At the halfway mark. What should be at the top?
As we hit the halfway mark in 2007, I've been thinking about the news stories that I'd consider the top political news stories of 2007 to this point. I often get to this list at the end of the year, and find myself ignoring important or very noticeable stories from the first half of the year.
So I thought I'd do this for an exercise to see if I still think this way when I hit December. What do I see as the top political stories for the first half of 2007? In no particular order:
So I thought I'd do this for an exercise to see if I still think this way when I hit December. What do I see as the top political stories for the first half of 2007? In no particular order:
1. The Dan Sutton Hearings. How can we forget hiding notes behind furniture, the "hand on wiener" statement, and the hundreds of time they referenced a male sexual organ in the hearings? This was political theater at it's most bizarre, and at it's most anticlimactic. In the end, the punishment was simply a legislative statement of how dumb it was for Senator Sutton to share a bed with an 18 year old employee.So there's my list for the first 6 months of 2007. Agree? Disagree? What did I leave out?
2. Gorilla. What a code name, and it's imagery has eastern South Dakota abuzz. Could Gorilla be the economic engine for Union county that Homestake might mean to Western SD? Could be, but until we know anything, we're all a-twitter as to what it might be.
3. Senator Johnson's Health. There are signs that it's improving enough where he will be returning to work soon. And that's good. But does that mean he's going to run? Without the health incident, there was expected to be no interest in the race. But with it? There are at least two, possibly three Republican contenders out there.
4. The Rapid City Mayoral/Council circus. This is a story that has everything under the big tent: Falsified e-mails, an incumbent being turned out, Big PAC money, political machinations, and a candidate being picked up with a drunken transvestite boy at 1am. Now, it's a "friendly" run-off picking up a harsher tone. There are so many goofy sub-stories running on this, if you take it collectively, it's a big one.
5. New campaign finance/PAC limits. It might not seem like a huge political story at the moment, but it will form a new landscape in the next two cycles. Trust me on this one.
6. Ted Klaudt rape accusations. Ick, and double ick. Here's a guy that many Republicans liked and rooted for. He came off as the little guy on Appropriations, but now we find out he's not everyman, he was the bogeyman. Accused of terrorizing and sexually abusing his foster daughters? Ted might have enjoyed more of the benefit of being innocent until proven guilty, but what he admitted to in his statements to police is horrific by itself - not to mention what he's being charged with. In less gentile times, it would have incited a lynch mob. For sexually related political scandals, Democrats have Dan Sutton, and Republicans got Ted. And Ted is worse.
7. The Herseth/Pelosi Greenland trip. This story seems to have taken on a life of it's own, And it isn't just being talked about here. The mainstream media was reporting on this story as it happened, and hung on every word as Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin would report on the drama of the ice melting. Too bad we don't have glaciers in South Dakota. It seems to have generated a minor backlash as our congresswoman "goes green" in red state South Dakota. Much ado about nothing? Maybe. But as this is at least sticking for a moment on the Democrat's seemingly teflon candidate, I'd bet we'll see it brought up in the 2008 cycle.
8. Dennis Daugaard Gubernatorial announcement. This one kind of hit out of the blue. Announcing for Governor way ahead of the pack, Dennis is marking his territory early, citing behind the scenes competition between he and other hopefuls. And to go along with it, he has an endorsement from his boss, current Governor Mike Rounds. Will the strategy work, and allow Dennis success as Rounds' handpicked successor? Could be, but we still have over three years to figure it out.
9. Bob Prieksat. How did the local guy in charge of the US Fish and Wildlife Service become a political issue? When he was made the poster boy of bad GFP/landowner relations. This issue has organized meetings, threats of canceled state-federal cooperation agreements, the direct involvement of the Governor and his chief of staff, and an almost daily review by the Rapid City Journal. With the UFWS continuing to back Bob, this issue will continue to be in the spotlight for a while to come.
This was a tough one, because I had feelings about this issue, versus including the Nanny state issue (one I feel pretty strongly about). But, as I mulled it over, the next one won out to complete the top ten list.
10. Resurgence of the South Dakota Democratic Party. With a new chairman, and after a reasonably successful election where they picked up a few seats, the SDDP is showing signs of life. Can they translate that into more seats with former Republican legislator Scott Heidepreim at the helm? We shall see, but Republicans ignore the SDDP coming off life support to it's peril.
Comments
They're in no particular order as I had noted. I'm calling it one of the bigger political stories to this point. It's entirely possible it will be knocked off the list.
Sutton should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as Ted.
not really
I do think that the small school factor should be done away with though. Put all the schools on an equal footing as far as aid from the state. Then if they survive,so be it. If they can't, so be that.
Sparsity is another issue though. I do support the sparsity factor. If not this, what's left. Bus rides for hours every day or boarding schools?
Education was not on the list.
Education is always an issue and it will always be. The SDEA will see to that...money, money, money, that is all they want besides taking the kids away from the parents.
Seriously, PP, give it a rest. Ninety percent of South Dakotans have no idea she went on the trip, and with the exception of you, nonnie, Rob and a handful of others, no one cares.
It's the one private religous organization that has successfully helped tens of thousands of prisoners. Are you against helping prisoners become responsible people again. Because what is sounds like is you can't past the fact that Christianity helps people. Imagine that...a private religious organization led by a conservative that helps prisoners escape the chains of addiction and teaches them responsiblity.
Whoda thunk it?
huh?
This is no different...The argus reports this morning that Steph isn't going to start her campaign until September or October.
My guess is that she won't start her campaign until the weekend before election day. That allows her to dodge the debates.
This shows you what kind of character she has. Maybe smart politically but she lacks grit and leadership for dodging debates.
1) NSF & Homestake?
2) Rounds for U.S. Senate?
3) Senator Johnson's full recovery & return?
4) Knudsen for U.S. Senate?
5) Michels announced for 2010?
6) State govt adminstration turnover?
7) School board members personally liable for legal expenditures?
8) Sanford donates $500M to himself?
9) DME?
10)Dykstra, B. Johnson et al for House