Over a year ago, the Council for a Livable World endorsed Rick Weiland's Senate campaign. I noted at the time that the anti-nuclear group's endorsement shouldn't concern boosters of Ellsworth Air Force Base, since Ellsworth doesn't pack nukes any more.
Ah, but don't let facts stand in the way of Republican Mike Rounds's campaign tactics. Team Rounds apparently bought a full page of the Rapid City Journal Sunday to say Weiland and the Council for a Livable World would get rid of the B-1B bomber.
Rounds's claim is false:
“A shamefully desperate Mike Rounds has been caught in yet another lie in a pattern that is becoming all too familiar and sad – this time by running an ad in the Rapid City Journal that is not only false but is scurrilous. Their characterization that the Council and Rick Weiland want to “scuttle” the B-1B bomber and shut down Ellsworth Air Force base is completely and blatantly false. And Mike Rounds knows it. In fact lying has become so much a part of Mike Rounds’ DNA that even Pinocchio would be embarrassed,” said Weiland Campaign Manager Kris Swedin.
The Weiland campaign isn’t the only aggrieved party to Rounds’ lie.
Angela Canterbury, Executive Director for the Council had this to say in response to Rounds’ ad, “The ad is simply incorrect. The Council for a Livable World does not advocate closing Ellsworth Air Force Base. Council for a Livable World does not support scuttling the B-1B bomber. The President does not support scuttling the B-1B bomber. The ad is made up out of whole cloth. The B-1B is a 1980’s program that we opposed when it was first initiated—when it had nuclear weapons capability—but that’s ancient history. In 2014, under President Obama, the Air Force began a multi-year technological overhaul and upgrade of its B1-B Lancer long-range bomber fleet, which we do not oppose. Mike Rounds is making this up” [Rick Weiland campaign, press release, 2014.10.20].
Team Rounds issues this response, which deviously avoids defending the original specific claim about the B-1B bomber:
"Obama and CLW are undeniably bad for the Rapid City community, Ellsworth Air Force Base and American strategic defense," Rounds' campaign manager Rob Skjonsberg said in an emailed statement. "They’ve endorsed Rick Weiland — what else is there to say? Rick Weiland and his allies would be a disaster for the Rapid City community" [Seth Tupper, "Ellsworth Dragged into Senate Race," Rapid City Journal, 2014.10.20].
There's just no having a rational debate with Mike Rounds. He appears determined in the last days of his campaign to salvage all the votes he can through any means possible, regardless of the facts.
Get out the truth, Democrats, and get out the vote!
The ad also has a factual error that is false on its face. It claims the group has opposed B-1Bs at Ellsworth since 1982 (or was it 83?). Problem is, there were no B-1Bs anywhere in those years. Ellsworth got them in 1987. Ewps.
Ellsworth's days are numbered regardless of Rounds' paranoia.
MMR is running the ad on radio also. I was trying to listen to the local news on KOTA Radio but gave up when every commercial break was led by the "Weiland will close Ellsworth" ad.
MMR still insists he has "True South Dakota Values" I know a lot of folks that disagree with him.
Rob Skjonsberg still has the title of "campaign manager" for the Marion Rounds campaign? He's the guy that peed the race down his leg and had to be sidelined by the out-of-state operatives advising Marion to lie his way back into contention. I guess those out-of-state guys don't want their names attached to this sinking ship.
Out there in the real world, you know - the one where everybody's not a political junkie like us - people are deciding whether they should vote for Pressler or Weiland. When this is over Republicans will be wishing they had pushed Marion the visionless, legacyless caretaker governor aside and run Kristi Noem for senate.
What a load of hooey. President Obama, a Democrat, has made the B1 the workhorse in the bombing of ISIS. The success it has had to force Turkey to allow the close ground support for their border to help the Kurds, would not have happened without them. Obama also dropped guns and munitions to make this new fight there, the Dien bien Phu for the ISIS. So between the work the B1 has been doing and the strategic fighting on the ground, this may be the turning point of those radicals.
Rounds is full of crap with that, he might have just as well said that Weiland was gonna eliminate beer. The facts are that the B1 has finally gotten the capabilities for close air support that it lacked because of its first mission when it came on line to replace the heavies. The position this plane has now in the inventory, will make it a mainstay for years to come at Ellsworth. Something else as well, fuel for the this platform is close. The only thing that may have an influence on the B1 is the ranchers in Wyoming, Montana and west river South Dakota. The B1 needs targets to keep up the training and ranchers along the practice runs are not so keen on allowing that to continue. A bi-partisan solution may be what could make something work in that regard and that sure as hell would not include the twerp.
Rounds is going to blanket the west river with this as he now sees that east river is a lost cause. Then he will come all out and show his well timed Vietnam veterans campaign hullabaloo in Pierre to say he supports the military and loves him some veterans. All Weiland has to do is remind voters of the strength of having two senators fighting to keep Ellsworth right where it is, one Democrat and one Republican doing their part in keeping the lines open for debate with both parties. South Dakota was fortunate in having that to make sure it stayed open. A Rounds senate seat would guarantee one thing, he would be a wounded duck with no significance whatsoever because of the EB-5. He would likely be indicted for fraud along with other charges so he would not be the senator representing us for very long.
It is just a short hop to Nevada from Ellsworth. B1-Bs could use federal land that Cliven Bundy has usurped for a new target range and keep Bundy's free grazing cattle off gubmint property at the same time. Win/Win.
like iowa where koch bros are pushing early repub voting; SD has koch bros here too, quietly doing their monkey business-B1B full page RCJ ads are likely examples of that influence. DISTRACT/DELAY
Rick Weiland is running for King of Rapid City?
I've known Mike Rounds since 1993 when we first served together in the SD Legislature. That he would lie (make crap up), and obfuscate when called on it, does not surprise me in the least. It's hard for the leopard to change its spots.
To Nick's point, veteran Pierre reporter Bob Mercer offers:
'Every newspaper reader and broadcast listener or viewer in South Dakota deserves the kind of journalism that reporter Denise Ross delivered to the The Mitchell Daily Republic in her story Oct. 17 about a meeting at the state Capitol regarding Northern Beef, EB-5, foreign investors, Joop Bollen, Richard Benda, then-Gov. Mike Rounds and others. The story can be seen here. Here’s is an excerpt that summarizes the story’s mood and tone: “Gov. Rounds has no recollection of this meeting ever taking place,” wrote campaign spokesman Mitch Krebs in an email to The Daily Republic. This is symptomatic of what led Katie Zerr of the Mobridge Tribune newspaper to recently write a hard-hitting commentary about Rounds here.'
http://my605.com/pierrereview/?p=11312
SD politics sure is more entertaining than Vikings football these days. Okay, Nick tell us some Golden Boy Mike stories! Was state politics as corrupted back then? Hey, wasn't the Rounds Hoedown last night?
I'm Mike Rounds and I don't recall whether I approve of this message,but I recall that I made it up. Vote for me so you don't make Sibby weep in sorrow.
Pat Burchill, Ellsworth Development Authority-" no comment, that's not what we do [to our repub sen candidate]." btw, it is likely EAFB B1s are flying right now against ISIS.
Rounds- "we don't fire people over a lawsuit [joop's unauthorized hiding fed lawsuit, preparing defense of state as non-lawyer]."
Chairman Tidemann- "we don not investigate" in response to Wismer's requests for subpoenas and GOAC examination of witnesses.
GOP COVER-UP
Something is rotten in Denmark. Everything is rotten in Pierre.
It is worth noting that GOED did not office in the Capitol and neither did Bollen. But they have nice conference rooms and a nice view at the GOED office. So why was a meeting held at the Capitol building? The obvious answer to this question is that the Governor was there. The meeting was likely held in the Governor's large conference room. I'm sure that Mike Rounds was a good host and showed the investors around the Capitol. Maybe he even had his picture taken with some of them in the Governor's Office? (Yes, of course there is a photo of Rounds with a foreign investor in the Governor's office that is well circulated and used in commercials. Was that photo taken at this meeting, or was there more than one meeting?) Run the photo of Rounds with the Asian guy again Cory! Maybe that will jog Marion's memory.
"I don't recall" is the last resort of cornered scoundrels. It's like a no contest plea in court.
Cory, thanks for following up on this ad, there is a bit more history I would like to add and its misrepresentations.
A few years during one of the election cycles, BRAC supposedly targeted Ellsworth for closing. There was a massive push to "Save Ellsworth" with all South Dakota politicos coming together.
Many of us at the time felt it was a staged fight for Republicans to look pretty, for the most part we were right. With all the Republican drama, Ellsworth was never really targeted for closure.
I was disappointed that my friend, State Senator Bruce Rampleberg is touting the Mike Rounds EAFB lie in the ad, Bruce seems to taking the position that if Rick is elected he'll have to once again lead the charge to "Save Ellsworth".
Following the SDGOP's lawyer's "let's sue 'em" when they don't like something, SDDP needs to sue Mike Rounds.
If the Ellsworth B1-B wing needs targets how about locating and then precision bombing where these scam calls are coming from you know Cardmember Services or Medical Alert that are not legitimate. How about the Cheney Ranch in Wyoming? :)
Call Bruce Rampleberg and tell him Rounds put his name on an easily proved lie. Bruce can stand with the lie, or he can disown the lie. Bruce Rampleberg is not powerless. The choice is his alone.
Patrick Lalley from the Argus Leader will be interviewing Mike Rounds today on 100 Eyes at 3:00pm. Be sure to send in your legitimate EB-5 questions. Lalley usually gets to your questions as long as it's respectful and you have a name (not just 'guest').
The Rapid City Journal contacted Bruce Rampleberg about the ad according to the article in today's (10-21-14) paper. Mr. Rampleberg said he was unfamiliar with the group in the ad and was asked by the Rounds Campaign to give statements which he did. "I was just reporting the facts. If someone asked me what Tim Johnson did, I would say he was supportive as well. But Mike played a special role." It seems he did not know how the statements were to be used.
Let us not forget that Ellsworth ended up on the closure list under a Republican President and just after Thune defeated Daschle.
Roger, suing the media is a loser, I guarantee you. Rick doesn't want to go there. Let the "Rounders" have that desperate foray into the Constitutionally ridiculous all to themselves. :-)
Bill, I was being cynical about suing the Republicans, political lawsuits are futile at best.
Bruce's response to his comments in the ad seemed pretty lame, almost as lame as the ad itself.
Got it Roger. No problem. Sorry not to catch your drift. :-)
Argus interview:
Direct quote from Rounds about him asking GOP PACS to stop running attack ads on his behalf. "You can ask them, but if they do it you're coordinating."
Coordinating with PACs is illegal of course. He's totally exposed Wadhams strategy in baiting Rick to tell his supporting PACs to take their ads down.
Watch whole interview here:
http://www.argusleader.com/story/opinion/100eyes/2014/10/21/mike-rounds-100-eyes/17647487/
EB-5 discussion starts about 17 minutes in.
Rounds starts by sucking up to Montgomery.
Bill, was that an interview or a Lawrence and Schiller infomercial?
These ads are flooding all West River media. I hope the Weiland campaign can get their own ads in the mix, refuting Rounds' claims about Weiland wanting to close Ellsworth, supporting 'Obamacare' at the expense of senior's Medicare, explaining Weiland's position on higher energy costs. I don't know where the Rounds outfit is getting Weiland supports raising taxes. Did I miss something? And there's a reason he opposes Transcanada. Can we please hear it? An aside, it's hard to stomach Noem's ads featuring ranchers saying how she passed the Farm Bill. Ranchers have ONE PARTY to thank for the fact they recovered as well as they did from a disastrous fall blizzard and no Farm Bill in place....the Democrats. Please. Somebody produce some ads. Quick!
Francie,
The Rapid City Journal comment section on this most recent Rounds lie is running heavily against Rounds. People know the truth and it looks likes another Rounds lie is actually hurting Rounds.
Staged is right, Roger. They, GOP. are masters of sales and manipulation.
With Rounds lying the way that he does consistently and constantly, you have to wonder how does he do business in his insurance agency? As this is a reflection of how he wants to present himself, I would not want to do business with that crowd, ever.
Rounds is so shameless. Being shameless is a very bad thing.
Low level training flights over cheny's place sw of casper (there is nobody else out there-except other wyo ranchers), or even above he and his cronies' Jackson mountain mansions, would be appropriate. maybe find some WMDs.
it might shut dick and his daughter -up and remind the billionaire 1%'ers that free military protection of their world wide assets, ain't exactly free.
Hey, Jerry, do those B-1B ISIS bombing runs fly out of Ellsworth?
I get nervous about Jerry's suggestion that Rick neutralize Mike's Ellsworth play by saying South Dakota can better defend Ellsworth with a bipartisan delegation. That argument comes back to bite us in 2016 when we're working to send Brendan or Stephanie or Ryan Casey to join Rick in the Senate. But is it an acceptable argument for the moment?
As the last BRAC hearings proved, when it comes to saving EAFB, it's all-hands-on-deck. It never hurts to encourage parties coming together for a worthy cause, Cory. Losing the base would be an eco-devo disaster for Rapid City. Similar to what will happen in Hot Springs if they lose the VA.
If RC can't survive with a 200 mile radius trade area and no Ellsworth, they don't deserve to. That said, I would hate to see them go as much as anyone. Their proposed MOA's benefit no one locally and all those impacted are told to suck it up and do their part for the country..
.
I can't believe West River will bite on Rounds ads...I saw nothing more than a smilin Mike pic when that was all happening. I see nothing from anyone debunking the ad
Cory, re. your question about where the Lancers are based, it looks like they could be from Dyess and temporarily based in Qatar, assuming these websites are accurate (http://theaviationist.com/2014/09/29/b-roll-b-1-nvg-refuel/ and http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-attacks-islamic-state-in-syria-with-five-middle-east-partners/2014/09/23/b78ad7e8-c8f2-4aa8-aaa7-ec92572f6716_story.html). Also, I have seen B-52s flying around Rapid fairly recently, so I believe Ellsworth is being utilized for multiple weapons platforms.
I read somewhere last week Dyess was the source but there is a lot of activity here, 24/7, i have noticed. 3 yr old looked up today and said there are two (B1Bs), grampa.
Ellsworth has a mission. They send airmen to and from Southeast Asia and other locations all the time. The base is also gearing up for the little fellers, the drones with much activity.
I see some things that make me kind of wonder about it all though. Ranchers are very patriotic and all of that sort of thing, but they are clear they do not want an expanded target zone for the B1's to blow the hell out of. It is disruptive to the livestock as one can imagine as these are low level approaches. Ranchers and farmers are going to probably getting some anxiety over the drones when they start to make more appearances as well. Ranchers and farmers know one thing for certain, Mike Rounds cannot be trusted as an honest broker in any kind of negotiations. All one has to do is look to Benda along with the EB-5 fallout, to see how negotiations can fail.
Rounds didn't do a thing to help Ellsworth in reality, the heavy lifting was done by Janklow, Daschle, Johnson and Thune. Rounds reminds me always of the little twerp that holds your jacket whilst you go mix it up with the big boys and then tries to shine on with the girls on how manly he is. You always have to watch your back when his type is in the picture.
Anyway, are there direct flights now to ISIS from Ellsworth, I would count on it with some airborne refueling along the way. If you are paying attention sometime, you may even be able to see a rendezvous with a tanker over South Dakota, these birds job is to fly and engage, it is not sight seeing nor gathering moss. It does not take so long to get on a squadron on station with that platform anywhere in the world.
Something else Cory, the bi-partisan efforts the keep Ellsworth viable, come at a time that is different than we have ever seen in Washington. We see the republican eager to shut down the government. We see the republican eager to eliminate funding for veterans and only changing things when shamed into doing do what was promised regarding veterans. Which brings me to my point, the republican is all full of blather when it comes to national security, did you hear them on SDPB regarding the borders and all of the rest of the crazy hooey? They would have to fall on their collective swords to deny any further erosion of a bombers base, the next best thing to boots on the ground. Only if there is a consensus of both party's will that keep going. If the republican gets in charge, you can bet they will break the country even further to make it so funding will not be available to keep bases like Ellsworth open. There is only so much moolah China will lend, after that, they will foreclose the deal, even if the EB-5 would be free.
Thanks for the link, GoJacks!
I can certainly see the wisdom of having an air base in South Dakota. Ellsworth isn't far from the North American pole of inaccessibility, meaning the farthest point from any coastline. We're a strategically valuable spot!
But I hear in the Rounds campaign's propaganda (false propaganda, as Senator Johnson points out) a cynical ploy to tie overt patriotism and fears for national security to a greedy, unprincipled grab for government money.
Glad to help, Cory. I think what is most unfortunate to me is that Rounds is employing the politics of fear, despite the blatant inaccuracy of his assertions, because he suspects that it will be effective with some South Dakota voters. Ironically, I think Weiland could counter that with the politics of faith. Not necessarily faith in Rounds' B-1B "archangels," but faith in American/South Dakota ingenuity and a spirit of compromise to adapt to changing needs and demands. For instance, shifting the Lancers from nuclear weapons platforms to conventional bombers or shifting Ellsworth's personnel from nuclear deterrence (whether via the B-1B or Minuteman ICBMs) to the drone support Jerry mentioned.