State GOP takes a poke at Tom Daschle
Hot off the Press - this release was issued late this morning by the South Dakota GOP:
While I don't think this has the cross-border stature of the Perprich/Janklow war or words "back in the day" it is interesting to see this rivalry flare up again.
WHERE DOES TOM DASCHLE STAND?Hey, you paid bloggers. How does one go about jumping on that gravy train? I can't get anyone to pay me for coverage, so I'm stuck shilling for ads.
PIERRE - As South Dakota comes under attack from an out-of-state politician aiming to derail a project that could generate a massive economic boom in the region and create thousands of jobs, Tom Daschle finds himself caught at the crossing.
Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota has attacked a railroad expansion project benefiting South Dakota, the biggest building project in South Dakota history, on behalf of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Not only is Dayton standing in the way of a project that could have a massive economic impact in the region and create thousands of jobs, Dayton also insulted the
people, heritage and pride of the entire state of South Dakota. Dayton told Fortune magazine that "The railroad will enter Rochester over my dead body" and that "The Mayo Clinic is worth a hell of a lot more than the whole state of South Dakota."
This begs the question: Where does Dayton's close friend and recently-appointed Mayo Clinic Board Member Tom Daschle stand? The recent silence from Daschle's office has been deafening.
"Daschle should tell his friend Mark Dayton to put a sock in it," said Randy Frederick, Chairman of the South Dakota GOP. "Daschle should stand up for his state and condemn Dayton's insulting remarks," he added.
In addition to being friends with Mark Dayton, Daschle has also joined the board of the Mayo Clinic, the most powerful opponent to the railroad expansion. "It would be nice if Tom Daschle would stand up for his state instead of his buddies at the Mayo Clinic," Frederick said. "I'd like to know if Daschle thinks the Mayo Clinic is 'worth a hell of a lot more' than his home state of South Dakota like Senator Dayton has said," Frederick questioned.
"Daschle's chief political consultant also pays bloggers who constantly attack the railroad expansion project and Daschle should tell them to start helping South Dakota by supporting the biggest project in South Dakota history. Why Daschle stands silent while his close friends, business associates, and consultants constantly attack a project that is critical to the economic health of South Dakota I can't understand," said Frederick.
While I don't think this has the cross-border stature of the Perprich/Janklow war or words "back in the day" it is interesting to see this rivalry flare up again.
Comments
As far as paid bloggers ... damn I wish that was the case. I'm for sale to anyone who wants to start sending checks my way.
As far as I know the only people who have been paid to blog in South Dakota were paid by John Thune and are now on taxpayer salaries. Ironic that Frederick would raise this subject.
No one is opposed to this project. Who has said they want this project to go away?
I want you to name names and show me where it was stated.
Nearly everyone in South Dakota wants this project for its economic development benefits, including myself.
But what I oppose is politicians who have to line their own pockets in the process by writing special legislation for a price. It's wrong. If you want to defend that, that's your choice.
I await someone here to show me who is opposed to this project. Please name names and show where anyone has stated this. Anonymous? Can you do this? Randy Frederick? Can you do this?
People reading this thread should watch and see how "anonymous" and Randy Frederick respond and see if they can back up their claims with facts.
They merely want to change the subject because they know John Thune is a facade of a politician who has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
has anyone ever thought for a second that Mayo is involved in about a million different things, including health care, a policy area where Daschle is extremely passionate? Does anyone really believe that Tom Daschle was asked to be on the board of Mayo Clinic to help stop the DM&E project? Seriously? It's ludicrous.
But most of all it's an attempt at distraction by the South Dakota GOP. They know John Thune has been caught cashing in an unusual way at both ends of a quid pro quo.
I have no doubt that Thune is passionate about bringing jobs to South Dakota. No doubt at all. But why in the world is he cashing in on it in such an unethical manner?
He's working very hard to get billions for a former lobbying client but he can't be counted on to help out needy South Dakotans with a hundred bucks or so to help meet record heating bills in the dead of winter. That tells me all I need to know about John Thune's "South Dakota" values.
Randy Frederick, John Thune, and the GOP will always flash the word "Daschle" whenever they find themselves in hot water. It's a tired act with no substance.
Look at the facts people.
John Thune took hundreds of thousands of dollars and then passed special legislation to help that client. That's wrong. End of story.
Short-term construction jobs? Coal mining jobs in SD? Pollution control systems employees? Government investigators, tax agents?
Also seems to me John Thune sucked out a rather significant fund from a medical group for lobbying as well...but I guess not Mayo Clinic.
SD's value has greatly declined after the SD legislature pushed through the Rapist Rights Legislation. In the market place of ideas, that is a market sinker. SD down four fifths of total asset value or income in less than a week..Data from Minn Senator Dayton.
I'm not running down the project. No one is doing that. Please show me where anyone has run this project down. Everyone in the whole damn state wants it to happen. No one wants to "derail" it, so to speak.
Above I asked people to name names and give evidence, and I think it is abundantly clear to the readers of this thread that no one has come forward with that proof.
They want to distract from John Thune's blatant ethical problems. The man knows no boundaries when it comes to lining his own pockets in the process of doing the job he was elected to do.
Paid blogger? Give me a break. That's an old line that freaks like Steve Sibson and Thune staffers have been trying to sell without success for over almost a year.
No one pays me to blog. If I closed my blog down today, my employment wouldn't be affected one bit. The only bloggers who have been on anyone's payroll in the entire state of South Dakota are John Lauck and Jason Van Beek who were paid by John Thune and are curiously now on taxpayer salaries.
On the other hand, if anyone _wants_ to start paying me to blog ... drop me a line.
So until someone shows me where I've tried to run down this project, it's just a bunch of hot air coming from Randy Frederick and the Thune office who knows no game other than pathetic attempts to attack Tom Daschle.
Distract. Distract. Distract. That's all they know when they've been caught in one of their ethical problems.
Here are the facts:
The DM&E expansion is a great opportunity for South Dakota. But why should John Thune -- our elected representative be cashing in on it for himself?
That's the key question and it remains unanswered.
Show me where I've run down this project. Quote it and give us a link.
Until that happens, this bullshit will remain just that. Bullshit.
No, I'm not going to "hush up" about John Thune's lack of ethics.
Never. It's going to be a rough six years for Johnny.
Three more anonymous commentors but still no links to where anyone has bashed this project, worked against it, fought for its defeat, or attempted to derail it.
These anonymous commentors can't show you this because it doesn't exist.
They're merely lying to distract from the fact that John Thune has been caught selling his influence.
If you think I'm going to release my tax returns or anything like that, you are absolutely nuts. As has been stated above: No one pays me to blog. My blog has no bearing on my employment status anymore than Sibby's blog has a bearing on his employment status or anyone else out there.
I'm still looking for a link to statements that show anyone is fighting against this project.
Patiently waiting ...
”HildebrandTewes Consulting — the "Tewes" is Paul Tewes, Hildebrand's partner — receives $2,000 a month from Daschle's campaign fund and another $4,000 a month from DASHPAC. Hildebrand, who manages both funds for Daschle, said the payments his firm receives were to maintain and manage the political action committee and to wrap things up from the campaign.”
You work for Hildebrand, do you not? Hildebrand is paid by Daschle. According to an interview in 10-05, Hildebrand-Tewes had three employees in Sioux Falls and two in Washington. Are you one of the three in Sioux Falls? If so, do your paid duties include blogging? This is a little more detailed request whether you are paid to blog or not.
But a response to noonie: No, blogging is not what I earn a salary for.
Also ... I still don't see anyone linking through to a statement of mine or anyone else's that says I am against the expansion of the DM&E line. Can anyone point this out or not?
Obviously these are just statements to distract from the fact that John Thune is a politician who cashes in from his elected position. This is a point that has not been refuted by Randy Frederick, the Thune office, or anyone commenting here.
Clean Cut Kid said:
1) DME sought to “line John Thune's pockets,” which “is morally wrong”: “Can anyone say quid pro quo?” (February 26, 2006)
2) Asks if “DME in business 125 years ago?” when discussing a House member in 1872 “influencing railroad legislation to benefit a company he worked for.” (February 21, 2006)
3) Quotes letter in Minnesota newspaper: “Republican Sen. John Thune (S.D.) managed to sneak a provision into a highway bill that will allow the Federal Railroad Administration to loan the DM&E $2.5 billion.” (January 20, 2006)
4) Criticizes the “cozy relationship that Senator Thune had with the DM&E” and “sleazy relationships.” (January 10, 2006)
5) “It's wrong when those who can afford to pay Thune $220,000.00 can cash in to the tune of $2.5 billion while the state is home to some of the poorest counties in the nation and the people who live there have to beg and plead to get help heating their homes in the dead of winter. Something is seriously wrong.” (January 7, 2006)
6) Called “sinister,” a matter of “corruption,” a “sweetheart deal,” and “morally wrong.” (January 6, 2006)
7) Called “corporate welfare” and “political payback.” (November 9, 2005)
SD Progressive Said:
1) Calls it a “sweetheart deal.” (February 09, 2006)
Calls it a “sweetheart deal.” (January 24, 2006)
3) Calls it a “quid pro quo.” (January 12, 2006)
4) Call it “political payback.” (November 09, 2005)
Clean Cut Kid links:
http://cleancutkid.com/2006/02/26/dm-e-project http://cleancutkid.com/2006/02/21/havent-we-heard-this-before
http://cleancutkid.com/2006/01/20/they-write-letters
http://cleancutkid.com/2006/01/10/the-minnesota-press
http://cleancutkid.com/2006/01/07/straws
http://cleancutkid.com/2006/01/06/thune-and-the-lobbyist-culture
http://cleancutkid.com/2005/11/09/john-thunes-dm-e-railroad
SD Progressive links:
http://www.sdprogressive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=249&Itemid=1
http://www.sdprogressive.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230&Itemid=2
Just like the energizer rabbit...