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When I’n not working, or writing my website, in the free time I have left over, I’m a hoarder collector of a few specific things.  Such as South Dakota political pins, SD State Capital fight campaign items, and certain comic books.

And among those items, I’m not ashamed to say that there are items in those categories out there that I consider “holy grail’ items for me. Items that are elusive, or so expensive, that they are not everyday purchases.

For my comic book collection, there are a few that relate back to books I owned when I was a teenager.  X-men #1 (1963), and All Star Comics #7 (1941) are a couple of them that are holy grails for me, and at some point, I will put them back in my collection when I have the right book at the right price. Those are elusive mainly by cost. If I had the money and opened up my checkbook, I could probably have them tomorrow.

For my South Dakota political buttons, it is not cost as much as the rarity of certain items. We are not a large state, and they just didn’t make that many.  That makes some things just a tough find. Or near impossible. And tonight, I was fortunate enough to put a pin in my collection I’ve been hunting for over 35 years.

The first South Dakota Inaugural pin from 1933. I finally got one.

I’ve been close on occasion before. There was one on eBay around 10 years back. I missed the bid as it cruised out of reach at the time for around $400. Darned kids, and braces. And car repairs, and groceries. How dare they stand in the way of my hoarding?

But aside from the cost on the pin, it is such a difficult one to find, that you might stumble across it with blind luck, as some collectors have, or if you’re like me you hunt for it for decades.

My only problem tonight was the fact that it was one pin out of a collection of 450 South Dakota pins that were all being sold as a group.  I literally had to buy every inaugural pin at once, plus a lot of others, just to get one pin. And now I find myself having to commit to sell 449 other SD pins to try to recoup some of my expense.

But I did win. And after 35 years of looking for this, it’s a task I’m not going to complain anymore about taking on.

I always say the fun is less the actual possession of it, and more of the chase for the item. But, damn. It feels darned good to finally put my hands on this piece of South Dakota history.

update..

I don’t even want to tell Lee what it cost me to get this pin as part of the collection. Lol..

Did you all get the text message tonight telling you what a leading South Dakota conservative you were? Quite a few people I know did, including myself.

An earlier claim from huckster Toby Doeden was that he had already sold 300 tickets at $250-$500 a pop to see a candidate who has made comments about the good old days when women couldn’t vote as well as some holocaust denial, along with reports he has had a pornography problem (which he denies, of course.)

Of course, anyone who’s ever put on a political event in South Dakota knows the claim about selling that many tickets at that price is utter silliness. And tonight‘s text blast confirms it.

In case you’re not a influential conservative like I am, here’s the text that went out, spamming many Republicans, begging people to attend:

STOP.. STOP.. STOP.. STOP.. opting out.. STOP.. STOP.. STOP.. I wonder if that will do the trick.. (hopefully I conservatively influenced you to opt out)

One comment made to me about Robinson‘s headlining this event, is why? Why is he leaving his state at a time when he is crashing in the polls and has gone from slightly up on occasion, to where the most recent polling shows him at below 40% in an ever widening spread?

Unless he’s given up at this point. Ot it’s a really big check.

For gosh’s sake, if that interests you, give it another week and any tickets that are out there are likely to be handed out for free to try to fill seats.

If someone hands you a free ticket to go, just keep in mind you too can be treated to keynote comments such as: “North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) scoffs at the idea that young women should have access to birth control and, repeatedly waving his hand near his groin, says they just need to “get this under control.”

The Hill is reporting this afternoon that Iran had hacked documents from President Trump’s campaign, and was attempting to send it to Biden campaign, as well as sending the documents out to the media:

“Iranian malicious cyber actors in late June and early July sent unsolicited emails to individuals then associated with President Biden’s campaign that contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from former President Trump’s campaign as text in the emails,” the agency wrote in a joint statement alongside the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

and..

The alert also said that Iran has “continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public material associated with former President Trump’s campaign to U.S. media organizations.”

The statement does not indicate whether any of that information has surfaced publicly, but called the episode “the latest example of Iran’s multi-pronged approach…to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our electoral process.”

Read the entire story here.

Maybe we can send them a box of brand new pagers or walkie-talkies… 

WOW! Reports are out there today that Senator John Thune is out raising millions for the Trump campaign, as well as transferring record amounts for US Senate Candidates as states prepare to kick off absentee voting:

Republican Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota has raised over $1.75 million for the Trump campaign and Republican candidates across the U.S. ahead of two Wednesday fundraisers in Washington D.C., the Daily Caller has first learned.

Thune, who is running for Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s leadership position, will be attending two fundraisers and has raised more than $1.75 million for the Trump 47 events on Wednesday, headlined by Ohio Republican Senator and Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance. The events will benefit the Trump campaign and Republican Senate candidates.

The Caller also learned that Thune has raised more than $28 million for Senate candidates and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Last Tuesday, Thune told his fellow GOP Senators that he will transfer $4 million from his campaign account to the NRSC, which is the largest transfer in history from a Senate Republican, a source said to The Hill. It reportedly beats the previous record of $2 million, which was also set by Thune.

Read the entire story here.

“Broadband Czar” Harris Must Be Held Accountable for Mismanagement of Federal Initiatives

“It appears that your performance as ‘broadband czar’ has mirrored your performance as ‘border czar,’ marked by poor management and a lack of effectiveness despite significant federal broadband investments and your promises to deliver broadband to rural areas.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today led his colleagues in sending a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris regarding her egregious mismanagement of federal broadband initiatives. In 2021, President Biden specifically tasked the vice president to lead the administration’s effort to expand broadband services to rural, unserved communities. Under Vice President Harris’s tenure as the “broadband czar,” the Biden-Harris administration’s $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program has yet to connect a single person to the internet.

“Instead of focusing on delivering broadband services to unserved areas, your administration has used the BEAD program to add partisan, extralegal requirements that were never envisioned by Congress and have obstructed broadband deployment,” wrote the senators. “By imposing burdensome climate change mandates on infrastructure projects, prioritizing government-owned networks over private investment, mandating the use of unionized labor in states, and seeking to regulate broadband rates, your administration has caused unnecessary delays leaving millions of Americans unconnected.”

The letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

Full letter below:

Dear Vice President Harris:

We are writing to express serious concerns regarding your role as the Biden-Harris administration’s “broadband czar” and the mismanagement of federal broadband initiatives under your leadership. It appears that your performance as “broadband czar” has mirrored your performance as “border czar,” marked by poor management and a lack of effectiveness despite significant federal broadband investments and your promises to deliver broadband to rural areas.

As you are aware, Congress, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provided the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with $42.45 billion for the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. These funds are intended to provide broadband access to unserved communities, particularly those in rural areas.

In 2021, you were specifically tasked by President Biden to lead the administration’s efforts to expand broadband services to unserved Americans. And at the time, you stated, “we can bring broadband to rural America today.” Despite your assurances over three years ago, rural and unserved communities continue to wait for the connectivity they were promised. Under your leadership, not a single person has been connected to the internet using the $42.45 billion allocated for the BEAD program. Indeed, Politico recently reported on “the messy, delayed rollout of” this program.

Instead of focusing on delivering broadband services to unserved areas, your administration has used the BEAD program to add partisan, extralegal requirements that were never envisioned by Congress and have obstructed broadband deployment. By imposing burdensome climate change mandates on infrastructure projects, prioritizing government-owned networks over private investment, mandating the use of unionized labor in states, and seeking to regulate broadband rates, your administration has caused unnecessary delays leaving millions of Americans unconnected.

The administration’s lack of focus on truly connecting the unconnected has failed the American people and represents a gross misuse of limited taxpayer dollars. The American public deserves better.

Sincerely,

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Back in late July/Early August, I was noting that the Secretary of State Monae Johnson, after a very rocky term to date had initially indicated that she was not going to run. But in the run up of the State Fair she switched gears and came out with an updated campaign website, and launched her re-election campaign at the state fair, using the theme of “experience.”

I suppose bad experiences are still experiences, but it’s all in the eye of the beholder and the voting public at large.

Also in that same article, I noted that CIA conspiracist Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson sees herself in the role of Secretary of State, which is logical, considering the base that propelled Johnson into office has now abandoned her, and adopted Anderson as their figurehead. Despite Minnehaha County Commissioner Joe Kippley referring to her as “a walking lawsuit.”

But now I’m hearing strong talk about a door #3, with Aberdeen area native, and Deputy State Treasurer Jason Williams making plans to pursue the office at the next State Republican Convention. Williams had been casually viewed as moving up in the State Treasurer’s office in the next election, but insiders are telling me that Williams is actively planning to run for Secretary of State at the next GOP gathering.

Jason has often served as a confidant to those in higher office, having served as Rounds for Senate Statewide Coalitions Director in 2013, Coalitions Director for Governor Kristi Noem in 2010, and also assisted Steve Barnett for State Auditor as his campaign coordinator that same year.

As Brown County GOP Chair, behind the scenes Williams has often has a hand in working people into (and out of) constitutional offices in Republican circles. He was a supporter of Jason Gant’s in helping him get elected to Secretary of State. And was one of the players who was supporting Shantel Krebs to push Gant out. After his time in the SOS office as Public Information Officer for Krebs, in January of 2018 he made a beeline for the exit as he was also doing double duty on her congressional campaign in his spare time. I was told he was burnt out from the demanding campaign responsibilities being foisted on him. But not so much that he didn’t assist in helping Barnett replace her.

Williams eventually landed back in State Government with Josh Haeder in his highest ranking role to date as Deputy State Treasurer. Williams currently serves as chair of the Hughes County Republicans, and sits as a board member of South Dakota Right to Life.

Getting into the SOS contest, Williams would be viewed as a far more ‘establishment’ option over Leah Anderson to replace Monae Johnson. Anderson’s support would draw almost exclusively from the election conspiracists.. but admittedly, there were a lot of them at the 2022 convention.  And there’s always the question of how many votes Monae might pull with the loss of her base in the race. Would we even get to a round two of voting?

The office of Secretary of State has been a revolving door as of late, where in the last decade we’ve chewed through 4 Secretaries of State; with some passing on another run, and some unable to capture a second term (counting the current SOS in that number.)

Does the office need changes to restore longevity? Probably not. But if a person is interested in running for higher office, I would advise that they should not consider Secretary of State as a stepping stone. Only two have managed to accomplish it.  Clarence Coyne (SOS 1922-1927) managed a stint as Lt. Governor.  Only Gladys Pyle (SOS 1927-1931) actually parlayed her time in the office into the US Senate. And that was after the GOP nomination for Governor was stolen from her at convention.

Speaking of conventions, the 2026 Republican State Convention is scheduled to take place in June 2026 in Rapid City where we’ll get to put all of this wargaming and theory into practice. And the playing board might be yet to be determined.

There’s a great article in Bloomberg that came out in the last week about the great job that Congressman Dusty Johnson does for South Dakota in Washington. And it mentions the quiet part, where Dusty might be coming home in the near future to run to be South Dakota’s next Governor:

Johnson’s impact on the House largely happens behind closed doors. He says that’s the way he likes it.

“One of the things that has allowed me to be really effective behind the scenes is that I don’t have any particular ambition,” Johnson said in an interview. “I’m not in competition with anybody for anything. I don’t view my work here as a zero sum game. I want to get things done.”

Despite Johnson’s proclaimed lack of ambition, his fellow Republicans see him as a rising star in the GOP, possibly a future governor. That will depend on how well he can continue to sell his brand of fiscal conservatism in a party some see moving away from traditional policy and toward personality-driven loyalty to ex-President Donald Trump.

and..

Johnson was involved in crafting the continuing resolutions that kept the government open while demanding concessions from Democrats. He led the charge on ocean shipping changes as part of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and helped legislation to force TikTok to divest from its China-owned parent.

As chairman of the Agriculture Committee’s commodity markets panel, Johnson has also been a key player in bills that haven’t become law, but would have a much better shot if Republicans take full control of Washington next year, like the trillion-dollar farm bill and a cryptocurrency regulation framework that some Democrats say is too industry-friendly.

“He’s whip smart, understands agriculture, understands rural America, and he’s a consensus builder,” said House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.). “He brings people to the table.”

and..

It helps that he’s a fundraising powerhouse. Excluding McCarthy, who’s no longer in the House but has an active campaign committee, Johnson’s campaign had the sixth-most cash on hand — $4.6 million — in the House Republican Conference as of June 30. Of those top six, Johnson and Rep. Darin LaHood (Ill.) are the only ones who don’t chair a committee or hold a top leadership position.

Johnson is viewed as a possible contender for governor in 2026, when current Gov. Kristi Noem’s (R) term ends.

Go read the entire story here, about South Dakota’s next Governor.

Word is that in the last few weeks there was a gathering of Team Dusty advisers and confidants at a hunting lodge, where the group talked about *things.*

And I would assume part of that discussion involved where he’s going to go from here.   Dusty has always had the go-to team for statewide campaign efforts, with other candidates coming to him for ground troops. And Team Dusty has consistently aiding friendly down ticket races. They know how to run a good race, and they may be preparing to activate for “the big one.”

When November 5th passes and we’re done counting ballots, day one of campaign 2026 will begin.

And I suspect Dusty Johnson will be a part of it.

The South Dakota Republican Party filed the September Federal Elections Commission report today. And while it is the beneficiary of some presidential donations rolling through the party, it is still headed on a downward trend for cash on hand at the end of the month.

SDGOP September 2024 FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

$305,578.89 in donations came into the Republican Party via donors such as Dana White and T. Sanford (guessing the middle name wasn’t listed in the report), while $316,876.77 in expenses went out.

The state’s majority party ended with over $11,000 less in the federal account than it started the month with.

Which might get to be a serious situation at the end of the year after the election.

Apparently, Milwaukee was the place to be for a wild convention. And why am I not surprised that this involved Taffy Howard trying to stick her face in a photo?

From Dakota Scout:

According to sources, Rhoden did not want GOP delegate Taffy Howard in the video. Howard, a former state House member who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Dusty Johnson in the 2022 primary, is running for state Senate.

“I was informed that Reggie Rhoden created a disturbance during the RNC Convention at the Fiserv Forum Center,” the issuing officer wrote, according to the citation obtained by The Dakota Scout. “Lauschke stated the phone hit a person in the Maryland delegation… (and) caused a disturbance in the crowd.”

The incident, Lauschke told investigators, was reported to officers on scene — but only after the convention did he gain traction in getting charges filed. He reported that the incident left him with an injured wrist, which he did not seek medical attention for.

Read the entire story here.

Oops. Maybe next time* he should just stand in front of her.

(*Assuming this actually happened.)

Gov. Noem and Colleagues Urge NCAA to Fix NIL Settlement

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and four of her fellow governors urged NCAA President Charlie Baker to restructure its settlement with student athletes on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) sponsorships to fix the undue burden on smaller athletic programs in more rural states.

“Unfortunately, the proposed settlement is unfair for the colleges and universities in our states,” wrote Governor Noem and her colleagues. “In trying to rectify the issue of NIL payments, the NCAA must keep all student athletes across the country top of mind, not just those at athletic programs with the deepest pockets and greatest influence. We urge the NCAA to restructure the settlement to take the concerns of our colleges and universities, who make up a majority of your member conferences.”

You can find the full letter here.

Earlier this month, a federal judge placed the settlement on hold and urged revisions. Last Tuesday, South Dakota filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an injunction of this settlement so that the interests of smaller conferences are duly considered when restructuring another proposed settlement.

The letter points out that NIL sponsorships are more popular among Power Five athletic conferences, but the proposed settlement will hit colleges and universities outside of the Power Five with nearly $1 billion in financial obligation.

“The settlement means our programs stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. This may not seem like much to larger athletic programs, but to the student-athletes in our states, it is a significant hit to their programs,” continued Governor Noem and her colleagues.

Governor Noem was joined in signing the letter by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Idaho Governor Brad Little, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

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