Head of New Approach SD Election petition effort noting “forgeries” on Facebook

Pat Powers

From Facebook this evening, Melissa Mentele, the person in charge of two of the pot petitions, the kill grandma (assisted suicide) petition, as well as also circulating a number of the other measures that would like to make the ballot, has taken to complaining on her public Facebook page that she’s having problems as they go into the home stretch:

So, the head of circulating petitions for darn near anything that’s left out there to be circulated is complaining about someone working for her who is “pulling some shady sh*t” and she directly complains that people are committing “forgeries?”

I mean dang… there are people who want to do illegal things who might be doing something illegal? Perish the thought.

If I was planning on challenging petitions this year, I’d be marking this one down as an exhibit #1 in my case.

42 thoughts on “Head of New Approach SD Election petition effort noting “forgeries” on Facebook”

      1. Nah. I’ll sign them all, and vote for the ones that are good. Marijuana prohibition is a policy disaster. I’ll vote for limited government on this one.

        Signed,

        A Real Conservative

        1. Then you are not a areal conservative. The STATE already bans marijuana…it is the state’s right to do so along with all the other illegal drugs as the state has made them illegal.

          Plus clearly no REAL CONSERVATIVE would support any of them, so hence you are not one….nice try

        2. Unlimited potheads roaming the streets and creating addiction issues for taxpayers to solve is a policy disaster. Move to California instead of messing up South Dakota.

          1. Marijuana legalization is working in the states that have had the courage to act. “Unlimited potheads roaming the streets” is laughable fear mongering.

            Further, the data suggests that states that have legalized have seen profound decreases in problems related to opiate abuse. You know, the drug that actually does harm people.

            Along with alcohol of course.

            1. Listen, Pothead. Legalization has not worked in Colorado. Its costing them money and lives. The idea that they would make a lot of money from taxing it has turned out to be a fairy tale. If its important to you to smoke pot, move there.

    3. Go have a joint and continue your unproductive life, pothead! Going with the Zeitgeist is the socialist/liberal/immoral way.

  3. Knock yourself out on the challenge it was already reported to the SOS, guidance was given and we have it handled. It’s to bad that you have an issue with my bold and unashamed honesty I feel it’s an asset to my organizational skills. I don’t lie and I don’t let people screw up the process you should be applauding us for being honest not trying to drag us through the mud.

    BTW you must have been just shaking with glee when typing this up…you may want to fix your typos.

    1. ” I don’t lie” Seriously? Given the claims you and your advocates have made?

      Historically very high error rates whenever petitions are for Marijuana related ballot measures.

      Forgeries, breaking the law, cops involved can’t get off the couch and leave the house to get work done that would be supposedly in their own interest.

      Just another day in Potopia

    2. You had money stolen now also from NASD/Assisted Suicide?

      When will you disclose your donor list and who is paying for all the booths at the various events, office rental and other expenses?

    3. You’re complaining because I transposed two letters in “like?”

      Your first sentence is a run on sentence. In your second sentence, aside from it also being a run on sentence, “to” is misspelled and should be “too.” I suspect the word you are grasping for is “unabashed,” not “unashamed.” And your third sentence is yet another run on sentence.

      You should probably proof what you wrote yourself before you try to divert attention from your ballot measure by complaining of a misspelled word.

    5. And through in a vulgarity or two, Pat. Mentele seems to think it makes her “cool” or something. If you can’t sound intelligent, cuss a little and the mindless liberals will follow you.

  4. Oh Miranda I hope someday you find some peace in your life. You really must have a sad existence. I will continue to pray for you.

    1. Melissa,

      No need to divert just answer the questions. Remember Transparency? When asked the question before regarding the disclosure of donors the last time this came up you played the same games. Even South Dakota’s # 1 blog for pot related news called for it including recently a SDDP legislator. Otherwise it just builds onto the “Shady Sh**” of this whole Sham.

  5. I’m not diverting anything Mr Powers you wrote a smear story not knowing any details and just ran with it. I have a feeling your going to be eating some of this story. I hope you like crow.

    1. I just sign a petition. Anybody that puts the time and work into an issue they are passionate about deserves my signature.

  8. Miranda,

    Campaign finance reports are due in February. Not one person from either entity has come and asked us for that info. I’m not sure why you continue to lie and make up stories.

    We are 100% in state donor funded at this point that’s really all you need to know. You are welcome to take your conspiracy theory and fine toothed comb over it once the SOS publishes them. Just like every single other currently circulating issue out there, the rules don’t change because you don’t like our issue.

    BTW I love how you talk about DFP like you are not involved over there also. You’re like a cheating spouse all up over here in Pat’s short hairs while also begging to be allowed to participate in SDDP meetings & smooth talking DFP. It’s humorous to watch.

  9. What a foul mouthed woman you are Mentele: “You’re like a cheating spouse all up over here in Pat’s short hairs.”

    It is laughable, and more than a little ironic that you describe yourself as the “Guardian of Humanity” on your FB page. I am looking forward to the TV ads from the opponents of all the ballot measures you’re circulating. South Dakotans should understand the character of the person pushing these measures. Featured prominently on each of these ads should be your quotes, and the picture of you smoking pot that you are so proudly circulating.

    1. I would guess Mentele is pro-abortion, so that takes her out of the “Guardian of Humanity” category. If she is pro-baby, I take back the statement, but I’m guessing I’m not wrong about her. Nothing should get in the way of having a good time and doing whatever you want to do with your life.

    2. Here is Mentele’s response to the above post, from the “other” political blog.

      Foul Mouth Mentele

      Powers is just jealous because the work we do is actually important and has value. His “work” is all slander, lies and starry eyed hero worship for people who use him to further their own agendas. Funniest thing I heard all summer was “If you want to ruin someone call PP and give him a tip” apparently he does 0 research on his stories and just runs with whatever politician he is brown nosing at the time says. I can’t help but feel sorry for him.

      Proudly Foul Mouthed Mentele-Guardian of Humaity & Speaker of Short Hairs….an equal opportunity offender of ladylike behavior.

  10. Maybe she caught the circulators who were just sitting in their car all day in front of the Minnehaha Courthouse on Friday.

  11. The very existence of people who refuse to accept evil and who seek to act virtuously burns the conscience of those who don’t.

    Thank you for pointing this out Pat.

  12. This begs the question how many more errors or forgeries have occurred that Mentele has not caught? I don’t know how many ballot initiatives she is involved with, but it sounds like she is helping with most of them, and given her credibility problems and admitted errors, I believe the legitimacy of all ballots are suspect and should be challanged.

    1. If history is any indicator more than likely we will see Melissa in the news again in the not too distant future. Probably go thru a drive thru to get a cup of coffee, somehow spill it in what would normally be an accident for anyone else yet it is always someone else’s fault with Melissa, speed dials Dana at the Argus and news media and threatens a lawsuit against that business.

      Melissa Mentele is also South Dakota Democratic Party Vice Chair for Hanson County.

  13. Pat, good catch.

    There are two sets of rules, one every is suppose to follow, and none for the radical left.

    Melissa, I will give you credit for fixing the one issue (maybe there are others) that came to your attention. But are there others that you are not aware of? Second the credit you deserve got wiped out by your nasty comments in defense of DFP. There is where you learn about the two sets of rules.

  14. Guys, keep it civil please.

    BTW, something else to chew on, I heard a rumor that Melissa is going to run for the State House again as a Democrat…

  15. Here’s something to chew on. Your rumor is 1/2 true. I was ASKED to run in 19….and it wasn’t as a Dem. Apparently my consistent and steady work on our issues along with my conservative stance on many issues has caught the attention of several people who have invited me to change party affiliation. Also to clarify Stace was not part of the 3 separate meetings I have been invited to on this subject.

    Opening new doors, support on cannabis measures and new allies were mentioned.

    Odd isn’t it? The conservative insider doesn’t have the scoop on that subject….weird since I thought PP was THE voice of the Red Team.

    1. So Melissa Mentele the current Hanson County SDDP Vice Chair now talks of considering changing parties to be not only a Republican but as a SDGOP Candidate for the legislator. The same SDDP Vice chair who told her pot supporters publicly on facebook that she did not vote for the DNC Nominee for president and insinuated she was not really a Democrat and then turned around and constantly complained about President Trump. She probably voted for Gary Johnson for the pot.

      She along with the many of the same pot advocates flooded the SDDP including Kristina McSweeney http://www.keloland.com/news/article/other/sf-neighbors-react-to-pot-bust to vote on the resolution for the legalization of all uses of pot and then many including Kristina McSweeney just vanished. No party building just one single issue to legally use their drug of choice, used what is left of a crippled what is supposed to be the main opposition party and caused short and long term damage as a result.

      So now the traveling opportunistic road show filled with plenty of drama and gutter language is heading to the SDGOP?

      1. That’s where you are wrong PP. Dead wrong.

        [and the rest redacted. Insults don’t constitute keeping it on topic. – editor PP]

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