So I was watching the debates tonight; Gubernatorial Debate on KELO.. which went about as expected, with neither giving or offering any quarter.
And I flipped to the Congressional debate on PBS. That also went as expected. Pretty low key. The biggest thing for the candidates was not to have any major flubs, and it went that way until about the last 15 seconds of Shantel Krebs’ closing statement.
At the end of her final summary of why voters should choose her, Krebs suddenly and unexpectedly lashed out, coming out of left field & attacking her opponent Dusty Johnson for leaving his position in the Public Utilities Commission to join Governor Daugaard’s staff, and then claiming he wasted taxpayer dollars by using the state plane for “his personal use and personal travel back and forth for work.”
Wait.. whaaat? Did I miss that, or did the Krebs campaign use the ending few seconds of the PBS debate to directly go hard negative against her opponent Dusty Johnson? I rewound it and watched it again, so I was accurate in the quote above. It was kind of abrupt, and a departure from the congenial tone of the debate. Yes, she did.
It seems to have the hallmark of one of two things. Either Krebs didn’t think she did so well, and lashed out in desperation. Or it’s an attack that’s been pre-planned for the last week of the campaign and is going to coincide with a volley of negative TV commercials.
This might mark the end of what’s generally been ‘South Dakota nice’ in the Congressional contest.
I guess we’ll find out when we see what’s running on TV this weekend.
*Update* – I haven’t caught it yet, but Troy Jones tells me there has been a negative ad that started airing this morning, with Krebs following up her debate attack in the commercial. I’ll post it as soon as I can catch it.
Oh, snap that was a hot minute she took at Dusty…
Shantel showed Dusty up tonight. She must think the mailers came from him? Several times she hit hard about Dusty raising our public utility rates – 5 times. She claims he used our tax dollars for personal use, that’s not very nice of Dusty. The hard hit came when she told us all about how Dusty quite his job and exposed his lack of leadership skills.
Shocker – A Shantel supporter, who drank the juice from the beginning, immediately believing anything Shantel spews-
Seriously? It’s okay, I can see you’re new to this forum;)
Actually I’m not-
Sure thing;) Come November one Republican will be on the ballot. Shantel knocked Dusty on his ass. If she wins the primary I’ll be more inclined to vote for her knowing she’s got guts to challenge and take to task other politicians. I will not be voting Krebs in the primary, that’s not secret.
It’s obvious you’ve never worked on in Congress- you have absolutely no idea how things actually work and get done in DC.
Sure thing;)
When’s the last time she wasn’t campaigning for office on the state or tax payers dime?
Where is the proof? It works both ways.
She’s doing it right now.
Itd be a safe bet she hasn’t been in her Pierre office 40 hours a week working as the Secretary of State. Her campaign events and schedule clearly show that-
Kate Kuenzle – a $5k/month staffer for Shantel comes out swinging for her- unfortunately she can’t vote for her boss though because she from Missouri.
Couldn’t Shantel find South Dakotans and not overpriced out of staters?
Thanks KM!
I live in Sioux Falls and if you followed this forum more often you’d even know what district. Though I do appreciate your desire to know who I am;)
Who gets to use a state plane as a personal taxi? I was shocked to learn Dusty abused taxpayer trust and money! Sounds like Jackley’s last prosecution should be against Dusty for misuse of taxpayer’s money.
Maybe allow Dusty to respond before getting your panties in a twist.
She made it up. It’s not true.
Sounds like your a part of the guilty until proven innocent, then it’s to late crowd. It’s a strategy put together by over paid campaign consultants.
It isn’t true
She knows she’s trailing double-digits. It was so out of the blue and uncharacteristic of the night. She looked foolish and desperate. That outburst hurt her.
She could have called him out for using his kids on an ad to mislead the voters on the fake $120 million budget deficit. That way the Establishment can call her out for going negative by pointing out lies. She then could counter by saying it is not very pro-family to use your kids for the purpose of deception.
She’d use em if she had em.
Steve – go to be doing would you please. None of your conspiracy theories have ever been proven to be true.
Go to bed, would you please*.
Steve would know, he has plenty of experience attacking kids.
Guys, comments are getting nasty. Please keep it civil.
That is what happens sometimes when the facts flies in the face of what people want to believe. No one has ever refuted my budget analysis. They can only attack me personally. Dusty has an opportunity to explain himself to me, but instead he got up and repeated the $127 million lie.
So you anonymous attack dogs have the same opportunity…explain where the $127 million budget deficit claim comes from.
Steve- no one really takes you seriously. That’s why people don’t feel the need to entertain the tinfoil hat conspiracies that you continuously perpetuate.
Whatever gets you through the day.
No one takes you seriously either, KM. Go away.
Please, can you convince all the anonymous posters who have a burning desire to know my identity that I shouldn’t be taken seriously;)
Shantel seemed nervous and pre-programmed.
Tapio did well.
Dusty was relaxed and did well.
Dusty did not do well and you can thank Shantel for that. She needs to run a TV ad about his misuse of tax payers’ money. The ramifications of that accusation has the potential to destroy Dusty’s campaign.
Where is the proof?
I’m thinking Shantel will provide that. She must have something? Would she just drop a bomb like that with hopes of it being the truth? Doubtful.
She would if she thought or is down in the polls- you don’t attack while you’re in front.
You could be right. Damage control time.
KM
I don’t know which debate you watched, but it certainly wasn’t the one I did.
I can recap for you…. Dusty has been accused, by Shantel, of misusing tax payers’ money. Who gets to use a state plane as a personal taxi? Were you shocked to learn Dusty abused taxpayer trust and money? That’s not going away any time soon and if Shantel provides evidence, Dusty can quite possibly kiss his campaign good bye.
And if this isn’t true would you still back Shantel?
so Because 1 person made claims – you’re going to automatically assume this statement is 100% accurate and true?
If my neighbor told me Dusty misused our $$, I’d brush it off. The S.O.S. made this accusation and is now backing it up with TV ads. I’m not assuming anything other than Dusty’s campaign is in trouble and he should probably do damage control and do it quickly. He knows word is spreading like a prairie wildfire, I’ve already heard from 2 family members,
Tapio has been anything but nice this campaign. If he’s considered irrelevant than I get saying it’s “SD nice”.
Desperation all over this statement, accuse someone knowing they have no opportunity to respond. This is why people hate politics. Stay classy South Dakota…
If we want to talk about anyone wasting tax payers money- why are we not looking at Mrs. Krebs? She’s campaigned for higher office now for how long on South Dakotan’s tax dollars?
She should be diligently monitoring the elections in South Dakota as the Secretary of State- yet she’s too busy campaigning.
Get back to work or resign so you can campaign. Nothing worse than a hypocrit!
This isn’t just a Shantel problem. Calm down. Marty and Kristi do the same thing.
Not happy about that either – but this post is about Shantel and her accusations. Please stay on topic!
and Sattgast, Fitzgerald, Barnett, Brunner
That was a win for Dusty. He has my vote. Although Shantel seemed pleased with herself after that SNL- worthy outburst, I was not.
Sounds like he’s got your tax dollars too;)
A lot of times debates have a rule against attacks in the closing statements because it doesn’t allow for a response. KELO always has that rule. I don’t know if SDPB didn’t, or if Shantel just violated it.
Either way it’s dirty pool. Dusty took one shot at Shantel – for raising 200 taxes – but it was early in the debate.
It was disappointed on Shantel’s part. Cowardly.
Shantel used state assets (voter app) to push people to her political page for months. That’s a fact.
She’s may regret introducing the “state assets” issue.
D always smooth
S not so much
Very noticeable we only have one candidate (Dusty Johnson) who can answer the questions and has made it a habit to make sense.
I loved it. Krebs won- now prove the corruption. I can’t wait for the mailers.
The whole thing could have been mistaken for an SNL skit if it wasn’t for Dusty.
Shantel was flustered, repeating, and rambling from the get-go. The endorsement from the second floor strategically timed right before the debate and the election hurt her.
Neal was noticeably good at not answering the question asked despite his claim to not being a career politician. What exactly does his business do?
And Dusty sounded like the only voice of reason as he actually is treating this like a job interview. Thank goodness he’s on the ballot or South Dakota would be laughed out of the commiteeroom in DC.
Will that voice of reason be able to explain why he misused tax payer’s money? And, I’m curious as to why he quit his job the way Shantel described. That’s not a very strong display of leadership skills.
I would not hire someone that misused tax payer money. If I did, should I expect more corruption?
KM are you on the Krebs for Congress payroll tasked with trolling blogs?
Dusty is a pro and everything will be taken care of with false accusations neutralized. Dusty will be the nominee.
KM you must be aware that Daugaard tapped Johnson for the Chief of Staff position right after they both won their respective elections.
People said the same thing about Sarah Palin for leaving her office to join McCain’s team.
The same could be said of Krebs, who is walking away from the SOS position to run for Congress.
When somebody has ambition plus talent, they do these things
Why don’t they resign to do these things and let someone do the job full time…..
Pat, you are missing the real headline.
Shantel voted to raise 200 taxes and fees? 200?
Can that possibly be true?
Voting to raise taxes is not illegal, annoying, but not breaking the law. I’m pretty sure what Shantel has said Dusty had done is illegal. Using tax payer’s dollars for personal means – illegal.
We should be asking if that can possibly be true.
Voting to raise 200 taxes is a lot more than annoying. It’s tragic.
You still havent provided any proof, and neither has she for the fact, that this occurred.
The burden of proof is not on me, but you know that. My primary vote is not for Krebs, and it won’t be whether her accusation is true or not. This is huge and everyone knows it. If Dusty misused our tax dollars his campaign is over, he’s lost credibility. It already may be for the people who will not seek to hear Dusty make this right. Shantel dropped the mic at a crucial time in the debate, Dusty did not get a chance to respond.
There’s enough time for more mailers and tv commercials to back up the claims and to defend the claims. Can’t wait to hear the arguments and rebuttals. I’m not interested in burying our heads in the sand and ignoring the facts. Let the truth and the corruption come out so we can make an informed decision. It’s go time!
Yes!
1) If you wondered before if Shantel was way behind, you now have proof.
2) If you wondered if Shantel is a person of character, you now have proof she does not.
This morning I saw an ad saying basically the same thing. I nearly spit my coffee all over when Shantel said being Chief of Staff is a cushy job. It is very likely the most time consuming job in all of state government. The mere fact Shantel made that charge destroys all credibility of her character as a person.
She could have finished out this campaign like so many in the past who ran a gallant race and loss and came back to serve in various capacities. But, she chose to go out in a way she will be forever toxic. Sad and disappointing.
P.S. There is not an ounce of truth to what she charges. She provides no evidence. And when she fails to provide evidence, people of integrity will see her for who she really is. People of slime will repeat this lie without evidence because it serves their purpose.
P.S. KM, if you repeat something which has the effect of destroying another’s reputation (which you says this does) without evidence, you have committed calumny, which is an Offense Against the Truth and a grave matter which can separate you from God.
Isn’t it also libel?
Unfortunately its politics. Sad.
Noem is trying to smear Jackley’s character with Kaiser. Out of state consultants are bad people. They are character assassins.
Not libel. Political speech exception.
Just watched it. Looks like a gift for Tapio.
The use of the state plane issue has apparently been percolating, awaiting the opportunity for Krebs to vocalize. A survey group (caller ID says “Broadvox”) has been making numerous calls to the home phone. With the first call, I identified as leaning toward Dusty, only to have a series of informational statements launched on me about state airplane travel, followed with questions about my views. Similar survey calls from Broadvox have different results when I don’t identify as leaning toward Dusty. “Lost and confused”, and the Steve King endorsement, clearly the least effective member of Congress, and Congress’ No. 1 xenophobe has to be the topper. Quite frankly, the Steve King connection looks much better for Tapio (they are basically the same guy).
“Johnson said he wasn’t even in state government when an increase in the state sales tax was approved, primarily for teacher salaries. As for the airplane charge, while he was with the state, he did sometimes get picked up or dropped off by a state plane in his hometown of Mitchell. But it wasn’t improper, Johnson said.
“If we were going to Yankton, say, to meet with health-care providers, rather than drive to Pierre and catch a plane that was picking up other people there, the plane that was going from Pierre to Yankton would pick me up,” he said.
The robocalls implied a lot more than that. So of course I asked the Krebs campaign if they were tied to it in anyway. Kuenzle said they were not. Upon hearing that, Johnson said he believes them and is ready to move on.
Johnson said the robo calls seem to have been put out by a company called Broadvox, which appears to specialize in digital telecommunications work.
“I assume they’re just a vendor,” Johnson said. “They have to say who they are, not who paid for it.”
http://www.sdpb.org/blogs/kevinwoster/whats-missing-from-a-third-party-campaign-mailer-or-robo-call-all-too-often-the-truth/
Why is Dusty entitled to get picked up and dropped off by a state plane? Shouldn’t he be required to do what other officials and representatives are required to do? I don’t think the plane also made stops in SF?
“…rather than drive to Pierre and catch a plane that was picking up other people there, the plane that was going from Pierre to Yankton would pick me up,” he said. So, he gets to dictate the use of taxpayers’ $$? The plane made an extra special stop for him. Pierre to Yankton… I don’t see Mitchel in that flight plan. I think it’s improper and I’m not alone.
Having a plane make a stop along the way to their destination is what this is all about? Would Dusty Johnson get paid mileage to drive to Pierre? If he drove to Yankton, would he be paid mileage? Naturally the most expensive part of a flight is the take-off and landing. I am not sure how much that would cost for a plane such as the one used by the state. If you look at a map of South Dakota, you see that Mitchell is not really out of the way for a flight plan. If the group was traveling by car, one could say Mitchell is even on the way. If I were an employee visiting my family at home in Mitchell and had a meeting in Yankton with a bunch of people traveling from Pierre to Yankton, I would not really see it as being out of their way to stop in Mitchell and pick me up there. I see this as a non-issue, and it is apparent Krebs is getting desperate.
Sure, he’d probably get paid for mileage, the right thing was to drive like all the others are required to do. It’s not cheap to make extra stops like you state, take-off and landing are expensive. You and I don’t know flight plans, but I know it’s quicker to get to Yanton from Pierre by skipping Mitchell when you’re in the air.
Maybe it’s not that big of a deal, but it’s not the deal and he seems to have received special treatment on taxpayers’ dime. That sucks. Krebs may be desperate, but she wasn’t wrong to bring this up. If Dusty does things like this here, will he do the same in WH? Possibly.
Mileage would have cost the state about $85 to drive from Mitchell to Yankton. Driving from Mitchell to Yankton would have cost around $160. I do not know what plane fuel costs and how much it take to take off and land, but if it is $3/gallon, I doubt it cost 25 gallons to do the take-off and landing. Overall, it was probably a wash or cheaper to pick him up. Still a nothingburger.
Okay, it’s a nothingburger for you. It was wrong, it was special treatment for Dusty. It cost taxpayers. He should’ve followed the rules like all other officials and representatives are required to do. He talks about the entitlement programs all the while being entitled himself. Oh-well, what’s one to do. Dusty will allow Shantel to walk all over him, at least she stood her ground and called him out.
Whom announted you the queen of Ethics? Your comments lack any moderation and you’d never make it past a confirmation.
It’s better to be thought a fool than to type on a keyboard and confirm it.
It’s also likely why you post under “your initials”. Another Trump supporter ashamed to acknowledge who they voted for by revealing their identity.
You’re mad, I can see that. It’s okay, as I understand it Trump Derangement Syndrome can make people do strange and hurtful things.
Having a dialogue with people who are interested in politics and what politicians have to say is wrong? I’m a SD voter who has friends and family across the state and we also talk politics. You don’t want us to have our 1st Amendment right?
If you don’t care about my thoughts, why do you care about who I am and trying to attack my character. Do all the other anonymous people matter as much to you as I do?
MAGA!!!
There are even more examples. How about Pompeo leaving his seat in Congress right after the election to serve President Trump? Or Jeff Sessions?
But, Dusty’s opponents have whispered it for years so I expected the charge to be made. And, I’ve been generally silent because I figured it net-net only highlights Dusty is a person of service and value to someone whose position is higher. And, it negatively impacts the person making the charge.
Slime adds don’t work in 3 person races. Ask Kirby/Barnett.
I was on the fence but that really turned me off. Her whole manner and personality, which hit a low point at the end, have me voting Dusty now.
“I, Dusty Johnson, under oath, declare that I am eligible to seek the the office for which I am a candidate … If nominated and elected, I will qualify and serve in that office.”
That’s from Dusty’s oath of candidacy for public utilities commissioner in 2010. Is Troy saying Pompeo and Sessions violated similar oaths? Is he saying that would make it acceptable?
How did he violate the oath? He served in the PUC – he was elected, he took office and served.
Nothing burger.
Is team Shantel that desperate that they have to smear Dusty’s name to try and get ahead?
By the way- just called the Secretary of States Office and shockingly Shantel wasn’t in today- I guess I’ll call her campaign office to see if she’s campaign on her tax payer funded salary.
Daugaard announced that Johnson had been hired as his chief of staff on November 22, 2010, days after Johnson was elected to a second term as public utilities commissioner and weeks before that term should have begun.
So instead of voters getting the candidate they elected, who’d sworn an oath to “qualify and serve” as public utilities commissioner, they got a replacement arbitrarily appointed by Daugaard. Johnson violated his oath and Daugaard set a terrible precedent.
One of the things about life is it changes. I am pretty sure Johnson had planned to serve in the capacity of PUC. However something changed and he made a decision, whether right or wrong to change positions. It is not like he chose to go into the private sector; he was still serving South Dakota.
Without qualification, whether I agree or disagree with the person politically, I believe everyone in public service should do their best to find ways to accept a call to serve in a higher capacity.
Dusty’s acceptance of the call is a credit to his commitment to serving the people of South Dakota. I’m grateful and glad a person of Dusty’s experience is pursuing to the office of US Representative.
Those who want to diminish or denigrate the reality he has been called to higher office and consider it a negative are free to make that point. I’m confident it has more positive than negative political impact..
A lucky draw for her to get to go last and no chance for anyone to respond
I know, right! It was epic. I’m going watch it again. The governor race in CA had a similar situation, the State Assemblyman (Travis Allen) called-out one of the other candidates for not being trustworthy.
Where are these polls everyone claims to know so much about? I don’t think they exist, they must be internal;)
She’s a coward. She’s down in the polls and this isn’t going to help. She looks petty and petulant.
Well after this Barnett can rest easy…no chance of staying Sec of state now
Desperate and cowardly.
Seems use of the state plane is the governor’s call. She should take it up with him and quit whining.
Shantel has every right to expose the questionable things Dusty has done after him and his people went hard negative on her. Dusty took swipes at Shantel in the debate and there were limited opportunities to get that information presented. It’s winner take all and there is no prize for 2nd place.
I’m sure all of us would rather make a 5 minute drive to the airport and get picked up by a private plane to save us hours of driving or having to stay overnight in Pierre. Airplanes travel fast and if its ok for one person to get picked up then making a short detour for another is next. Where does it end? The highest cost for airplanes is in landing and taking off. Just because its on the way doesn’t make it fair or ethical. It’s a luxury and a substantial benefit that should be accounted for and explained.
I agree. However, I don’t think we’re going to get much explanation from the Dusty campaign. I’m sure they’re hoping it’ll just go away. When’s the next debate?
What swipes did he take at her?
That she’s the only business owner in the race? The only thing not being said is that her two businesses failed! That’s why the doors closed and the stores are no longer there.
She’s a failure at business and ya lived off the state’s dime for how long now? Since she was a member of legislature!
She’s a hack, in my opinion, she’s a hypocrite of the worst kind and I’d personally be ashamed to support her-
After reading this, it made me think about proposed Amendment W (IM22: the sequel). Supposedly, an “ethics commission” would look at things like this. Behavior that isn’t illegal (law enforcement investigates that sort of thing), But behavior that is “unethical”. I suspect the commissions debate would be very similar to these comments with each side having their own opinion and no real result except a waste of time and money.
There is nothing that gets me going like public officials using taxpayer money (beyond what is necessary) for personal luxury. There are those in the Trump administration abusing the taxpayers’ trust, and both Governors Janklow and Rounds used the state plane for personal trips – paying the money back to the taxpayers only after they got caught. Both parties do it, but it’s particularly galling to me when my fellow Republicans, who are supposed to be fiscal conservatives, do it.
That said, I don’t know whether Dusty has done anything improper. Shantel made the allegation and now she has to prove it. If she can’t, then making such a claim is dishonorable. If Dusty is in Mitchell needing to make a trip for a public purpose somewhere the plane is going anyway then there is no problem with the plane picking him up. If the plane made special trips for the purpose of taxiing Dusty between Pierre and Mitchell, that would be improper. But once again, Shantel needs to prove that. If that happened, and Shantel can prove it, then Dusty is not the only one who has some explaining to do. The Governor’s office would have some explaining to do too. I’m waiting for the proof – or lack of it.
As a person said earlier, Shantel just lost my delegates if she was going to run for SOS after she loses this primary. Not going to forget this. Hope she enjoys the private sector.