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That SF Paper Changes Headline from “Benda Misled” to “Rounds Knew”

The Washington Post has already picked up today's big story about Mike Rounds's admission that he knew his economic development chief Richard Benda was planning to cash in on the EB-5 funded Northern Beef Packers project that he and Rounds had promoted and did not question that conflict of interest. "New Development in Scandal Dogging Mike Rounds Could Spell More Trouble," headlines WaPo for all those national readers and potential donors. Dogging... more trouble... thank you, sir, may I please have another?

But now I see why some of my readers were initially so grouchy about that Sioux Falls paper's coverage of the story. The original headline posted online overnight* and on the printed front page is "Benda 'Misled' Me, Says Rounds."

That Sioux Falls paper, clip from front page of print edition, 2014.10.22
That Sioux Falls paper, clip from front page of print edition, 2014.10.22

At some point this morning, the editorial board realized the bigger story was not Rounds's continued effort to blame the dead guy (on the first anniversary of Governor Dennis Daugaard's get-ahead-of-the-story announcement that Richard Benda had been found dead of a gunshot wound), but Rounds's admission of silent complicity in Benda's (and Bollen's!) $550,000 gambit. "Rounds knew of Benda conflict in final days of term," reads the updated headline.

Dear readers, I'm interested to hear what you think of that Sioux Falls paper's evolving editorial position on this story.

Bonus Legs: As October Surprises keep rolling, KELO's Ben Dunsmoor wakes up and offers a one-sentence scoop: the FBI is still investigating South Dakota's EB-5 program.

*Update 17:08 CDT: Mr. Montgomery tells me the web headline hasn't changed since posted the story to his blog section of the paper's website last night. But just after midnight, someone at the copy desk posted the Benda-focused headline:

Earlier online headline, screen cap of Google Cache version of Montgomery's Rounds-Benda story, 2014.10.22 00:24 CDT
Earlier online headline, screen cap of Google Cache version of Montgomery's Rounds-Benda story, 2014.10.22 00:24 CDT

That's the version folks were sending me at breakfast. That online version has gone poof, leaving only the print world thinking the main point of the story is that Benda was naughty.

77 Comments

  1. Bill Fleming 2014.10.22

    p.s. Cory I'm not so sure that the "Paper Whose Name Must Not Be Mentioned" really changed anything. That link goes to Monty's "Smokeout" blog, and I believe that's the headline he used all along. (...is it okay to type the word "Smokeout"? ;-)

  2. 96Tears 2014.10.22

    So far, there is no editorial position on it, Cory. While the Watertown Public Opinion, Rapid City Journal, Pierre Capital Journal, Yankton Press & Dakotan and the Aberdeen American News slapped the GOAC for attempting to silence critics of the Rounds Racketeering Scam, the Argus editorial board said nothing. Some of the papers listed above have sounded off on the fiscal shenanigans during the Rounds/Daugaard administrations at other points, but the Argus editorial Board said nothing. The Argus got scooped by a brave editor at the weekly Mobridge Tribune, but the Argus editorial staff still does not speak to power.

    This is the biggest government corruption story in South Dakota since South Dakota's first Governor discovered the State Treasurer took off to Mexico with most of the state's treasury. It should be the basis for a Pulitzer Prize in any state, and will undoubtedly be the last opportunity for any professional news reporter to qualify for the Pulitzer. Alas, the Argus is not in the business of journalism. It sells ads, including its front page, to a dwindling customer base. No wonder its staff doesn't have the work ethic to challenge the Pierre power base and the local Chamber right wingers.

    Ironically enough, Gov. Daugaard opined on the theft and Mellette's incorruptible personality in a column for this year's 125th state anniversary. Governor Mellette went back to work after serving two terms as the last territorial governor and two terms as the first elected governor. He died dead broke trying to pay back the State Treasury for money he had nothing to do with stealing.

    If only Daugaard and his boss Rounds could take that message to heart. Mike would have the decency to resign his candidacy and make amends to every citizen he betrayed with his culpability.

    http://can.stparchive.com/Archive/CAN/CAN08152013P04.php

    Earlier, Daugaard's son-in-law, hatchet man and top aide Tony Venhuizen also wrote about the Mellette example. Again, if only these guys had the personal integrity to live up to a man like Arthur Calvin Mellette.

    Here's a snippet: "Humiliated and impoverished, he left for Pittsburg, Kansas, where he opened a law practice. Three years later, Mellette died in Kansas at the age of 53. He had the shortest lifespan of any governor who died of natural causes."

    http://trailofgovernors.com/arthur-mellette-bio.htm

    Do you think Tony ghost wrote the first piece and put daddy Daugaard's signature on it?

  3. scott 2014.10.22

    Of course, it's the print edition that people will remember.

  4. South DaCola 2014.10.22

    Once the layoffs commence at 10th & Minnesota, it really doesn't matter. When your copy desk and design department are in another state, what do you expect?

  5. twuecker 2014.10.22

    Bill, I think the bigger and more obvious change is between the pictured front-page headline and the blog headline. I'm not able to prove the same "Benda 'misled' me ..." headline went anywhere online (maybe CAH is?), but it's definitely clear the print version went for the "poor Mike got duped by the dead-guy" storyline (which, btw, is not actually a major portion of Montgomery's reporting at all) at press time. Somewhere between press and (web)post, they wised up and made the headline match the article.

  6. Bill Fleming 2014.10.22

    I remember when I used to have pals working at the RCJ and how some of them got really torked when their editor rewrote their perfectly good headlines. I bet Monty is a little steamed about this one. He basically ends up getting his own (potentially) hard-hitting story scooped by a blogger at the WaPo. All because of that *#ç%^@& headline guy.

    Ouch.

  7. Bill Fleming 2014.10.22

    twecker, yes, I read Monty's blog story before I saw the photo, and his headline was as it is now. (It was way early this morning, maybe around 4:00 am? ...I know...don't ask...) Looks to me from what I can see in the photo of the dead-tree version's lede, the copy is the same, just the headline has changed.

  8. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.10.22

    Indeed! Check my update and screen cap above. It appears Monty posted the "Rounds Knew..." headline first, but someone at the copy desk pulled the story over and put the "Benda 'Misled'..." headline (with a slightly different ending from the print version) online just after midnight. That copy-desk version disappeared by my breakfast time.

  9. Bill Fleming 2014.10.22

    "twuecker" ...sorry

  10. Bill Fleming 2014.10.22

    Very interesting.
    Cross-platform politics wars in the newsroom.
    Whooda thunk it?

  11. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    Cory, You wrote, "Dear readers, I'm interested to hear what you think of that Sioux Falls paper's evolving editorial position on this story."

    Certainly you don't want me to write on Madville my opinion of the AL and their editorial staff, after the way they have shunned any letter to the editor mentions that are too tough on the Senate candidate and Governor who are both on the wrong side of economic development.

    Suffice it to say, that since I cancelled the paper two weeks ago, when I got the on line edition Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri and Saturday and the print edition on Thurs and Sunday, the only thing I regret is that I no longer have anthing to wrap the fish guts in when I go fishing.

  12. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    The new updated on line headline is: Rounds says he didn't approve $600K for beef plant

  13. John Hess 2014.10.22

    Yahoo is carrying an article titled: Late-Breaking Scandal Could Shake Up SD Senate Race. Many of those leaving comments (obviously from out of state) think something stinks because the story just broke.

  14. lesliengland 2014.10.22

    1. rounds and sdgop claim "8 separate independent agencies have investigated...and all audit recommendations have been implemented" except that damned federal agency in charge of EB5 AND THE FBI are not finished. time to take down those campaign ads.

    2. Also, "rounds knew benda was going to work for an 'investor.'" what does investor mean?

    3. and "SDRC, Inc., [who benda came to work for, and Joop was its Director] was succeeded by private SDRC [owned by Joop and someone else-atty Parker?]". what does that mean?

    4. who was the board (and how does it figure in this scenario) and who was its chairman that ok'd the $650k, loan, that benda also signed for to get the modification of agreement that would fund his $550,000 salary from Joop and his partner (and who determined this salary)?

    5. where was this check deposited, was Joop maintaining it in trust or earning interest on this state money (characterized as NBP money) on behalf of the state to pay this private employee?

    6. why did the audit conclude this was private, not state business; and why isn't Daugaard demanding
    accountability from every weak link in the chain of this long line of frauds?

  15. Dave Baumeister 2014.10.22

    THe "Benda misled me" headline has a far more damaging implication than "Rounds knew." Anyone can spin "Rounds knew" ("Yeah, I knew, BUT…"). However, for a mentally ill person (*) to be able to "mislead" the governor and would-be Senator has much larger consequences. Even a mentally healthy employee shouldn't be able to trick a sitting governor, theoretically. That really speaks to Rounds' credibility. AND the spin doctors can't do much to that. However, most people who read headlines know they don't always reflect the story they grace accurately, but are intended as teasers, only. (*For a healthy person to commit suicide, he has to be mentally ill. In general, people associate Benda with suicide.) As to Lanny's last comment and the new headline, it gets worse. How inept does a governor have to be to allow over half a million to be spent on his watch with no oversight?

  16. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.22

    As the late great editor of the Washington Post Ben Bradley would say at this point of the scandal, "When in the hell is somebody going to go on the record"?
    The record in this case is the missing investment and state grant dollars awarded to Northern Beef Packers and the additional $120-$140 million that Mike Rounds allowed Joop Bollen to steal from the state.

  17. Jana 2014.10.22

    Follow the money from the inception of South Dakota Certified Beef up to today. Who made money, who is quiet now and who is making noise.

    How many GOP officials and operatives fall under this umbrella?

    Sincerely,

    Ben Bradley's ghost.

  18. Jana 2014.10.22

    Ben Bradley quotes that seem relevant today...and tomorrow.

    "You never monkey with the truth."

    "Those [Watergate] tapes are going to take me to my grave with a huge smile on my face."

    "If an investigative reporter finds out that someone has been robbing the store, that may be 'gotcha' journalism, but it's also good journalism."

    "As long as a journalist tells the truth, in conscience and fairness, it is not his job to worry about consequences. The truth is never as dangerous as a lie in the long run. I truly believe the truth sets men free."

    Wishing the people in the media nothing but good things.

  19. Jana 2014.10.22

    Paging Mr. Duffy...Mr. Duffy...

    Hello good sir, your cause and your audience awaits.

    You were way ahead of the game.

  20. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    KELO is broadcasting the Governor's debate and has put EB-5 off limits.

  21. Jana 2014.10.22

    The debate...or giving the candidates a time slot to make their statements...is interesting.

    DD just talked about how his free market philosophy is behind his commitment of millions to train workers for Trail King welders.

    And then he uses that same free market to say no to the minimum wage. He then says emphatically that there are very few minimum wage jobs in SD.

    Governor...remember the photo ops in Brooking boasting about your giving taxpayer money to a foreign cheese factory? And that little publicly traded company that prefers to pay higher taxes in Minnesota...and amazingly still survives?

    DD, you are a phony! The taxpayer money you gave those companies is not the free market. It's you choosing winners and losers with taxpayer dollars.

  22. Bill Fleming 2014.10.22

    Oh for crying out loud.

  23. Jana 2014.10.22

    KELO is now doing a followup, after the debate, on the EB-5 subject.

    Just asked the question how the candidates would prevent this from happening again.

    DD is fidgeting a little...hope the moderators get the chance to follow up with the candidates.

  24. Jana 2014.10.22

    DD now ready to talk about Obamacare...do we need our own healthcare exchange?

    Wismer points out how the state website discourages people from applying for ACA and the exchange.

    DD is not a fan, but recognizes that it is the law of the land. HE chose to take a pass at helping the citizens because we are so small. He did spend money on a study and consultants though...so sorry sick people, he saw a better place to spend the money.

  25. Jana 2014.10.22

    DD on not expanding medicaid...saying medicare and SS on the road to bankruptcy.

    Then it's the cost.

    Go Wismer in saying that DD is too lazy to do the paperwork.

  26. Jana 2014.10.22

    DD in closing remarks says that the nations media is seeing the good about SD. He must have missed the EB-5 stuff. Failed to mention 7th worst for women and last in education.

    Mike Meyers is simply a distraction. I wish it were different.

    Wismer goes into childhood story rather than going for the throat.

    Finally she gets to the issues of nursing homes and bridges...extends the neglect to the future generations...but alack and alas...not enough.

  27. Jenny 2014.10.22

    I know, Jana. Who the hell is Daugaard kidding? The nation is seeing the good in SD? LOL! Eb-5 corruption, anti-gay bills, and racism is what is making the headlines about South Dakota.

  28. Steve Sibson 2014.10.22

    "Go Wismer in saying that DD is too lazy to do the paperwork."

    That was really a stupid thing to say. Very sad debate. No one mentioned that EB-5 is just an example of a bigger problem in state government...the legalization of public/private partnerships. The Democrats are doing a lot of whining, but they have no solutions. All they want is to win an election. And vote for a woman because South Dakota hates women is not going to fly. Result: four more years of Daugaard.

  29. Francis Schaffer 2014.10.22

    You have got to be kidding about the EB-5, tell it wasn't so. I suppose they couldn't ask questions about the math and science teacher openings that still exists. I suppose DD talked about our greatest asset being the youth and their education, I wish he would shut up and prove it.

  30. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.22

    What is it with SD Republicans? When it comes to minimum wage and medical for the poor and working poor they claim the solution is the free market and that laws like that are socialism and they cost too much.
    Yet where the free market truly applies is in business and industry, than there is the big But. They travel to China, North Korea and other countries to find investors in their big business pipe dreams, the governor blindly hands out Future Fund grants and REDI Fund loans to help business.
    If Republicans were true believers in the free market, there would be no GOED, there would be no EB-5, there would be no Future Fund, and there would no REDI Fund to serve their friends and cronies.
    If the free market could support Northern Beef Packers it would have been built independently of state government.

  31. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    Jana, Your comment above at Jana2014.10.22 AT 20:33 nailed it.
    That is the crux of the entire problem with South Dakota State government. They/we have learned our lesson well socialize the crap and privatize what is good about our country and our State. Of course that is how we live. Like Daugaard saying we are a small state so it would be hard for us to set up our own exchange, so we will use the Fed's exchange.

    The economic development projects in which we have pissed away our tax dollars, that should have gone for education and infrastructure is absolutely criminal.

  32. Jana 2014.10.22

    DD did just say that we have 160,000 in South Dakota are currently enrolled in Medicaid. He almost sounded proud of that when he talked about his ideological opposition to expanding Medicaid.

    Seriously Governor...18% of the people of South Dakota qualify for national taxpayer funded healthcare because they are impoverished and you can still say you have done good things for the economy!!!!

    DD, did you notice I said national...that's right Governor Free Rider...you have failed miserably.

    You are a welfare governor living in a mansion, paid for by the people of South Dakota. You are no better than Ronald Reagan's imaginary welfare queen driving a Cadillac.

    You are the king of some of the poorest counties in the country, a malnourished education system and crow like the rooster who is pretty sure he made the sun rise.

    You were the #2 man in South Dakota and heir apparent, then you were shocked we had a structural deficit?

    You were the #2 man in South Dakota and had no idea about the fraud and malfeasance embroiling the GOED/EB-5/Northern Beef?

    What the hell were you doing? Handing out favors to friends? Oh, sorry...everyone knew that one.

    Governor, use some of that time fixing the taxpayer funded Governor's mansion and use some of that elbow grease to wipe that rose color off of your glasses.

    I know that when the voters rejected your GOED slush fund you called us ignorant...well, we're not.

    You may win, but dignity for everyone will have been lost until you honestly address the issues from the perspective of all citizens and not just your friends and your slavish commitment to ideology and the quest to perfect nepotism.

  33. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    Doggone it Jana, I wish you had been up their debating that mealy mouthed turkey. Did you notice how everytime he answered a question he leaned back with his head a good foot behind his waistline, like he was being defensive?

  34. Donald Pay 2014.10.22

    Gosh, I actually agree with Sibby on something. I've always thought "public-private partnerships," even when they start out being mutually beneficial, tend over time toward corruption and crony capitalism. I always thought these "partnerships" were just a way to get around the bidding process, which is supposed to protect the taxpayer while giving competing businesses a fair shot at competing for the work. It's also a way to keep government work secret from the press and the public, although South Dakota's sunshine laws are extremely weak anyway. Daugaard's shale research for a planned nuclear waste dump is one of these public-private partnerships.

  35. Jana 2014.10.22

    I'm not quite TV material Lanny, but thanks.

    If I were one of the "moderators" I would have been rude enough to ask how he came to the decision to invest $5 million in a foreign company controlled dairy plant rather than invest $5 million in local companies to expand their markets.

    I would have asked about the failed $5 million Manpower pet project to bring welders to Trail King...(GOP Free Market stuff) rather than spend that $5 Million on educating more welders than we know what to do with. (Do the math Governor...how many kids would have their welding degrees and agree to work in SD for 5 years in exchange for a free education...hmm....didn't think of that one did you...or did you?)

    Here's the answer...5,000!

  36. Steve Sibson 2014.10.22

    "If Republicans were true believers in the free market, there would be no GOED, there would be no EB-5, there would be no Future Fund, and there would no REDI Fund to serve their friends and cronies."

    That is right Roger. That is why they need you Democrats to help build the government programs that feed them money. Medicaid is to help feed the corporate medical establishment. Obamacare is to give the power of control of doctors to the corporate medical establishment. Republicans are only playing to their base when they say they are against Medicaid and Obamacare. Likewise the Democrat's role is to play to their deceived followers that government is their friend. The ruling elite control both parties.

  37. Jana 2014.10.22

    Ewwps. 500...I was using Mike Rounds KXL employment math...but my numbers were closer.

    How many welders did you recruit to take jobs from South Dakotans with your investment? That's what I thought.

  38. Connie Mogen 2014.10.22

    Roger, you have nailed the hypocrisy of Republicans to a "T". They talk about free market when it keeps wages, etc. low for poor and middle class people but completely forget it when it comes to helping growth in big companies. Hope people are waking up!

  39. Steve Sibson 2014.10.22

    "You may win, but dignity for everyone will have been lost until you honestly address the issues from the perspective of all citizens and not just your friends and your slavish commitment to ideology and the quest to perfect nepotism."

    And Wismer has a plan the fix that? I still waiting to hear about it.

  40. Jana 2014.10.22

    Uh oh...Sibby put the "Rabbit Hole 4 Sale" sign up again.

    Not buying it Sibby.

  41. Jana 2014.10.22

    Governor Daugaard, when Mike Rounds gets rid of the EPA and the Department of Education, how much will you have to increase state government by to cover the loss?

    I'd watch that Rounds guy if I were you...he's willy nilly writing checks that you have to cover.

    Wait...what? He's already done that to you? Ewwps.

    Looking forward to your endorsement and explaining why. No fair using empty platitudes.

  42. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.10.22

    John—late-breaking? Oh, the national press. They still don't get it.

  43. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.10.22

    EB-5 off limits? Seriously, after KELO breaks the story that the FBI is still investigating EB-5?

  44. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.22

    Steve,
    Medicaid, Obamacare, Medicaid Expansion are providing a service to select groups of people that can't afford healthcare insurance.
    Someone is going to gain financially whether it be doctors, hospitals, insurance companies or big pharma, good for them.
    The people that need medical attention should be able to get health insurance to cover their needs, good for them.
    The state says a big NO to anything that may help the poor claiming they don't have the money or it would be a bad investment.
    Grow up Republicans and quit pissing away our money on failed economic development projects that are none of your business.

  45. Jana 2014.10.22

    Cory, the EB-5 censorship may have been because Lawrence thundered at them...

  46. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.22

    Cory,
    Absolutely correct, the national media is missing the heart beat of this scandal, and that is the money.
    EB-5 isn't inclusive to what did Mike Rounds and when did he know it, it is not about the BOR/Darly arbitration or the Richard Benda suicide, these are mere footnotes to the scandal.
    Where's the damn money?

  47. Donald Pay 2014.10.22

    Steve,

    I recall many Democrats in the Legislature voting against setting up many of these slush funds. They particularly thought GOED was a bad idea. Once these slush funds are set up they go through the normal budget process.

    States are not required to have a Medicaid program, so any state can turn down the federal money and disband the program. Many Republicans supported the Medicaid program because it provided federal funding assistance to what had been a completely state funded program to provide medical assistance to the poor.

    It does help to understand the history of these programs before you spout off about them.

  48. Jana 2014.10.22

    OMG Cory!!!

    KELOLAND is running a story about citizens asking the candidates questions and ran with one from an everyday citizen named Issac Latterell. He sounds important and is a technology consultant...must be very smart.

    Here's his question.

    "What are you going to do to help with some of the federal overreach that's happening, and also, all of the out of control spending we see in Washington, D.C.?"

    http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/voters-ask-gubernatorial-candidates-questions/?id=170965

    When he throws that 'and also' in there he sounds sooo much like that intellectual giant Sarah Palin.

    Seriously KELOLAND??? You actually posted a question from a GOP neanderthal legislator? Wow...can't believe you let Issac punk you like that.

    So Issac...did you hear that question in a little pillow talk with that sweet little Sarah Palin/Michelle Bachmann wannabe Jenna?

    You two haven't started any brawls at birthday parties have you?

  49. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.10.22

    What a farce, Jana. Disgusting that KELO can't vet those questions and identify party players. When do I get my equal time?

  50. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.10.22

    So clarify for me: did they actually say, on air, No EB-5 questions? Who said it?

  51. Jana 2014.10.22

    Ok KELOLAND, you can get back at Issac for punking you. Ask him if it's true that Jenna can pray the gay away...I triple dog dare you.

  52. JeniW 2014.10.22

    Roger, I wonder if Gov. Duagaard would be willing to look someone in the eye who cannot afford health insurance, and tell him or her, "You are not good enough to deserve health care, so if you are in pain, suck it up, and learn to live with it."

    Back on topic, because "100 Eyes" is never captioned, I always bypass it.

  53. Jana 2014.10.22

    Lanny? KELOLAND?

  54. Jana 2014.10.22

    Wismer campaign?

  55. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    Cory, As they were going to their first break, I got up from in front of my TV to run to my computer and heard the guy, not Angela say, no questions on EB-5, but then later as they got further into the discussion, (not debate) the subject of EB-5 in questions from KELO but none of the candidates challenged each other on the subject. So not exactly sure what was meant by that first, "no questions on EB-5."

  56. grudznick 2014.10.22

    I seriously doubt that this Mr. Latterell fellow and that young representative Ms. Hagar are having pillow talk. That is just specious and casts doubt on the young lady's character.

  57. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    Hey Grudz, Hows about I cast some doubt on her character. When she comes back from Pierre when the legislature is in session, she reports in at Dr Unruh's office and it is not get a chiropractic adjustment.

  58. grudznick 2014.10.22

    That would be fine, Mr. Stricherz. I don't really understand what that means or why the young lady needs a chiropractic adjustment and that should not be public information. I would hesitate to call chiropractic stuff as doctor/patient relationships because I don't believe in that hoodoo stuff with needles and bone cracking. That's just me and I can't argue the benefits of those "treatments" or how good this Dr. Unhruh is at needling and bone cracking.

  59. grudznick 2014.10.22

    You made up this "Dr. Unhruh" didn't you, Mr. Stricherz? That is just a name you made up to get my goat. Good on you. You got me.

  60. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    One of the statements that GOvernor DD made was that the state does not control how or what the teachers are paid, the school boards do. But of course that statement is specious. When the legislature froze property taxes, and forced local governments including municipal, county and school districts to opt out if they wanted to increase property tax, they put the fix in for those with more property. They also made it hard on the school districts and the counties to meet their obligations because that is their source of funding to do their job.

    I may have posted this on here before. When Joy Smolinsky of the South Dakota Budget and Policy Project held her recent series of meetings on teacher pay, primarily, I attended the one here in SF. I suggested that with a mill levy of about 18.75 if we raised it by a buck and gave two bits to the county government and 75 cents to the school district, we could go a long way toward getting both of these government entities into being able to do their job. That would be about an overall increase in property taxes.

    Susan Wismer made the point that the Governor is being less than truthful when he states that the State has increased its funding of education back to the levels that it was before the cuts in the 2012 fiscal year budget.

  61. 96Tears 2014.10.22

    KELO is the broadcast version of the Argus. Both are shallow. Both are sold out. Other than Bob Mercer and Denise Ross, there is no free press in South Dakota.

  62. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    Whoops getting late. An overall increase in property taxes of 5%.

  63. jana 2014.10.22

    Sorry to say Grud. Lanny is correct on your Sarah Palin wannabe partisan princess Jenna.

  64. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.22

    If you don't know who Dr Unruh is Grudz, you must be a communist. You couldn't possibly be a Republican. And please adjust your glasses. I said she did NOT go there to get a chiropractic adjustment. I was implying that she went there to report in on the good work she had done that week in the legislature and to get her instructions for what she needed to do the following week. You probably should invest in a GPS, too, Grudz.

  65. grudznick 2014.10.22

    I'm sorry sir. I am not a communist, despite your assertions. You seem insaner than most this evening.

  66. grudznick 2014.10.22

    Mr. Stricherz, are you saying you have a GPS tracking device in that young lady's car and you track her to this bone-cracker's office where you sit outside and smoke funny cigarettes and let your mind wander about what is going on?

    Because that's what I am taking away from your comments. You are some sort of stacker, I think the call it. You are stacking this young woman.

  67. Jane 2014.10.23

    How does a liquor store clerk from Griffin GA manage to acquire multiple luxury homes, multiple rental properties, donate ancient artifacts to university, take trips around the world? Who knows many he won the EB-5 goldmine?

  68. Lanny V Stricherz 2014.10.23

    The word is stalker Grudz and no I am not a stalker. When I was still driving, I was in the repair shop where I used to get work done on my car, a place called Zitterich motors. The young lady, as you call her came in and wanted to know how long it would take to get her car fixed. She was going over to the doctor's office to see Dr Unruh.

    As far as the GPS, I was referring to your response to someone who said that you were down to Pringle or out somewhere giving the squirrels or some other furry animal heck and got lost when you missed your luncheon date. I presupposed that you were starting to have the same types of problems that all of us older people have losing memory and or direction. If that is not the case, I suppose you could use it for the purpose that you supposed I was using it for, but as I said before, I no longer drive.

  69. Jane 2014.10.23

    And its Park, James Park....

  70. grudznick 2014.10.23

    I don't drive either, Mr. Stricherz. So I understand. I don't know what the crazy people talking about me eating breakfast in Pringle is all about and shooting squrriels. I think you might be having delusions. My granddaughter has not taken me to breakfast in Pringle in years. I don't even think there is breakfast in Pringle. You are insaner than most, sir. And if you could see me you would understand why I don't drive.

    Sorry for using the wrong words, but you just keep on stalking the young lady or not stacking her as you desire. It does not matter to your story other than you claim I have been shooting squirrels in Pringle and there is some bone-cracking going on that I really do not understand the fitting in with all this other stuff about E-B5.

    Frankly and bluntly, sir, I have a hard time believing that a young lady who was born well after my own granddaughter was born could have been involved in this charade people claim about that goes back years. 8 years? 14 years? That young lady in your stacking bloggings would have been about 8 or 10 years old.

    That, sir, is insaner than Sibby's stepsister.

  71. Bill Fleming 2014.10.23

    Lanny, pretty sure grudz think GPS stands for Gopher Poking Stick. (When he thinks, that is.)

    And the word 'stacker' describes him to a tee.

  72. lesliengland 2014.10.23

    VOX.COM 10.10.14 brainiac ezra klein goes deep on EB5 background in SD. there is a "diversity" visa limited to 40,000 a year, an "investor" visa for the rich, and so it maybe that SDRC Inc visas are limited per year too, so joop's extra fees may have constituted an 'AUCTION'.

  73. Douglas Wiken 2014.10.23

    Roger's comments on GOP hypocrisy regarding government intrusions for benefit of rich, but not for aiding poor and unfortunate sums up excellently a primary basis for acute cynicism about GOP values.

  74. Roger Cornelius 2014.10.23

    Thanks Doug, and than you add crony capitalism corruption to the Republicans perverted twist of the free market system and you have the complete definition of the party.

  75. Jane 2014.10.24

    Leslie, would not be surprised if auction bidding to manipulate the que would not surprise me in the least.

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