Author: Pat Powers

Republican coalition of confederates now “By-Law Compliant Counties,” holding meeting rumored to try to overthrow GOP leadership?

Pat Powers

Interesting email sent my way this morning. The coalition of confederates are calling themselves a new name today – the By-Law Compliant Counties (seriously?), and continuing their effort to overthrow SDGOP leadership.

In part..

From: SD GOP By-Law Compliant Counties <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, Aug 10, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Subject: Notice of SD GOP Special Meeting – Quorum Call

All,

To all members of the South Dakota State Republican Central Committee:

Please plan to attend a Special [Summer] meeting of the State Central Committee as permitted by and through this quorum call by the Bylaw-approved initiative and actions of the county chairs listed below on Saturday, August 24, 2024…

…

The primary purpose of this Special meeting call is to discuss coordinated strategies for defeating various ballot propositions and measures that will be on our statewide ballot in just a matter of weeks leading up to the November election.

Logistics. As a courtesy, Brown County Chairman Rich Hilgemann will be providing coffee, cinnamon rolls and muffins to attendees. Box lunches are available for purchase at the cost of ~$21 (includes sales tax and 18% gratuity). The options include:

….

In addition to the sandwiches, the boxes include a bag of chips, granola bar, candy bar, beef jerky stick, apple, and condiments.

Your prompt replies to this notice are appreciated.

Regards,

Dan Hargreaves, Chairman, Aurora County
Judd Schomp, Chairman, Bennett County
Stu Cvrk, Chairman, Bon Homme County
Dusta Ismay, Vice Chair, Butte County
Dwight Wiest, Chairman, Campbell County
Lee Qualm, Chairman, Charles Mix County
Clint Clark, Chairman, Corson County
Lea Anne McWhorter, Chair, Custer County
Larry Mathis, Chairman, Davison County
Mary Nosbush, Chair, Deuel County
Sandy Wahlert, Chair, Fall River County
Amber Werdel, Chair, Hand County
Rep. Jessica Baumiller, Chair, Hanson County
Betty Olson, Chair, Harding County
Jason Williams, Hughes County
Tucker Amiotte, Chairman, Jackson County
Betty Otten, Chair, Lincoln County
Mike Klipfel, Chairman, McPherson County
R. Shawn Tornow, Chairman, Minnehaha County
Amy Wagner, Chair, Pennington County
Scott Assman, Chairman, Todd County
Bob Tate, Chairman, Tripp County
Jim VanDeRostyne, Chairman, Turner County
Steve Rokahr, Chairman, Yankton County
Jana Hunt, Chair, Ziebach County

Interesting that his first action in becoming the new Brown county GOP chair, Rich Hilgemann is to buy breakfast for the confederate coalition who spends their time attacking party leadership. And even more surprisingly, Hughes County GOP Chair and Deputy State Treasurer Jason Williams is apparently throwing in with this lot. While not on the e-mail went out, I’m told R. Shawn Tornow of the Minnehaha GOP is paying for the room.. so, there’s cash not going towards Minnehaha GOP candidates that is instead being spent on his delusions of grandeur.

It sounds like they’re not going to accomplish a darn thing except talking and talking and wasting the day if you look at their agenda:

Ballot Propositions Discussion
• Purpose
• Goal
• Action Plan
• List of ballot propositions: (They list all of the ballot measures, one by one by one.)

Strategy/Coordination of Key Races
• Public Utilities Commissioner
• Other

Get-Out-The Vote (GOTV) Training
• Campaign Sidekick operation (pending RNC support)
• Other

Other (time permitting)
• Approved resolutions disposition
• Bylaws

Working Lunch
• Box lunches for purchase (pre-order required)

Notice that going on ad nauseam about ballot measures is first and foremost, and talk about electing candidates is barely mentioned. Legislative races? They are “other.”

For their talk of “coordinating,” and action plans, the problem is that almost none of these counties participating in this eye-rolling endeavor have financially supported the efforts of the state party.

Talk is cheap, at the expense of one of the last weekends before school starts. But how will they implement and pay for all these action plans? The SDGOP is not in a good financial state. Is this meeting intended to help set the stage to sell off use of the party’s name & logo to their preferred ballot measures – despite many Republicans being divided on many ballot measures? (As one recipient speculated to me?)   And how do they propose to elect candidates? Despite it being far, lower on their agendas, that’s the actual job of the party.

Here’s an item of even greater concern, I am also hearing talk the participants of this meeting may have a mind to attempt to use the meeting to completely kick the cart over, and to use the meeting to oust the chair right before the fall elections begin. That could possibly not come at a worse time, as this group’s antics have already crippled GOP fundraising at the same time they refuse to help. Why don’t they then create complete disorganization too?  

What would they accomplish? Not a ton. That upheaval would set the stage for the current Vice-Chair Mary Fitzgerald to be the new chair, where she could select a new vice-chair. Unless the leadership team resigns en masse in protest. Not sure there’s bylaws to even address that.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a party group acting to completely nuke their organization before an election like the confederates.. er, By-Law Compliant Counties. 

But hold your beers. They’re going to give it a shot.

SD State Legislator Kevin Jensen declares “real women” don’t need below the belt protective gear in contact sports

Pat Powers

I’m just dumber for having read this.  Apparently Republican State Representative Kevin Jensen thinks “real women” have no nerve endings below the waist to protect in contact sports:

Since Kevin isn’t up on his basic female anatomy to go with his mansplaining, as the parent of 2 daughters with black belts in TKD, yes, girls wear protective gear in full contact sports, such as boxing, martial arts, hockey, etcetera and so on. If he can’t figure it out, he should ask his wife.

Jesus H, some legislators should have Facebook taken away.

Former Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announces graduation from Army War College

Pat Powers

Today on Facebook, former Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced his graduation from the Army War College this last Friday:

According to the US Army, “The US Army War College educates and develops leaders for service at the strategic level while advancing knowledge in the global application of Landpower.”

Currently, the former Attorney General’s law license remains in limbo with the South Dakota Supreme Court, as in February, the court was hearing arguments on the recommendation of the State Bar Associations’ disciplinary committee for a 26 month suspension of his law license.

At the time that article, South Dakota Public Broadcasting had noted the former Attorney General was on military duty outside of the state.

Release: Who’s the Real Republican? Casey Murschel Claps Back at Jon Hansen’s Gatekeeping

Pat Powers

Who’s the Real Republican? Casey Murschel Claps Back at Jon Hansen’s Gatekeeping

Supporting Freedom Amendment G is True GOP – SDSU Poll Shows 77% of Voters, Including 66% of Republicans, Say No to Forcing Rape Victims to Give Birth, Which is Current Law in SD

Sioux Falls, SD…Former Republican State Representative and chair of the newly formed Republicans for Freedom Amendment G, Casey Murschel, today released the following statement in reply to Representative Jon Hansen who charged in a statement emailed to South Dakota media yesterday that Murschel “might be registered ‘Republican’” but is “as much of a far left liberal as it gets.”

Statement by Casey Murschel:

“Right to Life official and State Legislator Jon Hansen says he represents all Republicans when he says South Dakota’s total abortion ban must stand and charges that I am not a real Republican.

Who put Jon Hansen in charge of deciding who is Republican enough? I don’t recall the voter registration form asking if Jon Hansen gave me permission to register as a Republican. I am not claiming to speak for all Republicans. Our intention as Republicans for Freedom Amendment G is to show how Freedom Amendment G is consistent with Republican support for smaller government and individual liberty. We reject the current ban and the extremist view that women who have been raped should be required by law to give birth. That is not the view of most real Republicans.

I and my group, Republicans for Freedom Amendment G, intend to prove that the numerous surveys showing large majorities of Republicans nationwide and here in South Dakota are against requiring a woman who has been raped to give birth, and are in favor of a more moderate Restore Roe approach, are accurate and reflect the real Republicanism in which I and they believe. We shall see, in the campaign on Freedom Amendment G, and in the election returns this November, which of us better understands and represents what South Dakota Republicans, and particularly Republican women, really want.”

SDSU December 2023 Poll on Abortion

Libertarian Party of South Dakota Nominates Candidates and Affirms Ballot Issue Positions

Pat Powers

Libertarian Party of South Dakota Nominates Candidates and Affirms Ballot Issue Positions

PIERRE, S.D. – The Libertarian Party of South Dakota gathered for its annual convention Saturday in Pierre. The convention marked a significant moment for the party as they nominated several candidates and took official stances on November’s ballot issues.

Gideon Oakes of Keystone was nominated for the S.D. Public Utilities Commission, while Josh Dennert and Tamara Lesnar were nominated for District 1 House seats, and Greg Zimmerman for District 8 House.

“We are thrilled to nominate such dedicated individuals who embody our values of individual liberty and limited government,” said Tracey Quint-Isburg, State Chair of the Libertarian Party of South Dakota.

Oakes, 39, is a Keystone-area business owner and volunteer EMT who has worked in the technology and logistics sectors throughout much of his career. He and his wife, Mary, have three children.

He said his candidacy offers voters a better choice for an office he believes desperately needs a fresh perspective.

“The three current commissioners have a combined tenure of 48 years — almost half a century,” Oakes said. “I think most South Dakotans believe elected office should be a calling, not a career.”

Oakes further differentiated his candidacy by pointing out his Republican opponent’s history as an advisor to Xcel Energy immediately prior to being appointed to the PUC in 2011, as well as his Democratic opponent’s support of Biden Administration policies.

“The question voters get to decide is whether they want a commissioner that represents the utility industry, one that represents big government, or one that represents the people,” Oakes said.

Oakes said his top priorities as a PUC commissioner will be encouraging the security and redundancy of utility infrastructure components, continuing expansion of access to terrestrial broadband and being a staunch advocate for utility customers and landowners.

“South Dakotans are resilient. Our infrastructure should be as well,” Oakes said. “From day one, I will work with our utility providers to help ensure that we can always rely on critical services in the times we need them the most.”

In addition to nominating candidates, the LPSD also took official positions on several upcoming ballot measures, including voicing opposition to Amendment H, which would restructure South Dakota’s elections in a manner similar to California’s top-two primary system.

The party also took a stance supporting the repeal of SB 201, highlighting their continued opposition to eminent domain for private commercial gain. On the issue of recreational marijuana, the party declared its support for IM29, emphasizing personal freedom and the economic benefits of legalization.

“The LPSD remains committed to advancing policies that promote individual freedom and fiscal responsibility,” added Quint-Isburg. “We believe our positions reflect the values and priorities of South Dakotans who want a government that respects personal liberty.”

For more information on the Libertarian Party of South Dakota, please visit https://lpsouthdakota.org. Learn more about Gideon Oakes at https://electoakes.com.

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