Last updated on 2013.12.07
The Reverend Representative Steve Hickey (R-9/Sioux Falls) makes two big blog splashes in 24 hours, bidding for blog attention and party leadership. I like the Rev. Rep. Steve as a blog adversary and as an occasional voice of reason amidst the theocratic din (he has assured me he rejects theocracy... but that's just what a theocrat would say to disarm an atheist's opposition, isn't it? ;-) ). I do not wish to stir up personal malice, but I pose this question: are Hickey's fresh pokes at the powers (and Powers) that be bids to better serve the public or gambits to boost his own ambition?
Exhibit 1: Pastor Steve makes a move to fill the void left by Dakota War College. The good Republican raises a deliciously disdainful eyebrow at the suspicious silence of the former leading voice of the South Dakota conservative blogosphere:
This afternoon I called 911 and filed a missing person report. Bill Clay of Dakota War College has been missing for over a week. Of course the police wanted a detailed description and I didn't have much to offer them as, of course, Bill Clay remains a mystery person to most of us.
...Hopefully we'll hear something soon about the future of DWC. Unfortunately the longer we wait, the more we wonder how tied DWC still was to our friends in the Secretary of State's office. We can hope for the best [Rev. Rep. Steve Hickey, "Why Is Bill Clay on My Milk Carton?" Voices Carry, 2012.06.24].
Rep. Hickey alludes to the growing controversy over the partisan political activities of DWC owner Pat Powers and his impeachable patron and boss, Secretary of State Jason Gant. Said controversy is reaching the national headlines, yet the anonymous party mouthpieces at DWC have no comment on that major news story for eight days.
Rep. Hickey deems DWC to be on life support, praises reporter David Montgomery for his diligent convention coverage, then signals that he will offer some blog posts in coming days to help fill the conservative blogosphere void.
Now is Rep. Hickey looking to draw some of DWC's blog traffic to his site? I honestly wouldn't mind if he did. Steve blogs more intelligently and substantively than "Bill Clay." He allows more open debate in his comment section: I can't recall his censoring any of my comments on his blog, and he openly engages folks in my comment section and elsewhere. "Bill Clay" and the DWC management have been censoring my comments and others' left and right lately, and with the exception of Troy Jones, the DWC authors hide completely within their own shell, hardly engaging folks in their own comment section, let alone venturing out to engage the other participants in the blogosphere on their own turf.
Rep. Hickey mistakenly suggests that Gordon Howie's Potemkin-blog village has already sucked up the conservative blog traffic. A look at the barren comment sections on Howie's blogs dispels that notion. Howie, Randazzo, and their occasional guests blog poorly, with few if any hyperlinks, a nearly impenetrable comment filter, and posts composed almost entirely of propaganda to the exclusion of information and analysis. If Rep. Hickey returns to regular blogging, he will beat Howie's fake blogroll traffic almost immediately.
Exhibit 2: Rep. Hickey guns for Assistant Majority Leader. In his second Sunday blog post, Rep. Hickey says he wants Rep. Justin Cronin's (R-23/Gettysburg) job in the House leadership. He says he has the respect of various party factions and can serve his caucus and his constituents well from this leadership position.
Now I'm not as familiar with the caucus leadership battles as others, but it seems awfully early for candidates to publicly jockey for those positions. Hickey's bid appears to be prompted by the Ed Randazzo flyer distributed in criticism of House leaders Cronin, Lust, and Gosch at the state GOP convention this weekend. Hickey is perhaps also responding to the ruckus raised by the rank and file in floor debate on the platform at convention.
Rep. Hickey has straddled some fence this year, wavering but then supporting the Governor's disastrous agenda for public education. The conservative pastor has criticized the various "report cards" issued by groups who think the South Dakota Republican Party isn't sufficiently Christian or conservative. But now he's tacking in a slightly different direction, offering himself to the party insurgents who want to shake up the leadership.
Of his bid for leadership, Hickey humbly says, "If I win great, if not that's great too. My identity is not wrapped up in any of this. If I can serve in greater ways, that's what I want to do."
If we take Rep. Hickey's words to mean exactly what they say, the good reverend is simply looking for ways to serve voters and blogosphere readers in the best way he can. Advancing a cause requires reaching the people and gaining power. Sucking up Dakota War College's abandoned readership and seeking a party leadership position are valid routes to such goals.
The various Republican rucki offer the good Hickey and any sharp politico opportunities to advance in the blogosphere and the party. It is interesting to see Rev. Rep. Hickey make the first move in seeking a step up in both realms right out of convention. I look forward to the ensuing psychoanalysis of his motives and his chances for shaping the public and partisan spheres.
Okay, I'll go first: Napolean complex co-morbid with narcissistic personality disorder presenting as capitalist/redeemer figure.
as in napoli, get it?
"He says he has the respect of various party factions and can serve his caucus and his constituents well from this leadership position."
He has lost the respect on the conservative side of the fence by refusing to be held accountable to the SDGOP platform, and instead attack those conservatives who are working hard to expose the liberal agenda of the SDGOP Establishment. He was just as absent as Bill Clay when it came time to address the platform during the convention. The leadership we need are those who are willing to fight for the conservative principles found in the platform, willing to be held accountable to those principles, and not throw those principles under the bus in order to gain the graces of the RINOs who are currently running the SDGOP for the purpose of gaining dominion. For more, see this:
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/8/26/193314/769
Cory, your tweet yesterday implying I'm driven by selfish ambition prompts me to say: not running for a second term is a real temptation for me when I starting thinking about putting myself first. Running in my case has nothing to do with selfish ambition. If I'm there, I'm going to contribute and that's why aiming higher than "Whip" interests me. As was discussed earlier on your blog, people have trouble distinguishing between self-confidence and ego or arrogance. The people who know me don't label me with the latter. My wife thinks I made a mistake posting the Assistant Majority Leader news as the only people I need to talk to about this are members of the Republican House. Maybe she's right. No one gave me a manual for how to do this right. House leaders have known what I was thinking back in March and they know I don't oppose them.
I believe Mr. Hickey should run for Majority Leader. He responds quickly to questions, is accessible to the public via his blog and facebook page, and has a sense of humor.
By the way, when was David Lust's last post?
Very interesting statement Rep. Hickey, so you approve of Speaker Val Rausch's corrupt removal of myself from the Ag Committee for nefarious political purposes? You approve of leadership tampering & obstructing other legislators' confidential bill research? You approve of them lying to the media and the caucus and claiming I threated Rep. Nick Moser? You approve of House "Republican Leadership" telling caucus members that Rep. Russell and I were not welcome in the Republican Caucus and that if members didn't like it "there is the door?" etc., etc.
Do you approve of anonymous cowardly letters being put in your House floor neighbors' desk?
How about of Rep. Munsterman drafting a written motion to have me subjected to a House hearing to have me thrown out of the legislature for the known concocted claim I threatened Nick Moser?
How about of Rep. Lust verbally attacking a committee witness for daring to repeat what that he witnessed in LRC when Reuban told me that Lust, Rausch, Gosch, & Cronin in FACT were tampering with & obstructing confidential research?
Stace, you well know I have another view on all those matters and I had a front row seat for them. Time to move on. Are you planning on bringing all that into the 2013 session?
Mr. Nelson, did you or did you not threaten Mr. Moser with death by cannibalism? As in "I will eat you alive." Time to stop playing poor-me games, Stace. The only people it impresses are other whiners like yourself.
Humor and accessibility: good points, Thad!
Rep. Hickey,
What is your view on each of the things Rep. Nelson mentioned? Was his ag committee removal appropriate? Did leadership, or did they not, tamper with legislators' bill research? Did Rep. Nelson threaten Rep. PeeWee Herman, er, Moser? Was kicking Rep. Russell & Rep. Nelson out of caucus appropriate, and if so why? Is Rep. Lust taking after a committee witness appropriate, and if so why?
Now is your chance to offer specifics rather than vague generalities. Do you side with power or with truth?
Side with power or truth? Please. Who's truth? Stace's version? I was satisfied that Rep Nelson had a formal opportunity to air his grievances.
Feeling dodgy today are we?
It's a dead horse. It stinks. I'm not backing up , climbing on it and kicking it to see if it'll get up and go and i'm pretty certain there are very very few in the House who want to hop back on it. If Stace wants to that's his choice.
"I was satisfied that Rep Nelson had a formal opportunity to air his grievances."
That was staged theatrics, just like many, if not most, of the committee hearings. Those of us with a brain see right through the SDGOP talking points, including HB1234. We are far from local control and tying teacher pay to international based standards will only take us further away from local control.
The answer to your question, Cory, is: opportunist.
Rep. Hickey, yes, who should you believe and support? A former life-long Democrat tombstone engraver turned Republican to get elected? Another former Democrat power hungry lawyer turned Republican? or a life long conservative Republican retired federal agent with 18 years of a Top Secret clearance who OBVIOUSLY has no politicial power aspirations?
You are satisfied that they didn't do anything wrong with the ad hoc hearing where the accused picked their friends to hear unsworn testimony of Rep. Turbiville reading from my confidential emails on my bill research that he never compromised my confidential research??
Well, "../hickey-for-ass", you have my vote.
This has turned into another blathering of negative responses, childlike words meant to hurt, and lunacy. See ya!
@Rep Hoffman, did you protest as loudly when they lied about your friend claiming he threatened to kill Nick Moser to slime me in the press and try and thro me out of the legislature? When they threw Russell and I out of the caucus while threatening the caucus? When they gerrymandered Lora Hubbel out of her district? Me out of 75% of mine?
Now ask yourself, would I have allowed them to do that to you? To even those that I did not care for? Remember, I was the one who chastised Lust for referring to Rep. Kloucek & Gibson so childishly. I can understand why you & Steve would want that mirror to be broken and forever thrown away.
I am surprised that Hickey has not taken this opportunity to answer valid questions. If you are tired of the questions, just answer them once here and be done. Hickey, you said, "Stace, you well know I have another view on all those matters and I had a front row seat for them." That's great for you and Stace, doesn't help us.
Although it is old news to you, your answers will help voters understand what kind of leader you might be in the legis, and help us know what we can expect of you.
You dodged my religion questions quite thoroughly, and I see you are dodging questions again. That does not bode well for your character.
BREAKING NEWS!!! War College has been updated and comments are off the charts!
"Bill Clay" is back! Apparently he was on vacation and out of respect for the "leader" of the blog, none of the other 'authors' were allowed to post and comments were kept to a minimum. No wonder they see themselves as the #1 political blog in SD!
"Bill" if that is your name...would you please take down the "South Dakota's #1 Political Website" on your banner. You are embarrassing all of South Dakota!
We now return you to our regularly scheduled content of "Real Republicans of South Dakota" where last we saw Stacey ready to throw a drink on a minister and Charles ready to walk out. Meanwhile, the good reverend of the Harper Valley GOP is looking to grab control of the clique.
The "revived" DWC has mustered two comments so far that are both jibberish. Looks like the smart South Dakotans of both parties are reading Madville Times and Voices Carry.
"I will eat you alive" is a death threat worthy of a legislative hissy fit? No woman in her right mind should ever breed with these "men" of the Establishment. The last thing our country needs is an even larger population of gutless crybabies.
Right Bree, smart women only breed with 6' 6" 300 lb. cannibals. LOL.
It's my understanding that Stace's wife is 4'9" 110lbs.....
Circle A is a tiny dot located inside Circle B. Circle A is not the norm of Circle B.
Nevermind the fact that I was obviously referring to a man's character and not to his physical attributes. I believe you like to throw comments out of "left" field in an attempt to derail a logical conversation.
and that mrs. hickey is not.....
Larry, I believe your belligerent methods of communication border on the fanatical.
so sue me, bs.
In the best interest of perception by the public eye on all that public servants say and do we should all discontinue any irrational name calling of our peers, promote our own agenda above discounting those of the opposite flavor, and stay steady in pushing South Dakota in all her wonder and beauty.
Lets find ways we can work together without blaming anyone for mistakes while making sure they do not happen again. The Japanese business leaders have been bantering this for decades. :)
My father always said, "Lets find one good reason why we can do it!"
BAH, Charlie. The haters will keep hating.
"He has lost the respect on the conservative side of the fence by refusing to be held accountable to the SDGOP platform, and instead attack those conservatives who are working hard to expose the liberal agenda of the SDGOP Establishment."
Sibby why don't you knock off the Republicans are liberals BS.
It's starting to get old. There is no way that Mike Vehle is a liberal.
Just admit your to the right of your own party.
Let's hope that the media will be able to sit in and cover the meetings. Better yet, for SDPB to record the sessions, and better yet...live stream the proceedings.
Sorry for putting a post into the wrong discussion...but hey, maybe SDPB could cover a coffee with the Steves, Stace and Charlie... That would be must see TV, unless a Laverne and Shirley rerun was on.
"There is no way that Mike Vehle is a liberal." Based on his voting record over that last 2 sessions, he is 64% liberal.
And Republcians are not liberal. The Establishment GOP is because bigger government means more money lining the pockets of their campaign donors.
"“There is no way that Mike Vehle is a liberal.†Based on his voting record over that last 2 sessions, he is 64% liberal."
where did you get the 64% Sibby? was that the bogus survey sent out by the far-right?
The Republican party in this country is being run now by the far-right-such as yourself- for at least the last 3 years. What has it gotten us? Gridlock! Thanks
Owen, I know liberals. I know Mike Vehle. He is no liberal.
Furthermore, Steve Sibson may be a Republican but not a very good one. Because Mike Vehle was endorsed by 65% of the GOP in his hometown, Steve has endorsed Quentin Burg. While QB I a told is a fine man, he is not more conservative than Steve. Thus Steve is. Ore motivated by emotion than commitment to his values and the party principles he has lectured us to be loyal to.
By definition, he is a hypocrite.
"more conservative than Mike"
Oops
Finally someone with more than half a brain comes to Senator Vehle's defense (TJ--The voice of reason). Sibby have you ever gone to a DOT long term planning meeting where Senator Mike Vehle is detailing the needed structure of our SD Highways? His knowledge on the condition of our State highways and the cost to maintain them is profound.
But I suppose the Neo-Con Born Again Right Wing Fascists only ride horses, white horses..............and don't need government highways!! :) Think about it Sibby, what kind of government help do you really need to be happy????(And to just keep pestering you my friend which campaign donor has been enriched by any bill I have voted on who gave me any money?) Name them and you WIN!!!!
@Owen Don't beleive everything you read in the blogs. Sibby was right at home at the convention, the moderates not so much so. The SDGOP is much more conservative than those in office. That is why everyone on the (R) ticket runs and claims to be a conservative during the election. Before you respond, review the resolutions passed and read the new SDGOP platform.
@TJ Before you go picking on old Sibby, you may want to review the recent primary election results. In terms of actual Republican voters voting for him, Sibby got more votes than the winner of 4 Senate races(he got more than DOUBLE the votes Peters did) and 11 House races. So are you calling those that got less votes than he bad or less Republicans?? What happened to lets all Republicans unite and sing kumbaya? Where is the same derision for Gene Abdallah and his comments? He even is reported to have told people that he has always been more Democrat than Republican! He is not saying nice things about the Republican that beat him, he is rummored to be looking for a way to get into the general election on another ticket!!
@Charlie Pretty cocky for a guy who ran off the blog field without answering posed questions muttering comments about unite, hugs, and daisys. How soon we forget the booing that all those delegates gave you for your "moderate" ways. :-D
Your pretty fast Rep. Nelson!! :) But if I recall the last comment and question snafu here we both did not answer the questions asked. But then maybe we can settle this over a long tall cold one in private. And I was there on the House Floor when the heated exchange between you and Rep. Moser went down. No one asked my opinion on what really happened. You surely did NOT threaten to harm anyone in the physical sense. It could have been prevented, anger was flowing both ways, and you have a loud voice Stace. So do I when I need to make a point.
C'mon Stace ; hugs, daisys, unite? Not one of those words are mine.
If Rep. Nelson and Rep. Hoffman are looking for a neutral meeting ground, I'd be glad to host here at Lake Herman.
@Charlie Did I mention I used to love to box when I was a young Marine? My buddy was a more advanced boxer and used to kick my butt when we sparred, broke my nose. Still loved him like a brother and would have taken a magazine full of bullets for him. Doesn't mean I did not try and take his head off his shoulders and he mine.
Hey, I put on a pink "Princess" tag, I threw you the hugs and daisy one. :-D
" Steve Sibson may be a Republican but not a very good one. "
Troy, that is right. I am a Christian first and a conservative second. If the GOP wants to be run by the Chamber of Commerce, and then use democracy to take rights away from the minority, then I don't mind being a bad Republican.
"Steve has endorsed Quentin Burg."
That is a lie. I said we should take a look at him. He is probably more conservative than Vehle, which would not take much. Troy, I thought you were smart enough to know that automatically assumning Republicans are conservatve and Democrats are liberal is not only simple minded, but it is false. The minority leader of the SD Senate is far more conservative than all but one Republican Senator. It is the RINOs who are not loyal to the party principles. And the reason is that they have sold out to the Chamber of Commerce and now are only seekers of power and money, and have adopted a liberal big government agenda to satisfy those ends.
"Finally someone with more than half a brain comes to Senator Vehle’s defense"
So Charlie, one with a full brain would clearly see Vehle as a big government liberal who votes in favor of taxpayer funding of abortion, who votes in favor of special treatment for gays, who votes against gun rights, who brags to his Council of State Government globalists that passing tax increases takes a perfect storm (a South Dakota blizzard), and how he will increase taxes but not in an election year.
I have given him and Dusty Johnson financial analysis right out of the governor's budget book showing that the Daugaard FY2012 budget contained a $45 million structural "SURPLUS". Why can't either one give me an explanation why the numbers are wrong. Vehle told the Mitchell paper that no one believes Sibson's numbers. They are not my numbers, they are the governor's and the legislators who voted to pass the 2012 budget, and then add more spending to it during the last session such as 5% bonuses. Why not fund highways with that money Charlie? How much special appropriations are now added to the FY2012 budget Charlie, that was supposedly cut $127 million? The talk during the convention about how conservative the SDGOP is in regard to the budget is a joke to those who know the state budget went from $3 billion to $4 billion since the year Obama was elected.
https://madvilletimes.com/2012/06/steve-sibson-ever-the-optimist-endorses-democrat-burg/
“I hope the people who supported me will consider supporting him,†Sibson said of Burg [Jauhola, 20120.06.05]."
"Steve Sibson
2012.06.06 AT 13:02
When Vehle is more liberal than every Dem in the Senate, Burg looks like the man to me. "
Be careful who you call a liar, Sibby. You yourself are one of the biggest pathological liars in the SD Blogosphere.
The only one who ever believes you any more is you.
"The Republican party in this country is being run now by the far-right-such as yourself- for at least the last 3 years."
No Owen, the SDGOP is run by liberals claiming to be conservatives. The conservatives are now labeled "The Tea Party" and painted as radicals. In case you have not been paying attention, conservatives like myself have supported efforts to stop the governor's slush fund for big projects and HB1234. HB1234 is a perfect example of a liberal education policy (that is supported by Obama) that is falsely portrayed as "without question the most conservative education bill to pass South Dakota's legislature in the past 30 years" by Daugaard. Yes, he is on record saying that. It would take one with only half a brain to believe him.
will "consider" supporting him
And I will once I confirm that he is more conservative than a pro-abortion, anti-gun, tax and spending liberal who is in the back pockets the Chamber of Commerce socialists who believe the purpose of government is to fund business that the competitive free markets do not support, then I will offically endorse Burg. I can assure everyone right now, that I will not vote for Vehle or Romney come November.
Pfft. You endorsed him. Now you're taking it back. This is why nobody trusts you, Sibby. You change your mind at the drop of a hat. Just like Romney. You're just a local manifestation of the great GOP lie-fest. No better or worse than any of the rest of them who are trying desperately to convince us that they actually stand for something.
"And to just keep pestering you my friend which campaign donor has been enriched by any bill I have voted on who gave me any money?"
Charlie, have you supported any legislation that provided benefits to Agri-Business or Rural Electrification? I remember one big tax break to electric coops that passed last session. Did you vote for that?
"You endorsed him."
You lied Fleming again,
"Burg looks like the man to me"
I did not say "Burg 'is' the man to me."
So me where I said "endorse". I have said we should "look" at Burg and "consider" supporting Democrats over liberal Republicans.
If the South Dakota Democrats would turn their backs on far-left Marxists like Fleming and understand bigger government is a friend to the SDGOP liberals, I would "consider" even switch parties.
There you go Fleming, now go out tell everyone I have switched to Democrat. You really need to rid youself of all that hate, it is causing you you not to think straight.
You really need to start telling people the truth, Sibby, starting with yourself.
...for example, your latest post contains at least four lies. You are so used to telling them you don't even notice it any more. That's why it's pathological.
So Bill, what is wrong with looking at all candidates in November and making a principled decision as to who to vote for? Why just vote along partly lines?
Nothing is wrong with that of course, Steve.
A bit off topic, but boxing was brought up. During his Army service, my grandfather was at one point in the '30s the All-Service middleweight boxing champion. He had a question mark tatooed on the middle finger of his right hand.
I do enjoy watching a good boxing match, but am not a boxer myself. I enjoy sparring on blogs though, and sometimes land a few punches. Sometimes take a few. Never knocked out.
First Stace and now Rorschach bring boxing up.
Stace, it's good to see you have a little fun and make a point at the same time. However, should you put the gloves back on, will you at least make it a pay-per-view and give the proceeds to a worthwhile non profit for kids?
Charlie...what do you think, 3 rounds for the kids.
What the heck, this could be big and we could make it an all South Dakota Blog Smackdown.
It could be a Flemming production with all the glitz and glamor of Vegas right on the Main Street of Madison.
Think of the match ups we could have!
Cory "the Mad Frenchman" Heidelberger vs. Bill "I don't really exist" Clay
Jason "Jaba the Hut" Gant vs. "Pretty" Pat Powers in the "This is all your fault grudge match" (of course it will take a while for the bout to be scored and then it will, of course, be contested while we wait for another count)
Kristi "Don't call me a Pretty face just because no one saw me in a committee meeting" Noem vs. the Highway Patrol.
The Right Reverend Steve "that's not a" Hickey vs. "Don't OverGod Me" Grudznick
Kevin Woster vs. a tag team of Bill, Denise, David and the rest of the Blogmore alumni with a cameo appearance by Art Oaks.
Kurtz the Krusher vs. an Earth Hater to be named later
Troy "I'm Jonesing for a Fight" Jones vs. Stacey "Yeah I'm calling you a RINO" Nelson
Ken "I was once important" Blanchard vs. David "Don't bore Me Ken" Newquist for the Hub City title.
Bob "Your Damn Right it's Legal" Newland vs. Marty "I'll file suit on anything if it gets my name in the paper and furthers my career" Jackley
"Sibby" vs. The Masonic Shrine Clown Patrol and the Knights of Templar
The "Double D" Daugaard vs. "Smiling" Mike Rounds in the "It's not my budget deficit that wrecked our schools" cage match.
Bob"I put the wing in wingnut" Ellis vs. Reality (Reality will win, but Bob won't even know he was there so he'll be pretty sure he won)
Alright, you get the idea, what are some other good match ups for the SD Blog Smack Down.
...and here I thought a simple blogosphere picnic every now and then was enough entertainment. Hand me the gloves and the headgear!
Okay, Jana, that is dang funny!
The only change though is the Jaba comment. Gene Abdallah was dubbed that eons ago. If you have ever heard him bluster, not understood a word he said, and saw any Star Wars Jaba dialogue, you would agree 100%.
Point taken Stace. I will leave you to give Mr. Gant his fighting name.
Jana. Absolutely brilliant. Where do I sign?
p.s. do we have to give Stacey Nelson residuals?
(...don't tell him we talked.)
Ooooooo: Randy Rasmussen of the RCJ, please.
@Jana I would change the Gant & PP fight to PP & Sen A.
Charlie would be pitted against the majority of SDGOP delegates
I would change my little charity bouht to the blog tag-team combo of Flemdog, Schoenbeck, & Jones Vs Nelson with his left arm tied behind his back. :-D
Bill...meet me over at camera 3...(I won't tell Stace if you don't, but if we have to, we could give him a percentage of the VHS sales)
I'm still trying to figure out good under card bouts for the Amazing Randazzo and his trusty side kick Gordie...I know their busy being nationally syndicated authors and such...but it would be good to have them there. I'm thinking tag team here with them in tights....ouch that's gonna leave a visual mark...never mind.
Who are we leaving out?
Good idea Stace...but be forewarned that Shoenbeck has like 40 dogs that he takes with him everywhere. Not to mention he could channel his inner Robin Williams character in "Hook" and say "don't mess with me, I'm a lawyer." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkH-BWS1p-M
Of course...Shoenbeck in tights could draw a big crowd...or law enforcement.
As far as Gant vs. Powers...I think we need to let those guys have some quality theraputic time together...you know, just to give all their thoughts an outlet. But, I will admit that Powers vs Senator Stan would be a battle royale.
* Wailin' Wiken v. Woster the Rooster?
* David (War and Peace) Montgomery v. Microsoft Excel?
* Aldo vs the 9-Headed Hydra (aka Notsob, Rob, Independant Stan Bruce et all... the most name chaning anonymous commenter in history)?
* Bogart Bob Newland v Larry (get off my lawn) Wheeler?
Powers v. Gant. Dare I suggest a sumo match instead?
Steve the rural electric bill I signed onto was actually a bill changing the type of sales used in computing taxes which slowed their projected 10 year tax increase to a level they/we could handle better while serving the growth in electric consumption. The CITIZEN pays for all the rural increases in rates and the taxes comes from increased rates so if you think I was pushing for a more glorified corporate check for headquarters you are wrong. If you can prove otherwise please do, in the meantime please stop accusing me of being bought by anyone or any organization.
(Jana yes three rounds for the kids!) Funny stuff, good to know we can all laugh about our own personal idiosyncracies. ((Never again will any lobbyist ever hear how I am going to vote on any bill before it hits committee and then know that I may change my vote upon hearing floor testimony on the House floor!! )) STACE? You can start laughing at me & yourself now. :) I can run way faster scared than you can mad too; big boy!!
"The CITIZEN pays for all the rural increases in rates and the taxes comes from increased rates so if you think I was pushing for a more glorified corporate check for headquarters you are wrong."
Charlie, you can refuse PAC money if you don't want to be questioned on motivations behind legislation.
Jana,
You forgot the overall war:
New Age Theocrats vs Christian Theocrats
And Charlie, if the PACs are handing out money without expectations, and instead simply out of the goodness of their hearts, then they must be a bunch of saints.
And another thought based on the theocratic war Charlie: An orthodox Christian believes in original sin and the depravity of man. What about you? Has your Masonic experience brought you to a level of perfectibility that you have now become a god that has no appreciation for those who give you money?
Charlie, if Obamacare is overturned, does Daugaardcare have to return these monies:
Supporting South Dakota’s work on Affordable Insurance Exchanges
South Dakota has received $6.9 million in grants for research, planning, information technology development, and implementation of Affordable Insurance Exchanges.
•$1 million in Planning Grants: This grant provides South Dakota the resources needed to conduct the research and planning necessary to build a better health insurance marketplace and determine how its exchange will be operated and governed. Learn how the funds are being used in South Dakota here.
•$5.9 million in Exchange Establishment Grants: These grants are helping States continue their work to implement key provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Learn how the funds are being used in South Dakota here.
The law gives states support for their work to build the health care workforce, crack down on fraud, and support public health. Examples of Affordable Care Act grants to South Dakota not outlined above include:
•$613,000 for school-based health centers, to help clinics expand and provide more health care services such as screenings to students.
•$50,000 to support outreach to eligible Medicare beneficiaries about their benefits.
•$191,000 for Family-to-Family Health Information Centers, organizations run by and for families with children with special health care needs.
•$1.6 million for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs. These programs bring health professionals to meet with at-risk families in their homes and connect families to the kinds of help that can make a real difference in a child’s health, development, and ability to learn - such as health care, early education, parenting skills, child abuse prevention, and nutrition.
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/sd.html
Steve, this statement opens up many questions: "An orthodox Christian believes in original sin and the depravity of man."
What is an orthodox Christian? Is it your interpretation, mine, the Catholic Church's, Steve Hickey's, Billy Graham's? Or is it the fundamentals which there is broad Christian consensus? Or is it the divisions which separate Christianity where only one segment of Christianity is right and everyone else is inherently and condemnably wrong?
What is your definition of "depravity of man?" This can range from the thought we are born good but learn corruption in a world tainted by the consequences of original sin, the Augustinian concept where it is by grace depravity is overcome, Luther's concept grace covers up the depravity, or the other extreme the depravity is so endemic it makes us all except for the predestined few to see the Beautific Vision.
And what the heck does that last question even mean?
"What is an orthodox Christian?"
Troy,
One who follows what is presented in the Bible. Adams fall is the original sin. And unless you believe in the non-Biblical spiritual evolution where man can become god himself, then we remain depraved.
Troy, if you want to dig into the in-between positions, then check out this analysis (I am currently Frazer's book he released in May):
http://jonrowe.blogspot.com/2006/06/theistic-rationalist-thesis-gregg.html
Steve: "One who follows what is presented in the Bible"
That is my point. Catholic's, Lutherans, Billy Graham, Steve Hickey, Troy Jones, Steve Sibson all have different and imperfect understanding of what is "presented in the Bible" with regard to the "depravity of man." And, all have great confidence they are following what is "presented in the Bible."
And this difference leads to differences in understanding how we are sanctified and saved. And, that then leads to how we see faith/religion.
In the end, the different Christian faiths all have components of Creed/Doctrine, liturgy/right worship, morality, and prayer/relationship. However, they focus and emphasize diffent components based on how they see what is "presented in the Bible."
Which takes me back in a circle of "what is an orthodox Christian?"
Well if you guys want to believe that newborn children are "depraved" have at it. I'm not going there. Never have, never will.
Bill, you open up another question is how does one define depraved.
I hold to the use of "corrupt" in the context that because of original sin all we think and do is "faulty in its premise, false in its motive, and weak in its implementation; and there is no mere refinement of natural capacities that can correct this condition." But through Jesus Christ and His grace, we can be better in everything and all good comes from Christ.
I think what you are rejecting is the "wicked" in the context of using depraved. I reject it as well. Two reasons: First, newborns are essentially unable to have rational intentions with regard to "right/wrong" and "good/evil." Second, despite the Fall, man retained free will, albeit a wounded will. Will expressed in conformity to God's will is "good" while will contrary to God is "bad." Wicked implies it being transcendental to everything, including will.
"Well if you guys want to believe that newborn children are “depraved†have at it. "
They are not selfish at all, are they Bill?
Catholic’s, Lutherans, Billy Graham, Steve Hickey, Troy Jones, Steve Sibson all have different and imperfect understanding of what is “presented in the Bibleâ€
Troy, we have different levels of where are own reason trumps the Bible. An orthodox Christian puts Biblical revelation above their own opinion. And certainly an orthodox does not communicate with spirit beings to obtain extra-Biblical knowledge.
"Depending on the state, the “right religion†was Congregationalist, Episcopalian, Protestant Christian. Or again, depending on the legislature of each sovereign state, eligibility for elective office was not Baptist or Roman Catholic, not Jewish, not Muslim."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Convention_(United_States)#Slavery
So much for the jocularity...
@Charlie Tsk, tsk, tsk... Don't underestimate the agility of the Bull elephant when properly motivated, we are known to be able to cover a lot of ground quickly despite are substantial girth. :-D
Steve: "An orthodox Christian puts Biblical revelation above their own opinion." I think it should say they "aspire" to put Biblical revelation above their own opinion. But, like me, because of your depravity, you have a faulty and corrupt capacity to infallibly discern when your understanding of Revelation is correct and are often a victim of this faulty discernment such you delude yourself.
Which takes me back to my original question that you keep avoiding. "What is an orthodox Christian and who gets to define it?"
If I may answer it, God. Not you and not me as our depravity makes us incapable to define it.
Young Mr. Gant was a state champion Indigenous American Leg Wrestler in prep school (5'6" 225 class) and I would bet all my aggie shooters on him over Mr. Powers in such a contest.
stevehickey â€@stevehickey
@coralhei No, hurricane Isaac is God's way of keeping anarchist rioters home and giving occupiers a needed bath. ;-)
@stevehickey
What's going on in CA?? My earthquake app has been buzzing bigtime all day today. Several over 5.0