There’s a great column by Joseph Bottum in USA today on the unusual level of indifference that most of South Dakota is treating President Obama’s visit with.
It’s an unexcitement matched by the general reaction of the state. Part of that is cultural. “This is the Midwest,” explains Mary Bibby, a longtime Republican activist from Brookings, S.D. “What’s to get excited about?”
And…
“Locally, having a president visit is a big deal,” notes Lee Schoenbeck, one of Watertown’s representatives in the legislature. Still, although he offered the bland comment deliberately to avoid controversy, that diminishing qualifier “locally” adds, yet again, a curious sense of indifference to the presidential descent on the state this week.
Even Bernie Hunhoff, founding editor of South Dakota Magazine and an enduring Democratic figure in the state, couldn’t find much to say in praise of the visit. “Watertown is the right place for the president to shine light on workforce development,” he began — before launching into a diatribe about the failure of Washington to address the “150-year-old problem in South Dakota that was directly created by Washington.
Interesting you’d cut off Hunhoff’s full quote before guiding people to the jump!
Nothing interesting about it at all. I attempt to honor fair use guidelines in how much I quote.
you do a great job. thanks.
hunhoff’s a good guy too.
Someone said once that if you can’t say anything nice about a person don’t say anything at all.
Silence is deafening here…………………………..
It’ll be a good day for all in Watertown and especially the youngsters. They will remember his visit their entire life. A presidential motorcade and visit is awesome no matter our politics.
“They will remember his visit their entire life. ”
Yes they will–the sense of overwhelming embarrassment and sadness as to what Obama has doe to their lives, our lines, and our country.
A respectful wave of middle fingers from a gaggle of kindergartners would be priceless, and patriotic.
A presidential motorcade is disruptive and annoying.
Only in a big city is it a nuisance and traffic snarl.
Out here it’s something else to see a line up of blackened high tech armored vehicles and the honor and security that go with a Presidential motorcade. Come on Anne, you guys are front row when our governor or politcos make an appearance. How much more a president?
I was NEVER happy getting stuck in traffic waiting for President Ford’s caravan to pass through.
It really does get annoying.
Oh, that’s too bad.
I was offered a ticket to attend as a way to say thank you for previously serving on the school board. Unfortunately I have a conflict out of town. But I would have gone. Obama’s visit isn’t and shouldn’t be about politics; rather it’s about celebrating the success of one of the top 2-year schools in the nation, Lake Area Tech.
“it’s about celebrating the success of one of the top 2-year schools in the nation, Lake Area Tech.”
Then keep Obama away! Whatever he touches turns to failure.
How is complete failure NOT about politics?
Fred I have walked away from photo ops in DC with President Obama because in District 23 that level of comfort will find a cowboy feeding cows after his last election.
“an enduring Democratic figure in the state,”
“Enduring”? So much for “journalism”!
If you’re the last Democrat with your coconut still lit after all these years, “enduring” is probably accurate.
he’s like a one man party, especially on the days that he is a one man party.
Oh I agree, but leave the editorializing out of a supposedly straight journalism piece.
What is Hickey doing? Isn’t his 15 minutes up yet?
From MMA, to pay day loans to Obama. He’s a nanny state man. So we’re not aloud to freely disagree with a presidential visit? His policies have been very destructive to the middle class and the general well being of this country. We are a country of people not kings and serfs. If time permitted I turn my back and I would encourage all people to just silently turn thir backs to him. But hickey would disagree I’m sure.
I’ll be gone soon enough and I agree with you about Obama’s policies and think Under him America is a captured operation. That said, can’t I express my opinion here about a presidential visit which is the topic of this post?
“I’ll be gone soon enough and I agree with you about Obama’s policies and think Under him America is a captured operation. ”
You will be gone soon enough? Where? When?
Not recognizing evil when it comes to your state is very surprising, but your Jeremiah Wright-brand of Christianity is not just an “opinion”, it’s dangerous.
Did you see on the news today with a story about how many jobs were created last month, Liemous? How many jobs were lost during GW Bush’s last month in office? You like to make up facts and spread lies. Trashy insurance salesman.
there’s been a big increase in the number of women who have left the workforce. that’s the only labor stat news i saw today.
That’s the only one you’ll admit to seeing today. Liar.
wow, called a liar by a proven liar. that felt good.
Proven liar? How so? Liar.
yes. still good.
Yes, still a liar.
I have said this before but I’ll say it again: a graduating class of people who have been prepared for Real Jobs will be addressed by a person who has never had one.
As for the motorcade, on our way to Brookings today we were passed by two Cadillac Escalades, one right behind the other. “Nice cars, ” commented William. “I wonder which of our neighbors bought two of them?” I said.
We were overwhelmed with excitement.
we should see if they’ll be told that they can’t do it on their own
A truly ironic appearance considering that LAT creates jobs and Obama kills them.
You either missed the April jobs report or ignored it. The news report outlining 223,000 jobs created last month and unemployment is down to 5.4 percent. But whatever. Carry on.
the obama-controlled national media will report any statistic he wants them to, whether true or false. How many unemployed aren’t even counted anymore because they quit looking and went on the all-too-attractive welfare rolls ?
Please provide evidence that Obama controls the media. Please answer your own question regarding how many employed aren’t counted anymore. Since you seem to know the answer.
he doesn’t take control, they whorishly give it to him.
or any elected democrat actually. they’re not picky whores at all.
they learned it from you, trashy whore.
you can’t stop yourself from getting the last word. now that’s funny. you loser.
Neither can you, trashy. Thanks for playing Skidmark! 🙂
dealing with your childish crap is ‘play.’ loser.
And I love playing with your childish crap. You’re fun! 🙂
Well, considering Obama’s indifference (not nearly a strong enough word here) to the people of the Midwest and their culture, what’s to wonder about if we treat him just the same. Generally a person gets the same respect he/she gives to others. Enough said (well, not really!).
Maybe if you “sour puss” conservatives are lucky he’ll bring his Kenyan birth certificate for y’all to see. Then he’ll reveal when he’s coming for your guns and when all the Doctors are going to quit. Then he’ll open the trunk of the limo and out’ll jump all the Mexicans predicted swarm the border carrying nukes and Ebola. Just kidding, you guys. It’s a pretty big deal for Watertown (this pundit graduated high school on that very stage). Interested to see if he can match the attendance of what’s always the largest crowd at the civic arena …. a priest’s funeral. They were parking in front of our house for that and we lived a mile away. lol lwiy … a-none-of-moose ps. Ms. Beal President Obama has had the hardest job in the world for the past six years and surpassed the progressive production of any previous Pres.
feel better now?
He’s played golf and attended fundraisers for the past 6 years. Same thing my husband has done since he retired.
A Real Job is one you can’t bullshit your way through; if you do it wrong, everybody knows. Not even half the observers of your work are fooled into thinking you know what you’re doing. That’s a Real Job.
Goodness, how in the world did you make it as a nurse? You must be a good bull shiter.
Are you still sore the Democrats in Mass got tired of your constant negativity and stopped inviting you to their dinner parties?
right on Anne !!!
I wonder if it is too late for the President to cancel. It looks like it would save everyone from a major hassle. It would be funny if he canceled.
If you really get excited about motorcades of black Escalades, Suburbans, and Denalis, may I suggest a visit to Prostrollos, where they will even let you test drive them? You can dress up like Secret Service agents and form your own motorcades.
they have limited the number of tickets per graduating student to 4 because of the presidents visit. Lots of unhappy parents over the deal. I guess it is a tradeoff. The kids will remember the presidential visit but their grandparents won’t remember the graduation because they won’t be able to get in the door.
The reason Obama got elected is because you people voted for G,W .Bush you have no one to blame except your own.Keep running inferior canidates and Hillary will get in with your line up you guys have I wonder if Hillary will have a land slide.
hillary is running out front of an avalanche last time i checked and it was gaining on her.
An avalanche of support? Yep! Lol
she was golden in 2008 and she lost lost lost. it’ll be worse this time.
Just like McLame was ‘golden’? And Romney too? And they lost lost lost. Romney’s loss was priceless. Especially his concession speech. He never saw it coming.
oh? you mean the republican candidate that harry reid admitted to gleefully lying about in the well of the u-s senate, specifically to cause his loss? that romney?
I have no idea what you’re blathering about. You likely don’t either. I know it hurts that your guys lost. Maybe someday you’ll get over it.
that’s it. you’re an idiot. the reid story is widely known and very recent. i’m done.
Oh, that’s too bad Skidmark. Don’t forget your marbles. You’re an idiot if you think Reid’s alleged lie about Romney cost him the presidency. Romney needed no help with that.
idiot.
enquirer May 14, 2015 at 10:08 am wrote: idiot.
Aw, look at you knocking yourself out trying to hurt my feelings. It’s funny because it’s sad.it’s sad.
Great speech by the President! He showed a great deal of class!
he has good speech-writers, that’s all it showed
Better speech writers that GWB. 🙂
Did he even apologize for being an hour late and making thousands of people wait? I doubt it ! He’s extremely arrogant and this again proves it. Like his fancy haircut on the tarmac that shut down the whole airport. All he cares about is himself and his big $$ donors.
Man are you a low information voter, that was Clinton, and the airpot was LAX.
when you get tired of doing both parts of the conversation, just stop.
No post visit follow up post from this blog? Why not?
what could be said? it’s over.
Are you the blog overlord?
make a follow up post then. you’re the only one who wants one. who cares. jerk.
I don’t run the blog, Skidmark. You don’t get to decide who cars and who doesn’t. I know that your narcissistic personality enables you think you do. But you don’t. 🙂
you sound delusional. and angry. like a loser.
You sound unemployed and bored. Like a trashy skank.