Populism is a political approach that promotes the common people, anti-elitism, and binary moral appeals. It splits society into two groups: the pure people and the corrupt elite.
Were people getting tired of being too angry for too long? Because based on the outcome of the runoff election, it sure seemed that way. It came down to a choice for or against the same wave of anger which has rolled through through through the Republican Party like a mud flow over the past few years, washing out good dedicated legislators in favor of legions of the angry.
But this year was different. While he came in third in the primary, Congressman Dusty Johnson backed an effort which replaced over a dozen of the bad legislators who listened less to their constituents than facebook. And once we moved into the runoff elections, Republican voters held in there, as opposed to deserting in droves to the forces of apathy in a primary election that already seemed far too long.
It seemed that voters once again sided with normalcy, and in most cases declared that they wanted to “stop the madness.”
For those who did not side with Larry Rhoden at first, while maybe it wasn’t their guy in the 4-way primary anymore, and maybe they were not going to get all the idealism they were hoping for, the voters were committed to see that South Dakota nice prevailed. And the tenor of the conversation changed from the politics of anger and opposition to voters seeking more deliberate thought.
It may not be perfect for everyone. But now there is hope that the system and processes that South Dakota built over decades of thoughtful, gradual movement, compromise and conservative leadership will not be up-ended in stunt casting for the state’s highest office.
Nicely said and summarized. Good leadership is about listening, consensus building, and positive vision. Leaders who simply want power often resort to finding an enemy…making the opposition something to be feared, rather than an opportunity to actually learn and reflect on your own values. South Dakota has not prospered because of anger… it prodoers when community comes above self and when decency guides our interactions.
The wealthy business tycoon with the “crypto mine” data center and the carefully crafted angry outsider persona (i.e., the man who most closely and most loudly and proudly mimics and parrots Donald Trump) lost, and he lost “bigly”. Thank God.
Thank you, Pat. You articulated very well what last night’s results mean for the South Dakota Republican Party.
It’s time for more of us to get involved and take our party back from the populists who have done nothing but damage its reputation. People like Phil Jensen have made the Republican Party look racist, anti-intellectual, and out of touch.
I’m a populist who voted for Larry Rhoden because Doeden’s populism seems mostly fake while Rhoden is South Dakota’s most populist governor in at least the last 50 years. Rhoden’s entire governing style and political coalition seek to align government with the priorities of working families and local communities. His politics are built around a broad appeal to ordinary South Dakotans, emphasizing cultural connection, rural identity, and resistance to centralized authority.
This is what “Endorsed by Lance Russell” gets a fellow.
South Dakota put out the dumpster fire for good last night.
As a candidate, Toby Doeden himself is done. But there is still a lot of $$$ floating around between him and some of his ilk to get the loonies elected again if the regular GOP folks take their eye off the ball.
Doeden shocked the system for the last 2 cycles. He helped elect a bunch of activists in the 2022 cycle which led to Hansen, Odenbach, Lems, Karr taking control of the legislaturere. He ran for Governor and outpaced a governor, 4 term congressman, and the Speaker.
He wasn’t built to run against Rhoden. He needed to face Dusty to unite the entire conservative base. It might not have been enough to win, but coming out of the primary 52% of voters chose someone who had never held statewide office.
Whatever the rift was between Hansen and Doeden isn’t completely clear but it was not repairable.
Larry had his number. He was everyone’s 2nd choice. He’s a good guy.
4% more in June and Doeden would be the nominee.
Larry was the right man at the right time. He lacks the skill and talent of many but makes up for it with likability and relatability.
His job now is to hold unity through the next session.
It was a rather good election cycle.
Toadster was beat & his toad army in the legislature replaced.
Bialota charged.
Pischke quit.
Hansen defeated.
Bruner kicked out Pressler.
What happened to Shad Olson or are we still waiting for his court date?
Shad apparently has the goods on Bruner, we’ll see if he releases it.
The political act is getting old. James Bialota, Shad Olson, and Rick Weible always seem to be promising the next bombshell, the next lawsuit, or the next revelation that’s supposedly going to change everything. They keep some of the lowest hanging fruit on edge, look at their social media following. These are 12-15 people who would be laughed out of every small town coffee shop in South Dakota. But 12-15 people have found each other on the Internet and validate each other’s mental illness. Eventually, people stop waiting. It’s the classic boy-who-cried-wolf problem: when every announcement is billed as the biggest one yet, credibility wears thin if the promised results don’t arrive.
Well said.
Right on.
Coming up next week.
If only we could also get rid of Bruner.
After that massive blow out, the SOS, PUC, and AG candidates of the GOP ought to be shaking.
We can only hope that the results of this election neuter Russell and Baxter should they be elected.
What we have learned this year: the general electorate deviates toward the mean, as in toward moderate, rational candidates. We didn’t need an open primary to get this result and it shows that the convention process is outmoded. If all statewide candidates go through a statewide primary, we will get moderate candidates.
Rhoden is hardly moderate.
Wrong, trump was still elected.
And 98% of those reading this voted for and continue to support uber populist Donald Trump. You are all so sad
I’m sorry about your TDS. (98%?) Doeden was supposedly the Trump candidate. Only the Demo’s follow blindly. Yesterday, it showed the Republicans of SD are discerning voters.
Don’t really think Toby was a true Trump supporter.
After all is said and done Toby, not only had no real history of working with or for Trump, even in South Dakota. Do feel Toby saw a way to start gaining support through all his mimicking type speeches in the very beginning.
Remember that South Dakota has been heavily known for being very supportive of Trump, so what better way for Toby to get an edge with Republicans in South Dakota.
You are hard core MAGA Your ilk always brings up TDS first. How about the loss of many medicaid benefits and just today drug subsidies for the elderly. And thats just the beginning. Tax breaks for the rich when the working class suffer is yiur mantra Republicans are repugnant.
Dylan Jordan
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South Dakota is NOT Conservative, we are purple.
Last session, June 2nd, last night and the next 2 years will provide more evidence of this daily.
In November, you get to choose between a RINO and a Democrat.
Democrats got almost everything they wanted last session and got to be involved in the REPUBLICAN primary. The establishment Republicans are okay with that because they are almost the same. Most of them used to be Democrats themselves a short time ago.
That will continue until it continues to be exposed.
A majority of your “Conservative heros” sold you out and proved they are just controlled opposition. I am glad they have shown their true colors.
I have good faith that the Liberty movement will continue, we just have a delay.
Whatever the future holds, I will always fight for your right to be able to keep the American spirit alive and well and for your ability to live the life that the devil wants to cancel!
Stay tuned for more…..
For Liberty,
Representative (till January) Dylan Cole Jorda
Why is it that Dylan Jordan and his associate do not run as Libertarians, Quasi-Libertarians or some new party and focus on that? They can be their authentic selves rather than call those they disagree with as RINOs or Democrats as a slur?
Shad Olson who looks to me as desperately trying always seek attention and entertain his tiny group of supporters mentioned that he plans to run for national office in 2028. He needs to bring back the old Constitutional Party and run as his authentic self.
I guess coming in dead last in his own primary election wasn’t strong enough of a message for Dylan that his and his fellow Free-Dumb Caucus quasi-fascist far right lunacy is not wanted by the clear majority in our state. Crawl back under the rock in your grandma’s basement from whence you came, Dylan.
If you hate “RINOS” so bad, why do you usurp positions in the GOP. Start your own party and show us how wonderful you are.
Because the only way they get elected is by having an “R” next to their name.
Funny how people have been Republicans longer than you have been alive are the “RINOs.”
waaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA