South Dakota War College

As I read the big Mercer article where I’m mentioned (they cut that part out in Pierre), I noticed a little tidbit that Bob drops about a few of the Republican founders of the MAINstream Coalition. Specifically, how founders Dave Knudson, Ed Olson, and Tom Dempster and Mac McCracken remain and the question whether they will continue to have influential roles in the senate when re-elected. Most are committee chairs, and Senator Mac McCracken intends to seek the role of Senate President Pro Tem, a position currently held by Lee Schoenbeck. I was having this very conversation with an elected official about the same time this came out, and if what we off-handedly projected would happen in the fall elections, we counted 16 or 17 conservative Republicans who would likely stand together on leadership elections, and 7 or 8 who would fit into that moderate category. What does that mean to the leadership equation? Our thoughts were basically that it’s somewhat unlikely that those MAINstream foun...

Former GOP Legislator and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House has been doing some commenting on the elections over at Mt. Blogmore recently. Here's what he's had to say about this fall's elections: So far, Democrats do not have a great reason to flock to the polls in November. There are really no good top of the ticket races for them. Whoever thought a retired surgeon from Sioux Falls is going to be elected governor is a bit deluded. I realize that Mike Rounds has his critics, but all of them are worth about 100 votes for Billion. I’m sure Jack is a great guy, but I don’t back him and the “perfect storm” guaranteeing him any sort of a shot against MMR is not a brewing. I appreciate Bruce Whalen stepping forward to make a run, but for a lot of the same reasons MMR is safe, so is Stephanie regardless of her choice of hairstyle. The Democrats were all full of vim and vigor when session ended and they slated more legislative candidates than they have for quite a while. However, it...

Bob Mercer showed the South Dakota War College the love towards the end of a huge article in yesterday's Mitchell Daily Republic. Except - instead of citing the name or URL of this little mess of mine on the internet, I was cited personally for having comments from State Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck's thoughts on the races. (I'll take the mention, but don't forget http://dakotawarcollege.blogspot.com ) Signed, "shameless publicity whore" PP

Jack Billion started the campaign off immediately out of the starting gate by taking shots at Governor Rounds in this story by the Rapid City Journal's Kevin Woster: Billion said he sent a letter to the governor asking for a list of companies attracted during Rounds’ 3½ years in office. Billion also asked for information on the number of jobs created, average hourly wage, amount of state assistance each received and whether the business was recruited through the governor’s invitational pheasant hunt or other recruitment programs. “I’m dead serious about it,” Billion said of his request for the information. “I think it’s part of good government, open government. When he says he’d be happy to share that information and discuss it with me, I’m certain he means it.” Rounds staffer Roxy Everson referred a Journal call about the Billion offer to Rounds re-election campaign coordinator Michele Brich, the governor’s sister. Brich didn’t address Billions’ letter, saying it would be “handl...

I would have been a more active poster tonight if Blogger would behave. I couldn't post to save my life. Otherwise, I do have a little news. I've invited some people to start contributing to the website, and if things would ever settle down enough to work, I might be able to get them to consider it. I noodled on it a long time, and made a point to pick some people who I thought were intellectually and politically up to the challenge. It's an interesting mix. I've asked an attorney, a long time politico who does quite a bit of work in other states but lives here, an elected official, someone with a writing/journalism/photography background, and another top politico who's been involved in some of the hottest races in recent years. I picked those whom I considered students of their craft and know their stuff. Some are involved (or have been) at varying levels and varying degrees, but I thought they had worthwhile knowledge that they might consider passing on, as well a...

Senator Stan Adelstein is grousing about why he didn't win in Tuesday's primaries in today's Rapid City Journal . And some of his commentary is very telling: Schwiesow said she needed an effort like that, along with the $50,000 in cash to stay in the spending war at all with Adelstein. Adelstein contributed more than $100,000 of his own money to the primary two years ago and was expected to easily top that this year. He bought a savvy and expensive media campaign that looked more like a congressional campaign than a legislative battle, hitting key differences between the candidates aimed at labeling Schwiesow a conservative extremist. “We could never keep up with what he was doing,” Schwiesow said about Adelstein’s blitz of media and mailings. “I had volunteers who were so committed to this race, because of the issues and their feelings. You just can’t beat that.” Adelstein found that to be true this year, despite his own staff of paid campaign workers and a group of vol...

The State GOP issued this release today on the results of the primary election: Primaries show strength of GOP Dems post low turn-out for gubernatorial candidates PIERRE – Tuesday was a very good day for Republicans in South Dakota. Turn-out in the Democrat gubernatorial race was very low – in the single digits in some counties – due, in part, to the fact that the favorite candidate, Gov. Mike Rounds, had no primary and was not on the ballot. “Low voter turnout reflects a high degree of satisfaction from both Democrats and Republican with how Governor Rounds is leading our state,” South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Randy Frederick said. “Tuesday was a very good night for Mike Rounds and the Republican Party.” Fewer than 1 in every 5 Democrat voters in South Dakota went to the polls on Friday. “Gov. Rounds has shown that he is a true leader with a clear vision for South Dakota,” Frederick said. “That leadership and that vision was evident on Tuesday.” Frederick said now that...

I managed to catch Lee Schoenbeck checking his e-mail at his desk, and he was gracious enough to give me some commentary on last nights election and what it means to Republicans: These were hard fought primaries between a lot of good people. As with every election cycle, hard work and message pays dividends. I think our people will continue to campaign hard this fall for less government, lower taxes, and better education for our children. These are the issues that won on Tuesday and these are the issues our South Dakota families care about. They want to hear a clear conservative Republican message on these issues and see a voting record to match. Candidates that could consistently deliver – won. A quick look at the races for the fall would appear to favor us gaining seats in both houses – I expect we will have more to celebrate in November if we work hard between now and then. I would strongly mirror Lee's thoughts that we stand to pick up seats if we all work together for a unifie...

I had one GOP leader e-mail me the morning to comment: There were nine GOP Senate primaries pitting moderates vs. conservatives. Moderates lost NINE. That's 0-9. Wow. Yeah. It's pretty incredible. Last night was a sea change in the party. As I read the coverage this morning before I think about hopping in the shower to head back to work from my 4 hour vacation, one theme keeps coming across. The media isn't getting it. The coverage of the South Dakota media on the election seems shallow, because all we're hearing is that the election was a referendum on HB 1215. "1215! It was a Republican endorsement of 1215" they're screaming. Well, yes. And No. Was abortion one facet of the election? Yes. But a view to protect life has been part of the Republican mantra for years. But more so is less government, lower taxes, and a good education for our kids . Last night was about Republicans embracing being a Republican. The GOP faithful didn't want to hear abou...

Scott Waltman with the Aberdeen American News has the story this morning on Isaac Latterell's surprise victory over Duane Sutton: Latterell of Aberdeen said he didn't know what to expect heading into the election but had a feeling something good would happen. He was somewhat surprised to defeat a veteran like Sutton, but would also have been content had he lost. A strong pro-life stance helped him in a close election, Latterell said. Sutton, also of Aberdeen, served a total of eight years in the House and Senate. He agreed that abortion was an important topic in the race. A member of a statewide group of moderate Republicans, Sutton voted against the abortion ban passed by state lawmakers during this year's legislative session. In Brown County, Sutton had 500 votes, Latterell, 483. But Latterell had 130 votes in McPherson County to Sutton's 66. Latterell said he had a lot of supporters and volunteers helping him in McPherson County. He also said Sutt...

From The World Turned Upside Down: Tradition has it that when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown (1781) the British played this tune. There is some debate as to whether that is myth or fact. If buttercups buzz'd after the bee, If boats were on land, churches on sea, If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows, And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse, If the mamas sold their babies To the gypsies for half a crown; If summer were spring and the other way round, Then all the world would be upside down. Listen here to the MIDI file. Nobody expected it. It's happening was inconcievable. Yet it happened, and all they could do was express their astonishment at their world being turned upside down. And in South Dakota tonight, it seems that the political world has been turned completely upside down. For months, we've been told how that it's a bad thing to be a conservative, and that we should compromise our values and become more moderate. A group of Republi...

From Pennington County http://www.votepennco.com/EL45.HTM - all precints are in and 2 incumbents, Adelstein and Duniphan have both lost. WOW. THIS IS HUGE. STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 32 you may vote for 1 Elli Schwiesow. . . . . . . . . 2,145 52.11 Stanford Adelstein . . . . . . . 1,971 47.89 STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 33 you may vote for 1 J.P. Duniphan . . . . . . . . . 652 37.67 Dennis Schmidt. . . . . . . . . 1,079 62.33 STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 35 you may vote for 1 Alice L McCoy . . . . . . . . . 556 35.17 William "Bill" Napoli . . . . . . 1,025 64.83 _________________________________ Tonight's Election Coverage is being brought to you by the SDWC Pay Pal Beg Button on the right hand of the screen, just under the Bob Sahr ad. Give it a click, and drop me a donation if you...

You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say Elli Schwiesow is pulling away from Senator Adelstein. Check is out at http://www.votepennco.com/EL45.HTM STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 32 you may vote for 1 Elli Schwiesow. . . . . . . . . 1,616 51.48 Stanford Adelstein . . . . . . . 1,523 48.52 STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 33 you may vote for 1 J.P. Duniphan . . . . . . . . . 486 37.56 Dennis Schmidt. . . . . . . . . 808 62.44 STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 35 you may vote for 1 Alice L McCoy . . . . . . . . . 476 35.52 William "Bill" Napoli . . . . . . 864 64.48 And Big thanks to Max Power for the link!! _________________________________ Tonight's Election Coverage is being brought to you by the SDWC Pay Pal Beg Button on the right hand of the screen, just under the Bob Sahr ad. Give it a click,...

Mt Blogmore has someone on the scene at the Pennington County Courthouse, and they're reporting a big swing back to Elli in the Adelstein Schwiesow Race with 3 precincts to go: State Senate District 32 Republican primary, at 10:00 p.m.: Elli Schwiesow. . . . . . . . . 1,009 50.91 Stanford Adelstein . . . . . . . 973 49.09 Any more results like this, and tonight will unequivocably be the night of the conservative.

Check it out: DIST 33 REP STATE SENATE (R) DUNIPHAN J.P. 462 39 10 14 (R) SCHMIDT DENNIS 731 61 10 14 With 4 precincts left, JP Duniphan has to make up 269 votes to keep her legislative seat. And with that many, I don't know if she can do it. With few exceptions, this is the election giving conservative legislative candidates a chance to shine. One they get past tonight, this crop of newbies will need to start buckling down for the battle in the fall. _________________________________ Tonight's Election Coverage is being brought to you by the SDWC Pay Pal Beg Button on the right hand of the screen, just under the Bob Sahr ad. Give it a click, and drop me a donation if you're mildy entertained by the coverage this evening

Whew - a lull in the action. I'm already at over 750 visitors today as I pass my 1000th post. Things are slowing down east river and starting to pick up west river. Lots of nail biting as the west river results come in. Lots of suprises tonight. Who would have thought we'd turn out 2 incumbents East River? There's lots of races I'm pleasantly suprised about, one I'm physically sick about losing, and lots of curious quirks. I thought tonight might be the night of the incumbent, but it's looking like it's the night of the conservative newcomer. Hauge turned out Kooistra. Lattrell turned out Sutton, Arnold turned out Konold - I don't know that anyone would have predicted those. But here it is. And as the results from West River start cranking up in full force - stay tuned. And don't forget the coverage is being sponsored by the beg button on the right. _________________________________ Tonight's Election Coverage is being brought to you by the S...

Pro-life Democrat Julie Bartling won handily over her pro-choice opponent(s) DIST 26 DEM STATE SENATE (D) BARTLING JULIE 585 47 29 29 (D) SIMPSON JOHN 379 30 29 29 (D) WRIGHT SHERMAN 279 22 29 29 What's with the elections tonight? These results keep pointing to conservative momentum (at least at the moment) when there's been a distinct difference between a conservative candidate and a moderate/liberal candidate. Lots of results yet to come.

From over at Mt. Blogmore Tom Daschle, speaking tonight at the fundraiser for the Native American Journalism Foundation (see Denise’s earlier post), had this to say about the District 32 Senate race: “I just hope and pray Stan Adelstein wins.”

There's three precincts left to report in the District, but it's looking like tonight's complete drubbing award is going to go to Jim Holbeck. Holbeck, if you'd been monitoring this website, set himself forth as the moderate choice in an election against one of the State Senate's more conservative members, State Senator Brock Greenfield. And with three precincts left, I think I'm pretty safe in saying that Brock completely and utterly kicked his ass. DIST 06 REP STATE SENATE (R) GREENFIELD BROCK 1513 69 37 40 (R) HOLBECK JAMES 664 31 37 40 Right now, it's 69 to 31%. Holbeck could double the number of votes he got tonight, and he'd still lose to Brock . I think we can say that Jim Holbeck has been owned. *update* It got worse for Holbeck DIST 06 REP STATE SENATE (R) GREENFIELD BROCK 1769 71 40 40 (R) HOLBECK ...

DIST 35 REP STATE SENATE (R) MCCOY ALICE 177 34 4 10 (R) NAPOLI WILLIAM "BI 342 66 4 10 _________________________________ Tonight's Election Coverage is being brought to you by the SDWC Pay Pal Beg Button on the right hand of the screen, just under the Bob Sahr ad. Give it a click, and drop me a donation if you're mildy entertained by the coverage this evening