Politics as a bare-knuckled sport this year. Napoli on Adelstein
I was reading the Rapid City Journal website and noticed a post over at Mt. Blogmore on Bill Napoli. YEOW! It sounds like Bill has had enough, as far as his fellow Senator Stan Adelstein was concerned.
Here I was thinking I wouldn’t have to write about Stan anymore (yes, even I’m sick of the topic), but this one is too good to ignore. As written at Blogmore by Kevin (kevi) Woster:
I’m sure that Stan’s flirtations with going ‘D’ and his subsequent actions were far beyond the straw that broke the camels’ back as far as Bill was concerned. Long before his race against Alice McCoy emerged there were wild rumors running around that Stan was actively attempting to recruit a candidate to take Bill on.
I’d heard about those, but that was early in my blogging, so I don’t know that I was comfortable at that point to telephone a total stranger and ask “Is it true that a certain Senator offered to buy you a house in District 35 so you could run against Napoli?” – referring to one of the popular rumors running around at the time.
Back to the present. I don’t think anyone is going to disagree that Bill’s press conference is more symbolism than substance, and he doesn’t expect it to move Stan out. For the moment, Stan represents the entire district, not just Republicans, so asking him to resign because of his treason against the GOP is futile.
But, what it is likely to accomplish - more than anything - is to whip up the local die-hard Republican Party activists into an uproar. Let me tell you that mad GOP activists are hard working, hard charging activists. They will be dead set on winning elections and the election at the top of their list, regardless of where in the county they live, is going to be to put Elli Schwiesow over the top in November. Watch and see.
So accomplish obtaining Stan’s resignation? No. Accomplish firing up the GOP troops into working twice as hard? Absolutely.
I’ll link to the article tomorrow, as I’m sure the blog will rage with fury tonight.
Update - read it all here.
Here I was thinking I wouldn’t have to write about Stan anymore (yes, even I’m sick of the topic), but this one is too good to ignore. As written at Blogmore by Kevin (kevi) Woster:
Republican state Sen. Bill Napoli asked for Sen. Stan Adelstein’s resignation during a news conference called by Napoli this morning.Go read the whole thing here.
Napoli said he sent Gov. Mike Rounds a letter demanding that the governor ask Adelstein to resign. If that fails, Napoli said he would ask GOP leaders in the state Legislature and Pennington County Republican Party officials to ask Adelstein to quit.
Napoli thinks it’s off-the-chart improper for Adelstein to have publicly pondered a switch to Democratic Party and then come out in support of Democrat Tom Katus, who is facing Elli Schwiesow - the Adelstein nemesis who beat him in the District 32 Senate Republican primary last month.
Napoli himself violated the 11th Republican commandment when he spoke out against Adelstein during the primary. He argues that it was justified because Adelstein had taken sides in other GOP primaries with campaign contributions.
Adelstein just called back to respond to Napoli. I’ll have his comments in the paper tomorrow. But he general, he said he wouldn’t be resigning, and was looking forward to serving the needs of District 32 for the remainder of his term. OK, he also had a couple of things to say about Napoli…
I’m sure that Stan’s flirtations with going ‘D’ and his subsequent actions were far beyond the straw that broke the camels’ back as far as Bill was concerned. Long before his race against Alice McCoy emerged there were wild rumors running around that Stan was actively attempting to recruit a candidate to take Bill on.
I’d heard about those, but that was early in my blogging, so I don’t know that I was comfortable at that point to telephone a total stranger and ask “Is it true that a certain Senator offered to buy you a house in District 35 so you could run against Napoli?” – referring to one of the popular rumors running around at the time.
Back to the present. I don’t think anyone is going to disagree that Bill’s press conference is more symbolism than substance, and he doesn’t expect it to move Stan out. For the moment, Stan represents the entire district, not just Republicans, so asking him to resign because of his treason against the GOP is futile.
But, what it is likely to accomplish - more than anything - is to whip up the local die-hard Republican Party activists into an uproar. Let me tell you that mad GOP activists are hard working, hard charging activists. They will be dead set on winning elections and the election at the top of their list, regardless of where in the county they live, is going to be to put Elli Schwiesow over the top in November. Watch and see.
So accomplish obtaining Stan’s resignation? No. Accomplish firing up the GOP troops into working twice as hard? Absolutely.
I’ll link to the article tomorrow, as I’m sure the blog will rage with fury tonight.
Update - read it all here.
Comments
You should leave the big tent because we aren't!!!!!!!!!!!
I am tired of people complaining about abortion, abortion, abortion. Enough already. It is on the ballot and the voters can speak. It is an idiotic bill that even normal conservative christians find repulsive. They do not want their daughters being raped and forced to bear their uncle's children. Haven't you ever heard of genetics? This is why they don't let us marry close family members. Ever hear of hemophilia- not to be confused with you homophobiacs?
This is a big state with lots of different opinions and there needs to be some give and take on these issues. You will not change my opinion on abortion
and I will not change yours. Lets actually focus on issues that could have some dialogue and perhaps some movement could be accomplished- say jobs, better schools, better roads, etc.
If you are so down on people having choices maybe you would like to adopt maybe 3 or 4 babies born with FAS. Why should we punish these babies with mothers that destroy these children before they even get out into the world?
I think that we should start prosecuting those mothers who smoke, drink and do drugs when they are pregnant- what they are doing is criminal and these children have no chance to live a normal existence.
That truly would be helping the unborn.
The recent elections reflected exactly what Republicans have been saying all year (since mainstream)
Personally, I was very disapointed that the mainstreaming bums kept their leadership positions last session.
Maybe, with this stirring of the pot by Napoli, the Republican leadership will finally find the backbone to put the rinos in their proper place. SUPPORT THE PLANKS OR WALK THE PLANK
--Bill Napoli, March 3, 2006
Doesn't that pretty much say it all about this buffoon?
He's attempting to hurt his party as a senator holding office. He should pay a price.
Resignation? perhaps.
He should, at least, be relieved from any committee posts he holds untill the end of his term.
As for using an anonymous name,I made mine slightly different to separate myself from all the other anons. I stand behind my convictions, but I wouldn't feel as free to write if I used my own name. No one would know me anyway so really wouldn't make any difference though.
If you are quoting Apa you must have rocks in your head.
He meets in closed appropriation meetings with his intolerant crew and then doesn't let the other members know what is going on until it is time to vote. There is no discussion or time to allow the groups affected to be notified of these changes. These few "leadership" people show no leadership. They hide behind doors and discuss issues without even letting their fellow committee members know what is going on.
Apa is a rumormonger, and he started some pretty awful rumors during session. He hides behind lies, and Aaron I refuse to shut my mouth.
Aaron either use spell check or go back to first grade.
Anyone want to take a shot at it.
Aaron, this looks right up your alley... maybe you can be the Minister of Republican-ness. Another big expansion of government by the "conservatives."
It probably will require monitoring of all computers in the state for anonymous posters and a license and identification program. Wow, more big government and big brother--Apa will love it!
When did Adelstein "threaten" to switch parties? As I recall, he consistently said he was interested in remaining a Republican (although flattered that the Dems would want him). Sounds like someone with conviction. Quit rewriting history.
Rounds would just as soon the abortion issue went away because he only, reluctantly and under considerable pressure, signed HB1215 to quiet a raging controversy that was threatening to his own political future in the Republican party.
This tent was getting a little too small for our big government loving governor's comfort.
Do you still read Mt. Blogmore? I can't stomach a liberal blog of any kind, especially one that would like us to believe that it is "fair and balance". What a giggle that is...
What tent, must be that Pizza Hut. Origin of species, Apa, Napoli, Unruhs, Feedsack...Aaron, you'd call me an anonymous Rhino but guess what, there are a lot of people just like me, who dress like, walk like me, talk like me and who just might be---
the heart of the republican party.
Deal w/it.
You 20%ers keep doing what you are doing, enjoy your moments in the sun, move to Idaho and form your own country.
Apa, Brock and company allegedly are against big government (not true--they vote big government and big brother). So, if government is expanding while allegedly awesome Apa and company are on the "conservative" watch, it seems to me Apa and company are either:
1. Ineffective;
2. Part of the problem; or
3. Both.
We need new leadership. How does the Appropriations Chair defend the largest government expansion in state history taking place on his watch?
I wonder if Randy Frederick aka Feedsack will be out after this next election. He is a spineless do nothing sort of a guy.
I heard he tried to ask a former high ranking official to donate a boatload of money and Feedsack was told to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.
This is a party in peril. The divide is getting bigger every day. I think the future is the 3 party system versus this 1 party who represents a small minority.
You can have Greenfield, Apa, Napoli, and the lot of far righters.
And for you idiots that think that Stan would even bother to read your garbage- you give yourself far too much credit.
He has things to do than worry about you morons. The wooly mammoths time is coming and we are ready to read about the demise of your species in the history books.
800+ new state employees in 3 1/2 years. $20 million+ annual tax increases initiated by Rounds in 2003 and every penny of it spent. A new governor's mansion (though not state funds - Rounds strongarmed businesses to build him one of the largest residences in the state). A new plane at the governor's disposal.
And then there's HB 1215 in which Rounds agreed that government should take over decisions currently made by people, and further decided that women should bear their rapists' children and that 13 year-olds should bear their fathers' children.
Rounds further fought repeal of the "open fields doctrine" so that game wardens can continue prowling around people's private property without any reasonable suspicion of any wrongdoing.
Aaron, if you can come up with any example of how Rounds made government smaller or less powerful please share with the rest of us.
Your prediction of the demise of conservatism in South Dakota is laughable.
Liberals have been predicting liberal victories forever. Here is the history:
The last time the Democrats won the race for governor was 1974 – 32 years ago.
The last time the Democrats won control of the State House was 1935 – 71 years ago.
The last time the Democrats won control of the State Senate was 1994 - 12 years ago.
So which races do you predict that the liberals will win this fall?
In the primary, I can give you 15 examples of a conservative beating a liberal. Liberalism is a failed dying religion.
You are a liberal. You claim Rounds is a liberal. Will you be voting for Rounds?
If not why not?
The way he fought repeal of the Open Fields Doctrine was shameful and hopefully he will come to deeply regret his move to do away with private property rights.
South Dakota state government grew the 12th fastest in the nation from 2001-2006 (and, in case you didn't know there are 50 states).
Source: Governing magazine.
Big-government/big-brother Apa strikes again. Into your wallet/into your bedroom.
Aaron, he's the supposedly powerful Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. So, again, is he ineffective or just a guy who really loves big, big government?
Or maybe both, and you're just spinning us (or do you think #12 fastest growing is A-OK).
Quick change the story... or start insulting me... or make me switch parties... or blame other Republicans... or claim Governing magazine is a front for the ACLU...
Nothing that Rounds does makes much sense to me. He has no vision, no real plan for South Dakota. I certainly can't support his tax increases when we have $1 billion in reserves. We should be having tax cuts. I can't support his intrusions into individual rights like HB 1215 and the open fields doctrine. And I can't support his wishy washy lack of leadership, as I complained about on another post on this blog.
Rounds has twiddled his thumbs while schools suffer and property taxes go up - all while protecting his mountain of gold. He hasn't made South Dakota the wind power player that we should be. He has some success in economic development, but you have to question whether everything we got would have happened regardless of who was governor. I just haven't seen any economic development that Rounds really made happen.
Rounds is merely a caretaker until someone with vision comes along to take SD to the next level.
Check out the 2003 session where Apa voted to raise the taxes on everyone cell phone bill. There are plenty of other examples. When do you want me to stop proving he is a big tax guy?
Also, 12th fastest growing state government in the nation. No one has refuted that. Plus he votes time and time again to expand government especially if it's pork barrel for him.
The all-knowing, all-powerful Chairman of the Appropriations Committee should be able to stop this. Everyone in Lead hates him and just wants to get rid of him for two months otherwise they would ditch this impotent fraud.
Apa raises taxes, grows government and sneaks into your bedroom. Aaron, surely you don't believe this to be a "conservative" agenda?