Weren’t the confederate counties supposed to have a meeting on Saturday? (*Update!*)
If you recall, the Confederate Republican county organizations decided on their lonesome to have a meeting yesterday in Oacoma. The group, now calling themselves the “By-Law Compliant Counties,” supposedly met. And we’ve had nothing.
Nevermind the fact that the meeting was not called by the SDGOP chair, the SDGOP completely disavowed it, and underlined that fact by noting they’re not paying for it. Because they already had a Summer Central Committee meeting – called the State Republican Party convention.
People are e-mailing me asking what happened. And in the hours since… there have been crickets. It’s like they held fight club, where the first rule of fight club is that “You do not talk about fight club.”
No one is really talking about the meeting. No pictures, comments, anything on social media.
I’m not sure what they’re going to talk about, other than almost none of these county groups have sent money into the SDGOP (per the county quota they’re supposed to be using to support the party), and their antics are keeping outside donors from investing with the GOP to support Republican candidates.
These are lean times for the Republican Party. It would be nice if they could be part of the solution.
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UPDATE!
Just got a big update on what went on, literally 10 minutes after my post. And it sounds as if the truth was weirder than the speculation. It was a glimpse into what we may see as the next iteration of the Republican Party after party elections in January/February. And, have to say, not getting a warm fuzzy.
As was related to me, the group felt they needed to gavel themselves in for some reason and elected Tom Brunner, as their pseudo-chair.. kind of a consolation prize from the last time he wanted to be chair. I’m told they selected Starla Russell from Fall River County to be “Secretary Pro Temp,” and Travis Ismay to be Sgt. at Arms. The head table was manned by R. Shawn Tornow, Stu Cvrk, Brunner and Amy Wagner from Pennington County.
What else? They apparently charged everyone $21 for this event, because that’s how much lunch was. And then they moved into presentations on ballot measures.
I’m told Jon Hansen presented on Amendment G, Ezra Hayes on Amendment H, and someone on 21. They decided to oppose all three. Nathan Sanderson presented on IM 28, which they decided to oppose. Jim Kinyon presented on IM29, which they also decided to oppose. Tony Venhuizen spoke on Medicaid work requirements, Amendment F, which they voted to support – the only one they voted to support.
The group did all of this by voice vote. Which, since they hosted an echo chamber, you can imagine how it went.
They also discussed Amendment E, removing gender from the constitution. I’m told there was a little bit of debate on that – some people saw it as unnecessary – and they decided not to take a position.
What else? I heard the group did resolve that the party should spend $10,000 opposing the open primaries measure, Amendment H. I’m also told spokesman Ezra Hayes told them they should work raising it themselves, given the party’s finances. But thinking there’s an unending well of money is a trend with these guys.
After that, they invited Kristie Fiegen to speak as a PUC Candidate. I’m also told Attorney General Marty Jackley was in attendance.
It sounds as if the primary result of this meeting was to motivate those present to work on ballot measures. With only a passing glance to the actual reason we have a Republican Party organization – to elect candidates. Why aren’t they rallying to get our guys elected? It seems as if they consider it a foregone conclusion.. nevermind the fact that the party’s finances are dire at this point.
Honestly, what are these people doing? It’s as if the Republican Party of 2024 has become the Democrat Party of the late 1990’s/early 2000’s, when they started tying their fortunes to ballot measures. And we all know how that’s gone for Democrats. It’s a massive shift of resources and focus – and not for the better.
It’s taking the Republican Party’s eye off the ball, and choosing the golden calf over the ten commandments.
But, this is South Dakota politics, and there are some who just want to take Republicans from complete electoral dominance to wander around in the wilderness for a few decades.