The SDGOP sent out a meeting announcement along with a financial statement yesterday, so there is SO MUCH to unpack; more than I can address in a single post.
But first and foremost is a single line on the agenda, which indicates one of Chairman (& former 32-year Obama Democrat) Jim Eschenbaum’s prime agenda items are being moved forward – a scorecard for elected officials and the party endorsing candidates in the primary.
According to the agenda:
7-19-25-SDGOP_Agenda by Pat Powers on Scribd
At the bottom of “New Business” on page two is a line noting that Proposed Scorecard Reviews and Endorsements are on the agenda, which is in line with earlier warnings from Chairman Eschenbaum that this was part of his plan, despite endorsing candidates being contrary to over 140 years of Republican tradition in this state – and I’m talking about going back to the Republican party before statehood.
While in the very distant past factions within the party may have had a preferred candidate, and the SDGOP has elected candidates at convention, they have never gotten into actual endorsements in primary elections. In fact, as recently as just a few years ago, the SDGOP has noted it’s neutrality. While they will support it’s elected officials, they weren’t going to get into playing favorites.
Until now, where this new group in charge of the party has decided to come in with an agenda of breaking the SDGOP.
Now it appears they are looking to move forward with splitting the baby into multiple pieces. Make you wonder how. Will they do it based on how much someone donates – Is the party to be bought off? Or will they do it based on holding a second convention which will be expensive – an early endorsement convention where special delegates come in? Or will it be a star chamber where a select few get to pick?
That’s the problem with this sort of thing. It’s most likely going to be based on how those in the small group want to game it so their candidate has an advantage. They aren’t – for example – going to send out a mailer to every Republican in the state so it’s participatory where all registered Republicans have a voice.
It will be about the few making a choice.
The question is – how few? And how much will registered Republicans tolerate it?
The first Scorecard one needs pay attention to the Conservatives with Common Sense Scorecard of Scorecards. It is the only Scorecard that does not cherry pick and presents to you the facts. These insaner people don’t like that, as it shines a spotlight up the arse of the insanest. Wear some good goggles when viewing.
Is Bircher fringe extremist Michael Boyle running for the legislature again?
Considering Eschenbama and Mulally created their own scorecard to attack legislators, I’m not at all surprised they want to create an SDGOP scorecard. Then they can attack all the same people, but their scorecard will have more authority with SDGOP slapped across the top.
https://dakotawarcollege.com/sdgop-chair-eschenbaums-gives-1-2-of-senate-including-majority-leader-an-f-on-a-scorecard/
Eschenbaum sent out a message to county chairs that they’re not to endorse candidates before the primary. But isn’t he the fourth person featured in the opening of Doeden’s ad? (Link below)
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ERnsLEECU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Sounds to me like rules for thee, but not for me.
This new SD Republican Party is like a rudderless ship having a good main engine. However, the ship has no fuel (and no money to buy any) and is crewed by “deckies” who have no knowledge or experience to operate machinery. These deckies love to use flags, slogans and communication devices to issue orders and rules that are totally inane. They will plan and strut but the ship is at the mercy of the tides and weather and she will ground, rust, sink or be scrapped.
A once powerful apparatus crewed by multiple officers, engineers, maintenance personnel and effective financial team will be lost.
Watch for a new build.
He wants to emulate the Minnesota system. The same system that hasn’t delivered a statewide Republican win since Tim Pawlenty in 2006.
But those “delegates” who get to play kingmaker every election cycle sure do like to feel important
Would be nice to see Thune, Rounds, and Johnson snuff this out once and for all. Their allies are the ones that will get blasted by these so-called scorecards that will look eerily similar to the CFL propaganda the fringe right uses to scare unassuming voters.
No one should be worried about this. The meeting will be an absolute cluster f. I’m guessing they will accomplish 1/3 of their agenda. The chair has no spine to lead and make a decision or recommendation, and has even said so on his county calls. He isn’t prepared for everyone to complain all day about dribble that doesn’t matter. These meetings are world’s greatest events for most of the new central committee. It’s like it’s their Super Bowl.
I see they intend to appoint Deputy Treasurers. Think it’s because Mulally is in over her head?
Dusty Johnson doesn’t have the support of his own party, is a headline I’d be scared of too!
They are trying to out-insane the insanerest.
Remember in 2022 when they tried to vote down a resolution congratulating the winners of the primary?
Why is it so hard for them to understand that when a candidate wins the Republican primary, THAT is the endorsement of the SDGOP. The Democrats, who let non-affiliated voters vote in their primaries, can always claim their winners were selected by non-affiliated voters and the SDDP doesn’t approve. But the Republicans can’t get away with that: the party votes in the primary and that is the party’s endorsement.
The central committee is going to look pretty stupid if they endorse somebody who doesn’t win the primary.
i love how the party is mandating parliamentary training and charging the attendees the fee. at least they’re making the YRs pay.