Author: Pat Powers

Attorney General Jackley Joins Coalition Supporting Trump’s Presidential Immunity Stay Request to U.S. Supreme Court

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined 21 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief that supports former President Donald Trump’s stay request regarding presidential immunity to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Former President Trump has asked the Supreme Court to stay a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which said Trump could not invoke presidential immunity as a defense against criminal charges related to the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021 incident at the U.S. Capitol.

The special prosecutor in the case is also seeking a quick decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Trump’s stay request so the trial can start this year. The initial trial set was set for this March.

“These are serious charges, and a defendant, even one who is a candidate for President, deserves a right to have time to prepare an adequate defense,” said Attorney General Jackley. “The Attorneys General do not believe that speeding up the legal process for political reasons would be appropriate.”

Attorneys Generals also have signed on from the states of Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The brief can be read here:

Heard a rumor that is rocketing around among politicos this weekend with regards to the really unusual event of Steve Haugaard headlining the Butte County Lincoln Day Dinner on March 2.

Aside from the fact that the speaking engagement isn’t going to draw anyone but the furthest right of the far right, a rumor keeps going around that an announcement will be made in Butte County that – and again, this is just rumor at this point, but the claim is Haugaard is supposedly using the occasion to announce the start of a run for Attorney General in 2026.

I’m not sure how a person can really assess that water cooler chatter.

Is this supposedly coming off of Haugaard’s representation of Julie Frye Mueller? Because I don’t think that went too well for them. Would it be seeking a bounce from his previous effort(s) to run for statewide office? Again, something that didn’t end so well.

I talked to one politico who had heard it from three different sources today so I don’t know if it’s just circulating that quickly secondhand through the winter inhabitants of the state capital, or there is actual substance to it.

Put me down as a doubting Thomas, because I think the notion of Steve Haugaard running for AG is pretty silly. It would be like R. Shawn Tornow announcing he was running because you don’t have to be an attorney to be attorney general.

But given what’s happening with some members of the GOP lately, I can’t discount anything.

This morning while haunting the halls of the State Capital, I was given challenge coins by Senators Stalzer and Schoenbeck, and they are pretty darned nice!

Especially since I’ve been dealing with people lately who are challenged by those with an opinion.

Senators, thank you very much, it’s very appreciated.

Pierre, SD – Governor Kristi Noem will be sharing a “big announcement” as keynote speaker of the Hughes County/Stanley County/CENKOTA Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner on February 20 at the Ramkota in Pierre.

“Not only are we thrilled to have our governor speak at our event, but we are especially excited to have our governor making her big announcement at our Lincoln Day Dinner” said Hughes County GOP Chair Jason Williams.  “It’s an event no one will want to miss.”

Noem’s keynote will be the grand finale to an all-star line-up of speakers who include Senator Mike Rounds and other Constitutional Officers.

Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $35 per person or $280 for a table.  Anyone interested in attending may purchase tickets at the door or contact a member of the Hughes County Republican Central Committee.

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While up at the South Dakota State Capitol today, I had the opportunity to listen to a presentation on Senate Bill 13, a measure that was amended by Senator Schoenbeck to have the party candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State chosen as part of the primary process.

While listening, I decided to offer my 2 cents worth. Here is (roughly) my testimony in favor of the measure:

Good morning – Mr. Chair and committee members.

Pat Powers, Brookings resident and 35 year volunteer and political activist.

Through legislation, the political parties have been granted great latitude and franchise to choose many of their statewide candidates on their own for the general election.. It has changed over the years within those guidelines, and I would offer some history as a participant.

In 1988 , when I first started working in politics, the down ticket candidates for the Republican Party were chosen by a little over 100 people at my first convention.

In 1990, the system was changed, because the GOP chair decided he needed more campaign workers for precinct level poll-watching, to cross names off of green bar sheets for each precinct and so it was opened up to 800-1000 people.

Over time, technology has rendered those precinct level jobs obsolete. So now it’s a group of people who just show up and vote, and that’s about it. They have no special qualifications other than signing a piece of paper. I’m a precinct person – one of the first ones who filled out the form this year. And trust me, the people at the precinct level positions do not go door to door or otherwise poll or ask the voters in their precincts for their opinions. They show up to convention and just make their own call.

This measure proposes increasing the number of people who choose to the electorate at large for two offices. I would ask the members of the committee – don’t be afraid of the voters. More so than smaller groups of unrepresentative people acting on their own, the voters as a group are smart people and acting together they make good decisions.

If voters at large can choose their coroner, their county auditor, legislators and governor in a primary, they can choose their Attorney General and Secretary of State the same way as well.

Thank you for your yes vote on Senate Bill 13 as amended.

The measure passed committee unanimously, and is now headed to the Senate floor.

Stopped up in the Senate Gallery today to get some photos, noting the seats of a couple of my favorite legislators to write about.

.. I notice they currently have as much substance as when the chairs are filled.

Gov. Noem Launches “33 in a 65” Ad for Freedom Works Here

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem launched the “33 in a 65”ad as part of the Freedom Works Here nationwide workforce recruitment campaign. The ad features Governor Noem as a state trooper to recruit more law enforcement officers to South Dakota.

 “South Dakota is the Freest state in America,” said Governor Noem. “Now we’re making it the safest by putting more police on our streets. So I’m on the road until we can hire more.”

In the ad, Governor Noem pulls over Congressman Dusty Johnson for driving too slow – “33 in a 65.”

“We respect law enforcement because they protect our Freedoms,” continued Governor Noem. “We have no state income tax and the fastest growing incomes.”

Governor Noem launched Freedom Works Here in June to tell South Dakota’s story and recruit more Freedom-loving Americans to the state. It has been the most successful workforce recruitment campaign in state history. More than 8,800 people have expressed interest in moving to South Dakota, and 2,230 of those have connected with our team to begin their move – some have already moved here! The ads have been viewed over 950 million times.

These numbers represent those working directly through the “Freedom Works Here” program. Even more people are finding jobs and moving to South Dakota of their own accord after seeing the ads.

You can read about some Freedom Works Here success stories here and here. More information about the Freedom Works Here campaign can be found at FreedomWorksHere.com.

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Johnson Votes to Impeach Mayorkas

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the southern border.

“The southern border is an abject disaster,” said Johnson. “His willful and systemic refusal to comply with laws set by Congress has created a safety and security crisis around America. Mayorkas has failed to uphold his oath of office and should be removed.”

Background:

• Since January 2021, there have been over 8.3 million illegal crossings nationwide. More than 7 million of these are from the southern border.
• The Biden Administration has taken over 60 actions to undermine border security.
• Johnson is a strong proponent of border security measures. He has:
  • Voted 72 times for stronger border policies
  • Voted 21 times to increase resources to DHS, CBP, and ICE
  • Voted 9 times to protest harmful border policies while Nancy Pelosi was Speaker
  • Voted 8 times to hold the Biden administration accountable for border failures
  • Voted 7 times to halt the flow of illegal drugs across the border

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Just had an update by a friend who is talking to an attendee, who indicated that the resolution from the state GOP central committee to not work with me anymore because I had the temerity to advocate for Republicans being able to win elections did pass!  Uh oh!

(Like I’m gonna let someone else scoop me on being voted off the island?)

So, sorry guys. Sorry Lee Q. Sorry Senator Pischke. Sorry R. Shawn. That’s not going to get me to sit down and be quiet.

Quite the opposite.

Update..

More reports coming in. Heard that Lee Qualm was the one who brought the resolution. But Senator Pischke was one of the biggest whiners, complaining to the Republican State Central Committee about how he felt he was under personal attack by this website for noting things such as his recent Senate Bill commanding the National Guard to be called out to investigate cloud seeding, and weather control reports.

Well… I can’t help it if “tinfoil Tom” doesn’t like it when I notice he brings this kind of legislation. But I don’t think his lament is going to stop me from commenting on the ridiculousness of what he does (or doesn’t do) in Pierre.

Sounds like an interesting central committee meeting.

Live updates I am getting apparently have several people such as Lee Qualm and Tom Pischke complaining about me and trying to pass a motion for the party to not do business with me.. not sure if it’s because I’ve helped people run against them, or if it’s because I point out actions that defy logic.

Kind of surprised that they feel so threatened by me.  I’ll let you know how that goes.