Last updated on 2013.11.24
Even though Kristi Noem still refuses on specious grounds to join the Tea Party caucus, South Dakota's arch conservatives have clearly embraced our Congresswoman's mediocrity. Stephanie Strong, who could have led a primary challenge to Noem, fell just a few dozen signatures shy of making the June ballot. She could have made a legal case against Secretary of State Jason Gant's rejection of her petitions. But apparently, Strong couldn't find a single Tea-drinking lawyer who was interested in helping her write up the papers and send them to the judge.
We are thus led to the sad spectacle of Strong trying to act as her own lawyer in a legal challenge, as of the opening of courthouse doors across South Dakota this morning, is moot. The state printed ballots on Wednesday. Absentee voting begins today. Once the first vote is submitted, Gant says, no new partisan candidates can be added. Yet Strong seems to have been oblivious to the urgency of her situation:
Assistant Attorney General Rich Williams, who is representing Gant, said he talked with Strong early Wednesday and she requested that a court hearing be held May 1, even though he told her it was too late to put her on the ballot [Chet Brokaw, "SD Official Says Woman Can't Be Put on June Ballot," AP via Real Clear Politics, 2012.04.18].
May 1? What are you thinking?
GOP-appointee Judge (wait, in South Dakota, that's redundant) Mark Barnett granted Strong the courtesy of a hearing Tuesday morning. That hearing would have been an excellent opportunity—the last opportunity—to persuade the court that democracy and voter enfranchisement were at stake and that an immediate injunction was in order. But Strong fumbled:
Circuit Judge Mark Barnett of Pierre held a brief hearing Tuesday in Strong's case, but he adjourned after a few minutes because he was unable to reach Strong on the telephone. Barnett said he was unable to determine whether Gant had been properly served with the lawsuit [Brokaw 2012.04.18].
If democracy really is at stake, and the judge is listening, you glue your phone to your hand and set the ringer on shout. But apparently Strong isn't answering calls from the court or the press.
Strong, who owns a business with her husband, did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment on the issue [Brokaw 2012.04.18].
If the local Tea Party is a forgiving Christian lot, perhaps they'll send Strong a condolence note and invite her to get involved with their local political efforts. Perhaps they'll help her bone up on state law and politics. Perhaps they'll even invite her to run for Legislature in 2014.
But Strong's inept handling of her abortive Congressional campaign shows that local conservatives' unwillingness to jump onto her bandwagon was sensible pragamtism. Hmmm... pragmatism and Tea Partiers... who'd'a thunk it?
Was Strong aware of the hearing Tuesday morning in front of Judge Barnett? Was she served notice of the hearing?
That's a good question. Of course, if I were an aspiring candidate, and if I had been left out of the loop by a GOP-establishment judge on a surprise hearing on Tuesday, I'd have hit the airwaves and my own website by the end of business Tuesday shouting about it. It's Friday. Bueller? Bueller?
This is just more TEA party halfassedness. My granddaughter says all her coworkers call them "lame".
This is just more TEA party embarrassedness for grudznick for being tricked into supporting Mr. Howie for Governor in 2010.
Political philosophy aside, maybe there's a public service here. How one runs ones campaign can give an idea of how effective they would be as an official.
Grudz, my son, you can absolve your 2010 sins with one vote this year: Matt Varilek in November. Go forth and be healed!
Mark, bingo. Congress is a serious job requiring a fast intellect, grasp of law, and public relations sense. Strong is not demonstrating those skills.