This is small potatoes. But it's still potatoes.
GOP Senate candidates Stace Nelson and Annette Bosworth participated in a public forum hosted by the School of Mines College Republicans and the South Dakota Citizens for Liberty last night. Nelson and Bosworth fielded questions from a few dozen citizens under the scowling visage of a cardboard cutout of absent GOP candidate Marion Michael Rounds, who appears to be away in Washington D.C.
Rounds tool Pat Powers took great umbrage at this comical display and basically called the Mines kids jerks:
Did they have a similar cutout of Larry Rhoden, who was also unable to attend? How do the College Republicans, an auxiliary of the state GOP, explain what seems to be a breach of the impartiality they’re supposed to operate under? Unfortunately, this CR event seems to have been hijacked by the local tea party group which has no illusions of non-partisanship, as evidenced by their one-sided actions.
If that’s the type of non-partisanship they’re operating under, I’m not sure why any candidate would attend [Pat Powers, "Candidates meet in Rapid City, but why would a ‘College Republican’ event do that?" Dakota War College, 2013.11.22].
Hypersensitive to criticism of Rounds for skipping his third public debate in a month, Powers tries to create a distraction by marginalizing fellow Republicans who go to the trouble to organize an educational public event.
There's just one problem: the College Republicans didn't make the Rounds cutout. Neither did Citizens for Liberty. Annette Bosworth did.
I spoke this afternoon with Julie Mueller, membership chair for Citizens for Liberty. She confirmed that Bosworth brought the cutout to remind voters of Rounds's absence. Mueller says she did not find the cutout offensive. Mueller says that one audience member voiced disapproval of the cutout, but that the rest of the audience responded negatively to that negativity.
(When I mentioned Pat Powers, Mueller said, "I don't know who that is.")
Bosworth's cutout of Rounds seems cut from the same comedic cloth as Clint Eastwood's debate with an empty chair at the 2012 GOP convention. Republicans loved that skit; how is Bosworth's cardboard Rounds any different?
Pat Powers gives Annette Bosworth more free and easy press than anyone else on his blog. He's avoided any negative news about her and painted any of her detractors or questioners as villains and masturbators.
But now Pat himself has branded Bosworth's behavior as unfair, un-Republican, and undeserving of other candidates' attention.
Oh boo hoo, PP! They're making jabs at my friend Mikey! Get off your lazy butt, Rounds and start attending some debates. This is politics. What Bosworth, did smart visual move on her part. South Dakotans want their debates, and they know you are playing it safe.
Every facet of this is a joke of an episode. And, I'm not sure whether Bosworth attending in light of her own questionable history - is worthy of a nod for having the guts - or just another idiotic display of denial and/or assumption that all of SD are sheeple she can count on to blindly follow the gun & Bible bit.
"I don't know who that is." LOL LOL
I'm sure "Chet" will have a good explanation.
Yep, and the joke is on Rounds if he doesn't start attending debates. Look, debates are good, they're not really taken that seriously anyway. People usually have their minds made up, but it gets people interested in the political process, and South Dakotans deserve to have their candidates showing up for debates. What is Rounds hiding? Just maybe an embarrassing failed beef packing plant?
They were going to ask him questions about things he likes to lie about, like illegal immigration and Obamacare.
How does one correctly use 'non-partisan' in reporting about this group?
Darn you Cory,
As I started reading the article I immediately thought of the Clint Eastwood thing and you stole my line.
As for Pat Powers, what is going on with these people that continuously profess the "honesty" of the Republican Party? Just what does honesty mean to them?
I love Grudz's comments over at DWC regarding that debate. " Sounds like Rhoden won this “debate” just by not showing up and Rounds came in second by sending a cardboard cutout" That is so funny!
Rounds is making a mockery of the primary contest by stiffing the debates. It's an old game of waiting out the clock. The best way to stop that game is sock the bastard in the jaw. Good move, Annette!
Other candidates take note. You don't have to play Mike Rounds' game. Play your own game and play to win.
Remember, this arrogant puss has never had a serious contest in an election, including the 2002 primary. Barnett and Kirby defeated themselves.
Dr. Bosworth got beat by Mr. Nelson who got beat by the young Dr.'s cutout who got beat by Mr. Rhoden who won by not attending such a farce.
And this "debate" was hosted by one of over-godding Mr. Howie's goofball organizations?
It just can't get more entertaining than this. I hope Mr. Nelson and the good Dr. didn't house their entourages along East North Street just to be close to the pawn shops or Chinese food joints.
My speculation is that Governor Rounds is hoping that the Northern Beef issue will blow over soon, the two candidates that he considers marginal will run out of money and energy, and then he and Mr. Rhoden will debate and he will emerge as the more charming. He also is unwilling to come to Rapid City just yet as the publicity regarding his "mistaken" clemency in a homicide case has not yet completely evaporated. In a sense, he is running scared.
This reminded me of the cut out of Nancy Pelosi that Gordon Howie always has hanging around on his TV program. Maybe Bosworth got the Idea from Howie?
Mr. Rhoden is no less charming than Mr. Rounds, and he's taller by a full foot and handsomer than the dickens. He's one charming devil.
And probably a foot and half taller than most Filipinos. An important fact for the voters to consider.
Bree,
Why do consistently refer to Stace's wife as a Filipino?
How do you refer to Mike Rounds wife or Rhoden's wife.
Not Filipino.
grudz,
Why "Not Filipino"? Am I missing something?
I'm talking about the illegal aliens being abused and exploited by corrupt South Dakota businesses, Roger. Especially in the Deadwood area.
What he means is, he only cares about winning. That's all that matters to him.
Also, I don't believe I consistently refer to Stace's wife. I believe I have mentioned once that she is Filipino. Because she is, Filipino American.
Roger, when are you going to get over your short-sighted belief that conservatives such as myself are racist? Can you see past the end of your nose?
Bree,
You have referred to Stace's wife more than once as Filipino, that's why it caught my attention. I never heard you refer to as Filipino American. Why do have to refer to her in the first place?
Do you say Mike Rounds and his white wife, or Mike Rounds and his American White wife? And why refer to at all?
Throughout these posts you have been making subtle reference to illegal aliens without saying what is on your mind. Is Stace's wife an illegal alien? Is that what is bothering you.
Note: I did not say anything about racism or Republican racism, that was you.
And yes, I can see beyond the end of my nose and I don't appreciate what I often see.
The question Bree, was legitimate.
Let's not stray too far, folks. We have Pat throwing mud and hitting Annette. How will Pat get out of this one?
In other news of Dakota War College error, we were promised last weekend that Powers would have big news casting Bosworth's "accusers" in a bad light. The news week is done, and Pat's given us nothing. Once again, "Chet" Haber fails to follow through.
Roger, you are incorrect. In a discussion with Larry (Kurtz) I mentioned once that she is Filipino because it was germaine to the topic. If I have mentioned it previously, it must have been month's ago because I can't remember Stace's wife is a legal immigrant. The other times I mentioned Filipinos it was also in discussion with Larry in regards to the problem of human trafficking in the Deadwood area. You are a ridiculous judgmental person constantly grasping at straws to prove to yourself that your world view that conservatives are racist.
PP is perfectly happy to play along with Chet's lies, since it benefits him to keep her in the race.
"Is Stace's wife an illegal alien?"
I hope your pleased with yourself, taking the opportunity to try to use an innocent person neither one of us has met, into a tool to come after me. Disrespectful.
Over at DWC they are toasting their champagne and gobbling up Daugaard's most recent press release in celebration of the investigation being over.
In their minds they have successfully made Benda the "fall guy" and the only crook. End of story, Rounds has escaped unscathed!
And how about that Jackley guy? All trustworthy, honest and dripping with integrity?
Geez Bree,
Why did you get so defensive and sensitive over the Filipino question?
I was merely curious, that's all.
Bree,
Get your feet on the ground. With the exception of my recent posts, I have never referred to Stace's wife.
You have made her a tool by referring to her on more than one occasion as a Stace's Filipino wife. Don't attempt to turn the tables for your own political agenda concerning illegal aliens.
I am done with this topic, Roger. I consider it disrespectful.
Drop it, both of you. Stace's wife has nothing to do with this conversation.
My bad. Cory tugged my ear like the nuns at mission boarding school?
Sorry. Gotta be tight on this. We must be wary of all distractions from the campaign story or GOED/EB-5/Benda story.
I should wait for my weekly news cycle, but eh. Cory, I didn't have to ask Stace Nelson at the South Dakota Indian Business Alliance about the GOED. He volunteered his outrage about Northern Beef Packers and giving money to "Communist Chinese." I almost couldn't help but agree with him. Damn the Commies anyways.
Seriously, though, Bosworth mentioned her cutout several times and Nelson and her welcome Rick Weiland and said how he should join them more often, since nobody else of their party is.
Quite the hoot at times.
PP and his second rate press release blog are circling the drain. The real news is that he posted a story on the cardboard cutout excoriating a bunch of college Republicans and didn't even pick up the phone to get the real story. With one phone call Cory got that story. That's the bottom line with PP these days. He's decided it's easier to post crap than to make one phone call. He doesn't even phone it in.
Holy cow, Tasi! Did Annette tote Cardboard-Mike along to yesterday's meeting, too?
maybe cardboard Mike can draw the raffle winner?
Years ago Powers actually tried to write stories. Now he's paid by Rounds for Senate to print press releases, sweep stuff under the rug and show umbrage on command.
An organ grinder monkey is a monkey that has figured out how to get 3 hots and a cot.
Maybe cardboard Mike can write your paycheck, Mathia.
Mathia, ha! If we keep giving her press, Bosworth can make Cardboard Mike a raffle prize.
Just to look a little deeper into this story. Powers is supposedly a "journalist" according to the court system now. Don't journalists usually do some digging into the story so they report the truth! (Like Cory has here.) A simple phone call reveals whose cutout it was but instead he immediately bad mouths Nelson, blames the tea party, and talks about how the college republicans can lose their status.
This is yet another example of how a candidate uses an idea that is not their own. I'm starting to wonder if any original ideas exist or if everything, from making your children wear campaign shirts everyday to changing your core beliefs about freedom of choice and opportunities for the under served, is simply for another point on google +.
Earth haters like Dick whining about hypocrisy: how conservative.
It's all poll tested, CD. 3 out of 4 Egyptian facebook friends wanted to see a cage match between cardboard Mike and the big marine. She's teasing them now to keep them interested. Another 500 Egyptian likes and the cage match is on.
Paper Mike was not there but she literally motioned to the empty space next to her and said she should have brought it along. Nelson chuckled and chimed in who do people really work for when they're campaign fundraising out of state.
Powers has to bad mouth Nelson because Rounds, who signs his paycheck, is most worried about Nelson. Bosworth is part of the Rounds heat shield intended to dilute the anti-Rounds vote and earns a pass because they figure she can't win but must be protected to insure she makes it to the primary election day intact enough to suck up votes from Stace.
First going after that nice Young Republican leader not just once but TWICE, and then excoriating the College Republicans with easily disproved false information after they took the time to get involved and set up a Senate debate.. PP's tabloid isn't just circling the drain.. he's trying to take my whole party down with it. He can't possibly be that dumb. He just doesn't care if he scares off the next generation with his corrupt nonsense.
Nick -- Bingo!
Nick I also totally agree!
The Family Bosworth has a MUCH larger agenda... Think book deal and reality show. How I wish I was joking.
He was standing in the background
Was that worry on his face
Or was it constipation
You know, the sour look of distaste
He didn't move, he didn't speak
No words ever came
It didn't matter what was said
He always looked the same
He looked to be all business
In an insurance man kind of way
But there was no reassurance
That all would be OK
Well Stace said this, and Bos said that
But the crowd they wanted more
He just stood there with his arms crossed
I guess looking at the door
Now he never said one damn thing
But that's something I might like
And you have to admit as politicians go
There never was a man like Cardboard Mike
The Blindman
CD: I've thought that, too. Who knows, it might be more lucrative than practicing medicine, running a nonprofit, holding raffles, campaigning, etc.
You get a like for your Smilin' Mike ballad, Mr Dithmer! I can just see you with your acoustic guitar singing it with a twang!
I'm all for the dream Mark, but I don't support extorting others emotions and trust to gain attention for a 'story' that will paint that family as victims.
Highest quality Blindman. At some point I may honor the candidates with haikus or limericks. Not today though.
Cardboard Mike: Yet one more GOP candidate recruited to siphon away votes from Stace Nelson.
Hahahaha! That's one of your best! Thanks.
I was talking about Blindman's post. Sorry I wasn't clear about that.
Proud to have you on board, Blindman!
Campaign poetry: sounds like a great weekly feature! Haiku, sonnets, limericks, epic verse... keep 'em coming!
Cardboard Mike is polling at 42%.