South Dakota War College

That was about as lurid a headline as I could make it. But it does look like the Republican Governor and the Republican US Senator are lining up on different sides of an issue - who is the best man to lead America into the next presidential term? Senator Thune recently announced that he was supporting US Senator John McCain for President. And (yesterday or today) Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas announced that he had lined up South Dakota's own Governor M. Michael Rounds , placing these two South Dakota Republican political Juggernauts on opposite sides. If you look at it, both are courting candidates similarly. They're each going with someone in their peer group. Thune with a fellow US Senator, and Rounds with a fellow Republican Governor. Ultimately, this is setting the stage for a showdown, with the winner gaining bragging rights, leadership of the delegation at the National Republican Convention in Minneapolis, and if the stars align correctly, potential preference for a...

Tony Mangan over at KCCR Radio is reporting on Karl Adam , the new GOP Chairman elected this past weekend at the Republican State Central Committee Meeting:Karl Adam and a new group of officers have been elected to lead the state Republican Party. The Pierre banker as expected, was chosen Saturday as party chairman at the Republican’s Central Committee meeting held here in Pierre. Adam’s roots in the Republican party run deep. His mother, Pat, was a long time party leader while his grandfather, George T. Mickelson, and uncle George S. Mickelson both served as Governor. Adam’s selected slate of officers also were elected to two year terms.. They are Sue Peterson of Sioux Falls, vice chair; Paul Knecht , Pierre, treasurer; and Kevin Thom , Rapid City and formerly of Pierre, as secretary. and... Adam says he has no plans to change the Republican party office staff and he says the party headquarters will remain in Pierre. Go read it all here at todayskccr.com. The slate of candidates was...

I was in Brookings this weekend, so I didn't get the particulars firsthand, but as soon as I run it down I'll let you know the new slate of GOP officers (and I'm assuming Karl Adam was elected chair as anticipated). If anyone reading was there, drop a note under comments as to what went on.

Just a few photos from the Hughes County Lincoln Day Dinner: After the county honored Don Rounds, as the Hughes County volunteer of the year, Matt Michels, the speaker of the night got up and gave a speech about liberty and Republican values. He also had us on the edge our seats with this one . (mp3 file) I was fortunate to sit at a table with longtime lobbyist *the* Jeremiah Murphy. He introduced himself, as did I. And upon hearing my name he apologized, as he noted "I should have introduced myself as anonymous." (good one.) Also at the table was his son and fellow lobbyist Jerry Murphy, Representative Cooper Garnos, and equally notable Republicans in the form of Brown County GOP Chairman Isaac Latterell, (SDWC reader and) GOP activist Aaron Lorenzen, and South Dakota Right to Life Lobbyist Jenna Haeger: I'll have more on the Michels speech as I get through it (probably early next week) and reduce the file size. But let it be said that a good time was had by all.