Senator John Thune was recently on Fox News’ “Your World With Neil Cavuto,” and you can’t help but to give him a “hell yeah” for his earlier comments about the election:
“It’s a free country, Neil, and he’s an individual that has a big following out there, obviously, politically, and continues to be a major force in the politics of our country. But, you know, I will do what I have to do in South Dakota. If getting primaried is the price for standing up, and speaking the truth, and standing up for the rule of law and the Constitution, then so be it,” Thune responded.
He went on to say the “main thing” going into the 2022 midterm elections is that Trump and Republicans in Congress “are going to be united” in working to win majorities in the House and Senate. He added that, in his view, the country is “heading into a left ditch” because “the Democratic Party is controlled by the Bernie Sanders wing of the party.”
It’s interesting because there had been this cabal of people who read too many facebook memes clucking about Thune accepting the results of the election as somehow being wrong.
Guess what? The cluckers are even more unorganized, still reading facebook memes, while Senator Thune is getting ready for the next election.
Could a primary happen? Sure. It could in the best of times.
But Thune stands strong, the entire delegation including Governor Noem stands behind him, and nothing is going to change that.
The South Dakota website Woki-leaks dropped some notes from a transcript from a December 10, 2020 Zoom meeting to discuss the University of South Dakota’s search for a new Associate VP of Diversity… A zoom meeting that USD appears to have taken off-line.
Why would it not be on-line any more? Well, at least according to what SD Woki-leaks notes as the transcript of the “Comments from the Zoom Call” – they claim that it appears USD professor Clayton Lehmann had some fairly pointed opinions about legislators.
00:44:16 Clayton Lehmann again. The problem of the conservative character of the legislature is not merely lack of understanding, which can be addressed by education and explanation, but active resistance to the desirability of diversity and some very active legislators who follow an evil agenda of advancing their racism and bigotry by shaping state law–here we need someone who can go beyond explanation to identifying and calling out evil.
I’m sure that will go over well. (Especially with you evil, racist and bigoted Legislators who will be voting on the appropriations bill this next week.)
As opposed to my COVID update from last week, I think I’ll manage to get through the weekend without a trip to the emergency room for some messed up COVID thing. I think people are thinking I’m more infirm than I actually am, as I had someone send me a get-well card this week (thanks MC). Okay… I do appreciate it, but I’m on the mend.
Being on the mend, I thought I’d give an update, and keep the COVID briefings going as part as a firsthand account of what I’m experiencing, and why wearing a mask/getting your COVID vaccination is a good voluntary idea to avoid what I’ve been going through, as some of these symptoms are just kind of messed up.
So, right after last week’s adventure in COVID messing up my blood clotting factors, leaving me as a compression sock consumer and being put on a blood thinner, I was treated to a term on the morning news that I’d heard earlier when I was in 2 weeks ago getting something for a lingering cough/chest irritation, when the CNA remarked to me that they want to avoid patients becoming “long haulers.”
What’s a long hauler? Well. When it comes to COVID, that’s a term you should pay significant attention to, as it’s a term they use for some of the lingering symptoms that people who had COVID are finding they’re left with:
About 33% of COVID-19 patients who were never sick enough to require hospitalization continue to complain months later of symptoms like fatigue, loss of smell or taste and “brain fog,” University of Washington (UW) researchers found.
“We were surprised to have one-third of people with mild illness still experiencing symptoms,” said lead researcher Jennifer Logue. She’s a research scientist with the UW department of medicine’s division of allergy and infectious diseases, in Seattle. “If you contract coronavirus, there’s a good chance you could experience a lingering effect.”
And…
“Because it has a direct effect on the nerves of our nose, we think that likely there is an effect on brain structure. We know that definitively there are changes in our lungs that occur from it,” Gut said of COVID-19. “It has far-reaching implications we’re just now beginning to understand since we’re just starting to categorize the syndrome.”
I had been given the monocyte treatment to prevent having to be in the hospital, but even with that experimental treatment, there are definitely some aftereffects. Luckily, I’m not suffering from a brain fog, and every day is pretty darned good, minding that I don’t overdo it, and get a good night’s sleep. Also pushing liquids, and working on deep breathing, per the doc’s office.
The prospect of symptoms such as fatigue lingering for months underscores that this is not last year’s flu season, so paying it some heed is probably in your best interest.
And I have to admit that I am experiencing some lingering… weirdness.
I seem to be a bit dehydrated, which might be because of some of the minor meds I’m on. But then there’s the other thing. In particular, my sense of taste. I have never been a big sweets person. Just never has been my thing. And that’s probably good, because in the last week or so, I’m discovering that my sense of taste when it comes to “sweet” is largely gone.
I began noticing it with Diet Coke the other day, where when I have a I DC out of the bottle, I don’t get a taste of sweet. I taste the bitter aftertaste of the artificial sweetener and the “water”, but not any “sweet” of the sweetener. If I try a strong sugar sweet.. like a Reese’s peanut butter cup, I can pick up the sweet somewhat. But I’m honestly not sure. And it’s honestly a little disconcerting to lose a swath of what gives things taste.
And speaking of taste.. when it comes to peanut butter, since I’ve gone through COVID, I’ve got an almost insatiable craving for it, mainly in the form of spicy asian peanut sauce. I suppose it’s because it has a savory/salty versus sweet profile, so my brain registers that I’m actually getting what I’m eating. So, think asian wraps with chicken/turkey, cilantro, lettuce, jalapeño slivers and peanut sauce more often than a person would normally have.
I’m guessing/hoping normal taste comes back in short order. Or at least my craving for peanut butter abates slightly.
And unless you’re big into peanut sauce, or other weirdness being introduced into your palate, it might be worth getting down and getting your COVID vaccination as soon as you qualify.
Thune Rejects Partisan and Wasteful Spending Package
“This is the first COVID bill to be done in an entirely partisan way, because it isn’t designed to end the pandemic – it is a blatant attempt from Democrats to jam through a partisan wish list.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after voting against the partisan $1.9 trillion spending package:
“Despite President Biden’s promises for unity and bipartisan cooperation, the first major bill considered in his presidency is a partisan and wasteful spending bill disguised as ‘COVID relief.’ One trillion dollars from previous bipartisan COVID bills remains unspent, and much of the spending in this bill won’t be spent until long after we expect to be emerging from the pandemic. Less than 10 percent of the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion spending package goes directly to public health funding to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and just one percent is dedicated to getting vaccines to the American people.
“This is the first COVID bill to be done in an entirely partisan way, because it isn’t designed to end the pandemic – it is a blatant attempt from Democrats to jam through a partisan wish list.”
Rounds Opposes Democrats’ $1.9 Trillion Spending Bill
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after voting against the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief legislation which passed on a partisan basis without Republican support.
“Democrats used the guise of COVID-19 relief to further their left-wing agenda while putting our nation deeper into debt. I voted against this partisan $1.9 trillion spending bill that reads more like a liberal wish list than targeted pandemic relief.
“Up until this point, we have always found a way to work together on a bipartisan basis to provide COVID-19 relief for the American people. None of the previous five pandemic relief bills received fewer than 90 votes in the United States Senate. This is the first bill that did not pass either chamber with bipartisan support. In fact, it had bipartisan opposition in the House of Representatives.
“My colleagues and I offered a reasonable conservative alternative that targeted relief to those directly impacted by the pandemic and was one-third the price. Unfortunately, Democrats were unwilling to compromise. The legislation passed today is not targeted and is not specific, but rather includes many giveaways to left-wing causes.”
Putting South Dakota’s Priorities First By Sen. John Thune
Serving the state of South Dakota is my greatest honor, and throughout my time in Congress, I’ve sought out ways to give our state a strong voice in Washington. One of the most important ways I’ve been able to accomplish that goal is by serving on committees that I believe yield the most effective results for South Dakotans.
Although we are only a couple of months into the 117th Congress, I have already hit the ground running in the three committees on which I serve: the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Finance Committee. I am confident that serving on these committees will continue to give me the best opportunity to make sure South Dakotans, and the issues that are important to them, are prioritized in Washington.
Agriculture is South Dakota’s top industry, and I’m proud to serve as a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Before coming to the Senate, I served on the House Agriculture Committee, so I have long understood how critical it is for our state to have a seat at the table when it comes to negotiating and crafting policies that directly affect our state’s economy and our hardworking farmers and ranchers.
It seems like just yesterday that we were working on the 2018 farm bill, but while we only have a few of years before it expires, I have already begun talking with South Dakota’s producers and working on new proposals to help ensure they have the safety net and resources they need to be successful. South Dakota’s farm and ranch community knows adversity all too well, so I’m committed to providing them as much certainty as possible in the years to come.
I’ve held several different roles on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee over the years, including serving as full committee chairman and chairman of the subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, which has jurisdiction over legislation and other matters relating to the technology and communications industries, which are both critically important to South Dakota.
This Congress, I’ll serve as ranking member – the highest ranking Republican – of the same subcommittee, but with a new name: the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband. Serving as the top Republican on this subcommittee will give me the opportunity to continue my years-long effort to ensure all South Dakotans have access to broadband services, even in the most rural areas of our state. This role will also allow me to build off of my previous work of making 5G a reality for all Americans as well as empowering online consumers and protecting their digital footprint.
And finally, I’ll continue serving on the Senate Finance Committee and as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight. Senate Democrats will be working hard to fulfill campaign promises by trying to enact the Green New Deal and Medicare for All or repeal or rollback things like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As a member of this powerful tax-writing committee, which also has significant government oversight responsibilities, I will do everything in my power to act as a voice of reason to fight this misguided, far-left agenda.
Committees play a key role in shaping and considering most bills before they ever come to the Senate floor for a final vote. Having a voice on these three powerful committees gives me the opportunity to elevate important issues and give South Dakotans a say on the most important policy debates in Washington. Regardless of the issue at hand, you can bet that I will be fighting for South Dakotans every step of the way.
“We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward.”
Those were the words spoken by President Biden the day he was sworn into office.
I was hopeful these were more than just words on Inauguration Day and that maybe, just maybe, we’d see a growing coalition willing to work together. Considering Republicans gained several seats in the House, leaving only a sliver of a majority for Speaker Pelosi, I hoped for the best.
Sadly, these words have fallen flat, and I’ve been disappointed week after week. It’s not in my nature to be discouraged, and I’m not naïve. I know politics is partisan and both parties have a line in the sand they often will not cross, but throughout my first term in Congress both parties proved it was, at times, possible to work together.
We passed five COVID-19 relief bills – FIVE – with broad bipartisan support. Congress doesn’t deserve a gold star, but we ended a government shutdown, provided funding for humanitarian relief at the border, fought abuses of biofuel waivers, and set our sights on targeted relief for Americans facing an unprecedented pandemic.
Here are some of the most concerning actions taken by Congress and President Biden since he was sworn in:
A $1.9 trillion partisan COVID-19 relief bill passed the House. While there is strong bipartisan support for a more modest approach with targeted relief for families, along with investments in vaccine distribution and testing, that compromise approach was rejected.
A sweeping federal takeover of elections, including funding political ads with matching funds from the federal treasury was pushed through the House.
Partisan “police reform” passed by the House that would cut our nation’s police force and place harmful restrictions on tactical equipment. There are areas of bipartisan support when it comes to law enforcement, like Sen. Scott’s JUSTICE Act, but these proposals were not considered.
President Biden cancelled the Keystone XL Pipeline through an Executive Order. Our commitment to the rule of law was eroded, and jobs were lost.
Relief previously allocated for agriculture producers was put on hold by the Biden Administration.
I believe we can be a Congress known for getting things done that benefit the American people. If unity is the goal, why have the last three months been nothing but one-party rule? Let’s make sure we’re bringing vaccine distribution across the finish line and getting American businesses and people back on their feet. Let’s invest in our nation’s infrastructure and rebuild the bridges and roads that have been neglected for too long. And let’s work to lower prescription costs for families. Let’s start working together.
March 10th is a tough day. On March 10, 2020, South Dakota diagnosed our first 5 cases of COVID-19, including our first death. For many of us across the state, life changed that day as we adapted to slow the spread of the virus. For my family, the day had double meaning. March 10, 1994, is also the day that my dad passed away in an accident on our family farm.
My dad was a cowboy. He was the toughest person that I’ve ever known. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to grow up and be like him. When he died, I was just 22 years old, and I had to take over as general manager of the family business. The months immediately after he died were filled with unending challenges and hundreds of questions. I remember thinking repeatedly, “I wish I could just ask dad.” I had no idea how we were going to keep the family business going without him. But I was determined that we weren’t going to fail.
A couple of months after he was killed, I finally got the courage to clean out his pickup. If you have a farmer or rancher in your life, you know that they often live out of their pickups. Everything important can be found in the cab.
I got to his pickup and began pulling items out of the center console and putting them in a box. I found a set of pliers, a Baby Ruth candy bar (that was his favorite), notebooks, pens, tools. And then I found a tiny tape recorder, like the kind that a doctor dictates into.
I pushed the play button and heard my dad’s voice.
My eyes started to fill up with tears. I looked down into the console and saw several more tapes, almost a dozen in all. One by one, I put them in the tape recorder and listened to dad talk about crop decisions, soil types, cows, weather, markets, and what to do if we were ever caught in a tough financial situation.
I realized that here in my hands were all the answers that I needed. Straight from him. In his voice.
In that moment, I felt a strange sort of peace settle over me. Scripture talks about a “peace that passes all understanding.” It was almost as if God was saying to me, “I will provide. Stop worrying. You will be okay. Your family will be okay. I’ve got this.”
I had the answers; I just needed to get to work.
Dad was the hardest worker that I knew. He led by example, by action. But that day, his words changed everything. I made a decision that day to be like my dad: a person of words and of action, because both matter.
That’s why I ran for office. I am committed to always serving the people of this great state with both words and action. I will do what I say, and I will always tell you what I’m doing. That’s why I approached this past year the way that I did.
It’s been a tough year. Some South Dakota families have experienced the terrible tragedy of losing a loved-one, and my heart breaks for each of them. But no matter how tough the past year was, South Dakotans are so much tougher. And that toughness has gotten us through this marathon, together. May God bless you and your family in 2021.
