How do you tell that a South Dakota politician is done running for office?
Minnesota is a lot more attractive to South Dakotans than South Dakota is to Minnesotans. https://t.co/qajC9blLdR
— Reynold Nesiba (@ReynoldNesiba) August 7, 2024
I get the feeling that Governor Noem does not care for Tim Walz..
Tim Walz is so terribly radical that his own citizen legislature brought legislation to allow certain counties to leave Minnesota and join us here in South Dakota. pic.twitter.com/DAXNdvVeUz
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) August 6, 2024
Walz is no leader. He’s a radical. I served with him in Congress. He pretended to be moderate, then showed his true extremist colors as soon as he became Governor.
South Dakota has been kicking Minnesota’s butt economically for years. Last year, nearly 7,000 Minnesotans moved to…
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) August 6, 2024
Are you familiar with the term “robber baron?”
Historically, robber baron was a term first used in the 19th century as social criticism regarding wealthy individuals who would often use their cash to influence politics. As changes in the landscape of politics have taken hold in the South Dakota’s political scene, we seem to be starting a new era in state politics where the wealthy – or at least well-heeled – are the new age’s robber barons, using their pocketbooks to insert themselves into the state’s political conversations and drive them to their own benefit (and shameless self-promotion).
It’s not a new phenomena by any stretch of the imagination in South Dakota politics where ego often comes into play, as people have tried to buy elections and set themselves up as people of influence. Arguably, that’s been taking place almost as long as we’ve had elections in our country. But coming at a time in South Dakota when the State Republican Party is fractured by waves of indifference and populism, the new robber barons are making a grab to drive the conversation in ways they want. And they’re pushing back against anything that might interfere with their vision.
Back in the summer of 2005, one of the earliest things I wrote about was when Republicans contended with a challenge from the left from a group funded by wealthy Rapid City resident Stan Adelstein, pushing back against conservatives funding a group called the “South Dakota Mainstream Coalition,” with members such as Duane Sutton of Aberdeen. And they hired State Rep. Ed Olson to be their Executive Director. As noted in the Rapid City Journal at the time (7/12/05), one critic pointed out that these “liberals in Republican clothing simply realize they are out of the mainstream, and want to redefine what mainstream means.”
The group spent some money in the 2006 elections, but that effort quickly dried up. Adelstein lost his primary election, and dumped money into funding his opponent, as well as a number of democrat races; a trend that has continued to more recent elections. The Mainstream coalition quickly died off when they lost elections and the money dried up. During this time, the SDGOP was on the uphill climb in South Dakota, so a cult of personality masquerading as a political movement didn’t really affect the party.
Fast forward nearly twenty years (and yes, I’m dating myself), and we have new robber barons trying to influence Republican state politics. Who are some of them?
Cufflink salesman Adam Broin, scion of the POET Broin family, made a push to take over Conservative Republican politics in the Sioux Empire region of the state around 2022 working with former Minnehaha County GOP Chair Dave Roetman to create the Patriot Ripple Effect. They held anti-establishment rallies against vaccination and incumbents.
This group seemed to reach it’s perihelion in that 2022 election when they had founded groups in Brookings (led by Rick Weible) and Watertown (led by some DJ).. ..and those groups quickly broke away as independent or just plain fizzled out. That organization seemed to start contracting when they started kicking people out for being perceived as disloyal.
Anymore, they pay for a website, which they post to occasionally, but the handwriting is on the wall. This group might not be around by the time of the 2026 election.
Starting last year, when he paid for polling asking people if they knew his name, Aberdeen car salesman & developer Toby Doeden tried to set himself up as the next big thing in Republican politics and launched an exploratory bid for Congress. Which came utterly crashing down in less than 30 days when it came out that he had never voted in a Republican primary election, leading him to abandon the race.
Instead, Doeden shifted his efforts to dumping significant amounts of money into state legislative primaries, with reasonable effect. Coinciding with the current populist effort against CO2 pipelines and GOP State Party infighting, a number of incumbents were ousted. With the primary dust settled, Doeden is already back trying to push a renewed round of polling of his unknown name against Kristi Noem and Dusty Johnson.
The problem with feeding your money to the political cycle is that it’s never full. We’ll see if he’s still interested in throwing money at it in 2026.
The newest robber baron in state Republican politics is Sioux Falls entrepreneur Chris J. Larson, who popped up out of the blue over the last few months, and is spending his money to form a statewide ballot question committee railing against many measures on the South Dakota ballot. Larson, who started the Comfort King mattress company, wrote in a recent column in The Dakota Scout:
Normies believe the both Covid and our current record-breaking inflation are naturally occurring events, similar to a bad winter, not the fault of evil and/or inept humans.
and..
Normies keep their heads buried in the sand until WHOOPS! too late, the Marxists have totally captured every single institution in our country. Just ask the good “Nice” citizens in the state of Minnesota, who can have their child removed from their home by the government if the parent refuses to “affirm their gender.” Yes, Normie, this is the New Normal in America. Coming soon!
Larson also wrote recently about the Republican party on his own personal website:
The body of the SD Republican Party is right now in stage 4 “Moderate cancer”. The “Moderates” have metastasized to the point that they have overwhelmed all of our “major organs”. To be clear, I am not saying that Moderates are a cancer to humanity; they are a cancer to the Republican Party leadership. The truth is that in our state the leaders of this party are not conservative in any real sense of the word. State Party Chairman, Senate Leader, all three of our federal representatives, Secretary of State, most of our mayors, the Governor. No, we are being governed by Moderates in Conservatives clothes.
and..
If you asked a Moderate, they would claim that it’s because their “middle of the road” (i.e. mushy) worldview is simply the most popular with the voters. I believe that it’s due to the fact that since they are unmoored from any ideological firmament, they are more easily controlled; for sale to the highest bidder. I mean, does anyone really believe that a cretin like Lee Schoenbeck is passionate about carbon emissions? Or that Pat Powers, who just this week was sent out by his handler, whoever that is, to attack a Pro-Life warrior and true Patriot Jon Hansen, somewhere in his dark little heart is harboring a deep love for our founding principles? Or that GOP Chairman John Wiik spends any of his time and energy trying to help truly conservative folks get elected? Or that Kristi Noem cares deeply for the people of South Dakota? Or that Thune, Dusty and Rounds are going to conserve even a tiny fraction of our traditions out there in the Great Swamp they muck around in? Certainly not!
(Not sure how I rated, since I had no clue who this clown was until yesterday). If you think Governor Kristi Noem, and Monae Johnson are “flaming moderates”.. the problem might not be them. Minnesota has their pillow guy spouting crazy nonsense, and now South Dakota has a mattress guy spouting crazy nonsense.
The well-to-do throwing their cash around trying to convince people how to vote is a phenomena as old as politics itself. Especially given that they’re largely here today and gone tomorrow when they get bored.
The question for us is whether we let ourselves buy into it.
‘Border Czar‘ & Democrat Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris has reportedly picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the fall election between herself and former President Donald Trump:
The naming of the 60-year-old Walz was not a shocker, as his name was instantly thought to be in contention in the two weeks since Harris succeeded President Biden as the party’s standard-bearer.
and..
Having the plainspoken Walz on the national ticket not only helps Harris in Minnesota, it also benefits the vice president in the two neighboring Midwestern battlegrounds of Wisconsin and Michigan.
Walz, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, may also help Harris when it comes to bringing in campaign cash, as he has helped steer the DGA to record-breaking fundraising this year.
I’m just dumber for having read this. Apparently Republican State Representative Kevin Jensen thinks “real women” have no nerve endings below the waist to protect in contact sports:
Since Kevin isn’t up on his basic female anatomy to go with his mansplaining, as the parent of 2 daughters with black belts in TKD, yes, girls wear protective gear in full contact sports, such as boxing, martial arts, hockey, etcetera and so on. If he can’t figure it out, he should ask his wife.
Jesus H, some legislators should have Facebook taken away.
I probably paid more for this than I might have normally, but how often do you see campaign pieces promoting Peter Norbeck for Lt. Governor?
This is a campaign ink blotter, which is what they used to use to keep ink from being messy before the invention of ball point pens. They generally went of out existence in the 50’s. Up until that point, one side was blotter paper, and the other side would often be used for advertising messages, including political.
So, like a button or keychain, this is an honest-to-gosh Peter Norbeck campaign piece from his 1914 campaign for Lt. Governor, when he served one term before becoming South Dakota’s 9th Governor (1917-1921), and his three terms of office in the US Senate from 1921-1936.
If you’re not familiar with Peter Norbeck’s contributions to South Dakota, you should be, because he’s one of the giants of our State:
Norbeck made a number of contributions to South Dakota’s tourism industry. He worked with sculptor Gutzon Borglum to help him create his huge sculpture at Mount Rushmore, convinced presidents Calvin Coolidge and Franklin D. Roosevelt to support it, and shepherded multiple bills through Congress to provide federal funding for it.[1] He encouraged the development of the Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills. He also pushed for the development of Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and the Game Sanctuary in the Black Hills.[7]
and..
Norbeck died of cancer in Redfield, South Dakota, during his third term as United States Senator in 1936. He is interred at Bloomington Church Cemetery, Platte, South Dakota.
The Peter Norbeck Summer House, in Custer State Park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Literally, Western South Dakota would not be the destination it is without his contributions to our culture.
A great addition to my wall of South Dakota campaign pieces.
A Laundry List of Bad Ideas
By Sen. John Thune
Two years ago, Democrats in Congress passed the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. At that time, they claimed that the bill would bring down inflation and reduce the budget deficit. Two years later, it’s clear that those promises haven’t come to pass.
To begin with, the bill’s title is outright deceptive. Even before it became law, it wasn’t expected to do much to combat inflation – inflation that Democrats created in the first place. Economists later agreed it did little, if anything, to combat the inflation crisis. And even President Biden acknowledged that the Inflation Reduction Act had “nothing to do with inflation.”
Democrats’ claim that it would reduce the deficit also proved to be untrue. The cost of the bill’s provisions has grown to such an extent that it’s not only not going to reduce the deficit, it’s likely to add to it.
The bill did, however, spend more than a trillion dollars on Green New Deal policies and hit conventional energy producers with burdensome tax hikes. It reads like a laundry list of wasteful spending, doling out taxpayer dollars for planting trees, purchasing zero-emission garbage trucks and postal delivery vehicles, and even grants for climate-related political activity.
Then there are the tax credits for well-off Americans to buy an electric vehicle. Perhaps the Biden administration’s signature environmental policy is effectively forcing the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and the Inflation Reduction Act was a big part of that push. The other part – new regulations from the administration forcing automakers to electrify a huge portion of their fleets in the next few years – is driving up the cost of the law.
Besides the fact that many Americans have legitimate concerns about electric vehicles, or just don’t want one, the Biden administration’s push for EVs comes at a time when our electric grid is barely keeping up with existing demand. Plugging in millions of cars is sure to further strain our electrical grid and lead to higher prices, and possibly blackouts.
Of course, this was also the bill that funneled $80 billion in new funding to the Internal Revenue Service, most of which was earmarked for increased audits and enforcement to fund Democrats’ Green New Deal vision. And it also included price controls on prescription drugs, which one analysis projects will result in 135 fewer new drugs available to patients. We are already seeing that projection come true as multiple drug companies have halted new research as a result of the new law.
The Inflation Reduction Act not only did not address inflation, it’s contributing to a host of bad outcomes for the American people. It’s a laundry list of bad ideas, from unrealistic Green New Deal policies to costly taxes and irresponsible spending. And this bill represents only a portion of the reckless taxing and spending Democrats would like to do if they again have the power to do it.
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Let Hogs Run Free
By: Gov. Kristi Noem
August 2, 2024
All across South Dakota, you’ve probably heard the roaring “wild hogs” across our highways and through our towns. Their roars and rumbles send a clear message: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is back!
In many ways, the rumble of the motorcycles has become synonymous with South Dakota and Freedom. This rally has always been emblematic of free spirits – of Freedom itself. As I said in the past, “Many of the visitors… say they’re coming to South Dakota specifically because it reminds them of the America they grew up in. Free. Independent. Unburdened by the constraints and headaches that big cities… forced upon them.”
Ever since South Dakota became the only state in America to stay “Open for Business” during the pandemic, that is truer now than ever before.
That same spirit of Freedom will be in full force at this year’s rally. American flags will be everywhere! We all expect that, and we welcome it.
Last year, I also wrote that “I didn’t think I’d find so much Jesus at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.” I told the story of the Sons of Light Ministry at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, and how they host a pancake breakfast to spread the Gospel. I’ll be spending some time with the Sons of Light again this year.
Sadly, some in the media weren’t interested in that story – they were more interested in mocking me for telling it. But I’m not going to let their naysaying diminish my excitement for the Freedom – and yes, the faith – that will be found at the rally in the coming days.
I understand that Sturgis might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s no reason to take away from the experiences of anyone else – or to use the rally as an excuse to take political potshots.
Many people work hard to create a fun, exciting, and safe atmosphere for people to enjoy during the rally, and I’m grateful for all those who do – including law enforcement, EMTs, local leaders, and community members.
For years, the media has tried to use Sturgis to attack our love for Freedom and our way of life here in South Dakota. They lied about the COVID cases tied to the rally and criticized those who chose to celebrate Freedom with us. We understand by now that those criticisms come with the territory.
We are going to enjoy the rally anyway.
I can’t wait to see longtime friends and to make new ones. I can’t wait to listen to incredible concerts with excited fans. I can’t wait to celebrate our veterans, our military, and all the things that make America great.
I can’t wait for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally! And I hope to see you there.
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Rounds, Daines, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Prohibit DHS from Releasing Migrants with Terrorism Ties into the U.S.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and seven of their Senate colleagues recently introduced legislation that would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from releasing migrants who are designated as Known and Suspected Terrorists or Special Interest Aliens into the U.S. The Safeguarding Americans from Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act would also give states legal standing in federal court to sue DHS if their failure to adhere to this rule causes harm to the state or their citizens.
“Our wide-open southern border is not only a humanitarian crisis, but a national security crisis as well,” said Rounds. “There is absolutely no reason that an illegal migrant with ties to terrorism should be allowed into our country. I am pleased to cosponsor this legislation with Senator Daines to strengthen our border and protect Americans from those who wish to do us harm.”
“Joe Biden and Senate Democrats’ refusal to secure the southern border has resulted in the loss of American lives, and as long as migrants with criminal records and potential terrorist ties are being let into the country, our national security is at risk,” said Daines. This bill will help protect our nation against the very real and serious consequences of Joe Biden’s open southern border.”
Rounds and Daines were joined by Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Click HERE for full bill text.
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BIG Update
This week, I held another telephone town hall to hear from South Dakotans. I hop on the phone and thousands of people join to ask questions and hear from me. We covered a host of topics like the assassination attempt on President Trump, the Olympics, the border, government spending, and so much more.
BIG Idea
Fentanyl is destroying lives and families. We know most of this fentanyl is coming from China and we must put policies into place to stop it from flowing across our border. During the Select Committee on China’s Fentanyl Policy Working Group meeting this week, I heard from experts on how the United States has used sanctions to address the fentanyl epidemic in the past, and how Congress can strengthen and use sanctions to target the root cause of the epidemic.
The “Achilles Heel” of the fentanyl epidemic is the legitimate commercial interests of many Chinese fentanyl manufacturers. Unlike the cartels that operate in a solely illegal way to bring fentanyl across the border, the Chinese chemical companies that produce and export fentanyl precursors do so as a “side hustle.” Many of these companies have real businesses that sell legal chemicals to customers around the world. These businesses are uniquely vulnerable to sanctions and would suffer from any economic pressure the United States applies. Congress must take action to stop the flow of Chinese fentanyl into our country.
BIG News
The floods that devastated southeastern South Dakota in June and July were a once-in-a-thousand-year event. Communities experienced catastrophic flooding after heavy rainstorms. This flood destroyed homes, businesses, and public infrastructure in the North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes areas. The damage is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars to repair, and spans 25 counties in South Dakota. The lives of about six thousand residents have been affected. This is an issue that deserves national assistance.
Last week, Governor Noem submitted the official request for a Presidential major disaster declaration. Immediately following Governor Noem’s request, I joined U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds to urge President Biden to issue a major disaster declaration. We must do what we can to remedy the destruction and assist those who are faced with repairs.
