I’ve been watching a facebook squabble over the past couple of days, as State Senator Stace Nelson has been attacking Dr. Tamera Enalls for taking issue with the false postcards sent out by the National Association of Gun Rights in her race, as well as attacking a commenter over at Dakota Posts:

That’s just been over the past few days.

When I went to see if there was anything more to it, I caught this post this AM, with Nelson attacking people yet again on social media, including Senator Mike Rounds and Jason Glodt, whom Nelson has obtained legislative housing from on and off during his legislative tenure.

Nelson attacking Rounds after the trouncing Rounds gave him at the ballot box in the US Senate Race where Nelson came in a distant third to Rounds has gone on for the past 4 years, and comes after a campaign where he declared “Hell No” when asked if he’d support the Republican Nominee, and has demonstrated bad sportsmanship ever since.

The environment Nelson has created with his constant attacks on Republicans he disagrees with is now bringing forth commentary such as you see above:

This person is literally wishing for Rounds’ untimely demise. I think that’s literally one of the most inhuman things I’ve ever seen that passes as commentary in a South Dakota political discussion.  But, that kind of thing is not an unforeseen result of the negative on-line environment that Senator Nelson has fostered through constant on-line attacks and name-calling.

Towards the tail-end of the 2018 Legislative session, the Joint Committee on Legislative Procedure met and passed a rule that one might consider in Nelson’s constant attacks with those he disagrees with:

1B-3. Professional conduct and civility. The South Dakota Legislature will strengthen and sustain an atmosphere of professional conduct and civility among its members and with all staff and will not tolerate harassment or offensive behavior based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, or disability. Harassing or offensive behavior may include the use of electronic communications through social media or otherwise, whether actual or attempted. Legislators must refrain from any and all such harassment or offensive conduct. This prohibition against harassment also encompasses sexual harassment including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexually harassing nature, when: (1) submission to the harassment is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or other employment determinations, or (2) the harassment has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Read that here.

The question is really at what point are legislative leaders going to decide the line has been crossed for decorum and conduct by a sitting legislator.  It’s really up to them to determine whether the level of abuse a legislator is heaping on the public via social media crosses a line.

But you can’t help but wonder if that line hasn’t already been crossed.

Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags At Half-Staff For Former Rep. Albert Kocer

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard is ordering flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Monday, June 25, to honor the life of former state Rep. Albert Kocer.

Kocer, of Wagner, represented his district in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1977 to 1994.

Kocer was 87 years old and passed away on Tuesday, June 12. His funeral mass will be held on June 25 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wagner.

-30-

Also in my mailbox today was a mailer from the Jason Ravnsborg for Attorney General campaign, rounding up a number of the endorsements he’s received:

Jason for South Dakota – Mailer by Pat Powers on Scribd

From my mailbox, Lance Russell has sent out another 2 mailers today, but this one is more attention grabbing:

 

There’s word this afternoon that South Dakota Democrats have possibly abandoned thoughts of running a candidate for Secretary of State, after exhausting the people they could scare up to be sacrificial lambs for 2018 on other statewide contests.

…..

Nope. They reconvened, and put one of the other candidates’ spouses in.

Randy Seiler is announced the Democratic Party’s nominee for AG

— Dana Ferguson (@bydanaferguson) June 15, 2018

Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen is in Delegate mailboxes today with a card inviting people to her Hospitality suite at the GOP Convention next week.

 

The GOP Convention is next week – Best Political Party in South Dakota!

This is new.  Laura Kaiser, who won a judgement against the State of South Dakota and collected $1.5 Million for it, and filmed a commercial that was used against Attorney General Marty Jackley in the closing days of the 2018 Republican primary, has authored a letter in support of Lance Russell who is campaigning to succeed Jackley for the AG’s spot:

Laura Kaiser for Russell by Pat Powers on Scribd

*Update*

You might specifically note that this letter was NOT sent out by the Russell campaign, but by Blaine “Chip” Campbell’s group, Republican Direction PAC.   Yes, this is the same group that took 10K from a storefront in Washington DC.

Because Lance knows that it’s the “Division of Criminal Investigation,” and not the “Department of Criminal investigation” as the letter incorrectly states.

The Washington Post has an article on female candidates who are not incumbents who will be on the ballot in November. The article holds out Congresswoman Noem as one of three Republicans favored to win in November.

I’d caught this a few days ago, and with all the AG chatter, I was reminded to post.

Earlier this week, candidate for Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg sent a video to the Sioux Land Republican Women, as opposed to appearing at their forum, he’s apparently out of state for annual Army training in the run up to convention: