Author: Troy Jones

In the news are numerous articles of the chaos in the Trump White House evidenced of the shouting matches between White House staff and Cabinet Members. Such articles have been the source of much amusement because they reminded me of my time with the Mickelson Administration as Director of Finance in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Governor Mickelson encouraged free and often passionate conversation to ensure all ideas were expressed. All he expected was it was over when it was over often affirmed at Bob’s Lounge.

But with recent newsof the death of State Representative and Deadwood Mayor Chuck Turbiville, those memories of fighting in the office has become precious. I never knew if he was laughing with me or laughing at me but, in either case, I didn’t care. Chuck was too filled with joy to not let either be a good thing.

In 1987, when I joined GOED, among my colleagues was Chuck, who was the Director of the Division which was responsible for the recruiting of new companies to South Dakota. Often Chuck and I traveled together to meet with prospects both in- and out-of-state so we had many hours to discuss personal matters from his recent divorce, raising kids, values, faith, and so on. You know the things friends talk about.

Yet, at the same time, we couldn’t have been more unlikely friends- he the consummate sales guy with an outgoing, humorous, friendly demeanor while I was the dry, frank, its all in the numbers guy. Once we were in a hotel room watching a baseball game and I’m jabbering about this statistic or whatever and Chuck says “Do you talk like this when you watch a game by yourself?” After I shut up, Chuck started yapping telling jokes about growing up in Newell with an occasional reference to the baseball game. My point is for Chuck every moment with another was about being with another. He resisted letting a baseball game on tv be more than background.

At work, our divisions had the most interaction and often the most inherent disagreement. So often were Chuck and I arguing that they became part of the furniture in the office. But, what was not routine was how good Chuck was at making sure they weren’t personal. A couple of times a month, Chuck made chili or some other similar meal which we ate at his apartment over the noon hour.

I recall one particular morning our argument was particularly “heated.” When I got back to my office, I presumed our lunch that noon would not happen. I had maybe crossed a line or two. He too. But, a few minutes before noon, Chuck bounded in my office with his big smile and said “Hey, let’s get out of here a bit early. I’ve spent the morning arguing with a knucklehead (not the word used).”

Chuck and I went our separate ways after the Mickelson plane crash. Several years ago when I saw he was running for the Legislature I decided to touch base with my old colleague. We played phone tag for a few days. When he finally answered he said, “Why do you keep calling me? Don’t tell me you are moving to Deadwood.” We then had a really nice conversation mostly about our families. When I told him something sad, he said all the things only a dear friend could say.

Most people knew Chuck as a public servant. Many got to call him friend. But, only three got to call him “Dad.” I got a glimpse of “Dad” during our noon meals in his apartment. While I was eating, he was often folding clothes, preparing the evening meal, and doing the day-to-day chores of being a single parent. Chuck Turbiville did those things with more joy than you ever saw in his other roles and that is saying much.

May the soul of Chuck Turbiville, by the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace.

I have a wife, three daughters, a sister, a mother, many nieces, many female cousins. I also have a son, two brothers, many nephews, many male cousins. I have good friends of both genders. So does most Americans have similar relationships so it is irrelevant to my reaction to the Ford-Kavanaugh matter.

I have a few observations I want to comment on before the hearing starts:

1. How can anyone say they believe Dr. Ford when they have heard little from her directly, what we have heard indirectly has been refuted by those she named as corroborators?

2. Rightly, we are abhorred when we hear the story of Eleanor Strubing (white) who, with ill-motive, wrongly accused Joseph Spell (black) of rape and how virtually everyone jumped to the conclusion Spell was guilty (except for the Sheriff who threatened to shoot anyone coming into the jail, he likely would have been lynched). In fact, much of the Civil Rights movement was about how Black’s were denied justice because they were presumed guilty. How is believing Dr. Ford prior to the presenting of evidence different than believing Eleanor Strubing?

3. I remember asking why we have statute of limitations and what I was told has resonated with me since.

a. The longer time passes the ability to administer Justice diminishes. Memories fade and become conflated. Evidence becomes less reliable.

b. Living with the knowledge of having done wrong is a form of punishment for everyone who isn’t a psychopath. So, is the fear of being arrested long after the fact.

c. If the person never commits another crime, partially motivated by what they learned by living with their past, haven’t they been rehabilitated? Will further punishment undo what had been rehabilitated?

d. If a person has been punished and rehabilitated, after awhile, pursuing such a person is just revenge. Our system of justice is not about revenge.

4. Similar to the statute of limitations, we have juvenile law for a good reason-people do things when young for which it has deemed should not follow them for their entire life.

5. Dr. Ford has been abused by the Democrat Senators. They knew of her charges but failed to handle the information in a way to give her justice. Instead they held the information until it was most advantageous politically and not the interests of Dr. Ford.

6. I sadly concede there are many men who never face justice for sexual assault. Sometimes because the victim isn’t believed and sometimes because she fears coming forward and sometimes because our judicial system doesn’t always get it right. Concurrently, as the Duke Lacrosse team knows, there are men who suffer greatly because of being falsely accused.

But, I do have an experience with a rape. I was the first person to see my friend, I was one of two who sat with her to convince her to go to the hospital and not to her bed where she wanted to go, I was with her until she finally returned to her room, and I testified at the trial. It is this experience that makes me want to hear her story and his response.

Justice demands Dr. Ford get what she is due. If believes she was assaulted, she has a right to ask to be heard without any prejudice for or against her.

And, Justice demands Judge Kavanaugh get what he is due- mount a defense against the charges and suffer the consequences if he did what he is accused of doing. Just because many men haven’t faced justice, there is no justification to deny Kavanaugh justice. Our system doesn’t allow “profiles” to influence justice. We don’t endorse denying a black justice because of the crimes of other blacks. Nor should we here.

It might get ugly. It wasn’t easy on my friend (or us who testified). Dr. Ford has to be prepared for it because to expect otherwise is to deny Kavanaugh the same justice she deserves. It has already been ugly on Kavanaugh.

But, as ugly as this might get, I think there are some good things to come out of this:

1. Females attending parties with alcohol need to acknowledge the biological realities men are stronger and make sure they have partners watching out for their well-being. If something happens, tell someone right away, go to the hospital.
2. Men attending parties with alcohol need to stay sober and be prepared to restrain not only their own behavior but that of others.
3. We are reminded ALL are to be considered innocent until proven otherwise. When conclusions of guilt occur before evidence is presented, overtime we will lose faith in the rule of law and the very pursuit of truth. It is unfortunate it takes a figurative lynching to remind us to respect Due Process for it is this process which protects us from mob rule and injustice.

Update after Dr. Ford’s portion of the hearing:

1. While she had some spotty memories from 36 years ago, there sure was a lot she couldn’t remember in the last few months.

2. I think it is meaningful she doesn’t remember how she left. She was miles from home and didn’t have a car. I though am not sure what it means.

3. There wasn’t a Democrat who gave any indication they desired the truth. They made it clear they wanted only her to be perceived as credible.

Update after Judge Kavanaugh’s portion of the hearing:

The first thing Leahy says is about not allowing a vote on Garland. In other words, the “justice” they were pursuing was unrelated to these charges.

And, I just have to say Jeff Toobin is absolutely the most “unjust” person here. There is nothing he would find over the top if the result was Kavanaugh not seated on the SCOTUS.

An old pro in campaigns said something to me on the 1980 Senate campaign: “After Sunday night, nothing a campaign says makes any difference. Minds are made up. The only focus left is Get Out The Vote. Nowwe just thank our supporters and motivate our volunteers to GOTV.” I think that is true for one reason: “What really can one say that will be new to the debate?”

So, for the next 30+ hours we are on the final stretch and will soon know who our Governor, US Rep. & legislative nominees will be. So, I’m interested for what hit for you during the campaigns. Good, bad, the ugly. Just so you know, if you are answering to try to sell a particular candidate, I will delete the comment. Selling is over. Its time to begin the evaluation period before we have results so we have a base upon which to judge against.

Why you went one way or another? Did you change your mind and why? What was your candidate’s biggest error (especially unforced)? What was the biggest decision point for you? What do you think is the biggest decision point in the campaign? I have my personal answers to these but I don’t want to answer to derail your thoughts. I’ll answer before the polls close for sure.

It’s a pretty open thread so long you aren’t trying to litigate the campaign. It’s over but we don’t know the results. I want to begin an analysis of what happened for you and globally. Thanks for playing.

Twenty-five years ago, I got up early in the morning and flew from Pierre to Denver for a meeting. I then flew to Minneapolis for a meeting the next morning. When I got into Minneapolis, the airport terminals were reporting of the FBI raid of the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco Texas. I got my rental car and proceeded to my hotel.

When I got to my hotel and checked-in, I was handed literally dozens of messages to call back to Pierre. As most of the messages were from my staff in GOED’s Division of Finance, I imagined one of our borrowers had a cataclysmic occurrence. My head raced with the possibilities of who it might be and problems like bankruptcy or a major accident.

I got to my room, turned on the TV which was more Waco so I put it on mute and sat at the desk to call back to Pierre. I couldn’t get through because the phone lines seemed busy which I thought odd everyone in Pierre would be that strung out over the Waco siege but whatever. So, I kept calling. When I got a phone to ring, nobody was answering, not even at my house.

Finally, I got through to Brenda O’Hara at home, wife to David O’Hara, Deputy Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. She just said “Have you heard?” and I responded something about Waco and I then she made a sound and lost it as she repeated over and over, “They are gone. They are all gone. The plane crashed.” At that moment, it never even occurred to me what plane it might be. Did I have my staff flying on one of the small state planes that day?

Then I heard through her cries, “The Governor, Rolly, they are all gone.”

Who was she talking about?

George S. Mickelson, 52 years old, husband to Linda and father to three children. He was serving as Governor.

Angus Anson, 38 years old, husband to Cindy and father to two children. He was serving as CEO of Northern States Power of South Dakota.

Ron Becker, 52 years old, husband to Shirley and father to two children. He was serving as State Head Pilot.

David Birkeland, 54 years old, husband to Mary and father to two children. He was serving as President of First Bank of South Dakota.

Roland Dolly, 37, husband to Lane. He was serving as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

Roger Hainje, 43, husband to Susan. He was serving as President of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and Forward Sioux Falls.

David Hanson, 45, husband to Diane and father to two children. He was serving as State Pilot.

Ron Reed, 52, husband to Barb and father to two children. He was serving as Commissioner of the Office of Energy Policy.

Since that fateful day 25 years ago, all but Rolly and Roger have become grandfathers many times over. I am sure their wives and children have lamented all they have missed. But the reality is they have missed nothing for they have witnessed it all and interceded on their behalf when necessary.

But, it is us who have missed them, more than we know. Every one of the men on that plane were people I considered my friend and some much more than just friend. As great as my sadness is for myself and the great loss of great leadership in our State, I know it pales in comparison to what these wives and children lost. My heart goes out to them and I hope they have a sense of the appreciation we have for their sacrifice.

* I am sorry that I didn’t know all the names of the children of the passengers so rather than listing those I knew and remembered, I listed none.

What gave me some of the best experiences as Senator Abdnor’s driver was the unexpected. One day after classes and getting back to Capitol Hill, I was informed tonight’s itinerary was the Senator was having dinner at Vice President Bush’s House with other Republican Senators. The issue or agenda I don’t recall if I ever knew it.

On the way, the Senator asked if I had eaten anything and I told him no thinking he’d either bring me a box of the dinner or have one ran out to me. Jim Abdnor didn’t like being hungry so he always made sure those around him were well-fed.

When we got to the Naval Observatory, Senator Abdnor told me to come along and not sit in the car. Not knowing what to expect I did as I was told but was sheepish as I walked by the other Senator’s cars as their drivers sat in their car. Drivers just don’t go to meetings with other Senators and certainly not with the Vice President.

When we got in the door, Senator Abdnor grabbed one of the waiters and told him I needed something to eat. This guy was good as he knew I wasn’t supposed to go into the dining room with the others yet not wanting to offend an obvious VIP (Senator Abdnor) so I was escorted into what I assume was the family eating area, a small functional kitchen with a kitchen table and four chairs. The waiter asked me to sit down, left the room and soon came with a salad.

Shortly after I received the main meal, a “side door” which I presume went into the family living quarters opened and in entered the Vice President’s wife, Barbara Bush. As surprised as I was to see her, she was even more surprised to see me as she was dressed not quite in lounge wear but certainly not what a person of her background would wear to meet a stranger or entertain guests.

After finding out who I was and how I got there, she said she was getting a snack, poured herself a glass of milk and got a couple of cookies from the pantry and proceeded to sit down with me. What struck me about the entire exchange is she not once made me feel uncomfortable for being there, made it seem natural she’d eat her snack with me, and, most importantly, she acted like my grandmother would have treated a stranger in her kitchen, with kindness and hospitality. Two other times I saw her up close. While we didn’t ever talk again, she acknowledged me both times with a big smile and a wink.

There has been much said about Mrs. Bush’s steely resolve and capacity to chop off heads of anyone threatening her family, her humor, and her public interest in literacy. What I hoped to confirm what I think we all suspected- she was also a kind and gentle grandmother.

May the soul of Barbara Bush, by the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace.

Finally, another RINO is gone- Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

The architect of the only comprehensive entitlement reform legislation introduced in the last 15 years, the architect of the only detailed Balanced Budget legislation introduced in the last 15 years, the architect of the Trump Tax Cuts, most effective fundraiser for Republicans in Congress, and a stalwart unwaverting defender of life from conception to natural death has decided to not run for re-election this November.

We need politicians who yell and scream and can only speak in simplistic bromides. Big thinkers who can actually draft legislation more than five pages long that has a chance of passage are RINOS

Now the seat is considered a “lean Democrat” this November and odds the GOP will lose control of House have surpassed 50%.

To “real conservative Republicans” this all makes sense.

Beginning tonight through Friday, the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Elite Eight, Final Four, and Championships are being held at the Pentagon here in Sioux Falls. The best 8 Men’s and Women’s Division teams are coming from around the nation to crown National Champions. One of the competing teams is our own Northern State University Men’s team from Aberdeen. Pretty exciting, huh? Let’s get out there and cheer on the Wolves.

Here is a link to today’s article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the schedule of play in case you want to go out the Pentagon tonight and the rest of the week:

Basketball schedule and article

Just a few minutes ago, I got a text informing me former legislator and commercial airline pilot Hal Wick is about to embark on his greatest ride into the sky as he succumbed to cancer earlier today.

Hal was first elected to the House in 1976 and last served in the House in 2014. In many ways, Hal embodied the concept of a citizen legislator. He’d come to Pierre serve, “retire,” come back for a few terms, “retire”, come back. He served 20 years and “retired” four times.

Because I was planning to graduate high school mid-year, I was looking for something to do and in Pierre in the winter, being a Legislative intern was ideal. But, I wasn’t yet in college so LRC wasn’t hiring me. Somehow my mom’s college sorority sister and Redfield State Senator Mary McClure found out about these two Junior House members not in leadership who wanted a private intern they’d pay personally out of their own pocket.

So, the night before session started, I went to the King’s Inn and met a lawyer from Kimball named Ron Miller and a Sioux Falls airline pilot named Hal Wick. After Ron told me how he read every bill every night, he would give me his notes and wanted me to type up his amendments. Some of which were clean-up, some of which were substantive, some he submitted, and some he didn’t.

Hal then said he was exactly the opposite. He was not going to know a little bit about everything but had a single focus on State Constitutional and legislative limits on regulations and tax increases. Additionally, he was going to promote a federal Balanced Budget Amendment and to show its viability he was going to point out how our less frugal approach to “federal dollars” was a betrayal of fiduciary to our nation.

While I loved working for Ron Miller and came to appreciate how he was a under-appreciated contributor to good government, what Hal told me sounded like I was going to change the world. It was a great session working for Hal. While other interns were sitting in boring committees, I was over at the State Library pulling economic articles written by Friedman, Laffer, and Hayek and transcripts from Bill Buckley’s PBS show.

The instructions were fuzzy- “I think about 8 years ago, Buckley had this guy on his show and he said something like this. I need the exact quote” or “Milton wrote about this. I need that article.”

At the end of the week, he took everything with him home to write his speeches. They weren’t really speeches but short points prepared to make a single point. For the life of me, I’d look at the calendar and not even imagine when he was going to use the research. But, sure enough, somebody would make an argument that sounded good but was economically unsound. And, when Hal rose to speak, half the body groaned because it wasn’t going to be short and many didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

But Hal didn’t care about being popular. He not only enjoyed a bit of his gadfly status, Hal was convinced he was saying what needed to be said. So he said it and said it and said it. And, I was so proud to be his intern.

And, the next year when I was at Augustana, I ran into Hal he told me wasn’t running again. Ronald Reagan was President and all he had to say was better said by Reagan. Plus, I think he just didn’t like the process of legislating. It wasn’t like flying Boeing 707’s. This was the first time I had a glimpse of Hal’s humility. He could walk away and it didn’t matter.

So, after I moved to Sioux Falls in 1993 (13 years after he first retired), I was surprised when he told me he was going to run again. He won in 1994 and began his off and on period of serving until he retired for what ended up being for good in 2014. As he and I lived in the same district, I teased him I expect him to serve again until they put him in the nursing home.

Now, with that background, I want to tell you about what I know about the man I knew.

Hal Wick was a very simple man.

• He loved his wife, Jane, and family. My dad was absent but Hal was one of the men who showed me what a husband and father was supposed to be.
• He loved his God and took his faith seriously. I don’t think I ever heard him try to sell a public policy by invoking God but I do remember him telling me integrity was about having a unified life. Not just being against abortion, Hal believed every policy he advocated was a brick in building God’s kingdom on earth.
• He was a good friend. During my darkest period, Hal Wick checked in on me and told me he was praying for me. I heard that a lot but with Hal’s simple integrity, I knew it was true.

Probably because his confidence in his brilliant intellect and copious research (which probably is also why he was a pilot), Hal struggled with humility. The first thing he asked me after every speech was “What came across as arrogant.” How many people do you know who know their weakness and work hard to overcome it? I can tell you not many in politics aspire to humility but Hal Wick did.

In addition to missing Jane when he served, I think it is his pursuit of his personal holiness “required” him to step away from politics. I think that is what he meant after one of his “retirements” when he told me his not being in the Legislature is “better for me.” Hal certainly loved politics, serving in the Legislature but it wasn’t who he was. Hal Wick is a child of God, a husband and a father. It was a privilege to have had him to look up to since I met him 39 years go.

With sadness, Hal now joins Bill Grams, Harold Halverson, and Joe Barnett on my personal Legislature Mt. Rushmore. May the soul of Hal G. Wick, by the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace.

Since becoming President a bit more than a year ago, these are just a few of President Trump’s successes on the war against radical Islam and its multi-headed monsters (ISIS, al Quaeda, etc.).

1) A virtual obliteration of the Islamic State and it’s supposed Caliphate- Instead of following the conventional wisdom the first step to defeating this borderless “State” was to have regime change in Syria and bolster the Iraqi regime. Trump took the fight direct to the “Caliphate” and they folded like a cheap suit.

2) The defeat of ISIS in Syria had the domino effect in Iraq where these cowards laid down their arms faster than Tom Brady ran off the field on Sunday.

3) Our President called their bluff and announced moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. They yelled, screamed and folded again.

4) In Afghanistan, the President said our commitment is until the Taliban is defeated (no time deadline) and embarked on a series of mini-surges which has the Taliban fleeing to Pakistan who we have warned we will cross their border to eradicate these terrorists.

5) Using diplomatic pressures, the President got the Saudi’s to right their efforts in Yemen and ultimately got “regime change” in Saudia Arabia through the marginalization of the more extreme Wahhabi-backers in the royal family.

6) Domestically, in addition to the travel, immigrant, and refugee ban from certain nations, the President’s clear speech at the UN with regard to our vigilance to safety is international and domestic sent a message to our enemies, our allies, our military, our law enforcement (note this includes Homeland Security and Department of Justice), and our citizens this is an effort for which he has called for unity of purpose.

In short, our President knows what he is doing and has marshaled the resources of the United States toward his goals.

But, the South Dakota Senate has 16 members who doubt President Trump, don’t think his Cabinet is competent, and supported a resolution usurping President Trump’s authority. The operative final words of Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 is: “Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the Senate of the Ninety-Third Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that South Dakota petitions the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Department of Justice to identify the root cause of global war on terrorism in order to keep our cities and citizens safe.”

President Trump has enough No-Trumpers, liberals, and mainstream media spreading innuendo about President Trump’s capabilities and leadership. It is embarrassing to have so many South Dakota elected Republicans piling on.

Here is the list of Trump-haters who are second-guessing President Trump’s Departments of Homeland Security and Justice and question President Trump’s leadership and efforts to keep us safe.

R. Blake Curd, Majority Leader, Brock Greenfield, President Pro Tempore, Jim Bolin, Gary Cammack, Phil Jensen, Josh Klumb, Ryan Maher, Jeff Monroe, Stace Nelson, Jenna Netherton, Al Novstrup, Lance Russell, Jim Stalzer, Neal Tapio, John Wiik, Jordan Youngberg.

While the bickering and political posturing was nothing like it is now, in the 1980’s, Senator Abdnor often sat in the Senate chambers with Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA) and they lamented the bickering. Because they both had speech impediments, I sometimes wondered if that was the original genesis of their close relationship. But, more likely is the father* of Senator Tsongas’ wife, Niki, was from South Dakota who was definitely one of Jim’s favorite wife of a fellow Senator as they hugged each other with too much genuine affection for it to be anything but sincere.

Anyway one night during an all night session the partisanship was even more rancorous than normal and Tsongas turned to Jim and said, “Let’s start our own party. It can be the party that listens to the people, listens to the facts, and doesn’t speak until we’ve learned all we can. He (referring to the Democrat speaking on the floor) doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

Jim said, “Well what about abortion? (they held diametrically opposing positions)” and Tsongas said “We are going to be the party that doesn’t’ have to agree on anything but its members are open-minded and listen.” I wish I could remember how the conversation ended and Jim’s response. So many half memories.

Why do I bring this up? US Representative Niki Tsongas just announced she is not running for re-election. I’m pretty sure there are very few issues upon which I agree with Mrs. Tsongas but I remember her fondly. Our system needs people like her. Decent people can disagree without being disagreeable.

* Anyone who knew Jim, know he loved athletics and of course Jim knew Niki’s father was an All-North Central Conference guard during his time at SDSU. I was there when Jim told her and, she remarked it was something she didn’t know about her father and asked Jim if he was sure. Jim was sure because it was an SDSU team during his high school years and Jim could name their other good players. Why do I remember this and not the rest the aforementioned conversation?