Senator “California” Carley unaware that SD National Guard has been deployed into foreign conflicts, has to ask State’s Adjutant General.

Sometimes it’s better to be quiet and thought a fool, rather than speak and prove it.

New State Senator John “California” Carley decided that now he’s in government he should learn more about what it is that the South Dakota National Guard does.

And so, in the 1/16 Joint Appropriations Committee, Carley asked if our National Guard members have ever been deployed to a foreign land:

Rep. Carley asks “I know the Military has been deployed personnel and  equipment but the actual National Guard in South Dakota has been deployed into foreign conflicts?

In 2012, the newspaper covering his legislative District  – the Rapid City Journal – had an article about how at the time 26 South Dakota National Guard members had given their lives in defense of our country and had been killed in Iraq & Afghanistan.  If Carley had lived in South Dakota at the time, you think he would have noticed that.

Or that in 2018 Camp Rapid dedicated a memorial plaza to honor 171 fallen SDNG soldiers who died in various wars or conflicts since the organization’s formation in 1862.   Within 15 miles of where “California” Carley is living (now). I’m guessing n 2018, he lived farther away.. much farther away.

We can hope in the next election, his district will send a South Dakotan to Pierre. As opposed to a California transplant who has a tough time not pronouncing our State’s Capital as PEE-AIR.

9 thoughts on “Senator “California” Carley unaware that SD National Guard has been deployed into foreign conflicts, has to ask State’s Adjutant General.”

  1. The South Dakota legislature when in session has turned into an idiot contest. The competition is fierce!

    Which district is in the lead?
    Which legislators and ranking?

  2. WTF! God forbid Carley do a quick Google search before he makes a complete fool of himself and the office of Senator. Many of our fellow Guard members have fought and died for our State and Country. As a Veteran and a citizen of South Dakota I believe we should demand that our legislators actually understand our state and its amazing history along with the sacrifices our National Guard has made over the past century. The voters of Carley’s district should be ashamed and embarrassed.

    .

  3. I had to go back and listen just for context. I thought to myself, no way could this be true? After looking at his campaign page he claims to be “for veterans” and a member of American Legion Post 311 in Piedmont. How can he be “for Veterans” when he asks a dumb question like that? He obviously does not know his constituency nor their sacrifice. I’d be curious about his military service which grants him a Legion membership because his questions to the General didn’t sound. My first thought was maybe he was sharpshooting the General or trying to catch him in a “gotcha” based on some upcoming “Defend the Guard” legislation that Alyward is talking about? If this is the case, the time to ask these questions is not in an Appropriations meeting. My guess he is just ignorant to the fact that 10s of thousands of Guard members from SD have deployed into foreign conflicts. Lastly he mentions on his campaign page, that he has 2 Family Members that are Veterans. Seems weird to also run on something like that when the over/under for Veterans family members here in SD is probably closer to 5.

  4. Hopefully the Veterans in his Senate District and across the State reach out to him and tell him their stories. On one hand, we should offer a little grace to Freshman Legislators, but what an ignorant line of questioning he had. As a SD National Guard Vet who was down range in 2003/2004 and someone who welcomed my kid home from a tour in Iraq last year with the SD Guard, this doesn’t sit well with me at all.

  5. He is just 1 of the many ill informed seat warmers in the SD legislature.

    His ignorance will not phase the Republicans one little bit

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