Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Jon Ellis spends some time today documenting the Democrat party in Minnehaha County as they take another lap around the commode on the way down:

You’d think an influx of newcomers would be a welcome sight for the Minnehaha County Democratic Party. After all, the party statewide has been hemorrhaging voters. The old McGovern Democrats are dying off. Others have moved on or given up. The party desperately needs a shot of fresh blood.

But to the regular members, something is amiss.

“Why are you all here?” asks Judy Meek, who is standing at the microphone in the Minnehaha County Commission room.

And…

Until Tuesday’s election, Minnehaha County Commissioner Jeff Barth had been chairman of the county party. Barth presided over Tuesday’s meeting in his congenial manner, but he said afterward that he’s happy to be moving on.

“I don’t need this pain in the ass anymore,” he said.

Read it all here.

I’m hearing that big fundraising news will be coming by Monday from the Noem campaign. 

In comparison, the sounds of crickets chirping at the SDDP’s candidate recruitment office are expected to continue. (Maybe they should install a toll free line for continued out of state recruiting?)

Nothing will cause me to get up from a rotten bout of the flu to hop on my computer than Democrats beating each other up.

And today, we have a hilarious example with the mouthpiece for the liberal wing of the Democrat party savaging on the only person left on the dem’s bench:

Some of my Democratic friends wonder why I’m not enthusiastic about putting up Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether as a statewide candidate for our party.

and…

The shady contracting and secrecy surrounding Mayor Huether’s jobs marketing program seems to be equal parts dumb and arrogant. Dumb and arrogant are not on my checklist for Democratic candidates or for any kind of candidate who wants to run my community or my state.

Read it here.

Of course, there were other choice words in the comment section that dems had for Mayor Mike Huether.

“Bottom line, Mike Huether strikes me as creepy. Having nobody on a statewide Democratic Party ballot position would be slightly better than enduring Huether’s manic, self-conceited braying from Rowena to Rochford.”

and…

“I still won’t brook an empty ballot. But if Huether dares, we’d better have a primary.”

I can almost hear the rallying cry screeched from on high from the liberal wing of the Democrat Party – “Is there another Weiland out there?”

Look for light posting today. 

Either I’m going to get myself pulled together to go to SF to take part in the conservative lunch at noon, or I’m curled up in bed trying to recover from my ongoing bout with a cold or flu or whatever I have going on. 

from the Argus Leader:

According to City Attorney David Pfeifle, state statute requires all contracts valued at $25,000 or more go before the City Council. In this case, the city’s Community Development department paid a web developer about $24,000 to build the site. It then entered two separate contracts worth about $8,000 and $3,500 for kiosk and billboard advertising.

Community Development director Darrin Smith said last week that they kept the campaign from the council until the launch to prevent plans from being prematurely leaked to the press and public. Smith did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Wednesday.

Read it here.

“they kept the campaign from the council until the launch to prevent plans from being prematurely leaked to the press and public.”

So under this philosophy, is Huether’s campaign for Governor going to consist of him saying “I can do what I want?”

I look forward to his fellow Democrats who decry secrecy in government calling for his resignation.

In case you missed it, Jill Schlekeway, spouse to former State Senator Todd Schlekeway, is going to be honored in the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame:

Jill (Theeler) Schlekeway

The 1997 Mitchell High grad blazed to three state records in an incredible final two years of high school track.

In 1997, she set state records in the 100 meters (11.66), 200 (24.27) and 400 (55.25). She won the 100, 200 and 400 and ran on the winning 1,600 relay at the state Class AA meet in 1996 and ’97, and she set state meet records in the 100, 200 and 400. Both years she was named the most outstanding female athlete of the meet, the state’s High School Female Athlete of the Year by the S.D. Sportswriters Association and an All-American by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

At the 1995 state meet, she was runner-up in the 100, 200 and 400 and ran on the winning 1,600 relay.

She was a 14-time letterwinner at Mitchell: six in track, five in gymnastics and three in basketball. She helped the Kernel basketball team go unbeaten in 1994, and the 1995 team was state runner-up. She also helped the gymnastics team to two runner-up finishes.

Read this, and more here at the Argus Leader.

And congratulations to Jill from your friends at the SDWC.

A Hartford High School Student received some attention this week for being featured with the US Senate Youth Program… and it didn’t stop there.

His commentary as part of this clip was quickly picked up by Rush Limbaugh:

So I guess these were young people identified as future leaders by somebody. They brought ’em in to town, Washington, and one of the things they got to do was to appear on C-SPAN to be queried by Brian Lamb. During one of the segments Brian Lamb went around the room asking these students questions. And we have an exchange here from one of the students, Morgaan Jessell and Gerald Fraas.

LAMB: Which media personality, who is probably the highest paid person in radio and television news and information, lives and operates out of Palm Beach, Florida?

JESSELL: I know Oprah has a house in Palm Beach. (laughing)

LAMB: Anybody in this room know? Yes, sir?

FRAAS: Would it be Rush Limbaugh?

LAMB: It would be.

FRAAS: All right!

and…

LAMB: What do you think of Rush Limbaugh?

FRAAS: He’s a very outspoken man, and it’s great that we have individuals like him, who are willing to share their opinions on air. And he genuinely seems willing to listen at times, although he is staunch in his views.

RUSH: Well, that kid is really — no wonder he’s a potential future leader, senator, or whatever. This kid is right on the money. “Kid,” young man I should more properly say. Outspoken, great that we have people like him willing to share their opinions, genuinely seems willing to listen to people, but is very staunch — I take that as a compliment. Some people might be offended by that. Staunch means I’m committed. I’ll listen to you, but you’re never gonna convince me that you’re right and I’m wrong. It won’t happen.

Read it all here.

I’m told Gerald Frasse attends West Central High School in Hartford, was a legislative page this year, volunteered with the SDGOP this past election cycle, and I’m told he reads the SDWC (so he’s got a bright future in politics!)

Good for Gerald, and congrats on the recognition.  Keep it up, and remember that one person can move mountains – it just takes commitment and being involved.