is to bring home are supposed to be the dried ones in a bag or the pre-cooked ones in a can.
BTW, I am not going to touch the accomplishment comment because as a liberal you disagree with him on issues or that you measure accomplishment by “pork.” They are in the eye of the beholder and to large degree to issues on which we disagree.
Troy, you’re not right about a few of these things and you are right about a few of them.
Especially the one about Thune being a Tool. Well, not just a tool, but like you describe, a 5X Tool.
–BTW, I am not going to touch the accomplishment comment because as a liberal you disagree with him on issues or that you measure accomplishment by “pork.” They are in the eye of the beholder and to large degree to issues on which we disagree
In spite of claiming otherwise, you go on to spend several words responding to the “accomplishment” comment!
touche’!
Here is what Senator Thune told a group of us in Pierre a few years ago; “When I began my work in the US Senate I got up every morning and went to work with every effort made in what can be done today making America better, now I get up every morning hoping I can stop or at least slow down the pain Washington DC is causing America.”
Not a quote but close. Obviously John Thune is 100% joined at the hip with the average common sensed South Dakotan.
Anonymous 12:41:
Your unhealthy stalking of my every comment and bizarre attempt to make a bizarre argument is goofy.
Explaining why I’m not going to touch the “accomplishment” assertion of Heisenberg is not “responding” but being courteous that I wasn’t ignoring it.
You are delusional.
I respond to many, many folks around here.
It ain’t about you–it is about the truth.
get over it and yourself.
Explaining that you were not going to touch a comment with several words telling us why you were not doing so, is indeed, touching it!
–but being courteous that I wasn’t ignoring it.
So in essence, you said you were ignoring it (“I am not going to touch the accomplishment comment”), but then told us that you were being courteous by not ignoring it.
mmmmm that’s so clear!
Just know you aren’t anonymous to me. Why don’t you let everyone else know who you are?
People; especially Country Musac people, look to the Midwest embracing us hoping to gather and keep our good favor embellishing them in stature. Because; according to the Rock Stars “If you lose the Midwest you lose everything!”
Pols take note………..…….