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Russ Olson Says Blogosphere Really Smart

Senator Russell Olson (R-8/Wentworth) has regularly shown his failure to understand the usefulness of the Internet. But he's showing signs of coming around. He recently unblocked me from his Twitter account. And now he acknowledges that the South Dakota blogosphere is pretty darned smart:

I think what the lay-person understands is primary system because that’s where the media attention has fixed lately on who the best person in the primary would be. This is a game changer, and I really do think, it may be ahead its time, but I do think that for the average person out there that doesn’t find themselves watching the political blogs, that doesn’t find themselves following political process in South Dakota as a science would appreciate this type of a gesture and the primary, I think, is something that they can easily identify [Senator Russell Olson, Senate State Affairs Committee hearing, quoted by Cassie Bartlett, "Committee Approves Bill Proposing Primary Elections for Certain State Positions," SDPB.org, 2013.02.15].

In these comments explaining his support for Senate Bill 82, Olson says folks watching the blogs are smarter than typical voters. He says we blogorazzi are political scientists. That's a pretty big step for a politician whose online presence revolves around a 1960-style broadcast/billboard marketing model. Thanks, Russ!

Of course, Russ should note that his rah-rah corner of the South Dakota blogosphere thinks he's a meathead for voting for Senate Bill 82.

7 Comments

  1. Mike Henriksen 2013.02.19

    Is this the same Russell Olson that blocked people from posting political responses on his Facebook page? Not his personal page, but the one set up for Senator Russ Olson? Wow? Welcome to the mid-2000's Russ!

  2. Steve Sibson 2013.02.19

    Senator Olson may change his mind once he finds out how much research is being deleted in order to protect the fantasies that are promoted on the right and the left.

  3. mike 2013.02.19

    I'm stunned by Russ Olson's support for SB 82. It's bad legislation.

  4. Dougal 2013.02.19

    Olson's reputation as the Forrest Gump of South Dakota politics is safely reconfirmed.

  5. caheidelberger Post author | 2013.02.19

    I can't delete it if you post it on your own blog, Sibby. Put it up on Sibby Online, invite all of us political scientists to discuss those on your terms instead of trying to shoehorn it into every conversation here. Russ will be more the more impressed by such arguments when you demonstrate their usefulness in helping voters understand real South Dakota issues.

  6. grudznick 2013.02.19

    I have heard people attack Mr. Olson because his hair cut or his effectiveness makes them angry. I don't think either one should be cause to attack this young fellow. He seems a level headed rising star and he controls most of Lake county's future in his palms.

  7. caheidelberger Post author | 2013.02.20

    Lake County's future? Now you're just stringing words together trying to sound cute. Whatever he may or may not be doing in Pierre, Olson is not a primary decision-maker for Lake County.

Comments are closed.