I'll get to some more serious posting later. I'm whipped, and no, I will not be a candidate for anything today.

Busy morning.

Just got my wife on the road to her conference after the Kindergarten screening for PPjr, and the new dishwasher (courtesy of my tax return) is in. MrsPP is supposedly going to be president elect of her professional organization, so I'm in Brookings a couple days early to hold down the fort.

And at this point, I think I'm going to go hide and take a nap. Last night's thunderstorms turned my 9:30pm flight into a driving trip to Brookings with a starting time of 10:45pm.

So, I'm going to take some time off of blogging, do some grocery shopping, and try to slip a nap in before I have to run kids to Tae Kwon Do, and pick others up from day care. (In home day care, in case you're asking).

And for the smarty pants who said "PP for Congress" - I wasn't sure if I was asleep and having nightmares already. Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I have this streak of brutal honesty which has never done me any favors. Oddly enough, people don't like being told something is stupid or a waste of money. (And I'm sure my website wouldn't help me either.)

That does bring up the topic of "who is" going to run on the GOP congressional ticket in 2008. I have heard a few names which had subsequently dropped by the wayside. I've even heard of a draft movement for a candidate.

Anyone care to venture a guess as to who we're goign to win with?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow must be nice to have a job where you can get time off to do stuff around the house. :-)
What is your job anyway? And which professional association are you talking about?
Anonymous said…
It's the classic case of anyone smart enough to be a strong candidate is smart enough not to get in the race, and anyone dumb enough to get in the race doesn't have the political sense to run a winning campaign.

Herseth got 69% of the vote last time around, and had a good chunk of change left over in her campaign account. And now that she's in the majority, she'll get a larger share of the pork pie and PAC money.

Despite the repeated statements on this and other blogs that "she can be beaten" and that every time she took a vote that "this is the one that will bring her down," she destroyed her opponent. Sixty-nine percent is huge, and that margin will only help her raise money and build on her success.

Finally, the fact that the State Party recruited Bruce Whalen and left him on his own to whither and die as a candidate will make it much harder for them to recruit someone this year. Anyone who beleives party officials when they say that they'll be there to help ought to have a conversation with Bruce about just how much money and support they're willing to provide.

Like it or not, she's going to be around for a while.
Anonymous said…
Thank you Randy Frederick for failing to recruit a legitimate candidate last time around. We missed a chance to damage her politically, and gave her a free pass to run ads, win debates, and campaign virtually unopposed. That's going to make her nearly impossible to beat this time around.
Anonymous said…
I would like to see someone with experience run against her. She's got the young people under her spell, and the best case we can make against her is that she is 1) liberal, and 2) too inexperienced to represent us in Congress.

Larry Gabriel would be a great candidate. He knows agriculture better than Herseth and could win the farm and ranch vote. He's got real experience in Government and is well known across the state.
Anonymous said…
We had our chance in 2008 with Herseth. She's effectively "branded" herself a moderate, and it'll take an exceptional candidate with a ton of money to change the voters mind.

It took John Thune (the best candidate this state has ever seen) and millions of dollars to convince South Dakotans that Daschle was a liberal, and we had, literally, thousands of liberal votes and liberal public statements to make our case.

Unless we have someone willing to spend a few million of their own money, this is a lost cause.
Anonymous said…
Keep looking to the past and don't expect to win.

There may be an open house seat in 2008 if Tim Johnson chooses not to run again, which should give an opportunity to some rising stars - the brightest of whom is Dusty Johnson.

Another star is Kristi Noem. She can hunt, clean pheasants, farm, run a business, raise kids, legislate, string together coherent thoughts, and she's easy on the eyes. She's a prototype of the South Dakota woman.
Anonymous said…
Anon 12:48 -

Nothing is "impossible" There are many ways that Herseth can be beaten. For example, should could caught taking a bribe from Osama bin Laden. Or sleeping with a dead 12 year old boy. Or she murder a schoolbus full of children.

Short of that, though... I think you're right.
Anonymous said…
What about Mitch Krebs? He's well know, articulate and he's got good press relationships.

He obviously knows how to perform on TV. Does anyone know if he's a true conservative?
Anonymous said…
Rematch!

Janklow v. Herseth, 2008.

This time it's personal...
Anonymous said…
Mitch has always been a true independent. He may have come off the fence and chosen a party now though.
Anonymous said…
I know she gets bashed alot around here, but Leslee Unruh is one of the smartest conservatives in the state, and she'll provide a clear contrast with Herseth.

Leslee is well connected around the country and could raise the kind of money it will take to match Herseth. She knows the issue and can expose Herseth for being the pro-abortion candidate she is. She would destroy Herseth in a debate about abstinence, abortion, or any other major issue.

And even though she didn't quite prevail in the Vote Yes for Life campaign, I'm sure she learned a lot and she's the kind of person who uses setbacks to make her stronger.

I think Leslee would be a perfect candidate.
Anonymous said…
Rob Skjonberg is the brains behind the Rounds operation. He's young, smart, talented and he actually lives in South Dakota. He knows the issues, and has worked close enough with the federal delegation to know where Herseth is vulnerable.

Rounds probably wouldn't give him up without a fight, but Rob is the smartest guy in state government with razor sharp political instincts. He'd mop the floor with her in a debate, and he'd be a great Congressman.
Anonymous said…
There ought to be a Brock Greenfield/Ted Klaudt primary. It would be, literally, the biggest primary in the history of the South Dakota.
Anonymous said…
Anon 12:58 -

I agree. Herseth, Janklow, Thune, Johnson and Daschle all won this seat when it was open. Since we've switched to an At-Large seat, there has never been an incumbent defeated. If it's open in 2008, we've got a shot. If not, we're going to have wait until it does open.
Anonymous said…
I was at a big family get together this weekend. Everyone in my family is registered Republican, but most of them voted for Stephanie (they're not particularly active, they're just Republicans who vote in every election). It's always ticked me off that they bought her centrist line of BS. So this weekend, I brought up Stephanie Herseth and her support of the Pelosi War Bill as an example that her liberal colors are showing. To a person, they replied that they had mixed feelings about the war too, and that they thought she was doing what she beleived in. Every single one of them used the word "moderate" or "independent" or "centrist" when describing Herseth. I would recite her support for transporting minors across state lines to get an abortion, her support of partial birth abortion, her flip-flop on the war, her closeness with the trial lawyers, and everyone of my own relatives would shake their head and say, "yeah, but she stands up for South Dakota when it matters" or some other line of BS. Then they turn to me and say, "How can you not like Stephanie Herseth?" I about lost it!

Now these people aren't political active, but they certainly aren't dumb. I can understand supporting her when our candidate doesn't run any tv ads or do any active campaigning (they had no other real choice), but the fact that they are convinced - I mean really convinced -- that she's some sort of moderate centrist, even with all the evidence to the contrary blew me away.

It was really, really disappointing. Even typing this I'm getting depressed. Whoever gets in this race is going to have a tremendous uphill battle. And I don't think any of the names above have a chance in heck.
Anonymous said…
This is the most depressing set of comments I've read in a long, long time...
Anonymous said…
It wasn't the tax return that bought your dishwasher. It was the government subsidies from all the cheap flights between Pierre and Brookings that bankrolled your own home improvements!

Just send the thank you note to Uncle Sam and the taxpayers of America. So much for conservative legitimacy.
Anonymous said…
Is this the 'draft movement' PP was talking about?

http://www.cleancutkid.com/node/4122
Anonymous said…
And this doesn't help --

"Republicans across the country are warning that increasing public discontent toward President Bush, the Iraq war and the GOP brand in general threatens to send the party's 2008 campaign planning into a tailspin.

Already, the problems are having tangible effects. Some of the party's top recruits in key races from Colorado to Florida are refusing to run for Congress. Business executives -- the financial backbone of the GOP -- are sending more and more money to Democrats. Overall Republican fundraising is down sharply from the same time frame during the past two presidential elections.

Then there are the voters.

Polling data released this month confirm what GOP officials are picking up anecdotally: Swing voters are swinging away from Republicans at high velocity. Most alarming to GOP strategists is a new survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center that found 50 percent of those interviewed consider themselves a Democrat or leaning that way; only 35 percent tilt Republican..."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3353.html

That's all very good news for Herseth...
Anonymous said…
And this doesn't help --

"Republicans across the country are warning that increasing public discontent toward President Bush, the Iraq war and the GOP brand in general threatens to send the party's 2008 campaign planning into a tailspin.

Already, the problems are having tangible effects. Some of the party's top recruits in key races from Colorado to Florida are refusing to run for Congress. Business executives -- the financial backbone of the GOP -- are sending more and more money to Democrats. Overall Republican fundraising is down sharply from the same time frame during the past two presidential elections.

Then there are the voters.

Polling data released this month confirm what GOP officials are picking up anecdotally: Swing voters are swinging away from Republicans at high velocity. Most alarming to GOP strategists is a new survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center that found 50 percent of those interviewed consider themselves a Democrat or leaning that way; only 35 percent tilt Republican..."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3353.html

That's all very good news for Herseth...
Anonymous said…
Larry Russell could win with or without Stephanie running. Thune could do it when so many said he could not. So can Russell.

He deserves an apology for what happened to him in the 2004 race while working for the Victory operation. He is a great guy and very capable. If Herseth's people are smart, and they are, he is the one they fear the most.
Anonymous said…
Anon 1:05
What exactly are you smoking? I am sure that it must be medical marijuana, but it’s still illegal. Lesley, God bless her, has less of a chance of beating Herseth than a random homeless person. Running her will absolutely drive the Dem’s to the polls, and it will do NOTHING to inspire the large numbers of our party who are not fixated on abortion. She has been identified with one issue and for good or ill will be identified as a one issue candidate. Like any other one issue candidate, she will lose. Bad.
Anonymous said…
NO vote on L. Russell.
I would not vote for him.
PP said…
2:58 - Argh. Yes, that was me.

And after attending a couple of events, my exploratory effort was quickly cut short by my wife being pregnant with my #2.
Anonymous said…
Stephanie could only dream about having a second consecutive weak opponent like Larry Russell, who brought criminal convictions down on his staff in 2004 and then went to Ohio and helped bring the GOP to ruin there.

But Stephanie won't be that lucky, because if Russell were to run his Republican primary opponents would savage him. He wouldn't make it through the primary.
Anonymous said…
No offense, but Leslee was one of the reasons HB1215 tanked. She is divisive, comes across as flaky and did us no favors as the face (or one of the faces) of BH1215. And since we weren't able recruit a credible candidate against Herseth last time, we lost traction. I think it's going to be difficult to beat Stephanie, even with this latest Iraq vote.
Anonymous said…
1:10, what in the world are you talking about? Rob S. is not well liked in state government because of his "I'm so much better than you" attitude and he clearly does not understand half of what the departments do.

In addition, he certainly does not have any political skills whatsoever. In case you haven't noticed, Rounds and his whole administration is pretty inept when it comes to politics. They are barely holding on to control of the state party, allowed Randy F. to stay as GOP chair WAY too long.

In other words, go get 'em Rob. At least that would get you out of Pierre.

BTW - 3:37 - the only apology anyone owes anybody is larry russell for embarassing the state party.
Anonymous said…
Another star is Kristi Noem. She can hunt, clean pheasants, farm, run a business, raise kids, legislate, string together coherent thoughts, and she's easy on the eyes. She's a prototype of the South Dakota woman.

LOL! Since when?
Anonymous said…
The gov and his people went 5-0 this week. Plus, they passed virtually every piece of legislation that they introduced. Inept? With this group of legislators the gov is more powerful now than in the first term. Don't let facts dillute your opinion. Good grief.

CoS Skjonsberg is this administrations a$$ kicker. Make no mistake. Throw a pity party if he's not pampering state employees. Last I checked that wasn't a prerequisite to running for statewide office.
Anonymous said…
The reason the Rounds admin is (barely) effective in passing legislation is that there are more Dems this year and more RINO's. Unfortuneately there aren't enough conservative sensible Republicans to stop all his big government crap, and stand up to his liberal lunacy.
Anonymous said…
It couldn't be statesmanship for once, it has to be the fault of the dems and the RINOs. It isn't who can the GOP get behind - it's who is the "most" republican & can get through a primary and consequently be decimated in another general.

We need a candidate that is appealing to all voters, yes even Dems, if we expect to beat Herseth-Sandlin. Otherwise, prepare to wait 26 years.

Wake up.
Anonymous said…
Doesn't change the fact that Rob S is an ASS!
Anonymous said…
Wow - it only took Rob S. five years to figure out the Gov's office actually has some political clout during the legislative session. With that type of razor shart political instinct, it would probably only take Skonjberg 15 years to figure out where the US Capital bathrooms are.
Anonymous said…
Rob S is the smartest person in the administration. Rounds would be lost without him. Bureaucrats might not like him, but he is one of the best political minds in the state. Anyone who denies that is delusional.
Anonymous said…
That's right. Namecalling makes an effective argument. If you disagree with me, you're delusional.
Anonymous said…
Rob could beat Herseth, mastermind the campaign that would result in Rounds beating Johnson, and still take weekends off. The state employees angry that they actually have to work, are smearing Rob, but it's all out of jealousy.
Anonymous said…
One more thing - 8:56pm, about your comment about Rob and his so called "'I'm so much better than you' attitude" --

It ain't braggin' if you can back it up.
Anonymous said…
whats all this crap about bob gray for congress, rob skjonsberg for congress? who's writing their press releases here?

here's the real deal. they might be able to manage government, but that is so yesterday. what's news is their wives.

im conflicted here. yes, Cara gray is hot, that has been noted on this blog. Fact is she is really hot. but larissa>? WOO WOO YOU GO GIRL! she's smokin'!

im saying , blow off the old ball and chains, the real fight is larissa vs. cara, congressional primary, mud wrestle-off, winner takes all. Top it off, they're both brighter than the old man. Im there!
Anonymous said…
sexist comment! Don't need them. It seems cheep.
Anonymous said…
What is truly amazing is that Rob is being discussed for anything other than working in the incompetent administration of an incompetent, accidential governor.
Anonymous said…
Yo, 10:59:

Cheep is what a tweety bird does. Cheap, ie, miserly; inexpensive.
Anonymous said…
New chair karl adam has a healthy -yet untapped bench (i.e. 06 House race) and a family with deep political roots. this all lands squarely on his lap. how well he coordinates with thune, and even rounds will dictate this whole discussion.

daugaard,michels, knudson, rhoden (if we're lucky) - all line up as your headline gov candidates. knudson was THE power broker in the legislature this year. never rule out Shoenbeck. if only 18% of voters show up to vote in a primary again - he's the favorite.

If the republicans can keep from eating their young - which they probably can't --- names like gray, seward, johnson(s), skjonsberg, zabel, bob sutton, krebs, russell, (cousin) mickelson all add depth, strength and diverse talents.

Unless one of the potential 2010 gov candidates jumps into a congressional race - these are the types of names that will be rumored from here on out.

Who has the best tie in to both camps, the talent, ability to raise money, and who doesn't get chased off by the litmus tests expressed here? All up to mr. adam to facilitate. have fun.

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