Under the weather.. but a good time to think about the stories of the year.

Pat Powers

Last night brought a surprise, with my youngest daughter informing us she had the flu by “ralphing” in her bed early in the evening. And what a generous child – she was nice enough to pass on the flu to me this AM!

As I’m working on my recovery, it did give me a few free moments to contemplate the annual exercise of what our top ten political stories of the year are. Could they include the death of Medicaid expansion in South Dakota? Noem in for Governor, while Mickelson took a pass? The continued crumbling of the Democrat Party?

I’d love to hear your suggestions. You know where the comment section is – Sound off, and let me know as I page through the year’s posts and work in the list myself.

31 thoughts on “Under the weather.. but a good time to think about the stories of the year.”

  1. Trump’s win was hands down the biggest political upset were probably ever going to see in our lifetime. It didn’t surprise people who actually went door to door but it surprised and exposed certain media.
    Statewide the utter collapse of the Democrats. Further proved by the rats fleeing the sinking ship (Heuther).

      1. Greg Jamison winning handily in his race for the legislature tells me he has some power in a mayoral race still. I see him as the frontrunner if he gives it one more try.

        2. His legislative district covers a similar area to what his old City Council district did, and he was always popular there. SF has 6 other legislative districts that he’d have to compete in to win a mayoral race. Translation= his legislative district doesn’t tell us anything about his power in the mayoral race.

          Also, why did he run for legislature if he’s not even planning to serve a whole term?

          1. Oh, that’s not a problem in South Dakota. Legislators often resign for career reasons allowing the Governor to appoint whoever he wants. It is just how we do business in a one party state….

          2. I don’t see why he couldn’t serve his entire term. There are two 40 day legislative sessions. They end in March. He’d be done with number 2 before he was elected mayor.

            1. So his 2nd session will be in the middle of the mayoral election. And I don’t care when session ends, the term ends in January 2019.

  3. Top story of 2016:
    “South Dakota blogger contracts influenza on third day of Christmas”
    #ThreeFrenchHeaves

  4. 1. Daugaard and Thune call for Trump to be removed from the GOP ticket.
    2. All things Trump. The man saved the free world.
    3. Noem vs Jackley is happening! We have not had a serious contested statewide primary in this state since 2002 (16 years ago) when Kirby and Barnett helped Rounds win.
    4. Noem announces for Governor. Open House Seat for the first time since Janklow’s accident in 2004. Prior to that he won an open House seat in 2002.
    5. IM 22 and Marsy’s law highlight need for reform of ballot issues. Republican and Democrat operatives pervert the initiated measure system by taking out of state money.
    6. Mickelson passes on Governor and returns almost $1 million to donors
    7. Huether sheds Dem label
    8. Daugaard vetoes transgender bill minutes after tax increase passes.
    9. Daugaard’s grip slips. Brock Greenfield and Lee Qualm win influential positions and restore the legislatures independence as a separate body from the governors office.
    10. Democrats demise continues and gets even worse (this would be higher if it wasn’t the 3rd election in a row that it’s happened)

    Bonus:
    11. Matt Michels will announce before the end of the year that he is considering a 2018 bid for Governor making him a potential spoiler in a 3 way race.

    12. Dilges leaves BFM.

    2. Very good list. Not if I agree on 11 but it’s certainly possible. Also, how come we haven’t heard more about 12?

    1. Overconfident Cory Heidelberger once again gets crushed in a landslide for elected office this time by the winner Al Novstrup. Democrats, Independents and Republicans voted for Al in District 3!

  6. Well, one of the top stories for 2017, I predict, will be…”Republicans decide to keep RomneyCare (I mean ObamaCare) in order to protect Republican governors’
    Medicaid budgets.”

    Another will be “Daugaard replaces Dusty Johnson as apparent Republican nominee for Congress given recent Huether Congressional announcement.”

    How about, “The South Dakota Supreme Court rules that the enactment of initiatives and/or referendums are on equal footings with the legislature’s constitutional powers; thus, spending and taxing powers are allowed by direct democratic measures.”

    Better yet, “Trump closes Ellsworth due to a reworking of the Triad Defense System, then asks ‘Why do we have two Dakotas?'”

    And finally, “Trump announces a 49 state victory tour for 2017 and inadvertently leaves out South Dakota.”

    And finally, finally, “President Trump’s Twitter account has been hacked by a four hundred pound bedridden guy from Macedonia.”

    1. I have thought the GOP would be looking for someone other than Dusty Johnson to carry the torch since the first moments Huether indicated he might run for congress.

      1. Why? Do you think the GOP is afraid of Huether, the egomaniacal, thin-skinned, cry-baby? Any Republican will destroy him in a statewide race.

        1. Huether will lose as long as the Democratic Party runs a candidate, too. Else, a Huether v. D. Johnson race will be closer than many may want to image given a collapsing farm economy, rising interest rates, an “Exxon Presidency” which is anti-ethenol, and a general public malaise because the wall was never built and the swamp was never drained.

      2. Oh yeah, do you remember back in 2002, when Diedrich announced he was going to run for Congress, then apparently Janklow decided to run because Pressler was running and Janklow was rumored to have told Diedrich to get out of the race because Diedrich couldn’t beat Pressler in the primary, but Janklow thought he could and did. Well, the same thing is beginning to play out right now as we speak, if Huether announces for the US House that is….

          1. I don’t see why Dusty would run if Daugaard was going to swoop in at the last minute.

            Huether is a better candidate than anyone expected in this race if he runs for congress. I bet it’s 70/30 that he runs for congress though.

            I have no problem that Huether is an I. The state is heavily going that direction. He will have a basement of 45%.

          2. True, but the Congressional Republicans will not want to risk the lost of that seat.

            It really depends upon just how popular Trump is in 2018.

          1. Dusty and Huether are both campaign machines. There is no “low energy” candidate in that race scenario.

  7. If the Mayor’s basement is 45%, you will be really surprised when he ends up in the cellar and gets 35%.

    The premise to get to 45% is the Democrats and Independents default to Huether which is a big stretch.

    1. I totally agree. In order for Huether to have a basement of 45% would require that the Democratic Party not run anyone, but I don’t think that will happen.

        1. A Democratic candidate, especially after the manipulative debacle of 2010…..

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