Right about 30 days left..
If what I've been hearing since the legislators were in town in true, Dan Sutton is not going to last until session. Legislators were openly chatting around town that "Sutton is done, and won't make it until session." I've even heard that the leadership of the D's might have issued an ultimatum.
Why? In their campaigns, all they talked about was getting back to work. They desperately don't want to deal with allegations of sexual molestation against one of their own. Because it will devolve from there.
My prediction? If this holds true, watch for Sutton to resign, and his likely replacement will be Russell Olson.
Why? In their campaigns, all they talked about was getting back to work. They desperately don't want to deal with allegations of sexual molestation against one of their own. Because it will devolve from there.
My prediction? If this holds true, watch for Sutton to resign, and his likely replacement will be Russell Olson.
Comments
nice of Heidepriem to cut the throat of his own people aleady
what a sad, pathetic sell-out he is
He worked hard and has contacts and connections all over the district. He is ready to be in the Senate, and he is the GOP's best candidate in 2008, probably against Gassman.
Russel Olson makes a ton of sense for the Governor to appoint to the Senate - and I have no idea who he'd put in as the House candidate. Toates ran against Sutton this year, but didn't really work for it. The Governor may look for someone new who can hold the House seat.
According to his own admission and witnesses, Dan Sutton IS guilty of sharing his room with a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT on a program for teaching government to our HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
Male or female, 18 or younger, It doesn't matter! This was a SD PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT on a school sanctioned/government sponsored program!
It also doesn't matter what actually happened.
Our legislators should be held to at least the same standard as our teachers for heaven sake!
A teacher, Scout Leader, Coach, Church Youth Leader... whatever... who shared a bed with a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT on a trip would no longer be a teacher, Scout Leader, Coach etc....
I like Dan. I like his politics. I am sorry for his family... BUT... he made an incredibly stupid decision that NO ONE in a leadership position with youth should get away with.
EVEN IF NO GROPING TOOK PLACE... still a one bed hotel room with a HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT is a dumb idea and shouldn't be overlooked!
Incidentally, I have traveled miles with many youth.
I can remember many times when we had groups of students and rooms with 2 Queen or King sized beds and four students to a room.
Several times we got another room rather than have MY OWN son or daughter and I sleep in the same bed.
On a family trip we likely would have saved the $$ but on a school or youth trip--not so.
Rounds wouldn't steal a seat for which the voters just chose a Democrat would he?
Rounds respects the will of the voters, doesn't he?
Under that logic Michael LaPointe of Mission would have never been appointed to fill the seat from Rosebud a few years ago.
Rounds will go with Russ Olson because he needs another guy in the senate to help with his agenda.
The district clearly voted overwhelmingly for Olson and so there won't be any bad blood.
Besides would a democrat name a republican, never in a million years. Nor should Rounds do the same.
My favorite example of a situation like this was in the late 1990s, when Senator Dick Negstad of Brookings died during the session. He was a Republican, but not particularly friendly with Governor Janklow. Mrs. Negstad publicly asked to be appointed to the seat, but Janklow turned her down - he appointed Arnie Brown instead.
As has been mentioned, Rounds has appointed a Republican to a Democratic seat one other time - when he Michael LaPointe into the District 27 seat when Dick Hagen died.
I'm sure Governor Billion (or Governor Heidepreim) would do the same thing.
But, since I know what Governor Schoenbeck would do, I can sleep tongight.
"If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit."
To find out more about that move, just read keloland.com
Do you wear a dress too?
Congrats, PP.
If Sutton let a family friend stay in his room with the (adult) page's permission AND the permission of the page's parents, then it's no business of anyone's unless it can be proven that something happened beyond what was consented to by everyone. Yes, I said PROVEN! PROVE IT!
how do you know there was only one bed? were you there? how do you know there weren't two beds or a pull-out? enquiring minds want to know..
This is a man’s life not a soap opera. We should all remember that this is a man who has done a lot for his legislative district, a lot for the Native American community, and a lot for the youth of his community. Besides the Wiese accusation, there isn’t another person that can say anything bad about this guy. Why is that? He was re-elected by his constituents and he should serve unless there is a charge. If there isn't even a charge, how can any of you justify your "crucify him" antics?
I hope that he does resign because if not, the new legislative session is going to be a mess and get even less done than it usually does. If he truly cared about what is best for the people of SD vs himself, this is the route he would take at this point.
Do you realize how much that special session would have cost the taxpayers of South Dakota?
Do you really think a legislative hearing on this mattter is the best course of action? I dont! Have you heard of a court of law? Charges, hearings and verdits are the way of our land and if you think thats a bad idea, then maybe you should move to somewhere where no process or procedure and no due process is okay.
If a session would have been held on Sutton the aforementioned is exactly what was scheduled to take place. Is that fair or right???? Would u make a move to avoid that? I would!
Oh, and Sutton has denied the allegations....or maybe that doesnt matter to you also!
And in all this controversy I really haven't heard much denial from Sutton. Mostly nothing from him actually.
As far as a court of law goes, this was a violation of legislative rules, which is what the special session, and now the next session, will address. It's separate from a court case.
You must not understand about the practice of law and sexual harassment suits.
It was a good thing when sexual harassment became a well known issue because those pigs who used to get away with touching, teasing,manipulating etc could not do it without at least the possibility of getting caught and having repercussions.
Unfortunately now the law is always on the accusers side and now the accused (even when innocent) cannot ever clear their name- it is always a he said she said or in this case he said he said.
Sutton probably is running up enormous bills to defend his name. Even if it is shown there is not enough evidence, he still will be perceived guilty.
It is extremely unfair that an innocent person could be left with huge legal bills to try to clear their name.
Why anyone ever runs for anything is beyond me? Anyone can find someone to drum up some false charge. The gender really doesn't matter.
If you really did not like someone of either gender it is an easy charge to make because often there are no others who have seen the alleged incident.
I hope that their is some positive end to this mess but I find it hard to believe that it is possible.
Don't always believe all you hear because you could be the one on the other side of this situation.
I am quite sure, Nonnie, that Butler would not allow his client to talk. So his perceived silence may only be because of competent legal counsel.