Dakota War College continues its fluffery to protect sponsor Marion Michael Rounds from criticism and scrutiny. Blogger Pat Powers speciously conflates U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Stace Nelson's criticism of Rounds with refusing to help a stranded motorist, while at the same time prominently promoting Rounds heat shield Annette Bosworth's latest melodramatic fundraising letter, in which she criticizes Republican leaders for trading "conservative values for pork barrel projects".
DWC has cited "Reagan's 11th Commandment"—Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican—to justify speaking ill of Republicans who disagree with him. Let us turn to blogger and Nelson supporter Ken Santema for some straight talk on Reagan and criticism on the campaign trail:
...[Reagan] was constantly questioning and attacking the political policies of other Republicans. This was especially true after he started to follow the ’11th commandment’. Reagan had no problem at all questioning the philosophical problems with Ford’s brand of conservatism or Ford’s less than conservative actions taken as President. But there is one line he did not cross when battling it out with Ford: Reagan never made any personal attacks upon Ford. All of Reagan’s attacks at Ford were based upon actions taken by Ford or policy stances touted by Ford. These were NOT personal attacks and thus did not break the 11th commandment....
During the current US Senate race in South Dakota I have seen many people invoking the 11th commandment in regards to Stace Nelson’s attacks upon Mike Rounds record and actions. I believe invoking Reagan’s 11th Commandment in this situation is completely unfounded. Yes, Stace is attacking the record of Rounds during his tenure as a legislator and Governor. However none of these are personal attacks; Rather they are invoked in much the same way Reagan did against Ford. As long as Stace keeps these attacks about policy, actions, and records it would be hard to say he is speaking ill of Rounds [Ken Santema, "Reagan's 11th Commandment and the US Senate Race in South Dakota," SoDakLiberty, 2013.11.25].
Santema is not afraid of hearing criticism of his preferred Senate candidate. He's not afraid to have an honest discussion about the voting records of all Republicans on the ballot. He sees that Stace Nelson is acting very much like Reagan, criticizing the performance of a former executive who lucked into office, achieved little, and failed to uphold the true ideals of his party.
Bill Clay's idea of controversy on DWC is catching the mayor of Sioux Falls making preparations to campaign during the Festival of Lights parade on Friday night. Apparently, it's an assault on Christmas, something Clay considers serious even though Christmas (originally a pagan holiday) is a month away.
So, how does a court of law consider Clay's activities journalism? Only in South Dakota.
Powers just wants one of those cushy government jobs working for Rounds in DC. He's sucking up all he can for Rounds hoping that Cardboard Mike will remember him if he wins.
PP@SDWC is an apt description of the host..
You can always tell when Nelson is making ground on Rounds, Powers gins up something frantically trying to do his master's bidding.
Did you see the article PP posted about a touching moment with Mike Rounds and his parents? Awww. He just happened to run into them at his Meet & Greet in Wall, SD. Such a sweet family moment, it made forget all about how his administration raped the citizens of South Dakota for millions of dollars.
Powers get a job with Rounds? What could go wrong? Ask Munsterman and Gant about Powers' special "winning" style.
I must be banned from the DWC. I tried to post something and it wouldn't post. I've never gotten nasty on it. Just gave my views
One major problem in South Dakota for any discussion of any issue on nearly any topic is that too many people view criticism of their ideas, silly or otherwise, as a personal attack rather than a discussion of the merits of a position or idea.
Mr. Wiken; This is not just a problem in South Dakota it is a national problem. People are so invested in their position they are unwilling or unable to consider any discussion. It is truly very sad
Dear Mike,
Maybe if you called your mother a little more often, you would know their schedule.
That photo op was a shameless campaign move, to try and get a few people to go "awe shucks, ain't that cute."
And yes, let's all be South Dakota nice. Like if Joop needed a ride to the bank to write a check for 32 mill to buy Epoch Star, Mike would give him a ride. Heck Mike is so nice, I bet he would take him for a Joop to Joop in his aero plane.
Owen. Mr Powers is a petty man who's single mission is to provide interference and fluff for Rounds. He has thrown all of his lot in with our EB5 pandering little governor in the hopes he will get crumbs from the table of his master. We would all be better of to ignore his tripe.
Do some people really think PP started that blog all of those years ago and stuck with it just so one day he could get a job just in case a man he wasn't aware of at the time might become Governor and then years later, he might be able to help him when he ran for US Senate? I think not. And while I don't know firsthand, my guess is DC would be the last place he'd want to move his family and live for any kind of salary... Just my two cents.
@TG don't you have another debate you have to make sure Rhoden dodges? Or spin some more dishonesty about him NOT being a lifelong Democrat when he in fact was? How about you and Powers put your heads together to figure out a more plausible spin on Rhoden's career seeking to repeal term limits as he dishonestly claims to now strongly support them because he figured that's what people want to hear.
Stace - I see you changed your name. Smart move. Rhoden was at TWO (Custer/SF) of your dog and pony shows already. Bosworth was at TWO (SF/RC) of them. What's your beef with Rhoden on debates? That he had previous plans for ONE of them? Sorry, you're not the scheduler of any other candidate's schedules. And I'm not on the campaign team nor am I the scheduler either. You'll just have to wait and see; I mean stew.
I'm curious TG. What makes you think that Disgusted Dakotan is Stace Nelson? Just a hunch, a guess? You need more than a feeling before making such claims.
Has Cory identified Disgusted Dakotan? Usually he does, unless he is ok with hiding someone's identity. That wouldn't surprise me if it was RinoMikeSD....I mean Stace Nelson.
I really don't know why the Rounds/Rhoden supporters can't get it through their heads that everyone posting anonymously/pseudonymously is not him. I should start accusing absolutely everyone of being Rounds.
DB - you know you're Rounds in disguise. No wonder you defend him all the time.
TG, I think you're right that believing PP started DWC for the express purpose of getting in good with the Rounds establishment for a shot at DC is a really big stretch. However, it certainly seems that he's been willing to develop his blog, whatever its original purpose, into a mouthpiece for his chosen niche of the Republican Party in South Dakota.
Deb - I'm kind of familiar or trained on writing styles so I could narrow it down between 1-4 people. It's really not that difficult. And I'm trying to have some humor in the whole thing.
Without that distraction, I'll narrow it down to this question back to DD "Rhoden was at TWO (Custer/SF) of your dog and pony shows already. Bosworth was at TWO (SF/RC) of them. What's your beef with Rhoden on debates? That he had previous plans for ONE of them?"
Same to Bree. And no, I'm not being mean or aggressive. I think if you looked at it from another angle you would see why I come to that conclusion. Also, to your question several days ago, I gave an email address that we can converse about your questions. I assume you also will come up with a brand new and totally anonymous email address for that purpose. Just trying to get to the bottom of things... :-)
TG - RinoMike doesn't sound like Stace to me at all.
tweucker - I don't know. I'm glad you see how far fetched the idea would be that he's in it for something he never knew when he started the blog and then took the heat over the years for (I'm assuming, haven't lived here very long) UNLESS he's a fortune teller. Then I will have to meet him very soon. :-)
The way I see it, a blog is a place ANYONE is invited to but no one HAS to comment. As for being a 'mouthpiece', maybe, maybe not. I haven't seen it. From an unbiased point of view, I could actually think he's a 'mouthpiece' for Bosworth. I have no idea. I can tell you this, he's not a mouthpiece for my candidate and that's all I know other than I choose to read as I want, knowing it's HIS blog, not mine.
However, there are several other blogs that have only one candidate's material on it (Pat has offered it up to all, not even just Senate candidates (as well as Cory has)) and I know they've not offered it to others. So, my question would be why is DWC getting SO much heat about being a Rounds supporter and not one mention of the others who clearly support only one candidate??
I have a feeling if the tables were turned it'd be a different story. Why aren't Rhoden and Bosworth crying there is no blog for them? I suspect there'd be a new spin on that answer if they were...
Also, if you check Twitter you won't notice correlation between their accounts despite them both being prolific twitterers.
Speaking of Twitter, there's a Fake Nelson with a small number of followers, and 4 of them are Hoffmans.
Also, Disgusted strikes me as female and also doesn't sound like Stace. I don't remember Stace ever using the words "petty" or "tripe."
Mrs. S, Mr. Nelson spouts the word petty at frequent intervals.
Quotes, Grudz. Don't recall him using it. Also, fluff and pandering.
Disgusted is after Daugaard not Rounds. I think that's obvious from her posts. Wants the eb5 thing stuck to him. My personal opinion is that Rounds squeezing all that money through the end of his term, Daugaard letting Benda go and reorganizing GOED, cancelling SDRC contract and ordering an investigation shows that Daugaard wasn't a part of that game.
Okay, thanks for the feedback TG. I have no expertise in identifying writing styles. I'd really like to see something more concrete. That is no reflection on your knowledge. Rather it's about my unfamiliarity with writing identification.
They put Joan Jett on the Pep Rally float. Cheer leaders across the country are outraged!
Reagan tended to put his name to his critiques of fellow Republicans, though not to his shipments of arms to Iran.
@"TG" attacking someone for posting under a pen name, as "TG?"
You got me! I am Lawyers & taxes, Stace Nelson, RinoMike, RinoLite, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Serpico, Captain America, everyone of the many South Dakotans who oppose Rhoden and Rounds.
How about addressing the real issue of discussion instead of the old "hey! Look over there!" trick? Your candidate whines and claims he is being attacked and it's his own record? How can Rhoden be the life long conservative he claims to be when he stayed a registered voting liberal pro-choice Democrat for over twenty years?
DD - as usual you go overboard. I guess I have yet to hear him personally whine or claim he's being attacked. I have seen OTHER people say that many times though. Since you're psychic and know who he voted for in a 20 year span, I'd probably be using those powers on something much more useful!
"TG" maybe you haven't noticed, our country is circling the drain. Its from squishy politicians like your boy Larry saying one thing to get elected, and then doing another once they get elected.
How about this "TG" have Larry make another one of his pledges, if it can be proven that he voted for Democrats for over twenty years, and that he is a floor flushing lying two-faced double dealing politician, he'll get out of the race so that he can suck up votes from Nelson FOR Rounds and you will put your $$$ where your mouth is and donate to the Nelson campaign. Money talks, BS walks "TG"
My first thought when Larry entered the race was spoiler, however. Democrats of the past were more conservative than many republicans that I currently know. The democrat party left those conservatives long ago. To say Rhoden voted Dem years ago should be a compliment compared to how many of the GOP votes today. Want to knock Larry, call out his current votes and stop the years ago BS.
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"TG I'm kind of familiar or trained". Just troll BS.
Stace should have run for governor and exposed the whole sewer to sunlight.