tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106484002024-03-23T12:46:07.739-05:00South Dakota War College<p align="left"><b>South Dakota Politics, Campaigns, Personalities, Elections, Political Advertising, and a </p>bunch of rambling nonsense from a smart aleck Republican.</b></p>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.comBlogger2513125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-61349925978102833582017-09-14T10:26:00.002-05:002017-09-14T10:26:34.061-05:00Consider this SDWC Classic....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm making this live again, just for the sake of doing so. But you might consider this archive "SDWC Classic" in that it represents the first iteration of the Dakotawarcollege.com website.<br />
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For current posts, check out my blog which has been running strong since February 2005 at <a href="http://www.dakotawarcollege.com/">www.dakotawarcollege.com</a>!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-70082970445767801052007-06-21T08:44:00.000-05:002007-06-21T09:14:17.149-05:00The why's and wheretofores of the upcoming changes at the SDWC.If you haven't noticed by now, after 2 and 1/2 years, I'm in the preparatory stages for moving the South Dakota War College to a new home at <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.com/">dakotawarcollege.com</a>.<br /><br />*sniff* Blogger platform, I hardly knew ye.<br /><br />The cool thing is that I've been able to move most all my posts. And the comments are even coming over. Right now it's a matter of tweaking things to get them to work right. I've never been a CSS stylesheet person, but I'm muddling through.<br /><br />Why the move after all of my success here? There are practical reasons.<br /><br />I bought the dakotawarcollege.com name a year ago, and I'm glad I did. sdwarcollege.com has been snatched by a squatter in the interim. Renewal was due, and it got me looking at several factors for the continued life of this website.<br /><br />Blogger is good, but I need more possibility of adding things that might help pay for all of this mess. I wanted the more professional look that Wordpress offers. And more than anything, after 2 1/2 years, I'm maxing out my filespace.<br /><br />I'm actually running out of picture space on Blogger, which was causing me consternation, in addition to have to pick and choose what to keep on the free one at home. As far as that one goes, 50 meg wasn't cutting it. So this move will boost my file limit to a huge 250 gig.<br /><br />Administration of the website could at times be a pain. Even with the keycode protection, I'd get spammed. Hopefully, this will help with some of the oversight.<br /><br />For those of you who are asking, Anonymous posting should still be allowed, but it's going to allow MUCH better spam control. The new software will allow me to pre-kill junk based on keywords.<br /><br />Where I was limited before, I'll probably spend months just trying to go through everything I could offer.<br /><br />Now if I could only get the pictures to wrap (or not wrap) correctly.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-33579088170202120182007-06-20T23:13:00.000-05:002007-06-20T23:16:48.511-05:00I wonder why we haven't seen that yet....I will be doing <span style="font-style: italic;">some</span> cross posting between here and <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.com/">the new home at http://www.dakotawarcollege.com</a> for about a week, but make sure you get your links updated before we go live and cut the cord...<br /><br />I'm also starting to get the RSS feeds added, so don't forget to update those, either.<br /><br /><hr /><br /><p></p><p>I was getting reports this afternoon that the deadline for Rapid City Mayoral candidates to turn in their pre-runoff campaign finance filings was yesterday. And one of the two candidates failed to make that deadline.</p> <p> I’ve got a copy of Sam Kooiker’s finance report for the runoff, but I was waiting to post it until his opponent Alan Hanks got his in. But, as was related to me by a Republican activist out there, the deadline came and passed, and it was never turned in.</p> <p> It might just be an oversight. Or, it might be an attempt to obfuscate several more thousand he obtained from a certain source. But until it’s filed, we won’t know</p> <p> As soon as I find out more, you’ll be the first to know. But at the moment? We’re all in a holding pattern.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-1988816849804100032007-06-20T21:38:00.000-05:002007-06-20T21:40:21.078-05:00Things are going well.....If you want to see what I'm working on as things have been fairly silent tonight, go check out my work in progress <a href="http://www.dakotawarcollege.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />(importing over 23,000 comments is proving a bit time consuming...)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-92213594443101560482007-06-20T11:49:00.000-05:002007-06-20T11:52:16.035-05:00Change is coming....Change is coming.<br /><br />I've been thinking this website has been pretty drab for a while, so a housecleaning is in order. If you notice some goofy formatting, or other problems, please bear with me. They'll be fixed in short order.<br /><br />In the meantime, enjoy the summer day.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-32203833775158734192007-06-20T06:45:00.000-05:002007-06-20T09:57:16.250-05:00Heidepreim: Republicans are the party of hateIn a comment reminiscent of Tim Johnson's taliban comment that got him into trouble a while back, Scott Heidepreim does him one better, and at the McGovern Day library event this past weekend flat out calls Republicans <span style="font-style: italic;">the party of hate</span> as related by new website <a href="http://www.badlandsblue.com/">Badlands Blue</a>:<br /><blockquote>Heidepriem said it was a thrill to serve with some of the people here today, the new Senators, and gave credit to the great Democrats who made this possible ("we can't thank you enough"). Heidepriem said he was confident Democrats can take control of the State Senate. Heidepriem talked about his father, also a World War II vet, a Republican but also a progressive and environmentalist. "Why did I change parties," he asked? <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Because he wanted to be part of a party that was about hope, not "hate."</span></blockquote><a href="http://www.badlandsblue.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=13">Read that incredible comment here</a>.<br /><br />Holy crap!! <a href="http://www.scottheidepriem.com/">This is the pandering candidate</a> who says we need to listen more and shout less? But he calls the majority party out as as <span style="font-style: italic;">the party of "hate"</span>? What an utterly undefendable remark.<br /><br />The bottom line is that Democratic Senator Heidepreim needed a lot of Republican votes to get elected. But once that happened, he's now thrown off the cloth of moderation, and shown himself to be the liberal ideologue we all knew him to be.<br /><br />After this comment, I hope the Republican Senate <span style="font-style: italic;">wakes up</span> and realizes that Scott isn't about working together - he's about drawing battle lines.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">UPDATE</span> - good catch by one of the readers. It was pointed out to me that the Badlands Blue blog is paid for by the SDDP.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtd1wyVmBtjTXe51MZv9m_rlaTdhDa7hLphw4G5sLAZ4OC3yDoDpZzSeISE8iPPiZgmGXkeUBs9a-p0Vr6ZF2YEJWqhs7rUDRKQv7DHVtg6gTYfdYQ60V5gy2AGPUGsmatNSaaA/s1600-h/paidsddp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtd1wyVmBtjTXe51MZv9m_rlaTdhDa7hLphw4G5sLAZ4OC3yDoDpZzSeISE8iPPiZgmGXkeUBs9a-p0Vr6ZF2YEJWqhs7rUDRKQv7DHVtg6gTYfdYQ60V5gy2AGPUGsmatNSaaA/s400/paidsddp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078160361491375186" border="0" /></a>Hmmm........<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-69309534771547637352007-06-19T23:46:00.000-05:002007-06-19T23:48:07.377-05:00No politics in this post...No politics in this post,<br /><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3NGntjnkDHA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3NGntjnkDHA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />But, dang. I want to go put Twister in the DVD player now. From the storms of 2 weeks ago.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-20288159894691451172007-06-19T22:46:00.000-05:002007-06-19T23:04:48.332-05:00Much ado... Much ado...Tonight my friend <a href="http://thunewatch.squarespace.com/sdwatch/2007/6/19/dumpstergate-a-new-twist.html">Todd Epp is posting again over at SD watch on the Attorney General getting rid of some old furniture</a>. Lately, Todd's getting as bad on dumping steel desks as I am about Stan Adelstein turning on the GOP:<br /><p></p><blockquote><p>Can you imagine the screaming and hollering if a Democratic governor or attorney general (if that ever happens again in this state) simply threw out a bunch of perfectly operative office equipment then scuffed up the place in the process?<br /></p><p>Given the lack of openness in our state government, I doubt we’ll ever get the full story about this mini-scandal. </p></blockquote><a href="http://thunewatch.squarespace.com/">Read that here</a>. Regardless, let me offer the counterpoint to Todd's opinion. The full story?<br /><br />Admittedly, I don't have a response on the walls being scuffed up, but that's a <span style="font-style: italic;">common</span> negotiating issue when the State leaves a lease. And if inmates scuff up walls on the way out, they also have expert inmate crews who go in and fix that stuff.<br /><br />Regardless, looking at the furniture issue, I got some <span style="font-style: italic;">hot inside information</span> on all of that disposed property. What did my spies inside the walls of government hear?<br /><br />In response to Todd's DumpsterGate, someone compared the dollar value of the items dumped to what those same items brought at the state auction held literally days before that.<br /><br />The grand total? If I recall correctly, about a hundred bucks.<br /><br />But the kicker? <span style="font-style: italic;">How much would it have cost the state taxpayers</span> to get the items trucked up to Pierre for storage, advertisement to other agencies, etcetera, and eventual sale at the state auction? About $3900 I was told.<br /><br />So, basically we dumped $100 worth of old crap in the garbage to prevent us from having to spend nearly $4000 of taxpayer dollars in dealing with it.<br /><br />Sorry my friend. The only scandal, is that anyone thinks this is a bad thing.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-29159896453125485352007-06-19T22:29:00.000-05:002007-06-19T22:38:26.057-05:00Did I mention I liked Fred Thompson?<a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/">From Rasmussen Reports</a>:<br /><blockquote><br /><table style="width: 418px; height: 198px;" class="renderedtable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><th colspan="6" valign="top"><p> <b>Election Polls 2008: Republican Presidential Primary Contenders </b> </p> </th> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="39"> <p> Date </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top" width="33"> <p> Thom. </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top" width="51"> <p> Giul. </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top" width="34"> <p> Romn. </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top" width="42"> <p> McCain </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> 6/19 </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 28% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 27% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 10% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 10% </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/2008_gop_presidential_primary_giuliani_24_thompson_24" target="_self">6/12</a> </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 24% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 24% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 11% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 11% </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/gop_nomination_rudy_down_thompson_in_second_mccain_falls_to_fourth" target="_self">6/05</a> </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 17% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 23% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 15% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 14% </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/romney_catches_mccain_in_national_poll_for_gop_nomination" target="_self">5/29</a> </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 12% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 25% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 16% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 15% </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/2008_republican_presidential_primary_giuliani_26_mccain_18_romney_15" target="_self">5/22</a> </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 14% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 26% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 15% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 18% </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/2008_republican_presidential_primary_giuliani_25_mccain_18_thompson_15" target="_self">5/15</a> </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 15% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 25% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 12% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 18% </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p> <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/2008_republican_presidential_primary_giuliani_25_mccain_17_thompson_16" target="_self">5/08</a> </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 16% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 25% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 12% </p> </td><td class="halign_center" valign="top"> <p> 17% </p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></blockquote>No complaints here. None at all.....<br /><blockquote>Senator and Former First Lady Hillary Clinton (D) continues to former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson (R) by five points and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by nine in early Election 2008 polling. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows Clinton leading Thompson 48% to 43%. The former First Lady has a 50% to 41% advantage over Romney.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and...</span><br /><br />A separate survey shows Clinton trailing both former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain. That survey was completed in late May. Other surveys since then have shown McCain’s numbers declining due to his vocal and visible support for the Senate immigration bill. </blockquote><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/clinton_leads_romney_and_thompson">Read that here</a>. I really don't consider that something to be discouraged about, since Thompson is just starting to talk about being interested in running. The GOP base is already starting to coalesce around him as the front runner, and once his candidacy is defined and articulated, I anticipate he's going to gain on Hillary.<br /><br />Speaking of Hillary losing votes....<br /><blockquote>New York Mayor <span id="lw_1182310006_0">Michael Bloomberg</span> on Tuesday switched his party status from Republican to unaffiliated, a stunning move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and...</span><br /><br />"If he runs, this guarantees a Republican will be the next president of the United States. The Democrats have to be shaking in their boots," said Greg Strimple, a Republican strategist in <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" id="lw_1182310006_7">New York</span> who is unaligned in the race.</blockquote><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_el_pr/bloomberg_politics">Read <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> all at Yahoo news</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-50201069429626230272007-06-19T11:17:00.000-05:002007-06-19T11:29:27.126-05:00New Blog AddedHat tip to the monkeyballers over at <a href="http://southdakotamac.blogspot.com/">SouthDakotaMac</a>.<br /><br />There's a new Blog in town at <a href="http://www.badlandsblue.com/">http://www.badlandsblue.com</a>.<br /><br />You should now see them in the feeds.<br /><br />(And if anyone wants to start a Republican South Dakota Blog, please let me know the link. It's starting to feel lonely in the wilderness...)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-56960135152803930332007-06-19T10:54:00.000-05:002007-06-19T11:14:35.229-05:00Why should we be surprised?BIG hat tip to SD Watch who notes that a play has been developed based on the writings of Leonard Peltier:<br /><p></p><blockquote><p>A play about convicted murderer Leonard Peltier? </p>Whether it is good, bad, or indifferent, I don’t see it playing in South Dakota any time soon. Maybe we should all see it, whatever our views on Peltier’s guilt or innocence, but man, this is going to reopen some major wounds in our state.</blockquote><a href="http://thunewatch.squarespace.com/sdwatch/2007/6/19/leonard-peltier-gee-this-isnt-going-to-be-controversial-in-s.html">Go read it here</a> (with a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkVy32v3IJo">youtube clip</a>).<br /><br />Yuck. Why should we be surprised about this? "<a href="http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/s_k_culture/1.html">Murderabilia</a>," or the fascination regarding the art and ramblings of convicted killers has been a sick underground trend for some time now. I'd just add this to the pile. To me, it's no more than wanting one of <a href="http://www.supernaught.com/crimefiles/gacy1.html">John Wayne Gacy's clown pictures</a>.<br /><br />Somehow, I doubt the play is going to document what Peltier was convicted for. The killing of FBI agents Coler and Williams from fatal wounds to the head delivered by a high-powered rifle at contact range.<br /><br />If you're really interested in the history of the event, Take a minute to go visit <a href="http://www.noparolepeltier.com/">http://www.noparolepeltier.com</a>, and read a more accurate portrayal of what happened that day.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-36930474756395217372007-06-19T10:26:00.000-05:002007-06-19T10:48:44.971-05:00Should this bother us? RC Council votes to give Cabela's a carrot. A really, really expensive carrot.I was reading the <a href="http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/">Rapid City Journal</a> on-line today, and I noted the story on how Cabela's just got a massive incentive package to come to Rapid City, and how they're going to host a municipal visitor's center:<br /><blockquote>Touting the future economic development benefits, the Rapid City Council approved agreements and incentives Monday that will bring outdoor outfitter Cabela's here.<br /><br />The incentive package includes $2 million in economic development funds and 30 acres of land where the Black Hills Visitor Information Center now sits.<br /><br />In return, the city will get an 80,000-square-foot "destination retail store" that includes hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and boating gear, as well as clothing, gifts and furnishings with elaborate animal displays, aquariums and other sights.</blockquote><a href="http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/06/19/news/top/doc4677679c6735a869400008.txt">Read that all here</a>. It's not dissimilar to what Brookings did to lure Lowe's to town, where huge financial bonuses are offered to lure employers, which makes it an even more timely statewide topic.<br /><br />And it's not as if such moves aren't political. In fact, there were come political differences in the Rapid City vote as there were in the Brookings vote.<br /><br />I am all for economic development. In fact, it's arguably the most important thing for South Dakota Government to be doing in an environment where we desperately need to broaden our economic base.<br /><br />But on the other hand, it tugs at my conservative heart to see incredible amounts of taxpayer money being spent in such a way. Is spending that kind of money really going to influence and impact the free market in the long term? Is it going to bring in new money from the outside, or is it simply going to redistribute what's available locally.<br /><br />In other words, it's a conundrum. Would they have come to Rapid City anyway, absent the "jumper cable jolt" of huge financial incentives?<br /><br />Are communities who decline to pay such incentives cutting off their nose to spite their face? Or are cities that do go the extra mile, mortgaging their future for a short term gain at the expense of their local businesses.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith">Adam Smith</a>, where are you when we need an answer?<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-56159989920859552502007-06-18T09:47:00.000-05:002007-06-18T10:09:35.569-05:00A challenge from Stan's employeePart of Kati Jenkins duties at Northwestern Engineering must be to defend her boss, Stan Adelstein. Because just moments ago, she issued this challenge to me under the post I did yesterday...<br /><blockquote>Kati Jenkins has left a new comment on your post "<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-rc-mayor-stuff-on-net-and-in-paper.html">More RC Mayor Stuff - On the net, and in the paper...</a>":<br /><br />You are incorrect in your story, PP. "Nix on Six PAC" is not Stan Adelstein's PAC. Check your source again. </blockquote><a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-rc-mayor-stuff-on-net-and-in-paper.html">Read that here</a> as she falsely assumes I have no idea what I'm talking about. My response?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1VNw8HAS7kL0I7-9U1rppFMBmdYLEhztTDxYPgUDZ4s6_yj_aVcVzKs0ceZNwTEpFB7S1hDc2K3nzw9oMXqyYwH1L6VEgUcf1_voswttV2qPgBGMVc2PKc6OE1PigzpFuibk9A/s1600-h/nix1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1VNw8HAS7kL0I7-9U1rppFMBmdYLEhztTDxYPgUDZ4s6_yj_aVcVzKs0ceZNwTEpFB7S1hDc2K3nzw9oMXqyYwH1L6VEgUcf1_voswttV2qPgBGMVc2PKc6OE1PigzpFuibk9A/s400/nix1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077417272019624994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9zZ2gXY7pzFSQd_6IV2u_FtLLFtWxfQG6YCxKwWDXEpurwLqshu2EAqKl9YYqzh6vyvpXSYTyQAWrFIqOyYB6tcpKsUftcWs86FOkEfOVB51uhGM2U7x0LHc8dw7B9mgkjoA-Q/s1600-h/nix2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9zZ2gXY7pzFSQd_6IV2u_FtLLFtWxfQG6YCxKwWDXEpurwLqshu2EAqKl9YYqzh6vyvpXSYTyQAWrFIqOyYB6tcpKsUftcWs86FOkEfOVB51uhGM2U7x0LHc8dw7B9mgkjoA-Q/s400/nix2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077417272019625010" border="0" /></a><br />Click on either of the images to enlarge, or <a href="http://www.state.sd.us/applications/st12odrs/files/0000003126.pdf">you can go review my source - the actual filing - here</a>.<br /><br />Sure. Don Frankenfeld's name might be on the PAC, but when I see that Stan was <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the sole donor</span> - guess what - I think I'm pretty safe in my position that it might be considered Stan's PAC.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMlZ_kjllmEw8kVIhlI7oatdIwpghiGanbgaNw6OfZ0wNrRL6QUQ_N88N76nGtYvUV16-E_4-fM6oHTS9VcaPTB_74Ji4VyxYkQCgL1W10jRCrwSGLozTK8n2wEF2UBKkk0X4FQ/s1600-h/nix3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMlZ_kjllmEw8kVIhlI7oatdIwpghiGanbgaNw6OfZ0wNrRL6QUQ_N88N76nGtYvUV16-E_4-fM6oHTS9VcaPTB_74Ji4VyxYkQCgL1W10jRCrwSGLozTK8n2wEF2UBKkk0X4FQ/s400/nix3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077418221207397442" border="0" /></a><br />Especially in light of the fact that the PAC's donations seemingly had nothing to do with abortion, and everything to do with supporting Stan's slate of candidates - Tom Katus, his handpicked Democratic choice for his seat. Teresa Spry, the Democrat running against his arch nemesis Bill Napoli, and for Dennis Finch, the Democrat who was running against Dennis Schmidt (who turned out Stan's fellow MAINstream founder, JP Duniphan).<br /><br />But of course, the PAC was all about abortion. (insert rolling of eyes here).<br /><br />Unfortunately, I've been fighting this battle on this website since before last year. At one time, Stan made a lot of donations that no one would question, and I even worked with candidates who - very graciously and thankfully - got money from him. But soon after that, those donations seemed to take a darker turn.<br /><br />Donations would go from one PAC through another - for no conceivable reason other than to obfuscate the source. And then they went from playing favorites in open primary contests to openly favoring defeating Republicans. I have a problem with this, and so do many others. In fact (as in the post below) Stan's playing with PAC was the genesis of legislators being forced to deal with campaign finance reform.<br /><br />Getting back to the point: So Kati - you're trying to tell us all this this wasn't Stans' PAC? Despite him being the sole donor, and it being spent solely for his friends and against his political enemies?<br /><br />Keep on spouting the company line.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-69608094896981629152007-06-18T09:33:00.000-05:002007-06-18T09:44:58.214-05:00Change is nearly upon us....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABZ4YqANZW5Ci_5m55rwnv_WKJUbazNnSDkhpfZFzUKGIUSn5ZMEYUDgBnB_SHa9Tj5bBid5WH6HKmSkrm-iz-w3Nutli2WGXeNL2Z0LSGSRHMyqR0i2zaLtX9Ir8Rqi62L6JYg/s1600-h/2ndcent_Page_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABZ4YqANZW5Ci_5m55rwnv_WKJUbazNnSDkhpfZFzUKGIUSn5ZMEYUDgBnB_SHa9Tj5bBid5WH6HKmSkrm-iz-w3Nutli2WGXeNL2Z0LSGSRHMyqR0i2zaLtX9Ir8Rqi62L6JYg/s400/2ndcent_Page_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077413045771805698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzSfvaJA-PGRWpWi7U2orteBf5tQGMOqQfTqQh60tt2eVQiJrFfKpjXNzb4R83Qnr6RLKRm520PTvVizwSlIAtx-AQ3obePSkUjnUuT-JLsnG4DUi2N7Z03mouovjvsxwX3119A/s1600-h/2ndcent_Page_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzSfvaJA-PGRWpWi7U2orteBf5tQGMOqQfTqQh60tt2eVQiJrFfKpjXNzb4R83Qnr6RLKRm520PTvVizwSlIAtx-AQ3obePSkUjnUuT-JLsnG4DUi2N7Z03mouovjvsxwX3119A/s400/2ndcent_Page_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077413054361740306" border="0" /></a><br />If you haven't caught it yet, <a href="http://www.state.sd.us/applications/st12odrs/files/0000004287.pdf">there was a new type of filing made with the Secretary of State's office recently</a>. The brand spanking new Statement of Organization seems to have been filed first by the Second Century PAC which has a bit more information than the old one did.<br /><br />As we approach July 1, you should see a flurry of these types of forms being filed. Especially since there's a $50 a day fine for not getting them in.<br /><br />If you're involved in politics, you owe it to yourself and your campaign interests to intensely review <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm">the new campaign finance reporting guidelines</a>.<br /><br />What new forms are out there? If you're too lazy to click over to the Secretary of State's website, here's some it below:<br /><blockquote><br /><table bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" bg="" border="1" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" height="949" width="284"><tbody><tr><td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="48" valign="top" width="264"><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >The chapter of South Dakota Codified Laws governing campaign finance reporting is SDCL 12-27 </span></b> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b>New campaign finance chapter will be posted on 7-1-07.</b></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/2008CFRGuidelinesBook.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2008 Campaign Finance Reporting Guidelines Book (Printable PDF Version)</span></a></span></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Campaign%20Finance%20Disclosure%20Reporting%20Schedule"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Campaign Finance Disclosure Reporting Schedule</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Summary%20for%20Individuals"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Summary for Individuals</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Introduction%20and%20Legal%20Basis"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Introduction and Legal Basis</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Treasurer%20Duties"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Treasurer Duties</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Contribution%20Limitations"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Contribution Limitations</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Financial%20Disclosure%20Statements"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Financial Disclosure Statements</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Advertising%20Disclaimer%20and%20Disclosure%20Requirements"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Advertising Disclaimer and Disclosure Requirements</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Government%20Prohibitions"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Government Prohibitions</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Application%20of%20Law%20to%20Local%20Government%20Elections"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Application of Law to Local Government Elections</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Filing%20Options"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Filing Options</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Judicial%20Campaign%20Finance"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Judicial Candidate Campaign Finance Policy</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Penalties"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Penalties</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Enforcement"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Enforcement</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Reporting%20Software"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Reporting Software</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Quick%20Reference%20Guide"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Quick Reference Guide</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixA2008StatementofOrganization.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX A - Statement of Organization</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="31" valign="top" width="264"> <b> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" > <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixB2008CampaignFinanceDisclosureStatement.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX B - Campaign Finance Disclosure Statement</span></a></span></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm#Campaign%20Finance%20Disclosure%20Statement%20Instructions"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX B - Campaign Finance Disclosure Statement Instructions</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <b><span style="font-size:85%;"> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixC2008SupplementalStatement.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX C - </span></a></span></b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines_appendixC.shtm"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b>Supplemental Statement</b></span></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixD2008CommunicationStatement.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX D - Communication Statement</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixE2008BallotQuestionStatement.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX E - Ballot Question Contribution Statement</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <b><span style="font-size:85%;"> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixF2008FIS.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixF2008FIS&Instructions.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX F - Statement of Financial Interest Form</span></a></span><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixF2008FIS&Instructions.pdf"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> & Instructions</span></a></span></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td border="" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bg="" style="color: rgb(234, 226, 208);" height="16" valign="top" width="264"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/2008/AppendixG2008SDCL12-27Definitions.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">APPENDIX G - SDCL 12-27 Definitions</span></a></b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td bordercolor="#000000" bordercolorlight="#000000" bordercolordark="#000000" bgcolor="#eae2d0" height="32" valign="top" width="264"> <b> <a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electvoterpdfs/UpdatedElectedOfficialFIS.pdf"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >Updated Elected Official Statement of Financial Interest Form</span></a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></blockquote><br /><br />If you do one thing before July 1, this should be it. Not only are the limits entirely different:<br /><blockquote>Statewide Candidate Campaign Committee: $4,000<br />Legislative or County Candidate Campaign Committee: $1,000<br />Political Party: $10,000<br />Political Action Committee: $10,000<br />Ballot Question Committee: no limitation </blockquote>But so are the laws, and those are going to be what get people into trouble. Especially the fact that "Reports are due in the filing office by 5:00pm on the deadline day - NOT postmarked on the deadline day." I sense there will be a flurry of $50 fines handed out on that technicality.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/campaignfinance_guidelines.shtm">Go read it now</a>. It might be the most important thing you do today.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-84461482939050963562007-06-18T08:40:00.000-05:002007-06-18T09:10:21.843-05:00The Argus goes after State Government. Again.And the evil part of me hopes they succeed.I'm sitting at my computer recuperating this morning, wrapped in a blanket, after spending most of Father's Day miserably ill with the flu. That must be God punishing me for the tone of anonymous comments on this website.<br /><br />Anyway, as I'm looking back at what I missed yesterday, it looks like the biggest story from Sunday's news was <a href="http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706170331">the state's largest newspaper taking their monthly shot at State Government. Again</a>. This time it's over trying to get a list of all state employees, and what they make. Which inevitably ends up being their take on how most of state government threw up roadblocks, etcetera and so on.<br /><br />I'm somewhat ambivalent on this issue. I know that if I want someone's salary information on an individual basis, all I have to do is to call up the State Auditor's office, and they'll provide it in very short order. It's certainly not a closed system. But to request the information <span style="font-style: italic;">en masse</span> as the Argus is doing, I'm not sure I see the purpose other than to continue their vendetta.<br /><br />If they print it, will I read it? You bet. And I'll not only read it, I'll use it. The State Employee list is great for targeting political mailings and fund raisers. I'd go in and target everyone making over a certain amount, and they're almost guaranteed to be political donors of some sort and at some time. At the very least, they're concerned with who their new boss might (or might not) be in any gubernatorial election.<br /><br />Scoffing at the idea that the employee list might be targeted? It s has been done before, and will be done again.<br /><br />Traditionally, let me be the first to tell you what an absolute pain in the @$ it has always been to get that information. One year, I had volunteers in front of a city phone book along with a state employee phone book in order to identify them for a mailing. Hunting and pecking one name at a time. And that was the easiest way to do it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Bleaugh.</span> Not the kind of thing you do just on a lark. It's extremely labor intensive.<br /><br />Now the Argus wants to get it all? Go for it guys. Just make sure you put in your website in a nice table format, with their city of residence. From start to finish, that would take me a whole 5 minutes to run against a statewide voter database. If they post it in a .pdf? Maybe 10 minutes.<br /><br />My point is that if you're really concerned about someone's salary, call the Auditor's office at 773-3341 with a name, and you'll have the information as quick as can be. If you want to subject these employees to junk mailings galore, then support the Argus.<br /><br />Because at the end of the day, that's all that exercise will accomplish. Creating just another telemarketing list.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-3666016900074114812007-06-17T10:23:00.000-05:002007-06-17T11:03:27.300-05:00More RC Mayor Stuff - On the net, and in the paper.Now, I don't want to say that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x5cnduQ4V0">Tom Katus owes</a> former Senator Stan Adelstein any obedience, but after....<br /><blockquote>$5000 from Stan's Nix on Six pac,<br />$836 from his All SD PAC,<br />$3312 of help as purchased directly by the Stan Adelstein for Senate Committee, and<br />$9505 as funnelled through Focus South Dakota</blockquote> it seems as if Tom might feel a little obligated to follow the lead of the person who put him in his Senate seat. (For those of you who want to look at the financials for yourself, Page 6 on <a href="http://www.state.sd.us/applications/st12odrs/files/0000003409.pdf">Tom's Report</a>).<br /><br />So it's no big surprise that coming on the heels of Adelstein's continued personal and financial support of Alan Hanks, that Katus felt a figurative yank of the leash.<br /><br />From Tom's e-mail:<br /><blockquote>From: "Tom Katus" {tkatus@rushmore.com}<br />08:23 -0600<br /><br />Campaign Volunteers and potential fellow candidates,<br /><br /> Yesterday, Alan Hanks met me and asked for help with grassroots organizing for the run off for the Mayors race. Apparently he has very few volunteers because the Republican activists are nearly all Elli, Napoli, Schmidt, and now Kookier supporters. At this time I am not committed to anyone. I have nothing against Sam and rather like him but I am very concerned about his RIGHT WING supporters. Given these choices, I am I am inclined toward Alan but I told him I could not speak for any of you who will have to make your own decisions.<br /><br />However, I have agreed to convene a meeting of anyone without obligation who chooses to attend @ my home, 821 Upper Pines Drive on Sunday, June 10th at 3:00 pm. I recommend the following agenda:<br /><br />1) Volunteer activists/potential 08 candidates meet in private and "brainstorm" --1/2 hour<br />2) Joined by Alan Hanks FOR OPEN QUESTIONS ON ANY ISSUE OR ORGANIZING<br />3) Volunteer Activist /Canduidates meet in private to discuss individual or group commitments, if any.<br />4) I will communicate decisons to Alan by phone.<br /><br />Please RSVP; via Email or phone : 718-0545. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Thanks for your consideration.<br /><br />Warm regards, Tom</blockquote><tkatus@rushmore.com>It is interesting that Tom is noting that Hanks is sucking a bit of pond water as far as volunteers are concerned. Not something that you're hearing anywhere else as these campaigns come into the finish line. In fact, it's kind of an unusual thing to paint anything but a rosy picture in this kind of situation.<br /><br />Anyway, on to part two - A perfect example of the radical right-wing support that Katus and Adelstein describe is evident in the Rapid City Journal letters to the editor from well known "radical right leader" Don Frankenfeld:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></tkatus@rushmore.com><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kooiker has the edge for new leadership</span><br /><br />Both Sam Kooiker and Alan Hanks are qualified to be our Mayor. Here are three reasons why Kooiker has the edge.<br /><br />First, experience. Kooiker is on the City Council, where he is an advocate for disciplined progress. Hanks is a kind of serial candidate.<br /><br />He was on the council once, but his most recent ambition was to be a legislator. Recently, Hanks asked voters for a two-year employment contract, and they gave it to him. He should fulfill his contract.<br /><br />Besides, Hanks is better suited to his current legislative office.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and...</span><br /><br />DON FRANKENFELD<br />Rapid City</blockquote><a href="http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/06/17/news/opinions/letters/doc4674c15d20b1c261806878.txt">Read the whole thing here</a>. For those of you are sarcastically impaired, the "radical right leader" Don Frankenfeld comment was not serious. In fact, Don would be considered anything but - as a leader in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Republicans for Daschle</span> and several other left-leaning causes since he stood for congressional election against Johnson on behalf of the GOP, Don isn't someone who I'd consider the right's poster child.<br /><br />But amazingly, despite the Adelstein/Katus characterizations, he seems to think that Kooiker might be ok.<br /><br />I know there's going to continue to be more to come on all of this. It's going to continue to get worse before it gets better. Stay tuned, and keep on watching as things come down to the finish line.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-48325731968706613122007-06-16T22:59:00.000-05:002007-06-16T23:05:51.855-05:00One vote on deck for South Dakotans' view on immigration, Herseth Sandlin votes NO.The Tancredo amendment yesterday to ban Homeland Security funding from cities that are sanctuaries for illegals was one of the first recent tests on where our congresspeople stand on immigration.<br /><br />And guess where <a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll485.xml">South Dakota's very own was on the measure</a> after her previous statements to <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/congress-daily-congresswoman-herseth.html">protect the needs of dairy farmers to hire illegals</a> (!?!).<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-77003056331576322602007-06-16T08:44:00.000-05:002007-06-16T08:50:50.667-05:00Get out of Sioux Falls way.A reader who got their paper earlier than I did pointed out the The Argus editorial this AM. Apparently, one of the community leaders, Dan Scott, had a warning for those legislators who aren't excited about Sioux Falls' agenda:<br /><blockquote>At a Friday breakfast attended by lawmakers, chamber officials and a broad spectrum of city and school leaders, Mayor Dave Munson and others detailed the city's growth and spoke of the important role Sioux Falls plays in the state's economic fortunes.<p>Near the end, it was Scott's turn. He briefly extolled the city's virtues, then issued what seemed to be a warning to out-state lawmakers who might be tempted to meddle in Sioux Falls' legislative agenda.<br /><br />"If you can't be excited, I've got one request," Scott said.</p>"Stay out of the way, will you? We've got a city to build!"</blockquote><a href="http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070616/VOICES01/706160310/1162/VOICES01">Read it all here</a>.<br /><br />Now, this reader also pointed out that while this SF local may have made an unfunny joke which came off as Sioux Falls arrogance, they contend that the Argus Leader is guilty of such Sioux-centrism every day.<br /><br />So here's a good topic for discussion - does Sioux Falls centrism exist?<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-5774031863414447132007-06-15T09:58:00.000-05:002007-06-15T10:56:55.326-05:00Who? Dems might have another possible gubernatorial hopefulIn today's <a href="http://www.argusleader.com/">Argus</a>, Dave Kranz is reviewing the list of 2010 Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates. The very short list.<br /><br />Of course, we have the expected candidate, Scott Heidepreim. And we have the outside chance (because her current gig isn't so bad) Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin. And then we have Mike Huether.<br /><br />Who?<br /><blockquote>It also seems another possibility may be arriving on the scene. Mike Huether, a Sioux Falls banker, has been contemplating the idea of running for some time now, and friends have been talking him up. So far no action - until now.<br /><br />When you host a function at a political event, something is up. Huether and his family will host a gathering at the Mitchell Holiday Inn following the McGovern Day program Saturday.</blockquote><a href="http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/COLUMNISTS0102/706150310/1133">Read it all here</a>. Where is this coming from?<br /><br />Could it be that he saw the success of Eric Abrahamson being recruited from the State Library Board Lt. Governor, so he decided to make the leap from his position on <a href="http://doe.sd.gov/secretary/stateaidtaskforce/taskforce.asp">the Department of Education's State Aid Task Force</a>?<br /><br />Seriously, I think some people (on both sides of the fence) entertain these thoughts without knowing what it takes. Heidepreim? I'd argue he knows what it will take. Herseth? With two statewide elections under her belt, her built in organization would give her an automatic advantage on the competition. Dennis Daugaard already has the Rounds stamp of approval, so he likely gets to walk into an existing structure. Even Dave Knudson will likely be running with the benefit of experienced Janklow supporters.<br /><br />But when some of these people pop up who have never run for office or experienced a campaign before, all of a sudden say they want to be "Governor," or "Senator," I automatically have to take it with a grain of salt. Perfect example - Dennis Wiese was a nice enough guy, but he never caught fire. He didn't have enough money or organization in the face of Jack Billion, who had more of each.<br /><br />The road of political aspiration is littered (on both sides of the aisle) with people who wanted to be (Fill in the blank here) "_______."<br /><br />Unless Mike Huether - who I'm sure is a nice guy - has a million he's ready to throw down out of pocket, or an army of volunteers in each and every county in South Dakota, he's going to have a tough time making me a believer.<br /><br />BTW - as a postscript, mikehuether.com <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?domain=MikeHuether.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> registered to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">electric pulp</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> web design firm</span> (the same firm handling the <a href="http://abstinence.net/">Abstinence Clearinghouse</a>, <a href="http://timjohnson.com/">Timjohnson.com</a>, and the <a href="http://www.filmsd.com/">SD Film Office</a>).<br /><br />So, something is in the works.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-3746236174771419172007-06-15T09:47:00.000-05:002007-06-15T10:54:47.724-05:00What's the talk in DC today? I hear it's this article...Apparently an article in the <a href="http://www.argusleader.com/">Sioux Falls Argus Leader</a> is getting some buzz in the beltway today. Which one? Not the Gorilla article, but the article on Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin's indebtedness:<br /><blockquote>In 2006, Herseth Sandlin owed between $15,001 and $50,000 on her Citibank credit card, her report shows. Her report a year ago showed the same. Citibank operates a credit card center in Sioux Falls and, with about 3,000 employees, is among the city's largest employers.<br /><br />The congresswoman's spokesman noted that just over one year ago, Herseth Sandlin bought and furnished a home in Brookings. This spring, she was married, and she invested in the wedding.<p>"These kinds of events often cause South Dakotans to put a little extra on their credit card," Russ Levsen, deputy chief of staff, said.</p></blockquote><p><a href="http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/NEWS/706150308">Read it all here</a>. Apparently the part about "investing" in her wedding to a DC Lobbyist is the part that's getting a few chuckles according to those in the US Capitol. Apparently it made insider publication "hotline"<br /></p><p>I will say that it's good to see that our Congresswoman knows how it is for the rest of us poor schlubs as we trudge through our day to day lives. (Although, according to the salary note, she isn't doing too badly.) And that there's someone who might actually be paying on their student loans longer than I am.</p><p>In line with all of that, I'm not sure what the whole purpose of the article was. Yes, she owes money. So do the rest of us. It must be a slow newsday.<br /></p><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-51373043932146281482007-06-14T17:26:00.000-05:002007-06-14T17:36:47.354-05:00Sorry for the light posting today... In the meantime, more on the immigration issue.Sorry for the light posting today. Aside from there not being much going on, I was watching as two of my daughters tested from their yellow to green belts in Tae Kwon Do.<br /><br />In the meantime, since it's a hot topic at least on this website, one of the readers pointed out to me the other day that Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin has faced votes on immigration bills before. How did those votes go when it was a GOP controlled House?<br /><br /> <b>H R 4437</b> RECORDED VOTE 16-Dec-2005 10:33 PM<br /> <b>QUESTION:</b> On Passage<br /> <b>BILL TITLE:</b> Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act<br /><br /><a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll661.xml">Herseth voted in favor of the 2005 Bill</a>. And on the Hunter Amendment which was to put a 700 mile border along the US Mexican Border.....<br /><br /> <b>H R 4437</b> RECORDED VOTE 15-Dec-2005 9:30 PM<br /> <b>AUTHOR(S):</b> Hunter of California Amendment<br /> <b>QUESTION:</b> On Agreeing to the Amendment<br /><br /><a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll640.xml">She voted in favor of that as well</a>.<br /><br />And to those votes, I'd say <span style="font-style: italic;">good show Congresswoman.</span> That's what we like to see. So that's why <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/congress-daily-congresswoman-herseth.html">her recent flip flop on the immigration issue is so confusing</a>.<br /><br />Just because someone might get around any fence she voted to build is not a reason to reward them with "the cookie of amnesty. " No matter what Nancy Pelosi's position on the bill is.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-50765979444964619402007-06-13T21:20:00.000-05:002007-06-13T22:53:34.553-05:00TAR Camp is almost here.... Are you signed up?If you are (or have) a teenager who appreciates the finer points of politics, and wants a few days of rest, relaxation and political chatter in the Black Hills of South Dakota - the Teenage Republicans want you!<br /><br />They want you to send your kid to TAR camp out in the Hills July 22-27th. I believe it's $200 and there are a ton of fun activities for them (Hikes, tubing, waterslides, etc) in addition to hearing from most of our state's leaders including John Thune, the Governor, constitutional officers, etcetera, as have all been out there speaking in past years.<br /><br />For more information (including the bus schedule of the bus going from Eastern SD to camp) contact <a href="mailto:dusty@johnsonforpuc.com">PUC Commissioner Dusty Johnson</a>.<br /><br />I'm proud to be sending my #2 daughter out there this year - my first TAR camper!! So send someone who she can pal around with for my sake.<br /><br />UPDATE - oops. G0 to <a href="http://www.sdtars.com">http://www.sdtars.com</a> for more information<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-40137608347364151912007-06-13T20:27:00.000-05:002007-06-14T07:27:12.598-05:00Are dirty deeds really done dirt cheap? And how did they let out the bid for that one?I read with interest the AP story in the <a href="http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/">Rapid City Journal website</a> on the changes in rules to take care of problems which arose in the last minute stoppage of last year's death penalty, as I'm catching portions in what's being said that I question whether or not they can really do that.<br /><blockquote>The new policy makes it clear that physicians will not be required to attend an execution. The Legislature put those provisions in law after doctors said taking part in executions would violate the oath that requires them to preserve life or save life whenever possible.<br /><br />State law and prison policy require that executions be conducted by people trained to do intravenous injections. Officials told lawmakers earlier this year that the state planned to hire people who have conducted executions in other states. Reisch said he cannot reveal where those people are from because the state must protect the privacy of those involved in executions.<br /><br />"The people who are going to perform these functions will be qualified to do so, and they won't be members of our own Department of Corrections staff," Reisch said.</blockquote><a href="http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/06/13/news/top/doc467041ae8d551975426451.txt">Read that all here</a>.<br /><br />So, the people being contracted to do the execution are from another state, and their identities are secret? (Aside from the fact I heard through the grapevine where they were from over the past year since the aborted sentence) I'm scratching my head at that statement. There's a lot involved with this that I would anticipate would be public information, unless excluded from the public domain by law.<br /><br />If they're a consultant or a vendor, wouldn't those contracts be considered public documents available and on file? And wouldn't the voucher for payment of the aborted execution attempt be public? I understand that information isn't public unless state law says it is (at least according to the Argus vs. the State of SD), but I think the law says much of it <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> specifically open.<br /><br />But then again, this is one of those areas that I think the general public is a bit squeamish about. No one really knows - or wants to know - who's doing one of the most thankless jobs. In fact, we're so squeamish about it we're contracting it out.<br /><br />Which makes you think - How would you go about letting the bids out for that one? And would the letters with the return bids have little logos on the stationery with hangman nooses, or little electric chairs on them? And how low would the low bid go?<br /><br />In all seriousness, it IS a dirty deed, and we don't care if it's done dirt cheap. We just want it done.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-22543143988256492322007-06-13T20:21:00.000-05:002007-06-13T20:23:48.245-05:00Argus Leader: Gorilla RevealedThe Argus Leader reveals tonight that the Gorilla Project is an oil refinery, as some people had suspected. Now, can we pull off getting it?<br /><blockquote>A Texas energy company is behind Project Gorilla, which is planning the nation’s first new oil refinery in the past three decades, the company confirmed today.<br /><br />Hyperion Resources of Dallas, Texas, is considering Union County but also other sites in the U.S. as well, officials say.<br /><br />Plans call for "the most environmentally sound energy center in the United States," the company said in a statement released to the Argus Leader.<br /><br />"The central component of the energy center will be an oil refinery, which will refine approximately 400,000 barrels of oil per day into clean, green transportation fuels, including ultra-low sulfur gasoline and ultra-low sulfur diesel," according to the statement.<br /><br />“Gas prices are the highest in U.S. history, and the U.S. refining infrastructure hasn’t seen a significant change since 1976," Hyperion Project Executive J.L. “Corky” Frank said in the statement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">and...</span><br /><br />If the firm succeeds in building a new refinery, it would be the first one built in the United States since 1976, the company said. Over the years, refining capacity in the U.S. "has not kept pace with demand," Frank said.<br /></blockquote><a href="http://argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/NEWS/70613028">Read it all here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10648400.post-75939038658579172952007-06-13T12:18:00.000-05:002007-06-13T12:35:00.809-05:00What if the internet and blogs had been around earlier?I was picking up my daughter and was pondering the recent posts I've done on Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin - <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/herseth-global-warming-bad.html">going to Greenland</a> with Nancy Pelosi, <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/id-just-like-to-clairfy-that-last.html">Flip Flopping on Kyoto</a>, and <a href="http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com/2007/06/congress-daily-congresswoman-herseth.html">backing an immigration measure</a> that I can't imagine many South Dakotans are going to agree with.<br /><br />And it gave me pause because accusations of doing one thing in Washington, yet saying another at home in South Dakota was a familiar accusation against <span style="font-weight: bold;">Senator Daschle</span>. Yet, he rarely had his feet held to the fire on votes until election time - and by then, it was long in the past, and nobody cared.<br /><br />Until the Internet came around and South Dakota Politics held everyone's feet to the fire on those issues, day after day.<br /><br />So it gave me a reason to post this topic for discussion - If the Internet and political blogs had been around 20 or 30 years ago, would Senator Daschle have had such a long tenure in Washington?<br /><br />And as for today's politicians, do they have to mind their P's & Q's a little more closely, because they have to worry about citizen bloggers, as opposed to reporters in the Mainstream Media who they can build relationships with?<div class="blogger-post-footer">Read it all at http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com - South Dakota's Best Political Website.</div>PPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264279074664603861noreply@blogger.com19