Ken Santema puts serious miles on his car and keyboard to provide detailed coverage of the candidates forum held at Oglala Lakota College in Kyle last week. Well done, Ken! Among Santema's newsworthy observations:
- Four out of five of South Dakota's gubernatorial candidates oppose the Keystone XL pipeline! Unfortunately, the one who supports Keystone XL is Governor Dennis Daugaard, the one who is in a position to do the most to stop TransCanada's land grab.
- Of the four gubernatorial candidates, Independent Mike Myers offers the most specific plan for economic development on the reservations: hemp production!
- Santema, an open-minded conservative, says Democrats should pick Joe Lowe over Susan Wismer in the primary two weeks from today:
...Lowe trampled over Wismer.... He had a best overall grasp of topics from any of the gubernatorial candidates.... He also has much more relevant experience for actually being a governor.... I think the Democrats in SD should choose Lowe over Wismer because he has the best chance of bring a good fight to Daugaard. I hate blow-out elections and feel Wismer couldn’t get any general election votes beyond the ones that would already vote Democrat [Ken Santema, "OLC Candidate Forum Part 2: The Gubernatorial Candidates," SoDakLiberty, 2014.05.19].
- Santema takes umbrage at the fact that Senate candidates Mike Rounds and Clayton Walker did not even bother to respond. "It is quite disrespectful to the whole election process to not even acknowledge when constituents are reaching out to them," says Santema. Remember that, voters.
- Republican candidate Stace Nelson says the United States should not intervene militarily in Nigeria to attack Boko Haram, the Islamic fundamentalist rebels who kidnapped hundreds of Nigerian girls in March. "We are not the police force of the world," said the conservative former military policeman. Santema says that Democratic House candidate Corinna Robinson supports more U.S. involvement in foreign affairs.
- Robinson doesn't support Keystone XL; Nelson expresses concerns about allowing TransCanada to use eminent domain against Americans.
- Republican Senate candidate wants to see the candidates debate on the reservation during the general election. Santema thinks that's a great idea... and so do I! Just going to the reservation to cover this one forum got Santema interested in covering "SD DSS mishandling of native-American adoptions and foster care, federal land grab in the Badlands that impacts Lakota ranchers, and the creation and use of the cryptocurrency Mazacoin by the Traditional Lakota Nation." Hauling the mainstream media out to Kyle or up to Sisseton or whichever other reservation would like to host would bring bloggers, reporters, and candidates face-to-face with a portion of the South Dakota electorate that is too often ignored or taken for granted.
Yes, there should be candidate debates on our state's reservations for all the statewide contests. Someone needs to take the lead NOW and begin to lay the groundwork for such a plan. I can envision at least 4 such events (we probably wouldn't survive individual debates for each constitutional office and the PUC position.)
Let's have different reservations host the debates and spread them out over at least a couple of weeks. But the time is now for someone - maybe the Tribal Chairs' organization? - to organize and get behind this idea. I'm willing to wager that about 75% of the people in this state have never ventured onto more than 2 SD reservations. There is incredible beauty in the people and landscape of every one of them. Raising their public profile even accidentally through political debates would benefit the entire population.
When I heard Susan Wismer speak before, my impression was that she was for Keystone XL. Maybe that impression was wrong, or maybe her answer was just unclear. I'm glad she's against forcing SD landowners to bear the burden for a Canadian company that wants to ship tar to China.
Here's what I would consider supporting. A pipeline built with sufficiently strong American steel shipping North Dakota oil to refineries in America. Let the Canadians cross Canada with their pipeline and ship their tar to China from one of their own Pacific Ocean ports.
There is enough floodwater in the Souris and Red Rivers for Canadians to refine their own crap.
The Canadians voted against running the pipeline to the west coast. Also, I believe it would be better not to involve the Tribal councils in organizing the debates because of the politics involved. The Indian colleges represent the people throughout the reservations. It gives all people in Indian country a chance to speak out and have their voices heard. Oglala Lakota college was a perfect example of a professionally run forum.
Stace is on 100 eyes:
http://www.argusleader.com/story/opinion/100eyes/2014/05/20/100eyes-state-politics/9320023/
Ken's coverage of this event was outstanding and readily admits that learned something as well. That is always good.
While I do have some differing conclusions on his analysis, his coverage is specifically good for the Republicans that had the courage to attend and the respect they have for tribes by accepting the invitation and attending.
Thanks Ken, I really did enjoy your presentation.
So there could be a debate at Sinte Gleska. Isn't Sitting Bull College the school for Standing Rock? I think it's located just north of the border. Is there a higher education facility on CEB? Flandreau? Sisseton? Yanktonis?
I don't think a debate sponsored by reservation colleges/voc schools is possible, except for the southwest. Right? Wrong?
I read Ken's Article....and he wrote that Myers and Hubbel were his picks....why did you leave that out Cory?
Hey, I didn't want to steal all of Ken's thunder, Lora. Besides, sometimes, I do need to talk to my base. :-)
Deb, SDDoE lists four tribal colleges, including Sisseton Wahpeton College. We wouldn't have to hold forums at the colleges, although they are good places for such educational civic events. How about a debate at the Flandreau Indian School?
For sure! Time for our Native Brothers and Sisters to rise up and be heard.
My picks for governor:Hubbel(Republican) Myers(Independent) Lowe(Democratic) . . . My final choice. . . I will reveal closer to november.
Cory I think podcasters and bloggers need to unite and force a gubernatorial debate prior to June 3rd. Any venue in SD should be fair game. Douchegaard needs to quit hiding from debates and declining opportunities to square off with Lora Hubbel.
I'd love to see such a debate happen. But when and where? What day can we find on this short notice that Hubbel and Daugaard both will not be able to claim schedule conflicts?
Wow, I love that idea from Ryan!!!! I think it might be too short-notice for anything in this primary. But maybe something for the general election that would include all candidates on ballot this fall.
Ken! Ryan! It's time to organize! The ag folks have dibs on setting up the State Fair debate... although I'll bet bloggers could get some good interview time one-on-one with candidates there. How about a Bloggers' Union Forum (BUF!) in mid-September? How many fora would we want: Gov, House, and Senate? What about AG and SOS? Can I be on the moderators' panel?
I would say Gov, House and Senate for sure.. It really depends on if the Dems actually bring people to the other offices. I would love to see a good SOS debate.
There is always the Sioux Empire Fair, but I think that is early August. I agree mid-September would be much better. It would be closer to the election.
Ah, but then I remember Kristi will probably be in Washington when Congress is in session between the August and October recesses. Closer to election is better, but that also means competing with KELO and SDPB for forum time. Maybe the Sioux Empire Fair would be a good second choice for a House forum? Lots of people to come be an audience, and I think a live studio audience (or sheep barn audience) is a good idea.
Or is there a big event on any of the reservations when the Bloggers Union could organize debates?
The only person that hasn't had a debate is Lora Hubbel. How about asking Daugaard when, could he debate her. She will debate him anywhere any time. KELO whimped out. KSFY or KDLO should have a televised debate. They will probably whimp out too. WEAK! To bad nobody makes an issue out of this. Our media no longer represents the people. This state is all about Money and Power.