Category: Uncategorized

In an election issue that has been debated all the way back to the late 1800’s, South Dakotans are being asked this year to revisit the language of our South Dakota Constitution.

As they did nearly 135 years ago, South Dakotans are being asked to go back and fix some language in our State Constitution that people thought should have been included. Predictably, Hillary Clinton donor and State Representative Liz May doesn’t know why we’d want to engage in such tom-foolery, since she’s trapped in the 90’s. (the 1890’s).

From the Secretary of State:

Title: An Amendment to the South Dakota Constitution Updating Gender References for Certain Officeholders and Persons.

Attorney General Explanation: The South Dakota Constitution became effective upon the State joining the United States in 1889. The generic male pronouns he, his, and him are used in the text of the State Constitution to reference certain officeholders or individuals.

This amendment changes the text of the State Constitution to remove the use of generic male pronouns when referencing certain officeholders or individuals. For example, when referencing the Governor, instead of saying “he shall be commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the state,” the text will be changed to read “the Governor shall be commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the state.” The amendment makes similar changes to other references to the Governor, as well as to references to other officeholders including Lieutenant Governor, Supreme Court Justices, and Circuit Court Judges. The amendment also makes similar changes to references in the Constitution to general classes of people such as persons, electors, and public officers.

Vote “Yes” to adopt the amendment.
Vote “No” to leave the Constitution as it is.

Con – Constitutional Amendment E

Amendment E is an unnecessary change to language in our South Dakota Constitution. The reference to “he” in our Constitution is simply a singular pronoun. The historic use of gereric male pronouns in our constitution is proper style and form and clearly does not exclude or hinder women from holding public office. While this seems like a minor change now, opening up the constitution in order to correct pronouns will not accomplish anything substantive, but will cost taxpayer dollars to reprint materials that are already effective in their current form.

Liz May, State Representative, District 27

Read that here.

Not sure what you do with that?

In case you’re interested, State Senator Erin Tobin provided the “Pro” on the measure, which was supported and suggested by Governor Kristi Noem:

Pro – Constitutional Amendment E

Amendment E will rightfully update the language within our State
Constitution to reflect our elected and appointed officials pertaining
to the office in which they hold.

South Dakota has a long history of strong female representation in
all three branches of government, and the Constitution should
accurately reflect these esteemed members of our government.

As a mother of a little girl in South Dakota, I want all young
women to realize that they can grow up to do anything they set their
mind to, and they too have potential to lead our State in their
profession and/or politics.

I urge the South Dakota voters to vote “yes” for this amendment.
Such a vote would be a show of respect for our state’s past, present,
and future female leaders!

Erin Tobin, State Senator, District 1

*Sigh* And of course, once again, the SOS can’t get that right, since Erin is in District 21. Because “30,000 copies of this publication were printed by the Office of the Secretary of State at a cost of $0.28 each.” And proofreading is hard. Ugh.

In case Liz May needed an interlude reminding her that Women can vote, here’s that episode of Schoolhouse Rock she missed:

Independent reports this past weekend indicate that we have a slate set in the contest to replace State Representative Ben Krohmer on the Republican ballot in the District 20 House race. Mitchell small businessman/CEO of Mitchell Area Development Corporation Mike Lauritsen is going to be battling it out with Brookings resident and custom wood artist Kaley Nolz in campaigning for the seat at the meeting tonight at the Mitchell Public Library.

Brookings resident? Isn’t this for a seat representing District 20 which includes Mitchell?

Well, yes, but..  Here’s where we go down the rabbit hole a bit.

According to live voter data from the Secretary of State’s website, Nolz is registered to vote at 24519 412TH AVE, MITCHELL. Which from a review of other voter file information appears to be the voting address of this 27-28 year old’s parents.

But, when you do an internet search to try to to find out who this candidate hopeful is, as detailed on the website for her parent’s ranch, Mom & Dad note helpfully point out that Kaley Nolz lives in Brookings, SD.

If mom and dad say she lives here, I have no reason to dispute that.  And public records would further bear out the truth of that statement.

According to public records from Brookings County, Nolz appears to maintain a home on 7th Street. Across the street from the SDSU Campus:

 

Looking at the property info, that’s the same property class code I have on my own home a couple of miles south. Which is coded to indicate that it is owner occupied.

So, if Nolz appears to be saying that her Brookings home is owner occupied, and mom & dad say she lives in Brookings, then I think we can safely call her a Brookings resident. Which brings up a couple of housekeeping items regarding her candidacy.

According to South Dakota codified law,

12-1-4. Criteria for determining voting residence.

For the purposes of this title, the term, residence, means the place in which a person is domiciled as shown by an actual fixed permanent dwelling, establishment, or any other abode to which the person returns after a period of absence.

A person who leaves the residence and goes into another county of this state or another state or territory for a temporary purpose has not changed residence.

A person is considered to have gained residence in any county or municipality of this state in which the person actually lives, if the person has no present intention of leaving.

I wonder what Leah Anderson would say about Nolz’s voting residence and her eligibility? Since with her parents posting that she lives in Brookings, and Nolz herself declaring that her owner occupied “actual fixed permanent dwelling” is there, that’s kind of a no-brainer. She lives and resides in Brookings.

Despite her running for office in Mitchell.

But, just in time, the South Dakota Constitution would provide her an out, as she can run from another district within the state, as long as she establishes a permanent residence within the district she wants to represent by the time she might take the oath of office.

3. Qualifications for legislative office–Officers ineligible.

     No person is eligible for the office of representative who is not a qualified elector in the district from which such person is chosen, and a citizen of the United States, and who has not been a resident of the state for two years next preceding election, and who has not attained the age of twenty-one years.

It’s a lot to remember, but Nolz has got that going for her. If she would want to run, and actually be seated by the House of Representatives, she’d just have to clear up those details and establish a residence that’s actually in District 20 by the time she’s sworn in.

Lots of questions to be answered before D20 GOP officers make their pick for who is running to represent them tonight.

Stay tuned for tonight’s candidate replacement election in Mitchell tonight for District 20.

A Dangerous World Calls for a Strong America
By Sen. John Thune

I often say, “If we don’t get national security right, the rest is just conversation.” In just the last year, we’ve seen our ally Israel come under attack from terrorists, and our own military has been attacked by Iran-backed militias 170 times, all while Russia and China continue their campaigns of aggression and strengthen their alliance with one another. Times like these underscore the need for American strength.

The reality is that we are not as prepared as we should be to address these threats. The weakness that the Biden-Harris administration has shown on the world stage has emboldened our adversaries. At the same time, our military readiness is not where it needs to be to deter aggression. We have service branches that are below their recruitment targets. We have planes that can’t fly and ships that can’t sail because of deferred maintenance. And we have shortages of munitions and weapons.

Last month, my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee put forward a National Defense Authorization Act for next year that takes steps to address the challenges we’re facing. It fully funds deterrence initiatives and strengthens partnerships to counter Russia and China. It makes critical efforts to modernize military technologies and strategies that will define tomorrow’s conflicts. And it authorizes the purchase of new combat vessels, vehicles, and aircraft to upgrade our aging fleets.

I’m particularly proud to report that this bill includes full funding for the next steps of the B-21 mission, including necessary support facilities. The Air Force calls this new plane the future backbone of its bomber force, and I am incredibly proud that its first mission will be hosted at South Dakota’s own Ellsworth Air Force Base. One of my top priorities is making sure that Ellsworth has everything it needs for this critical advancement in our nation’s defense.

The annual defense bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation we consider each year. I believe there should be a sense of urgency about getting it to the floor. My colleague Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) recently released a blueprint for making a generational investment in our military. He noted that our defense budget as a share of our economy has fallen to near record lows, and he proposes a defense buildup similar to President Reagan’s initiative in the 1980s.

We have no time to waste to build up our military, and the first step is getting this year’s defense bill passed in a timely manner. History has shown that weakness invites aggression. The strength of our military is the surest way we have of securing peace, and it must be a priority.

###

“We Need to Talk”
By: Gov. Kristi Noem  
August 9, 2024  

Years ago, I lost a dear friend of mine to suicide, and it was fundamentally life changing for me. After that incident, I remember thinking, “I should have done something. I should have said something.” I replayed every interaction I had with them over and over again.

In that moment, I wish I had someone I could talk to – someone who could tell me what I should have done differently to help my friend. Countless South Dakotans feel the same way.

We are surrounded by people every day, but we don’t always know what those individuals are going through. The world we live in can be very difficult. People are often judged by any number of factors, and that’s not the way God intended for us to treat our brothers and sisters. We are called to love one another.

When I first became Governor, I had several staff members who were also impacted by suicide. They came to me, sharing their personal stories of loss and imploring me to do something. I decided to make reducing suicide deaths a priority of my Administration. We drew a path forward: to start an annual Suicide Prevention Conference; to emphasize the 988 hotline; and to bring six different agencies to develop a comprehensive statewide plan to prevent suicide.

We built three Regional Crisis Stabilization Centers across the state (with more to come) and established a Zero Suicide Workgroup. Because of these efforts, suicide rates in South Dakota are finally starting to decline. But our work is not done. We need to continue to do everything we can to restore hope to our communities.

Just last week, we held the Third Annual Suicide Prevention Conference, and it was a tremendous success. The title of the conference was “We Need to Talk.”

When you hear that phrase, it usually creates a feeling of dread in your stomach. You probably anticipate that a hard conversation is coming. But for someone who is struggling with thoughts of suicide, that conversation can literally be life changing. Suicide is certainly not an easy topic to discuss, but we need to help people feel comfortable sharing their struggles so they can get the help they need.

I’ve prioritized supporting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline. This hotline has received nearly 20,000 calls since its inception. 24% of them are suicide-related, and 97% of those have been stabilized by the time they hang up the phone. That is such a miracle. It is so power for individuals who are experiencing a crisis to be able to talk to someone without the fear of being judged, to receive immediate assistance, and to have someone to continue to walk beside them and ensure they are not alone.

We live in a day and age where people perish because they don’t have a vision; they don’t have hope. But we have the opportunity to turn the tide and bring light to those who are trapped in darkness. With the right resources – and with some tough conversations – my prayer is that we will continue to see deaths by suicide decline, that people will live the hopeful lives that God has blessed them with.

Each of us were created with a purpose – and part of that purpose is to love each other and serve people. South Dakotans recognize the power of relationships. And we recognize that each and every person is special. No one is above helping their neighbor get through hard times – South Dakotans prove that every day.

We need to talk – and I know that we will.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, please call 988. Start the conversation. It takes courage to engage in difficult conversations, but we cannot be afraid. Each of us can make a difference. Each of us can bring hope to those who are hurting.

###

Guest Weekly Column by Aleesia Dillon, Ben Reifel Intern

Working in politics has always been in the back of my mind, but I had never seriously considered it. On June 3, 2024, my window of opportunity opened to work on Capitol Hill. It was my first day as the Ben Reifel intern with Congressman Dusty Johnson. I had never been to Washington, D.C., and I felt like a turtle seeking refuge in its shell. While I didn’t have the slightest idea of what was to come, now at the end of my internship, I can say I met great people and made memories I’ll keep forever.

During my second week, I heard from Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) at an intern lecture series. What he shared set my standards high and laid a great foundation for my internship. I took his advice to seize opportunities, make a good impression, and do my best.

Dusty is similar in this way—he’s always making sure the interns get exposure to what Congress is like and he helps set up once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for us. As interns, we attended many of his constituent meetings and staff meetings to learn the inner workings of his office. This always made me feel like I was truly a part of his team, not just a lowly intern who is tasked with getting coffee for our boss (which we never had to do). Throughout my internship, I heard Dusty crack several dad jokes while sharing snacks with his staff.

My time studying at Cornell University has prepared me for the fast-paced environment of Capitol Hill, but I did improve and refine my skills throughout the internship. My writing, communication, and professionalism were sharpened throughout working with the staff who provided edits on my work. I’m confident I’ll be an even better student when I return to campus this fall.

The highlight of my internship was meeting with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. I asked for her advice about law school, how she balances her identity as a Native with her work life, and her favorite traditional meal. She told me that Native women think about things differently, and to never let fear stop me. Meeting Secretary Haaland brought me an immense amount of joy, and I’m deeply grateful for Dusty’s office for setting up the meeting. I’ve never been prouder to be a Lakota woman.

Throughout my internship, I joined Dusty’s famous night tours of the Capitol, toured the White House, met with other members (including some “famous” ones), visited many of the Smithsonian museums, and did so much more. I am so thankful I took this opportunity to work on the Hill, and I’m glad I didn’t let fear of the unknown stop me.

Ben Reifel represented South Dakota in the US House of Representatives from 1961 to 1971. He was the first Lakotah to serve in Congress. The Ben Reifel internship is an opportunity for South Dakota students interested in tribal affairs to intern in Congressman Dusty Johnson’s office working on those issues.

From my e~mail box this AM, looks like the Brown County GOP‘s leadership team is collapsing in the wake of Katie Washnok’s departure:

Brown County Republican Central Committee Members,

After taking some time to think about things, I am writing to resign from my position as Brown County Republican Party secretary, effective immediately. In light of Katie’s recent departure, I believe that the direction for the future of the Brown County GOP has changed.

Our country has reached a pivotal point where the success of our nation depends on citizens’ willingness to work together towards a common goal. The same is true at the local level. I believe that as executive board members, we hold a duty to diligently work to unite the Brown County GOP through leadership and example. Unfortunately, in recent years, personal agendas have plagued our efforts and have threatened the upward trajectory that we have worked tirelessly to maintain. I will always believe that our board exists to represent and welcome ALL Republicans, not just those who share our same views and opinions.

It has been my honor to serve Brown County for the past five years. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished, especially our efforts to ensure that Brown County remains red. It is, and always will be, a privilege to carry water for the elephant.

Respectfully,

Ashley Tanner-Fliehs

And that’s another person choosing to walk away in light of the divisiveness that’s plaguing the SDGOP.

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 <sdgopconservativecoalition@217194070.mailchimpapp.com>
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.

From Facebook, it looks like there is another candidate looking at the D20 House Race:

Mike was also the former Deputy Commissioner of School and Public Lands, as well as the former Director of business services for the Secretary of State. Good guy.

One of the early people rumored to be running for the Khromer D20 House vacancy was Boyd Reimnitz of Mitchell. But as we see from him in the last 5 minutes, that’s apparently not going to be the case:

From Facebook:

Protecting South Dakota Kids Isn’t An Anti-Recreational Marijuana Group Anymore
By Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck

Right before the primary election in June I saw the logo For Protecting South Dakota Kids on a candidate’s campaign piece! Given that most people thought this organization was about fighting recreational marijuana and the upcoming ballot issue – that seemed really strange. In fact, it was organized as a “Statewide Ballot Question Committee” and says so right on the front of their publicly filed report.

Protecting SD Kids Termination Report  on Scribd (Protecting SD Kids Ballot Question Committee Filing, signed May 1, 2014)

I called the group’s leader, Jim Kinyon, and asked what was going on. He said they were endorsing candidates based on the “objective” standard of their scorecard that I could “go check on our website.”  I did. Jim Kinyon didn’t tell the truth.

To be clear, I oppose recreational marijuana. While their ratings obviously don’t mean much as seen below, Kinyon’s group rates me 100% A+ on the subject. In the last election, I wrote a personal check and did a bunch of radio ads in our community on why legalizing marijuana is a bad idea. Unlike Jim Kinyon, I think this issue is bigger than personal political agendas.

HOW KINYON’s FLIP FLOP CAME TO LIGHT

Rep Byron Callies

Our House member Byron Callies has a 100% A+ rating by Kinyon’s group. His website lists Byron as one the legislators they “honored!” Guess what “honored” means to Kinyon’s group? Byron had an opponent this primary that, particularly on pharmaceuticals, could best be described as odd. Kinyon’s group gave out $30,000 to candidates and the largest checks were for $2,500 according to their public report. Given Rep. Byron Callies attained their highest rating and was somebody they “honored” you would assume he got $2,500. You would be wrong! They contributed to his opponent. Byron is retired military. Pretty sure that’s not what “honored” meant his world.

Kinyon’s group is now clearly about some very different “unique” political scorecard of Kinyon’s and as you’ll see below it is even worse.

Senator Randy Deibert

Senator Deibert had a primary in June. He has a 100% A+ rating from Kinyon’s group and is described by Kinyon’s website as having “earned high honors.” Sounds like a candidate for a $2,500 highest honor contribution, right? Wrong. Zero support.

Tamara Groves

Tamara ran unopposed in the primary and has no voting record and doesn’t appear on the “objective list” Kinyon said he used. Probably no check or some nominal one, right? Nope. Maximum contribution of $2,500 !  Noticing a trend here? This PAC is not about what Jim Kinyon has been telling people it is about – but it gets worse.

Brenda Lawrence

Brenda Lawrence ran in 2020 and didn’t make the ballot due to insufficient signatures. By 2022 the old “Cathedral District” had been redistricted into a competitive district and a solid recruit stepped up to take on Sen. Nesiba. Brenda Lawrence successfully challenged the stronger candidates’ petitions, which she has a right to do. Once she knocked the solid GOP candidate out, she proceeded to barely run a campaign (turning down help) and handed the seat to Sen Nesiba.

Sen Nesiba has a voting record with Kinyon’s group of an F at 8%, tying for their worst rating in the Senate. So, no money for the Lawrence that helped the pro-pot crowd, right? Wrong. $1,000 was diverted from the fall ballot campaign to give to Ms. Lawrence’s next failed race!

Senator Helene Duhamel

Not only is Helene Duhamel 100% A+ rated by Kinyon’s group, she has been the Senate leader on this issue. The major victory Kinyon claims from the last session was a bill Senator Duhamel shepherded through the state senate – and it was no easy path.

Helene chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and works for law enforcement as a day job. She has a tough general election coming. She sounds like Kinyon’s most obvious $2,500 contribution for the season, right? Wrong! Even though others who have hurt the cause or not proven themselves received big checks, our champion on this issue received zilch!

It gets weirder. In April, Jim Kinyon was asked by the Independent candidate running against Senator Duhamel for a signature on their petition. Given that Senator Duhamel had earned, in Jim Kenyon’s words on his website, “high honors”, you would assume he declined. You would be wrong. Jim Kinyon abandoned his group’s Senate leader on his issue and his objectives have changed.

 

Jim Kinyon only told a 25% truth

If you compare the public record of where Kinyon diverted the ballot money issue in races, only 25% went to those that were on his proven “objective” scorecard. Oddly, of the 25%, half didn’t get to the A+100% voting record mark – but still got some of the money that could have been spent on the fall ballot issue.

So, it is clear that these funds were disbursed on some very different standard by Jim Kinyon.

 

The Public Can’t Trust the Protecting South Dakota Kids group.

The original group was a Statewide Ballot Question Committee to try and stop legalizing marijuana. If you asked most of us that care, we’d still say that was their mission. We would be wrong!

In May, Jim Kinyon terminated the Statewide Ballot Question Committee and moved all their funds into a PAC he controls. The entity no longer is about stopping the recreational ballot initiative, now it is for Kinyon’s very far right political agenda.

Sadly, but a little bit humorous is that he duped the Presentation Sisters out of a check for this effort. He talked nuns out of their money, but used it for another purpose. Their political agenda does not match where Kinyon ultimately diverted the money – and anyone who ever went to parochial school can tell you that if you’re foolish enough to tell a fib to a nun, there will be some ‘splain’n to do there.

Protecting Sd Kids Pac on Scribd

And that is the sad ending to this story. The primary election campaign finance reports reveal what Jim Kinyon did to distort the battle against recreational marijuana, and he knows better. He’s the Executive Director of the Western South Dakota Catholic Foundation. He understands public trust that follows donated funds. When you pull a fast one, you don’t get that back. He and his friends didn’t need to wreck another South Dakota institution.

They could have set up their Kinyon’s Wackadoodles PAC, put the money there, and spent it the same. They wouldn’t have duped the Sisters, but they didn’t get much there. They couldn’t have misused the logo to dupe voters, and that is a good thing. More importantly, they wouldn’t have damaged the reputation of an entity for their short-term political gain.

We saw the same thing in the public report of South Dakota Right to Life. For a long time, real conservatives have complained about the erosion of important institutions – now you can see first-hand how it happens.