The Gordon Howie manure spreader is in full fling. The fringe primary challenger claims on his Potemkin-village blog network that he has lined up "prospective candidates contemplating a challenge to Legislators they view as liberal/moderate Republicans" in Districts 9, 14, 30, and 31. Howie fantasizes that he is starting a "conservative revolution"... in South Dakota... which just isn't conservative enough.
Howie's claim sounds as fantastic (i.e., based on pure fantasy) as his claim to have conducted a poll finding darn near everyone agreeing that his fantasies are true. Right now the former state senator is just throwing words around to generate buzz and online contributions. (Auditors, pay attention: it seems there's a fair chance that Gordon's "campaign contributions" could just as easily end up paying his back taxes.)
Howie needs to put up or shut up. He hasn't answered yet whether his minion challengers are in the current districts or the newly drawn districts. But who's out there to challenge:
- District 9 is currently served by Reps. Bob Deelstra and Steve Hickey and Sen. Deb Peters. Wingnut Rep. Lora Hubbel is being banished to that district as well. One would be hard pressed to count any of those four as liberals requiring a challenge from a Howie theocrat.
- District 14 has two Republicans, Sen. Joni Cutler and Rep. R. Shawn Tornow. Cutler may be on the firing line for her poo-pooing of charges of corruption in the Legislature.
- District 30 has three Republicans, Sen. Bruce Rampleberg and Reps. Lance Russell and Mike Verchio. Conservatives Russell and Verchio certainly can't be targets of Howie's ire; did Rampleberg kick someone's dog?
- District 31 fields three GOPers too: Sen. Tom Nelson and Reps. Fred Romkema and Chuck Turbiville. Turbiville is in the wingnuts' crosshairs for blocking Rep. Stace Nelson's demands for openness.
But whom Howie's hounds intend to challenge is less important than whom Howie plans to recruit. Is there any reputable politician who sees Gordon Howie as their ticket to political victory in South Dakota? If Howie has anyone in the chute at all (and until offered substantiation, I'm willing to maintain that Howie is blowing smoke), his candidates are likely to be newcomers and outsiders. They may make some noise, and they may attract some voters with fantasies of turning politics into the circus they hear on Fox News and talk radio. But the threat Howie's candidates would pose to the GOP establishment won't be the possibility of their own victory. It will be the peeling away of a certain small but potent percent of voters that will leave the door open for smart, sane Democrats to win.
To add to your point about "fantasy," Please note the agenda for Howie's Dec 27th meeting. http://www.rightsidesd.com/?p=7439
Agenda:
Representative Lance Russell Repealing Obama Care in South Dakota
Senator Ryan Maher Stop Efforts to Increase SD Sales Tax
Representative Stace Nelson The Truth About Abuse of Power in Pierre
Questions from Attendees
***Have your picture taken with Ronald Reagan***
I know it's the season of miracles, but I don't think President Reagan is returning from the dead any time soon. I suppose its apropos that they'll be using a cardboard cut out that might be more realistic than their ideas.
Howie is kind of the Harold Camping of South Dakota: predicting the end of the world is good business.
http://www.familyradio.com/
WARNING: The agenda link from LK features a dizzying abortion counter on the sidebar. Just read the text above to see what the agenda says.
A "dizzying abortion counter" represents medical services and attorneys' job creation just as the drug war counter does for law enforcement and the judiciary at ip.
Just put 'em in Stace Nelson's jails, right, tara?
Dec. 27: rats! All the cool stuff happens when I'm on the road!
It’s a shame really. These people that claim to idolize President Reagan have so very little in common with the man it’s a wonder they can look at themselves in the mirror each morning. What ever happened to the big tent? There used to be enough room in there for everybody, even those that weren't republicans but almost republicans. The man had some bad faults but he understood that it took everyone in the tent to get anything accomplished. That meant listening to everybody in there not just those on the far right but also moderates and yes even some lefties in the party.
Gordon Howie has a lot of nerve talking about representing the former presidents principles. IF that were the case this group would be trying to communicate better. That isn't happening is it? If that were the case they would be seeking compromise. Don’t see much of that going on.
IF the truth were known Howie and Reagan have about as much in common as Red Cloud and his descendants. Neither would be to proud of what has happened to their people or to their names.
What used to be the Grand Old Party in now just The “gang of peons.â€
The Blindman
Bill,
These guys are neither significant nor Reagan-esqe (Remember Reagan's 11th Commandment to not speak ill of fellow Republicans).
I think this says it better then I ever could. Its an old James Taylor thing that he wrote while he was incarcerated at a mental institution. It must be what Gordon, Stace, Lance and Mike will feel like when they they have to be in Pierre during session.
Just knocking around the zoo on a Thursday afternoon
There's bars on all the windows and they're counting up the spoons
And if I'm feeling edgy there's a chick who's paid to be my slave
But she'll hit me with a needle if she thinks I'm trying to misbehave
Now the keeper's trying to cool me says I'm bound to be alright
But I know that he can't fool me 'cause I'm putting him uptight
And I can feel him getting edgy every time I make a sudden move
And I can hear them celebrating every time I up and leave the room
Now my friends all came to see me they point at me and stare
Said he's just like the rest of us so what's he doing in there
They hide in their movie theaters drinking juice-keeping tight'
Cause they're certain about one thing that zoo's no place to spend the night
Just knocking around the zoo on a Thursday afternoon
There's bars on all the windows and they're counting up the spoons
And if I'm feeling edgy there's a chick who's paid to be my slave
But she'll hit me with a needle if she thinks I'm trying to misbehave
[CAH: thanks, Bill! Here's some audio of Taylor's "Knockin' 'Round the Zoo"]
I almost forgot, I am The Blindman
"These guys are neither significant nor Reagan-esqe (Remember Reagan’s 11th Commandment to not speak ill of fellow Republicans)."
Is that in Genesis? Remember who the VP was, a Skull and Bones from Yale. Who was really calling the shots?
So Steve, you're saying that Howie's folks are worshipping a figurehead? A fake President? Gee, that might fit the thrust of the post.
I would not make the error of using a broad stoke and say they are worshiping anything. I am saying that I do not remember an 11th Commandment while reading the Bible the last couple of years. And I am issuing a warning to Christians that the former VP has issues. After all, he is pals with Bill Clinton. Reagan made a good Christian front for the New World Order, but he was not pulling the strings.
Oh good grief. I try to make your response at least linguistically relevant, and you go off on NWO again. Stop it, stop it, stop it! (And wait: you consider it an error to say that Howie et al. are worshiping a pretty clear and present cardboard cut-out, but you happily accuse me of worshiping a verbal construction, "New Age Theology," of your own imagination? Give us all a break.)
Cory, I do not think that "all" are worshiping the idol of Reagan. Your point may be relevant to some, and for those, may God have mercy. And I have not said that you worship a "New Age Theology". I have said your work plays into and supports those that do. The secular versus Christian fight does not include all you are in the fight.
And did you know that Reagan's VP was a big promoter of the New World Order? Those who are worshiping the idol of Reagan are perhaps more guilty (and cetainly just as guilty) of promoting the New World Order as you.
"So Steve, you’re saying that Howie’s folks are worshipping a figurehead? A fake President? Gee, that might fit the thrust of the post."
OK Cory, I agree..for those who are worshiping the figure of Reagan, yes you have a point. Certainly not something Chirstians should be doing. But please understand that not "all" may be guilty.
Not interested. This is not a NWO question. This is a South Dakota politics question. Get off the clouds and talk about what's actually happening.
Cory, you have promoted South Dakota being a part of the global economy not too long ago. So has the last two GOP governors.
Your anslysis of District 9 is off. Sen. Deb Peters did not score well on the Republican Platform Scorecard. She was third from the bottom at 29%. Deelstra was only 47%.
So who is challenging Deb Peters? Who are the challengers in the other districts?
Cory, have any conservative populist Democrats who we can support in those districts?
I'm busy enough trying to encourage good liberal Democrats. Now, who are Howie's candidates?
Steve,
Just because you claim it is a "Republican Platform Scorecard" doesn't make it so. They scored poorly on your selected issues and interpretation of the Platform. Big difference.
Troy, its not even a scorecard. It's more like "reading the Tea leaves."
"I’m busy enough trying to encourage good liberal Democrats."
Cory, you need to convince the RINOs to switch parties to do that. How are you going to do that? The RINOs have all the money.
Again, Troy and Bill in agreement. Your two conversations over at the SDWC has been interesting.
What brings RINOs and Marxists together? Illegal immigration!
Steve, I was supporting you before you played the race card. Bad dog.
Statehood for Mexico.
larry, what race card? I am also opposed to illegal Europeans. That is where Marxism came from.
It's coming to me: you're angry about the GOP caving in on continuing travel restrictions to Cuba and that the SDGOP is dealing grain to them under the table, right?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70577.html
That explains the loyalty to Howie and Stace Nelson, the 800-pound Fascists in the room.
RT @PPact: personhood petition denied in Nevada:
"District Judge James Wilson granted an injunction that prevents Personhood Nevada from circulating its petition. The decision came after a 45-minute hearing during which Personhood lawyer Gary Kreep repeatedly failed to state the purpose of the petition."